About the Author
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and medical doctor. 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 generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. Doyle struggled to find a publisher for his work. His first work featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, A Study in Scarlet, was written in three weeks when he was 27 and was accepted for publication by Ward Lock & Co on 20 November 1886, which gave Doyle £25 in exchange for all rights to the story.
Doyle was a prolific writer; other than 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.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was most noted for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and writing stories about him which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Book Description
Only Holmes and Watson can get to the bottom of this baffling murder mystery. John Douglas is found in his study blasted faceless with a sawn-off shotgun. There is no obvious motive or suspect. Douglas and his wife, Ivy, a rich and locally popular couple, have lived for years in the ancient, moated Birlstone Manor House. Despite Douglas’ nightly ritual of raising the drawbridge, a perpetrator had concealed himself, shot Douglas, and made a clean getaway. Does the mystery have something to do with the “interesting” relationship between Cecil Baker, Douglas’ only friend from his obscure past, and the surprisingly merry widow? There are plenty of clues, including a brand mark on the deceased arm and the fact that his wedding ring is missing, but not the ring that he always wore above it.
In one of finest books, an exciting adventure of mystery and espionage that will thrill and delight readers both young and old.