by J.G. Summary The instance begins on an exceptionally elemental evening, as Watson and Holmes dwell in their quarters on 221b Baker Street. To their great curiosity, and in spite of the thunderous weather and late hour, they receive a client with the name John Openshaw. Seeking the gifted detective’s help, Openshaw begins to narrate the disturbing events that weigh down on him like a great anxiety. The man begins by describing his uncle, Elias Openshaw, who emigrated to America as a young man, where he worked for a few years before returning to England due to his aversion to blacks. One day, whilst resting in his solitary estate, Elias received a letter from India, with a Pondicherry postmark. As he opened it, the initials “K.K.K.” were brandished on the flap. Five little dried orange pips tumbled out. Elias recognized the pips as a death omen. Seven weeks later, he was found face downwards in a two-foot deep pool, and a verdict of suicide was brought in. When his brother, Joseph Openshaw, John Openshaw’s father, took over the estate, he lived normally for a short period of time before his own death omen arrived in identical shipping as his brother’s, perniciously leading up to his death days later, where a verdict of “Death from accidental causes” was brought in. The reason that John Openshaw had come to Holmes, was that he had received a letter in the mail the day before containing five dried orange pips and recognized the pips as forewarning. Holmes and Watson immediately get to work, and discover the meaning behind the initials “K.K.K.,” and the precursor of Elias Openshaw’s death. They further deduce that the writer of the letter was on board a ship each time, based on the postmark. The proficient detective begins his investigation the following day, but before his departure, he and Watson read news that the young Openshaw had died. The shaken detective leaves the quarters, and does not return until late at night, near ten o’clock. Upon his return, he explains that he has spent all day researching the career of each vessel which touched at Pondicherry. He had found records of a ship with a name of American origin, “The Lone Star.” He researched the passengers and deduced who must be Openshaw’s murderers. He also sent a telegram to the local police so that by the time the vessel will have reached its destination, the murderers would have already gotten their letter and the authorities would be informed of their crime. The detective and his sidekick waited long for news of the Lone Star, but none came. They did hear, at last, that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered sternpost of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters ‘L.S.’ carved upon it, and that is all they will ever know of the fate of the damned vessel, and the inhumane persons which it beared through the severe gales of that year. Thoughts Although the ending of this short-story is mildly thought-provoking, it lacks the necessary details that would enthrall the reader throughout the other parts of the book. Few clues on Sherlock’s mystery are provided until the very end, allowing no opportunities for the reader to form exciting contemplations of their own throughout their read. One would easily find themselves bored of Doyle’s overly meticulous language a few pages in, and lose interest in the solution to the mystery altogether. However, we are also shown an interesting side of the character of Sherlock that is seldom shown in Doyle’s previous works. In stark contrast to the cold and calculating behaviour that Sherlock typically displays, we see a version of him that feels emotions like anger and sadness, especially after a rare failure.
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