'A storyteller who knows the humour, the fear and the frenzy of men in battle.' - Bernard Cornwall

Afghanistan. 1880.

A bloodied but unbowed young medic must fight in a war that will test both his courage and conscience to its very limits.

Despite his own wound, despite the howling tribesman hounding his every step back to the walls of Kandahar, he will not forsake the injured soldiers and victims of battle who he has sworn to treat and protect.

The most difficult to save of all though is Alisha Kahn, the beautiful and enigmatic fighting queen - shot down as she led the Afghans against the British and brought to the dressing station by Private 'Posh' Williams, the gentleman ranker.

Her warrior brothers want to save her, whilst the retreating troops can see no reason why she should live.

The terror and nobility of the events fought across blood-soaked desert sands - culminating in the Battle of Maiwand - will scar and inspire Doctor John H. Watson forever.

In this brilliant novella, Patrick Mercer tells the story of Sherlock Holmes's great friend Watson's formative years in the Army. It is a must-read for fans of Holmes, and for anyone who enjoys historical military fiction.


Praise for Patrick Mercer


'The style is rougher and more forceful than we're used to, being untouched by Conan Doyle's editorial hand, but it suits the subject matter admirably. You just know that this is what it was like.' - Roger Johnson, The District Messenger

'A finely-drawn depiction of battle and the camaraderie of war' - The Daily Mail of To Do and Die.

Patrick Mercer is author of the Anthony Morgan Trilogy, To Do and Die, Dust and Steel and Red Runs the Helmand, as well as a number of straight histories of Victoria's wars. A military historian by training, he was decorated four times as an infantry officer and then was the defence correspondent for BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

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• Mystery, Thriller & SuspenseMysteryTraditional Detectives

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