My family and I are pretty big Sherlock Holmes fans. We’ve listened to several of the books together and have watched several versions made for television. So, it was great to get together with some other fans of Sherlock at the exhibit and solve a mystery together.
The game is afoot.
- “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A map of London in the 19th century
These are the actual props from the BBC Sherlock television series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
Bomb vest from “The Great Game,”
tour sign from “The Hounds of Baskerville,”
and the pink suitcase from “A Study in Pink.”
So, after learning about the history of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, crime detectives, forensic science, 19th century technology, and the origin of Sherlock Holmes, it was time to solve a mystery!
Visiting 221B Baker Street
We learn the facts of the case:
We broke up into teams and then searched the crime scene for clues that would help us solve the mystery.
The crime scene
There were 4 clues to find, and then you had to test various theories on how and why the clues were there. Most of the clues were very inconclusive and after completing the assigned exhibit tasks, there was still a lot of mystery surrounding the case.
Examining the crime scene
A police report...
...and Sherlock's opinion.
Discussion at the crime scene
Talking with one of the reenactors/guides
After finding the clues, you’re supposed to read the solution which will solve the case...
...but what fun is that?
Time for some serious deducing!
We all collaborated to do some brainstorming and try to formulate a satisfactory theory that would explain the clues from the crime scene and the disappearance of the man’s wife and child.
Micaiah reviews his notes
Some ENTP “mind palace” action…:)
With some helpful guidance from those who had already read the solution, we were able to formulate an explanation that satisfactorily solved the case.
So, in the end, we all read the solution - which filled in some of the details and told the elaborate back story behind the characters.
All in all, I had a great time.
There were some holes in the case that we solved, but when you get together with good friends and do some sleuthing, there's no mystery as to why I had fun. Case solved.
Interested in how Sherlock Holmes solved his cases?
He primarily relied upon the process of deductive reasoning and his acute powers of observation.
