Sherlock Holmes

Hvað myndir þú gera ef þér væri sagt að aldargmul blvun lægi á fjlskyldunni þinni? Myndir þú hlæja að því eða taka því alvarlega? Sgur segja að risastór og ógnvekjandi hundur hafi elt Baskerville-ættina í kynslóðir og valdið dauða margra þeirra. En er það virkilega djfullegur hundur sem hrellir ættina eða manneskja með ill áform? Þegar Sir Charles Baskerville finnst látinn við dularfullar aðstæður lifnar sagan og blvunin við á ný. Athuguli einkaspæjarinn Sherlock Holmes og félagi hans, Watson læknir, eru fengnir til að aðstoða við rannsóknina. Á meðan rannsóknin þróast áfram koma sífellt fleiri leyndarmál í ljós. Fólk birtist og hverfur, undarleg atvik eiga sér stað og engum er hægt að treysta. Baskerville-hundurinn er þriðja ævintýri hins víðkunna og úrræðagóða einkaspæjara Sherlock Holmes og er ein þekktasta saga allra tíma. Árið 2003 vldu áhorfendur breska ríkisútvarpsins BBC bókina sem eina af sínum uppáhalds skáldsgum. Þessi bók er fullkomin fyrir þá sem hafa gaman að spennu og dularfullum ráðgátum. Hún sýnir af hverju Sherlock Holmes er enn í dag einn þekktasti spæjari bókmenntasgunnar.Skotinn Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (1859-1930), var læknir að mennt en varði tíma sínum í skrif á meðan hann beið eftir sjúklingum á læknastofu sinni. Doyle endaði svo með að leggja læknasloppinn á hilluna, í þágu bókmenntanna. Hann er þekktastur fyrir glæpasgur sínar um einkaspæjarann sígilda, Sherlock Holmes, sem mrkuðu tímamót í þeirra glæpasagnahefð sem við þekkjum í dag. Doyle var afkastamikill rithfundur og kom víða við og telja skrif hans meðal annars til fantasíu, vísindaskáldskapar, leikrita, ljóða og fræðirita.

Dans ce premier récit de l'incontournable Sherlock Holmes, nous rencontrons en même temps que son futur ami et fidèle chroniqueur, le Docteur Watson, celui qui deviendra le plus célèbre « détective privé consultant » du monde, et l'archétype du détective privé des romans policiers. Fraîchement rentré de la guerre en Afghanistan après une blessure, le docteur Watson cherche un logement, mais sa situation financière complique la tâche. Un ami commun le mettra en contact avec Sherlock Holmes, et les deux hommes s'accordent pour une colocation au 221B Baker Street, chez Mme Hudson. Watson suivra Holmes lorsqu'il est convié pour une consultation. Un homme a été trouvé mort, dans une pièce maculée de sang... mais il ne présente aucune blessure. Sur un mur, en lettres de sang, le mot « RACHE » : "vengeance" en allemand... Le Docteur Watson narrera les aventures de Sherlock Holmes au fil de quatre romans et cinquante-six nouvelles. Ils deviendront de véritables phénomènes culturels, à tel point que leur créateur, Arthur Conan Doyle, finira par regretter leur popularité, car elle l'empêche de se consacrer à ses romans historiques. Ils demeurent reconnaissables à travers les innombrables adaptations et réinterprétations qu'ils continuent d'inspirer, à la télévision et au cinéma, et sont adorés dans le monde entier. Retrouvez dans cette édition soigneusement préparée le texte intégral.

"His Last Bow" is a collection of eight short-stories about the adventures of the detective Sherlock Holmes. Here are tales of murder, abductions, stolen information, and secrets. We follow Holmes as he endeavours to solve each of these mysteries. The collection includes: "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" (1908) "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" (1892) "The Adventure of the Red Circle" (1911) "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (1908) "The Adventure of the Dying Detective" (1913) "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax" (1911) "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot" (1910) "His Last Bow. The War Service of Sherlock Holmes" (1917) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Scotland and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After his studies, he worked as a ship's surgeon on various boats. During the Second Boer War, he was an army doctor in South Africa. When he came back to the United Kingdom, he opened his own practice and started writing crime books. He is best known for his thrilling stories about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He published four novels and more than 50 short-stories starring the detective and Dr Watson, and they play an important role in the history of crime fiction. Other than the Sherlock Holmes series, Doyle wrote around thirty more books, in genres such as science-fiction, fantasy, historical novels, but also poetry, plays, and non-fiction.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson invite their readers to follow their adventures one last time, as they solve more mysteries from the criminal underworld. This last collection about the famous and eccentric duo takes you on an adventure full of mysterious lodgers, missing diamonds, lions, vampires, and lover's quarrels. One last time, let yourself be swept away by the curious cases and Holmes' grandiose talent of deduction. This collection includes: "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone", "The Problem of Thor Bridge", "The Adventure of the Creeping Man", "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire", "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs", "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client", "The Adventure of the Three Gables", "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier", "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane", "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman", "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger", and "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place".

"The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place" is the very last Sherlock Holmes story. This ultimate investigation takes him to Berkshire, to a racing stable called Shoscombe Old Place. It's the head trainer, John Mason, who has asked for Holmes' help, although he is not sure exactly what he wants him to investigate. All he knows is that strange things have been happening. The owner of the stables, Lady Beatrice Falder, has suddenly stopped coming to greet her favourite horse. Sir Robert, her brother, has been looking very strange of late. Furthermore, he has given his sister's dog away and has been seen at night meeting an unknown man in the old crypt. And human bones have been found in the furnace. This is enough to spark Holmes curiosity and he takes on the case. "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Mr. Robert Ferguson thinks his wife might be a vampire. He's caught her sucking their baby's neck and since that discovery, she has locked herself in her room, only allowing their Peruvian maid to bring her food. Her behaviour had been strange before that and she had struck Ferguson's son from an earlier marriage twice. The boy, fifteen, has been left handicapped by a childhood accident. Holmes is immediately convinced he has solved the case upon hearing the story but he follows Ferguson back home to clear the mystery. "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

The criminal Steve Dixie comes to 221B Baker Street, warning Sherlock Holmes not set a foot in Harlow unless he wants trouble with him. But Holmes has just received a message from Mrs. Maberley, who has been living at the Three Gables in Harlow for almost two years. Her son has just died in Rome and someone is trying to buy her out of her house with a most unconventional contract; Holmes is set on helping her. "The Adventure of the Three Gables" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

A thick smog has fallen over London. Mycroft comes to visit his brother Sherlock Holmes, asking for his help. A ten-page secret document has gone missing and three pages have just been found... in the pocket of Arthur Cadogan West's lifeless body. He was discovered near Aldgate tube station with his head smashed in and with only a little money, the confidential pages, and theatre tickets on him. Strangely, he had no Underground ticket. The document is a construction plan for the Bruce-Partington submarine and it is feared that the document may fall into enemy hands. "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" is part of "His Last Bow".

"The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" which is a part of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" sends us back to the very first case of Sherlock Holmes. While Holmes was still a student, he visited an old friend of his, named Trevor. Holmes stayed for a while in Trevor's house but eventually had to return to London. However before he took home, he got to meet one of Trevor's mysterious and strange friends, Hudson. Two months later Trevor died. What happened? Did Hudson have something to do with Trevor's death? How did Hudson and Trevor meet and what was their past?

A murder was committed at the old professor Coram's house. His secretary Smith was killed while the professor was still in bed. Coram would have been the first suspect if it was not for the fact that he was an invalid who could not move. Inspector Hopkins got to a dead end in the investigation so he reached out for help from Watson and Holmes. The only evidence they found was a pince-nez. Can this be enough for them to solve the case? "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez" is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

Mycroft, Sherlok Holmes' brother, has a story to tell. Mycroft's friend Mr. Melas is an interpreter who got himself in great trouble. He was hired as a translator in a business meeting. Melas however did not know that the "meeting" was between Mr. Latimer and the person he had kidnapped. Mr. Latimer wanted to force a Greek to sign some property papers. The plan however did not go as expected because Mr. Melas found out what was going on. Did he manage to save the victims or he became one as well? Will the two brothers Holmes solve the case in time? Find out the answers in "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" which is a part of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes".

Sir James comes to 221B Baker Street in the name of an anonymous but illustrious client. It concerns General de Merville's daughter, Violet, who has fallen for the Baron Adelbert Gruner. The man has a bad reputation and Sir James hopes that if his misbehaviours can be proven by Holmes Violet will agree to break off the union. Just how bad the Baron's actions have been and how to prove it is what Sherlock Holmes will have to find out. "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Sherlock has retired. Now living in Sussex, he's enjoying a pleasant walk along the beach when he runs into a friend, Harold Stackhurst, headmaster at The Gables. The two acquaintances have just started chatting when they're interrupted by one of the teachers at Stackhurst's school, Fitzroy McPherson. The man appears to be in a great deal of pain and only manages to mutter something about a lion's mane before collapsing, dead. He has strange wounds on his back. Then comes another of the teachers, Ian Murdoch, who claims to have no idea what happened, having just arrived himself. But there is no one else close by. "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Holmes has been following the diamond thief, Count Negretto Sylvius, and is convinced that the man is going to try to kill him. The detective has therefore set up a clever visual trick at 221B Baker Street that should allow him to catch the count and not get killed. But will it be enough? And will Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson be able to track down the precious stone? "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

The rugby player Staunton is missing. His friend, the rugby team coach, Cyril Overton, reaches out to Holmes and Watson begging them to take up the case. Holmes and Watson find out that the boy went out in a hurry the previous night together with an unknown man. The next step is to find out who this man was and what did he has to do with Staunton. Holmes and Watson will get to the bottom of it. What they will learn is however more than unexpected. "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter" is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

Reginald Musgrave, a school friend of Holmes, saw his butler searching through private family papers. The butler Brunton got caught red handed with an ancestral ritual of the Musgraves as well. The ritual seemed worthless to the family but Brunton was determined to decipher it. A few days after Brunton disappeared. "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" is a part of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes".

Trelawney Hope, secretary for European Affairs, reaches out to Holmes. A very important letter was stolen from Hope's safe and he wants Holmes to track it down. The letter's content was of political importance and the three main suspects of Holmes are international secret agents. However one of them, Eduardo Lucas, was found murdered. Is there some connection between both crimes and will Holmes connect the dots? "The Adventure of the Second Stain" is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

The Australian Charles McCarthy is brutally murdered in Hertfordshire, England. His son James is the prime suspect, having been the last person seen at his side. Yet he claims to be innocent. Lestrade calls on Holmes to clarify the case. "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" is part of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".

The politician Neil Gibson wants Sherlock Holmes' help to solve the mystery of his wife's murder. Maria's body was found lifeless on a bridge on their estate. He hopes Holmes will be able to clear his children's governess, Miss Dunbar, of the crime. "The Problem of Thor Bridge" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Holmes and Watson go to Dartmoor to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a racehorse named Silver Blaze, but that is not the only strange occurrence that has happened there... The day before the race, the horse's trainer - John Straker - was found dead. "Silver Blaze" is taken from "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes".

Captain Peter, called also "Black Peter" because of his dark moods, is found dead. The police inspector Hopkins tries to find the murderer but without any success. He then contacts Holmes asking him for help with the case. Holmes and Hopkins are at the crime scene where they decide to hide and see if the guilty one will show up again. And then a young man enters the room. What happened afterwards? Did they catch the murderer or there is something more to the story? Will Holmes solve the case or this one will be harder than expected?

A murder was committed. Sir Eustace Brackenstall was killed. Holmes and Watson are a part of the investigation. The first they interview is Brackenstall's wife, Lady Mary. Then they speak with the maid Theresa. Both of them were in the house during the murder. But still their versions are a bit different. Holmes gets more and more suspicious and he digs deeper in the case ... until he finds a man Lady Mary travelled together with from Australia to England. Who killed Sir Eustace and will the murderer get what he or she deserved? Can the crime be concealed? If so, what for? "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

The banker Alexander Holder has been the victim of a theft and his son Arthur has been caught red-handed. An important client had entrusted Alexander with the Beryl Coronet - a rare and precious piece of jewellery - in exchange of a pund50,000 loan. Not wanting to risk leaving it at the bank, Holder had taken it back home. He'd been awoken at night by a noise and had discovered his son, coronet in hand, and three of its beryl were missing. Yet Sherlock Holmes, hired by Holder, doesn't seem to think that Arthur is guilty. "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" is part of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".

James Dodd comes to Sherlock Holmes about the whereabouts of his friend Godfrey Emsworth. The two men fought in the Second Boer War together, where Ensworth was wounded. Dodd has not heard from his friend since then and believes something is very wrong. He has contacted Emsworth's father, Colonel Ensworth, but the later tells him his son has gone off at sea. Not satisfied by this response Dodd went off to visit the colonel and his wife, who he found to be less than welcoming. Questioning the butler only made Dodd even less at ease and he hopes that Holmes will be able to track Emsworth down. "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" (1926) is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Violet Hunter has been offered a position as a governess by Jephro Rucastle, owner of the country estate the Copper Beaches, in Hampshire. She wants to have Sherlock Holmes opinion, as to whether or not she should accept the position. The pay is three times what she is used to but it comes with strange conditions, such as having to cut her long hair short. Yet her would-be-employer seems nice enough and finally, Violet takes the job. Holmes tells her to send him a telegram if she ever needs him. Two weeks later, a telegram comes in begging him to come to her. "The Adventure of the Cooper Beeches" is part of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".

Trevor Bennett is engaged to Edith Presbury and works for her father, a professor. The latter is himself engaged to another young lady and colleague's daughter, Alice Morphy. But Professor Presbury has been acting strange since his engagement. He suddenly left for Prague without telling anyone and was gone for a fortnight. He has since then been receiving letters that Bennett is under strict orders not to open. The professor also brought back a wooden box from his trip and became irate when Bennett picked it up. His whole personality is changed and Bennett hopes that Sherlock Holmes can help him crack the case. "The Adventure of the Creeping Man" is part of "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".

Colonel Barclay, a commander of the Royal Mallows Regiment, is dead. His wife is the first and main suspect because the servants in the house heard the couple fight and quarrel over something. Some screams followed and shortly after the driver found the commander dead and his wife passed out on the coach. Sherlock Holmes takes up on the case and investigates the crime scene. As always there is much more to the story than it seems in the beginning so he digs deeper in Colonel's past. "The Adventure of the Crooked Man" is a part of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes".

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are travelling in Cornwall when Mortimer Tregennis comes to them with the strangest of cases. His sister Brenda was found dead next to their two brothers, George and Owen, who had gone mad. They had spent the evening playing whist together. Tregennis is convinced it's the work of the Devil. The housekeeper fainted upon finding them, and so did the doctor who was summoned. It seems that Sherlock Holmes will have to outsmart the Devil himself to solve this case. "The Adventure of the Devil´s Foot" is part of "His Last Bow".

Dr Watson is called to Holmes' sickbed, who is suffering from a highly infection tropical disease contracted whilst he was working on one of his cases. Yet when Watson arrives Holmes will not him help. Instead, he has him wait around until finally sending him on a peculiar errand. Watson must fetch a Mr Culverton Smith and ask him to come back to 221B Baker Street. But Watson is to return before Smith and hide. "The Adventure of the Dying Detective" is part of "His Last Bow".

Ronald Adair, a quiet young man whose only hobby was playing cards, got killed. Watson attempted to crack the case but with no success. One day he decided to examine the area around the victim's house and then he ran into a strange old man. Who is he? Can it be the murderer who came back to the crime scene in disguise? Or the old man is simply a witness? Will Watson find out what happened by applying Holmes' methods or this will not be enough? You can find the answers in "The Adventure of the Empty House" which is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

The young engineer Victor Hatherley has been recruited by Colonel Lysander Stark to examine a hydraulic press, for the enormous amount of 50 guineas. He accepted immediately but the situation quickly sours. When he comes to tell Sherlock Holmes his story, he's missing a thumb. "The Adventure of the Engineer´s Thumb" is part of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".

The powerful Duke of Holdernesse's son is missing. The boy was last seen in the Priory School but shortly after he received a letter from his father, he was nowhere to be seen. The main suspect was the German master because he went missing the same day as the boy. The Priory School's director reached out to Watson and Holmes who followed after the boy's steps. Will they solve the case and find the boy? Did the boy went somewhere by himself or someone kidnapped him? Find the answers in "The Adventure of the Priory School" which is a part of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".