The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Narrator: David Timson
Series: Sherlock Holmes
Published by Naxos AudioBooks on November 21, 2013 (first published 1891)
Genres: Mystery, Short Story
Length: 1 hr 1 min
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Lestrade summons Holmes to a community in Herefordshire, where a local land owner has been murdered outdoors. The deceased's estranged son is strongly implicated. Holmes quickly determines that a mysterious third man may be responsible for the crime, unraveling a thread involving a secret criminal past, thwarted love, and blackmail.
I was going running/walking at the park the other night and didn’t have anything to listen to. I found “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” on Audible’s Mystery Channel and it was just the perfect length for how long I wanted to spend exercising. I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan forever, but I don’t remember reading this one before. That doesn’t necessarily mean I haven’t though – I don’t have the best memory.
What seems like an open and shut case – James McCarthy killed his father – of course isn’t and it’s up to Sherlock Holmes to prove James’ innocence. There’s not much action, but we do see Holmes doing a thorough crime scene investigation, even making use of his knowledge of tobacco ash.
I guessed who the killer was, although I didn’t know all the ins and outs of why. For a short story, the motive is pretty complicated and I enjoyed the solution. Holmes softer side comes through a bit at the end. He doesn’t demand justice in this one, just makes sure the innocent aren’t punished.
About Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was an Irish-Scots writer and physician, most noted for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and writing stories about him which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction.
He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger, and for popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.
The only thing I have read by Conan Doyle was one short story, but I do plan to remedy that sometime soon. I have several of his books.