Sherlock Holmes: Selected Stories

1. Sherlock Holmes: Selected Stories By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

2. Why is this book on the outstanding books for the college bound list? • Sherlock Holmes Selected Stories was placed on the college bound list because it is a book of suspense. • When you read it, you will never become bored. It is fun to guess what will happen next, or try to solve the case on your own.

3. There are many short stories in this novel. Some are: • The Silver Blaze, where a famous horse named Silver Blaze has won many races and is a favorite to win the next upcoming race at King’s Pyland. • Then, mysteriously, Silver Blaze goes missing, and the horses rider, Mr. Straker is found dead. • Silas Brown, owner of the track at King’s Pyland, asks Sherlock Holmes for his help. Sherlock Holmes, with his unusually keen eye observes that Mr. Straker must have been scared in the night when bringing Silver Blaze back to the stables. Mr. Straker hears something and then takes out his knife. Meanwhile his horse becomes frightened from a bright light and ends up kicking Mr. Straker, and Mr. Straker ends up falling on his own knife, tragically killing him.

4. I recommend this book because: • It keeps you on your toes, especially in the short story of The Sign of Four. • Major Sholto’s brother is found dead when he gets involved with a treasure that supposedly belongs to Ms. Cecil Forrester. • Sherlock Holmes chases down a man from the Andaman Islands named Jonathon Small, a former convict who persuaded the guards to let him free if he told them of the treasure. • He is arrested and convicted in theft, murder, and another attempted murder.

5. Main Charcters • Sherlock Holmes • Watson • Silas Brown • Major Sholto • Solomon Sholto • Cecil Forrester • Jonathon Small • Mr. Straker

6. The Plot: Is it Important? • The way that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote this novel is a very important factor in how this novel turned out so well. • In the Speckled band, it was crucial how Sir Doyle made the death of Helen Stoner’s sister and of her stepfather, Sir Roylott. They were killed by a deadly speckled band snake, in which was controlled by Sir Roylott. But ironically, the snake ended up killing Sir Roylott.

7. Background and Setting: Where did Sherlock Holmes take place? • Sherlock Holmes Selected Stories is a novel that takes place in 1886. • Sherlock Holmes and his companion, Watson live in Dartmoor, England. • Sherlock Holmes is not a certified detective, but people still seek his help anyways.

8. What are some other short stories in the novel? • Silver Blaze • The Speckled Band • The Sign of Four • A Scandal in Bohemia • The Naval Treaty • The Blue Carbuncle • The Greek Interpreter • The Red-Headed League • The Empty House • The Missing Three-Quarter • His Last Bow

9. This Book is Outstanding! • This book doesn’t just have one mystery, it has many. • So if you like mysterious murder cases that seem impossible to solve, Sherlock Holmes Selected Stories is the book for you!