Both "Lamb to the Slaughter" and "The Speckled Band" share some of the characteristics of Murder Mysteries. Explain the similarities and differences between the two stories and say which story you think is more compelling to read.

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Karl Buckroyd

Both “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “The Speckled Band” share some of the characteristics of Murder Mysteries. Explain the similarities and differences between the two stories and say which story you think is more compelling to read.

“The Speckled Band” and “Lamb to the Slaughter” were both written as murder mysteries, but were both written at different times. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote “The Speckled Band” in 1892 whilst Roald Dahl wrote “Lamb to the Slaughter” in 1954. The language in “The Speckled Band” gives away the fact that it, although modern was written over 100 years ago. “The Speckled Band” is about a lady who wishes to find the truth behind the death of her sister two years ago and seeks help from a recommended detective aptly named Sherlock Holmes. “Lamb to the Slaughter” is about a woman who violently kills her husband one evening and of the investigation on her husband’s death.

 “The Speckled Band” opens with Dr Watson explaining that he had been flicking through his notes when he came across the case of the Roylotts at Stoke Moran and how he can only tell this story now as the woman that swore him to secrecy has now died. He also tells us that by the end of the story the truth of Dr Roylotts death will be put to rest by the end of the story. Watson then goes on to tell us that the story began on a morning in early april 1883. This story starts with a dark mood, with Watson waking up to find Holmes standing by his bed ready to see a young woman that looks worried.this mentally prepars you for what is to come because it already tells you that Dr Grimsby Roylott will die. “Lamb to the Slaughter” however opens with a very warm and cosy environment. The story starts by describing the surroundings around the house, Roald Dahl is well known for going into great detail of the characters and surroundings in his stories and this helps to build a mental image of the story as if you are actually there watching it as it goes along. However Lamb to the Slaughter’s opening does not prepare you in any way for what is to come later in the story. The speckled band is a more traditional detective story than lamb to the slaughter, as the detective in the speckled band already knows almost everything without being told.

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 The villains in the two stories are very different; in the speckled band the villain is Dr Grimsby Roylott. We know this very early on in the story as we are told of his death and of the motives he has for killing his stepsisters. Dr Roylott is a very big and tall character that wears smart black cloths and has a very hot temper. He is also shown as a man that is always quick to revert to physical violence. Dr Rowlett’s motive is that when his step-daughters get married they automatically inherit £250 each out of Dr Roylott’s ...

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