The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear
Book Brief
120
Novel • Fiction
England • 1880s
1915
Adult
15-18 years
Super Short Summary
In The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes receives a cryptic warning about John Douglas of Birlstone Manor, leading him and Dr. Watson to investigate Douglas's murder. Holmes discovers the crime is connected to a secret society and a manhunt originating from Vermissa Valley. The investigation uncovers deceit, a hidden identity, and a new looming threat orchestrated by Professor Moriarty.
Mysterious
Suspenseful
Dark
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Arthur Conan Doyle's The Valley of Fear delivers a captivating blend of mystery and detective work, showcasing Sherlock Holmes' incisive skills. Reviewers appreciate the novel's intricate plot and suspenseful atmosphere. However, some criticize its slow pacing and convoluted backstory. Overall, it remains a compelling read for Holmes enthusiasts.
Who Should Read The Valley of Fear?
A reader who enjoys The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle is likely a fan of classic detective fiction and enjoys intricate plots and masterful storytelling. They would appreciate the logical deduction and suspense found in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, similar to readers of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express or Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
The Valley of Fear is the last of Arthur Conan Doyle's four Sherlock Holmes novels, originally published in serial form in The Strand Magazine from September 1914 to May 1915.
The novel is notable for being based in part on the real-life case of the Molly Maguires, a secret society of Irish-American coal miners involved in labor violence in 19th-century Pennsylvania.
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Arthur Conan Doyle uses the cipher known as a book code to play a key role in the plot, reflecting his fascination with secret codes and cryptography.
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120
Novel • Fiction
England • 1880s
1915
Adult
15-18 years
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