sherlock60 | Discussion Post: The Adventure of the Gloria Scott

Hi, everyone! Time again for our story discussion, this time on The Adventure of the Gloria Scott. As always, I've written up a few questions and thoughts here. Please add your own!

- So this is Holmes' first case and even the first time he thought of applying his skills in the role of a detective, thanks to the elder Mr. Trevor. What do you think his life would have been like if Victor's dog had never bitten him? He was already doing his easy readings of people. Would he have put that to use in a different way? Or would he simply have been a scientist? Or do you think his becoming a detective was a matter of destiny, bound to happen eventually one way or another?

- The way Holmes and Victor Trevor are introduced would be termed a "Meet Cute" in the movie world. I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood is working on some bad romantic comedy right now with a similar dog bite-based introduction premise. Maybe Katherine Heigel gets laid up by Ryan Reynolds' new terrier. They'll call it something terrible like Love at First Bite. ;)

- What do you make of Victor Trevor and his friendship with Holmes? Holmes describes him as hearty and energetic, but just as friendless as he is. What is the reason for that, do you think? Is it surprising he would be so quickly drawn to moody, introspective Sherlock Holmes?

- Trevor Senior's tale on the Gloria Scott is absolutely horrifying. If the Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb seemed gory and disturbing, this one easily puts it to shame. Those scenes during the mutiny are beyond terrifying. No wonder Mr. Trevor wanted to put his life as James Armitage as far behind him as it could be! But, as in many of these stories, the sins of the past just never quite seem to stay in the past, no matter how much one wishes it and no matter how much good one does to make up for prior wrongs. There are few second chances that last in Sherlock Holmes' world.