The book carry's on the tradition of the Bangsian Fantasy and brings together an assortment of heavyweights from the history and mythology together to create a satire that showcase the power of vocal humor, for which Bangs was largely renowned for during his time. After the House-Boat was hijacked by Captain Kidd at the end of "A House-Boat on the Styx", the various members of its club decided that in order to track it down, a detective would have to be called in. So they hired Sherlock Holmes, who, at the time of the book's publication, had indeed been declared dead by his creator.