The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

The story begins with a visit from a retired colourman, Josiah Amberley, who is seeking help from Sherlock Holmes. Amberley is convinced that his wife is trying to poison him, and he has evidence to back up his claim. He has found a box of poison in her possession, and he believes that she is trying to kill him for his money. Holmes and Watson investigate the case and soon discover that Amberley's wife is not the only one with a motive to kill him. They soon uncover a complex web of lies and deceit, involving a mysterious woman, a missing will, and a secret society. As the case progresses, Holmes and Watson must unravel the truth behind the mysterious events and discover who is really behind the attempted murder. In the end, they are able to uncover the truth and bring the guilty party to justice.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1927 · Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Detective Fiction · 6,711 words

First lines

Sherlock Holmes was in a melancholy and philosophic mood that morning. His alert practical nature was subject to such reactions.

"Did you see him?" he asked.

What this Textopian page supports

The Adventure of the Retired Colourman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1927 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Date: 1927 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Detective Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure Fiction
• Length: 6,711 words
• Structure: 1 section, 152 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Adventure of the Retired Colourman by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Adventure of the Retired Colourman?
• How does this short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

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Genres

• Mystery — The Adventure of the Retired Colourman is a Sherlock Holmes mystery story, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which follows the detective as he solves a case involving a suspicious death.
• Crime Fiction — The Adventure of the Retired Colourman is a crime fiction story, as it follows the investigation of a suspicious death and the uncovering of a criminal plot.
• Detective Fiction — The Adventure of the Retired Colourman is a detective fiction story, as it follows the investigation of a suspicious death and the uncovering of a criminal plot by the detective Sherlock Holmes.
• Historical Fiction — The Adventure of the Retired Colourman is set in the late 19th century, and thus can be classified as historical fiction.

Tags

mystery · detective · Sherlock Holmes · Watson · crime · investigation · retirement · color · murder · suspense · clue · London

More by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

• The Parish Magazine (1914)
• The Great Brown-Pericord Motor (1914)
• The Holocaust of Manor Place (1901)
• The Debatable Case of Mrs. Emsley (1901)
• The Love Affair of George Vincent Parker (1901)
• The Disintegration Machine (1927)
• The Bully of Brocas Court (1914)
• The Brown Hand (1914)
• All works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle