The Sealed Room

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish physician and writer who is most noted for his fictional stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger, and for popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. A London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases. Holmes, who first appeared in publication in 1887, was featured in four novels and 56 short stories. The first novel, A Study in Scarlet, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887 and the second, The Sign of the Four, in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. The character grew tremendously in popularity with the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine, beginning with "A Scandal in Bohemia" in 1891; further series of short stories and two novels published in serial form appeared between then and 1927. The stories cover a period from around 1880 up to 1914. All but four stories are narrated by Holmes's friend and biographer, Dr. John H. Watson; two are narrated by Holmes himself ("The Blanched Soldier" and "The Lion's Mane") and two others are written in the third person ("The Mazarin Stone" and "His Last Bow"). In two stories ("The Musgrave Ritual" and "The Gloria Scott"), Holmes tells Watson the main story from his memories, while Watson becomes the narrator of the frame story. The first and fourth novels, A Study in Scarlet and The Valley of Fear, each include a long interval of omniscient narration recounting events unknown to either Holmes or Watson. In 1882 he joined former classmate George Turnavine Budd as his partner at a medical practice in Plymouth, but their relationship proved difficult, and Doyle soon left to set up an independent practice. Arriving in Portsmouth in June of that year with less than £10 (£900 today) to his name, he set up a medical practice at 1 Bush Villas in Elm Grove, Southsea. The practice was initially not very successful. While waiting for patients, Doyle again began writing stories and composed his first novels, The Mystery of Cloomber, not published until 1888, and the unfinished Narrative of John Smith, which would go unpublished until 2011. He amassed a portfolio of short stories including "The Captain of the Pole-Star" and "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement", both inspired by Doyle's time at sea, the latter of which popularised the mystery of the Mary Celeste and added fictional details such as the perfect condition of the ship (which had actually taken on water by the time it was discovered) and its boats remaining on board (the one boat was in fact missing) that have come to dominate popular accounts of the incident.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Audiobook, Crime

34 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2014

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

[Peter]

Another fine mystery by a genuine master storyteller. An accident happens and Frank Alder brings the injured fellow, Felix Stanniford, into his house. The house is deserted, one room is even sealed. What is behind that door and why did Felix' father, a banker, disappeared almost ten years ago? Felix is allowed to open the sealed room on his 21st birthday. If you read this story you will know about the secret of the sealed room. Compelling pageturner. Highly recommended!

[Charles van Buren]

The ending lacks punch

If this story were fireworks it would be a squib. A lot of fuss and feathers and fizzing and hissing and sparks and smoke but no bang. On top of that there are many flaws in the plot...but no spoilers.

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Audible now has something called, "Channels" offered with your membership. I am becoming quickly addicted. This was a short story I found available on the Mysteries Channel.

I don't know why I have never read this before or come across it. I really liked it. I listened while getting in a walk and hung on every word. Fabulous ending which did not disappoint. It was eerie and descriptive as you would expect a Doyle to be. I was able to picture the setting with the house and the sealed off room; as well as the kid who was waiting to open it. I was fully drawn into the impossible conflict. What a conflict!

If you enjoy short stories and a good, well written mystery, grab this one. I doubt anyone would regret it. I want to read it again now that I know the ending.

[Tom]

On his nightly constitutional Frank Alder, a solicitor witnesses a horse drawn cab knocking down a bicyclist who is named Felix Stanniford.
He helps the cyclist up to his house nearby but inside the house the man faints. When looking around the house for help he notices a door with a red wax seal on the keyhole. When Felix regains consciousness, he tells Frank that the door was sealed on the instructions of his father who has disappeared 7 years ago when he lost money for his bank's clients in order to avoid the scandal. On his father's instructions the door is not to be opened until Felix's twenty first birthday when the secret inside can be revealed to him. Two months later, the day of Stanniford's 21st birthday, Frank is asked to witness the opening of the sealed room. When Stanniford opens the door they discover the dead body of Felix's father, who committed suicide inside the room seven years before, on the table in front of him was a letter he had written with the key to the door of the room he had locked from the inside.

[William]

Mystery listening 🎧
Another will written British thriller short story adventure mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story line is about why has a room been sealed for all these years? I would recommend to readers looking for a quick read and mystery. Enjoy 2021

[Teemu Öhman]

Another one of ACD’s Round the Fire Stories, originally published in The Strand magazine in 1898. There’s a touch of horror in this one, but otherwise it’s an average mystery story.

3.5/5

[Jing]

The buildup was amazing but the payoff was nonexistent--the entire plot was just incredibly, incredibly thin, and dare I say it, ridiculous. However, the ascending, shrill note of horror in the narrative made my heart palpitate and my palms sweaty with fear up until the point where everything came crashing down, so the atmosphere was utterly masterfully done. I loved the first 90% and loathed the last 10%. In any case, I love Doyle mostly for his language and atmosphere, not his plot--the original Holmes stories are often full of plot holes big enough to drive a hansom cab through--so this story did not disappoint and kind of presented all the strengths and weaknesses of ACD in a nutshell.

[Jim]

I think the real genius of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lies in creating character and atmosphere, he is not so strong on plot. The atmosphere was masterfully done but the ending was disappointing after the build up.

[ALLL]

Dark-themed, but Light-hearted!
Immensely Enjoyed It.

[Han]

Macabe and interesting.

[Jared Smith]

As is usual with ACD, this story is well-crafted. That said, the morality in this one falls pretty flat.

[Amr Nabil]

Dark-themed, but Light-hearted!
Immensely Enjoyed It.

[Arimi Reads]

Okay so this was an intriguing tale, with a dark twist I wasn't expecting. I'm unsure how the letters and such came to be or how to work- It was so bizarre to me.

[Johnson Bryan]

I love this book theme , genre and the positioning

[Neethaa]

23 April 2026 audible

[Luke]

See "I ejaculated" in an innocent context

[Marylou (As the Page Turns)]

*to be reviewed*

[Steph]

Found at audible, on their channels.

[Bonnie Dale Keck]

Have read all of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and probably others as well, just never bothered to put them in to amazon or goodreads, so dates wrong. Some KU some paperback some hardback some collections.