In many of the 'Sherlock Holmes' stories the narrator is Dr Watson, Holmes companion. Also many of his clients are women. This shows that in those days the women were very dramatic and lady-like, unlike women of these times that show independence.

Summaries

In many of the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ stories the narrator is Dr Watson, Holmes companion. Also many of his clients are women. This shows that in those days the women were very dramatic and lady-like, unlike women of these times that show independence.

‘The Speckled Band’ is about a murder case. The women, Helen Stoner comes to Holmes and Watson very early in the morning and asks for their assistance in solving the mystery of her dead sister. She begins telling her story. She tells Holmes that her sister was murdered in her room late at night in their home in Stoke Moran. Julia, Helens sister was murdered two weeks previous to when the story was based. At the time of Julia’s murder she was engaged. As the story moves on we learn about her stepfather, Dr Roylott who had lived in India and keeps Indian animals. She tells Holmes about the night of her sister’s murder, she says she heard a low whistle and her sister screaming. Holmes and Watson find this interesting and decide to investigate. They visit the home in Stoke Moran and have an encounter with Helen and Julia’s stepfather. He warns them to stay away.

Holmes and Watson decide to stay a night at the house. At this point the stepfather was also trying to kill Helen. To do this he slipped a poisonous snake into the ventilator that leads into the victim’s room.

The story ends with Holmes attacking the snake (the speckled band) causing it to bite and kill the stepfather.

Like any other ‘Sherlock Holmes’ story, ‘The Cardboard Box’ starts with a female client, Susan Cushing, coming to Holmes and Watson asking for assistance to solve a case, this one involving a cardboard box. The box contained two human ...

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The story ends with Holmes attacking the snake (the speckled band) causing it to bite and kill the stepfather.

And was addressed to a ‘Miss S Cushing, Croydon’

She tells Holmes that her first thought was that it was a sick joke by some medical students who rented rooms from her. Holmes soon realises that this is not the case. He notices that the word ‘Croydon’ was originally spelt with an ‘i’ and had been changed to a ‘y’ he says that it was obviously written by and uneducated person. He also says that the writing is clearly masculine. It was tied with a piece of twine and the knot that was used was very popular with sailors.

Holmes and Watson investigate, and travel to Croydon.

Susan told Holmes all about her sister, Mary, who was married to a sailor. Holmes follows this lead as the mystery unfolds.

Once again, Holmes solves the case. Mary’s husband, Jim Browner was taken into custody where he confesses all. He tells them of Mary’s affair with a man named Alec Fairbairn. He murdered the lovers and chopped of their ears, but he also explains that the package was not meant for Susan, but for the younger sister Sarah.

‘The Red-Headed League’ is not a murder case. This story is about a hoax created by a thief. It starts with a man, Mr Wilson. Mr Wilson was a redhead. His dream job was only for redheads. He was horrified when his assistant went for the job and got it. The job was to copy out the encyclopaedia for four hours a day.

Unbeknown to Mr Wilson, this was a scheme crafted by his assistant. Instead of copying out the encyclopaedia, he was using his time to dig a tunnel into the local bank.

On the day of the supposed robbery Holmes and Watson had already cracked the case and waited at the bank and captured the thief.

Once again Holmes solves the mystery.