Sherlock Holmes Short Stories – The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot: Part One

Podcast Host: Hugh Bonneville (Noiser podcast network)
Release Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this chilling installment, Hugh Bonneville narrates Part One of "The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot," immersing listeners in the eerie Cornish countryside where Sherlock Holmes, seeking rest, is thrust into a macabre mystery. An inexplicable death, madness, and local superstitions force Holmes and Watson to disentangle sinister truths from phantoms, all while navigating the secrets and sorrows of the Tregennis family.

Key Discussion Points and Developments

1. Holmes and Watson Seek Respite—But Trouble Finds Them (00:29–04:55)

• Holmes, recovering from exhaustion per doctor’s orders, travels with Watson to a quaint Cornish cottage. (“Holmes iron Constitution showed some symptoms of giving way…aggravated perhaps by occasional indiscretions of his own.” — Watson, 02:06)
• The local landscape is described in haunting detail, setting the tone for the mysterious events to come. The area is “singularly well-suited to the grim humor” of Holmes (02:55), dotted with ancient monuments and exuding an atmosphere of foreboding.
  Notable Moment: The setting intertwines natural beauty and sinister history, foreshadowing darker occurrences.

2. The Tregennis Family Horror Emerges (04:55–12:45)

• Holmes and Watson are sought out by the local vicar, Mr. Roundhay, and Mortimer Tregennis, who bring shocking news.
• Mortimer recounts discovering his siblings—two alive but driven mad, one dead—in the family home after an ordinary night. (“The sister lay back stone dead in her chair while the two brothers sat on each side of her laughing, shouting and singing. The senses stricken clean out of them.” — Vicar, 11:13)
• Each victim’s face is described as contorted in terror, with no apparent cause or outside interference.
• The local community is consumed with fear, looking to Holmes for answers.

3. Early Investigation and Holmes’ Process (13:34–22:10)

• Holmes interviews Mortimer Tregennis in detail, highlighting the ordinary events of the previous night and the lack of apparent motive or method.
• Mortimer recalls a brief, vague movement seen by the window, possibly a man or animal. (“I saw him once look hard over my shoulder, so I turned round and looked also. The blind was up and the window shut, but I just thought there was something moving among them.” — Mortimer Tregennis, 17:17)
• Holmes and Watson proceed to the Tregennis home, witnessing the traumatized brothers being transported to an asylum.

4. Examination of the Crime Scene and Witness Accounts (22:10–25:52)

• Holmes inspects the room—intact but bearing signs of horror: burned candles, scattered cards, and the chilling remains of Brenda Tregennis.
• Holmes methodically reconstructs the evening’s events but finds no physical clue or “gleam of light in this utter darkness.” (23:38)
• The only observable anomaly is the presence of a fire on what should have been a mild spring night.

5. Reflection and Theories on the Cliffs (26:22–30:50)

• Holmes rules out supernatural causes, insisting on natural explanations despite the odd circumstances.
  • (“I take it in the first place that neither of us is prepared to admit diabolical intrusions into the affairs of men. Let us begin by ruling that entirely out of our minds.” — Holmes, 27:19)
• He reviews timelines, actions, and alibis, particularly noting the absence of suspicious tracks outside the window.
• There is recognition that more information is needed: “You perceive our difficulties, Watson. They are only too clear.” (29:00)

6. The Mysterious Dr. Leon Sterndale Arrives (30:51–34:23)

• Dr. Sterndale, an imposing lion hunter and explorer with local familial ties, introduces himself.
• Sterndale’s deep interest in the Tregennis family tragedy is evident; he shares that he was summoned back by the vicar. Holmes investigates Sterndale’s alibi and confirms his movements via telegram.
• Tension arises in the exchange between Holmes and Sterndale, hinting at unknown motives and deeper connections.
  • (“You are very inquisitive, Mr. Holmes.” — Dr. Sterndale, 33:16)

7. Holmes’ Deduction—More Questions than Answers (34:23–36:55)

• Holmes confirms Sterndale’s story but notes his “deep interest” as a clue (“Yes, there is a thread here which we have not yet grasped and which might lead us through the tangle.” — Holmes, 35:45)
• The episode closes with Holmes sure that new facts will soon surface, leaving listeners on a cliffhanger as more sinister developments are teased for Part Two.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Setting the Atmosphere:
  “In every direction upon these moors there were traces of some vanished race which had passed utterly away and left as its sole record strange monuments of stone… The glamour and mystery of the place, with its sinister atmosphere of forgotten nations, appealed to the imagination of my friend…” (Watson, 03:48)

• On Holmes’ Aversion to Publicity:
  “…to his sombre and cynical spirit, all popular applause was always abhorrent, and nothing amused him more at the end of a successful case than to hand over the actual exposure to some orthodox official…” (Watson, 01:38)

• Recounting the Horror:
  “All three of them, the dead woman and the two demented men retained upon their faces an expression of the utmost horror, a convulsion of terror which was dreadful to look upon.” (Vicar, 11:12)

• Refuting the Supernatural:
  “I take it in the first place that neither of us is prepared to admit diabolical intrusions into the affairs of men. Let us begin by ruling that entirely out of our minds.” (Holmes, 27:19)

• Holmes on Investigation:
  “To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces. The sea air, sunshine and Patience, Watson. All else will come.” (Holmes, 26:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:29: Episode begins; Hugh Bonneville introduces the Devil’s Foot caper and Cornish setting.
• 04:55: Watson narrates their arrival and initial setting in Cornwall.
• 10:44: The vicar and Mortimer Tregennis arrive with news of the tragedy.
• 13:34: Holmes interviews Tregennis about the previous night’s events.
• 17:17: Tregennis recalls seeing movement outside the window.
• 22:10: The group reaches Tredannick Wartha; Holmes inspects the crime scene.
• 26:22: Holmes and Watson reflect on the case during a cliff walk.
• 30:51: Dr. Leon Sterndale’s surprise visit and exchange with Holmes.
• 35:45: Holmes notes a crucial clue in Sterndale’s deep interest.
• 36:55: Episode ends; tease for Part Two.

Episode Tone and Style

The narration, led by Hugh Bonneville, faithfully preserves the dark, suspenseful, and meticulous tone of the Sherlock Holmes stories, blending brooding atmosphere with Holmes's analytical precision. Dialogue is rich with late-Victorian language, and the interplay between skepticism and local superstition is prominent.

Conclusion and Preview

The episode ends with Holmes and Watson at a crossroads: evidence points to an unspeakable horror, but the rational mind of Holmes seeks a human culprit behind the terror. The introduction of Dr. Sterndale and the reverberating trauma within the Tregennis family suggest deeper secrets to be uncovered in Part Two.

Next episode preview:
The vicar suspects supernatural forces, but further tragedy and tangible clues push Holmes and Watson toward a confrontation with evil—and perhaps with the Devil’s Foot itself.

For listeners wanting more, the story continues in Part Two, available early through Noiser Plus.