Colorado Parks & Wildlife Research Library

The facts of how Dr. Watson met Sherlock Holmes and the details of some of their most fascinating cases unfold dramatically in these stories that are full of suspense, excitement, and mystery. This famous sleuth follows the trails that lead to dangerous criminals bent on causing harm to innocent citizens.

In this collection are four of the finest cases of Mr Sherlock Holmes, narrated by his faithful friend and admirer Dr Watson. What was the mystery of the engineer’s thumb? What was behind the disappearance of the race horse? Why did masked royalty walk up to see Holmes in Baker Street? These and other puzzles are solved by this bloodhound of a genius.

Four more stories from the master detective. The mystery of the missing suitor is solved and Sherlock Holmes raises his whip… an Indian pot stands in the shadows of a Colonel’s death… serious affairs of state and international diplomacy are threatened by a theft… and surely evil intent lies behind threats in a hidden house. The cool observations and swift action of Sherlock Holmes resolves all.

In The Final Problem, perhaps the greatest of the short stories of Sherlock Holmes, the English detective encounters his most formidable rival, Professor Moriarty. 'The Napoleon of Crime' is how Holmes describes his adversary to his faithful companion, Dr Watson, as they move to the ultimate confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls. Also in this collection is the intriguing mystery of the disappearing bride in The Noble Bachelor and two threats from...

From 1939 to 1946 Americans gathered around the radio to listen to The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes-featuring Basil Rathbone as the high-strung crime-solver and Nigel Bruce as his phlegmatic assistant, Dr. Watson. Witty, fast-paced and always surprising, these great radio plays, written by the prolific writing team of Anthony Boucher and Denis Green, are as fresh today as they were then, and feature perfect sound along with nostalgic war-time...

In "The Adventure of Black Peter", a ship captain is found dead, stabbed through with a harpoon. Police inspector Stanley Hopkins, who is being mentored by Sherlock Holmes brings the case to Holmes and Dr. Watson. An abusive man, the captain had many enemies, widening the suspect list. The investigation finds Holmes & company on a stakeout, on a case that involves a chance meetings on the high seas, and stolen securities.

In "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange", Holmes and Watson are asked to assist on a home invasion and murder case. A woman reports that a gang of men broke into her home, killed her husband, tied her up, and stole the family silver. Though it seems like a clear-cut case of robbery gone wrong, Holmes's gut tells him otherwise. But what motive lies behind this erstwhile victim's story?

"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle", the only Holmes mystery set during the Christmas season, is the seventh story of twelve in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. During the festive season, newspapers report the theft of the near priceless jewel, The "Blue Carbuncle", from the hotel suite of the Countess of Morcar. John Horner, a plumber and a previously convicted felon, is soon arrested for the theft. When the Blue Carbuncle appears in a goose's...

In "The Adventure of the Dancing Men", a Norfolk country squire from a reputable family hires Holmes to help him learn who has been sending him weird encoded messages, in the form of dancing stick figures, that are disturbing his wife. Upon collecting enough of the messages Holmes cracks the code. He returns to Norfolk to present his findings only to find that his client has met with tragedy. Using forensic science and his inimitable powers of deduction,...

"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb", is the ninth of the twelve stories collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. A young London engineer, contracted to service a hydraulic press at a country house, discovers that the owner is using the machine for illegal purposes. After confronting the owner, the engineer narrowly escapes death and loses a thumb when the owner turns on him. Holmes deduces the actual use of the machine and sets off to bring...