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' 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. 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 before being elected as Member of Parliament for Newark in 2001. Patrick Mercer's books have received widespread acclaim. 'A finely-drawn depiction of battle and the camaraderie of war' wrote the Daily Mail of 'To Do and Die. ‘A tremendous achievement by a storyteller who knows the humour, the fear and the frenzy of men in battle,’ said Bernard Cornwell of 'To Do and Die'.

The British boxing champion Ezekial Shaw has been knifed to death. Yet the world's greatest consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, seems indifferent towards the case. Doctor Watson is intrigued, however, and starts an investigation of his own. But his line of questioning soon causes him to cross paths with a certain Colonel Moriarty. And it leads him into an affair with a possible suspect - Amelia, the sensual and seductive wife of Ezekial Shaw. Yet as he gets closer to the mysterious truth, the boxing underworld stands in his way. And to keep the truth hidden, plans are made to murder the investigator. Before the case is solved, Watson will have to fight his way out of tighter corner than any he ever found himself in with Holmes. This is Watson as you have never seen him before. He is daring, dogged and damnably attractive to the fair sex! This gripping novella combines action, humour, mystery - along with a love and knowledge of the original Conan Doyle stories.

The enigmatic army officer Captain JAC Smethwick is a veteran of the The Charge of the Light Brigade. But when he visits Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson he has more on his mind than the conflict in the Crimea. There is a mystery surrounding the death of his former employer, Lord Cardigan. Smethwick believes that the man responsible for his death is none other than the former Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. Holmes sends Watson off to Deene Park, Lord Cardigan's estate, to investigate and question the victim's widow - the colourful and flirtatious Adeline de Horsey. But Watson starts to uncover an altogether more sinister and complex conspiracy. And rather than unmask the murderer, Watson may become his next victim. The game's afoot - but who is the hunter and who will be the prey? 'Doctor Watson's Charge' is part of Patrick Mercer's bestselling series of Doctor Watson adventures that include 'Doctor Watson's War' and 'Doctor Watson's Bout'. Patrick Mercer's books have received widespread acclaim. Praise for his novel 'To Do and Die': 'A finely-drawn depiction of battle and the camaraderie of war' Daily Mail ‘A tremendous achievement by a storyteller who knows the humour, the fear and the frenzy of men in battle,’ Bernard Cornwell Patrick Mercer is author of the Doctor Watson series, as well as 'Men of Honour'. 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. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher.