The Medium of Death

Six years ago, Gregory and Georgette Hampton's adopted daughter, Emily, fell to her death from the staircase of their home. The aftermath of the tragic accident nearly destroyed their marriage and threatened to derail their surviving son's bright future, but with the help of a parish rector, they recovered from the senseless death. But now Gregory Hampton appears at 221b Baker street. His wife has become convinced that a medium has spoken to their daughter's spirit from beyond the grave. His wife is becoming increasingly unstable, and he has come to ask Holmes to expose the medium for a fraud in the hopes that his wife will regain her senses. Holmes at first refuses to accept the case, for there is no criminal enterprise involved. But Gregory Hampton prevails upon Holmes to reconsider, for Emily Hampton's spirit, speaking through the medium, claims that her death was not an accident, but murder. Could the accusation of murder be true? And if so, how does London's only consulting detective solve a case that is six years old and whose clues have vanished with the years? Holmes makes no promises, but accompanied by his chronicler, Dr. John H. Watson, he accepts what he will discover is one of his most challenging cases, and he encouters one of his most dangerous adversaries.