Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Speckled Band

On the Case with Holmes & Watson #5

by Murray Shaw, M.J. Cosson, Sophie Rohrbach (Illustrator)

"It was the band. The speckled band!"

After her sister Julia dies suddenly, Helen Stoner worries that she is the killer's next target. With her last words, Julia insisted that the "speckled band" murdered her. Can Holmes and Watson discover the identity of the speckled band before Helen falls victim as well

Genres: Mystery, Graphic Novels, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction, Crime, Classics

48 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2010

About the author

Murray Shaw is a kitchen designer and a writer of books for children about Sherlock Holmes.

Reviews

[Author-ization · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, engaging Sherlock Holmes mystery that I read for school. This ending passage was funny:

“And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby Roylott’s death, and I cannot say that it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience.”

Sherlock Holmes is witty, clever, intelligent in his own way, and certainly hilarious when needed. I love his character-alongside dear old Watson, who narrates these stories-which snugly fits these mysteries. Their dynamic is perfect and Holmes' observations are the best to read in my opinion.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was really nice. All the clues were there and at the end you realize that is not that difficult to know what happened, it's a almost in your face but yet I still didn't knew till the end. Interesting locked room mystery.

[Kraig Menefee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed that it was a darker story for a Holmes mystery, and Sherlock's apathy for the death of Roylett was compelling. However, I tend to prefer Sherlock stories that are more concise and/or have more shenanigans throughout, and this one was a tad boring and the settings weren't too interesting to me. Not bad though :)

[Katie Solt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is was good book I am in joy the series all I hope to continue it.

[Anthonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again a new adventure for Sherlock Holmes in graphic novel form. I enjoyed reading this story. A must read.

[Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attractive illustrations and faithful to the story. I've read the Agatha Christie graphic novels which makes little sense to the uninitiated reader, and this is excellent in comparison. It captures the essential parts of the story and delivers it in a succinct manner. Would love to read more in the series.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! A fast paced story that takes several turns - reminded me of the current trend of mystery room escapes. I really have to read more Sherlock Holmes adventures - I always put them on my list - but then I get distracted by other books. The illustrations mesh very well with the story - will look for more GN by Murray Shaw!

[violeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes cases and I find it so fun. The back and forth between Watson and Holmes is so funny. Plus the actual case is so interesting. I had no idea all the way through but by the end everything clicked. I wish we got more Watson but still.

4.5/5

[Mathilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venía en un rompecabezas con misterio, por lo que tenías que resolver la historia con la imagen de una escena.
Lo hice con mi papá y estuvo bueno, pero al final había un par de cosas que no me cerraban

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Sherlock Holmes. Nice short story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of the writing style for Sherlock Holmes stories. This was a good short story mystery.

[Vicki B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an easy read.

Read this in one sitting.

[chipachip · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[anaika kakoty · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first sherlock holmes story I read; it's wonderful,, definitely motivates me to pick up the whole collection in my bookshelf

[Brandon Smithson]

Sherlock Holmes is one of the best fictional detectives of all times because he turn ordinary looking thing into a big hint to solve mystery. The Speckled Band is a story about about a girl named Ms. Stoner who comes to Sherlock Holmes with a mystery. Her mystery about how she hears a whistle every night after she moved to the room where her sister died at. Before her sister died she told her sister that she hears a whistle every night. After, Sherlock Holmes hears the whole story he decides to come to Ms. Stoner’s house and observe the places. When he goes there he finds a vent going into the doctor's room and fake rope. Also, he sees that the doctor is really into african animal so it gives him a idea what killed the sister. Will Holmes be right? Read Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Speckled Band to find because it such a big surprise because the title makes you confused because it not a band that killed the sister. The RedHeaded League is about a guy name Mr. Wilson who comes to Holmes with a mystery about how after he joined the Redheaded League it disappeared and he never got paid the money he was promised. Holmes decides to go to Wilson’s town to look for him and when they get there they meet his assistant and notices something strange about what the assistant was wearing. Sherlock Holmes sees that the assistant has these weirdly shaped stains on his pants and gets a clue of how the Redheaded league disappeared. Does Holmes really know what happen to the Redheaded league? Read Sherlock Holmes and the Redheaded league to find out how good of a detective Sherlock Holmes is and how he can turn just something like a stain that nobody would notice into a clue to find out the mystery. A book is classic when it teachers people life lessons and also, when it a very old story that people rewrite new versions still today and when people still read it today. Sherlock Holmes mysteries are classics because it a very old story and people are still reading it today and author keep writing new version of Sherlock Holmes adventure. Also, people still read the stories today because it give people life lessons. What I liked about the book is that the content of the book made you not made to stop because it made you keep wanting to read it but they book could of been better by talking more about Watson because it says the book about him but it barely talks about him.

Shaw, Murray, and M. J. Cosson. Sherlock Holmes and the Adventures of the Speckled Band. New York: Graphic Universe, 2011. Print.

Shaw, Murray, and M. J. Cosson. Sherlock Holmes and the Redheaded League. New York: Graphic Universe, 2011. Print.

[Ships · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes & the Speckled Band, book two in the Murray Shaw series.
Sherlock Holmes looks into the mystery of the disappearance of Helen Stoners sister, with his usual deductive powers & verve. All is not as it first appears & it will take Sherlock Holmes & his sidekick Watson to sift through fact & fiction.
Not a very long book only 48 pages, though the drawing & atmospheric colouring carries you away, loved it. Can be read & shared with children easily, to introduce them to this enigmatic character. Superb.

[Shiela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has been my favorite one thus far.

[Khoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had me stumped. I had no idea what to expect in the end. I particularly liked this Holmes short story.

[Jenny Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good but I don't know why there was a snake

[St Stephen's C C]

This series introduces a tried and true character in a visually contemporary way. It will be an excellent addition to any collection for readers of the universal sleuth.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot solve these mysteries to save my life. Very entertaining to read.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the better. I guess wrong

[Sienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually don't like Sherlock. I am sorry to people who love him.

[SLADE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching this story portrayed in an old black and white episode back in high school. Reading the story as originally written was interesting and more enjoyable.

In this adventure, Sherlock must figure out the mystery quickly in order to stop a serial killer from striking again.