The Best of Sherlock Holmes

"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is a Sherlock Holmes short story where Holmes investigates how a valuable gemstone ended up in a goose's crop. The case begins with a lost hat and a Christmas...

Sherlock Holmes asks Watson to whisper "Norbury" to remind him of his error in predicting the outcome of a case. In "The Adventure of the Yellow Face," Holmes incorrectly deduces that a client’s wife...

Holmes refers to Mary's decision to leave her uncle, Mr. Holder, as "the best possible solution" because she was involved in the theft of the beryl coronet. Holder initially suspects his son, but...

Important clues in "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" include Stark's insistence on secrecy and focus on Hatherley being alone in the world, the fact that no one uses a press on fuller's earth,...

Sherlock Holmes dies after falling off the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. Engaged in a fight with his arch-nemesis, Moriarty, he falls to his death. However, after urging from his fans, Arthur...

221B Baker Street is a fictional address created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for the Sherlock Holmes stories. Although Baker Street is a real location in Westminster, London, the specific address 221B...

The relationship between Holmes and Watson is crucial to a detective novel's progression because they act as foils, highlighting each other's traits. Holmes's unmatched intelligence contrasts with...

Holmes kept his plan secret from Watson because he needed Watson to convincingly summon Culverton Smith to his lodgings. Holmes pretended to be dying from a rare tropical disease to trap Smith into...

Holmes allows Ryder to go free after he confesses to stealing the blue carbuncle because he believes it is not his role to correct the police's shortcomings. Holmes feels Ryder, terrified by his...

The clues in “The Adventure of the Empty House” are Moran’s cheating at cards and the soft bullets. Holmes knows Moran killed Adair because the murderer used the soft bullets from the gun...

Holmes discovers that Mr. Windibank is Hosmer Angel by identifying the motive behind the deception: Miss Mary Sutherland's inheritance, which her stepfather, Mr. Windibank, and her mother exploit....

Sherlock Holmes uses a variety of methods to solve mysteries, including deductive and inductive reasoning, scientific experimentation, and extensive knowledge of crime. He conducts thorough...

Mr. Hosmer Angel is a fictitious identity created by Mr. Windibank, Mary Sutherland's stepfather, in "A Case of Identity." He adopts this persona to deceive Mary and prevent her from marrying,...

The blue carbuncle was the name of a setting for a precious gem in a jeweled necklace worn by an old lady. The man who stole the jeweled necklace also stole a billycock hat from the house of Dr....

Holmes solves the case by questioning a porter and using a dog to track the missing rugby player. He receives a note from a panicked Mr. Overton about the player, Godfrey Staunton, who might seek...

Sherlock Holmes is an expert in deduction, a skill that comes from careful observation of the physical world. The powers of observation are also called "observation" or "senses." In Arthur Conan...

In "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," clues include a tattered hat from which Holmes deduces the owner's intellect, past wealth, and personal issues. The goose, containing the stolen blue...

Sherlock Holmes remains popular due to his complex character and intriguing traits. His genius-level deductive skills, vast knowledge, and mastery of disguise captivate readers. Holmes combines...

In "The Best of Sherlock Holmes," Sherlock Holmes decides not to turn James Ryder, the thief of the blue carbuncle, over to the police. Ryder, an opportunistic hotel attendant, had stolen the jewel...

In "The Five Orange Pips," Elias Openshaw returned to Europe after the American Civil War due to his dislike of African Americans and the Republican Party's policies. However, the real reason was his...

The Ku Klux Klan is pursuing Elias in "The Five Orange Pips" because he fled America with crucial documents that could incriminate prominent Southern men as Klan members. These papers pose a threat...

Sherlock Holmes employs keen observation and scientific methods to solve cases, using logic and facts to support his hypotheses. He is often abrupt with most people but is kind and solicitous with...

Sherlock Holmes benefits from Watson's help in several ways, though whether he needs him is subjective. Watson assists Holmes financially with rent, provides an outlet for Holmes' ego by admiring his...

Miss Mary Sutherland is a gentle, sincere, and good-hearted young woman with a small inheritance who works as a typist. She is depicted as innocently simple and trusting, particularly in her...

The Ku Klux Klan targeted Elias, Joseph, and Openshaw due to Elias taking important KKK papers when he left the United States in 1869, potentially exposing key members and harming the organization....

Sherlock Holmes is characterized as a brilliant, observant, and logical detective who relies on his keen powers of deduction. His abilities in solving complex cases highlight his intelligence and...

Sherlock Holmes focuses on solving mysteries by employing several techniques. He clears his "brain attic" of unnecessary information to make room for useful knowledge. Holmes often isolates himself...

Elias Openshaw is portrayed as a wealthy, stern, aloof, and arrogant man with racist views. His character is revealed through actions and background, such as fighting for Confederate generals in the...

Holmes deduces that the owner was intelligent but has fallen on hard times and his wife has left him.

In "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," the murder victim, Charles McCarthy, is also the antagonist because he blackmails John Turner, threatening to reveal Turner's past crimes unless he meets McCarthy's...

In 1883, the mysterious Mr. Hudson visited Elias Openshaw; John Openshaw noted that his uncle was burnt by papers in his fireplace and that they had ashes from papers in the ashes. He also found a...

In "The Adventure of Black Peter," Holmes employs the technique of disguise to solve the crime. His skillful disguises enable him to gather information freely and unnoticed, even deceiving Dr. Watson...

The mood in "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is dark and malignant, heavily influenced by Gothic literature, characterized by mystery, horror, and a sense of the supernatural. Elements like...

Sherlock Holmes is portrayed as observant, solitary, and methodical across "The Five Orange Pips," "The Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventures of the Speckled Band." In "The Speckled Band," his keen...

Sherlock Holmes did not actually meet Mrs. Straker at Plymouth; instead, he used this claim as a tactic to gather information. In "Silver Blaze," Holmes deceives Mrs. Straker to determine whether her...

Sherlock Holmes's relationship with Moriarty is one of mutual respect and antagonism, as each sees the other as the pinnacle of their respective fields. While Moriarty provides Holmes with...

Sherlock Holmes uses the walking stick as a tool by closely examining it to deduce details about its owner. For instance, he notes tooth marks on the stick, indicating a dog owner, and infers the...

Violet Hunter initially declines Mr. Rucastle's job offer due to unusual conditions: wearing specific dresses, sitting in designated places, and cutting her hair short. Although she agrees to the...

Holmes deduced that Jacky was unusually intelligent before meeting him because Jacky, having a twisted spine from a childhood accident, had physical limitations. Holmes reasoned that these...

Sherlock Holmes' role in preserving law and order in society includes solving complex cases that baffle the police, using his keen observational skills and logical reasoning. By apprehending...

Sherlock Holmes concludes that Henry Baker did not commit a crime in "The Blue Carbuncle." Holmes determines this by observing Baker's reaction when told that the goose he was carrying, which...

Both "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and "The Case of Identity" involve men who conceal their true identities for financial gain. In "The Man with the Twisted Lip," the protagonist deceives his family...

Sherlock Holmes values reliable alliances in solving mysteries, as demonstrated by his strategic partnerships. In "A Scandal in Bohemia," Holmes relies on Dr. Watson to assist with a smoke rocket...

In "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire," Robert Ferguson falsely claims in his letter to Holmes that he is writing on behalf of someone else. This is contradicted by Holmes's immediate recognition...

The story centers on a murder mystery involving Sherlock Holmes, puzzles, and the sinister Professor Moriarty. Holmes receives a coded message about John Douglas's impending murder, which soon...

Mrs. Windibank's motive in "A Case of Identity" is financial gain. She collaborates with her husband to deceive her daughter, Miss Sutherland, by having Mr. Windibank pose as Mr. Hosmer Angel to...

Watson's habit of embellishing in the Sherlock Holmes stories affects a reader's ability to solve the mystery before Holmes by providing both excitement and a deeper insight into Holmes's methods....