Lamb to the Slaughter’ and ‘The Speckled Band’ - Typical Murder Mysteries?

Dr Roylott has allowed gipsies to camp upon the few acres of land. He also has a passion for Indian animals and has a cheetah and a baboon roaming freely over his grounds. Conan Doyle also describes the interior and exterior of the house in detail.

The 'TSB' has a typical detective the famous Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock also has an assistance who is Dr Watson both of them are very clever Sherlock doesn't solve cases for money he only does it to intrigue him self he does it for a hobby. For example Sherlock says " I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none common place, for working as he did rather for love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth. Sherlock Holmes is very thorough and accurate in his investigation he takes every thing in consideration. Sherlock Holmes is also very polite and posh person for example they way he speaks to his clients. " Good morning, madam." " My name is Sherlock Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself." In 'LTTS' the detectives one of them is Jack Noonan appears to be so foolish and naive. He lets his friendship get in the way of the investigation for example Mrs Maloney persuades him to have some whisky " Why don't you have one yourself," she said " You must be awfully tired. Please do. You've been very good to me. " Well," he answered. "It's not strictly allowed, but I might take just a drop to keep me going." Even the other detectives came in one by one and were persuade to take a little nip of whisky, because Patrick Maloney was one of Jack Noonan Colleague. The detectives eat the evidence, which was right, their noses the lamb one of the detectives even says, " Personally, I think it's right here on the premises. Probably right under our very noses."

Miss Stoner in 'TSB' is a typical victim vulnerable, anxious, weak and sacred. She says " It is not cold which makes me shiver", she was worried for her life. Form this line we can sense that something sinister is about to happen.

Also in 'TSB' Dr Roylott is the evil plotting, devious murderer. "The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had an Eastern training." In 'LTTS' you think of a couple as an average normal couple but little you know his wife Mrs Maloney turns out to be a Psycho. So when she changed she just cracked no one insane mind could commit such a brutal and cold-blooded murder as she had done. Mary Maloney act's in a such way that nothing has happened. For example when she goes to the shop before that she sat down in front or the mirror, tidied her face she tried a smile she tried it again " Hello Sam," I want some potatoes please Sam. Yes and I think a can of peas. By now the smile and the voice were coming out better now. She rehearsed it several times more. I a way she was trying to manipulate the truth, this shows something her character she can cover up her tracks. However she is not so stupid and naïve as people think she is.

The tensions in the two stories are different. In 'TSB' the main point of high tension is right at the end when they out the murderer is and the snake comes at Holmes " Holmes sprang from the bed struck a match and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell pull. Other points of high tension was when Helen Stoner talking to Holmes " Frightened eyes like those of some haunted animal", the night of the murder, ' A wild wind. The wind was howling outside suddenly there burst forth the wind scream of a woman", and the sister hot words. She suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget "O my God Helen! It was the band! The Speckled Band!" In the 'LTTS' the point of high tension is whether detectives would find out that it was Mrs Maloney who killed her husband. For example when Charlie says the weapon " Probably right under our very noses. What do you think Jack? And in the other room Mary Maloney began to giggle".

The 'TSB' was more effective because the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made the main character Sherlock Holmes intriguing and interesting character, which draws the reader in. He leaves the in suspense until at the end of the story until the murderer is revealed. It also had more twist in it you weren't sure what was going to happen next. I think for the younger reader the 'LTTS' was better because you found the murder at the beginning of the story and was a modern murder mystery it was also shorter.

BY TAIYYIB TALAB