History Literature / TheSevenPercentSolution

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Berger, the stationmaster, remarks that they're chasing Baron von Leinsdorf in a locomotive built by his father's company.

* MythologyGag: The letter from Meyer's uncle in the introduction of the book mentions the question of Watson's wound, either in the shoulder or the leg. He says that an ObstructiveBureaucrat from the National Health Service wouldn't let him examine Watson's medical records, so the mystery must remain. However, later in the book itself, Watson confirms the bullet wound was to his leg.

* OutOfCharacterAlert

* WhamLine: [[HistoricalDomainCharacter "My name is Sigmund Freud."]]

* AllPsychologyIsFreudian: Justified. Since this takes place in the 1800s, Freud is still working on his theories and Jung hasn't come into style yet.

* AvoidingTheGreatWar: The ultimate aim of the BigBad is to start a world war. When they put an end to the plan, Holmes notes that they have only delayed the war, not prevented it entirely (and he's proven to be correct when World War I occurs).

* DirectLineToTheAuthor: According to the author's forward, Watson narrated the story to a secretary in an old age home in 1940. Meyer later found the tale in an attic and published it. In addition, Watson insisted that several of the stories that Doyle published were "forged drivel".

* NoodleIncident. Watson mentions that the bloodhound Toby, [[Literature/TheSignOfTheFour in addition to finding Johnathan Small and his horrible companion]], was most useful in tracking down an orangutang in the sewers of Marseilles.

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_seven_per_cent_solution_nicholas_meyer.jpeg]]

As the novel begins, Holmes approaches Watson about his heretofore unmentioned ArchEnemy, Professor Moriarty. However, since even in canon Moriarty was just an excuse for Conan Doyle to try to TorchTheFranchiseAndRun, Watson can't help but notice how [[OutOfCharacterAlert unusual this sudden announcement is]], especially given Holmes' apparent raving. This leads him to conclude that Moriarty (who, he discovers, is really nothing more than a mathematics professor) is being persecuted by Holmes as part of a delusional episode. He undertakes to deliver Holmes to a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] named UsefulNotes/SigmundFreud who can help the detective, who then draws the two of them into an adventure to help prevent UsefulNotes/WorldWarI.

As the novel begins, Holmes approaches Watson about his heretofore unmentioned ArchEnemy, Professor Moriarty. However, since even in canon Moriarty was just an excuse for Conan Doyle to try to TorchTheFranchiseAndRun, Watson can't help but notice how [[OutOfCharacterAlert unusual this sudden announcement is]], especially given Holmes' apparent raving. This leads him to conclude that Moriarty (who, he discovers, is really nothing more than a mathematics professor) is being persecuted by Holmes as part of a delusional episode. He undertakes to deliver Holmes to a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] named UsefulNotes/SigmundFreud who can help the detective, who then draws the two of them into an adventure to help prevent World War I.

[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/seven_percent_solution_first_edition_us.jpg]]

''The Seven-Per-Cent Solution'', published in 1974, is a novel-length ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes'' fic by Creator/NicholasMeyer. It's a rewrite of "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House," revealing that the stories (and the three-year [[TimeSkip "Great Hiatus"]] between them) were really a cover-up for Holmes' descent into drug addiction and recovery.

At the opening of the story, Holmes approaches Watson about his heretofore unmentioned ArchEnemy, Professor Moriarty. However, since even in canon Moriarty was just an excuse for Conan Doyle to try to TorchTheFranchiseAndRun, Watson can't help but notice how [[OutOfCharacterAlert unusual this sudden announcement is]], especially given Holmes' apparent raving. This leads him to conclude that Moriarty (who, he discovers, is really nothing more than a mathematics professor) is being persecuted by Holmes as part of a delusional episode. He undertakes to deliver Holmes to a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] named UsefulNotes/SigmundFreud who can help the detective, who then draws the two of them into an adventure to help prevent World War I.

Meyer wrote two sequels to the novel - 1976's ''The West End Horror'' (which has Holmes interact with [[Creator/GilbertAndSullivan the theatrical]] and [[Creator/GeorgeBernardShaw literary]] community of Victorian London while trying to solve a series of murders), and 1993's ''The Canary Trainer'' (in which he encounters [[Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera a certain spectral presence]] while anonymously playing violin in Paris between the events of the other two books).

* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: According to the author's forward, Watson narrated the story to a secretary in an old age home in 1940. Meyer later found the tale in an attic and published it. In addition, Watson insisted that several of the stories that Doyle published were "forged drivel".

* AdaptationalVillainy: Moriarty is on the receiving end of this. [[spoiler:In the book, Moriarty is merely the person who informs Sherlock of his mother's affair and death at her husband's hands. In the film, Moriarty actually is Mrs. Holmes' lover, and Sherlock sees him flee the scene after Squire Holmes shoots his wife dead, right in front of Moriarty and Sherlock.]]

At the opening of the story, Holmes approaches Watson about his heretofore unmentioned ArchEnemy, Professor Moriarty. However, since even in canon Moriarty was just an excuse for Conan Doyle to try to TorchTheFranchiseAndRun, Watson can't help but notice how [[OutOfCharacterAlert unusual this sudden announcement is]], especially given Holmes' apparent raving. This leads him to conclude that Moriarty (who, he discovers, is really nothing more than a mathematics professor) is being persecuted by Holmes as part of a delusional episode. He undertakes to deliver Holmes to a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] who can help the detective, who then draws the two of them into an adventure to help prevent World War I.

* OutGambitted: Watson and Mary realize that getting Holmes to Europe will require that they trick him. Unfortunately, Holmes only pretends to go along with the scheme, thinking that Watson has betrayed him to Moriarty until he actually meets [[spoiler: Dr. Freud.]]

* SherlockScan: Used by Holmes when he first meets [[spoiler: Freud.]]
* TheShrink: [[spoiler: Freud]] is Type 3.

* ToughLove: Used by Watson and [[spoiler: Freud]] during Holmes' therapy.
* VerySpecialEpisode

The 1976 film version, with a screenplay by Meyer, was produced and directed by Herbert Ross, and featured Alan Arkin (as Freud), Creator/VanessaRedgrave (as Lola Devereaux), Creator/RobertDuvall (as Watson), Nicol Williamson (as Holmes) and Creator/LaurenceOlivier (as Moriarty). It also featured Creator/CharlesGray as Mycroft, who would later reprise the role in the [[Series/SherlockHolmes Granada series]] with Creator/JeremyBrett.

* BerserkButton: In the film adaptation, a drug-crazed Holmes angrily calls Watson an idiot, but Watson isn't fazed. Then Holmes calls him an "insufferable cripple", and Watson decks him with one punch.
** Later, in a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, a weakened and contrite Holmes humbly apologizes for his outburst. Watson, deeply moved, denies that the incident ever occurred.

The 1976 film version, with a screenplay by Meyer, was produced and directed by Herbert Ross, and featured Alan Arkin (as Freud), Creator/VanessaRedgrave (as Lola Devereaux), Creator/RobertDuvall (as Watson), Nicol Williamson (as Holmes) and Creator/LaurenceOlivier (as Moriarty). It also featured Charles Gray as Mycroft, who would later reprise the role in the [[Series/SherlockHolmes Granada series]] with Creator/JeremyBrett.

The 1976 film version, with a screenplay by Meyer, was produced and directed by Herbert Ross, and featured Alan Arkin (as Freud), Creator/VanessaRedgrave (as Lola Devereaux), Creator/RobertDuvall (as Watson), Nicol Williamson (as Holmes) and Creator/LaurenceOlivier (as Moriarty).

* AdaptationalVillainy: Moriarty is on the receiving end of this. [[spoiler: In the book, Moriarty is merely the person who informs Sherlock of his mother's affair and death at her husband's hands. In the film, Moriarty actually is Mrs. Holmes' lover, and Sherlock sees him flee the scene after Squire Holmes shoots his wife dead, right in front of Moriarty and Sherlock.]]

* PluckyGirl: Fraulein Deveraux; After being forcibly re-addicted to cocaine, she escapes by breaking a glass window, cutting her bonds with the shards, and sliding down a metal pipe, and she faces the prospect of having to go through withdrawl again with a sad sigh. When Baron von Leinsdorf later "convinces" her to leave the asylum, she leaves a trail of flowers for Holmes and company to follow.

* BerserkButton: In the film adaptation, a drug-crazed Holmes angrily calls Watson an idiot, but Watson isn't phased. Then Holmes calls him an "insufferable cripple", and Watson decks him with one punch.

* OnlyTheKnowledgableMayPass: At the start of the movie, [[MushroomSamba a manic, paranoid Holmes]] only lets Watson into his apartment after the good doctor correctly identifies where Sherlock keeps his tobacco.[[note]][[MythologyGag In the toe of a Persian slipper, of course]][[/note]]

* FoodSlap: When [[TheSoundOfMartialMusic Baron von Leinsdorf]] insults Dr. Freud [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain for his Jewish ancestry]] and then-radical psychological theories in a sports club locker room, Watson throws a glass of water in his face and prepares to fist-fight him and his whole gang of cronies. Freud takes responsibility for his companion's actions, and the doctor and the Baron end up facing each other in a vigorous game of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_tennis real tennis]].

* PluckyGirl: Lola Deveraux; After being forcibly re-addicted to cocaine, she escapes by breaking a glass window, cutting her bonds with the shards, and sliding down a metal pipe, and she faces the prospect of having to go through withdrawl again with a sad sigh. When Baron von Leinsdorf later "convinces" her to leave the asylum, she leaves a trail of flowers for Holmes and company to follow.

* PluckyGirl: Lola Deveraux; After being forcibly re-addicted to cocaine, she escapes by breaking a glass window, cutting her bonds, and sliding down a metal pipe, and faces the prospect of having to go through withdrawl again with a sad sigh. When Baron von Leinsdorf later "convinces" her to leave the asylum, she leaves a trail of flowers for Holmes and company to follow.

* FoodSlap: When [[TheSoundOfMartialMusic Baron von Leinsdorf]] insults Dr. Freud [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain for his Jewish ancestry]] and then-radical psychological theories in a sports club locker room, Watson throws a glass of water in his face and prepares to fist-fight him and his whole gang of cronies. Freud takes responsibility for his companion's actions, and the doctor and the Baron end up facing each other in a vigorous game of court tennis.

* IntercontinuityCrossover: While on the train to Vienna, Holmes and Watson run into [[Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda Rudolf Rassendyll]] on his way back from {{Ruritania}}.