阿瑟·柯南·道尔（1859年—1930年）英国小说家，因塑造了成功的侦探人物——夏洛克·福尔摩斯而成为侦探小说历史上重要的作家之一。他一生一共写了56篇短篇侦探小说以及4部中篇侦探小说，全部以福尔摩斯为主角。除此之外他还曾写过多部其他类型的小说，如科幻、历史小说、爱情小说、戏剧、诗歌等。

《血字的研究》有着复杂的叙事技巧，叙事手法堪称完美。从叙事布局上看，这个中篇小说共分为两部，上下部各有七章。第一部的叙事顺序为：华生结识福尔摩斯——福尔摩斯的推理方法——命案发生——巡警陈述经过——疑似凶手出现——警察的查案陈述——凶手落网。第二部为：回溯往事（即杀人动机）——华生补记——福尔摩斯讲解推理过程。可以以命案的发生作为界限将整个叙述分为三部分。

IN the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy's country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.

The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a pack-horse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.