The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #9) by Arthur Conan Doyle – A brilliant, satisfying finale

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes delivered on every front—clever plots, emotional twists, eerie mysteries, and that unmistakable Holmes-Watson magic.

Previous Books in the Series

A Study in Scarlet ( Book 1)
The Sign of Four ( Book 2)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Book 3)
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Book 4)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Book 5)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (Book 6)
The Valley of Fear (Book 7)
His Last Bow (Book 8)

Synopsis

Featuring the last 12 stories ever written about the infamous detective, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes contains some of Conan Doyle’s most villainous and unusual characters. The 1920s was a disenchanting era, and the darker mood of many of these stories reflects the environment at the time. Some even felt that the stories showed Conan Doyle exploring Spiritualism as it was an area he was interested in at the time and the mental derangement and physical disfigurements that crop up in many of the stories allude to the horrors of the First World War. The collection includes The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, The Adventure of the Creeping Man and The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane.

Review

The preface and author’s note set the tone: a final hurrah for Holmes and Watson. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is collection of 12 stories— a mixed bag of eerie, emotional, and outright bizarre cases—perfect for one last ride with the master of deduction.

1. The Adventure of the Illustrious Client

A vile man with a charming mask plans to marry an innocent woman. Holmes must unmask his past before the wedding bells toll. The twist is chilling, the justice poetic. Holmes walks away victorious while the culprit bruised.

“Some people’s affability is more deadly than the violence of coarser souls.”

2. The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier

Told by Holmes himself, this tale highlights friendship and wartime trauma. A man searches for his missing comrade, shunned by his family. No murder here—just loyalty, secrets, and a redemptive twist. A rare, personal glimpse into Holmes’ own voice.

3. The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone

A royal diamond’s gone missing, and Holmes stages a sneaky trap. With Watson absent, young Billy the page steps in. The case ends with a flashy reveal and a smug prank from Holmes. A short, theatrical gem.

“I am a brain, Watson. The rest of me is a mere appendix”

4. The Adventure of the Three Gables

What starts as a simple house inquiry turns into threats and buried secrets. A woman hides her past with fierce determination. No corpses, but emotional cuts run deep.

“You can’t play with edged tools forever…”

5. The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire

A woman caught sucking blood from her baby? Holmes is on the case. Turns out, it’s not vampirism but sacrifice, love, and heartbreak. The truth is haunting—more human than horror.

6. The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

An inheritance scam spirals into something darker. Holmes smells a rat early but keeps digging. When Watson is shot, Holmes shows rare emotion—reminding us that behind that cool logic is a fiercely loyal friend.

7. The Problem of Thor Bridge

A murder, a governess accused, and a husband with secrets. The wife’s suicide frames the lover—until Holmes unravels the setup with forensic flair. A clever twist with emotional undercurrents.

“There is a soul-jealousy that can be as frantic as any body-jealousy.”

8. The Adventure of the Creeping Man

An aging professor acts like a literal ape. Holmes finds the cause: a monkey-based youth serum gone horribly wrong. It’s creepy and hilarious shows the consequence of what happens man tries to take control of life and nature.

9. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane

Holmes investigates a man dying by the sea, his back lashed by something unseen. Told in Holmes’ voice post-retirement, this one’s pure weird. The killer? Is not human.

10. The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger

A disfigured woman shares her tragic past with Holmes: love, betrayal, and a circus nightmare. There’s no crime to solve—just pain to hear and dignity to honor.

“The example of patient suffering is in itself the most precious of all lessons to an impatient world.”

11. The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place

A racehorse, a crypt, and a man hiding something that happened to his sister—just desperation dressed in deceit. Holmes unravels the plot masterfully.

12. The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

A bitter husband claims his wife ran off. Holmes sees right through the lies but it was interesting to see what happened to his wife and her lover. It’s a brutal tale of murder and delusion. The villain thought he was clever than Sherlock!

Overall, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes delivered on every front—clever plots, emotional twists, eerie mysteries, and that unmistakable Holmes-Watson magic. Each story brought something unique, whether it was a shocking reveal, a subtle emotional punch, or just a brilliant deduction that made me grin. It is A brilliant, satisfying finale.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read this or any book in the series?
What is your favorite Sherlock Holmes Story?

Just in case you missed,,,

• The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady – emotionally rich contemporary
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – slow and simple coming-of-age classic
• The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia #2) by Carissa Broadbent – addictive and steamy romantasy

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