The Red-Headed League

Holmes is engaged initially by a pawnbroker. He's upset by the loss of a well-paying, part-time job. One that doesn't require many hours and, when it does require work, doesn't interfere with his busiest times at the pawn shop. To Sherlock Holmes, it may be much more than it appears. Could it be the beginning of a larger mystery? Using minute details of the small one, he works to solve the serious one. "Depend upon it," said Holmes to Watson in "A Case of Identity." "There is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace."

Librarian's note: this entry is for "The Red Headed League," the second of 12 short stories from the 1892 collection, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." It was first published in "The Strand Magazine." Collections and other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The series includes four novels and 58 short stories. Entries for the short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Sherlock Holmes Short Story."