Sherlock Season 4 spoilers: Family secret to be revealed - Is Moriarty really dead? [SPOILERS]

Dr. Watson and Sherlock HolmesBBC

The third season of BBC's "Sherlock" left fans wondering if Moriarty had faked his death, and whether Janine will return to Sherlock's side. Early reports reveal that these intuitions were correct, and there are more surprises coming "Sherlock" season four.

Theories of Moriarty's fake death include him having a twin brother, a fake gun being used in the suicide, and drugs being used to slow his heartbeat down to an undetectable rate. As Sherlock has faked his own death, it is not unreasonable that another character could be fooling viewers.

According to the Latin Post, show creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have confirmed that Moriarty is very much alive. Sherlock's nemesis may commit even more heinous crimes in next year's episodes as his obsession with Sherlock grows. Holmes' brother, Sherrinford, would be an attractive target for the evil Moriarty.

Sherlock will have some distractions in his pursuit of Moriarty, however. Janine is expected to return to Sherlock's side, although she left season three angry that Sherlock had used her to get close to Magnussen. How close Sherlock will get to her this time around remains to be seen. He may question her intentions and her loyalty after she talked to the tabloids in "His Last Vow."

Mary cannot question Watson's loyalty after he destroyed evidence of who she really is. Sherlock, however, may still be curious, especially after Mary shot him last season. The meaning behind her initials, A. G. R. A., may be revealed in season four, as well as details of her past as an assassin.

As a secret agent, Mary is also a skilled liar, and it is unknown if the information on the memory stick she presented to Watson was real or not. Mary has another reason to protect her identity—it was revealed in the season finale that she is pregnant with Watson's child.

The fourth season of "Sherlock" is expected to air in January 2015 on the BBC.