His Last Bow · Character
Mycroft Holmes
Sherlock's elder brother, a sedentary government functionary who occasionally is the British government, and whose rare visits to Baker Street signal a crisis beyond ordinary crime.
supporting
Also known as Mycroft, Brother Mycroft
First appearance: The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
As a supporting figure in His Last Bow, Mycroft Holmes is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Visits Baker Street to enlist Sherlock's help in the Cadogan West case, described as the most indispensable man in the country.
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Mycroft draws four hundred and fifty pounds a year, holds no title, and has no ambition, yet his mind is the central clearinghouse through which every department's conclusions pass. He is the most indispensable man in…
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The fuller portrait of Mycroft Holmes sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Mycroft Holmes in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington PlansCharacter Web
13 connectionsA slice of how Mycroft Holmes sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Cornish Mystery Cases
- Protagonist
- German Espionage Network
- Miscellaneous Supporting Characters
+8 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt is not the story's dramatic climax; it is the opening of "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfa…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Sherlock Holmes
family · positive
Mycroft is Sherlock's older brother, with a close but formal familial bond and occasional… How this plays out →
- Sherlock Holmes
family · positive
Mycroft is Sherlock's older brother, with a close but formal familial bond and occasional… How this plays out →
- Sherlock Holmes
family · positive
Mycroft is Sherlock's older brother, with a close but formal familial bond and occasional… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Mycroft Holmes in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington PlansIn the story
Mycroft Holmes appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Mycroft Holmes unlock in the free preview.
See Mycroft Holmes in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans