A coded warning from an associate of the devious Professor Moriarty directs Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard to a secluded manor house in Sussex. There the trio discover a gentleman shot dead at close range, surrounded by a mélange of mystifying clues — a peculiar tattoo-like mark, muddy footprints, and a missing wedding ring — that ultimately lead to the spellbinding backstory of a cult that terrorized an American mining town.u003cbru003e The last of the four Sherlock Holmes novels, u003ciu003eThe Valley of Fearu003c/iu003e ranks among Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's best tales. Its plot draws upon the real-life activities of the secret society known as the Molly Maguires, offering a subtle comment on early-twentieth-century union struggles in the United States as well as the political situation in Ireland. Crisp, realistic characterizations and a suspenseful narrative make this novel essential reading for Sherlock Holmes fans as well as all lovers of mystery and detection.
