"The Adventure of the Speckled Band"

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band” is a mysterious short story that will leave you biting your nails at the end from suspense and thrill. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses his personal life experiences as a doctor and great knowledge to help his readers understand the mysteries, but without giving them completely.

Doyle’s writing has three main areas of strength that make his writing unique and exciting to read. First, he uses Watson as the author of the stories to “dumb down” what Sherlock is thinking and doing. Watson is more relatable to as an average thinking person, which is opposite of Sherlock who has a mind of his own that is very difficult to understand. Doyle said him self, “I cultivate a simple style and avoid long words so far as possible…” Second, his use of imagery and detail make the reader feel as if they are in the story taking part in the mysteries. Finally, Doyle creates very memorable characters that have such unusual personalities that they seem to be more real then fictional characters. Doyle is a master storyteller that is sure to get you excited about reading.

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band” is a strange and unusual mystery that would seem impossible to solve, but for Sherlock nothing is impossible and the more unusual the mystery the better. Watson explains, “…he [Sherlock] refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the more fantastic.” This mystery starts with a visit from a young woman, Helen Stoner, who comes in for help from Sherlock in solving a mystery. She explains her problem with a worried tone, “…As I ran down the passage, my sister’s door was unlocked, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the opening, her face blanched with terror…she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, ‘Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!’…”

Without giving away the mystery, I will say that it is the most strange investigation that Sherlock had taken part in. It involved a “band”, milk, and a vault in a mansion. The rest is up to you to figure out. This short story is one you will not want to miss and definitely one you will never forget.