A Study in Scarlet: Part 2 - Chapter 5-7

[Winter, Group Reads]

This is the discussion thread for A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle Part 2 - Chapter 5-7

[MacKenzie]

Part 2 was the saving grace of this story for me.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I thought part 2 was jarring; we are taken away to a completely different story with no explanation although later it all ties together in the final chapters. It was sort of an odd way to present that part of the plot. And I'm not sure the portrayal of the Mormons was very realistic. It certainly wasn't flattering. Made a good story though.

[Amy]

Part 2 had an interesting story, but it was almost as if the two stories didn't really belong together.

[Simon]

I liked how it suddenly jumped back in time to explain to motives of the murderer. It was different to any crime thriller or mystery that I've ever read.

Comparing it to how the BBC TV adaptation told the story, I don't prefer either one. They are just both different although in the book, the murderer arguably has a "better", more personal motive. Has anyone else seen the recent show? If so, what do you think?

I definitely prefer Watson in the adaptations, though. In this first story, he is very much just a storyteller. More a fly on the wall than anything. He reminds me of Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby in that sense.

[Suki]

Randy wrote: "I thought part 2 was jarring; we are taken away to a completely different story with no explanation although later it all ties together in the final chapters. It was sort of an odd way to present t..."

There were a number of points regarding the Mormons that my annotated edition of the story pointed out were inaccurate or downright wrong.

Although I enjoyed this story a lot, it is probably my least favorite of the Holmes canon. As you commented, Part 2 was very jarring, and I really didn't appreciate the change in venue. I was glad that John and Lucy Ferrier's deaths were avenged, though.

[Katie]

Once everything came full circle and was tied back together, I did appreciate the way this was written.
I enjoy the book ending much more that the most recent TV adaptation. I felt that the killer had an actually motive for the murder (view spoiler)[ Whereas in the TV adaptation, the killer is basically bored and on his deathbed, theres really no vengeance, in my opinion, which made the motive in the book more "justified" or "believable" for me (hide spoiler)]
You almost have to admire Hope, in a weird sort of way. He loved Lucy so much he spent years and years trying to avenge her death
Good book 4/5 stars. I don't think I'll be reading many more however. My husband is reading them all at the moment so I might read one or two more, but definitely not all.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Katie wrote: "...I might read one or two more..."

Feel free to jump in our buddy read of the series starting next month with The Sign of Four. You don't have to read them all of course but you can read along with as many as you like. :-)

[Ashley]

I was happy to at least figure out how this story line fit in with the first part of the book. However, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew that they fit together and wasn't reading something random. This isn't my favorite Holmes book, but it was still interesting and okay to read.