The Adventure of the Speckled Band

The story is set in April 1883 and was published in The Strand Magazine in 1892. In the story Helen Stoner requires Holmes’ assistance. She lives with her stepfather Dr Roylott of Stoke Moran near Leatherhead in Surrey. Roylott is dependent on the income left to him by Helen’s deceased mother, a substantial part of which would pass to Helen and her sister Julia on their marriage. Dr Roylott has a violent temper and a bad reputation in the neighbourhood. Two years ago, Julia died in mysterious circumstances in her bedroom claiming that her death was due to ‘the speckled band’. Now Helen, approaching her own marriage, has been moved into her dead sister’s room and fears the worst. The village of Stoke Moran is fictitious but may be Stoke d’Abernon which is close to Leatherhead.