The Book Report Episode #40

Episode #39

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Story Four: The Valley of Fear

The Book

This is continuing with the book, from my to-be-read bookshelf. I received this book as a gift from a friend, who passed a few years ago when we took a trip to the Sherlock Holmes museum, in London.

This edition of the book was published by Wordsworth Editions Limited. Part of the Wordsworth Library Collection in 2007. Published with the original illustrations from the original work. The first complete stories book was published in 1928.

The Valley of Fear was published in the July to December, 48th Edition of The Strand Monthly Magazine in 1914. If you like to read it click here. And then afterwards in 1915 with George H. Doran Company in New York. Currently: the original 1915 copy, with cover, is going for £25,000, which is $32,567.62.

Check those attics and storage cupboards people!

What Did I Think

The story, as always, is written from the point of view of Dr. John Watson. This is also the fourth and final novel to be written. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part being murder. The second part is the reason for the murder.

Part 1

Sherlock receives a coded message. Sherlock and Watson work out the code while waiting for the code to arrive with the creator of the message. When deciphered it warns of a plot to have someone murdered. Sherlock realised the note originated from someone working with Moriarty. But the messenger doesn’t attempt or cannot communicate any further.

History from a past life has returned for revenge.

A murder has happened at Birlstone House and it is up to Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson to find out who. But this time he is working with Inspector MacDonald. Who was called to be in charge of the investigation. Macdonald is a student of Sherlock’s technique. And Sherlock had been happy to give him pointers.

Also along for the ride is a local detective White Mason.

The wife and Douglas’s best friend are acting strange. What do they know and what are they not saying? The wife doesn’t seem that bothered by her husband’s death. She wants to talk but can she trust Watson?

Traveling around the area and the nearest towns the team need to follow the clues and understand what happened. Why is that bicycle so important?

Also, something really important, to add. Birlstone House has a moat with a working drawbridge. How is that not cool?! And the fact Sir Doyle can’t help talking about it. Is it important?

Part 2

Why Douglas is wanted dead is the story. Formally, under a different name; Birdy Edwards. A Pinkerton detective from Chicago. A Pinkerton was part of the Alan Pinkerton Detective Agency, a private agency separate from any official policing service. They were called upon for assistance with all types of problems, including police work, security, and bailiffs.

He Infiltrates a trade union in the small town of Vermissa Valley. When he had enough information, he arrested everyone involved in the numerous crimes. But this leads to him having to run for his life, as the union is on his back everywhere he goes; and he ends up in England, where the story starts.

The Book

There seems to be a pattern in these books. Sir Doyle has a thing for America. As in the first four stories, the murderer or victim originates from the USA.

This story, well the first half, seems to be a little darker than the other stories I have read so far. However, I was wondering about how long a body could be kept at the murder scene as there was no indication that it had been moved during the few days they investigated. Unless I missed something.

The other thing that I am not completely happy with is the detour to the Americas to find out how this story started. This whole story could have been a quick breakdown of who, why and how things got to where they were and we can then continue with Sherlock and his investigations. This in itself could have been its own novel.

I understand Sir Doyle wanted to show he can write more than just 221B Baker Street. And he does in his other novels. But for this, I just want to read the adventures of Holmes and Watson. I may be whining just a little. I hope it isn’t just me.

This was also a rarity for me, as I worked out how the murder had happened before the conclusion. I was a little pleased with myself. But I hadn’t worked out the why.

The Audiobook

If you would like to listen instead of read, then, in that case, here you go:

Animated

If you would like to watch it instead, here you go!

Would I Recommend

Yes, I would recommend it. This is a nice little story if you have nothing to read. Or like me wanting to read the original stories not mixed up by other people’s versions of the characters.

Please give the book a read.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA. Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.