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The Adventure of the Retired Colourman
The Adventure of the Retired Colourman: With Original Illustrations, a Sherlock Holmes Story | Arthur Doyle
7 posts | 1 read
At CBy, we're avid readers ourselves- so our ethos is to make good, honestly advertised books that we'd buy and read ourselves- not just to maximise our profits. That's why we have a 4 point checklist of guaranteed quality. We guarantee that this book: Comes with size 10 text- some companies like to scrimp a bit and use small text. We know how hard it is to read books like that, so we use a standard size 10 serif font that's been designed for legibility throughout. Comes in a standard size that looks great on your bookshelf- sometimes, we accidentally buy books that have been sized like childrens' books to save money. That's why we're upfront- this particular book is sized at the paperback industry standard: 5.06" x 7.81". Comes with a beautifully designed glossy cover, unlike anything on the market. We hate books that look like they've come from a time capsule- so our team of designers have come up with a timeless design that's true to Conan Doyle's heritage. We love it, but take a look at it yourself in the flesh- again, if you don't like it, simply return it, no questions asked. Comes with the complete original and illustrated text from The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. We hate books that miss things out- and we've carefully proofread this book to make sure that's not the case. We love this book, and we hope that you will too. Thanks for considering CBy's range of classics. "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman" is one of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes.
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dabbe
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

Cuilin I have zero sympathy for Amberley. He made his wife‘s life miserable and when he “perceived” she may have an interest in somebody else, in a fit a jealousy and a desire to punish he murders them both. WTF?? Oh and not even letting them rest in peace he frames them for theft. 3w
eeclayton @Cuilin I couldn't agree more. And he was arrogant enough to think that he would be able to get away with it, even with SH involved. 3w
Read4life I absolutely agree with you both. No sympathy and his cruelty and pure arrogance made him all the more villainous. @Cuilin @eeclayton 3w
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Librarybelle No sympathy. He‘s very calculating and cold. 3w
Mollyanna Not even a modicum of sympathy for Amberley. He is arrogant, selfish and down right nasty. 3w
dabbe @Cuilin @eeclayton @Read4life @Librarybelle @Mollyanna ... couldn't agree more with your assessments. Now, I feel compelled to try to find a wee bit of sympathy. Amberley is described as a “pathetic, futile, broken creature,“ suggesting his jealousy and misery stem from deep emotional instability. Holmes even speculates he may be mentally unfit for the gallows and should perhaps be assigned to the Broadmoor asylum instead. ⬇️ 3w
dabbe Doyle also paints Amberley as a miserly, unpopular figure, described as a “harsh and exacting husband“ by neighbors. His lack of social bonds and obsessive nature (e.g., chess as his sole hobby) show him to be a lonely, embittered man. There's absolutely no doubt that his actions and tragedy are completely self-inflicted, but Doyle subtly criticizes the societal isolation of the elderly as well. #perhaps 3w
CogsOfEncouragement @Cuilin Yes, that word “perceived“ really stuck out to me too and was my answer as well. @dabbe True, SH did say that he was not really fit for the gallows. Makes this one an even darker tragedy. 3w
dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement You hit it with the word “darker“. Amberley was quite the complex character. 3w
32 likes9 comments
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dabbe
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

eeclayton I think some entertaining dialogues came as a result of SH having to rely on Watson's observations. For a while, I actually believed that the man in the sunglasses was Holmes himself 😁 3w
Librarybelle I think it‘s fun to see Watson kind of blunder his way into investigating. It‘s almost a comic experience. 3w
kelli7990 I don‘t know but I liked the stories when Holmes and Watson were solving murders together because they worked so well together as a team. 3w
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Mollyanna I enjoyed Watson giving it a try but missed the interaction between Holmes and Watson. 3w
dabbe @eeclayton @Librarybelle @kelli7990 @Mollyanna Excellent points. This also reminded me of Holmes disappearing for quite a bit in THE HOUND for the same reason: so he could investigate on the sly. And even though Watson isn't Holmes, his observations—though less analytical—provide critical clues:
•It's Watson who notes the unused seat number (B31), which Holmes later uses to debunk Amberley‘s alibi.
•Watson‘s description of Amberley‘s neglected ⬇️
3w
dabbe ... home and the freshly painted strongroom (to mask gas odors) becomes pivotal later in the story.
•Watson‘s limited perspective mirrors the reader‘s uncertainty, amplifying the reveal of Amberley‘s guilt.
It's also worth noting that Holmes trusts Watson for groundwork but intervenes only when logic demands.
3w
CogsOfEncouragement @eeclayton I was relieved that the man wasn't SH in disguise this time - that Watson didn't miss identifying him again. lol 3w
dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement 😂🎯😂 3w
26 likes9 comments
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dabbe
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

Cuilin Misdirection was the key to the whole mystery. I don‘t know why he came up with such an elaborate plan. He could‘ve just said his wife left him. He possibly could‘ve got away with it if he hadn‘t engaged Sherlock. Midirection was also the key to solving it, getting Amberley out of the way so Sherlock could investigate. 3w
Read4life I agree with @Cuilin . The first misdirection she mentioned led to the investigation. The second led to the resolution. 3w
Librarybelle I loved how Holmes set Amberley on the wild goose chase in order to investigate the home. 3w
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Mollyanna As the others have said… misdirection is key to this story both in the set- up and the resolution, by all except poor Watson. 3w
dabbe Agree 💯, Cuilin. Perhaps Amberley‘s plan wasn‘t just about hiding a crime—it was about crafting a narrative that made him seem like the wronged party while eliminating any reason for further scrutiny. His mistake was underestimating Holmes‘ ability to see through theatrical deception. @Read4life @Librarybelle @Mollyanna 3w
dabbe @Cuilin @Read4life @Librarybelle @Mollyanna Another misdirection: Watson‘s early description of Amberley as a “pathetic, futile, broken creature“ primes readers to pity him, obscuring his guilt until Holmes‘ revelations. Also, The wife and Dr. Ernest are barely characterized, leaving their alleged affair ambiguous. This uncertainty mirrors the neighbors‘ gossip, which Holmes critiques as unreliable. 3w
CogsOfEncouragement All great points. 3w
dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement 💙🩵💙 3w
26 likes8 comments
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dabbe
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin

OUR LAST ONE!!! 😢😂😍

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

Cuilin I really think this collection ended strong!! This had all the elements of a good mystery with Sherlock true to form. 3w
kelli7990 I enjoyed this story even though it was only 30 minutes. 3w
eeclayton I enjoyed it. In my edition, the one with the old Shoscombe place is the last story, but I'm glad we're finishing with this one instead. 3w
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eeclayton It's weird that this is the last story and there's nothing left for next weekend. Thank you very much @Cuilin and @dabbe for this readalong, and thank you everyone for the thought-provoking discussions, I've enjoyed every minute of this adventure with you all! ❤️ 3w
Read4life Thank you so much for bringing us all through these. I so enjoyed the journey. @Cuilin @dabbe 💙💙 3w
Librarybelle I cannot believe it‘s the last one! Wow! I liked this, though I suspected the husband all along. Maybe some of Sherlock has rubbed off on me! 😂 3w
Mollyanna I caught up just in time for the last one. Thank you @dabbe and @Cuilin for reminding me how much I loved the Holmes stories. 3w
dabbe @Cuilin @kelli7990 @eeclayton @Read4life @Librarybelle @Mollyanna ... what a journey! We are now part of the few that can say we've read the ENITRE SH canon! Well done, everyone! Onward to some pastiche readings! If you're interested in that, comment below! #weareallsherlocked 🖤 3w
kelli7990 @dabbe I‘m interested in reading pastiches. 3w
dabbe @kelli7990 You are on the list! 💙🩵💙 3w
Read4life I‘m interested to continue!! 💙💙💙 3w
dabbe @Read4life Yay! Pastiche post coming soon! 💛🤎🧡 3w
27 likes12 comments
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Cuilin
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

First line of our last story #NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe

“Sherlock Holmes was in a melancholy and philosophic mood that morning.”

dabbe Our last one! 🩵😪🩵 3w
Cuilin @dabbe I finished it this morning and I‘m not ashamed to say that there was a little tear 😢 and then a little cheer 🥳 cause we did it!!!! 3w
dabbe @Cuilin 👏🏻😍👏🏻 3w
46 likes3 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @dabbe
#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin @LitsyEvents

Can you believe we're down to our last story? 😱 Next up: “(TAo TThe Retired Colourman“. Discussion will be on August 9th and will be led by @dabbe. Hope your week is going well. 🩵

Link to summary and analysis (spoiler alert): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1et2CqrIjhShtuSfyN7lrqGTT8dfWxbVL/view?usp=shari...

dabbe TY! 😍 3w
24 likes1 comment
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dabbe
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin @LitsyEvents

Can you believe we're down to our last story? 😱 Next up: “(TAo TThe Retired Colourman“. Discussion will be on August 9th and will be led by @dabbe. Hope your week is going well. 🩵

Link to summary and analysis (spoiler alert): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1et2CqrIjhShtuSfyN7lrqGTT8dfWxbVL/view?usp=shari...

Librarybelle Thank you! 3w
Cuilin No, I really can‘t believe it!!! 🫶 3w
dabbe @Librarybelle YW! 🩵💙🩵 3w
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dabbe @Cuilin IKR? Part of me is like “Finally!“ and the other part is like 😪. I'll post about the pastiche soon! 😍 3w
kelli7990 I can‘t believe we‘re almost done reading the canon together. 3w
dabbe @kelli7990 IKR? Be looking for another Sherlock post soon! 😍 3w
40 likes6 comments