Short Story Collection Discussion Questions

Select a story to view the corresponding discussion questions.

A Mysterious Case

Cheating the Gallows

Evidence

My First Experience with the Great Logician

The Adventure of the Diamond Necklace

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist

The Clue of the Silver Spoons

The Great Ruby Robbery: A Detective Story

The Nameless Man

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A Mysterious Case

1. If the female doctor who narrates the story had been a man, do you think this case would have been solved? Why is it important that the narrator is a woman?
2. Have you ever been the victim of foul play?
3. Considering the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—which is the sin that almost causes the young girl's death? In your opinion, which sin is the worst of them?

Cheating the Gallows

1. At the end of the story, what does the dead man's confession reveal?
2. What would be the hardest part of trying to pull off a charade like Tom/Everard?
3. Do you think if Tom/Everard had given up Clara, he would have gotten away with the theft?

Evidence

1. Jimmy comments that new generations are wanting to have everything done for them by another person or by machinery. What are some things that you remember doing for yourself, but that now are done by other people or machines? Is this the fundamental nature of progress?
2. Ironically, what does Harkness do that incriminates him as the murderer?
3. Early in the story, Jimmy comments about how men are so lazy they can't be bothered to even think, which proves to be true in this story, seeing as how the men at the inquest don't think carefully about the evidence. Do you think this is true today, that people are too lazy to think?

My First Experience with the Great Logician

1. The professor has been dubbed "The Thinking Machine." What would your nickname be if you replaced the word "thinking" with something appropriate to your talents or characteristics? Would you be The Snoring Machine? The Baking Machine?
2. Describe the professor. Would you want to be friends with him? How about married to him?
3. We know that the use of logic is one of the professor's strengths. What might be his weaknesses?

The Adventure of the Diamond Necklace

1. Describe Goswell's character. What is the relationship between him and Warlock Bones?
2. Now that Bones has told Goswell his secret about the necklace, what do you imagine he'll do to Goswell?
3. Bones chides Goswell for not learning Bones' methods of deduction. Does Bones really have any great methods or is all just common sense?

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist

1. At one point in the story, Sherlock Holmes tells Carruthers that what he calls love, is really selfishness, and Carruthers posits that maybe they go together. What is the relationship between love and selfishness?
2. Do you think Woodley and Williamson got what they deserved in their jail terms, or should they have been sentenced differently?
3. Relate Carruthers' actions towards the girl. How much blame does he bear for what happened to her?

The Clue of the Silver Spoons

1. How did Mr. Innis react when Valmont requested the stolen money back?
2. Mr. Innis had money and had no need to steal, but he did it anyway. What do you think motivated him to steal?
3. What circumstances would move you to commit a crime like stealing from a friend?

The Great Ruby Robbery: A Detective Story

1. Mystery stories are usually either solved by intuition or logic. Which method solves this story?
2. How is this story a tale about not judging a book by its cover?
3. This story features a running comparison of American and English women and culture. What are some of the differences the story highlights? What are some differences you are aware of?

The Nameless Man

1. Mr. Barnes begins to mention this expression: "All's fair…." Do you know the rest of the expression? What does it mean?
2. Do you think that Barnes is an exceptional detective, or did Goldie's many mistakes make it easy to solve the case?
3. Delmonico's is a famed New York City steakhouse—a perfect place for Mr. Barnes to celebrate his victory. What kind of restaurant would you choose to celebrate?