← All characters

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes · Character

Colonel Openshaw

John Openshaw's father, who brought a mysterious curse from America.

minor

Also known as Openshaw, young Openshaw

First appearance: the five orange pips

Colonel Openshaw's tie to Sherlock Holmes is one of the pressures that moves The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

See Colonel Openshaw in the five orange pipsBook page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Sherlock Holmes (professional): Colonel Openshaw is a client whose family curse Holmes investigates. With Sherlock Holmes (professional): Colonel Openshaw is a client whose family curse Holmes investigates. With…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Colonel Openshaw sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Colonel Openshaw in the five orange pips

Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how Colonel Openshaw sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

SHSherlock HolmesDJDr. John WatsonILInspector Lest…CMCharles McCarthyIAIrene AdlerCOColonel Openshaw

Relationship types

  • Professional
  • Other

Character groups

  • Figures from Past Crimes
  • Protagonist
  • Major Clients and Antagonists

+6 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This moment is the emotional and narrative peak because Holmes's arrival and his reading of the letter abruptl…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Colonel Openshaw in the five orange pips
See Colonel Openshaw in the five orange pips