When it comes to a writer of the type of Sir Conan Doyle, there arises no question of his 'best' works, for every work of his is a masterpiece in itself, & the Valley of fear is one of them. Being one of the four novels of Sherlock Holmes' most breathtaking adventures and narrated, as usual, by the accomplice of Holmes, Dr. Watson, the story is told in a most unusual format. It narrates two seemingly unrelated accounts, which at the end merge into a beautifully well-knit plot. The story where the intellect of Holmes is matched by that of his prime contemporary in the world of crime, Professor Moriarty, keeps the reader at the edge of his seat. It has every feature of a classic detective, suspense, romantiscm, terror, loyalty, betrayal, and above all, the ingenuity of the idea. The principal characters are, needles to say, Mr. Holmes himself, with Dr. Watson & Professor Moriarty. Each of the other characters are vividly described, with the style which is so unique to Doyle. While some of the characters imbibe fear in the mind of the reader, others impress admiration. It is, hence, easy to understand them, & to a large extent identify with them. No reader will retain a doubt about the worth of this book, & will certainly find the time spent reading it is well spent. It is more or less enjoyed by readers of all ages, and appreciated by everyone.

Neeldhara