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THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Three years after Sherlock Holmes' death, Ronald Adair was shot in a locked room. Watson had not arrived at a plausible solution of the case. When he was passing the murder scene, he bumped into an old man who was obviously a bookseller or bibliophile. But when Watson's eyes revert to the old man, he finds not an old bibliophile before him, but Sherlock Holmes. Watson promptly faints....First published in Collier's Weekly, Sep. 1903, with 7 illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele, and in the Strand Magazine, Oct. 1903, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE FINAL PROBLEM by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE FINAL PROBLEM by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Holmes had escaped three separate murder attempts after a visit from Professor Moriarty, who warned Holmes to withdraw from his pursuit of justice against him to avoid any regrettable outcome. Holmes has been tracking Moriarty and his agents for months and is on the brink of snaring them all and delivering them to the dock. Moriarty is the criminal genius behind a highly organised and extremely secret criminal force and Holmes will consider it the crowning achievement of his career if he can defeat Moriarty. Moriarty is out to thwart Holmes's plans and is well capable of doing so, for he is, as Holmes admits, the great detective's intellectual equal.After being deceived to leave Holmes alone, Watson rushes back to the Reichenbach Falls but finds no one there, although he does see two sets of footprints going out onto the muddy dead end path with none returning. There is also a note from Holmes, explaining that he knew Watson was deceived to leave him alone, - and that he is about to fight Moriarty, who has graciously given him enough time to pen this last letter. Watson sees that towards the end of the path there are signs that a violent struggle has taken place and there are no returning footprints. It is all too clear Holmes and Moriarty have both fallen to their deaths down the gorge while locked in mortal combat...[First published in the Strand Magazine, Dec. 1893, with 9 illustrations by Sidney Paget.]…

THE NAVAL TREATY by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE NAVAL TREATY by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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An unknown thief steals an important naval treaty from a Foreign Office clerk; Sherlock Holmes sets out to find it. An unknown thief steals an important naval treaty from the office of Mr. Percy Phelps, a Foreign Office clerk. Phelps's distress gives him a brain fever that lasts for nine weeks.First published in the Strand Magazine in two parts, first part in Oct. 1893 with 8 illustrations by Sidney Paget, second part in Nov. 1893 with 7 illustrations by Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE GREEK INTERPRETER by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE GREEK INTERPRETER by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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A greek interpreter was kidnapped and forced to translate some documents by two mysterious Greek men.First published in the Strand Magazine, Sept. 1893, with 8 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE RESIDENT PATIENT by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE RESIDENT PATIENT by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Blessington offered Percy to finance his practice, on the condition that Percy would give three quarters of his earnings to him. It turned out to be profitable.One day, Blessington found out about some kind of robbery and Percy believed he was afraid of someone.Two Russian noblemen came as Percy's new patients and acted strangely while someone has entered into Blessington's room.Blessington asked Percy to get Holmes' help, but later he hanged himself...First published in the Strand Magazine, Aug. 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE CROOKED MAN by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE CROOKED MAN by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Mrs. Barclay was suspected of murdering her own husband. Holmes and Watson go to investigate this to find more to the case.…

THE REIGATE PUZZLE

THE REIGATE PUZZLE

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There has recently been a burglary at the nearby Acton estate in which the thieves stole a motley assortment of things, even a ball of twine, but nothing terribly valuable. Then one morning, the Colonel's butler tells news of a murder at another nearby estate, the Cunninghams'. The victim is William Kirwan, the coachman. Inspector Forrester has taken charge of the investigation, and there is one physical clue: a torn piece of paper found in William's hand with a few words written on it. Holmes takes an instant interest in this, seeing something that Forrester has missed: it is quite clear to Holmes that the fragment of a note was written by two men, each writing alternate words. One man is young, and the other rather older. Moreover, they are related. Holmes, an expert at studying handwriting, does not voice this or any other observation or conclusion until the end of the story. He also observes that one line says "quarter to twelve", coincidentally the time of William's murder. First published in the Strand Magazine, June 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget. Alternative titles: The Reigate Squire and The Reigate Squires.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Reginald Musgrave visits Holmes after the disappearance of two of his domestic staff, Rachel Howells, a maid, and Richard Brunton, the longtime butler. Brunton vanished without his belongings after being dismissed for secretly reading a family document, the Musgrave Ritual. Brunton's former lover, Rachel Howells escaped through a window after being hysterical abour Brunton's missing. Her footprints led to the edge of the mere, and ended there. Musgrave had the mere dredged, but only a sack containing some rusty, mangled bits of metal, and some coloured stones or glass were found. Holmes looked upon the case not as three mysteries, but as one.…

THE ' GLORIA SCOTT ' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ' GLORIA SCOTT ' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Holmes's friend, Mr. Trevor was dying as a result of a stroke suffered after he received a letter.Seven weeks earlier, Hudson an old man, had come looking for work. He proved to be as unruly an employee as could be imagined. He had taken unforgivable liberties which would normally have resulted in an employee's dismissal. He was often drunk. The other staff had complained about him. However, Mr. Trevor always let him get away with any infamy. Because Hudson was his old shipmate. Suddenly, Hudson announced that he was leaving because he had tired of Norfolk, and he was going to Hampshire to see Beddoes, another old shipmate. Now, Mr. Trevor had become thin and careworn by the ordeal. He had thought that the trouble was over when Hudson had left, but then came the letter, from Fordingbridge in Hampshire. It read: "The supply of game for London is going steadily up. Head-keeper Hudson, we believe, has been now told to receive all orders for fly-paper and for preservation of your hen pheasant's life."Holmes found the key. If one read every third word beginning with the first, there was an intelligible message: "The game is up. Hudson has told all. Fly for your life." Holmes had deduced that the game was blackmail. Some guilty secret had been the power that Hudson had held over the elder Mr. Trevor. And it involves the name of one ship ; ' Gloria Scott '.First published in the Strand Magazine, Apr. 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE STOCKBROKER'S CLERK by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE STOCKBROKER'S CLERK by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Pycroft is a stockbroker's clerk who had then been taken on by the firm of Mawson and Williams in the City of London. Tthe firm took him on without a face-to-face interview, with arrangements made via the postal system. The job is a good one, and the wages offered more than reasonable.He also receives another job offer, when Arthur Pinnar, of the Franco-Midland Hardware Company visits him in person. The Franco-Midland Hardware Company has nothing to do with stockbroking, and deals with hardware stores on the continent, but the terms of employment are better than those offered by Mawson and Williams. So despite the job being in Birmingham rather than London, Pycroft accepts the new job offer.Quickly though, things don't feel right to Pycroft; and the fact that Arthur Pinnar asks Pycroft not to resign from Mawson and Williams, stating that an argument had left ill-feeling between the two company's.In Birmingham, things are also not what Pycroft expected. The offices are dusty and unsuitable for the expected work, and the work given to Pycroft by Harry Pinnar, Arthur's brother, is meaningless. Pycroft then discovers that Arthur Pinnar and Harry Pinnar are the same person...First published in the Strand Magazine, Mar. 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE YELLOW FACE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE YELLOW FACE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Holmes and Watson hear the story of Munro's deception by his wife Effie. She had been previously married in America, but her husband and child had died of yellow fever, whereupon she returned to England and met and married Munro. Their marriage had been blissful-"We have not had a difference, not one, in thought, or word, or deed," says Grant Munro-until she asked for a hundred pounds and begged him not to ask why. Two months later, Effie Munro was caught conducting secret liaisons with the occupants of a cottage near the Munro house in Norbury. Grant Munro has seen a mysterious yellow-faced person in this cottage. Overcome with jealousy, he breaks in and finds the place empty. However, the room where he saw the mysterious figure is very comfortable and well furnished, with a portrait of his wife on the mantelpiece. Holmes, after sending Munro home with instructions to wire for him if the cottage was reoccupied, confides in Watson his belief that the mysterious figure is Effie Munro's first husband. He postulates that the husband, having been left in America, has come to England to blackmail her. First published in the Strand Magazine, Feb. 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF SILVER BLAZE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF SILVER BLAZE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson travel by train to Dartmoor to investigate a crime of disappearance of the great race horse Silver Blaze and the murder of the horse's trainer, John Straker.First published in the Strand Magazine, Dec. 1892, with 9 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Violet Hunter seeks the help of Holmes when she discovers some strange things about a new position as governess for Mr. Jephro Rucastle, a strange man. This man insists to hire Hunter and has raise the salary twice to persuade her to take the job. He also has a vicious mastiff dog who's he seldom fed and the dog is off leash every night. But on top of all, Rucastle seems to keep someone as his secret prisoner...First published in the Strand Magazine, June 1892, with 9 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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A banker, Mr. Alexander Holder makes a loan of £50,000 to a socially prominent client, who leaves the Beryl Coronet - one of the most valuable public possessions in existence - as security. Holder feels that he must not leave this rare and precious piece of jewelry in his personal safe at the bank, and so he takes it home with him to lock it up there. He is awoken in the night by a noise, enters his dressing room, and is horrified to see his son Arthur with the coronet in his hands. Three beryls are missing from it, and the coronet itself is already broken. In a panic, Holder travels to see Holmes, who agrees to take the case.As Holmes was starting to handle the case, some peculiarities appeared. Arthur is refusing to give a statement of any kind. Holmes then found that even a strong man like him could not break the coronet without making any noise. Holmes begins to believe that Arthur didn't take the beryls. Someone else must have done it. Holmes totally realizes that the failure to resolve the case will result in Mr. Holder's dishonor, and will become a national scandal.Holmes sets about not only reviewing the details that he learns from Holder, but also examining the footprints in the snow outside. Eventually, Holmes solves the mystery, and Holder is flabbergasted to find that his niece Mary was in league with a notorious criminal, Sir George Burnwell, although she is unaware of his character. The two of them escape justice; however, Holmes is convinced that they will receive their punishment in due time.First published in the Strand Magazine, May 1892, with 9 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Flora Millar; a dancer - caused a disturbance at a wedding reception. A mysterious man at the church picked the wedding bouquet dropped by the bride and handed it back to her. Another unknown man was seen going into Hyde Park with the bride. And then Hattie Doran went missing with her wedding dress and ring found washed up on the shore of the Serpentine... First published in the Strand Magazine, Apr. 1892, with 8 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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An engineer, by the name of Victor Hatherley, has had his thumb chopped off in a murderous attack. Hatherley had been employed by a shadowy German figure to repair a hydraulic press, and when the engineer had found out too much its operation.First published in the Strand Magazine, Mar. 1892, with 8 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE SPECKLED BAND by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE SPECKLED BAND by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Sherlock Holmes investigates the case of a young bride to be who fears that she'll be murdered. Helen Stoner, the stepdaughter of Sir Grimesby Roylott, has reason to believe that her stepfather killed her sister-she just doesn't know how. And the only clue is the last word from the dead sister ; "The Speckled Band" First published in the Strand Magazine, Feb. 1892, with 9 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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A previously convicted felon is arrested for the theft of The Blue Carbuncle, a priceless jewel. But the jewel is later found in a goose's crop. Holmes tracks down the people related to the goose to find the real thief of the Blue Carbuncle.First published in the Strand Magazine, Jan. 1892, with 8 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Mr. St. Clair disappeared in front of his wife, inside an opium den. Holmes investigates this missing man case in disguise. A shocking truth revealed; the missing man has been living a double life...First published in the Strand Magazine, Dec. 1891, with 10 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…

THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Mysterious letters each with KKK signs and five orange pips, followed by mysterious death of the Openshaw family who received them one by one. This has caused Sherlock Holmes' anger and makes him determined in solving it.First published in the Strand Magazine, Nov. 1891, with 6 illustrations by Sidney Paget.…