The Deduction of the The Deduction of the MindMind

A modern take on a classic tale

Having seen first hand, the deducting skills of my good friend, I have decided to put my friend to a test just to prove to me its not just guesswork.

I have just acquired an old pocket watch; let’s see if he can shine some light

on the lifestyle and personality of the former owner.

Then I shall believe if his amazing ability is real or it was all just luck…

I watched as he examined the watch from every angle.

“There’s really not much to sayfrom this except it did belongto your brother, that he died recently and that …”

He was …

• careless• untidy• in and out of money

troubles more than once • has a poor quality lifestyle• which then lead him to

drink heavily.

Did I miss anything ?

He could not have know this from the watch – he’s has pried into my family history!

The watch is clearly markedand damaged

• due to keeping it in a pocket with other items.

• money and house keys for example

Meaning that he is careless.

Having pawned the watch severaltimes

• you can see the pawnbrokers codes all over the inside case

• having done so many times meant he managed to find stability

• otherwise he could not reclaim the watch to pawn again

As for the drinking well …

• the turner for the watch is covered with scratches due to the unsteady hands from being over the limit.

• look at any drunks watch and you will see the same

You have awakened my mind forour next investigation!

There is no longer any doubt in my mind, that his skills are genuine

Inspirations taken from “The Sign of Four”.

Chapter 1, pages 64 - 67

Sherlock Holmes Original Publications

12

9

14

2

23

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

Pre 1890 1891–1895 1901–1905 1906–1920 1921–1927

Dates of Original Publications P

ublic

atio

ns

Stories Published

The above chart shows, How many original Sherlock Holmes stories, Conan Doyle had published, and in when he had them published

The Sherlock Holmes Collective Works

Pre 1890 A Study in Scarlet ( novel, 1887) The Sign of the Four ( novel,1890)

1891–1895 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Bohemia, 1891 The Red-headed League, 1891 A Case of Identity, 1891

The Boscombe Valley Mystery, 1891 The Five Orange Pips, 1891 The Man with the Twisted Lip, 1891 The Blue Carbuncle, 1892 The Speckled Band, 1892 The Engineer's Thumb, 1892

The Noble Bachelor1892 The Beryl Coronet, 1892 The Copper Beeches, 1892

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze, 1892 The Yellow Face, 1893 The Stock-broker's Clerk, 1893 The 'Gloria Scott', 1893

The Musgrave Ritual, 1893 The Reigate Squires, 1893 The Crooked Man, 1893 The Resident Patient 1893 The Greek Interpreter, 1893 The Naval Treaty, 1893

The Final Problem, 1893

1900–1905 The Hound of the Baskervilles (novel, 1901-02)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes The Empty House, 1903 The Norwood Builder, 1903 The Dancing Men, 1903 The Solitary Cyclist, 1903 The Priory School, 1904 Black Peter, 1904 Charles Augustus Milverton, 1904 The Six Napoleons, 1904

The Three Students, 1904 The Golden Pince-Nez, 1904 The Missing Three-Quarter, 1904 The Abbey Grange, 1904 The Second Stain, 1904

1905–1920 The Valley of Fear (novel, 1914-15)

His Last Bow Wisteria Lodge, 1908 The Cardboard Box, 1893 The Red Circle, 1911

The Bruce-Partington Plans, 1908 The Dying Detective, 1913 Lady Frances Carfax, 1911 The Devil's Foot, 1910 His Last Bow, 1917

1921–1927) The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes The Illustrious Client , 1924 The Blanched Soldier, 1926 The Mazarin Stone, 1921

The Three Gables, 1926 The Sussex Vampire, 1924 The Three Garridebs, 1924 Thor Bridge, 1922 The Creeping Man 1923 The Lion's Mane, 1926 The Veiled Lodger, 1927 Shoscombe Old Place, 1927

The Retired Colourman, 1926

Ranked Author Works published

1 Georges Simenon 167

2 Agatha Christie 77

3 Arthur Conan Doyle 74

4 Ellery Queen 78

5 Erle Stanley Gardner 105

6 John Le Carre 22

7 Ian Fleming 91

8 Rex Stout 113

9 Mickey Spillane 26

10 John Grisham 135

The following table indicates Arthur Conan Doyle’s position in the top ten mystery writers of all time.

Also comparing the amount of published work each author had produced in since first published

Photograph Copyright

A. M. Thomas