Sophisticated Vocabulary – The novel includes formal, historical, and legal terms (e.g., referring to Victorian law, social hierarchies, and Scottish culture), which are not common in everyday English.

Historical and Cultural References – Readers need background knowledge of late 19th–early 20th-century England and Scotland, as well as familiarity with Arthur Conan Doyle, to fully grasp nuances.

Nuanced Writing Style – Barnes’s style often involves irony, subtle characterization, and careful wordplay, which demands attentive reading to understand implied meanings.

Narrative Shifts – The book alternates perspectives and timelines, requiring the reader to follow multiple threads and infer connections.