FAQ About Sherlock Holmes

No, Sherlock Holmes did not actually die at the Reichenbach Falls. While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle initially wrote "The Final Problem" as a story in which Sherlock Holmes seemingly meets his end in a deadly struggle with his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty, at the Reichenbach Falls, the author later decided to bring the detective back.

The public reaction to the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes was intense, with many fans expressing their sadness and disappointment. As a result, Conan Doyle faced immense pressure from readers to continue writing more stories about the famous detective.

In response to the demand, Conan Doyle eventually brought Sherlock Holmes back in "The Adventure of the Empty House," published in 1903. In this story, it is revealed that Holmes had managed to survive the encounter at the Reichenbach Falls and had spent several years traveling incognito before returning to London to resume his detective work.

The decision to resurrect Sherlock Holmes was explained in "The Adventure of the Empty House" as a ruse on Holmes' part to protect himself and those close to him from Moriarty's criminal network. The revelation of Holmes' survival delighted fans and opened the door for many more adventures featuring the detective.

As a result, the events of "The Final Problem" at the Reichenbach Falls are later revealed to have been a clever plot twist and a means to temporarily retire the character, rather than a definitive end to Sherlock Holmes' adventures.