The Adventure of the Speckled Band

By Arthur Conan Doyle

In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Sherlock Holmes and Watson come to the aid of Helen Stoner, who has reason to fear her life is being threatened by her abusive stepfather, Dr. Grimesby Roylott. Her sister, who died two years before, spoke of a speckled band right before she died in mysterious circumstances. To solve the mystery of the speckled band, Holmes and Watson stake out Miss Stoner's room and make a momentous discovery. The eighth of the twelve stories collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle considered it the best of the Holmes stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Aug 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781974908295

Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He is the creator of the Sherlock Holmes character, writing his debut appearance in A Study in Scarlet. Doyle wrote notable books in the fantasy and science fiction genres, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.

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THE ADVENTURE

OF

THE SPECKLED BAND

By

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

This edition published by Dreamscape Media LLC, 2016

www.dreamscapeab.com * [e-mail]

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THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.

It was early in April in the year ’83 that I woke one morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits.

Very sorry to knock you up, Watson, said he, but it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.

What is it, then—a fire?

No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should call you and give you the chance.

My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything.

I

Reviews for The Adventure of the Speckled Band

[willi1nicholson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock gets another visitor. This time, the visitor's sister gets killed, and the father is the prime suspect. Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Watson, go to solve the mystery. They have to use stealth and intellect to solve this perplexing mystery. As always, Sherlock finds the killer. This time, though, it was backfired. The father used a snake to kill the sister, and planned to do it again. Sherlock startled the snake, and it bit its owner instead. So ends another Sherlock Holmes mystery.Conan Arthur Doyle has passed, but his stories live on. Even now, Sherlock Holmes is still a name that is known everywhere. This book is different because the murderer died, which doesn't usually happen in the stories. Even so, this is a magnificent book, perfect for a rainy day. Not jut rainy days, this book is a perfect read on any day if you just want something to read that is small, yet satisfying.

[bobbyhoffman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought that this book was good because it was a mystery. Who doesn't like a good mystery, you don't know waht really happened until the very end. The Sherlock Holmes books are the best at this. You have your susspisions about what happened or who killed who, but most of the time you are wrong in the end. In this book I thought that the murderer would end up being the uncle, but I didn't know how he killed the victim. He was a selfish man that wanted nothing more than money. In the end his pet kills him. I thought that this book had a good plot to it even though it was made a very long time ago. In these books Sherlock Holmes always seems to amaze you at the end when he tells you what happened before there is really any proof.

[john4fougere · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes gets a visit from a woman, asking him to take up a rather mystrious case. The woman explains to Holmes that her sister was killed. The woman also stated that her sister's last words were something about a speckled band. The woman thinks that their father killed her, but does not have the proof, which is the reason she has come to Holmes. Holmes takes the case and sets out, with the help of his assistent Watson, to uncover this interesting mystery. The father suspects that his daughter went to Holmes and he pays him a visit saying to leave him alone. What does he have to hide? With Sherlock's keen sense and good examination skills, him and his partner find many interesting clues on who might have killed the sister.I personally think that the Shurlock Holmes books are the greatest books I have ever read. This book was an amazing mystery story.The book used a few words I did not under stand(until I looked them up in the dictionary) but it was still a fantastic book. The book litaraly kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is also very unpredictable. You never really know what is going to come next. Some books you can tell what is going to happen, but with this book you can never tell. I recomend this book for readers who enjoy a good mystery book.

[lgandt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps I think I might be learning too much about crime, I love it when things are referenced and I have to find out about it.

[kresslya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Adventures of the Speckled Band is classic detective literature. Intrigue, murder and suspense. Great writing and a good plot.

[Noemi Oyarzún · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A greeat book as usually write sir Arthur conan Doyle

[jovanh470volny · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes, The adventure of the Speckled Band is a complex tale of mystery. The many character differences and events create a story that cannot simply be explained, but understood by reading and finding out for yourself. It will leave you in a state of confusion and have you examining the events that have occurred to solve the mystery beforehand. It is composed well and surprising even though much foreshadowing is given near three quarters of the book, and you may or may not have figured out, or at least suspected the culprit.Sherlock Holmes, and his partner, Watson, are visited by a young woman who explains to them that her sister has passed away in a tragic and unsolved manner. She gives the important detail that her sister was to be married in a short while, and that their stepfather Dr.Roylott would have to sever his earnings to fund the sister's married life. By this time Holmes and Watson already have an idea of what took place the night the sister died. Holmes and Watson travel to the home where the young woman's sister had been found dead, Stoke Morran, to conduct further investigation of the death. Dr. Roylott’s mansion harbors a number of exotic creatures, collected from all his trips to India. Of these, there is a snake, a Speckled Band which was used to go into the sister's bedroom to kill her. This was an act committed by Dr. Roylott, who in the end paid the price for housing such an animal. He was found dead, bitten by his own snake.