The Beetle-Hunter by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A mystery, published in The Strand magazine, 1898.

Here's another short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A mystery about a young impecunious doctor who sees a classified ad in The Standard and his interest is instantly piqued. It's worth £20 per day with a trip to Pangbourne thrown in, so what's not to like?
What is it with the Victorian and beetles?
It's read by Greg Wagland for Magpie Audio.
©Magpie Audio 2020

[@Ade4fish]

Mr Wagland.. The only fellow who can deliver the works of Conan Doyle as the Maestro himself would have desired..

[@lilbits4173]

Another brilliant read, Mr. Wagland! You're just so skilled in acting the characters of a story. Thank you for sharing! 🤩🤩

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Bits. Kind of you to say. Hope you're well!

[@josephmead8325]

So perhaps this was too great a twist for me to expect, but I was so set upon it at the mention of the curious contortions of the insane man's forehead: that a kind of parasitic beetle had found its way into his brain, the consequence of which being these violent outbursts. Far fetched? Undoubtedly. But I can't help but feel such a thing would have tied the "beetle" aspect in more strongly, as well as added a kind of "prestige" to the final act. Very well read, as always; my father read me every Holmes story when I was a kid, and listening to your recordings always delivers a potent nostalgia :)

[@peterbamforth6453]

I think you missed the gist of the story...There was no beetle in his head...He was insane and before an episode his scalp contorted a bit like a nervous tick....

[@karenbanks5985]

Thank you so much for reading these stories they are wonderful

[@LadyEng]

Wonderful performance. Cheers from Argentina.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Viva Argentina! Thanks Mariana

[@christahorton4964]

Yes thank you very much sir! Your readings brighten my day (: and help my sleep more then i can say. Just know u are very appreciated Greg! You really do spoil us, i hope you are doing well my friend❤

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Hi Christa. Kind words and appreciated! I'm doing OK, and hope you are too! All the best.

[@julielevinge266]

Thanks for this , Conan Doyle rapidly becoming my favourite author! Who’s have thought that he’d written so many brilliant stories apart from Sherlock Holmes??
Can’t think of a single story I didn’t enjoy✊

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Glad you enjoyed them, Julie! Cheers

[@moviemad56]

Agreed, Julie. It appears that Sir Arthur is a greatly underrated writer.

[@firefly620]

I fell asleep to this story yesterday and had the worst nightmare I've had in ages! Usually your reading makes me sleep like a baby ;O

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Oh dear!

[@amanitamuscaria7500]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Amanita!

[@CyanBlackflower]

THEE Very Best Quality readings of some of the Best stories in the English language. Thank you Very much.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Cyan. Kind of you!

[@smentina]

This Wagland, and his diction, which is uniquely marvel, and which I envy hard!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thank you for your comment Юрий Сментына. Kind of you to say so!

[@fixitman347]

Very good work, i truly enjoyed this. I do like this beetle story better than the other. Thank you Greg

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Yes. Glad you enjoyed it. There's a beetle story for Everyone... maybe.

[@heenanyou]

The beetle story written by Richard Marsh ponderous. I didn't make it to the end of the first segment as it never got better for me. However the reading of was great as usual. If anyone could have brought it to life it was Magpie.

[@TexanAmiga]

Love this story every time I read it but hearing you read it and bring the characters to life is so much fun! Thank you Mr. Greg!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thank YOU, Jeaninne. Good to hear you enjoyed it.

[@baruchben-david4196]

Thought I found a new story my Sir Arthur. But no, I'd just forgotten it. I enjoyed this narration.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Cheers Baruch.

[@avijitbanerjee9050]

Another excellent piece of work, Greg ! It is getting more and more part of my everyday life to listen to these stories. I fancy how vacated it would be if you ever withdraw from RUclips, Mr. Wagland !

[@granny13ad33]

Quite excellent, Sir Greg!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Granny - kind of you, again. Cheers.

[@rjfscrappingaustralia5281]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this; both its content and excellent narration. Thanks very much. Greetings on a wet and cold Autumn day in Melbourne, Australia.
New subscriber here!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Glad you enjoyed - and thanks for subscribing.

[@auriansophia1993]

Thank you!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks for listening, Aurian.

[@annskinner8467]

Thanks Greg! I enjoyed this immensely, and more than the "The Beetle", which I just couldn’t take. I love all Doyle’s scary stories. ♥️

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Ann - thank you! Will try to do a few more of Doyle's short tales in the next few weeks.

[@barbarasmith2693]

I hadn't read this one! So happy to have heard it in your voice!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Barbara!

[@chessdad182]

What a prolific author.

[@TheBelegur]

Great video superbly read. Thank you for posting them.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks for your commenting, TheBelegur.

[@pattersonparkin5262]

Quarantined .....so I will listen to all the plays for the next 4weeks, so stay safe out there hi from nz

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

You too PP

[@heenanyou]

Have they sprung you from isolation?

[@barbarahuff117]

This one was really good. Well written then well read. Touching in. Good show and good work.

[@vsirrmk]

Hm.. At the end of the story, I thought there'd be a twist: Dr. Hamilton then finds out that the attack was staged, and that the customer and his sister had plotted all that, to lock Sir Thomas up in the asylum, to obtain the inheritance.

[@heenanyou]

Yes, that crossed my mind too...

[@oakdew]

Thank you good sir.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Ta, Charles.

[@traceywright9484]

Ooooohhh you spoil a person my love. Thank you. Love it.

[@georgeeast7880]

Excellent and my thanks

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Tracey. Glad you liked!

[@JoeDurobot]

*That channel should be named "Conan Doyle stories" since some of those don't feature Sherlock Holmes.*

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Well, it's named now.

[@leriava]

Even though I'm a Sherlock fan, sometimes I regret Sir Arthur's other works are often overshadowed by his most famous creation.

[@jojoe4093]

After Marsh's story, I half expected a transformation of a sort from the recluse.

[@sim3otto]

Jo Joe likewise!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Yes - a bit of a let-down, really.

[@sim3otto]

Sherlock Holmes Stories Magpie Audio you told it in such an anticipatory way as well. Very British... great build up, disappointing result.

[@jojoe4093]

@@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio It is like "The Nightmare Room". The title is misleading.

[@johnsrabe]

When Sir Thomas realized at last the extent of his terrible and outré malady, he ejaculated, “What a blind beetle I have been!”

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Now, 'outré' isn't seen often in these here parts! Cheers!

[@williamhagen2792]

Narrator Wagland is superb.

[@annskinner8467]

Looking forward to that, Greg - thanks!
Fudge! 🀄️🀄️🀄️🀄️🀄️🀄️

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Keep the fudge coming!

[@slacker812]

Bravo!

[@peterchaloner2877]

In our day of-- not so much toleration of, but deification of lunatics-- how bracing it is to return to the idea of tainted blood, and the wise perception of the madman as an active menace to society.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Indeed . It has gone so far that the lunatics now appear to be running
the country .!

[@MikePulcinellaVideo]

Only a lunatic would long for the brutal horrific days of the lunatic asylums of the past.

[@salamyj]

Great effort

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Abdulsalam. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@salamyj]

@@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio you are doing great favor for English Language learners. Many thank.

[@magicbulletdancers]

Thank you 👍

[@crochetedlace2838]

Great one.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks for the visit. It's not a bad one!

[@SemperFighting]

I was hoping for more & found it lacking but as short stories go it was, entertaining.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Spot on, WolveMarine!

[@Bambisgf77]

Greg, where is the link to your patreon account? I have enjoyed your wonderful narration for 2 years, especially during a painful illness. I am now in a position to show monetary appreciation for your efforts & would like to do so! Please advise 😊

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Hi Felene. Search the name of my account on their site. Sherlock Holmes Stories Magpie Audio - that's me. So if you'd like to do that, or join this RUclips channel which is another way or simply do nothing and enjoy your recuperation and the Spring! (or Autumn - hemisphere dependent? dependant?). All the best

[@cleopatraoatcake7364]

Aw, I thought he would be trying to turn himself into a beetle!

[@karenwaters1926]

Goodie goodie goodie where's my tea?

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Well, maybe you left it in the kitchen?

[@karenwaters1926]

@@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio how did you know? Possibly an elementary deduction?

[@KOREANGRAYWHALE]

My fine lad, I am looking forward for the day you lay on your beautiful voice on adventures of Brigadier Gérard.

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

I've never read him, Mr Translater. Must find the stories on Project Gutenberg - such a great and free resource.

[@KOREANGRAYWHALE]

@@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11247
Almost as good as Hornblower!

[@amigojuarez]

I guess Sir Doyle got sick of Richard Marsh's beetle then?

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Yes. A sore loser, perhaps. I enjoyed both.

[@someoneelse293]

Please do jekyll and Hyde

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Done it. It's on Audible.

[@someoneelse293]

@@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio when i wrote that there was this tiny voice that told me to look first!
ps... (you have great taste mate)

[@rodneyadderton1077]

How about Matt Smith portraying Sherlock in a feature or series? I think he could be a good fit. Adding to the list of actors to play him.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Jeremy Brett has already given us
the definitive interpretation of
Holmes . The notion that Matt Smith might be capable of equalling ( far less improving ) upon Jeremy's performance is
laughable . You may as well suggest the late Arthur Mullard for the lead role in Hamlet...

[@abiesamba3551]

I love it. 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thank you Abie. Kind of you to say so. Greetings to you in Kenya!

[@sahanachandrashekhar4206]

mmmmhhhh❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Thanks Sahana. Glad you liked it.

[@sahanachandrashekhar4206]

Sherlock Holmes Stories Magpie Audio,i appreciate it man

[@sahanachandrashekhar4206]

being an Indian I love this type of stories since kid I always fond of basil Rathbone movies um glad I found out your channel ,yeah that's it

[@DailyMotionBetter]

🫡

[@Dildosoup]

Thank you!

[@sherlock_holmes_magpie_audio]

Cheers Sunstone.