Moriarty's Criminal Syndicate
The vast and subtle criminal organisation behind Professor Moriarty.
Moriarty's organisation is the criminal network that Sherlock Holmes uncovers in "The Adventure of the Final Problem". Holmes tells Watson that for years he has suspected many seemingly isolated crimes of being the work of a single, vast and subtle criminal organisation. At its centre he finds Professor Moriarty, a mastermind who gives criminals strategy and protection in exchange for obedience and a share of their profits.
Quick Facts
- Leader
- Professor James Moriarty
Lore & Background
Holmes likens Moriarty to a spider at the centre of a web and calls him the "Napoleon of crime". Moriarty realises that Holmes knows of his operation and confronts him in person, threatening death if he interferes further. Holmes ignores the threat and hands evidence to the police so that Moriarty and those who run his network will face justice within days. Knowing that the mastermind and his trusted lieutenants mean to kill him first, Holmes flees to Switzerland, where Moriarty confronts him at the top of the Reichenbach Falls.
Reader's Guide
Colonel Sebastian Moran was recruited by Moriarty and served as his chief of staff, later being used only for assassinations that needed his skill with the rifle. In The Valley of Fear, set before "The Final Problem", Holmes tries to stop Moriarty's men from committing a murder. The 2025 television series Sherlock & Daughter gives Holmes a different criminal syndicate to fight, the Red Thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads Moriarty's Criminal Syndicate?
The organisation is run by Professor James Moriarty, a criminal mastermind.
What is the scope of this criminal network?
Moriarty is described as an international criminal gang leader who supplies criminals with strategies and sometimes protection from the law.
What is the status of the organization after The Final Problem?
After the Reichenbach Falls only a few members of Moriarty's organisation were still free.
More in Criminals & Organizations
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