Jan 06, 2012 09:41 AM
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(Updated Jan 06, 2012 09:48 AM)
“I should prefer that you do not mention my name at all in connection with this case, as I choose to be only associated with those crimes which present some difficulty in their solution.” - Shrelock Holmes, who else it can be.
Shakespeare wrote “What’s in name”; I’ll say “A lot” when the name in question is Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is to Detectives what God is to Saints. Although a fictional character, first name that comes to our mind when we think of mystery and detective cases is Sherlock Holmes. More than 100 year have lapsed since his first appearance, but his charm and appeal is still unattainable by many of the characters of his kind that came after him. Many of the reputed authors tried but no one could touch the brilliance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, SACD, in this genre. Thanks to the movie series “Sherlock Holmes” by Guy Ritchie, the name has struck a chord into the minds of non-readers too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR : SACD, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was born in Edinburg, May 1859. He is mostly known as author of Sherlock Holmes series that gave us the most renowned and inspiring fictional character the world has ever had. Books like ‘The hounds of Baskerville’, ‘Valley of Fear’, and ‘Study in Scarlet’ forms his major successes in Holmes series. SACD once killed off Sherlock Holmes in one of the short story as he wanted to give time to serious writing, but the protest from the readers turned out to be so strong that he had to bring Holmes back to life. Besides S Holmes series, ‘The Lost World’ (book that inspired M Crichton’s Jurassic Park) and ‘The Coming of the Fairies’ forms SACD’s other immortal creations. Last part of his life he devoted to spiritualism and other causes and died in 1930 at the age of 61.
ABOUT THE BOOK : His Last Bow is composed of 8 cases each with varying flair and approach. Best thing about the book is the way author leads a case, it always starts with some curious but general interaction between Watson and Holmes that finally leads to the introduction of the case. As most cases are narrated from the perspective of Watson, which brings facts at par with the intellectual of an average reader and so, a reader never feels like, as if the writer is trying to over smart him. Although indirectly, he do succeeds in doing so. This might be dexterity on part of SACD that makes Sherlock Holmes more acceptable and more loved by people for genetations. Moving to the cases now:
Adventure of the Cardboard Box: There are cases which illustrate the remarkable mental qualities of SH; this is one such case. It’s a case requiring SH to reason backwards i.e. from effects to causes. Miss Cushing receives a gruesome package, by post, with two human ears in a box. There is no hint of the sender. She’s living a retied life with not many acquaintances as well as adversaries. Some students had rented her house some years back and had to vacate following her complains of noise and irregular habits. Police is of the opinion that– since they were medical students – they had played a joke on the lady, out of grudge, in an attempt to frighten and upset her.
But as Sherlock Holmes enters the case he reveals a completely different person as well motive behind it all. Rating 4.5
Adventure of the Dying Detective: “The best way of successfully acting a part is to be it.” Sherlock Holmes is dying, that’s the news Mrs. Hudson, landlady of SH, delivers to Watson. On meeting SH, Watson finds it true. But SH is adamant on not to let Watson help and operate on him as he is suffering from some contagious and deadly Eastern Disease. There is only one man in town, Culvertor Smith - master of tropical diseases - who can help and cure him. But there is no good feeling between the two. It’s on Watson to convince Smith as that’s the only chance to save his friend’s life.
Is there some other aspect of the tale from which even Watson is kept in shades? Read to find it out. Rating 5
Adventure of the Devil’s Foot:In Cornwell Village, a tragedy struck Tregenne’s family when Miss Brenda is found literally scared to death where as two of her brothers were driven to madness. Everyone in the village – looking at the way it all happens – considers it to be the act devil himself. Holmes, who happens to be in the village for vacation with Watson – firmly believes that matter isn’t beyond humanity. He feels Mortimer, only alive member of the Tregenne’s family, certainly has something to do with it.
No matter how unforgiving a crime is, if there is a love angle to it, offender somehow succeeds in winning the sympathy of the reader. Read it for sheer brilliance of Holmes, how he comes out witt clues in a clueless case is something extraordinary. Rating 5
Adventure of the Wisteria Lodge:Mr. Scott Eccles has a most grotesque experience when Mr. Garcia – with whom he has formed an acquaintance only few days earlier – invites him to his dwelling for spending few days. But on the morning of the very next day his host gets murdered with all servants fleeing from the place. Police is suspicious of Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott employs S Holmes to solve the mystery it and save him. S Holmes with the help of Watson very meticulously reaches to the root of the affair and the murderer. How? Read to find out. Rating 4
Adventure of the Red Circle: Mrs. Warren is doubtful of her new tenant. First thing is, the room is taken on curious terms; and secondly Mrs. Warren hasn’t had a glimpse of him since the agreement is made, which meant he will keep the keys of the room and that no one is supposed to disturb him no matter what. No one has seen him going in or out of the room. Only evidence of the lodger being present in the room is his receipt of daily supply of food and newspaper. That’s the case she presents before S Holmes who after initial resentment takes it up.
Of Course, Holmes solves the case and mystery behind it! But how he leads to it through the only fact that could guide is what makes this case remarkable and inquisitive. Rating 4
Adventure of Bruce-Parrington Plans: Holmes brother – Mycroft – who works for British Government presents him with the case of his life in terms of glory and fame. Dead body of a man named Cadagon West – a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal – is discovered on the tracks of one of the station of London Underground, with plans of Bruce-Parrington submarine in his pockets. Now, these papers are very highly confidential and important, have secret information of British Naval warfare and was kept under high security with very few having access to them. Job of Holmes is to find out : Why Cadagon took the paper? Who killed him and how his body came to lie on the tracks of railways and who is behind the lifting of plans?
It’s the most prolific case of Holmes carrier and its the most prolific way in which he solves it. Rating 5
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