I believe a classic murder story are things that have a strange murder weapon like Mary's leg of lamb, the story must also have lots of detective work but shouldn't stress on it, must have a cliff hanger of some sort or failing that must have a striking finale (I found The Speckled Band's ending was an anti climax). My main things for a murder story in a great detective and an airtight alibi my favorite alibi everything above is included, brilliant.
The story of "Lamb to the Slaughter" begins with Mary Maloney waiting for her husband to return from work; while she is waiting she is sewing and glancing without at the clock. Then Patrick Maloney (her husband) walked in. Mary poured them both drinks.
Mary while sitting down admires her husband and ponders her love for this man. Mary's attempts at conversation are quickly halted & Patrick shows a distinct feeling of uneasiness and seems extremely nervous. Mary began to talk about dinner but as she tried to start, he sat her down and told her some rather shocking news. This bewildered her and her mind became blank and everything she did was based on instinct. She murmured, "Ill get the tea". She went down to the freezer got a Leg of lamb, which was the first thing, her hand made contact with. As she trailed by Patrick again he uttered his last words "For God's sake don't make anything for me .I'm going out". With this her fury & anger took over and she swung the frozen piece of meat as hard as she could killing him within seconds. She realized that she would get the death sentence but only cared for her baby. She went upstairs and practiced saying her usual sentences and smile. She went to the grocers, to create an alibi. When she returned she phoned the police in a grieved state. Her alibi was checked and was airtight. The police, who knew her, tried to comfort her & she used this to feed them the murder weapon. Crafty!!!
The précis of "The Speckled Band" starts with Dr. Watson reviews his cases of the past years. Holmes wakes him up and takes him downstairs to meet a client. The client is Helen Stoner she tells him abut her family's history in India, about the bereavement of her sister, her violent stepfather and her current engagement. Holmes was worried and asked to investigate the Roylott Manor, she agreed, as her Stepfather would be in London for the day. The trip was arranged and Helen left. Soon Dr.Roylott entered threatening Holmes & warning him to stay a way. Holmes left but first went to the Doctors Commons to where he found a motive for the Doctor as possible killer money. He then went to Stoke Moran and investigates in the 3 different rooms the main one being where Julia Stoner was killed. Holmes noticed: a ventilator going in the wrong wall, a fake bell ring, the bed was clamped down and the room was impenetrable. Roylotts room had the ventilator from Julia's room the metal safe, a tied up dog leash like a noose and a saucer of milk. Holmes then told Mary to retire to bed early tonight light a candle when Dr. Roylott goes to bed and then withdraw to the to your original room. Watson & Holmes then went to a nearby inn 'The Crown Inn'; Holmes then shared his own workings with the good Dr. Watson. The Manor house went dark around 10:00pm and the candle was lit about an hour later. So they went to the house, coming along a baboon on their travels, and entered Julia's room with Watson sitting further back than Holmes who had taken it upon himself to sit near the bed. Suddenly there was a bright light and Holmes struck at the bell pull with all his fury and might yelling at Watson "You see it yet Watson" Then there was a hellish scream and after going to Roylotts room Holmes & Watson found Roylott dead with the Snake around his neck.
The story of "Lamb to the Slaughter" begins with Mary Maloney waiting for her husband to return from work; while she is waiting she is sewing and glancing without at the clock. Then Patrick Maloney (her husband) walked in. Mary poured them both drinks.
Mary while sitting down admires her husband and ponders her love for this man. Mary's attempts at conversation are quickly halted & Patrick shows a distinct feeling of uneasiness and seems extremely nervous. Mary began to talk about dinner but as she tried to start, he sat her down and told her some rather shocking news. This bewildered her and her mind became blank and everything she did was based on instinct. She murmured, "Ill get the tea". She went down to the freezer got a Leg of lamb, which was the first thing, her hand made contact with. As she trailed by Patrick again he uttered his last words "For God's sake don't make anything for me .I'm going out". With this her fury & anger took over and she swung the frozen piece of meat as hard as she could killing him within seconds. She realized that she would get the death sentence but only cared for her baby. She went upstairs and practiced saying her usual sentences and smile. She went to the grocers, to create an alibi. When she returned she phoned the police in a grieved state. Her alibi was checked and was airtight. The police, who knew her, tried to comfort her & she used this to feed them the murder weapon. Crafty!!!
The précis of "The Speckled Band" starts with Dr. Watson reviews his cases of the past years. Holmes wakes him up and takes him downstairs to meet a client. The client is Helen Stoner she tells him abut her family's history in India, about the bereavement of her sister, her violent stepfather and her current engagement. Holmes was worried and asked to investigate the Roylott Manor, she agreed, as her Stepfather would be in London for the day. The trip was arranged and Helen left. Soon Dr.Roylott entered threatening Holmes & warning him to stay a way. Holmes left but first went to the Doctors Commons to where he found a motive for the Doctor as possible killer money. He then went to Stoke Moran and investigates in the 3 different rooms the main one being where Julia Stoner was killed. Holmes noticed: a ventilator going in the wrong wall, a fake bell ring, the bed was clamped down and the room was impenetrable. Roylotts room had the ventilator from Julia's room the metal safe, a tied up dog leash like a noose and a saucer of milk. Holmes then told Mary to retire to bed early tonight light a candle when Dr. Roylott goes to bed and then withdraw to the to your original room. Watson & Holmes then went to a nearby inn 'The Crown Inn'; Holmes then shared his own workings with the good Dr. Watson. The Manor house went dark around 10:00pm and the candle was lit about an hour later. So they went to the house, coming along a baboon on their travels, and entered Julia's room with Watson sitting further back than Holmes who had taken it upon himself to sit near the bed. Suddenly there was a bright light and Holmes struck at the bell pull with all his fury and might yelling at Watson "You see it yet Watson" Then there was a hellish scream and after going to Roylotts room Holmes & Watson found Roylott dead with the Snake around his neck.
