Official Press Release

Sherlock Holmes is dead - and the streets of London are awash with crime. And with no great detective to save them - who will the common people of London turn to?

This is the question asked in Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars, a series of four graphic novel stories released by Franklin Watts books this coming Spring.

Written by New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novelist and Anthony Horowitz's 'Horowitz Graphic Horror' adaptor Tony Lee, and with art by critically acclaimed 'Horowitz Graphic Horror' artist Dan Boultwood, these four books chronicle the adventures of theBaker Street Irregulars, characters mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books 'A Study In Scarlet' and 'The Sign Of Four' as they take up the challenge of defending the Victorian city against the forces of evil; facing kidnappers, thieves, murderers and a criminal mastermind believed to be the notorious Moriarty, the man also believed to have killed Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls several months earlier.

But the Irregulars aren't alone - helping them are the reluctant Inspector Lestrade, the mysterious Irene Adler and the steadfastDoctor John Watson, who uses his years of study under Holmes to assist this new generation of crimesolvers.

Set in the three 'missing years' between 'The Adventure Of The Final Problem' and 'The Adventure Of The The Empty House', the series concentrates on Wiggins, the only Baker Street Irregular named in any of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyles books and his gang of detectives, including the female pickpocket 'Pockets', the chimney sweep apprentice 'Ash', the Chinatown inventor 'Chen' and the butcher's assistant 'Tiny'. Alongside the mysterious 'Eliza' they find themselves in a variety of adventures that fans of the genre of any age can enjoy.

In the last few years there have been a multitude of child-friendly Sherlock Holmes spinoff books available, but the stories of theBaker Street Irregulars are unique for more than the fact that they are told in a graphical comic format - for one of the first times ever they are 'canonical' within the Sherlock Holmes universe, with perhaps the most acclaimed Sherlock Holmes expert alive today, Leslie S. Klinger coming on board as consulting expert for all four stories.

The editor of countless award winning academic books on Sherlock Holmes, including the 'New Annotated Sherlock Holmes' and the ten volume 'Sherlock Holmes Reference Library', Leslie S. Klinger is so respected in the industry that even the makers of theSherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey, Jr have asked his advice. And with Leslie involved, The Baker Street Irregularsmoves from a simple series to a storytelling event that every self respecting 'Sherlockian' will want on their bookshelf.

With four stories, 'The Adventure Of The Missing Detective', 'The Adventure Of The Phantom Of Drury Lane', 'The Adventure Of The Charge Of The Old Brigade' and 'The Adventure Of The Family Reunion' released in March 2011, Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars is a series for both reluctant and confident readers of all ages.

For more information visit www.thebakerstreetirregulars.com