After their decision to move into the world of sleuthing, Sherman Holmes and John Garden have a tricky time coming to grips with their new roles as private investigators. Things would work out just fine if people didn't keep getting themselves murdered all the time. The local police aren't very sympathetic – they even have the audacity to consider that Holmes & Garden aren't much help at all!

This anthology of five stories covers their early cases, as shadowy undercover investigator Joanne puts in some surprising appearances, and Holmes continues on his campaign to woo the lovely Mrs Garden ...