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The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes #2)

by Arthur Conan Doyle, Michael Page (Reader)

3.92 · rating details · 8,966 ratings · 499 reviews

Sherlock Holmes is bored and case-less, and relieving his boredom by alternating morphine and cocaine. Enter the charming Miss Mary Morstan, with whom Watson is instantly smitten. She requests the assistance of Holmes and Watson to solve the mysterious disappearance of her father, and the subsequent invitation to ?have justice? by an anonymous letter writer. Holmes and Wat...more

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Published by Brilliance Corporation (first published October 1890)

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Feb 05, 2012

Tanu Das rated it

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My second Sherlock Holmes and I have to say, I am not really impressed.

The basic storyline goes like this: Sherlock has developed an addiction for cocaine; Watson is trying to cheer him up, up comes a mystery and everyone’s happy. Along with mystery comes lady; lady and Watson go gooey eyed; there is a treasure and there is a murder; there is disparaging remarks about pre independent India by the Brits; murderer is caught, mystery is solved; Watson gets hitched and Holmes gets back t...more

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Nov 07, 2010

Kemper rated it

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Shelves: crime-mystery, detectives

Despite being a huge crime/mystery reader, I’ve never been a big fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories. After recently reading A Study in Scarlet and now The Sign of Four, I realize that it’s not me to blame. It’s Holmes. He’s just too much of an obnoxious show-off for me to like. Add in some Victorian-era English arrogance, and I feel like flipping off any Holmes novel I see on the shelf when browsing a mystery section in a bookstore.

Holmes and his full-time professional kiss-ass W...moreDespite being a huge crime/mystery reader, I’ve never been a big fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories. After recently reading A Study in Scarlet and now The Sign of Four, I realize that it’s not me to blame. It’s Holmes. He’s just too much of an obnoxious show-off for me to like. Add in some Victorian-era English arrogance, and I feel like flipping off any Holmes novel I see on the shelf when browsing a mystery section in a bookstore.

Holmes and his full-time professional kiss-ass Watson get hired by a young lady who has been receiving expensive pearls anonymously and now has a mysterious request to meet someone regarding the jewels. Accompanying the woman, Holmes and Watson soon get wrapped up in murder involving a wooden legged man, a savage cannibal and a hidden treasure. Oh, and Watson stops heaping compliments on Holmes long enough to fall head over heels for the girl.

I don’t need a likeable main character to enjoy a story. In fact, someone who is brilliant but arrogant and abrasive can be a very interesting if done right. (See Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for a recent example.) I’m a little surprised at how much I found myself disliking Holmes. It’s not like I didn’t know he was an aloof logic junkie.

But what bugs me about him is the whole attitude he has about claiming that his methods are ‘simplicity itself’ while still doing everything he can to milk every moment and make everyone marvel at his amazing talents. He can’t let Watson go to the post office without turning into a showcase for his deductive reasoning, but once Holmes has the doctor gushing about his brilliance, he just coldly dismisses it as simple logic. Asshole.

I did enjoy the fact that this is the one that established the idea that Holmes would inject a liquid form of cocaine into his veins when he got bored and reaches for the syringe the second the case is over. It made him a little more human and relatable. And Watson shows his cutting edge medical skills by cautioning Holmes that the coke might be unhealthy. Maybe even habit forming. That Watson is a helluva doctor.(less)

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Feb 04, 2012

Kelly Lutes rated it

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In this second tale in the Sherlock Holmes saga, one finds all the trademarks of Doyle's romantic London: an eerie Poe-esque fog, the swelling Thames River, the gothic Pondicherry Lodge as the scene of the crime, and 221B Baker Street, the ultimate man cave, where one imagines threadbare rugs formed by the accumulation of shuffling feet on habitual sleepless nights, and the sweet aroma lingering in the air from Holmes's most recent pipe. With the reunion of certain regulars like the simpleton At...moreIn this second tale in the Sherlock Holmes saga, one finds all the trademarks of Doyle's romantic London: an eerie Poe-esque fog, the swelling Thames River, the gothic Pondicherry Lodge as the scene of the crime, and 221B Baker Street, the ultimate man cave, where one imagines threadbare rugs formed by the accumulation of shuffling feet on habitual sleepless nights, and the sweet aroma lingering in the air from Holmes's most recent pipe. With the reunion of certain regulars like the simpleton Athelney Jones, the Scotland Yard detective that would be treated much less forgivingly if he were in the hands of Roald Dahl; the kind Mrs. Hudson, Holmes's and Watson's landlady; the adventure seeking Wiggins (who may as well be Tom Sawyer or the boys from Neverland) and the rest of the "Baker Street Irregulars", kids that Holmes employs for leg work and lookouts throughout the city; and of course, my favorite, the loyal Dr. Watson; Doyle also introduces a cast of new characters, the beautiful Miss Mary Morston, much to the excitement of Watson; and a full cast of new criminals and mistaken criminals that are interwoven in a treasure caper that spans the globe.

There is always the fear when one begins a Holmes tale that the puzzle itself will be flawed by oversimplification and generalities, and this is precisely what you always do get, in the beginning. However, once Holmes begins to work on the backstory, the tale begins to have all the allure of the best hard-boiled Sam Spade stories. Not to mention that with the likes of an aborigine blow gun with poison darts, the allusion to cannibals, beautiful jewels, and exotic travels, I couldn't help but think of other great exotic adventure stories like Indiana Jones or the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland--all such great fun.

Perhaps what is most enjoyable about this story is the development of Holmes into a more complex character. For all of his brilliance, he is also rude, condescending, and at times, pedantic; this is juxtaposed, however, with rare moments of sensitivity, like when he tries to relieve Watson of the day's stress by playing him the violin until he trails off to sweet slumber. And of course, most shocking to me is Holmes's substantial cocaine addiction, but set alongside the city's miscreants and killers, his habit seems somehow quaint like one's 3-cup a day coffee habit. Another dichotomy of Holmes is his lack of sentimentality and disregard for the precious qualities of life, such as love and friendship, contrasted by his deep respect for men who have displayed the utmost sensitivity to mankind. Holmes often quotes Stendhal, Rochefoucald, and Goethe. He even himself avers, "Dirty looking rascals, but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. You would not think it to look at them. There is no a priori probability about it. A strange enigma is man" (106). For all the romping good fun to be found within Doyle's world, it is perhaps the enigma of Sherlock Holmes himself that continues to draw me back for more. (less)

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Aug 09, 2011

James rated it

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Shelves: mystery

It is in this, the second Holmes novel, that the great detective comes fully to life - not only as a melancholic and an inscrutable master of deduction, but also as an incurable drug addict. "Which is it today?" Watson asks Holmes matter-of-factly on the opening page of the novel, "morphine or cocaine?" "It is cocaine," Holmes famously replies. "A seven-per-cent solution. Would you like to try it?" Mary Morstan comes to Holmes in the hope that he will be a...more

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Feb 04, 2012

Cheryl rated it

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Shelves: mystery

Mary Morstan is described as a "wronged woman" in a mysterious letter that arrived in the post asking her to meet the sender at the Lyceum theatre tonight at seven o'clock. How was the pretty twenty-seven year old governess wronged? What justice is due her?

By her own admission, she has been deprived of her father's presence for ten years after he failed to meet her at an assigned rendezvous. It is true that at a young age she was returned to England after her mother died, a...more

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Sep 30, 2008

Saman added it · review of another edition

دوشيزه (مري مورستن) هر سال از طريق پست، مرواريد درشتي دريافت مي‌كند كه هيچ سرنخي در مورد نويسنده‌اش وجود ندارد. وقتي اين فرستنده‌ي اسرار آميز از او تقاضاي ملاقات مي‌كند، (شرلوك هولمز) و (دكتر واتسن) هم وارد ماجرا مي‌شوند
مرگ وحشتناك و گنجينه‌اي كه ناپديد شده به تعقيبي جانانه در خيابان‌ها به هنگام سپيده‌دم و سپس در طول رودخانه‌ي تيمز منتهي مي‌شود

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Jan 30, 2010

Marts (Thinker) rated it

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Shelves: classics, mystery

The Sign of Four or The Sign of 'the' Four, begins with a drug induced Sherlock Holmes being called upon by Mary Morstan for him to solve a mystery involving the disappearance of her father, Captain Arthur Morstan, about ten years earlier after he returned to London on leave from his regiment in India. Whilst there he apparently met one Thadeus Sholto and they both came into possession of treasure. However this treasure was stolen by four prison convicts (hence the term "sign of four")...more

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Oct 06, 2010

ninefly rated it

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Shelves: _owned-audio, _owned-ebook, _favourite, hero-detective-lawyer, historical, mystery-thriller, revenge, series-sherlockholmes, teamwork-rivalry

excerpt from detailed review here:
http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/2010/01/r...

review of audio book read by John Telfer

I'm glad that Mr. Doyle has understood that audiences did not much enjoy the 5 chapters of criminal exposition (from the first book) as much when Holmes is not there to deduce the hell out of stuff. This second novel of the Sherlock Holmes series delves further into the personal lives of both Holmes and Watson, yet maintains the quality of plot and pac...more

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Feb 09, 2012

Alexandra Middleton rated it

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Urgh! This review is difficult. This book was good, honestly it was, and I was deliberating between four and five stars. I'd give it four and a half, because it really does redeem itself at the end. The story was a little too complicated for the most part, but I still enjoyed the characters and the occasional humour, and the plot worked itself out at the end, so I did completely understand the story once I'd finished. I prefer the short stories, personally, but I've vowed to read all the Sherloc...more

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Feb 06, 2012

Ben Dutton rated it

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The second Sherlock Holmes adventure sees Holmes in a deep melancholy, one that is only lifted by a visit from a troubled young woman, Mary Morstan, whose father disappeared ten years before. Four years later she began to receive a gift, once a year, and now she has been invited to meet her mysterious benefactor. She needs an escort, and Holmes is perfect… And in the ensuing investigation – which involves a wronged woman, a stolen hoard of Indian treasure, a wooden-legged ruffian, a helpful dog ...more

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Jan 12, 2012

Nhu Huynh rated it

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"The Sign of Four" is the second story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and another good hit presenting Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. The beginning as usual started with them going on a conservation, an issue discussing about any other daily routine. Then comes a visitor, a customer that is asking for help on a strange mystery going on around her daily life. She tells her story bringing in quite an interesting mystery to it that Holmes agreed to tag along. She needed two of them becau...more"The Sign of Four" is the second story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and another good hit presenting Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. The beginning as usual started with them going on a conservation, an issue discussing about any other daily routine. Then comes a visitor, a customer that is asking for help on a strange mystery going on around her daily life. She tells her story bringing in quite an interesting mystery to it that Holmes agreed to tag along. She needed two of them because it is the only way to follow the orders from the paper, no police officers are included in meeting. They then find out more about Miss Morstan's father's past by meeting the son of Major Sholto, a friend of her father's. Arriving to their next location to retrieving the treasure that belongs to her, the case became more deepen. A murder is revealed and also, the treasure has been stolen and only Holmes will be able to solve the riddle. The story goes along with dead ends, new qualities Holmes will show us, romance, and greed.
The mystery begins when Miss Morstan talks about her father's past experience and him being missing for many years. Showing that there might be clues that may solve to the present issue of what it may be. Knowing that John Watson is the opposite of his partner, Sherlock Holmes, he is the same as any other and might as well find the lady quite attracting. That can explain why few parts of his narration become more about his personal views and creative details come to play involving a lady he interests. The other elements sparks more when coming into the crime scene that shows an interesting case of a closed room making it more trickier to solve. That brings more of an excitement bringing out more hidden clues, questions, and more of hidden details of Holmes's secrets into solving the mystery.
What makes it a downside, making a less interesting view is when romance is involved. Not concerning about the present case until notice Holmes got a tight grip onto the case. The setting takes place when the narrator, Watson, is finally alone for awhile with Miss Morstan but it did not get any closer because of his issue during the case.
This is a good recommendation for mystery-loving fans out there. One of the common heard cases but with a different twist to what is the motive is. Figuring out the who and the how is one of the top questions to be asked and it all comes with different answers. Sherlock Holmes always has a way in things when it comes with cases that are not easy to solve, it takes more than that.
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Jan 11, 2012

Jessica rated it

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his second novel of the classic mystery of Sherlock Holmes in 1890 Sign of Four. In the novel, it has two mysteries interconnected within the novel. All of these mysteries have to go with the notorious and precious Agra treasure. Watson and Holmes are approached by a young and beautiful lady by the name of Miss Morstan who has wondered the disappearance of her father. As Watson and Holmes dig deeper into the mystery, they are approached by new mystery of a death that...moreSir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his second novel of the classic mystery of Sherlock Holmes in 1890 Sign of Four. In the novel, it has two mysteries interconnected within the novel. All of these mysteries have to go with the notorious and precious Agra treasure. Watson and Holmes are approached by a young and beautiful lady by the name of Miss Morstan who has wondered the disappearance of her father. As Watson and Holmes dig deeper into the mystery, they are approached by new mystery of a death that turns into the main mystery of the story. Through Holmes constant deduction and the help of the police, they eventually find the murderer and the reasons of why he has killed the person.
In the novel, Doyle further immerses readers into Holmes’ crazy antics. He first introduces use to the other side and passion of Holmes, his drug addiction. It sedates his mind. Holmes’s antipathetic manner towards anyone provides the typical thoughts of his character. He is arrogant and cold. The novel also shows the useless of the police at the time as they send the wrong man to jail. The finding of treasure gives the story a sense of piracy. There are thrilling moments of chasing and escaping to catch the suspects of the crime that gives a sense of action and adventure into this mystery. The interesting motive of the story shows an obsession and determination of a desolate man for his fortune and power. Watson has a major blessed event happen to him in this novel that he well deserves. Often been seen as a sadden loner and crimpled man, Watson is final full of bliss. It is happy to see him this way.
As the criminal tells readers and the characters of the book his motive and back-story of the crime, there are loopholes in his back-story. In his story there are confusing sides to which the criminal supports versus what readers will think is the most logical. The impacting and important side-story of Watson is little mention in the novel. It makes the event sound very random and unimportant, when it is suppose to be the opposite. The title of the story is an object that is very literal almost too literal in the use of it in the novel.
The novel is enjoyable to read, but not the best of work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The novel provides a pleasant shift between the two mysteries and it is easy to follow. The story has a couple of twist and turns in its plot, but not enough to fascinate the advent mystery reader. It is by far the shortest novel of the four novels Sir Conan Doyle, so it is a quick read that any reader will be able to finish in a day or two. The Sign of Four will also be great for any Sherlock Holmes’ enthusiasts.
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Jan 11, 2012

Rachel Mcleod rated it

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The Sign of Four (1890) is one of the many novels based on Sherlock Holmes. The story begins in the present, and brings the audience back to the past to show them how the mystery came about. The particular mystery in this novel is not what one would expect. The frantic woman who goes to Holmes at his Baker Street apartment is not reporting a murder, but a series of odd events. She explains to Holmes that her father has been missing for years, and how he actually went missing the day he came from...more

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Jan 04, 2012

Michelle Jarvis rated it

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Though having never read the stories himself, my dad insisted that the old Sherlock Holmes movies (such as the ones with Basil Rathbone) were more accurate to the books than the new ones with Robert Downey Jr. I hadn't read them either, much to my dismay, but thanks to my brother giving me a volume of these stories for Christmas, I had the opportunity to weigh in with my own opinion on the matter. Now that I have read this one and the first Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, I'm more prone to s...more

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Dec 31, 2011

K.D. rated it

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Recommended to K.D. by: Kristel

Shelves: detective, series, guy-lit, classics

The Sign of Four (1890) means death. This is similar to seeing Black Spot in Stevenson's Treasure Island (1883). So, these Scottish novelists, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) have their own ways to depict imminent death, thereby warning their characters of danger, in their masterpieces. In the Philippines, this is similar to receiving an envelop with a black ribbon inside or worst, receiving a delivery of a coffin or mourning wreath. Believe me, I saw a ...moreThe Sign of Four (1890) means death. This is similar to seeing Black Spot in Stevenson's Treasure Island (1883). So, these Scottish novelists, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) have their own ways to depict imminent death, thereby warning their characters of danger, in their masterpieces. In the Philippines, this is similar to receiving an envelop with a black ribbon inside or worst, receiving a delivery of a coffin or mourning wreath. Believe me, I saw a wreath delivered to the lobby of the company I used to work with. It was from a lady who one of our male marketing managers ditched. The lobby turned funereal and caused extreme embarrassment to the manager that had no choice but to resign after a month.

This is the second novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It introduces the following: 1. Mary Morstan who in this novel ends up engaged with Dr. Watson and 2. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, i.e., Sherlock Holmes using cocaine three times a week to help him in doing his detective job. I was shocked to read about this but maybe at that time, using cocaine might not be prohibited yet. I also know for a fact that some people use drugs to help them in their life's pursuits. Think of the athletes and artists who need uppers to keep their energy going. Think of the scene in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut where the wealthy couple (played by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) uses drugs together while inside their palatial home.

The plot is thicker than his first novel, A Study in Scarlet but not deep enough to draw any emotion from me. Also the big chunk of the story is told rather than showed. What I mean is that the characters narrate what happened instead of Sir Doyle bringing the reader to the scene. Again, this might be an acceptable even preferred style of storytelling at that time (and this is just my second Sherlock Holmes) so I am not complaining. This is just a matter of personal preference.

Overall, I liked the book. It is non-stop action even if the action is just spoken through recollection. The story is plausible and logical. Theme of greed may be as old as human beings (think of Cain slaughtering his brother Abel) but we still experience it everyday almost like the air we breathe. So any reader can relate to any novel bearing this as its theme.

The last book I finished in 2011. I have to read Sherlock Holmes stories now.(less)

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Sep 04, 2011

Harmonybites rated it

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Recommends it for: Sherlock Holmes Fans

Shelves: classics, crime, fiction, mystery, novels, suspense

For me this second Sherlock Holmes novel is what defines a classic. By no means is Doyle the master stylist of a Thomas Hardy or Oscar Wilde, and I'm not going to claim there are profound insights into the human condition, but this novel wears its age very lightly indeed. There are books written decades later that feel far more dated, and the few times anything in it feel the slightest bit old fashioned, it lends it more the piquant flavor of the Victorian Age than anything that feels like a fla...moreFor me this second Sherlock Holmes novel is what defines a classic. By no means is Doyle the master stylist of a Thomas Hardy or Oscar Wilde, and I'm not going to claim there are profound insights into the human condition, but this novel wears its age very lightly indeed. There are books written decades later that feel far more dated, and the few times anything in it feel the slightest bit old fashioned, it lends it more the piquant flavor of the Victorian Age than anything that feels like a flaw.

This is a fun, fast read--barely novel length, only 12 chapters and barely over 40 thousand words and along with its mystery and adventure even provides a soupçon of romance. I don't think this is as good as The Hound of the Baskervilles, the most famous Sherlock Holmes story and novel, but it's holds up well compared to the first, A Study in Scarlet and there's so much here that makes Holmes such an immortal character. There are his brilliant deductions such as his tour de force with Watson's watch, there's his sense of humor that ameliorates his sometimes cold ratiocination, his flare for the dramatic seen in his revelation of his disguises, and even his flaws like his addiction (or close to it) for cocaine, which is highlighted here at the beginning and end of the novel.

So much here made me smile. The Holmesian aphorism: "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." The Baker Street Irregulars. Toby the master tracker, a mongrel that's a mix of spaniel, collie and greyhound. The exotic mix of things from the height of the British Raj, which includes nothing less than hidden treasure to be found.

I don't know that I'd recommend this as an introduction to Sherlock Holmes. I'd point someone first perhaps to the collection of short stories The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or the best Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, or even the first novel, A Study in Scarlet. But certainly if you've already discovered you love Sherlock Holmes, you shouldn't be disappointed in The Sign of Four.(less)

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Aug 21, 2011

Marie Graßhoff rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 08, 2011

Frederick rated it

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Shelves: doyle-arthur-conan, mystery, sherlock-holmes

What did this reader, in 2011, get out of this detective novel from 1891 (or so)?
Well, I found it, of course, a prototypical mystery story: Maverick detective with informed but, perhaps, unimaginative sidekick helps a lady in distress and runs into rogues whose ways the police can barely understand. Detective has a problem with a substance (which, while in most detective novels is licquor, is, in this one, cocaine.)
What surprised me in this novel is that Arthur Conan Doyle is simult...more

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Jun 05, 2011

Mimi rated it

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This is the second of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books that I have read so far, the first one being “A Study in Scarlet.” This time, instead of a crime based on 19th century American Mormonism, the criminal investigation brings the reader on a treasure hunt that includes a wild boat race on the Thames and greedy pillaging in British Imperial India, once again from an extremely Anglo-centric point of view. The criminal investigation in this one is much more complex than that in “A Study in Scar...more

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May 22, 2011

Jonathan rated it

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Shelves: classics

With the second story in the Sherlock Holmes saga, we return once again to Baker Street and our two heroes. After a few missteps in his initial offering, Doyle here finds his stride, and the result is a light, enjoyable read. The star, of course, is Holmes, careening through the narrative always two steps ahead of everyone else, never satisfied unless his intellect is fully engaged, cutting to the heart of the mystery with his byzantine deductions and then magnanimously explaining his thought ...more

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May 19, 2011

Chad rated it

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The Sign of the Four is the second Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is a much superior novel than A Study in Scarlet (the first novel).

In this volume, our friends Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are awaiting something exciting to happen. We learn that Holmes is a drug addict, injecting a 7% solution of cocaine to stimulate his mind, while in between intellectual pursuits. Although this was perfectly legal at the time, Dr. Watson warns him against it, worry about his...more

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Apr 23, 2011

Amira rated it

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Shelves: classics, historical-fiction, required-reading, suspense, detective-spy

Wow Sherlock shooting up cocaine on the first page . . . who would have thought! (So the recent movie, has Robert Downey Jr portraying him the most accurately, Jude Law as Watson was great - then again I'd pretty much watch Jude Law in anything) . . . But I digress this is a book, not a movie review. This book was on the required reading list for my Uni English required reading list, so naturally we students had a discussion and dissected the inner themes of this genre. I guess this is a good i...more

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Mar 19, 2011

Nicholas Whyte rated it

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One thing that surprised me about The Sign of Four is its brevity - only 76 pages in my Complete Sherlock Holmes. But I think this shows a somewhat more disciplined approach by Doyle, and also perhaps a growing awareness that "less is more" which leads to the success of the short stories. It's still not as tight as it could be - once again the actual mystery, which is literally a locked-room murder, gets rather sidelined in the tale of dangerous foreigners coming to disrupt London to g...moreOne thing that surprised me about The Sign of Four is its brevity - only 76 pages in my Complete Sherlock Holmes. But I think this shows a somewhat more disciplined approach by Doyle, and also perhaps a growing awareness that "less is more" which leads to the success of the short stories. It's still not as tight as it could be - once again the actual mystery, which is literally a locked-room murder, gets rather sidelined in the tale of dangerous foreigners coming to disrupt London to gain an ancient revenge, though this time they are thieves from the East (and in fact, of the two only one is actually foreign, it is the other who is actually the thief, and it is really the conveniently dead English fathers, Sholto and Morstan, who are the villains) rather than religious fanatics from the West.

There's a lot of family in this short book. We start with Watson and his brother, then we encounter the Morstans, the Sholtos, and Jonathan Small and his adopted family of fellow conspirators with the child-like Tonga (very small; can't talk properly; er, also kills people with a blowpipe - I admit the analogy is not perfect). The book ends with the establishment of a new family as Watson gets engaged to Mary Morstan, who he has known for, what, two days? Of course, the point is to increase the dramatic effect as the reader imagines his or her normal family life being disrupted by the mistakes of previous generations, but I found it striking.

Sherlock Holmes has no family. (Mycroft and Vernet are in the future.) For him, as he says at the end, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." I can't think of another novel which portrays the use of cocaine in such a positive light - "so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind". In fact, I can't think of many novels about drug use at all, other than Philip K. Dick, William S. Burroughs, and Hunter S. Thompson, and even their more enthusiastic moments have a conscious sense of self-destruction about them. Again, Doyle is more subversive than I had realised. (And he has another, if briefer, go at the cosy relationship between the media and the police.) (less)

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Aug 20, 2010

F.R. rated it

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That 'Sherlock' they showed on the BBC recently was really good wasn't it? I admit that I approached the notion of a modern day Sherlock Holmes with some degree of trepidation. How gimmicky would it be? Would the placing of such a character in a modern setting be played for jokes? Were the actors going to cope with the pressure of portraying such iconic Victorian figures in a modern setting, and could today’s CCTV London match its long ago dingy, smog-ridden self?

As it turned out, th...moreThat 'Sherlock' they showed on the BBC recently was really good wasn't it? I admit that I approached the notion of a modern day Sherlock Holmes with some degree of trepidation. How gimmicky would it be? Would the placing of such a character in a modern setting be played for jokes? Were the actors going to cope with the pressure of portraying such iconic Victorian figures in a modern setting, and could today’s CCTV London match its long ago dingy, smog-ridden self?

As it turned out, there was no need to worry. Yes, it was gimmicky to a certain extent, but the introduction of a technologically savvy Holmes worked perfectly. Yes, it was certainly funny, but all of the humour came from the characters and in no way deviated from Conan-Doyles’s vision. And as for the actors, both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were superb, while London – even with all its shiny skyscrapers and clean air – can still be made to look distinctly sinister. This I think is the first Holmes adaptation to be filmed on Baker Street itself (albeit on the other side of the road from the Sherlock Holmes museum). Although when they went to Northumberland Street – one time site of The Northumberland Hotel, where Lord Baskerville stayed while in town – they were clearly in a different location. The most prominent feature on Northumberland Street these days is the quite lovely Sherlock Holmes pub.

Those of you not living in Britain will have little clue what I’m talking about of course. But the US gets the programme in October I believe, and the rest of you keep your eyes peeled. I can thoroughly recommend it.

Anyway, seeing the show inspired me to read the second Sherlock Holmes novel – and once again I can say I was impressed beyond my expectations. I’ve long held the belief that the short stories were far superior to the four novels (the first two volumes of those stories in particular), and so am surprised in my re-readings this year how much I’ve enjoyed both this and ‘A Study in Scarlet’.

From a much franker than I remembered it opening drug scene, we are launched into wild hansom-cab ride of a case involving lost treasure, deadly assassins and a wronged young lady. Conan-Doyle maintains the adventurous momentum much better here than he did in ‘A Study in Scarlet’ (and if memory serves, better than the other two novels as well), so much so that it’s nearly the end before the pace lets up. Holmes and Watson are now firmly settled into the relationship we know, and their dialogue and banter is a constant delight.

Okay, it has some flaws: the last chapter is somewhat superfluous, the other characters are broadly drawn (although, to be fair, instantly imaginable), and the book does show its vintage in its belief that there are races of people out there who are irredeemably savage. But this is a well worked entertaining thriller, featuring two old friends in their prime.

I will re-read ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ next, although I’m still tempted to skip ‘The Valley of Fear’.(less)

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Dec 12, 2009

Jessica rated it

· review of another edition

This was the first time I'd read this particular Holmes book, and I must say - had this been the first Holmes story I'd ever picked up, I wouldn't be the Holmes fan I am today.

I saw a side to him that I wasn't particularly fond of. It's different than Holmes' infuriating knack of instantly knowing the particulars of any case when it's newly presented to him, and his refusals to share his insight with those around him.

Yes, he's arrogant, but he's also quite sure of himsel...more

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Jan 31, 2012

Momoka is currently reading it · review of another edition

The starting was that Sherlock Holmes got really bored and Watson was looking at him and knew that Sherlock took cocaine three times a day. But when Sherlock were getting so board, the one woman called Mary came to see him to found her father. Her father some years previously disappeared...

The book is really nice and I like it. Even though this is really old book. When I first read this book my thoughts about Sherlock Holmes changed. My initial thoughts about Sherlock Holmes was ''b...more

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Jun 13, 2011

Tsvetelina rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classics, mystery

Отдавна следя филмите, свързани с Шерлок Холмс, и може да се каже, че съм му фенка. И най-сетне реших да си изнамеря и книгите, за да ги прочета. Ето, че съм на втората от поредицата и честно казано в началото оригиналният образ на Шерлок Холмс ми беше малко странен, при все че съм гледала доста негови интерпретации, но бързо свикнах с това.

Самата книга е увлекателна и много бързо се чете, не че и е много голяма по обем, никак даже. Не може да се каже, че съм чела кой знае колко крим...moreОтдавна следя филмите, свързани с Шерлок Холмс, и може да се каже, че съм му фенка. И най-сетне реших да си изнамеря и книгите, за да ги прочета. Ето, че съм на втората от поредицата и честно казано в началото оригиналният образ на Шерлок Холмс ми беше малко странен, при все че съм гледала доста негови интерпретации, но бързо свикнах с това.

Самата книга е увлекателна и много бързо се чете, не че и е много голяма по обем, никак даже. Не може да се каже, че съм чела кой знае колко криминални романи, но въпреки това Артър Конан Дойл ме впечатли доста с начина си на писане. Не обичам много да има само разсъждения без действие, но тук въпросните размишления са представени по такъв начин, че дори и аз се увличам. Може би и просто защото става въпрос за ненадминатия Шерлок Холмс.

Колкото до историята... описаната случка тук ми хареса повече, отколкото в първата книга. Определено ме заблудиха относно злодея, докато Холмс не изказа винаги точната си хипотеза. Относно доктор Уотсън и г-ца Морстън... малко прибързани ми се сториха нещата между тях, но пък това си е чист бял кахър при все, че книгата не претендира за никакви романтични сапунки. Все пак тук по-важното е "неразгадаемият" случай.

Като за финал и няколко обобщаващи думи, а именно това е четиво, което би харесало на всеки, който обича криминалета и мистерии. А все пак става въпрос и за великия Шерлок Холмс.(less)

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Jan 07, 2010

Ashley rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sherlock and Watson DO shoot their guns afterall! Not the swashbuckler type shooting in the 2009 movie "Sherlock Holmes," but still, in a time when the British cops didn't carry guns (if I recall correctly) I'm sure that the two of them shooting a character was probably a bit interesting to his original readers.

This book started me off confused. I had this mental image of Watson from "A Study in Scarlet" of his arm all bandaged up, and then this book starts wi...more

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Jul 24, 2011

dragonhelmuk added it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I quite liked this Sherlock Holmes actually. Although the story isn’t very good, and there aren’t all that many plot-twists it is exceptionally well written. It possibly should be renamed “How Watson found love” but that’s the only thing I would change. :p There is also a direct description of Holmes taking Heroin which is shocking and unique to the best of my knowledge. Three quotes:

Watson and Holmes and their interactions with women.
“To this day she declares that I told her one...more

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Jan 22, 2012

Nicholas rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classic-literature, mystery, reviewed

The second of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. This time the amateur detective is faced with a combined murder-treasure hunt mystery. As with the Study in Scarlet and all of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the focus is mainly on Holmes' unique means of solving mysteries via logic and seemingly insignificant pieces of information. Character development beyond what was established in the first book is practically nil, with two major exceptions that I shall not spoil in this review,...more

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About Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle was born as the third of ten siblings on 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was born in England of Irish descent, and his mother, born Mary Foley, was Irish. They were married in 1855.

Although he is now referred to as "Conan Doyle", the origin of this compound surname (if that is how he meant it to be understood) is unce...more

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The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels & 56 Short Stories

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“My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere... But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation.” — 40 people liked it

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The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes #2)

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