1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER A SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURE

1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Show Notes

⭐ SHOW NOTES SUMMARY THE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle A young solicitor named John Hector McFarlane arrives at Baker Street in a state of panic. He has been accused of murdering Jonas Oldacre — a wealthy, eccentric builder from Norwood — after Oldacre's will mysteriously leaves his entire estate to McFarlane. The evidence seems overwhelming: bloodstains, burned remains, and a motive that appears tailor‑made for scandal. But Sherlock Holmes senses something wrong. The clues feel too neat, too convenient, too perfectly arranged. As Holmes and Watson investigate, they uncover a web of deception involving a vindictive old man, a forged will, and a staged crime designed to ruin an innocent life. Holmes's reconstruction of the crime — and his dramatic reveal of Oldacre's hiding place — make this one of the most satisfying reversals in the entire Holmes canon. It's a story of revenge, misdirection, and the danger of believing evidence that seems too perfect.

⭐ ALSO FROM THE 1001 STORIES NETWORK If you enjoy classic mysteries and historical intrigue, be sure to check out our newest show: 1001 TRUE CRIME FROM ANOTHER TIME Our latest episode, THE MURDER OF GRACE BROWN — THE ADIRONDACK TRAGEDY (1906) dives into one of the most heartbreaking and sensational cases of early American true crime — a young woman's hopes, a lover's betrayal, and a trial that captivated the nation. A beautiful lake. A doomed romance. A crime that inspired An American Tragedy. Now playing at 1001 True Crime From Another Time.

More from 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Oct 25, 2026

🎙️ SHOW NOTES Dr. Watson's Memoirs: The Case of the Deptford Shadows Series: 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle In this newly unearthed folio from Dr. Watson's dusty box, Holmes investigates a brutal double assault in Deptford — a case that marks the dawn of forensic science. When a faint thumbprint is discovered on a cash box, Holmes visits Scotland Yard's fledgling Fingerprint Bureau to learn the revolutionary technique of dusting for prints. Armed with this new method, Holmes uncovers two distinct fingerprints — one on the cash box, another on a glass left behind in the kitchen — leading him to a pair of brothers whose greed and desperation have turned deadly. The case culminates in a tense confrontation at the docks, where Holmes's physical prowess and deductive brilliance bring the culprits to justice. This story blends historical fact with Holmesian fiction, inspired by the real‑life Stratton Brothers case of 1905, the first British murder conviction based on fingerprint evidence.

Oct 23, 2026

🕵️ THE ADVENTURE OF THE REIGATE SQUIRE 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Podcast After a grueling case in France, Holmes and Watson retreat to the English countryside for rest — but peace is short‑lived. A burglary at the home of the Reigate Squire turns deadly, and Holmes, still recovering, must summon every ounce of his deductive power to unravel a web of deceit, blackmail, and murder. What begins as a simple break‑in becomes a test of Holmes's brilliance under pressure, revealing how even the smallest clue — a torn scrap of paper — can expose a killer hiding in plain sight. 🎧 A classic Holmes tale of wit, recovery, and revenge — where the detective's mind proves sharper than ever, even when his body falters.

Oct 21, 2026

Arthur Conan Doyle was asked by the Strand Magazine to come up with his 12 favorite Sherlock Holmes adventures as part of a contest held by Stand Magazine in which the readers were asked to list their 12 favorites and the person closest ton Doyle's picks would win an autographed copy of the still-to-be-released 'Casebook of Sherlock Holmes'. That final book contained another group of great Holmes adventures, prompting another journalist to ask Doyle for some additional favorites. ACD added another 7, giving us 19. we begin with The Adventure of Silver Blaze, which didn't make the top 12 because Doyle had been challenged by a reader who believed his theory of the bicycle was "off track"- and it was. But Doyle really was proud of that story and placed in as his #13th favorite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 18, 2026

🎙️ SHOW NOTES DR. WATSON'S MEMOIRS: HOLMES vs. DRACULA — THE HORROR AT WHITBY MANOR (1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) In this chilling crossover from the vaults of Dr. Watson's Memoirs, the great detective faces a foe unlike any he has ever encountered. When a series of mysterious deaths strike the seaside town of Whitby, Holmes and Watson are summoned to investigate — only to find themselves confronting the ancient terror of Count Dracula himself. Inside the crypts and shadowed manors of Yorkshire, science meets superstition, reason meets horror, and the world's most logical mind must face the impossible. This original pastiche blends the gothic dread of Bram Stoker with the razor‑sharp deduction of Conan Doyle — a tale of lantern light, blood, and intellect against darkness. Why listen: A cinematic Holmes adventure steeped in Victorian horror

Oct 16, 2026

1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle SHOW NOTES — "The Case of the Dog Who Changed His Mind" The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Original Broadcast: September 28, 1947 Written by: Anthony Boucher & Denis Green Starring: Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes) and Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson) In this 1947 radio mystery from The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Holmes and Watson are summoned to investigate the strange death of Lady Blenkinsop, an 89‑year‑old woman known for her zest for life and her refusal to surrender to age. Her sudden death — discovered behind a door bolted from the inside — immediately raises suspicion. Suicide is impossible. Murder seems impossible. And yet something is terribly wrong. When the door is broken down, Lady Blenkinsop is found lifeless, slumped near a glass of ancestral wine… and beside her sits Bobo, her spoiled but fiercely devoted little pug. The dog's reaction to the commotion — barking at some people, shrinking from others — catches Holmes's attention. Something about Bobo's behavior is off, and Holmes realizes that the dog's sudden shift in temperament is not just curious… it's the key to the entire locked‑room puzzle. As Holmes studies the crime scene, interviews the household, and observes Bobo's "change of mind," he uncovers a carefully engineered deception involving greed, manipulation, and a murderer who believed the perfect crime could be staged behind a bolted door. But Holmes, as always, sees what others overlook — and the dog who changed his mind becomes the witness who never speaks, yet tells the truth. This episode is a classic example of the Boucher & Green era: clever plotting, sharp dialogue, and the unmistakable chemistry of Rathbone and Bruce at the height of their radio careers.

See all episodes →