Lifetime Library: Sherlock Holmes Volume One

by Arthur Conan Doyle

FROM HIS HOME-
221B Baker Street in London-the legendary Sherlock Holmes, accompanied by his loyal companion and chronicler, Dr. Watson, employs his mastery of deductive reasoning and expert sleuthing to solve an array of complex and harrowing cases, baffling the police and becoming internationally renowned for his remarkable observations and even more eccentric habits.

543 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Delaney (semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*DNF’D AT 45%*

The Case of the Missing Joy for Reading

Starting Synopsis: The Lifetime Library’s Sherlock Holmes Collection Volume 1 seemed like a dream come true—an anthology of classic detective stories featuring the legendary Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal John Watson. I dove in, a sucker for mystery, wanting a break from YA and romance for the time, and eager to unravel mysteries alongside literature’s most famous detective.

And at first? It was great! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing is sharp, engaging, and full of wit. A Study in Scarlet pulled me in with its fascinating (but super unexpected) detour into the American West. Then came The Sign of the Four… and that’s where things went sideways.

Something about continuing the book just sucked the joy of reading right out of me. Maybe it was the bizarre plot twists, maybe it was the tediousness of certain sections, or maybe it was the fact that I could feel my enthusiasm draining with every page. Whatever the cause, I found myself unable to continue with the collection. Sherlock Holmes, the man who makes logic look thrilling, had accidentally made reading feel like a chore.

It took picking up a completely different book to rekindle my love for reading, which is never a great sign. So, while I won’t be finishing this collection anytime soon, I’ll still be writing individual reviews for A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four—because even if they nearly took me out, I still appreciate Doyle’s storytelling. Maybe one day I’ll return to the adventures… but for now, this case remains unsolved.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve put off reading the OG Holmes books since like middle school & what a pleasure to discovery it some of the most thoroughly entertaining page turners I’ve read recently.

+ absolutely vindicates the fact that the Granada / Jeremy Brett Holmes adaptation is the best there is

[Scott Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Sherlock Holmes present a unique thought experience. The Sherlock way of thinking gives the mind a jolt. One of life's must reads.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really happy with how much I enjoyed these stories. They read easily, but are also well written and fun.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sherlock Holmes so much! The stories are amazing and I love how much action and adventure happens in 20-40 pages for the short stories!