October’s case was first printed both in the Strand Magazine (in the UK) and in Harper’s Weekly (in the US) in February 1893

Murder, international intrigue, blackmail, a disappearance, mysterious footprints! Unfortunately, this story has none of the above! What does it have?

An unsettling face appearing in a neighbouring window and the suspicious actions of the recent residents. Not to mention the suspicious actions of a loving spouse and their alleged involvement with the new neighbours.

Someone returning to England hoping to cover up their past in America. This is not a unique theme in the canon.

What does this person have to hide? Is Holmes correct in his assumptions?

BONUS QUESTIONS:

1. How do we know that Dr. Watson was right-handed?
2. What is a wide-awake?
3. Were death certificates available in the US before 1900?
4. Why “Jack”?

Last month, Stormy Petrel Gary gave us a very interesting power point presentation on trains in the Victorian era. For October’s meeting, Gary will present “The Life and Times of Sherlock’s Pipes.” I’m sure you will not want to miss this one!

The Petrels will meet, again, zia Zoom, on October 5, 2021 at 7:00 pm to discuss “The Yellow Face”

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca

Due to certain circumstances not under our control, the Stormy Petrels will hold their September meeting via Zoom.

Please note that the September meeting will be held on the second Tuesday, ie Sept. 14th.

The adventure for discussion, first published in The Strand Magazine in 1892, will be “Silver Blaze“, one of the most famous cases. This adventure displays Holmes’s powers of observation and deduction.

Arthur Conan Doyle himself confessed that he knew little about horse racing. In his “Memories & Adventures” he stated that “Horse racing is not a true sport. Sport is what a man does, not what a horse does.”

He did not include “Silver Blaze” in his top 12 list, as he noted that it was “very faulty”. He was told that “half of the characters would have been in jail and the other half warned off the turf forever.”

Agreed, this case may have several handicaps, but that should not detract from ACD’s ability as a great writer, and Sherlock Holmes’s analytical skills.

Meeting date and time: September 14th at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific time)

If you require any addition information, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca

“The Adventure of the Copper Beeches” was first published in the Strand Magazine in June, 1892.

The plot of this case was actually suggested by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s mother.

After writing the 5th adventure, ACD confessed to his Mother “I think of slaying Holmes in the sixth and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from other things. (from “Teller of Tales” by Daniel Stashower)

His mother (the Ma’am) replied, ” You won’t! You can’t! You mustn’t!”

She then suggested an idea for a story. The story, according to Charles Higham in his book “The Adventures of Conan Doyle“, the idea came from a true account (The Staunton Case) which reported the kidnapping and starving of a young girl.

ACD agreed and wrote “The Copper Beeches“. “He still lives, thanks to your entreaties.”

The Stormy Petrels of BC will meet (perhaps the last time via Zoom) at 7:00 pm, Tuesday Aug. 3

Contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca if you would like more information.

Bonus questions:

1. Who was Carlo ?
2. What is the significance of the name?
3. What is the significance of Holmes mentioning a sister?
4. Who else lived at Montague Place besides Violet Hunter? (No. 23)
5. Anagram “Violet Hunter”

The Stormy Petrels of BC will hold a meeting via Zoom to discuss “The Beryl Coronet”. Originally published in The Strand Magazine in May, 1892.

A distraught gentleman arrivedsat 221B. Distraught to say the least! Dr. Watson notices the man running and springing and jerking his arms as he makes his way down the snowy (and most likely icy) sidewalk. Dr. Watson thought him to be a madman.

Sherlock Holmes, on the other hand, seems delighted to think the man was coming up to seek his services.

Once inside the sitting room at 221B, the “madman” pulls at his hair and proceeds to beat his head against the wall. Dr. Watson….where is the brandy?

Who was this man? Why was he so upset?

Did you notice the foreshadowing regarding the treasured piece he was entrusted with?

What was the beryl coronet and who did it belong to?

Did you notice the red herrings?

We have a woman fainting. A man in disguise. A man with a wooden leg. A growing list of suspects.

Meeting date: Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Meeting time: 7:00 P.M. (West Coast time)

If you would like more information, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca