The Man with the Twisted Lip is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle that follows the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr. John Watson. The story begins with Watson returning from a long absence, during which he has been living on the streets of London after being abandoned by his wife. Holmes, who is aware of Watson's situation, takes him in and helps him find a place to stay. Watson then recounts an interesting case that he recently encountered while living on the streets. A man named Enoch Dearborn had been found unconscious in a doorway, with a twisted lip and no memory of how he got there. Watson, being a doctor, examines Dearborn and determines that he is suffering from alcohol poisoning. Holmes becomes interested in the case and begins to investigate. He discovers that Dearborn was once a successful businessman but had lost everything due to his excessive drinking. Holmes tracks down Dearborn's wife, who reveals that her husband had been seen arguing with a man named McFarlane just before he disappeared. Holmes and Watson then go in search of McFarlane, who they discover is a notorious criminal known as "The Spider." They track him down to a seedy tavern on the outskirts of London, where they engage in a fierce battle with McFarlane and his henchmen. In the end, Holmes and Watson are victorious, and Dearborn is reunited with his wife. The story concludes with Watson reflecting on the strange and unexpected turns that life can take, and how even the most seemingly insignificant events can have far-reaching consequences.
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1891 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime