Holmes solves a theft where nothing of value was stolen. Holmes' expertise in handwriting comes in handy as part of a note is left. A highlight of this episode is a look into Watson's life before Holmes.
35. "The Adventure of Black Peter" 7/10 (Short Story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes)
An admirer
and imitator of Holmes requires the master's help why he gets stuck
on the harpoon murder of a violent sea captain. It turns out the
student has much to learn.34. "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" 7/10 (Short Story from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)
Missing papers and a curious clue may lead to the fall of the British Empire. Holmes makes some great deductions and lays a good trap. The criminal is the weak point of this one due to his rather weak plot and common motive. This one has a great ending that stands as one of the best Holmes tricks ever, and it's on his own client!
Sherlock Holmes has retired, but must untangle the curious circumstances around the death of his neighbor. The imagery really captures life near the ocean. Unfortunately, Holmes looks foolish as the evidence leads Holmes, and the reader, away from the actual solution. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was too trivial to fool Holmes. Perhaps he's slipping in his old age. This is another story narrated by Holmes and the third of the 'forged' stories according to “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution.”
32. "The Adventure of the Three Gables" 7/10 (Short Story from The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes)
A strangely twisting tale that involves
Holmes exploring the motives behind the purchase of a house. This one
is also declared a forgery in 'The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. There is
a fairly racist caricatured black man in it which brings down an
otherwise solid story; however, I don't feel it is any worse than the
racism in 'Wisteria Lodge' (not that it is excused).
31. "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" 7/10 (Short Story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
Holmes must free a wrongly imprisoned man and attempt to reunite a family. A man withholds evidence that could lead to his freedom. The beryl coronet is used as a McGuffin in this story which is unusual for Holmes' mysteries.
31. "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" 7/10 (Short Story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
Holmes must free a wrongly imprisoned man and attempt to reunite a family. A man withholds evidence that could lead to his freedom. The beryl coronet is used as a McGuffin in this story which is unusual for Holmes' mysteries.
30. "The Adventure of the Crooked Man" 7/10 (Short Story from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)
A locked room case involving a creepy man. This story puts Holmes' deduction against old passions of a soldier. The backstory is forged in the firery exoticism of the Indian war and provides as good a tale as the main mystery.
29. "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" 7/10 (Short Story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes)
Holmes is called once again by his detective admirer. Holmes' prejudice almost gts the better of him, but his thoughts on the train home win out. The case hinges on a bottle of wine!
Sherlock Holmes and Watson take the
case of man whose wife ran off with another man and all his money.
Sherlock also contends with an up and coming young detective. This
case swings on Watson's report of paints fumes and the deduction
follows. This story is often put last in the canon as Holmes respects
the up-and-comer which makes for a much better last case.
27. "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez" 7/10 (Short Story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes)
Another fine deductive Holmes case with interesting twists and classic gambles. Holmes must help the promising young admirer from 'Adventure of Black Peter' solve a murder where the only solid evidence is a pair of gold pince-nez glasses.
27. "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez" 7/10 (Short Story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes)
Another fine deductive Holmes case with interesting twists and classic gambles. Holmes must help the promising young admirer from 'Adventure of Black Peter' solve a murder where the only solid evidence is a pair of gold pince-nez glasses.
A man requires Sherlock's expertise in
discovering what happened to his army buddy. As the first tale
related by Sherlock himself, this one is a unique and has a few
genuinely surprising gothic turns. The ending might turn some off to
the adventure, but it is a fitting end to this tale of friendship.
25. "The Sign of Four" 7/10 Stars (Novel)
The second Sherlock novel is loved by
many and is the most Victorian of the novels. It has Indian exotics
and a charming young lady in distress all wrapped around a locked
door murder. It gets a little long winded and repetitive at times.
Though it has the most suspenseful boat chase in fiction, it couldn't
save the rather obvious plot and lame cartoonish villains.
Next Time: Sherlock tales that really rise to the occasion.
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