Customer Reviews

Round the Fire Stories

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I disagree with the reviewer below that these tales are not "great" or "brilliant". While all these tales certainly aren't great, some shine with brilliancy. "The Brazilian Cat" was a masterpiece of horror. It slowly builds to its conclusion and the wind outside, beautifully described by Conan Doyle, creepily adds to the atmosphere. The story has an even greater impact when we learn our hosts charming facade masks a great evil. The writing is crisp and taunt as it slowly mounts. I'd like to see the reviwer below write something this good...

"The Case of Lady Sannox" is a very dark and disturbing tale with a diabolical twist at the end. There are hints and traces of the more darker corners of Conan Doyle's mind in the Holmes canon. But because those were essentially mysteries I think he held back on the more horror aspects. But in these tales he lets loose that suppressed darker nature of man..

The reviewer complains about most of the characters being male, Caucasian or European. Gee, since most of the tales take place in Europe, that would only make sense, no ? A Europe that was mostly populated with Caucasians at the time. The reviewer below is clearly placing today's liberal ideals on Victorian standards which quite differed quite from our own. As for women, Conan Doyle always wrote admirably and highly of them. In fact, he has a woman outwit the great and mighty Sherlock Holmes and had knights do great, daring, dangerous and chivilrous deeds for women in "The White Company".

My only complaint about this book is it did not include the tale "Lot No. 249". It is without a doubt one of the most chilling and horrifying tales ever written. For an author who was not known for horror or ghost stories, his work in that genre certainly ranks up there with Poe, LeFanu, M.R. James, Machen, Blackwood or Lovecraft. In fact Conan Doyle was a brilliant man, his interests and pursuits branching out and becoming all-encompassing.

This is mostly a supernatural/horror collection, with a bit of the mystery stuff thrown in.

Round the Fire Stories : THE MAN WITH THE WATCHES - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE BLACK DOCTOR - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE JEW'S BREASTPLATE - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE LOST SPECIAL - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE CLUB-FOOTED GROCER - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE SEALED ROOM - Arthur Conan Doyle
Round the Fire Stories : THE BRAZILIAN CAT - Arthur Conan Doyle


Train death mystery.

3 out of 5


Fraternal history in Argentina revisits a country doc.

3 out of 5


Protecting artefacts.

3.5 out of 5


Train nicking crime.

3 out of 5



An uncle requires his nephew's aid, physical prowess and gun, in a tale of criminals, diamonds and revenge.

4 out of 5


An accident encounter leads to an inhabitant discovery.

3 out of 5


Even if broke, don't visit relatives with pumas as housecats.

4 out of 5