I: Preparing the mind. Understanding Sherlock -- Do you have the personality? -- Developing an agile mind -- Being alert to the world around you -- Keeping an ear to the ground -- Reading between the lines -- Keeping an open mind -- Thinking laterally -- Choosing your friends wisely -- Accepting good fortune -- Learning from your mistakes -- Keeping focus -- Logic and deduction -- Improving your deduction skills -- II: Building your knowledge base. Knowing your subject -- Obtaining data -- Reading the signs -- Laying your cards on the table -- Mastering disguise -- Breaking the code -- Information sifting -- Improving your memory -- taking a walk down memory lane -- Reaching conclusions.