The Non-Homicidal Holmes.

The article examines the nature of Sherlock Holmes stories, highlighting that unlike many mystery narratives, a significant portion of Holmes tales do not involve homicide. Of the 60 canonical Holmes stories, over one-third contain no deaths, while others feature deaths that are non-criminal or accidental, with only a minority involving murder. Holmes's investigative scope extends beyond murder to offenses such as theft, disappearance, and blackmail, reflecting his role as a consulting detective addressing a broad range of criminal and non-criminal puzzles. The article suggests that the common association of mystery with murder may stem from the prevalence of murder in longer mystery novels, whereas Holmes's short stories often explore mysteries without fatal outcomes.