The Serpent Under

Treachery, Twists and Terror in Baker Street

By: Bonnie MacBird

Narrated by: Simon Darwen

Holmes and Watson face treachery and danger in the latest full-length thriller by Bonnie MacBird, author of the bestselling Sherlock Holmes novel Art in the Blood.

Murder, jealousy, and deceit underscore three interlocking mysteries as Holmes and Watson take on a high profile case at Windsor Castle, a boy drowned in the Serpentine, and a crusading women’s rights activist who suspects a traitor in her organisation. The cases send them into danger into locales as varied as the palace itself, a dockland cannery, an arts and crafts atelier, and a gypsy encampment. But is there peril underfoot as well – right at 221B Baker Street?

The twisting, breathlessly plotted conjoined mysteries that Bonnie MacBird is known for provide a thrill ride that will delight Sherlockians worldwide.

©2025 Bonnie MacBird (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Combining a convincing imitation of Watson’s narrative style with a labyrinthine plot for Holmes to navigate, MacBird’s sixth excursion into Victorian London is a treat for all Sherlockians." —Sunday Times

"Replete with Sherlockian tradition … recommended to aficionados of Conan Doyle as well as to all readers of historical detective fiction." —Entertainment Focus

"An impressive tale that'll have you turning the pages as fast as you can." —Belfast Telegraph

“The brilliant MacBird manages to produce a tale which is both authentic and original, yet pays homage to the genius of Arthur Conan Doyle.” —Dundee Courier

“Neatly emulates the style and tone of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories.” —Michael Dirda, Washington Post

“Perfectly captures the essence of Conan Doyle's fiction.”—Independent

“No one can surpass Conan Doyle at his best, but a select few pastiche writers get close enough that they can almost reach out and touch the master. Bonnie MacBird is one of those writers that achieves this consistently.” —The Doyleockian

“A clever re-imagining of our old friend, and very, very readable.’ —Fully Booked

“The author’s latest Sherlock Holmes Adventure is filled with thrills, drama and twists to make it one of the best ones of the series to date.” —Love London Love Culture

"One of the all-time great Holmesian pastiche writers delivers a masterful, twist-filled adventure that flawlessly captures Watson's narrative voice. A must-read." —Sherlock Holmes Magazine

The Journey and final conclusions

All 6 of these books have been fantastic! Love listening to them. This is my second run through them. I hope the Miss Macbird continues making more.

Decent new Sherlock Holmes story

Pretty good story. The style fits in well with original Conan Doyle stories. Except, the beginning was a too gruesome for my taste. Doyle avoided that and I appreciate whenever extra gruesome details are left out. I don't need to be repulsed to enjoy a story.

One of the best

I listen to a number of these Sherlock Holmes stories written by modern authors. This has been one of my favorites and I highly recommend it.

Another Excellent Effort By Bonnie MacBird

Bonnie MacBird is one of those rare pastiche writers who can capture the voice of Watson. This book is one of her best efforts yet. The characters come across as real. The extraordinary murder and the tale that spins from it is quite exciting. Excellent narration by Simon Darwen lends to the sense of urgency to finish the book quickly. I'm more than happy to recommend this book.

Held my attention

Entertaining with twist and turns that made the end make sense. I like this reader voice and timing too