The Valley of Fear
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4.5 • 139 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Holmes decodes a cipher warning from Moriarty's organization for "Douglas" in "Birlstone", but a corpse is there already. When Mr. Douglas blows the head off his American assassin, he dresses the body as himself, and hides, to throw off the chase for good. Holmes guesses the missing dumb-bell weighted down the killer's clothes in the moat. The calling card left, VV341, is Vermissa Valley Lodge 341. Decades ago for Pinkerton, he went months undercover, first with Freemen in Chicago, then west to desolate mountain coal mine area, to take down corrupt murderers who ran the Valley Freemen Lodge, but criminals pursued. Holmes warns Douglas, when acquitted, to flee England. But Moriarty prevails. The second Mrs. Douglas telegrams that her husband was lost overboard on his way to South Africa on a ship.
Customer Reviews
Yes, dysentery works in today's world
My favorite of the Holmes' canon. The depiction of the seediest secret societies apt and believable. For the second time Doyle describes a unique and acute picture of the unlikeliest scenarios.
More than expected
Every page was so captivating that I was easily drawn into the well described locations, the time period, the feeling of the characters and multitude of ever unfolding events.
Another excellent tale!
Many twists and turns. A real page turner.