Buddy Read - Sherlock Holmes

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "Savita wrote: "I finished The Red Circle . I liked SH's sleuthing as always . [spoilers removed]"

I finished The Adventure of the Red Circle:
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I wonder in what light the murder of despicable Gorgiano would be looked at by the English law 🤔. I don't think Gennaro should be punished. In any case the killing occurred in self defense, and not in cold blood . (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

Savita wrote: "Sehrish wrote: "Savita wrote: "I've finished The Cardboard Box . SH's line of reasoning was interesting. Everything seemed so simple once he had explained it all ! I was touched by pity by the end ..."

Couldn't agree more.. 😢

[Sehrish |]

Savita wrote: "Sehrish wrote: "Savita wrote: "I finished The Red Circle . I liked SH's sleuthing as always . [spoilers removed]"

I finished The Adventure of the Red Circle:
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, and I hope he gets a mercy plea bargain out of it.. It was self defense and the guy who died was wretched 😩

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington
(view spoiler)[What an excellent case, this was definitely my favorite of the entire collection! SH is beyond amazing.. I don't have any praise left for his skills in my vocabulary now.. Mycroft Holmes reaching out to SH in itself talks so much about his intelligence and capabilities.. SH also indicated that Mycroft could've solved it on his own, but since he reached out to SH, the issue must have been deadly.. I feel sorry for Cadogan West.. He met his fate in a very awful way.. Although the main villain was Hugo Oberstein, he destroyed so many lives in the process... Sir James, who had no part to play in the villainy, Valentine Walter himself although he was taking part in a crime which he thought was small, ended up being so nasty and poor poor Miss. Westbury... It was a very sweet gesture in the end when she sent a token of appreciation and gratitude to SH..

This line is my favorite! “We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" Talks so much about SH's line of reasoning.. When everyone backs off, he still finds a small thread to hang on to! Amazing, simply Amazing! (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Adventure of the Dying Detective
(view spoiler)[What a hilarious case.. My god, I was laughing when SH sprang up in the end, poor Mrs. Hudson and Dr. Watson.. Impeccable skills demonstrated once again! (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
(view spoiler)[What a cruel man this Peter and his accomplice, his own wife.. SH was so restless and I could feel that restlessness when I was going through this case... Thank god, he rescued her in time.. Poor Philip Green, his love for the Lady was beautifully shown by the way he cared and tried to pursue her but didn't go against her will (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "I finished The Adventure of the Dying Detective
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ It was hilarious all right 😁 ! I really enjoyed it! (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "I finished The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I liked and agreed with what you said about Philip Green-- he cared so much , but he never forced himself on the Lady. (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

I finished His Last Bow .
(view spoiler)[ I feel so sad to have come to the end of the book and know that SH has retired, and is keeping a bee farm upon the South Downs . Why couldn't he continue being a detective forever ? 😪
Also , the closing paragraph refers , I suppose , to the oncoming first World War : ".... East wind..... such wind that never blew on England yet . It will be cold and bitter.... and a good many of us may wither before its blast..... and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared . " (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

I very much enjoyed reading the book along with Sehrish , and give it 4 shining stars ! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you , Sehrish , for this truly enjoyable Buddy Read 😊 !

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Adventure of the Devil's Foot
(view spoiler)[This was such a bad case, bad in the sense that it completely shook me and I feel so sad and sorry for everyone in the Tregennis family.. the brother killed the lady and drove his brothers mad and then met his fateful death with the same way he killed others... how people go to extremes for little money, fame... I feel very sad for Sterndale.. SH was so gentle with the case, his observations skills are absolutely amazing but the way he dealt with this case and the gentleness he displayed in some other cases too, makes me realize, he is not just a machine, but a very great human being with a good heart (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

I finished His Last Bow
(view spoiler)[This last case was a bit difficult for me to follow and understand but as usual, when SH clarifies, it all clears out 😁
Of course, I am devastated to see SH go away and these beautiful cases stop coming our way., but he has given us so many wonderful memories... SH has not just stopped crimes but some great political disasters as well... (hide spoiler)]

I am giving this book 4 shining stars too... What an experience to read this amazing collection by AC Doyle and reading it with you all made it ever so enjoyable.. Thank you so much...

I guess the last book in the entire series is The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "I finished The Adventure of the Devil's Foot
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes , it was really a shocking state of affairs for the Tregennis family ! Whether in fiction or in real life , it is disheartening to see uncontrolled anger, smouldering revenge and / or disgusting greed drive a person to doing horrific acts , with no apparent fear of human or Divine retribution. 🤔
I , too , felt sad and sorry for Leon Sterndale. He just went back to Africa , to be lost in the lonely wilds there . Well , at least SH was soft and kind in his stand of judgment, otherwise things may have been quite messy for Leon Sterndale , if he had been left to face the English law 🤔. (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "I finished His Last Bow
This last case was a bit difficult for me to follow and understand but as usual, when SH clarifies, it all clears out 😁
Of course, I am devastated to see SH go away and thes..."

@ Sehrish , Kirti : I would love to read The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes . When shall we begin ?

[Sehrish |]

We can wait for Kirti to join us.. I am not sure till where he is done reading

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "We can wait for Kirti to join us.. I am not sure till where he is done reading"

Okay , that's right. It's more fun when we all read together .

@ Kirti: Could we know where you have reached in the reading ? It would be great if we could all read together .

[Kirti]

Hi guys. Sorry i have been away. I was swamped with stuff. Still am but things have been a little bit better last couple of days. I will start reading now. i can join in on the new one you guys start or start with last bow. I apologize again for being a bad 'buddy read partner'. Take care :)

[Sehrish |]

hey Kirti, that's perfectly alright. As long as we read it together. If you need time to finish His Last Bow, please do so... we can connect once you are done

[Savita]

Hi , Kirti ! Nice to hear from you ! I agree with Sehrish- if you would like to read His Last Bow first , please let us know . Then we could all read The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes later, after that.

[Kirti]

Alright then I'll start his last bow today

[Savita]

Happy reading , Kirti ! 📖 😊 ! Do let us know your progress.

[Sehrish |]

yes.. eager to hear your thoughts

[Kirti]

hey, why does my copy have only one chapter? can either of you share a link of the actual book?

[Sehrish |]

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2350

[Kirti]

thanks a ton!

[Kirti]

Finished the Wisteria Lodge
(view spoiler)[
The Voodoo thing was ominous but a good detail to add. The history was short, sweet, and remarkable. Miss Burnet was done wrong but it was good that she didn't die at least. Poor Garcia for that matter. I would like to see more of Inspector Baynes challenging SH. Hope he appears again.
An interesting case.
(hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Kirti wrote: "Finished the Wisteria Lodge

👍😊

[Kirti]

Finished Bruce Partington and Devil's Foot

[Sehrish |]

awesome! how did you like these?

[Kirti]

Finished Red Circle.
As they say it in every case, all of the cases were the most unique and singular. It has started to annoy me now to read this very description. The "singular" nature of the case. We get it, they are definitely singular and that is why you are famous SH. It is implied.
But all three of them were singular and unique and brilliant.

(view spoiler)[
All three of them had beautiful cases. Especially Bruce Partington and Devils Foot.
What bugs me is that all of them are about murder or underworld. I mean that is where a detective is required but still, a breath of fresh intellectual non criminal case will be appreciated.

Anyway, Bruce Partington was brilliant. From reasoning to writing, one of the best.

With Devil's foot, the description leading up to the case was very annoying. I considered putting it away. But boy the case made up for it. The nature of the case, 2 maniac and one dead. How was that possible. And the fact that in 2 events there were two different culprits and 2 different motives. Especially when the culprit Mortimer knew the method and became a victim himself. Brilliant.
Also, it was exciting when they try out the effect of the devils foot themselves.
I would love to see observation and deduction of human psychology by SH rather than the events. A case where he picks out on body language or something which might be of utmost importance. That is when SH might get perfect.

About Red Circle, the only thing that I liked about the case was the deduction that there had been a substitution of lodgers. Otherwise it was a common yet another SH case with a common back story. I was glad it was shorter in length.

(hide spoiler)]

[Kirti]

Finished Lady Francis
(view spoiler)[
It was an average one for me. For one I don't understand why Watson is portrayed as so stupid. As in, he's been with Sherlock for years and he cannot carry out an investigation. Sherlock makes fun of him and Watson still follows him around. Even for a friend, right? if you think he cannot do better then why send him in the first place if he was going to be useless!
for the case, it was open as to the culprit. but I don't understand why they were so weak hearted in killing the lady. anyway last minute climax. good drama. average.
(hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Kirti wrote: "Finished Red Circle.
As they say it in every case, all of the cases were the most unique and singular. It has started to annoy me now to read this very description. The "singular" nature of the cas..."

Actually, Kirti , I think Dr Watson means that each case selected is singular because of some unique aspect. This is true, which is why the cases are so interesting.
Also, by the way, some interesting and educative aspects of human nature are displayed in the cases , which makes them worth reading . Further , the course of justice / law selected in individual cases is written by a very mature hand , I think .
I am glad you enjoyed the cases, especially Bruce Partington Plans. That was really good .
I hope you'll enjoy the remaining cases ! Happy reading 😊 !

[Kirti]

Done with the book.
(view spoiler)[
It was fun to see SH acting. So real as well!

First with Smith and his illness. And lastly with the German Von Bork.
For someone not so social, he was good at disguise. I understand it is the need of the art. but then that means he chose to be eccentric. anyway, the last two cases both had little explanations of the events and the causes.

I usually want lesser history or background but this was way too short for it. for example the whole case of Smith. a little background might have been nice as to why he killed Victor. but need not go to his history in America or Russia.
With the last one as well, it started a bit confusing and was informative but the SH part was way too shorter.
but Brilliant no second opinions about it.

(hide spoiler)]

overall I too give this one 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ because the cases in this one were brilliant all along.

[Sehrish |]

I agree Kirti.. Some cases were confusing as I wasn't able to related to the backgrounds but at the end the case ended well.. I gave it a 4 star too..

I can't believe we are almost at the end..

[Kirti]

I know right! I know I'm repeating myself but it's so very true, that it couldn't have been possible for me to read if not for you both.

[Savita]

Kirti wrote: "I know right! I know I'm repeating myself but it's so very true, that it couldn't have been possible for me to read if not for you both."

Really, Kirti , Sehrish and I also agree that reading together made it so enjoyable 😊 .
@ Sehrish and Kirti: would you like to read The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes ?

[Kirti]

sure

[Sehrish |]

yayyy!! I am so glad that I actually saw this thread so long ago and joined you guys! I enjoyed reading the SH Collection with you all so much.

When do you plan to start?

[Savita]

@ Kirti, Sehrish : Let's start today/ tomorrow. 😊 📖

[Sehrish |]

Sunday sounds good to me..

[Savita]

Sehrish wrote: "Sunday sounds good to me.."

👍😊

[Savita]

I finished The Mazarin Stone .
(view spoiler)[ This was surprisingly in the third person, and Dr Watson had hardly any role . I missed him! 😒
The situation was tense and dangerous throughout, but the end was real fun . I had a good laugh! 😁 (hide spoiler)]
Waiting for comments from you two .

[Savita]

I finished The Thor Bridge . Real nice case with beautiful deductions by SH . 👌

[Savita]

I finished The Creeping Man . A fascinating and interesting case 🤔.
@ Kirti and Sehrish: how are both of you doing ? Have you started reading this book as yet ?

[Sehrish |]

Hey Savita.. sorry, I am responding late..

I finished The Adventure of the Illustrious Client:
(view spoiler)[God I hated that guy Gruner.. such an awful, bad bad person... poor I feel terrible for Violet... She trusted this man so blindly.. how blind love makes a person!!!! I feel so sorry for Kitty too! but the end was worth it.. (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

I am so confused, are we reading the same books! lol.

your first case seems to be Mazarin Stone

[Sehrish |]

The book I have has all the cases listed in this Order. There are 12 cases in total:

The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
The Adventure of the Three Gables
The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
The Problem of Thor Bridge
The Adventure of the Creeping Man
The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane
The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cas...

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier:
(view spoiler)[The case was narrated by SH himself and not Dr. Watson, which was refreshing but I certainly missed Dr. Watson's narrations.. I also noticed how different the style of writing was and this was such a spectacular thing about Sir Arthur.. The incidents were narrated plainly by SH but when someone else is looking or experiencing SH's deductions they are in a such an awe that their amazement is spilled in the writing, I think that change in style was really good and how the author is able to bring a different perspective..

Talking about the case itself, it wasn't at all criminal in nature but it was good to see Mr. Dodd's worry for his friend and how he reached out to SH for help after he found fishy things at his friend's place with his father being so skeptical.. The family was also so worried, it was good to see these emotions.. It was a sweet ending (hide spoiler)]

[Sehrish |]

I finished The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone:
(view spoiler)[This case was a bit funny to be honest.. The way SH confused Lord Cantlemere at the end was great..
SH's skills weren't discussed in this case, it was a bit disappointing as we are so used to the way the case unfolds, this case was like already solved and just the final scene was laid out in front of the readers.. A bit dissatisfying.. But the lingering danger with which SH was fighting and still hoping to win was commendable! (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Hi Sehrish! My edition has the same cases presented in a different order. I 'll read them in the order listed above by you, except the ones I've already read. Will that be okay ? 😊