Island of the Mad

About the book

The latest task that Mary Russell and her spouse, Sherlock Holmes, are faced with involves assisting a friend in locating her eccentric, missing aunt. Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has been confined to psychiatric institutions for most of her life following the tragic losses of her father and brother during the Great War. Despite showing signs of improvement, she has now vanished after leaving Bethlem Royal Hospital, commonly known as Bedlam.

Initially reluctant to get involved, Russell reluctantly agrees to take on the case. In order to locate the missing woman, she must rely on her sharp deductive skills and knack for deception - all while calling on her husband's renowned investigative abilities. Their search takes them from the grim halls of Bedlam to the mysterious canals of Venice, where they uncover the ominous presence of Benito Mussolini casting a shadow over the city, the era, and a troubled English woman of high social standing.