Jack Hinch’s Reviews > The Complete Sherlock Holmes > Status Update

The Five Orange Pips:
A captivating story with uncomfortable history at its forefront. I hadn’t expected the narrative to revolve around the KKK however it made for a good villainous society looming over the story - as a 21st century reader you know their threat. However the story ends just as it begins, you want Holmes to go to Harsham but alas the client dies. It was interesting but painfully cut short.

The Boscombe Valley Mystery:
A fairly predictable little story. A simple murder, a family feud - a foreign past come back to haunt the killer into killing. All the staples of a Sherlock Holmes murder case is here in a 15 page tale. It’s short and sweet. Even though it is the most simple of any Holmes story I’ve read so far it was the most natural for me to read. As I mature I can appreciate these stories better.

A Case of Identity:
After 4 years I came back to the Holmes collection and was pleasantly surprised. The language was easier to understand with more years behind me and the story, whilst very simple, had intrigue. An enjoyable story, not a deep engaging twisting tale but a concise one of a woman and stepfather, a missing man and the reveal being right under the victim’s nose. Good humour and references too!

Found a Study in Scarlet very hard to follow in places. Because of this the end wasn’t particularly rewarding. I can’t deny the writing isn’t immaculate but I believe the period is obstructing my appreciation, particularly as a younger person.