The Deduction of the The Deduction of the MindMind
A modern take on a classic tale
Having seen first hand, the deducting skills of my good friend, I have decided to put my friend to a test just to prove to me its not just guesswork.
I have just acquired an old pocket watch; let’s see if he can shine some light
on the lifestyle and personality of the former owner.
Then I shall believe if his amazing ability is real or it was all just luck…
I watched as he examined the watch from every angle.
“There’s really not much to sayfrom this except it did belongto your brother, that he died recently and that …”
He was …
• careless• untidy• in and out of money
troubles more than once • has a poor quality lifestyle• which then lead him to
drink heavily.
Did I miss anything ?
He could not have know this from the watch – he’s has pried into my family history!
The watch is clearly markedand damaged
• due to keeping it in a pocket with other items.
• money and house keys for example
Meaning that he is careless.
Having pawned the watch severaltimes
• you can see the pawnbrokers codes all over the inside case
• having done so many times meant he managed to find stability
• otherwise he could not reclaim the watch to pawn again
As for the drinking well …
• the turner for the watch is covered with scratches due to the unsteady hands from being over the limit.
• look at any drunks watch and you will see the same
You have awakened my mind forour next investigation!
There is no longer any doubt in my mind, that his skills are genuine
Inspirations taken from “The Sign of Four”.
Chapter 1, pages 64 - 67
Sherlock Holmes Original Publications
12
9
14
2
23
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Pre 1890 1891–1895 1901–1905 1906–1920 1921–1927
Dates of Original Publications P
ublic
atio
ns
Stories Published
The above chart shows, How many original Sherlock Holmes stories, Conan Doyle had published, and in when he had them published
The Sherlock Holmes Collective Works
Pre 1890 A Study in Scarlet ( novel, 1887) The Sign of the Four ( novel,1890)
1891–1895 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Bohemia, 1891 The Red-headed League, 1891 A Case of Identity, 1891
The Boscombe Valley Mystery, 1891 The Five Orange Pips, 1891 The Man with the Twisted Lip, 1891 The Blue Carbuncle, 1892 The Speckled Band, 1892 The Engineer's Thumb, 1892
The Noble Bachelor1892 The Beryl Coronet, 1892 The Copper Beeches, 1892
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze, 1892 The Yellow Face, 1893 The Stock-broker's Clerk, 1893 The 'Gloria Scott', 1893
The Musgrave Ritual, 1893 The Reigate Squires, 1893 The Crooked Man, 1893 The Resident Patient 1893 The Greek Interpreter, 1893 The Naval Treaty, 1893
The Final Problem, 1893
1900–1905 The Hound of the Baskervilles (novel, 1901-02)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes The Empty House, 1903 The Norwood Builder, 1903 The Dancing Men, 1903 The Solitary Cyclist, 1903 The Priory School, 1904 Black Peter, 1904 Charles Augustus Milverton, 1904 The Six Napoleons, 1904
The Three Students, 1904 The Golden Pince-Nez, 1904 The Missing Three-Quarter, 1904 The Abbey Grange, 1904 The Second Stain, 1904
1905–1920 The Valley of Fear (novel, 1914-15)
His Last Bow Wisteria Lodge, 1908 The Cardboard Box, 1893 The Red Circle, 1911
The Bruce-Partington Plans, 1908 The Dying Detective, 1913 Lady Frances Carfax, 1911 The Devil's Foot, 1910 His Last Bow, 1917
1921–1927) The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes The Illustrious Client , 1924 The Blanched Soldier, 1926 The Mazarin Stone, 1921
The Three Gables, 1926 The Sussex Vampire, 1924 The Three Garridebs, 1924 Thor Bridge, 1922 The Creeping Man 1923 The Lion's Mane, 1926 The Veiled Lodger, 1927 Shoscombe Old Place, 1927
The Retired Colourman, 1926
Ranked Author Works published
1 Georges Simenon 167
2 Agatha Christie 77
3 Arthur Conan Doyle 74
4 Ellery Queen 78
5 Erle Stanley Gardner 105
6 John Le Carre 22
7 Ian Fleming 91
8 Rex Stout 113
9 Mickey Spillane 26
10 John Grisham 135
The following table indicates Arthur Conan Doyle’s position in the top ten mystery writers of all time.
Also comparing the amount of published work each author had produced in since first published
Photograph Copyright
A. M. Thomas