Podcast Summary: Sherlock Holmes – "Murder in the Moonlight" (10/29/1945)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Sherlock Holmes: Murder in the Moonlight
Starring: Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes), Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson)
Release Date: December 26, 2025
Original Air Date: October 29, 1945

Episode Overview

In this atmospheric episode, Holmes and Watson find themselves embroiled in intrigue and attempted murder aboard a steamship traveling through the Indian Ocean. Tasked with protecting the Rani of Cavarati—a British woman turned Indian royalty—Holmes untangles a web of hidden motives, political tension, and deadly cunning. The episode combines humor, suspense, and classic Holmesian deduction against the backdrop of colonial intrigue, ultimately revealing a clever method of attempted murder relying on slow arsenic poisoning and immunity.

Key Discussion & Plot Points

Setting the Scene

• Holmes and Watson aboard the Lucifer

  • The detectives are sailing incognito ("Mr. Mycroft" and "Mr. Hamish") on their way to Calcutta.
  • Dr. Watson is recovering from seasickness as Holmes hints at their ongoing investigation (04:09–07:38).

• A Mysterious Suite and Shadowy Passengers

  • Holmes is intrigued by a suite with closed blinds and no listed occupants.
  • Dr. Harris, the ship's doctor, reveals the suite houses the Rani of Cavarati, returning to her homeland under secrecy due to threats against her life (08:24–11:09).

The Rani's Fears and Holmes’s Observations

• Meeting the Rani
  • The Rani (formerly a London chorus girl) confides that she’s received anonymous threats and superstitiously fears the recurring ace of spades in her fortune readings (15:01–17:12).
  • She employs Fuma, a poison taster, to test her food and drink—highlighting her caution (18:16–18:52).

"Somebody's trying to kill me... In the last two days every time I tell my fortune I get the ace of spades. Now you know what that means. Death."
— Rani of Cavarati (16:18, 17:03)

The Circle of Suspects

• Potential Adversaries
  • The Rani suspects Raduna (jealous servant), Dr. Harris (was expelled from Cavarati), and Sir Christopher Wyatt (business disputes) all have possible motives (19:06–19:35).
  • Chief Minister Verda is introduced as a trusted advisor, but Holmes remains skeptical.

Murder Strikes

• The Ship’s Doctor is Killed
  • Shortly after the party planning, Dr. Harris is violently murdered—his head fatally smashed after a struggle (20:52–21:43).
  • Holmes surmises the killing is a preemptive strike to remove the only man who could thwart a subtle poison attack (22:54–23:07).

"Elementary, my dear fellow. You are planning a subtle murder by poison. How wise to remove the one man who might save the victim's life."
— Sherlock Holmes (23:07)

The Supper Party and the Attempted Murder

• An Evening of Tension

  • The Rani throws a party for all suspects; Holmes and Watson attend, incognito and equipped with antidotes, expecting trouble (24:02–24:43).

• The Poisoning

  • In the midst of the festivities, the Rani collapses with symptoms of arsenic poisoning, even though her taster Fuma had tested everything (25:54–26:25).
  • Dr. Watson quickly administers the antidote, saving her life (26:15–26:47).

Holmes’s Deduction and the Climax

• The Culprit Revealed
  • Holmes deduces that Fuma had been systematically dosed with arsenic, granting him immunity: a slow, clever setup enabling the poison to pass undetected to the Rani (27:10–27:24).
  • Only Verda had long-term access to both Fuma and the resources to orchestrate the plot. Confronted, Verda confesses and kills Dr. Harris as well (27:31–28:04).

"He's been feeding him gradually increasing doses of arsenic until he has finally become immune to the poison."
— Sherlock Holmes (27:17)

• Dramatic Showdown
  • Verda attempts to escape by brandishing a revolver and escaping overboard as the ship enters Cavarati’s harbor.
  • The Rani seizes Dr. Watson's revolver, shoots Verda, and asserts her authority as ruler (“I am still the Rani of Cavaratti!”) (29:23–29:30).

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Holmes on Incognito

  "As I find myself answering to Mr. Mycroft almost automatically. By the way, old chap...I suggest that you adopt a Scotch accent. It would seem more appropriate for a Mr. Hamish."
  — Sherlock Holmes (06:11)

• The Threat in the Cards

  "In the last two days every time I tell my fortune I get the ace of spades. Now you know what that means. Death."
  — Rani of Cavarati (17:03)

• Watson's Wry Humor

  "Funny things to take to a party, I must say."
  — Dr. Watson, upon toted antidotes (23:41)

• Holmes Outlines the Scheme

  "He's been feeding him gradually increasing doses of arsenic until he has finally become immune to the poison."
  — Sherlock Holmes (27:17)

• The Rani Takes Command

  "Of course I did, Mr. Holmes. Remember that we're now in Cavarati waters and though I may not look like it at the moment, I am still the Rani of Cavarati."
  — Rani of Cavarati, after shooting Verda (29:30)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Holmes & Watson discuss incognito and the strange suite — 04:09–07:38
• Ship’s doctor reveals Rani’s presence and concerns — 08:24–11:09
• Meeting with the Rani — 15:01–19:48
• Rani asks for Holmes’s protection at party — 19:48–20:11
• Discovery of Dr. Harris’s murder — 20:52–21:43
• Pre-party deduction and antidote prep — 22:54–23:43
• The supper party and poisoning attempt — 24:02–26:47
• Holmes’s reveal and confrontation with Verda — 27:01–29:30

Episode Tone & Style

This episode features playful banter between Holmes and Watson, a rich sense of period ambiance, and a suspenseful buildup to the final reveal. The Rani’s Cockney accent and personality provide comic relief, offsetting the episode’s darker undertones.

Conclusion

"Murder in the Moonlight" is a quintessential Sherlock Holmes radio mystery, blending exotic setting, a locked-room-like puzzle, and the detective's acute deductive prowess. As always, Holmes guides Watson—and the audience—through layers of misdirection to a satisfying conclusion. The episode exemplifies Golden Age radio drama with colorful characters, suspense, and period charm.