Sherlock Holmes Plots and Titles Quiz

Answer: The Adventure of Silver Blaze

'The Adventure of Silver Blaze' (published 1892-1893) is featured in the short story collection 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. The story features the kidnapping of a prize horse Silver Blaze and the murder of its trainer John Straker. During the investigation, we come across a very famous dialogue when the Yard detective Gregory asks Holmes if he would like to point out any unusual incident. Holmes points out 'the curious incident of the dog in the night time'.

When Gregory replies that the dog did nothing; Holmes says that was the curious incident.

The dog did not do anything because its master was the person who stole the horse and the horse killed Straker to protect itself. Holmes later recovers the horse and presents it back to the owner in a highly dramatic way.

Answer: The Adventure of the Empty House

'The Adventure of the Final Problem' features the death of Sherlock Holmes in a fight with arch villain Professor Moriarty in the Reichenbach falls. 'The Adventure of the Empty House' (first published 1903-04 in the collection 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes') features the return of Sherlock Holmes. Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had decided to do away with Sherlock, he had to bring him back on popular demand.

In this story, Colonel Moran is the right hand man of Moriarty, and Holmes joins with Watson to have Moran arrested.

Answer: The Red Headed League

'The Red Headed League' is part of the collection 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' and was first published 1891-92. A pawnbroker, Jabez Wilson, is selected to join the red-headed league because of the nature of his colouring and is paid for doing work.

When the league is suddenly closed he approaches Holmes, who unravels the plot. Jabez's assistant was digging a tunnel to the bank in his absence. Holmes sets a trap and catches the villains red handed.

Answer: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' was first published in 1891-92 as a part of the collection 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'. A commissionaire Peterson finds a hat and a goose and brings it to Holmes who gives the goose to Peterson. When the goose is opened, Peterson discovers a gem (carbuncle) in it. Holmes and Watson go in search of the person whose hat was found.

It is finally revealed that the gem was stolen from a Countess and an innocent person was implicated. Holmes cracks the case, but allows the criminal to flee after making sure that the false case would fall.

Answer: The Adventure of the Dancing Men

'The Adventure of the Dancing Men' (first published 1903-04) is a part of the collection 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes'. Mr. Hilton Cubitt observes drawings of dancing men left near his house. The drawings leave his wife Elsie in a state of panic. When Sherlock Holmes deciphers the code, he realizes that there is great danger. By the time he rushes to the client's home, Hilton is dead and Elsie is seriously injured. Holmes uses the dancing men code to trap the culprit (an old lover of Elsie) and brings him to book.

Answer: The Adventure of the Speckled Band

'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' was first published in 1891-92 and is a part of the collection 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'. The story features Dr. Roylott, a brute of a man, who can bend a poker and who threatens Holmes for interfering with his affairs. Roylott's step daughter Julia has died in a mysterious fashion and his other step daughter Helen consults Holmes. Watson and Holmes ask Helen to shift to another room and they stay in Helen's room.

They are shocked to see a vicious snake (swamp adder) and strike at it.

The infuriated snake returns to its master Roylott and kills him. The snake, which was curled around the doctor's brow, resembled a speckled band. This story, with a thrilling climax, is regarded as one of Doyle's best. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle rated this story as the best Sherlock Holmes story that he had written.

Answer: A Scandal in Bohemia

'The Scandal in Bohemia' is part of the short story collection 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', published in 1891-92. This is the first short story of Sherlock Holmes published by "Strand Magazine". The story features a King being blackmailed by a lady named Irene Adler. Holmes and Watson set out to recover the King's photograph. Even though Holmes recovers the photo, he is discovered by Irene. Holmes admires Irene Adler so much that he asks for her portrait from the King as a reward.

Answer: The Five Orange Pips

'The Five Orange Pips' is a part of the collection 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', first published in 1891-92. The story features John Openshaw who had received a letter containing five orange pips and signed KKK. Holmes find out that John's uncle had some papers connected with the dreaded Ku Klux Klan and that the KKK had killed his uncle and his father.

The Ku Klux Klan used to send five orange pips as a warning sign. Holmes advises his client to leave the paper from his uncle's diary near the sundial, as advised by the KKK.

But before John can follow the advice he is found drowned in the Thames. Based on a study of shipping records, Holmes deduces who the killer is and sends him the orange pips. But before the killers can be caught, their ship is reported drowned and thus ends the story of the five orange pips.

Answer: The Problem of Thor Bridge

'The Problem of Thor Bridge' is a part of the collection 'The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes' and was first published in 1922. The story features a Gold King Neil Gibson who has an attraction for his children's governess Grace Dunbar. His jealous wife commits suicide and creates a circumstantial case against the governess. Holmes uses all his brilliant deductive powers to demonstrate that the death was a suicide and not a murder, thus saving the innocent governess.

Answer: His Last Bow

'His Last Bow' is a story published in 1917 and is a part of a collection by the same name. This is supposed to be (chronologically) the last adventure of Holmes. The story features an aged Holmes and Watson who work to uncover a German agent Von Bork.