At the begging of the Red-Headed League Watson tries to use a trick he has acquired from Holmes. The art that Holmes regularly uses of reading indications presented by someone’s dress or appearance. ‘I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman…The expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features.’ This gives us a description of the character in question for us to make our own deductions from it. Watson cannot gain anything from his appearance, so looks towards Holmes. Holmes then gives a list of what he, and perhaps us, has seen in the man’s dress. This created suspense, as we want to know what there is to see in the man, then we are told, and our suspicions may be confirmed.
The suspense created by using Watson to dictate the stories is also apparent in Silver Blaze. As Watson is not in the same place as Holmes at times, then it is highly likely that he will not know what is going on when Holmes is off the scene. Like when Holmes goes to Mr. Silas Brown, Watson is left outside whilst Holmes is talking inside. ‘It was quite twenty minutes, and the reds had all faded into greys before Holmes and the trainer reappeared. Never have I seen such a change as had been brought about in Silas Brown in that short time. His face was ashy pale, beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and his hands shook until the hunting-crop wagged like a branch in the wind. His bullying, over bearing manner was all gone too, and he cringed along my companion’s side like a dog with its master.’ Here we are tingling inside with anticipation, which I am sure was Conan Doyle’s intention. It creates tension as we want to know what has happened, and also suspense at the same time.
When Doyle starts off both the Red-Headed League and Silver Blaze, we are faced with a problem. Whether it be a man has been murdered and a horse missing (Silver Blaze) or a man with a query (Red-Headed League), we are put in a situation where we want to know what happens next. This creates suspense and tension in us because all good crime fiction stories should be like this.
‘I am afraid, Watson that I shall have to go,’ said Holmes as we sat down together to out breakfast one morning.
‘Go! Where to?’
‘To Dartmoor – to King’s Pyland’
This start in Silver Blaze immediately makes you want to know what Holmes is going to Dartmoor for. It pulls you into the story, giving it suspense of what is going to happen.
In the Red-Headed League clues are given along the way of what the solution may be.
‘You enquired your way merely in order that you might see him.’
‘Not him’
‘What then?’
‘The knees of his trousers.’
To more intelligent people, this may seem obvious because they are working the solution out as the story progresses. But to many, it is a just a meaningless clue. The climax is wanted which makes tension in the person reading it.
I think that the Sherlock Holmes stories are a good read which gives suspense and tension along the way. I like crime fiction and these stories for fill the requirements that I lay down when I like to read them.
