Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle: The New Catacomb

“The New Catacomb” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1898 in The Sunlight Year-Book. In late nineteenth-century Rome, Burger and Kennedy are two young, eminent archaeologists bound by a relationship of intellectual rivalry and mutual admiration. During a conversation at Kennedy’s house, Burger confides to him an extraordinary discovery: he has found a Christian catacomb from the Roman period, intact and previously unknown. Fascinated, Kennedy presses to see the site and gain access to its secrets. After showing some reluctance, Burger agrees to guide him on a nocturnal exploration, but first imposes a peculiar condition.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

“The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in January 1892 in The Strand Magazine. Two days after Christmas, Dr. Watson finds Sherlock Holmes examining an old hat and a lost goose recovered after a street altercation. What initially seems a trivial incident takes an unexpected turn when a valuable jewel, stolen days earlier, is discovered inside the bird. From this surprising find, Holmes embarks on a meticulous investigation to trace the goose’s journey and determine how an object of such value came to be hidden in so improbable a place.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire

In “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire,” a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle published in January 1924 in The Strand Magazine, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson face an unusual mystery when they receive a letter about a suspected case of vampirism. A concerned client, whose family is being torn apart by strange events, desperately seeks Holmes’ help. With his keen powers of observation and deduction, Holmes unravels a plot that defies conventional explanations, revealing the complexities of human relationships and the prejudices that can blind us to the truth. A story that combines Gothic elements with Holmes’ characteristic ingenuity in solving mysteries.

Arthur Conan Doyle: Playing With Fire

“Playing with Fire” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in March 1900 in The Strand Magazine. The story follows a small group of intellectuals and occult enthusiasts who, driven by curiosity and a desire to explore beyond the material world, organize séances in a London house. The arrival of an enigmatic French visitor, an expert in psychic phenomena, introduces an unexpected twist to their experiments. As the session progresses, the participants cross increasingly dangerous boundaries, and what begins as a game becomes a disturbing and out-of-control experience.

The Stories of Arthur Conan Doyle

The best short stories and tales by Arthur Conan Doyle. Complete stories and summaries, to read online or print in PDF format.

Arthur Conan Doyle: Lot No. 249

“Lot No. 249” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in September 1892 in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. Set in Oxford, the story follows medical student Abercrombie Smith, whose academic routine is disrupted by disturbing news about his neighbor Edward Bellingham, an eccentric scholar, expert in Oriental languages, and fascinated by the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Gradually, inexplicable events disturb the quiet life at the university, and Smith begins to suspect that his neighbor is hiding more than just academic eccentricities.