8 Weirdest Pieces of Sherlock Holmes Lore

As a movie and book lover, I’ve always been fascinated by Sherlock Holmes. He first appeared in stories back in 1887, and honestly, he’s never really left our collective consciousness since! What’s amazing is how brilliantly clever he is, but also how wonderfully strange and unique. It’s no surprise he’s been brought to life on screen and in other forms over 250 times – and that number just keeps growing!

Sherlock Holmes is famous for his brilliant detective work and his close friendship with Dr. John Watson. But what truly captivates readers is how boldly unconventional Conan Doyle made the character. Holmes’s behavior and backstory often seem eccentric, particularly by today’s standards, and the details surrounding him have grown increasingly rich and complex over the years.

Sherlock Holmes Never Said “Elementary, My Dear Watson”

Most people immediately think of the phrase “Elementary, my dear Watson” when they hear the names Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Surprisingly, Holmes never actually said that exact phrase in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. While he did use the word “Elementary” on occasion, and sometimes addressed Watson as “My dear Watson,” he never combined them into the famous quote.

The phrase became well-known thanks to productions like the 1899 play featuring William Gillette and the 1939 Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone, and it’s now strongly associated with the character. Surprisingly, though, Sherlock Holmes never actually says this line in the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Holmes and Watson Allowed Murder, And Holmes Got Engaged To A Maidservant

In the 1904 Sherlock Holmes story, The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, Holmes and Watson were hired by Lady Eva Blackwell to protect her reputation. The problem was Charles Augustus Milverton, a blackmailer who collected damaging letters and demanded large sums of money to keep them secret. Holmes decided to help not only Lady Blackwell, but all of Milverton’s victims.

He infiltrated Milverton’s house, befriending the maid and even becoming engaged to her to gain access. In a surprising turn of events, a former victim of Milverton, disguised as a maid, shot her blackmailer. Oddly, Holmes prevented Watson from rescuing Milverton, and Watson, unusually, allowed justice to take its course, even if it meant going against his medical principles – a sign that Holmes was too emotionally involved in the case.

Sherlock Once Tested A Poison By Trying It On A Dog

The initial Sherlock Holmes story immediately showcased his unusual methods. To investigate how a murder was committed, Sherlock tested a theory using Mrs. Hudson’s dog. The victim had two pills, and Sherlock gave both to the dog to demonstrate that one was harmless and the other was poisonous.

The terrier died after swallowing the second pill, confirming Holmes’s idea, though it was a harsh way to prove it. While Mrs. Hudson had said her dog was very sick and needed to be euthanized, Holmes’s method felt cold, even for him. Ultimately, Sherlock killed an animal, even if it was to end its suffering, in order to solve the case.

A Pseudoscience Was Used In Many Sherlock Holmes Mysteries

During the late 1800s, a popular (but now discredited) idea called phrenology claimed you could determine someone’s intelligence and personality by studying the shape of their skull. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle incorporated this into his Sherlock Holmes stories, describing Holmes and Moriarty as having large foreheads, and even included characters, like Dr. Mortimer in The Hound of the Baskervilles, who were enthusiastic about phrenology.

Phrenology, the idea that you can understand someone’s personality and mental abilities by studying the shape of their skull, has been proven false since the 1800s. Because of this, it’s now recognized that some historical figures should be viewed critically due to their reliance on this discredited theory.

One Story Had A Special Job Just For Red-Headed People

Published in 1891, “The Red-Headed League” is definitely one of the more unusual stories in the collection. It centers around Mr. Wilson, who owns a pawn shop and answers an ad for a job specifically for redheads. This job was with an organization called The Red-Headed League, which surprisingly paid people with red hair a good salary just to sit in an office and copy encyclopedias.

After eight weeks, the League unexpectedly disappeared, leaving Mr. Wilson confused. It turned out the whole thing was a trick to get him away from his pawn shop, allowing the criminal John Clay to dig a tunnel to a nearby bank. The story is popular because of its unbelievable plot and satisfying conclusion, and it’s become a memorable part of the series’ unique history.

The Solution To One Of Holmes’ Mysteries Was Completely Fabricated

“The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot” is a particularly chilling Sherlock Holmes story. People were mysteriously driven mad and died without any obvious cause, but Holmes solved the case fairly quickly. He noticed fires and lamps near the victims and, after experimenting on himself, determined they had been poisoned by a dangerous substance called Devil’s Foot root. When burned, this root caused terrifying hallucinations that led to insanity and ultimately, death.

Although this explanation was clever, it relies on a fictional poison. This drug doesn’t exist in nature or in any lab – it’s purely a creation of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Like the swamp adder in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” which was also invented, this makes the solution feel less impressive.

Adaptations Keep Giving Sherlock Holmes a Sister

Okay, so everyone knows Sherlock Holmes had a brother, Mycroft, who’s popped up in a lot of TV shows and movies. But recently, I’ve noticed a trend – a lot of adaptations are giving Holmes a sister. Now, as a longtime fan of the original stories, I have to say, this is a completely new invention! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never wrote about a Holmes sister, so it feels a bit strange to see it added in. While I’m open to fresh takes, this particular change doesn’t feel rooted in the source material.

Sherlock Holmes has gained fictional siblings in recent years. Mycroft Holmes, the third Holmes brother, is often portrayed as a brilliant and manipulative figure connected to criminal activity. Similarly, Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes series introduced a younger sister who became a detective. It’s curious why Holmes keeps getting a sister, as she doesn’t appear in the original 56 Sherlock Holmes stories. This likely stems from a desire to explore what a female character with Holmes’s famous intelligence would be like.

Sherlock Holmes Returned From The Dead, But Only Because Of Audience Demand

One of the most famous – and strangest – parts of Sherlock Holmes history is how he seemingly died, then came back to life. In a story published in 1893, called The Final Problem, Holmes appeared to fall to his death at Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland while battling his nemesis, Moriarty. This struggle prevented Moriarty’s criminal organization from continuing to pursue Holmes and Watson. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended this to be the character’s permanent end, as he was tired of creating new mysteries for him.

As a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, I always found it fascinating that the author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, actually wanted to move on to other, more ‘serious’ writing. He thought the only way to do that was to kill off Holmes! But he was totally shocked by how upset everyone was – the public was heartbroken! He really didn’t expect that kind of reaction, and it ended up forcing his hand. He just had to bring Holmes back, and honestly, I’m so glad he did!

When Sherlock Holmes appeared to die in the stories published in The Strand Magazine, readers canceled their subscriptions in protest. This public outcry led to Holmes’s return in The Adventure of the Empty House and The Hound of the Baskervilles. While the stories explained how he survived, it’s still unusual for a character to be brought back to life.

2025-12-07 23:12