It was some time before Sherlock Holmes recovered from the events of late 1871. Physically, it took many months; mentally, it took many years. He was bound by both a promise to the living and a commitment to honour the dead, and being so bound he set the full force of his will to rebuilding the shattered pieces of his life. Yet some times will alone is not enough. Part I of The Consulting Detective Trilogy follows Sherlock to the University of Cambridge and tells the story of his decision to become a detective, his first few cases, and his early training. Sherlock Holmes encounters strange deaths, a blackmail ring, a ship named "Gloria Scott" and the mysteries of his own mind.