The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear begins with a cipher message from an informant inside Professor Moriarty's organization, warning of danger to a man named Douglas at Birlstone Manor in Sussex. Holmes and Watson arrive to find Douglas already dead, his face destroyed by a shotgun blast, and a moat, a missing dumbbell and a wedding ring all demanding explanation. The second half of the novel leaves England entirely for the coal fields of Pennsylvania twenty years earlier and the story of a secret society, the Scowrers, modeled on the real Molly Maguires. Serialized in 1914 and 1915, this is the last of the four Holmes novels, and the American section is as much a hard-boiled crime story as a detective puzzle. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Valley of Fear online?
Yes. The Valley of Fear opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Valley of Fear free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Valley of Fear is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Valley of Fear in the public domain?
Yes. The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Valley of Fear?
About 3 h 51 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Valley of Fear?
The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle is filed under "Mystery" in the Vinteuil library.
