Set at the turn of the 20th century, it follows two actual historical figures: the rather obscure George Edalji, a half-Indian solicitor wrongfully accused of ruthlessly slaying a number of farm animals, and the well-known Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Upon the death of his first wife, Doyle finds himself unable to find pleasure in either life or the mistress he's kept for quite some time. When he stumbles upon the case of Mr. Edalji, he decides for the first time to enter into the real world of detective work.