The Adventure of the Speckled Band

The Graphic Novel Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Vincent Goodwin, Ben Dunn (Illustrator), Arthur Conan Doyle

When Ms. Stoner comes to Sherlock Holmes with a strange story that a mysterious whistle caused her sister's death, Holmes is ready to take on the case. After examining the clues, Watson is sure the gypsies are to blame. Can Holmes prove there is a more sinister plot in play? Follow the clues with Sherlock Holmes in the adventure of the speckled band! Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Graphic Novels, Crime, Read For School, Comics, Fiction

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu]

Average is the proper name for these stories. As usual, I'd say.
The old doctor is clearly the only person interested in his step daughter's death, the "murderer" is quite obvious, the story exists only because the victim was not able to say the word snake, instead of speckled band.
Childish...

[Dreamy Alien]

الكتاب قصير ولطيف لكن ترجمة مصطفى توفيق اشتريته من فصلى مش لذيذه ومش واضح مين بيتكلم دلوقتي كنت ركناها من اول السنة بسبب الترجمة السيئة بس ككتاب قصير لذيذ

[Meg]

Holmes and Watson are approached by a woman who is fearful of her stepfather. She and her twin sister had a monthly legacy left by their deceased mother and they have lived with their stepfather since her death. Her twin sister died two years ago, just after announcing her engagement. Her death was mysterious as she screamed in the night and, when her sister came into the room, no one was there besides her sister who lay dying on the floor saying that it was the speckled band. Recently the remaining sister became engaged and she has been forced to sleep in her sister's old room since workmen doing renovations to the house have damaged her own room. Holmes and Watson make arrangements to sleep in her room that night in her place while she is safely tucked away in another room. Holmes sees that there is a ventilation hole connecting the room to that of the stepfather. In the middle of the night, Holmes cries out and violently attacks the hole. They then hear a scream from the stepfather next door and when they enter his room they find that he had been bitten by a snake with a speckled band. He had trained the snake to go thru the hole and it was the snake that killed the sister. I must admit that the logic behind the murder of the one sister and almost murder of the second was somewhat unexplained. It was clear from the will that the girls were to receive a reduced monthly legacy if they married but I failed to see how the stepfather killing the girls would benefit him at all. Would the money suddenly become his? And if that was the case, then why not kill the girls long ago? Why wait until they are engaged? I may have missed it but I don't think that this was well explained.

[G.M.SADRIL HASAN]

একদিন সকালে শার্লক এর সাথে দেখা করতে আসে এক ভদ্রমহিলা। তার নাম হেলেন স্টোনার। মহিলার কথায় জানা যায় তিনি স্টোকমোরানে তার বদমেজাজি সৎ বাবা ডঃ রয়েল্টির সাথে থাকেন। কিছু বছর আগে খুব রহস্যজনকভাবে মৃত্যু হয় হেলেনের বোন জুলিয়ার। মৃত্যুর আগে শোনা গিয়েছিল এক অদ্ভুত শিসের শব্দ। আর গতরাতে সেই শব্দটি আবার শুনতে পান হেলেন। ওয়াটসন মনে করে এইসবের জন্য বাড়ির পাশের জিপসিরাই দায়ী। কিন্তু হোমস বুঝতে পারে, এর সাথে গভীর কোন দুষ্কর্মের রহস্য লুকিয়ে আছে।

[Sarah]

A woman arrives very early to Baker Street with a strange tale about her twin sister who died two years ago. She was due to marry and only a few days before the wedding dropped down dead. The remaining twin fears for her life as she is getting married shortly and is currently sleeping in her twin's bedroom.

This was a great short story that kept me guessing until the end. I was on the right lines but failed to work out the killer.

[James]

Another intriguing case for Holmes to solve. In many of Doyle’s Books they are definitely ‘mysteries’. This book is ‘murder mystery’. A case of a young lady whose twin sister died two years prior and fears is next. Is her life in danger? If so, by whom?

[Nimansh]

This is a Sherlock Holmes book originally written by Arthur Conan Doyle .
I love sherlock holmes because there is mystery and suspence but no too much in this one though .
Even if i didnt like it too much i kept reading it, which shows that it isnt bad either
therefore i rate it three star.

[Soumya Prasad]

Sherlock is brillant as usual, but the story was way too predictable. The way the mystery was revealed was quite interesting though.

The connection between India and snakes did bother me. Is there nothing else in India apart from snakes and their charmers?

[Emma Bissonnette]

The Adventure of the Speckled Band was an enthralling and deliciously clever story.

[Doha Al-Sayed]

(Audiobook)
I knew it was the stepfather from the very beginning of the narration.

[Danny]

re-read

[Lydia]

School book

[Adam]

very engaging, and lots of plot twists

[Lillian.A]

i enjoyed it and it was very enjoyable and interesting.

[Laurie]

Horn Book (Fall 2010)

These bare-bones adaptations are styled as graphic novels, which may appeal to reluctant readers. Unfortunately, the dialogue is stilted, the plot points aren't always clear, and there's no strong sense of Sherlock Holmes or Dr. Watson's personalities. Illustrations in muted tones favor wide-eyed female characters (` la manga). Each volume includes a common brief biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Reading list. Glos. [Review covers these Graphic Planet: The Graphic Novel Adventures of Sherlock Holmes titles: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of Abbey Grange, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Dancing Men, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Empty House, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Speckled Band.]



Library Media Connection (October 2010)

The timeless appeal of Holmes and Watson, reinforced with large panels on each page, clear colors, and easily readable font in high-contrast white bubbles, will make this set of adventures in demand with emerging, reluctant, and struggling readers. All titles contain a cast of characters, glossary, about the author, additional works, and a website section. The author adapted the text and the illustrator created the artwork in all stories, adding further consistency to the series. Although The Speckled Band adaptation varies a bit from the original story (Holmes? slashing at the snake is not shown as the reason the snake attacks the stepfather), the series doesn?t shy away from violence. This series is a nice way to introduce readers to Sherlock Holmes. Recommended. Lori Robinson, Librarian, Smyrna (Delaware) High School Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye



School Library Journal (May 1, 2010)

Gr 3-8-Coming off the release of the popular live-action Sherlock Holmes movie, this series hopes to capitalize on children's interest in the intrepid investigator. Readers discover the real stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle behind the Sherlock Holmes in the media. The stories are simplified, and sometimes the twisting plots can be hard to follow in just a few brief lines. By taking out so much text, the books lose some of the subtleties and complexities of the cases. However, the colorful artwork is of average quality, and the layout is clean and uncluttered, so the books might attract kids and lead a few of them to other works.-Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

[Isabella]

The Adventure of the Speckled Band was about a girl who missed her sister who died by an Indian swamp adder. I thought it was a snake at first, because why would anyone else kill her, it is illegal. Sherlock Holmes and Watson (his friend)solved the mystery. My favorite characters are Helen and Julia Stoner. Julia died when they were kids, Helen was sad. I liked this book because it is a mystery book.

[Cintia]

Excellent! One of the best, and most mysterious and intriguing cases I've read! It had everything I love in a Sherlock Holmes story, and it kept me guessing to very end. I couldn't put it down! Among the stories I've been reading this days, this one is, hands down, the best! Very recommended if you are a Sherlock fan!

*If you like what you read, find more reviews in my blog: http://abookandateacup.blogspot.com.ar/*

[Pato Myers]

A super quick and enjoyable read.

[Fi]

*Listened to via audio book*

[Manasvi Reddy]

it's a good book but definitely not the best of sherlock Holmes. it's very short and I would suggest you to pick this book for summer reading.

[Kylie Shannon]

Probably one of the better ones. But I still don't know why these books are so popular.

[Hannah Snyder]

This is one that always keeps me on the edge of my seat. It still manages to create an air of genuine creepiness and anxiety, which I appreciate.

[Katherine Anderson]

Better the second time.