In this short story with a title straight out of a Western, Holmes hosts a sleepover and gives a man a bath. "The Man with the Twisted Lip" is perplexing not only for where it's ended up in our chronology, but for its red herring plot twist full of questionable decisions. What does the opium den represent in the Victorian imagination, and is it as racist as it sounds? How does this story explore the malleability of British social class and identity? Should the New Yorker unionize? And why on earth does everyone think Watson's middle name is HAMISH? All these answers and more in today's episode. 
Content warning: This episode contains drug abuse and addiction, racism, and some particularly Doylish lies between husband and wife.
A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/transcripts
Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/
https://twitter.com/improbablepod

Most absolute fool in Europe: Twisted Lip discussion

However Improbable is a podcast book club about Sherlock Holmes, by and for the people who love him.

Every other week, detective lit enthusiasts Marisa and Sarah present a fresh new recording of Holmes and Watson’s adventures, and then delve into the story, its history and politics, adaptations, and why we’re still so captivated by the detective and his good doctor. Holmes himself famously said that there’s nothing new under the sun—but we’re willing to give him a run for his money. 

howeverimprobablepodcast.com/ 
https://twitter.com/improbablepod

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Books

Holmes is hired by a young clerk to investigate a suspiciously good job offer - and ends up in a case of identity theft and robbery. "The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk" is an odd little story with a dramatic twist in the middle that stands it apart from other similar tales. 
We discuss Dr. Watson, M.D., how much we long for a better robbery story than this one, and Watson's enduring crushes on men who look like rugby players in this week's discussion. 
Content warning (and SPOILER ALERT!): This story contains a fairy graphic depiction of a suicide attempt by hanging. We read the passage out loud and discuss it. 

Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/improbablepod⁠⁠




Results without causes: Stockbroker's Clerk discussion

"The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk" by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Jack Carmichael.
“Human nature is a strange mixture, Watson. You see that even a villain and murderer can inspire such affection that his brother turns to suicide when he learns that his neck is forfeited."
Content warning (and SPOILER ALERT!): This story contains a fairy graphic depiction of a suicide attempt by hanging. It occurs about halfway through the story. 
This episode is narrated by Jack Carmichael. Jack is a Kent-based Voice Over Artist/Actor and a graduate of East 15 Acting School. His personal career highlights so far include performing at Edinburgh Fringe with the comedy/puppet show "Ronnie and the Other World", puppeteering for the BBC Radio 4 Podcast "The Infinite Monkey Cage" and starring as DAX in the award-winning, sci-fi/comedy podcast "We Fix Space Junk". Jack also plays acoustic guitar, sings bass and is an amateur beat-boxer. Outside of the acting world, he enjoys running, baking and escape rooms!

Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/improbablepod⁠⁠




The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk

Holmes complains about the weather, insults a Scotland Yard detective and untangles some old family drama in this strange little story. Plus, Watson is married now! Did anything else meaningful happen? From The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" is an oddly-paced, weirdly plotted short story about murderous Australians and the sins of our fathers.
Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
⁠⁠https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/listen/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://twitter.com/improbablepod

An obvious fact: The Boscombe Valley Mystery discussion

"The Boscombe Valley Mystery" by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Sarah Kolb.
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact,” he answered, laughing. “Besides, we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Mr. Lestrade.”
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" is narrated by Sarah Kolb. Sarah is Colorado-based writer, podcaster, and arts marketer, with a passion for unconventional storytelling, detective stories, and rude women. You probably know her as the co-host of However Improbable! During the day, she’s a professional advocate for regional theatre, art education and gender parity in the arts. She's the marketing director at the Arvada Center, one of Colorado's largest theatre companies, and a board member of Athena Project Arts, a nonprofits that advocates for women's voices in artistic expression. Her first foray into podcasting was Superstition, a Southwestern gothic audio mystery. 
Instagram: sarahjkolb
https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/listen/the-adventure-of-the-copper-beeches
Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
⁠⁠https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://twitter.com/improbablepod⁠

The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Welcome back to our discussion episodes! From The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" is one of the nastiest tales in the canon - complete with a skin-crawling villain named Jephro Rucastle. It also stars one of our favorite women - the intrepid Violet Hunter. Sarah and Marisa check in with Holmes and Watson after our break from the stories, the creepy horror of this tale, some other iconic stories with horrible things hidden in the attic, and more. 
Content warning: Deeply creepy behavior, gaslighting, abuse and imprisonment. 
Find recommended reading, more stories, info about the show and more on our website:
⁠https://www.howeverimprobablepodcast.com/listen/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles⁠
⁠https://twitter.com/improbablepod



Most absolute fool in Europe: Twisted Lip discussion

Download our free app to listen on your phone