A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes #1, 2) by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sep 21, 2010 Emma Frost rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sherlock-holmes

A Study in Scarlet is wonderful right up until the point where there's an entirely separate story wedged into the middle of it. I understand the relevance of having the perspective of the criminals, but I think ACD got a little carried away. I've never read this before, however, so to see the first ever meeting of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson was enjoyable, and seeing how they grow to each other.

A Sign of the Four, on the other hand, is definitely my preferred of the two. Maybe I pay too much...more

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Sep 09, 2007 Heather's Mum rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any Sherlock Fan

Shelves: mysterydetectivelaw, heathersmumfavorite

In spite of the indulgence of illogical character development and basic deduction flaws in Doyle's first Sherlock novels, they are, in my opinion, still priceless literature. The novels, irregardless of the inconsistencies, are wonderfully woven with threads of colorful clues in varied intensity of terror, keen observation, "elementary" deduction and incredible chain of reasoning... including elimination.

".. when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be t...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Louise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: also-have-on-audiobook, 2012-audiobook, detectives, victorian, classics, read-2010-or-earlier, first-in-series, british-fiction, books-i-own, completed-series, london, 19th-century, collector-s-library, reviewed, book-group-victorians

Read a couple of years ago. Listening to the Derek Jacobi audiobooks now. Added thoughts on narration and such over at my blog: here and here

Overall star rating: 3.5

A Study in Scarlet - 3 stars

There are some truly brilliant parts of this novel, the growing relationship between Holmes and Watson, the interactions between Holmes and the police, the deductive reasoning that sees Holmes pulling solutions almost from thin air, the mystery itself...Why then only three stars? Well... once the mystery...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Jolanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century-classics

When reading into the stories of Sherlock Holmes before actually picking it up, some people adviced against starting with the first book, seeing as Doyle was still learning the craft of writing when he started on A Study in Scarlet. I decided to just go ahead and start with the first book, I'm glad I did.
Whilst the first book is not the most brilliant one in existence, it gives a lovely insight in how the characters of Holmes and Watson got together and began their adventures together. The firs...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Denise Hutchins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: digitally-owned, fiction-stories-and-poetry

I was so shocked when I realized what was happening during the flashback in the second half of A Study in Scarlet. When I'd finished, I had the same sense of satisfaction as I get from the other Holmes mysteries plus a little bonus feeling of rightful justice after reading the tale of the culprit at the very end. I got the Google Play Books free copy of this book just so I could read A Study in Scarlet, so I won't be commenting on The Sign of the Four here (I'll be reading the Kindle version so...more

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Jul 10, 2007 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

HORRIBLY ignorant, to an almost amusing extent. If it wasn't so absurd, I'd probably have been offended. :) Most people only read the first half of the book... you have to read the second half to see why this is my opinion.

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May 10, 2013 Drew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Study in Scarlet:

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I had always wanted to read a Sherlock Holmes novel but only just now got around to it. I assumed it would be difficult to read having been written so long ago but it was surprisingly easy to follow. The characters of Watson and Holmes were fantastically written, and this is especially important being that the novel is written in first person, which I don't often find very enjoyable. Here, however, it worked very well because the...more

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Feb 04, 2013 gauldy rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Sherlock Holmes si vzal z rohu krbové římsy svou lahvičku a z pěkného marokénového pouzdra vyňal injekční stříkačku. Dlouhými nervózními bílými prsty nasadil tenkou jehlu a na levé ruce si vyhrnul rukáv košile. Chvilku zamyšleně hleděl na šlachovité předloktí a zápěstí, poseté a zjizvené nesčetnými vpichy injekční jehly. Posléze vbodl ostrý hrot pod kůži, stlačil malý píst a s hlubokým, spokojeným povzdechem se zvrátil do křesla se sametovým potahem.
...
'Co to dnes bylo,' zeptal jsem se, 'morfiu...more "Sherlock Holmes si vzal z rohu krbové římsy svou lahvičku a z pěkného marokénového pouzdra vyňal injekční stříkačku. Dlouhými nervózními bílými prsty nasadil tenkou jehlu a na levé ruce si vyhrnul rukáv košile. Chvilku zamyšleně hleděl na šlachovité předloktí a zápěstí, poseté a zjizvené nesčetnými vpichy injekční jehly. Posléze vbodl ostrý hrot pod kůži, stlačil malý píst a s hlubokým, spokojeným povzdechem se zvrátil do křesla se sametovým potahem.
...
'Co to dnes bylo,' zeptal jsem se, 'morfium, nebo kokain?'
Malátně zvedl oči od staré, švabachem tištěné knihy, kterou měl otevřenou.
'Tohle byl kokain,' řekl, 'sedmiprocentní roztok. Nechcete to taky zkusit?'"

Knihy Studie v šarlatové a Podpis čtyř jsou holmesovskou prvotinou, které celý tento fenomén odstartovaly. A začaly velice dobře.
Možná je to jen subjektivní pocit, možná je to fakt, ale tyto dva úvodní příběhy mě bavily z těch, co jsem zatím přečetl (což už je snad většina), rozhodně nejvíce. Vlastně je to paradox - Sherlocka Holmese hodnotím v podstatě velmi vlažně, nepřikládám mu žádnou vysokou uměleckou hodnotu, nijak výrazně ho nepreferuji a přesto se k němu rád vracím. V tom asi spočívá jeho kouzlo.
Nevím, jak k tomu přijde, že jsem se teprve teď dostal k úvodnímu příběhu, kde dojde k seznámí dvou slavných gentlemanů, ale stalo se tak. A necítím se ochuzen.

Studii v šarlatové i Podpis čtyř spojuje jeden základní motiv - co s ospravedlnitelnou vinou, kdy je možná zločinec tak trochu v právu? Zákon hovoří jasně. Ale ležérní Sherlock? Popravdě - moc na tom nesejde. A o tom celý jeho charakter je.
V obou knihách je to, co v pozdějších povídkách citelně chybí a co tak rád vyhledávám - veškeré pohledy do Holmesova soukromí. Jeho narkomanské návyky a neurvalé chování bohužel s postupem roků mizí, v té nejryzejší podobě je vše zřejmě obsaženo zrovna zde. Což mě právě neskutečně baví.
I zápletky jsou jiné - jsou víceúrovňové, působí na mě intelektuálněji a odborněji, možná ale Doyle naznal, že by raději zacílil na větší davy čtenářů.
Těžko říct.
Možná by se dalo namítnout, že autorovi svědčí více delší rozsah příběhu, ale abych byl upřímný, mnohá povídka mě bavila víc než opěvovaný Pes baskervillský. Nicméně, minimálně mně asi delší rozsah skutečně vyhovuje více.

Nemám moc, co bych dále řekl a nejsem příznivcem prázdných řečí, takže to asi shrnu. Sherlock obecně není žádná náročná četba, jinak tomu není ani u těchto dvou knih. Nicméně, Doyle je vypravěč, který se neznechutí. Nedá se mu nic vytknout, děj je napínavý, v rámci rámce nepředvídatelný a rozhodně není nijak úmorný. Jako odpočinková četba k vodní dýmce je to skvost a dokáže vás přibít na celé odpoledne - co si budeme nalhávat, Doyle je jedním z průkopníků žánru, ač jsou mi detektivky cizí. Navíc si libuji v závěrečném období gentlemanského devatenáctého století, takže všechny ty scenérie na mě působí dvakrát takovým dojmem.

Jak říkám, nedokážu tohle dílo nijak zvlášť pitvat. Kromě dílčích momentů a vlastně i vskutku originálních zápletek to není nic, na co budu dlouhá léta naměkko vzpomínat, přesto je to asi srdcovka, takže za mě 4,5/5, kdybych mohl. Tedy 5.(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Ralph rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics

A few brief notes:
-Surprisingly modern, readable prose for a pair of 19th century novellas. Compare, for example, the depictions of India in Doyle's The Sign of Four and Kipling's Kim. Kipling may be more naturalistic, but Doyle is more accessible (i.e. I was not reaching for the dictionary every 10 minutes). When I read an old novel that sounds (relatively) modern, I take that as a mark of the strength of it's influence. That is, the stronger the influence of an older novel on those that came...more A few brief notes:
-Surprisingly modern, readable prose for a pair of 19th century novellas. Compare, for example, the depictions of India in Doyle's The Sign of Four and Kipling's Kim. Kipling may be more naturalistic, but Doyle is more accessible (i.e. I was not reaching for the dictionary every 10 minutes). When I read an old novel that sounds (relatively) modern, I take that as a mark of the strength of it's influence. That is, the stronger the influence of an older novel on those that came afterward, the more it is likely to have in common with them.
-Having seen many film and TV adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes's* stories, I was surprised by a couple things about the original portrayal of the Holmes character. First, he is not the armchair detective I had pictured. He's an action hero--boxing, shooting revolvers, etc. Second, he's not the pontificating old man I remember. If I read *A Study in Scarlet* correctly, Holmes (a recent university graduate) is about 20 years younger than Watson (a pensioned Army doctor, who injury seemed to have shifted from his shoulder to his leg, but never mind that). Third, Holmes is not the ego ideal I expected. Unlike, say, Superman or James Bond, Sherlock Holmes regular says or does reprehensible things that Watson (the narrator) explicitly points out to the reader. I'm thinking here of both Holmes's misogyny and drug addiction. The addiction especially features quite prominently in The Sign of Four, which begins and ends with Sherlock's IV drug use (so extensive that he is described as having track marks). Flawed heroes are, as far as I'm concerned, far more interesting.
-My evaluation of the books might be colored by the fact that I found them historically interestingly. Read on their own, irrespective of their influence, they might seem less...something. I dunno. Even though I don't like lengthy, tedious exposition, I still liked these books. They do something bad, but they do it well. So it all works out in the end, right? (less)

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Dec 26, 2012 Moist_apple rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me start with saying one thing first. To my great shame, I've watched TV shows such as BBC's Sherlock and the American version Elementary before I read these stories.

Reading this book was quite the joy for me, as I was finally getting the proper introduction to Sherlock and his dear companion Watson. I was particularly fond of reading about a certain quirk or revelation from Sherlock; and then make the connection with the TV shows and how they had changed it around.

As an example, in this no...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Jenny Sparrow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favourite, 5-stars, re-read

Есть ли что-то лучше, чем в туманный ноябрьский вечер удобно устроиться где-нибудь в уголке с горячо любимыми историями про величайшего сыщика всех времён. Сразу вспоминается детство, как я читала эти рассказы запоем, лёжа на животе или сидя у стола. Как перечитывала много-много раз.

Впервые я прочитала эти книги лет в 13, кажется. К тому времени я уже нашла и проглотила (не единожды) все рассказы, которые были у нас дома про Великого сыщика. И вдруг в одном сборнике на дальней полке (до сих пор...more Есть ли что-то лучше, чем в туманный ноябрьский вечер удобно устроиться где-нибудь в уголке с горячо любимыми историями про величайшего сыщика всех времён. Сразу вспоминается детство, как я читала эти рассказы запоем, лёжа на животе или сидя у стола. Как перечитывала много-много раз.

Впервые я прочитала эти книги лет в 13, кажется. К тому времени я уже нашла и проглотила (не единожды) все рассказы, которые были у нас дома про Великого сыщика. И вдруг в одном сборнике на дальней полке (до сих пор помню эту книгу, она была удивительна тем, что это была книга-перевёртыш: у неё как бы было две обложки, и её можно было перевернуть вверх тормашками и читать другие рассказы с другой стороны), так вот вдруг я наткнулась на ещё какие-то повести про Холмса! Радости не было предела :)

Сейчас впервые прочитала в оригинале. По сюжету говорить ничего не буду, конечно, хочу сказать по стилю и языку автора. Так вот стиль у Дойла тяжеловат, а язык довольно неповоротливый, тяжёлый, старомодный. Много слов, которые сейчас уже не используются, много заковыристых оборотов. В общем, не самое лёгкое чтение. Но любимые с детства герои, их взаимоотношения, милые ошибки автора (ранение Ватсона в одной повести в руку, а в другой — уже в ногу), яркие приключения, диалоги, знакомые до боли по фильмам — это всё прекрасно. Это всё на всю жизнь :)(less)

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Jul 11, 2012 Phillip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Until this two novel set, I've only have ever read a smattering of the short stories. A Study In Scarlet was an engaging read, though it was a little disorientating about half-way through. No sooner did Holmes capture the killer on hidden information, which caused no end of confusion, than I found myself reading a story about the old west. I admit, I then went to wiki to see if I could figure out what was going on. I had to resolve if this novel was a collection of short stories, or some elabora...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

And things were going so well until the Mormons showed up...

I was inspired to give the original Conan Doyle stories a try after watching the latest season of the BBC's spectacular Sherlock series...and figured, what better place to start than the beginning? And for the first half of A Study In Scarlet, I have to admit I was completely engrossed. The mystery itself wasn't too interesting (and it turns out, impossible to solve for the reader since it ends up being some random guy Holmes reveals at...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Violet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classic, books-to-film-and-plays, mystery, favorite-authors, british

It’s about time that I've read some Arthur Conan Doyle. Not only am I really getting into modern interpretations of Sherlock Holmes such as the new movies and the British series 'Sherlock,' but its another book on the list of classics that I've been meaning to read. Alright-y then, it's off to Victorian London for the first installment of the legendary adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson.

***

Review for: A Study in Scarlet

To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure what I was expecting....more

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Jan 22, 2012 Ayrton Borges rated it 4 of 5 stars

“A Study in Scarlet” (1887) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the original and one of the more popular of the Sherlock Holmes series which sparked interest in writing in this style of mystery. In this story Sherlock and his companion Dr. Watson meet and start a strong friendship. A Study in Scarlet involves a murder which Holmes and Watson strive to solve. A body was discovered in a abandoned building and the authorities are unable to figure out who culprit is and only the intelligent Sherlock is ab...more “A Study in Scarlet” (1887) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the original and one of the more popular of the Sherlock Holmes series which sparked interest in writing in this style of mystery. In this story Sherlock and his companion Dr. Watson meet and start a strong friendship. A Study in Scarlet involves a murder which Holmes and Watson strive to solve. A body was discovered in a abandoned building and the authorities are unable to figure out who culprit is and only the intelligent Sherlock is able to understand the clues’ actual meaning. Sherlock and Watson set out to solve a difficult crime and encounter danger more than once. Not only do they strive to find the murderer but also the motive behind the murder.
"A Study in Scarlet" keeps the reader hooked to find out what will be the outcome and who the unexpected murderer will be. During the book the reader almost feels as if they are solving the crime with Holmes and Watson. The author has excellent use of language as he is very descriptive with the traits of the clues. In this story the reader is given very detailed descriptions of these clues which helps better understand the crime. "In all probability the murderer had a florid face, and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long." The reader can infer through the descriptions given by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle what the murderers characteristics and how smart and clever Holmes is.
Although very well written "A Study in Scarlet" still has some weak points. The story having taken place in London during the late 1800's sets a different point of view. Things we would expect in story now a days are much different in the story. A cab would not be a car but a horse with a carriage. Also in today's mysteries science and technology play a very important and interesting role in solving the mystery. In the book the reader might not find it as interesting the way Holmes finds out certain clues to the puzzle.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's extremely well written "A Study in Scarlet" is definitely a good read. Although it has its pros and cons the book is an original mystery with a unexpected motive. Arthur Doyle uses very wise word selection and story structure. With a good plot Doyle accomplishes in making the mystery stronger and fun for the reader. Even though the story setting takes place in the 19th century and isn't up to date like today's mysteries, Sherlock Holmes fans will still find this book an adventure and will be provided with a great read in solving the mystery of " A Study in Scarlet".
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Jan 19, 2012 Vivian rated it 4 of 5 stars

In “ A Study in Scarlet” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr.Watson meets Sherlock Holmes and they must solve a bizarre mystery together. Men are murdered and they have to figure out what happened. The story contains flashbacks, red herrings and many twists and turns. The reader is left wondering who is responsible for the crime and how all the information ties together. A Study In Scarlet is a compelling mystery outcome of the case.
The plot of story begins with a man dying in the hotel. Dr. Watson a...more In “ A Study in Scarlet” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr.Watson meets Sherlock Holmes and they must solve a bizarre mystery together. Men are murdered and they have to figure out what happened. The story contains flashbacks, red herrings and many twists and turns. The reader is left wondering who is responsible for the crime and how all the information ties together. A Study In Scarlet is a compelling mystery outcome of the case.
The plot of story begins with a man dying in the hotel. Dr. Watson and famous detective Sherlock Holmes investigate the case. They can’t find any evidence of a struggle between the murderer and the victim or any evidence around the area. A woman’s ring is found on the dead body and a single word “reche” is written in blood on the wall. So, Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson and the police contemplate the murder. They discover that the dead man had attacked a girl previously. Her brother vowed revenge on the man. However, he is just a red herring because he is not the one responsible. Holmes realizes that the word ”reche” means revenge so they believe the man was killed due to the motives of revenge and love. The two victims seem to belong, in younger days, to the Latter Day Saints. The book flashes back to when these men were Mormons and introduces the characters of Lucy and John Ferrier.
The murder were committed by playing a game with the victims by putting the two pills into the bottle. One is poison but the other one is not. The two victims are Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson. Jefferson Hope is revenged murderer and he killed Drebber by giving him the pill and he murdered Stangerson by stabbing him in his heart. He died differently because when Jefferson Hope gave him a pill to choose, Stangerson tried to avoid the poison. Then Jefferson Hope is attacked but when they fought, Jefferson Hope stabbed Strangerson in his heart by accident. This is a strength because it’s told as a story within story and the reader wonders what the importance is of this information.
Sherlock Holmes is charaterized in the book as a complex character. Hr actually had bad health and the government gave him three months to improve it. Sherlock Holmes is a good detective who uses his “deduction” skills to solve crimes. The negative side of him is that he is a drug user. Doctor Watson is Sherlock Holmes’ partner. In the whole story Dr. Watson was with Sherlock Holmes to help solve the whole crime. Watson is a doctor who tries to analyze Holmes as well. He is the narrator and his observations develop Holmes as a character. Jefferson Hope is the cabman in the story, the hunting man, who wished to be married and now is out for revenge on the people who prevented that from happening. Enoch Drebber was one of the victims in the story. He is the boss and wanted to marry Lucy, Jefferson’s love. Also he is a rich guy who pressured Lucy Ferrier and John Ferrier, her father, to death. Joseph Stangerson is another victim in the story, and he worked for Enoch Drebber, a secondary of Drebber. He also wanted to marry Lucy and he also is the guy who pressured Lucy Ferrier and John Ferrier to died. The weakness in the story is how it gets predictable in the end. The reader begins to see that Jefferson loved Lucy and he must have killed for revenge. I would recommend this story because this a page turner that make people want to figure it out who is murderer in the story. It’s fascinating Sherlock Holmes uses some evidence or clue to solved the crime. I think anyone who enjoys mysteries and how all the evidence ties together to solve a crime will enjoy this story. (less)

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Nov 23, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

I feel a little silly for just now crystallizing this opinion, since I first read Sherlock Holmes stories about 15 years ago and have seen both the Robert Downey Jr. movie version of the Sherlock Holmes universe and the British TV show Sherlock. I was also initially drawn to House because of its deliberate similarities to the Holmes stories. I'm not a fan girl by any means (apparently Holmes lovers have a pretty rabid fan community), but I have always loved a good mystery and I have a soft spot...more I feel a little silly for just now crystallizing this opinion, since I first read Sherlock Holmes stories about 15 years ago and have seen both the Robert Downey Jr. movie version of the Sherlock Holmes universe and the British TV show Sherlock. I was also initially drawn to House because of its deliberate similarities to the Holmes stories. I'm not a fan girl by any means (apparently Holmes lovers have a pretty rabid fan community), but I have always loved a good mystery and I have a soft spot for stories set in 19th-century London. I also have a grudging admiration for extremely arrogant, narcissistic, brilliant characters.

A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four are the first two novellas featuring Holmes. I had read both stories as a kid, but since I've consumed thousands of pages since then, I had pretty much forgotten everything about them. While reading them this time around, I was struck with two surprising facts: 1) these stories aren't really true mysteries and are grossly unfair to the critically-thinking reader, and 2) the Sherlock Holmes world is very schlocky.

Claim #1 - In a true mystery (Agatha Christie's novels being the quintessential examples), the author lays out the narrative in such a way that a reader who is clever, knows a bit about human psychology, or is very good at paying attention to details can solve the who-dunnit entirely on their own, potentially even before the detective does. There's an implicit understanding that the author won't withhold information crucial to the solution and won't give the detective an unfair advantage in solving the mystery, because part of the fun of reading mysteries is seeing if you can figure it all out before the detective does.

What makes the Sherlock Holmes stories fail as true mysteries is that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle doesn't follow these rules. He has the annoying tendency of giving us a few clues to hook our interest, and then having Holmes figure everything out on his own and telling Watson something infuriating like, “Oh, I figured the whole thing out ages ago, but I suppose we could talk to some more people or follow up on one of the clues.” Then, when Holmes finally caves in and explains everything to Watson or the police, it turns out that we would have had to know the characteristics of the ashes of a particular brand of cigar and the penmanship habits of Germans in order to reach the conclusions he did. That simply isn't fair, because it doesn't matter how closely you pay attention, you're unlikely to be able to solve the mysteries until Holmes deigns to explain everything to Watson, the London police, and you – i.e. the collective band of idiots.

Holmes also makes leaps of logic that may be warranted in a very narrow, fictional universe, but wouldn't necessarily apply in the real world. This is important because in order to maintain the suspension of disbelief, a story should conform as closely to our expectations about how things work as possible. For example, at one point in A Study in Scarlet, Holmes says that “of course” the murderer would have taken a job as a cabbie while he bided his time because, well, um, it's obvious that that's what anyone in his situation would do. Sometimes Watson will call him out on this type of flimsy reasoning and accuse Holmes of merely speculating, but Holmes' retort is always that an explanation is not speculation if it's the only explanation that fits the available facts. The problem is, there are always far more explanations than Holmes acknowledges, but Conan Doyle winks at the reader and asks us to pretend that in this particular version of London, there are only a few very limited options for human behavior, and people always behave predictably in accordance with their gender, age, and class.

I can't get too angry about this, because these stories are first and foremost tales of action, not mystery, and it's only because Holmes is so entrenched in our culture as a detective that we tend to think of these tales as bona fide mysteries. In reality, Holmes and Watson are closer to Batman and Robin than they are to Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.

Claim #2 – Speaking of Batman and Robin, these stories are amazingly schlocky and melodramatic. In just the course of two novellas (a tiny fraction of the whole Sherlock Holmes canon), we have messages scrawled on walls in blood, a Mormom feud, a convict with a peg-leg, buried treasure, a cannibal midget who shoots poisoned darts, and a boat chase on the Thames. If graphic novels had existed in the 1880s, these stories certainly would have been published in comic, rather than book, form. Maybe it's because Sherlock Holmes stories are often part of school curricula and are usually shelved in the classics section of libraries and bookstores, but the low-brow, corny simplicity of these stories surprised me. I guess I had expected them to be more sedate and ponderous.

The fact that these stories are schlocky and don't conform to the typical mystery model isn't necessarily a bad thing, and they are quite fun and interesting to read. I'm just amazed at the discrepancy between my conception of the Sherlock Holmes narrative universe and the actual stories. Now I'm wondering just how true this realization would be for every other book I read as a kid. That's what makes me hesitate to re-read books that I loved when I was younger: I'm worried they won't turn out to be as good as my memories of them, and I'd rather leave my happy reading memories intact.(less)

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Apr 14, 2011 Colleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wish my parents hadn't bought me a Sherlock Holmes compendium when I was 12, in the height of my science-fiction-only days. Because then I wouldn't have to have spent the last 11 years backing into actually reading what was at the time, 'ew, something old, and a detective story, and there are NO TALKING UNICORNS OR SPACESHIPS.'

However, I started reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice series by Laurie King (retired Sherlock Holmes meets equally brilliant young theology student around WWI, results a...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

I got a Nook for Christmas and have discovered the wonderful world of free and nearly-free classics. These stories are part of a collection of 50 mystery stories I got for 99 cents. Bargain.

Having never read them before, I was first surprised, then frustrated and annoyed, that the mystery in A Study in Scarlet ends up revolving around a love triangle among Mormon polygamists who, for reasons not entirely clear, end up in London to be murdered. I've read enough genuine Mormon history to know that...more

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Oct 28, 2009 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

A young doctor, a Watson, if I’m not mistaken, is returning from Afghanistan, war weary and a bit ill. He finds himself in London at the end of the 19th century, looking for cheap lodgings and possibly a friend. By word of mouth, he finds himself rooming with the strangest variety of renaissance man. A young guy, as well, Mr. Holmes, I believe it is, who has a collection of habits to make Watson’s head spin. Ever the doctor, Watson sets out to come to the bottom of the bizarre goings-on of Holme...more

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Apr 09, 2008 Jeffrey added it

Shelves: mysteries

A Study in Scarlet, though it introduces Holmes, is not very good. The case itself is not terribly interesting or good, and the back story for it is rather contrived. The narrative itself is interrupted by a long story set in Utah, which is crudely sensationalist and generally rather bad, though it does give one a sense of what popular sensationalist literature in the late nineteenth century must have been like (basically a bad comic book without drawings).

The Sign of Four, on the other hand, is...more

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Feb 02, 2008 Mona rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-suspense, 20th-century-lit, britain

As A Study in Scarlet opens, Dr. Watson - a military surgeon recently returned from the Afghan War - is looking for a roommate to share costs of living. An acquaintance introduces him to the eccentric Sherlock Holmes and they move to 221B Baker Street. Watson is slightly irritated by Holmes' displays of egotism but quickly becomes astonished when Holmes' words that he can easily guess at the personalities and habits of people they meet on the street match up with his deductions. In addition to t...more As A Study in Scarlet opens, Dr. Watson - a military surgeon recently returned from the Afghan War - is looking for a roommate to share costs of living. An acquaintance introduces him to the eccentric Sherlock Holmes and they move to 221B Baker Street. Watson is slightly irritated by Holmes' displays of egotism but quickly becomes astonished when Holmes' words that he can easily guess at the personalities and habits of people they meet on the street match up with his deductions. In addition to the introduction of Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet includes the first mystery; two bumbling Scotland Yard inspectors ask for Holmes' consultation when murder strikes and Watson is invited along for the ride.

I thought A Study in Scarlet - especially the first part - was fascinating. I've heard about Sherlock Holmes through other sources - mainly through pop culture. It's hard not to know who he is as he and Dr. Watson are so much a part of literary imagination. But this was my first introduction to Holmes and Watson through Arthur Conan Doyle's writing. I loved Watson's initial reactions to Holmes - the way he is puzzled by the fact that first, Holmes appears to have no useful occupation, and then second, that he considers himself a consulting detective who far outranks the likes of Scotland Yard inspectors and even Watson's favorite fictional detectives. The first description of Holmes reminded me of those students who never really seem to get going in life, but earn degree after degree in the general pursuit of knowledge. The other parts of A Study in Scarlet I liked were those in which Holmes explains his lines of reasoning. The second half of the story, told in a flashback concerning the background of the murder mystery, may come off as a bit offensive to Mormons. Doyle's descriptions of the Mormon community are stereotypical and show his scanty knowledge of their society. However, the first part is well done.

The edition I read also contained The Sign of Four, Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes book. This latter book has a similar structure to A Study in Scarlet, with the first half devoted to Holmes and Watson's investigation of the mystery, and the second half relating the backstory of the events of the mystery, this time taking place in colonial India rather than the wilderness of the American West. In reading this second story, I had more of an understanding of Holmes' character and his approach to deductive reasoning. Aside from Doyle's obvious lack of knowledge about Mormonism in the first book, I think this second book had more inconsistencies in the actual mystery. Again what I enjoyed most about the second book was not the mystery but instead Doyle's descriptions of the interactions between Holmes and Watson, and the explanations of Holmes' reasoning. I remember thinking at one point that if I could figure out how to think like Holmes, I'd probably end up being a great lawyer. But as Holmes put it, there are few people who would be able to reason backward. It is a special ability that the rest of us can only aspire to.(less)

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Jan 17, 2011 caty rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Sign of Four"

Mary Morstan comes to Holmes with a mystery about her dead father and the delivery of pearls from an unknown sender. The link seems to be the odd ‘sign of four’, but what or who does this sign represent?

This one can be a little bit too long. And our hero is almost deceived. Yes, it’s nice that they’ve made him fallible, but at the same time, I want Holmes to be invincible. He is described in this book as a total eccentric, either on the scent or down in the dumps and drugging h

...more

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May 16, 2010 Derek Emerson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-books-read

My revisiting of the Sherlock Holmes opus continues with the second novel featuring the great detective. Here Holmes is caught up in a mystery which combines horror with crime, and where we meet Mary Morstan whom Watson is engaged to by the end of the story. (For those who saw the recent blockbuster Holmes film, that is the name of Watson's fiancée of the film). The story moves quickly and even includes a "high speed" boat chase -- as high speed as coal-burning boats get. Holmes' deduction power...more

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Nov 01, 2010 Snuffles rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, real-world

Four to five stars for "A Study in Scarlet" and three to four stars for "The Sign of the Four".

I really enjoyed how Watson and Holmes met and Watson's slow discovery of who and what Holmes actually is. Since I'm a fan of the new BBC production (and it actually made me want to read the stories) I had a very good time discovering all the little allusions to the book which had meant nothing to me when I watched the show. 'But this review is not about the show, it's about the books!' you might say....more

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Mar 09, 2010 Lisa Eskra rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Study in Scarlet is not a very good story but Sherlock Holmes is compelling enough as a character to make it work. The mystery itself was not very complicated. The story was good until the criminal is apprehended, at which point Doyle goes into a history of what led said criminal to commit the crime. I felt like that part was well-told, but God was it boring. I just didn't care. I wanted Holmes back. Later on, the criminal tells their side of the story in custody, so it isn't even relevant. Tw...more

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Sep 10, 2008 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, living-room-tall

I really enjoyed the first part of Study in Scarlet. This was a great introduction to a character that I've heard so much about but am finally getting to see his roots. I enjoyed the process of reasoning and the relationship between Holmes and the other "regular" characters. I was lost a bit in the second part but found some of the historical descriptions to be of interest. Will move on to Sign of Four soon.

Sign of Four: I really enjoy the sections that involve Holmes' deductive reasoning and sk...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Lynne Norman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-group-reads

I absolutely loved these two short stories - more than I ever expected to. The second part to 'A Study in Scarlet' - which tells the back story of the murderer once Holmes' investigation has led to his capture - had me gripped and was surprisingly moving. There are some things that are difficult to swallow, for instance the rather outdated attitude towards women or people from other races/parts of the world, but these are of the time and are never as offensive as, say the out and out racism of '...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

"A Study in Scarlet" was Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes book, and it shows in the unwieldy structure, which wedges in a flashback set in America (and in which Holmes and Watson do not even appear) to give the backstory for the crimes. Still, I enjoyed the book for its introduction of the main characters and their relationship, as well as for the period London settings so beautifully described by Watson. By his second Holmes tale, "The Sign of Four," ACD has improved the structure by...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, smart-strong-protagonist

A very good read.

I like Doyle's style, but I made the mistake of watching the TV Series first.
If you're reading these books because of the Tv series, let me make something clear - the relationship between John Watson and Sherlock Holmes, their whole dynamic, is entirely different.
I feel like the characters in the books fall kind of flat. We don't see different aspects of their personalities - Sherlock is clever, John is gasping with admiration, ok, we get it! In the TV series we could see much m...more

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A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes #1, 2)

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A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes #1, 2)

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