SHERLOCK HOLMES SHORT STORIES #3 By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

ZALFA RYVTIA NAURAH (30802300006)

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“... As to reward, my profession is its own reward...”

The book entitled Sherlock Holmes Short Stories #3, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is a collection of stories about interesting cases solved by a detective named Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Dr. Watson. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and doctor. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for the novel A Study in Scarlet, which was the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are an important milestone in the field of crime fiction. The stories in this book contain elements of fantasy, mystery, and crime fiction.

This book contains six sections with various fascinating cases. The Red-Headed League, which tells the story of a bank robbery plan. The Five Orange Pips, which tells the story of a threatening letter containing five oranges as a death threat. The Adventure of the Speckled Band (my favorite), which tells the story of a family inheritance and the mystery of the “Speckled Band”. The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual tells the story of an ancient puzzle involving a noble family, uncovering hidden treasure and murder. The Adventure of the Empty House tells the story of Sherlock Holmes' return after being presumed dead and uncovering a murder. And finally, The Adventure of the Dancing Men tells the story of a coded message in the form of dancing figures that points to a tragedy in a marriage.

This book is set in Victorian England, around the 1880s-1890s. One of my favorite stories is The Adventure of the Speckled Band, which is a very interesting case. It begins with a woman named Helen Stoner who visits Detective Holmes, believing she will die before her wedding day. Through his wit and meticulousness, Detective Holmes uncovers that the case revolves around an inheritance. In addition, there is a plot twist involving the “Speckled Band” itself that left me stunned, which turns out to be an animal used for killing (if you are curious about what animal it is, please read this book ><). I personally really like how the story in this book builds tension slowly, then provides a twist that turns out to be very logical and unexpected. This story feels scary yet intelligent, and in my opinion, it is one of the strongest and most memorable Sherlock Holmes stories. When reading this book, especially this story, I felt like I was being drawn into the story alongside Detective Holmes and Dr. Watson, thinking and guessing along with them as they solved the mysteries of each case.

Through this book, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wanted to show that careful observation, logic, and ingenuity can solve extraordinary mysteries. In addition, the stories in this book illustrate the dangers of greed and how crime can affect the perpetrator himself. This book about detective Sherlock Holmes is considered one of Conan Doyle's best works and is often included in collections of classic detective stories. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrilling mysteries and solving puzzles, especially those who like to theorize, as the nature of this book challenges our minds and sparks our imagination.