Synopsis

SYNOPSIS :

The story starts with Dr. Watson reading out a telegram from his friend, Sherlock Holmes who tells him to catch a train to Boscombe Valley. In the train, Holmes tells him about the murder, how he has a different view towards the case n addition to the letter he received from Alice Turner. They begin their investigation on the horrid death of Mr. Charles McCarthy who has supposedly been murdered by his son, James. Young James on the other hand is now imprisoned because apparently all the clues are in his favour. Lestrade, a crime investigator is adamant that James is guilty based on the inspection on the crime scene and the witnesses. Holmes during his quest for evidence manages to trace contrasting proofs and reveals the interesting set of footprints from which Holmes deduces that the perpetrator of the odious murder is a rich man smoking Indian cigar. Instead of disclosing the identity of the murderer, he leaves the case to Lestrade. Soon after, Holmes is visited by Mr. Turner at his office. Mr. Turner makes a surprising confession, claiming himself as a murderer.  That very same day, everything about the murder is exposed. Mr. Turner divulges that Charles McCarthy and he were enemies ever since their days in Australia. James is forced to marry Alice, Mr. Turner’s daughter to inherit wealth but he objected his dad’s will the day his dad got killed. In the end, both Mr. Turner and Holmes agree to keep the case private for the sake of the innocent James and Alice Turner, who have just got married.

Setting Of The Boscombe Valley Mystery

SETTING :

Place:

1.  Dr. Watson’s House

Dr. Watson receives telegram from Holmes inviting him to join in an investigation at Boscombe Valley

2. Paddington Train Station

Sherlock meets Dr. Watson at the train station and Holmes buys tickets both of them

3. In the train

Holmes tells about the murder to Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson reads the details of the murder in the newspaper. Then, they discuss about the murder.

4. Boscombe Pool

This is the place where Charles McCarthy is being murdered and the argument between James and Charles McCarthy take place.

5. Moran’s house

The gamekeeper’s house @ Mr. Moran’s house

This is the place where James asks for help after seeing his father lying on the ground

6. Holmes’ house at Baker Street

The confession of the murderer which is Mr. Turner takes place in the Holmes’ house.

Mr. Turner tells Holmes everything from the first time he met Charles McCarthy in Australia

7. The court

This is the place where the trial of James McCarthy innocence takes place.

8. Prison

Holmes asks James about the day of the murder. He wants to know what actually happen on that day on behalf of James.

9. Ballarat, Australia

This is the place where Mr. Turner and his gang rob Charles McCarthy.

10. Regent Street, London

After twenty years of the robbery, Charles McCarthy bumps into Mr. Turner. Charles McCarthy blackmails Mr. Turner as he wants to tell about the incidence in Ballarat to the police.

Time:

• The time setting of the story is around ninetieth century.
• Dr. Watson and Holmes board on the train at 11.15 a.m.
• James McCarthy arrives his home from Bristol on Monday morning.
• Charles McCarthy leaves his house on 3 o’clock.

Social :

• Worker class society e.g. Mr. Moran, Inspector Lestrade.
• High class society e.g. Mr. Turner
• The society that involves in crime e.g. Mr. Turner

Themes Of TBVM

Seeking the truth
Keeeping a secret
Being knowledgable
Law & Order

Moral Of The Stories

1. Never make a harsh decision.
2. Care towards the society.
3. Knowledge about the world.
4. Keeping your promises.

CHRACTER & CHARACTHERISTIC

MAJOR CHARACTER:

Sherlock Holmes

Well-known private detective

Very confident, intelligent and perceptive

Trustworthy, persuasive and charming

Tall and thin

Dr Watson

A medical doctor
Helpful, adventurous and trustworthy
Wears glasses, a hat, and has a moustache 



















John Turner

John Turner

A highway robber in Australia in the 1860s

Dishonest and Hypocritical
Tall, left-handed, slight limp, likes to smoke Indian cigar

 James McCarthy

An innocent victim blamed to have killed his own father

In love with Alice Turner, daughter of John Turner.
Young, strong and fragile.

 

 

 

Alice Turner

18 years old daughter of John Turner.

Loves James McCarthy.
Pretty and dainty, a bit fragile after her father fell ill.

 

PLOT OF THE TBVM

INTRO

1. Sherlock Holmes invited Dr Watson to solve a murder case in Boscombe Valley.
2. Charles McCarthy was found dead by his son, James McCarthy who was later accused of killing his own father.
3. Moran,  the gamekeeper saw both, James and Charles on the path to Boscombe Pool while his 14-year-old daughter saw them arguing.
4. During the trial, James mentioned hearing his father cried ‘Cooee’ and quickly ran towards him.
5. He found his father on the ground and his father’s last word was ‘Raat’.
6. When the judge asked what they were arguing about, he refused to reveal it and he also mentioned a grey coat.

RISING ACTION

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and Inspector Lestrade met Alice Turner, who believes that James McCarthy is innocent.
2. Her father, John Turner and Charles McCarthy were friends when they were back in Australia.
3. Alice revealed that the argument was about her. Charles wanted James to marry Alice but James refused as he is still too young. Her father totally disapproves of them getting married.
4. When they wanted to see her father, she told them that her father is very ill and was shocked about  the murder.
5. Sherlock Holmes visited James in the prison and James told him that he is married.
6. Sherlock Holmes went to Boscombe Pool to collect evidence.
7. He followed the footprints and found the murder weapon which still has blood on it.
8. He revealed the murderer is a tall man, left-handed and limps on his right leg. He wore heavy boots and smokes Indian cigars.

CLIMAX

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes explained his findings to Dr Watson  that ‘Cooee’ is an Australian word and only recognised by  Australian and ‘Raat’ is actually a place in Australia, Ballarat.
2. The footprints he found have limps, a heavy-toed boots, the type worn in Australian bush.
3. The murderer is also left-handed as he hit Charles on the left side of the head.
4. He also found ashes of Indian cigar where only a rich person could afford it.

FALLING ACTION

1. Responding to Sherlock Holmes letter, John Turner went to his house and later confessed to killing Charles.
2. He explained that he was before known as Black Jack of Ballarat and did things he wasn’t proud of.
3. He moved to England and turned a new leaf. He is a well and respected person in Boscombe Valley until he met Charles McCarthy 20 years ago and he was blackmailed by him since then.
4. Sherlock Holmes asked him to write a confession letter to be used if James is found guilty. Otherwise, he will destroy the letter.

CLOSER

1. Seven months later, John Turner passed away.
2. James and Alice got married and Sherlock Holmes kept his promise and destroyed the confession letter.

The Author of The Boscombe Valley Mystery (TBVM)

Sir Author Conan Doyle

22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930

In 1885 Conan Doyle married

Louisa (or Louise) Hawkins, known as 'Touie',

the sister of one of his patient.

The next year he married Jean Elizabeth Leckie,

whom he had first met and

fallen in love with in 1897.

Conan Doyle fathered five children.

He had two with Louisa:-

Mary Louise (28 January 1889 – 12 June 1976),

Arthur Alleyne Kingsley, known as Kingsley

(15 November 1892 – 28 October 1918).

He also had three with Jean Elizabeth Leckie:-

Denis Percy Stewart (17 March 1909 – 9 March 1955) second husband of Georgian Princess Nina Mdivani, 

Adrian Malcolm (19 November 1910 – 3 June 1970)

and

Jean Lena Annette (21 December 1912 – 18 November 1997).