"Holmes has taken on a life of his own in the hearts and minds of a modern world" -The Times "Start a story by Conan Doyle and you cannot stop reading, whether you are ten or sixty."-Michael Dirda "The immense talent, passion and literary brilliance that Conan Doyle brought to his work gives him a unique place in English letters."-Stephen Fry Arthur Conan Doyle's The Valley of Fear (1915) is the fourth and final installment of the Sherlock Holmes crime novels. This work of riveting suspense and intrigue is loosely based on the infamous 18th Century Irish secret society, The Molly Maguires. First published in serial form in The Strand Magazine in 1914 and 1915, this novel brings Sherlock Holmes face-to-face with the evil Professor Moriarty, one of the most nefarious characters of crime fiction. The Valley of Fear, much like the first Sherlock Holmes novel (A Study in Scarlet) is told in two parts; the first is the bewildering mystery of a murder at a remote English estate, and the second section is told by the man initially thought to be the murder victim, set in the Midwest of the United States. When Sherlock Holmes receives a cipher message at Baker Street, he quickly deciphers its message- that John Douglas, the resident of a remote estate in Sussex is in danger. Soon after decoding the letter Holmes is visited by a policeman and friend who informs him that Douglas has been murdered at Birlstone, the estate. When Holmes and Watson arrive at the scene they are met with a bewildering array of clues, including a disfigured body, bloody footprints, and a missing dumb-bell. When the house servants are interrogated it becomes clear that there is a conspiracy that extends to a secret society called The Freeman, in a Western coal mining town in the United States. The second part of the book moves to the story of the mafia-like gang in the wild west, and ultimately to Holmes's nemesis, the infamous Professor Moriarty. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Valley of Fear is both modern and readable. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Portrait

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician, best known for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. Born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Doyle's most famous work, A Study in Scarlet, introduced Sherlock Holmes in 1887, marking the beginning of a series that included four novels and fifty-six short stories. These works became milestones in the development of crime fiction, establishing Holmes and his companion, Dr. Watson, as cultural icons. Doyle's expertise in medicine also influenced his writing, providing a foundation for his character's sharp intellect and deductive reasoning. Beyond the Sherlock Holmes stories, he wrote a wide range of works, including historical novels, science fiction, and plays. In addition to his writing career, Doyle was involved in various social causes and even served as a volunteer doctor during the Second Boer War. He passed away on July 7, 1930, in Crowborough, England, at the age of 71. His literary legacy endures, and he has received several accolades, including the Audie Award for Excellence in Production.