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A review by house_of_hannah
Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
The most average collection of stories I have ever read. I did not rate any story in here above a 3.5. Some stories had some promise, but then the ending would either drop the ball, or yet another woman would be brutalized, or shown to not be able to think for herself.
The following are each story in this collection, a brief summary, and my individual ratings.
Tales of Terror
The Horror of the Heights (1913) - A journal owned by a missing aviator is discovered in a field. It chronicles his journey into breaking the record for highest flight, but also his quest into exploring “air jungles” where he believes monsters lurk. 3 Stars
The Leather Funnel (1902) - A man visits his friend in Paris. This friend is a collector of all things antique and odd. The man asks for the story behind a leather funnel that leads him into the credibility of dreams. 3.5 Stars
The New Catacomb (1898) - An Englishman and a German are both archeologists, as well as friends, in Rome. The German man discovers a catacomb that is incredibly significant, but is reluctant to share it with his colleague until the Englishman tells him about his relationship with a certain woman. 3.5 Stars
The Case of Lady Sannox (1893) - A woman, Lady Sannox, very openly cheats on her husband, Lord Sannox, with a well known surgeon. 1 Star
The Terror of Blue John Gap (1910) - A man suffering from tuberculosis moves to the countryside for the fresh air. Here he hears rumors of a great beast living deep in the depths of the mine, Blue John Gap. 3 Stars
The Brazilian Cat (1898) - A man who comes from a wealthy family, but has blown his inheritance, visits a cousin he has never met in hopes of receiving financial aid. This cousin has imported a whole menagerie of animals from Brazil, including a rare Brazilian cat. 3.5 Stars
Average: 2.92 Stars
Tales of Mystery
The Lost Special (1898) - A man arranges a train to take just him to his destination as he is in an urgent hurry. However, the train never makes it to the final stop as it, the man, and the crew have seemingly disappeared into thin air. 3 Stars
The Beetle-Hunter (1898) - A medical student with an interest in insects sees an ad in the paper asking for a strong man who’s medically trained and has a knowledge of beetles. Feeling that this ad was written for him he heads to the location, is immediately hired, and follows this Lord to a location for reasons unknown. 3 Stars
The Man with the Watches (1898) - A train pulls into its destination, and the crew realizes that the first class cabin door is open. Inside they discover the body of a young man who was apparently shot. Three others are also missing. 2 Stars
The Japanned Box (1899) - A man takes a japanned box wherever he goes. At night his servants hear a woman’s voice coming from the room he keeps the box in. Rumors spread, and some think he has gone back to his old ways, while other believe something more ghostly is afoot. 3 Stars
The Black Doctor (1898) - A doctor is murdered in his home after he breaks off his engagement to his fiancée. The fiancée’s brother is the only suspect until someone comes forward with a statement that changes the direction of the entire trial. 3.5 Stars
The Jew’s Breastplate (1899) - A man who just recently became the director of a museum receives an anonymous letter warning him that a burglary will occur soon in the museum. 3.5 Stars
The Nightmare Room (1921) - A man is aware of the plot his wife has to poision him so she can be with his friend. 3.5 Stars
Average: 3.1 Stars
Overall Average: 3 Stars
As you can see the Tales of Mystery came out a bit better than the Tales of Terror, which is to be expected of someone who writes so many crime stories. However, I actually found some of the Mystery stories to feel more horror-esque than the Terror ones.
Will I read more Arthur Conan Doyle ? Nah. After this stint of short story books I think I'm good on bland and mediocre writing for awhile.
The following are each story in this collection, a brief summary, and my individual ratings.
Tales of Terror
The Horror of the Heights (1913) - A journal owned by a missing aviator is discovered in a field. It chronicles his journey into breaking the record for highest flight, but also his quest into exploring “air jungles” where he believes monsters lurk. 3 Stars
The Leather Funnel (1902) - A man visits his friend in Paris. This friend is a collector of all things antique and odd. The man asks for the story behind a leather funnel that leads him into the credibility of dreams. 3.5 Stars
The New Catacomb (1898) - An Englishman and a German are both archeologists, as well as friends, in Rome. The German man discovers a catacomb that is incredibly significant, but is reluctant to share it with his colleague until the Englishman tells him about his relationship with a certain woman. 3.5 Stars
The Case of Lady Sannox (1893) - A woman, Lady Sannox, very openly cheats on her husband, Lord Sannox, with a well known surgeon. 1 Star
The Terror of Blue John Gap (1910) - A man suffering from tuberculosis moves to the countryside for the fresh air. Here he hears rumors of a great beast living deep in the depths of the mine, Blue John Gap. 3 Stars
The Brazilian Cat (1898) - A man who comes from a wealthy family, but has blown his inheritance, visits a cousin he has never met in hopes of receiving financial aid. This cousin has imported a whole menagerie of animals from Brazil, including a rare Brazilian cat. 3.5 Stars
Average: 2.92 Stars
Tales of Mystery
The Lost Special (1898) - A man arranges a train to take just him to his destination as he is in an urgent hurry. However, the train never makes it to the final stop as it, the man, and the crew have seemingly disappeared into thin air. 3 Stars
The Beetle-Hunter (1898) - A medical student with an interest in insects sees an ad in the paper asking for a strong man who’s medically trained and has a knowledge of beetles. Feeling that this ad was written for him he heads to the location, is immediately hired, and follows this Lord to a location for reasons unknown. 3 Stars
The Man with the Watches (1898) - A train pulls into its destination, and the crew realizes that the first class cabin door is open. Inside they discover the body of a young man who was apparently shot. Three others are also missing. 2 Stars
The Japanned Box (1899) - A man takes a japanned box wherever he goes. At night his servants hear a woman’s voice coming from the room he keeps the box in. Rumors spread, and some think he has gone back to his old ways, while other believe something more ghostly is afoot. 3 Stars
The Black Doctor (1898) - A doctor is murdered in his home after he breaks off his engagement to his fiancée. The fiancée’s brother is the only suspect until someone comes forward with a statement that changes the direction of the entire trial. 3.5 Stars
The Jew’s Breastplate (1899) - A man who just recently became the director of a museum receives an anonymous letter warning him that a burglary will occur soon in the museum. 3.5 Stars
The Nightmare Room (1921) - A man is aware of the plot his wife has to poision him so she can be with his friend. 3.5 Stars
Average: 3.1 Stars
Overall Average: 3 Stars
As you can see the Tales of Mystery came out a bit better than the Tales of Terror, which is to be expected of someone who writes so many crime stories. However, I actually found some of the Mystery stories to feel more horror-esque than the Terror ones.
Will I read more Arthur Conan Doyle ? Nah. After this stint of short story books I think I'm good on bland and mediocre writing for awhile.