My Friend the Murderer

by Arthur Conan Doyle

"Then there's 7 and 108, they are chronic," continued the warder, glancing down a blue slip of paper. "And 28 knocked off work yesterday--said lifting things gave him a stitch in the side. I want you to have a look at him, if you don't mind, doctor. There's 81, too--him that killed John Adamson in the Corinthian brig--he's been carrying on awful in the night, shrieking and yelling, he has, and no stopping him either."

Genres: Classics, Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction, Crime

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1893

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

[Jimmy Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be a collection of Sir Arthur's worse short stories. I have read some of his other short stories, and some are pretty good ones. these stories are not so much. I gave it two stars because the writing is good, just not the plot.

[Jeanette Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pointless narrative of a violent and selfish man...

[Nico]

"Mein Freund, der Mörder" ist ein Sammelband von fünf Kurzgeschichten aus der Feder von Arthur Conan Doyle, die erstmals in der London Society im Jahr 1882 veröffentlicht wurden. Diese Sammlung bietet einen spannenden Einblick in Doyles literarische Anfänge vor seiner berühmten Sherlock-Holmes-Ära.

Mein Freund, der Mörder

Die titelgebende Geschichte, "Mein Freund, der Mörder", dreht sich um die Beziehung zwischen einem Arzt und einem Mörder. Leider hält die Geschichte nicht ganz, was der vielversprechende Titel suggeriert. Die vermeintliche Freundschaft zwischen den Hauptfiguren entpuppt sich lediglich als Arzt-Patienten-Beziehung, was der Erzählung an Tiefe und emotionaler Bindung fehlt. Das Ende ist vorhersehbar und die Geschichte des Mörders nicht fesselnd genug, um nachhaltig zu beeindrucken.

Pastor Hopkins

"Pastor Hopkins" erzählt die Geschichte eines Geistlichen, der in einem kleinen Dorf gegen Ungerechtigkeiten kämpft. Diese Erzählung besticht durch ihre atmosphärische Dichte und die moralischen Fragen, die sie aufwirft. Doyle gelingt es hier, die innere Zerrissenheit und den Mut des Pastors eindrucksvoll darzustellen. Diese Geschichte hebt sich positiv von den anderen ab und zeigt Doyles Fähigkeit, komplexe Charaktere zu schaffen.

Wie Braxton die Buschklepper fing

In "Wie Braxton die Buschklepper fing" geht es um den entschlossenen Polizisten Braxton, der eine Gruppe von Gesetzlosen zur Strecke bringt. Diese Geschichte ist actionreich und spannend, allerdings etwas klischeehaft. Die Figuren sind stereotyp und die Handlung verläuft nach einem vorhersehbaren Muster. Dennoch bietet sie unterhaltsame Lesemomente und einen guten Einblick in die kriminalistische Frühzeit.

Auch ein Kornhandel

"Auch ein Kornhandel" beleuchtet die Intrigen und Machenschaften im Handel. Die Geschichte ist detailreich und zeigt die verschiedenen Facetten des Geschäftslebens im viktorianischen England. Während die Handlung nicht besonders spannend ist, überzeugt sie durch ihre genaue Schilderung der damaligen Zeit und ihrer sozialen Dynamiken.

Das geheimnisvolle Kästchen

"Das geheimnisvolle Kästchen" ist eine mysteriöse Geschichte über ein ungewöhnliches Artefakt und dessen Auswirkungen auf die Menschen, die damit in Berührung kommen. Diese Erzählung ist packend und voller unerwarteter Wendungen, was sie zu einem Highlight der Sammlung macht. Doyles Fähigkeit, Spannung aufzubauen und zu halten, kommt hier besonders gut zur Geltung.

Fazit

Zusammengefasst bietet der Sammelband "Mein Freund, der Mörder" eine interessante Mischung aus frühen Geschichten von Arthur Conan Doyle. Während einige Erzählungen wie "Mein Freund, der Mörder" hinter den Erwartungen zurückbleiben, überzeugen andere wie "Pastor Hopkins" und "Das geheimnisvolle Kästchen" durch ihre Tiefe und Spannung. Für Fans von Doyle und Liebhaber viktorianischer Kurzgeschichten ist dieser Band dennoch eine lohnenswerte Lektüre, die einen Einblick in die Entwicklung eines der großen Erzähler der Kriminalliteratur bietet.

[Teemu Öhman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Friend the Murderer is an early ACD short story, first published in the London Society magazine in 1882. In other words, this is ACD before Holmes. I had presumably read this story before, but it hadn’t left any permanent traces in my brain, except for the truly excellent title.

Unfortunately the story doesn’t live up to the promise of the title. The main problem is that the murderer and the doctor (once again) aren’t friends, they just have a doctor–patient relationship. The ending is also somewhat predictable, and the murderer’s story just isn’t interesting enough.

3.25/5

[Yogin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly a mystery story as one might expect from A. C. Doyle, but nonetheless it was an interesting one. This is more of a philosophical tale, where a man despite doing the right thing is eventually remembered for all the bad things he did earlier in life. Basically, if you choose the wrong path early in life, any attempts to make amends later might not please the society. Society will still remember you for the initial bad deeds. This may not always be the case but certainly seems to be true on most occasions even in real life.

[Scott Sammons]

Excellent collection of short stories by the king of pulp!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The opportunity to review great writing fundamentals by a master is worth the effort. The language is remarkably up to date given when it was written. I do not like or often download short stories. It would've been nice to know what I was buying before I got it.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

British entertaining listening 🎧
Twelve will written short stories of mystery, friendship, seafaring, western, and war by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I would highly recommend this collection to readers of British novels. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎧 to novels 📖🕵️‍♂️😎✨🎉👍2022

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well paced short story that holds one's interest. The trials and tribulations of a man who gave state's evidence against his fellow murderers. Audible edition. Narrated by Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot. 3.5 stars

[Teena Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick descent read. Not really thrilling as other novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It portrays an intersection of reality and complex human behaviours, quite different from the common detective novels. A different take from the author.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super-short read. More of a curiosity but worth it.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story by this knowledgeable author. Looking forward to his next one.

[Nickleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, entertaining and interesting sketch from ACD.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story. Worth the read.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and typical of the author

[Jim Feliciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of stories. These were English people in Australia and other places. There is no Sherlock Holmes in any of the stories. It was fun to read the different points of view.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story written by a great writer and narrated by a great Narrator!!!

[Ema · Rating 2 out of 5]

to short to make an acquaintance

[CC. Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh. It's not a Sherlock Holmes story and none of Doyle's other works quite measure up to that genius. Certainly, not this one.

Mercifully, though, it's short.

The setting of the story is in an Australian prison. A doctor at the prison is told that he should go listen to the amazing story of one of the inmates. The prisoner's name is Maloney and it's questionable if he is crazy or just really paranoid. Maloney was part of a gang of robbers and privateers who were captured. In order to make his own sentence lighter, he turned evidence against his mates. Now, he has no homeland and no friends. His enemies are all around, both inside the prison and out, both within the law and without, and he has to rely on the police and prison guards to keep him safe.

Maloney leads a very lonely and miserable existence, but that doesn't make him any kinder or remorseful. Instead, he is sour and bitter to everyone, blaming others for the situation he now finds himself in. He repeatedly escapes, only to be recaptured by criminals and then has no choice but to voluntarily go back to prison, the same one he started from.

The narrator is so not interest in anything that is going on, showing no more emotion that a wall. In that, we were alike with this story. So miserable all the way through.

[Therese · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the title of this book, and while Sherlock Holmes and Watson don't appear, I still thought it might have some redeeming qualities since I enjoyed The Parasite so much. This one wasn't worth my time, but at least it was short. You never find out who the doctor is who tells the story when Maloney (the murderer) isn't sharing it with him. You only know that this is taking place in a number of different places but told while he was laid up in Perth. Last page says that this happened in October of 81. Yawn... $0.0

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

ACD's non Sherlock Holmes work is interesting, particularly his ability to develop different kinds of protagonisits

[Stela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a typical Conan-Doyle.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly I found this story a bit confusing and utterly pointless. It was fairly well written, hence the rating. But it wasn't up to Conan Doyle's usual standards

[Tell Tale Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Emily Schmidt & Gregory Kerkman

[Wessel Gordon]

9