Synopsis Of The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Holmes invited Dr Watson to accompany him to Ross-on Wye to slove a nurder case. Charles McCarthy is the victim, his son, James is the main suspect. The McCarthys lives on John Turner's estate. Patience Moran was the witness.

 

Moran & a policeman found Charles McCarthy dead and James's gun at the scene, Boscombe Pool.James was arrested.Alice Turner was sure he was innocent, So, she invited Holmes to solve the mystery. James admitted he went to B.P to shoot rabbits. He met his father and had an argument. After that he left his father and heard a cry. He ran back and found his father dead.

 

Alice T. explained that Charles McCarthy wanted James to marry her. John Turner became ill after the murder. Holmes had some idea and discussed it woth Dr Watson. They went with Inspector Lestrade at B.P. They found footprints and stones which is suspect as the murder weapon.Holmes describe the murdered a tall mam, left-handed and walked with a limp. He wore heavy boots and grey coat, and smoked Indian cigars.

 

Holmes explained to Watson about the clue. Charles knew the murderer. The last word said by him was " R-A-A-T " which refer to Ballarat in Australia. The footsteps indicated the person's height, the fact that he hit the victim showed that he's a left handed, and the ash was from an expensive cigar.

 

Mr Turner came to Holmes's house by invitation. He said that he was the murderer. He wrote a confesion letter to use after Turner's death and should James be found guilty.Holmes could destroy the letter if he's found guilty.Mr Turner explained how he met Charles in Australia. They were enemies. John was know as Black Jack of Ballarat. He robbed a gold convoy in B. near Melbourne. Charles was the stagecoach driver and witnessed the robbery. Turner became rich and be a respectable landowner in England.In 1880's, Charles ran into him and blackmailed him to provide farm on his estate. When he heard Charles ordering his son, James to marry Alice, he had no choice but to kill him. His secret was safe with Holmes and Watson.John died. James and Alice were married. Holmes destroyed the confession letter.

 

Character In The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

• Well-known private detective
• Very confident, intelligent and perceptive
• Trustworthy, persuasive and charming
• Shrewd, observant and analytical
• Tall and thin, smokes clay pipe, wears a deerstalker and cloak

Dr Watson

Dr.Watson

• A medical doctor
• A good sidekick that helps Holmes solve cases
• Likes detective work and usually accompanies Holmes on cases
• Helpful, adventurous and trustworthy
• Gullible
• Wears glasses, a bowler hat, and has a heavy moustache 
• A bit plump and jolly (like Santa Clause!)

James McCarthy

James McCarthy

• An innocent victim blamed to have killed his own father, Charles McCarthy.
• Handsome, kind and good-hearted.
• In love with Alice Turner, daughter of John Turner.
• Youthful, strong and fragile.
• Proactive and observant.

John Turner

John Tunner

• A highway robber in Australia in the 1860s when gold was discovered in Ballarat.
• Moved to England after a major robbery and settled in a country estate in Ross-on-Wye.
• Tall, left-handed, slight limp, likes to smoke Indian cigar.
• Respectable and Introvert.
• Reserved, Secretive and Deceptive.
• Dishonest and Hypocritical

Alice Turner

Alice Turner

• 18 years old daughter of John Turner.
• Loves James McCarthy.
• Pretty and dainty, a bit fragile after her father fell ill.
• Proactive and Trusting.
• Loyal.

Themes In The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Seeking The Truth

Being an investigator, Sherlock Holmes must take into account all the evidence put forward and analyse them to prove whether James McCarthy is innocent or not. If he had only relied on what the papers and rumours said about James, he would not be able to solve the case successfully. Weighing the facts, evidence, the accuser’s statement and the physical evidence at the crime scene, Sherlock Holmes proves that a thorough investigation to seek the truth will be worthwhile.

Keeping A Secret

There are two instances where this is shown. The first instance is when Sherlock Holmes writes a letter inviting John Turner to his house wanting to see him to avoid scandal. It was at that moment; John Turner breaks down and confesses to the killing of Charles McCarthy. Sherlock Holmes later asks John Turner to write a confession letter and promises to use it only if James is found guilty. Towards the end of the story, John Turner dies; James gets out of prison and marries Alice.  Sherlock Holmes keeps his promise and desroyes the letter.

Next instance is when Charles McCarthy promises to keeep the old secret between him and John Turner about their past. He breaks his promises and uses it to blackmail John Turner, who has turned a new leaf and lives a well and respected life. Here , we can see how a secret can bring more harm than good.

Being Knowledgeable

Being knowledgeable really helps in solving the case. Sherlock Holmes, using his knowledge and experinces, cleverly solves the mystery. Knowing the word ‘cooee’ is an Australian word and associating ‘Raat’ with Ballarat really helps to narrow down the suspect. Next, when Sherlock Holmes is at the crime scene, he examines the footprints. He also takes into account the unusual mark on Charles’s  head and where he was hit. He also deduce that the murderer is a rich man from the ashes of the Indian cigar he found at the crime scene.

Law and Order

If you break the law, you will be punished. You should not take matters into your own hands. There are many ways to solve this problem and killing another human being is not one of it.

Moral Values Of The Boscombe Valley Mystery

- Do not judge a book by its cover

- Keep your promises

- Its never too late to turn over a new leaf

- Love and protect you family

- Do not take advantage on other people’s misery 

Plot Of The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Exposition

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 marryAlice 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.

Resolution

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.