Sherlock Holmes reread: The Speckled Band
Oct. 28th, 2024 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vivdunstanOn to another Sherlock Holmes short story, and one of my absolute favourites.
This sees a young woman come to Holmes for help. And we uncover a saga of a wicked step father, an Indian connection, strange creatures, and a murderous and cunning plot.
I find this one of the most satisfying Holmes stories because of its ingenuity. The central puzzle itself is tight, and well constructed. There is a satisfying sense of misdirection, which even Holmes is partially fooled by. There is a palpable sense of tension, as the young woman coming to Holmes for help is followed by her step father, who thus knows she has sought professional help, and has nothing to lose by resorting to dangerous measures, and fast.
If anything the TV versions which show the murder weapon in action are even more effective. I have a vivid memory of watching the Jeremy Brett version in 1984, mouth open in shock as I saw the story play out on screen.
It's also an extremely well balanced short story. Some Holmes stories are overlong in certain areas, for example spending an inordinate amount of time on an early deduction. But this one is gripping from the word go.
As a historical aside the story also mentions murderous medics Palmer and Pritchard. I enjoyed learning more about them after reading. Usually I'm exploring Victorian technology as a result of such brief asides in Holmes stories, but I'm quite happy to explore some criminal history for once.
A quite superb short story, and rightly regarded by many Sherlock Holmes fans - and indeed by Arthur Conan Doyle himself! - as one of the very best stories in the entire canon.
This sees a young woman come to Holmes for help. And we uncover a saga of a wicked step father, an Indian connection, strange creatures, and a murderous and cunning plot.
I find this one of the most satisfying Holmes stories because of its ingenuity. The central puzzle itself is tight, and well constructed. There is a satisfying sense of misdirection, which even Holmes is partially fooled by. There is a palpable sense of tension, as the young woman coming to Holmes for help is followed by her step father, who thus knows she has sought professional help, and has nothing to lose by resorting to dangerous measures, and fast.
If anything the TV versions which show the murder weapon in action are even more effective. I have a vivid memory of watching the Jeremy Brett version in 1984, mouth open in shock as I saw the story play out on screen.
It's also an extremely well balanced short story. Some Holmes stories are overlong in certain areas, for example spending an inordinate amount of time on an early deduction. But this one is gripping from the word go.
As a historical aside the story also mentions murderous medics Palmer and Pritchard. I enjoyed learning more about them after reading. Usually I'm exploring Victorian technology as a result of such brief asides in Holmes stories, but I'm quite happy to explore some criminal history for once.
A quite superb short story, and rightly regarded by many Sherlock Holmes fans - and indeed by Arthur Conan Doyle himself! - as one of the very best stories in the entire canon.