Conventions of Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction in 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This analysis explores the conventions of mystery, suspense, and crime fiction in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' and how they are used in other stories. The story falls under the genre of locked room mystery or crime fiction and portrays the theme of mystery, crime, and suspense throughout. The author has used conventional aspects of a mystery to create a successful story, including suspense, tension, and raising stakes. The treatment of Karma is also prominent in the story. The analysis also discusses how the story has been adapted in various media channels.

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Title: Identify mystery, suspense, and crime fiction genre conventions used by Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” Then, show how the
conventions are used or altered in two (2) other stories from the course or elsewhere
including television, film, etc.
The Adventures of the Spackled Band is one of the best short stories written by Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle. The author has portrayed the theme of mystery, crime and suspense
throughout the story, belongs to detective series of Sherlock Homes. This short story falls
under the genre of locked room mystery or it can be regarded as crime fiction as well. There
are certain conventions, which drive mystery and suspense into a successful one. It is
arguably the best short story among the rest of the eleven stories of the book.
According to conventional aspects of a mystery, the story is an action of searching a
solution to resolve the created suspense. In this case, a woman named Helen Stoner comes to
meet Sherlock and his friend Watson with her anxiety related to her twin sister’s unnatural
death. As the plot unfolds, the readers come to know her step dad’s unique capability for
deceit and digs deep into the dark truth of human psychology in the backdrop of colonialism.
The tension of colonialism in India, that rage and tension have been combined with the
tension of the plot. Doyle has created such amazing works throughout his lifetime that satisfy
the quest for good detective fictions of every readers.

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The story begins with the scene where young, would be bride Helen approaches
Sherlock and his friend Watson to investigate on her fear of being murdered at late hours of
night. She has enough reason to believe in her mind that her step father Sir Grimesby Roylott
who has anger issues is guilty for these misdeeds. The woman clarifies the details of her
sister’s sudden death and the detective duo decided to investigate on the demise of her sister
and potential death threats on their client.
Towards the end of the story, it has been revealed that her stepfather with the purpose
of maintaining his inheritance over his wife’s property has killed one of the sisters by poising
him through his pet snake, The Speckled Band, in her sleep and has been planning to do the
same with her as well. Common elements of thriller such as suspense, tension and raising
stakes are recurrent as Sherlock decided to investigate the case of Helen Stoner. Another
theme, which has become prominent while dealing with the suspense, is the treatment of
Karma. It occurs as climax in the story. Although, Sherlock discovers the actual case yet Sir
Roylott’s fate leads him towards death when the snake turns against him and he is killed. This
proves if not my legal code of justice evil deeds always be punished according to Karma.
Apart from suspense, from a reading of Palmer, Jennifer : 175 it has been observed,
terror and detectives single motive of searching for the culprit one of the major convention is
crime stories presents moral weakness of the antagonist most of the time. As the motive of
murder; rage, temptation and a revengeful mentality have always been highlighted. Being the
colonist at that point of time British society became highly materialistic. Therefore, the
author has aligned his character folly with contemporary social structure as well.
According to the study of Chopra, Sameer, this crime thriller has been adopted several
times in stage, television and films. Similarly, as described in Hewett, Richard: 198, a
scandal in Bohemia was full of tension and terror as Sherlock investigates on a case of

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mysterious blackmail. It was first released as a silent movie in 1921 after that it appeared o
several television adaptations as well.
Hence, it can be said although the treatment of crime, suspense, terror and mystery are
conventional yet the style of presentation and unique narration has made the literary pieces of
Arthur Conan Doyle very much contemporary and acceptable for adaption in various media
channels. Not only The Adventures of Speckled Band but also other literary works like A
scandal in Bohemia has received immense appreciation in terms of presenting the
conventional components of mystery so neatly.

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References
Chopra, Sameer. "Sherlock Holmes on Screen: the Aesthetics and Politics of Adapting the
“Great Detective” in a Hyper-mediatised Age." (2016).
Hewett, Richard. "Canon Doyle?: Getting Holmes right (and getting the rights) for
television." Adaptation 8.2 (2015): 192-206.
Palmer, Jennifer S. "Arthur Conan Doyle’s Appearances as a Detective in Historical Crime
Fiction." Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013.
169-183.