I John Fothergill West student of law in the University of St. Andrews have endeavoured in the ensuing pages to lay my statement before the public in a concise and business-like fashion.

This early work by Arthur Conan Doyle was originally published in 1889 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859. It was between 1876 and 1881, while studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, that he began writing short stories, and his first piece was published in Chambers's Edinburgh Journal before he was 20. In 1887, Conan Doyle's first significant work, A Study in Scarlet, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual. It featured the first appearance of detective Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist who was to eventually make Conan Doyle's reputation. A prolific writer, Conan Doyle continued to produce a range of fictional works over the following years. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The Mystery of Cloomber is a novel by the British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is narrated by John Fothergill West, a Scot who has moved with his family from Edinburgh to Wigtownshire to care for the estate of his father's half brother, William Farintosh. It was first published in 1889. PLOT: Near their residence, Branksome, is Cloomber Hall, for many years untenanted. After a little while it is settled in by John Berthier Heatherstone, late of the Indian Army. General Heatherstone is nervous to the point of being paranoid. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that his fears are connected with some people in India whom he has offended somehow. People hear a strange sound, like the tolling of a bell, in his presence, which seems to cause the general great discomfort. Every year his paranoia reaches its climax around the fifth of October, after which date his fears subside for a while. After some time there is a shipwreck in the bay and among the survivors are three Buddhist priests who had boarded the ship from Kurrachee. When John Fothergill West tells the general (to whose daughter Gabriel he is engaged) about the priests, he resigns himself to his fate and refuses any help from West. One night the three Buddhist priests summon General Heatherstone and Colonel Rufus Smith (who had been together with the general in India and apparently was under the same threat that was faced by the general) out of Cloomber Hall. With their psychic powers, they have a complete hold over the two erstwhile soldiers. The priests take them through the marshes to the Hole of Cree, a bottomless pit in the centre of the marsh and either throw the soldiers in or order them to jump in. The General had given his son a parcel and instructed him to hand it over to West in case of his death or disappearance. When West opens the parcel he finds a letter and some old papers. In the letter the general tells West to read the papers, which are pages from a diary that the general had kept in his days in the army of the English East India Company. As West reads the papers he understands the mystery of Cloomber. When he was in the army forty years ago, during the First Afghan War, the general was fighting against the Afridis in the passes of the Hindu-Kush. After defeating the Afridis in a battle, he chases them to a cul de sac to slaughter them. As the general was closing in on the remnants of the enemy forces, an old man emerges from a cave and stops him from killing them. The general, together with Rufus Smith, kills the old man and proceeds with the massacre. As it turns out, the old man was an arch-adept, who had reached the zenith of Buddhist priesthood. His chelas (students) vow to avenge his death. The three chelas let the general live on for forty years to prolong his misery. The sound that appeared to emanate from above the general's head was the tolling of the astral bell by the chelas to remind him that wherever he goes, he will never escape their wrath.... Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle KStJ, DL (22 May 1859 - 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician, most noted for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and writing stories about him which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger, and for popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, nonfiction and historical novels.

When a package containing two human ears arrives on the desk of Inspector Lestrade, he brings Sherlock Holmes on the case. Will Holmes and his partner, Dr. John Watson, uncover the gruesome details of murder and revenge? Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.

This Top Five Classics edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes includes: • All 104 original illustrations by Sidney Paget done for the Strand Magazine • A helpful introduction • Author bio and selected bibliography After Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes in the novel A Study in Scarlet in 1887, he wrote a series of 24 short mysteries featuring the detective and his colleague, Dr. Watson, in the pages of the Strand Magazine from 1891 to 1893. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collects the first 12 of these tales—(the last 12 of which comprise the Top Five Classics ebook The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)—including “A Scandal in Bohemia” (which introduces Irene Adler), “The Red-Headed League,” “The Five Orange Pips,” and “The Speckled Band”—some of the greatest stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon.

The Duke of Holdernesse's only son has disappeared from his preparatory school. The principal has asked Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson to investigate. Follow Holmes as he finds the boy and uncovers a deep family secret along the way! Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.

This Top Five Classics edition of The Hound of the Baskervilles includes: • All 61 illustrations by Sidney Paget from the original Strand serials from 1901–1902 • Introduction • Author bio and select bibliography The Hound of the Baskervilles, which returned Sherlock Holmes to readers eight years after his apparent death at the hands of Professor Moriarty, is often considered the greatest mystery novel in the English language. It became Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous work and launched an improbable and incredibly successful second act for the world’s greatest detective. Hound brilliantly embodies the best of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries while also being a first-rate gothic horror story. Set in the haunting, primeval landscape of the moors in the West Country of England, Holmes and Watson must unravel bewildering clues and confront the centuries-old legend of a terrifying spectral black hound in foiling one of the most devilishly ingenious villains they’ll ever face.

For several years, Watson has believed his friend, Sherlock Holmes, is dead. Watson's done his best to help the police solve cases, but he doesn't have Holmes's talents and one case has him stumped. He's in for a surprise when Sherlock Holmes suddenly appears to solve the case! Follow the clues with Sherlock Holmes in the adventure of the empty house. Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.

Sherlock Holmes thinks that Inspector Lestrade's latest case is a waste of his time. But when the details of several Napoleon statues being destroyed are revealed, he decides it may be worth looking into after all. Follow the clues with Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they uncover their biggest find yet. Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.

When Mr. McFarlane is accused of murder, he knows only Sherlock Holmes can prove his innocence. He tells Holmes, Watson, and Inspector Lestrade the story of his business with the Norwood builder in the hopes of clearing his name. Can Holmes prove that the Norwood builder isn't dead after all? Follow the clues with Sherlock Holmes in the adventure of the Norwood builder! Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 3-8.