The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter

The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter is a detective short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1904 and part of the Sherlock Holmes canon. It is one of Doyle’s later Holmes stories, built around an investigation that begins with a seemingly limited problem and slowly opens into questions about a disappearance, personal ties, and social pressure. As in many Holmes stories, the focus is on observation, deduction, and the careful exchange between Holmes and Watson rather than on fast action or major plot twists.

This is a good fit for readers who like compact mystery stories with a clean structure and a brisk pace. It also works well as an entry point into Holmes if you want a single story that shows how Doyle handles clues, small details, and a solution that comes from close reasoning. Its connection is direct and unmistakable: it belongs to the world of Sherlock Holmes, so it will especially suit readers drawn to classic crime fiction, a restrained atmosphere, and the familiar detective and assistant dynamic.