Questions About The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes, #7)

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Answered Questions (5)

how and why Holmes believes that Moriarty was responsible for Douglas' life ? :/

Dill Isaac in the Epilogue of the novel is stated that the survivors of the Scowrers Gang consulted Prof Moriarty on how to kill Jack Douglas (AKA Birdy Edwards …morein the Epilogue of the novel is stated that the survivors of the Scowrers Gang consulted Prof Moriarty on how to kill Jack Douglas (AKA Birdy Edwards AKA Jack McMurdo) on British territory... as they failed he took the case personally and 'stepped in himself with a master touch'(less)

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What Was The Theme Of The Story ?

Dirtydeads the theme of the story was about solving a deep case and geting some one to gail

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why mcmurdo came in vermisa valley ?

Bushra Shahid he came to the vermissa valley because he told the police about the freemen organisation so he came and hid in vermissa valley
…morehe came to the vermissa valley because he told the police about the freemen organisation so he came and hid in vermissa valley
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can i get all the important questions and answers of the novel the valley of fear?

Delanie Dooms

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[I will try my best.

1. Who killed Mr. Douglas? Nobody.. At least, not until the final few paragraphs, where we learn he has been professionally murdered by what Holmes assumes to be the master of crime, Professor Moriarty. The main mystery, however, goes like this: Douglas hid himself after killing a former rival and member of a corrupted Freemen's lodge, Baldwin, having thought that, under English law, his act would be considered murder.

2. How was Baldwin killed? Baldwin is killed accidently in a fight with Douglas (who he intended to assassinate); a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun is accidently fired in his face, maiming it completely.

3. How did Douglas, his wife, and his friend, hide the killing? None of the servants heard the shotgun blast, so none came to see the corpse; therefore, the group were able to disguise the body as Douglas, throw the original clothes outside into the moat, put a fake bloody-footprint on the windowsill, and create a plan to trick the servants into thinking it was a murder. It was all done in a rather haphazard way, and their failures seem to be the key to Holmes' success. For example, Holmes questions the lack of a second dumb-bell to exercise with, which eventually leads him to the discovery of Baldwin's clothes and dagger.

4. How does Holmes solve the puzzle? He strikes upon a few key points of evidence. First, the servants testimonies and the testimonies of Barker and Mrs. Douglas do not match. Second, the killer--who is presumed to have escaped at this time in the story--leaves his bike. Third, there is a missing dumb-bell. Fourth, Barker's slipper is found to be an exact match to the blood-print on the windowsill. And many more. All of them align to create the picture that Mr. Douglas is alive, but Holmes does not know if it is true; therefore, he sets up a police raid (in a characteristically dramatic fashion), to catch the tricksters red-handed.

5. Why was Mr. Douglas targeted? In America, he joins up with a group called the Scrowrers (the corrupted Freemen lodge and affiliates). We read a lot about his time there, and by the end it is revealed that he was a secret agent--a member of the group Pinkertons sent to destroy the Scrowrers. Thus, the Scrowrers wish revenge.

6. Who are the Scrowrers? A group of Freemen who murder, blackmail, and hold those in and around the valley of Vermissa under fear (thus the title, The Valley of Fear). They are fiercely loyal to one another, with the penalty of treason being death; they have hardened their hearts considerably throughout their many misdeeds, and some even find it fun to kill (or maim and beat); they work with other groups, such that they commit assassinations for one group in exchange for the other group to commit assassinations for them. The Scrowrers are based on the Molly Maguires, and, similarly, the Freemen are based on the Ancient Order of Hibernians (as well as the Freemasons).

7. Themes? Moral ambiguity. (hide spoiler)]

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Do you have to read the Sherlock Holmes novels in chronology? Can you begin with Valley of Fear?

Lorena Not necessarily, but it has a order for a reason, you'll only understand the quarrel of Holmes with Moriarty if you read The Memoirs of Sherlock Holme…moreNot necessarily, but it has a order for a reason, you'll only understand the quarrel of Holmes with Moriarty if you read The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes first.(less)

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