The Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle, Paul Bachem (Illustrator)

Amateur detective Sherlock Holmes, the master of deductive reasoning, solves several mysteries with the aid of his friend, Dr. John Watson.

The Red-Headed League --
A case of identity --
The adventure of the blue carbuncle --
The adventure of the speckled band --
The Beryl Coronet --
The Musgrave ritual --
The Greek interpreter --
The final problem --
The adventure of the empty house.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Mystery Thriller, Short Stories

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 1982

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish 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

[Myersandburnsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I love how each chapter is a mystery that is solved. Perfect for a busy mum who needs to read a chapter, go a few days, and then get back to it.

[Yoomin Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the way of Sherlock Holmes(consulting detective), and his friend, John Watson(helper) solving 9 cases that client request to them. I chose this book, because I really enjoy to watch Sherlock as a drama and suddenly this book was just there so I tried to reading it. When I finished chapters through and through, I was really feeling that the author, Conan Doyle is a genius. Sherlock was solving 9cases in his own way. Like if I am try to solve one of the case in the book, solving and reasoning why it is will impossible me to explain, but Sherlock was looking things and remembering all things and finally solved it in his way. I especially liked a case of identity in this book. It was showing Sherlock's strength in a short one chapter!

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is beautifully written; I greatly enjoy how Doyle strings words together.

I also very much liked the fact that each episode can be read on its own, which is wonderful when you only have a short amount of time. I savored it, reading one episode at a time, for a couple of months. I only wish the book had been longer. (This book does not contain all of the stories, but I knew that up front, so no complaints.)

I would enjoy reading them over again, even knowing the solutions, because the writing itself is delightful.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ! everyone should read this at least once in their lifetime.

[Toryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The element that stood out to me in this book the most was the POV (and this is probably only because it was brought up in a conversation about POV earlier, but still). First person POV, and it is in the perspective of Dr. Watson, Holmes’s devoted friend and companion. Watson writes how the mystery unfolds, but he doesn’t even know what’s actually going on—he is observing Sherlock Holmes do all of the thinking and solving. Time and time again, Holmes will remark to Watson when he says “I don’t see anything”: “You and I are seeing the same articles, but I can deduce more from them.“(or something of the sort) Anyway, a spectacular book and, though I do believe it is impossible to actually solve the mysteries as they are going along, they are engaging and described fantastically.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent - Arthur Conan Doyle was exceedingly intelligent - but obviously it deals with crime including murder, suicide, and abuse. One story was particularly scary involving a snake at night. I would read aloud with your child and no younger than 10 years old. Focusing on trying to figure out the mystery and remembering they were just fictional stories made it more enjoyable and less fearful.

[Marcia Chocinsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did manage to complete this collection of short stories, however, I found them rather boring and contrived. The language used isn’t a problem as I always seem to settle in to a book like that after so many pages. It just isn’t a book for me. At least I can now say that I have read some Sherlock Holmes.

[Ella Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good mysterious book

[Shant · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can one not enjoy the brilliant narrative of the world's most renowned detective? In a series of mysteries that only THE Sherlock Holmes could unravel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle engages the reader on a journey through the streets of London, full of suspense, witty-narrative, ingenious crime-solving, and a piece of literary/cultural history. My only regret is that it has taken me so many years to finally read this book cover to cover.

[Mridu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Casie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun intrigue and insight into Mr. Holmes' character. Fortunately, he is no Benedict Cumberbatch.