The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. I

by Arthur Conan Doyle, David Timson

Book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, David Timson

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Detective, British Literature

Audio CD

Published January 1, 1998

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

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You gotta love Sherlock Holmes!

This was a great Audiobook (very good sound) of 4 classic mysteries. (about an hour each).
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
The Adventure of the Stock-Broker's Clerk
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
The Adventure of the Red-Headed League

Not easy to figure out. But so much fun.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read all of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and probably others as well, just never bothered to put them in to amazon or goodreads, so dates wrong. Some KU some paperback some hardback some collections.

[Sótis · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I read this book at least two days and the way that Sherlock think about his problems and the way that his mind work and make a logic sequence watching the minimums details are impressing me in a way that all that I can say is: I LOVE THAT MAN. All the cases are well-writing by Conan and I was exciting about how will be the end of each history. It's wonderful. No words. Just read!

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful.

[~ Cheryl ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Audiobook*

This audiobook does not contain the 12 short stories collected under the title of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Instead, there were only 4 stories, chosen seemingly at random: Three from Adventures, and one from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

They were:

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band”
“The Adventure of the Copper Beeches”
“The Stockbroker’s Clerk” (from Memoirs)
“The Red-Headed League”

Narrator David Timson was excellent, and the production was enhanced by dramatic violin and piano music between scenes. What fun! I had read most of the Holmes short stories from my beat-up paperback years ago. But I forgot many of the details, so there were some surprises along the way. Also, I was reminded that I do enjoy Conan Doyle’s writing style, and his attention to character as well as to details of each mystery.

Hearing these stores dramatized in this way was very entertaining, and the perfect companion to my neighborhood walks. I’m happy to know my library offers several more volumes in this series.

[ViNo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete adventures of sherlock holmes is truly a master piece of a work. With each unexpected but not unthinkable twists the story keeps you engaged through out.

The solution of most of cases finally makes us feel that it was really not hard a case at all. But then who could pay much attention as the great Sherlock Holmes.

Such ingenious writing that compels you to finish a story without setting the book aside.

Too good a writing that suits anyone of any age.

[Kivrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like the way Doyle writes--very crisp, very precise. Now, I'm going to pick up some of the longer books at the library.

[Kathia Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se disfruta con el genio de uno de los detectives más famosos de la literatura.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first attempt at Sherlock Holmes. Tiresome and predictable. I'll read another, but won't expect much.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Conan Doyle - at last ! - and they do not disappoint I can feel this is the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scams, and how to avoid them.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Doyle,
Three of these Sherlock Holmes stories I had read before, one I had not (The Stock-Broker's Clerk). I decided to listen to this audiobook because I usually listen to Sherlock Holmes stories as I fall asleep, and I wanted to make sure I heard the entirety of the stories while awake to make sure I didn't miss any of their details.

The Speckled Band is one of my favourite of the Holmes stories. I remember the thrill of terror I got the first time that I listened, when Helen describes the circumstances of her sister's death - specifically the mysterious whistle in the night! The entire story is gripping and the murder scheme is inventive as in the best Holmes stories.

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches is another story with a great mystery and a satisfying conclusion. The strange details - the cut off braid, the electric blue dress, the man who watches the house - all create a fascinating, and at times terrifying, story.

The Red-Headed League is a perfect example of the type of Holmes story where a collection of totally weird details stump Watson and the reader, but Holmes understands the implications very quickly. It's always fun to share Watson's role of the clueless one being dragged around by Sherlock, knowing at the end he'll reveal what's going on.

This was my first time hearing the Stock-Broker's Clerk. It reminded me a lot of the Red-Headed League, with a strange new job turning out to be only an attempt to distract the victim of the plot so that crimes can be done behind their back. Red-Headed League was published 1891 and Stock-Broker's Clerk in 1893. I think it was done better the first time, with the stranger details of the case leading to more confusion on the part of Watson and the reader, but this wasn't a bad story at all.

Thank you for this book,
Jordan

[Bethany Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

We watched #Sherlock on @netflix and really wanted to love it but wanted more literary context. So I listened to an audio compilation. It’s quite unsettling how much the English language has changed over the decades and across cultural lines. To be honest it was hard to get past some of the phrases and agree that while the idea and stories of Sherlock Holmes are intriguing, the original stories are hard to get through because of language usage. Or, maybe this was yet another example of how ideas of ability, class, intellect, health (or age), gender, identity, or other difference make us special and not outsiders. But, if you’re ok with stereotypes and jumping to conclusions, and can overlook outdated typecasting and uncomfortable word usage, then the original Sherlock Holmes tales are certainly amusing.

#sherlockholmes #reading #books #literature #mystery

[Michelle]

What a great reminder that Sherlock didn't just walk around the crime scene but placed himself directly in the line of harm. These are so fun to read! I especially enjoyed how they explore a bunch of corners of London, and how they weren't all super morbid and about serial killers, as a lot of mysteries are now. The audiobook is wonderful with a ton of beautiful strings vignettes! A grand ol' time. The 2nd one was weak, but I enjoyed the others quite a lot.

[Rachel Renbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just British people getting scammed from newspaper ads so I'm not entirely sure the hype. Not to mention they love a pistol. I thought I'd at least escape guns but no. It's fine, short, and I can see why it was a hit back when but unsure they could get much out of a show/movie from these short stories...

[Kelle Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great audio book, well narrated and fast moving. I really enjoyed the four short mysteries. A good introduction to Sherlock Holmes.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gradevolissimo ascolto. Il lettore era coinvolgente e, dopo tutto, Conan Doyle è sempre Conan Doyle

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as the review I wrote for scandal of Bohemia

[Harris Online]

Lol

[Cobygirl517 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes, I have no idea what the hell is going on. Though I usually figure it out around the same time as Watson. 🤣

[Dinasaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration + classical music made the audiobook quite engaging. Also, Watson and I were definitely on the same page bc I could never figure out any of the mysteries 😂

[Ricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic. Starts off kind off boring, but it gets impossible to stop reading at some point!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read any Sherlock Holmes, and I had forgotten how much I love it. I've been in a very detective-ish mood lately. All I've been watching are crime procedurals and reading Agatha Christie. Sherlock fit right in. I plowed right through these short stories. They were all so fabulous! Sherlock is also a lot nicer in these books than I remembered, and definitely friendlier than in the TV adaptations. I loved every story! The first two were my favorites.

The Speckled Band
A woman comes to Sherlock because her twin sister was murdered and she fears she's next. She lives with her eccentric step-father and suspects he might have something to do with the death. Before her sister died she screamed out "the speckled band" but nobody knew what that meant.

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
A woman comes to Sherlock and tells him about a mysterious new governess job she's considering. The employers insist that she cut her hair, wear certain clothes, and sit a certain way. Sherlock says he wouldn't recommend his own sister take such a position, but if she takes it, she should write to him if she has any concerns. He hears from a couple weeks later and goes to investigate the odd happenings.

The Stock-Broker's Clerk
A young man gets a strange job offer and wants to know what Sherlock thinks. They arrive at the offices just in time to see the employer behaving very strangely and disappear into a closet.

The Red-Headed League
My least favorite in the bunch, but still fun. Redheads should enjoy this one about a man who gets a job because he has red hair. All he has to do is copy the encyclopedia. What could be easier?

[Kristin Fletcher-spear · Rating 3 out of 5]

To prepare myself for watching the Sherlock Holmes movie I wanted to read something with Holmes and Watson in it. So I listened to this audio version of a handful of short stories. While I was a little disappointed with the short stories (I guessed the conclusion of the mysteries) I did enjoy the details of Holmes. He made for an intriguing character. I'll have to pick up a novel-length story next!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Read," as in "listened to, but still enjoyable.
This audiobook includes:
"The Copper Beeches", "The Red-Headed League", "The Speckled Band" and "The Stockbroker's Clerk."

David Timson does a fine job narrating, giving depth through voice to Doyle's characters. These four are classic tales, but they're still wonderful, even on a re-read (or re-listen, as it were).

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the problems with "the classics" is that by the time you read them, they seem cliche and trite.
These little mysteries unfold and then some how Holmes just has it all figured out "and he knew it all along" just by looking at things with a magnifying glass.

Of the four stories in this collection, The Speckled Band was the best.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years there have been numerous recordings of the Sherlock Holmes stories: this is amongst the best. David Timson's voice is perfectly suited for this task. He clearly understands the material, his characterizations are flawless, the accents artfully rendered, and the intonation captivating. I could easily listen over and over to his rendering. Bravo!

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to read Holmes for years. It’s interesting to finally read/listen to these after seeing so many adaptations but they are genuinely engaging. Holmes comes off with less of a personality here and Watson’s boner for Holmes is even more intense, but overall engaging mysteries that have remained popular for a reason.

[Muphyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Arthur Conan Doyle experience - why I haven't I tried his stories earlier??! Really enjoyed these four stories though I liked "The Speckled Band" and "The Stockbroker's Clerk" best.

Fabulously narrated!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

not a bad selection, but too many of the stories involve imposture and don't involve much detecting so much as explaining after the fact. Still, Speckled Band is a classic & "The Red Headed League" sets a tone the series would repeat until it was threadbare.