Synopsis

Holmes invited Dr Watson to accompany him to Ross-on Wye to slove a nurder case. Charles McCarthy is the victim, his son, James is the main suspect. The McCarthys lives on John Turner's estate. Patience Moran was the witness.

Moran & a policeman found Charles McCarthy dead and James's gun at the scene, Boscombe Pool.James was arrested.Alice Turner was sure he was innocent, So, she invited Holmes to solve the mystery. James admitted he went to B.P to shoot rabbits. He met his father and had an argument. After that he left his father and heard a cry. He ran back and found his father dead.

Alice T. explained that Charles McCarthy wanted James to marry her. John Turner became ill after the murder. Holmes had some idea and discussed it woth Dr Watson. They went with Inspector Lestrade at B.P. They found footprints and stones which is suspect as the murder weapon.Holmes describe the murdered a tall mam, left-handed and walked with a limp. He wore heavy boots and grey coat, and smoked Indian cigars.

Holmes explained to Watson about the clue. Charles knew the murderer. The last word said by him was " R-A-A-T " which refer to Ballarat in Australia. The footsteps indicated the person's height, the fact that he hit the victim showed that he's a left handed, and the ash was from an expensive cigar.

Mr Turner came to Holmes's house by invitation. He said that he was the murderer. He wrote a confesion letter to use after Turner's death and should James be found guilty.Holmes could destroy the letter if he's found guilty.Mr Turner explained how he met Charles in Australia. They were enemies. John was know as Black Jack of Ballarat. He robbed a gold convoy in B. near Melbourne. Charles was the stagecoach driver and witnessed the robbery. Turner became rich and be a respectable landowner in England.In 1880's, Charles ran into him and blackmailed him to provide farm on his estate. When he heard Charles ordering his son, James to marry Alice, he had no choice but to kill him. His secret was safe with Holmes and Watson.John died. James and Alice were married. Holmes destroyed the confession letter.

Setting

PHYSICAL SETTING
This story takes place in Boscombe Valley,a fictitous place in Herefordshire.Boscombe Valley is near the town of Ross-on-Wye.The murder pf Charles McCarthy took place in Boscombe Pool,a small lake near the victim's farm.

SOCIAL SETTING
This story is based on an upper class setting.Holmes,Dr.Watson,John Turner and Charles McCarthy belong to upper class.Mr Turner stays in a big house and has many servants.The butlers,carriage,drivers,maids and servants belong to the lower class.

TIME SETTING
This story takes place in 1891 during Victorian age.

Plot

INTRODUCTION
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are at Paddington Station waiting to board a train to Boscombe Valley to investigate a murder case.

RISING ACTION
Patience and her father saw James McCarthy,the son of the murdered victim,on the day of the murder,One of them claimed that there was blood on the accused's arm.Thet thought that the murder weapon belongs to James.However,Alice Turner beleives that James is innocent and asks Holmes for help.Holmes visits James in prison and believes James is innocent.

CLIMAX
Holmes visits the scene of the crime where Charles McCarthy was murdered and he manages to unravel many clues.

FALLING ACTION
Holmes writes to John Turner,a rich widower,and ask Turner to visit him.Holmes tells Turner that he knows abput Turner's dark secrets,especially his outlawed background and his motives for killing Charles.John Turner writes a confession letter which would only be used if James is found guilty.

RESOLUTION/CONCLUSION
Seven months later,John Turner dies.James is proven innocent,and James and Alice get married.

Characters

MAJOR CHARACTERS

                                                          -Sherlock Holmes
                                                          -A famous detective
                                                          -Careful
                                                          -Helpful
                                                          -Very observant and sharp
                                                          -Intelligent

-Dr. John H. Watson           

 -A good friend of Sherlock Holmes

-Observant                                 

-Caring                                      

-A good listener                        

                

MINOR CHARACTERS

-Charles McCarthy
-Father of James McCarthy
-Controlling because he wants his son to obey him.
-Greedy and wicked
-Blackmails John Turner
-Lived Australia for many years
-Came to England about 20 years ago

-James McCarthy
-The handome son os Chsrles McCarthy
-Suspected of murdering his father
-Kind and has a good heart
-A filial son

-John Turner
-Rich
-Has a dark history

-Alice Turner
-Daughter of John Turner
-Loving

Themes

DETERMINTATION TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH
It is Sherlock Holmes's persistence in seeking the truth that saves James McCarthy from being concived of murder.Holmes,unlike the police,does not hastily conclude that James murdered his father.Instead,he is thorough with his investigation and uncovers the real murderer.

WHAT GOES AROUND,COMES AROUND
Those who do bad things in life have to bear in consequences of their actions.For instance,John Turner chose to turn to crime in order to survive.He also commited murder and,despite changing his identity,his past actions and history came back to haunt him.

Moral Values and Lessons

HONESTY
We must be honest in whatever we do.John Turner paid the price for leading a life of dishonesty.

PRESEVERANCE
We must be ppersistent in what we set out to do and not give up easily.Sherlock Holmes is a good examples of someone who is persistent in doing his work.He does not give up in his quest to find the real killer.

CRIME NEVER PAYS
'Black Jack' of Ballarat's riches did not come from hard work but trough criminal acts.His shadow past eventually catches up with him.

DO NOT BE GREEDY
Charles McCarthy's greed is the cause of his death.He blackmailed John Turner for money and a house and continues to harass Turner for other things.This cause Turner to lose his patience,and he eventually kills McCarthy.