The detective novel genre is one of the most notable categories of short fiction. The Sherlock Holmes stories are true masterpieces created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the use of elements of detective novels has contributed to their popularity. In “The Adventure of the Spotted Band” the author uses the opportunities of the genre to arouse the interest of the readers and keep them thrilled until the end of the narrative. By considering the key components of the story, namely characters, setting, plot, problem and solution, it is possible to trace specific techniques that contribute to creating the atmosphere of mystery in this case. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To begin with, characters play a vital role in the context of a short story. In this regard, “The Adventure of the Speckled Gang” is no exception. The peculiarities of the genre are confirmed: the main characters are the criminal (Dr. Roylott), the possible victim (Helen) and the detective (Holmes). The figure of the criminal is prominent as he is the driving force behind the development of events. Describing Doctor Roylott, the author introduces another popular technique of detective novels: some secondary characters may try to lead the main character and the reader astray. Helen provides some important information about her stepfather: “He had no friends except wandering gypsies, and he gave these wanderers permission to camp on the few acres of bramble-covered land.” You can consider the gypsies as another criminal character in the story because they are suspected of being responsible for Julia's death. However, this is wrong speculation, and this technique is an effective tool to mislead. Furthermore, the main victim is Helen because her life is in danger. Although her sister Julia also becomes the victim, little is known about her, and the narrator emphasizes that solving this mystery is more about saving Helen. In fact, the threat foreseen at the moment can be prevented and becomes the priority of the characters' actions. Apparently, a crime novel should feature the person who will solve the problem as the main character. Just like in all Sherlock Holmes stories, the couple composed of Mr. Holmes and Mr. Watson is at the center of readers' attention and not only solves the mystery, but also manages to save Helen Stoner. However, Watson is a more peripheral figure as his function is to narrate and assist Holmes rather than being an active participant in the investigation. Overall, the characters in the story agree with the image of typical characters in detective novels. Another indispensable element of a detective novel is the setting. This characteristic concerns the location of the action which the author is expected to describe in such detail that readers can imagine the scene. It becomes especially interesting when the setting is ordinary because the contrast between the secret and the supposedly innocuous circumstances adds to the lack of understanding. Detective stories can be divided into several types, and the story under discussion belongs to the locked room mystery subtype. As the term suggests, these are some criminal events that occurred in a closed environment. The only explanation of the events concerns the actions of the characters present, and the figure of the detective contrasts with the closed homosocial environment. Therefore, this type is distinguished by limited space for criminal action. In the context of the story, the home environment is provided. The mystery of the locked room is classic: “…the door had been fixed on the internal side, and the windowsthey were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with wide iron bars, which were closed every night. The walls were carefully probed and found to be quite solid all around, as was the floor thoroughly examined, with the same result. Doyle shows the rooms of the house, the strange whistles and the metallic sound. Taken together, these details are small steps towards the denouement. At the end of the story, the setting becomes the central object of consideration because it determines the identification of the crime. The plot is about the actual story with its structure which ideally consists of a clear beginning, a middle and an ending, all the necessary descriptions and details included to make it even more interesting. The detective novel genre implies that some secret becomes the focus of the plot and, little by little, the story reaches the climax where the criminal is revealed. However, the detective genre has never simply been about “who did it?” – however, it has to do with reflecting society and places. As a result, the plot serves as an external tool to shape the story and, at the same time, as an internal point of reference when the reader reflects on social issues and phenomena. All these characteristics can be found in the story of Sherlock Holmes. The beginning of the story is distinguishable because Watson deliberately makes an introduction in which he expresses his opinion on the unique cases Sherlock has worked on. The central element is the chain of strange events: Julia's death, the start of renovation work on Helen's house and the whistles at night. The story also offers insights into the social order because one can begin to think about matters of money and marriages, unusual hobbies and cold calculations. Watson's comments and rhetorical questions are also a valuable tool for reflection: "How will I ever forget that terrible vigil?" The ending of the story is a sort of contemplation because the ethical issues related to the criminal's death are discussed. Therefore, the plot of the story is typical for the genre. The next element of a crime novel, the problem, is understood as the real secret that needs to be solved, usually who committed a crime and why. In this regard, “The Adventure of the Spotted Band” is based on the problem of the mysterious threat that turns out to be a swamp viper. It can be argued that there are two sides to the problem in this story: while the first involves Julia and her strange words before her death, the second involves Helen and her life. It would be wrong to consider these aspects as separate phenomena because in reality they refer to the same venomous snake. Therefore, the problem of the story is binary and only stimulates the interest of readers. Interestingly, the reader should become the detective's partner and try to solve the problem or at least find the right direction. The genre requires that clues be stated and described clearly, and the author does just that when he imagines his first meeting with Helen. Together with Mr. Holmes they examine the house and see what leads them to understand: the tied bed, the doorbell cords and the fans. The ambiguous word “gang” misleads both the detective and the reader. Therefore, the characteristic required by the tradition of the genre is present in its entire extension. Last but not least, the appropriate solution is an integral part of the detective novel. Logically the final element must concern the solution or the way in which the action is resolved because it gives meaning to the reading of the story. It is probably one of the most challenging moments for the author. In detective novels the ending must be believable and correspond to the previously imagined events, otherwise the reader will be disappointed. However, Doyle's explanation involves the whistle.