Language of Bees by Laurie R. King

Sherlock Holmes has a son! Apparently, he and Mary Russell found out about him five years before this book but he didn't want anything to do with his father at that time. His mother was Irene Adler and she didn't want Holmes to know about their child. Mycroft knew and provided a stipend for Irene and her son, Damian. Now that he needs Holmes to help him, Damian is being pleasant. He has become a well-known painter by this time, recently come to London from Shanghai - with a wife and child. Now his wife and child are missing and he wants Holmes to help him find them. Russell stays behind for awhile and explores the problems with a hive of bees that are leaving their hive empty. Soon the boredom gets to her and she heads off to find Holmes and Damian to help. The interest of the time in the mystic religious philosophies figures strongly in this mystery with trips to various old religious sites to explore. The ending was a kick in the stomach because it is a definate "to be continued". How long must we wait for the outcome?