The Valley of Fear & His Last Bow

by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Genres: Classics

156 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo que mas me gusta de estos libros, es la amistad que hay entre Sherlock y Watson, me parece tan real. Él final de este libro, solo hizo que le cogiera mas cariño a esta amistad, y sintiera un poco de nostalgia. Necesito conseguir los otros libros, y leerlos en orden

[Malcolm Meli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite there being a further instalment to the Sherlock Holmes series, 'His Last Bow' truly feels as if its the finale to Holmes's adventures:

'There's an east wind coming, Watson.'
'I think not, Holmes. It is very warm.'
'Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind nonetheless, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in when the storm has cleared.'

This was written and published in 1917, so the events of The Great War were still ongoing, thus influencing this short story.

Other than that, 'The Valley of Fear' was really gripping, despite half of it being a flashback on the other side of the planet, similar to 'A Study in Scarlet'. Moreover, 'His Last Bow' has various short stories that were memorable, and good too!

Really had fun reading these, though the last short story, the one based in The Great War, did feel rather depressing.

[Gaurav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading it 6 months back only to not move past 50 pages (short form content consumption took over). However, restarted it in December and found it interesting and completed it. I personally found the writing difficult at places and needed more context to understand a few parts. It was good to getting back to mystery fiction reading after 15-20 years. Hoping it's a restart to my reading journey.

[ERIK SALINAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como siempre, sorprendente y para nada descepcionante; Sherlock Holmes.

[Rocio Puebla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leí el vendedor de cadáveres de Conan Doyle

[David Aybar Allca · Rating 3 out of 5]

que puedo decir, me encanta Sherlock !!!! y estos compilados de varias historias me parecen lo máximo, además de que en este podemos leer la ultima aventura de él y Watson. Super bueno el libro.

[Lara Stewart-Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and found it very enjoyable for anywhere. I comfortabley read this in the airport,on the plane and on holiday, I never felt bored reading it .I cant wait to read the final book!

[SA Spain · Rating 3 out of 5]

lo de siempre. la primera parte entretenida, la segunda se me hace aburrida aunque tiene el propósito de explicar la primera.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of Doyle's material I have read up to this point.