Ahem. We aren't acquainted, but I haven't even read the book yet (yes, it's still sitting on my nighttable - excuse of new infant, &c.) and your criticism seems to be apt, from what I know of excerpts.

I've been slightly disappointed in every book save for the first two, for the reasons you mention, and also because I see the Sherlock Holmes stories as quintessentially English and I want to see MORE of those stories, not Travel!Holmes and Linguist!Russell - those plots seem to me to make her even more Sueish than usual.

Look forward to your fics in which Everyone Is Punished Soundly. Heh.