The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
This story is written in the third person, a detour from the original first person by Watson. This was done as the story was to be produced as a play. This also explains the limited space in which the action takes place. Most of the stories are part of some memoir while the story appears to be happening in real time. This story uses least of Holmes’ deduction methods and so is a poor choice to be produced into a play, as Holmes’ deduction methods are his USP. This also hints at the mediocrity of the audience for whom the play was being produced. Count Negretto, who is described as a most cunning man, carries the diamond with him all the time. This action of his doesn’t fit as being of someone who is cunning. The story does give the audience a hint into the organised crime, but does little in terms of thrill and suspense. The disguise of wax effigy does little justice to Holmes’ extraordinary deductive skills.
The Problem of Thor Bridge
The story starts with Watson describing a box at Cox & co. where he keeps detailed records of all the cases, he has so far noted down with Holmes. This is one of those details which makes the world of Holmes real even when it’s not. The client Holmes has is one of the richest man in the world, he is the Gold King and was an American Senator once. His relationship with his governess is a bit obvious from his deep involvement in her acquittal. The husband and the governess are innocent, one can surmise. The mystery is mostly in the method of murder and the murder weapon. Holmes chides his clients for his arrogance, greed and sense of entitlement. The client is shown in a bad light, with his mannerisms and the description from his manager, probably to misguide the reader.
The Adventure of The Creeping Man
This story reflects the annoyance Watson feels for his treatment by Holmes. Holmes patronizes Watson almost always for his observing skills. This leads Watson to wonder the reasons why Holmes need him when Watson is never useful to him. He reasons he surmises were Holmes’ compulsive behaviour which liked little changes in its furniture. To Watson, Holmes merely thought of him as a part of his room whose absence distracted him. It also worth noting at this point, Sir Doyle had ‘killed’ and ‘revived’ Holmes, and could possibly be having similar thoughts, hence his annoyance with the character. The story almost verges on supernatural with allusions to werewolves with Professor Presbury’s animal-like qualities. A real-life surgeon who used animal parts to boost virility in humans is alluded to with Lowenstein’s injections.
The Adventure of The Sussex Vampire
The mention of vampires throws Holmes into disbelief when the letter from the law firm arrives. It also satirizes the over-diligent law firms who would put up with every whimsical demand of the client. When the letter from Ferguson arrives, Holmes deduces that Ferguson is referring to himself and not any friend. A noteworthy thing is the stereotypes the story has. Holmes finds it normal that a step-mother would abuse his step-son. Another is the views on people from exotic countries, particularly South-American. The women form these countries are described as passionate verging on mad and in both the stories the husbands are said to have made mistakes in marrying exotic women. This same stereotype is prevailed in The Problem of Thor Bridge. Doyle uses the mysterious heritage of Ferguson’s wife to suggest a supernatural element, but it also perpetuates stereotypes about those countries. Sucking out poison seemed to have work in the story, though in reality it rarely helps. Jack’s attempt to poison the child is not considered a matter to involve police, and the story is left hanging to what his fate would be as an invalid jealous older brother.
The Adventure of The Three Garridebs
The story almost replicates to The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, in three aspects: an incredible excuse to drive the client from his home, a criminal motive disguised by a seemingly comic one, and involvement of organised crime. And, though Watson or Holmes do not refer to it, the similarities are too much to ignore. Holmes could derive from the amazing narrative by John Garrideb that he was lying. The character of Nathan Garrideb is most strange one, his reluctance to leave his home is unfathomable. His personal museum which could have thrown anyone off the scent as it can always be assumed that John Garrideb was after some artefact from there. Holmes, however, uses his knowledge of the criminal world to deduce John is actually Killer Evans. This is another similarity between the two cases, that a reader can’t guess the purpose or identity of the criminal.
The Adventure of The Illustrious Client
The identity of the client mentioned in the title is never revealed. He is believed to be of royal origins and is acting for the well-fare of Violet de Merville, who is so enraptured by the Baron Gruner that she would not hear a word against him, though he is suspected of marrying rich women and killing them for their money. The strategy Holmes uses involves getting information from his sources in the criminal world. Shinwell Johnson is one of his contacts he uses to gather intel on different events in London. This shows the hold Holmes has in the world of organised crime and not just private household matters. Holmes rely highly on the emotions of the women in this story, although he usually states that women are far more superior than men in matters of secrecy and deduction. He understands that a woman who has been told of his fiancé’s immoral activities in a manner that makes him regretful would make her more her more trustful and so begins to look for things that would destroy such trust. Kitty Winter also comes across as a passionate woman who would have revenge violently.
The Adventure of The Three Gables
The story features another of the femme fatale Holmes’ stories boast of, Isadora Klein. Holmes has a high regard for the intelligence of women, though he doesn’t revers Isadora as he does for Irene Adler. The mystery arises from the unusual request for the house and the commodities in it. Over the time, one gets to learn that the commotion has been due to a book written by Douglas which comes as a bit of understatement, given the energy put behind the matter. Holmes’ reactions to Dixie can be taken in a stereotypical context, as Doyle usually does with women of colour by portraying them as unstable and unpredictable, though this reaction does not tally with his previous ones in The Adventure of The Yellow Face and can be understood as pertaining to Steve as a criminal not a black person. One also gets to see the measure of justice Holmes seems to have developed in his line of work and so instead of having Isadora charged for stealth and conspiracy, has her finance his client’s world tour.
The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier
This story is noted for being in first person POV by Holmes. The explanations Holmes presents is the absence of Watson, who has recently married which Holmes disapproves and Watson’s insistence to get him to write. The two POVs differ in their treatment of the story. While Watson is more descriptive, Holmes tends to keep his observations to himself even from the readers. Watson likes to build the thrill of the story, while Holmes merely states the facts as they were. The mystery of Godfrey Emsworth’s confinement also illustrates the ideas of society about Leprosy. People don’t want to approach help for the fear of seclusion from the society, even when the help might end the problem. This is also shown through Godfrey’s reactions in the leper hospital after finding himself in the company of lepers. He calls them monstrosities and their laughter is shrill to his ears. Another thing noteworthy is him bringing a Leprosy specialist to Godfrey’s house. Assuming Godfrey is confined due to some other reason, bringing a specialist does seem unnecessary.
The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane
This is another story in POV by Holmes. It is one of the few stories from the days after Holmes’ retirement from London. This story is along the same lines as The Adventure of The Speckled Band, a metaphorical utterance by the victim that causes confusion, death by mysterious means, and the involvement of a nature’s creature. The only thing different is the presence of a sinister motive. Multiple suspects are involved, which might confuse an investigator. This is a case where forensics could have been of much use. Another thing to notice is the sheer coincidence of Holmes being familiar with the creature that is called The Lion’s Mane. Since, Holmes has never mentioned his interest in sea creatures, his deductions seem far-fetched.
The Adventure of The Retired Colourman
Holmes is almost duped by the client, Josh Amberley, in this story. Holmes gauges his clients’ nature and character from their reactions and behaviour, and since Amberley’s reactions were dictated by the hatred for his wife, Holmes can’t guess that Amberley actually murdered them, and it’s only through Watson’s observation of him painting walls he can judge that something might not be right in that household. Holmes who is tech-savy, uses telephone and telegrams to help him in investigations. Amberley is described comically as a miser, till he is discovered to have a more sinister motive. The police help little in the case, but end up taking all the credit. The stories, thus, also seem to throw light upon cases which may have really happened, in a Doyle’s universe, but are never told properly. This brings more realism in the stories.
The Adventure of The Veiled Lodger
This story is more of a confession than a case. Holmes doesn’t participate in any investigation, but just has a woman confess the murder she was an accomplice in. There is little to deduce here, but Holmes creates a sense of mystery since he knows the circumstances in which her husband died and she was mutilated. Like most of Doyle’s stories this one also has elements of poetic justice. The woman is spurned by the lover after she decides to kill her husband, the lover dies after her murders a man. Watson also mentions a certain case, almost as if threatening to release the story to stop getting Holmes’ papers stolen. This almost adds a sense of realism to the story and increases curiosity in the reader.
The Adventure of The Shoscombe Old Place
The story starts unfavourable to Robert Norberton, who is described as cruel, lusty, and dependent on his invalid sister. The sister becomes somewhat of an enigma due to drastic changes in her behaviour. Adding to it, the presence of another man in the crypts and discovery of human bones in the house’s furnace, adds to the foreboding element of the story. The mystery heightens with every new element presented by John Mason, with a hint of supernatural with the mention of burning of human bones. As per Holmes’ own measure of justice, he lets Robert keep his sister’s death a secret as he observed the respect of the dead. Watson seems to have disapproved this when he mentions Robert winning the derby and getting leniency from the court in the matter.
