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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed the book. As someone who loves theorising, its exciting when my theory aligns with Holmes. But there’s one part that totally caught me of guard.
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book features a similar structure to the first Holmes novel, in that a murder mystery is presented and solved in the first half, and the second half is the life story of the killer, exploring their motives. I enjoyed the first half very much, and ended up skipping just of the second.
3,5 stars
A solid mystery novel just as expected from a Sherlock Holmes story, but suffering from pacing issues makes the overall result less good than it could have been.
As per usual Sherlock and Watson are swept away into a mysterious murder in the countryside, having to work together with less competent detectives working on the case.
The mystery itself is built up well with appropriate red herrings and a good solution.
the problem the story runs into is that the solution to the mystery is only the first half of the book. The second half goes into the back story of the murder victim, explaining how it ever came to the "present" situation.
And although this story ended with a very good twist, which only works by putting it right and the end of the novel, this second part of the book is far too long for how little it adds to the overall story. It could easily be half as long and still get the point across, making the ending to an otherwise good story drag out beyond its welcome.
A solid mystery novel just as expected from a Sherlock Holmes story, but suffering from pacing issues makes the overall result less good than it could have been.
As per usual Sherlock and Watson are swept away into a mysterious murder in the countryside, having to work together with less competent detectives working on the case.
The mystery itself is built up well with appropriate red herrings and a good solution.
the problem the story runs into is that the solution to the mystery is only the first half of the book. The second half goes into the back story of the murder victim, explaining how it ever came to the "present" situation.
And although this story ended with a very good twist, which only works by putting it right and the end of the novel, this second part of the book is far too long for how little it adds to the overall story. It could easily be half as long and still get the point across, making the ending to an otherwise good story drag out beyond its welcome.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Though I've labelled this a 'revisit' review, I don't think I've actually read The Valley of Fear before. For some reason, I have it down on my list as the final Sherlock Holmes story — though as far as I can tell, it's actually seventh in the series. The story wasn't familiar to me, which is exciting as I got to approach the mystery entirely unsolved.
The format of The Valley of Fear is very, very similar to that of A Study in Scarlet; it's divided into two books, the first features Sherlock Holmes and John Watson attempting to solve a murder in an English country house, while the second travels to America to give us the backstory of the people involved. The secret society ensconced in a remote mining community has extremely similar vibes to the Mormon community in A Study in Scarlet. The women characters are treated (slightly) better, at least, in that they are allowed to make their own decisions and not just abandoned to mistreatment.
Taking the two halves separately: the mystery of The Valley of Fear isn't one of Arthur Conan Doyle's best. A seasoned reader of mysteries will probably immediately realise that the witness testimony is highly suspect. That said, Arthur Conan Doyle was writing earlier than a great many popular mystery authors, so perhaps it wouldn't have been as obvious at the time. The second half is engaging, and features an elements of murder and mystery which make the whole thing feel more in keeping with a Sherlock Holmes book than did the random historical romance inserted in A Study in Scarlet.
Though published later, The Valley of Fear is set before Reichenbach, so can't advance the relationship between Holmes and Watson enough to be interesting. That said, Holmes is extremely idiosyncratic throughout, which is good fun to read, especially the spiel he goes on about why detectives need to be so dramatic.
The Valley of Fear is no The Hound of the Baskervilles, but it's about equally enjoyable as A Study in Scarlet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Murder
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Definitely one of the best of the Sherlock Holmes book. Never slows down and keeps you in it's tight grip.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A rare full length novel about Sherlock Holmes, and a good read.
The first half focusses on the case, and it is full of the usual twists and turns. The surprises throughout were good and it was a good case.
The second half is a flashback to years before in America. It was different, but a very good read. The ending was really surprising, and the epilogue had a melancholy note. It was strange reading half a book without Sherlock Holmes.
The first half focusses on the case, and it is full of the usual twists and turns. The surprises throughout were good and it was a good case.
The second half is a flashback to years before in America. It was different, but a very good read. The ending was really surprising, and the epilogue had a melancholy note. It was strange reading half a book without Sherlock Holmes.
I cannot say that I enjoyed this book as much as others in the cannon. I found my interest waning in the second half (the backstory) and I was really eager for it to be over. The first half featuring Holmes was good though. Baffling mystery and ingenious solve.
I'd like to thank Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate Collection audiobook for allowing me to revisit this delight again.
I agree with everything I said previously. The Stephen Fry foreword at the beginning of this part of the audiobook allowed me to gauge a deeper understanding of the times when the Valley of Fear was wrote and why it was so prominent in its times (and so prominent now). I adore this book even though 45% takes place without Holmes and Watson.
_________________________________
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a craft master - 5*
There is no doubt that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the best crime writer and in my opinion, the best writer of all time. He crafts his stories so beautifully. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are well-established characters by the time of the Valley of Fear. Doctor Watson even says that he gets tired of Sherlock Holmes- how is that even possible?
45% of this novel takes place without Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in the second-half of the novel to fully explain the murder. It's surprising that Conan Doyle doesn't need his trusted characters to develop and extend a plot further. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's written has grown beautifully.
I read this book when I was in secondary school. I did not read these in order because i was new to detective and crime novels. They weren't really common beforehand and so when I first read Sherlock Holmes, I engulfed them.
I have not reviewed the book until today because I think this book deserved a full review with my full emotions after reading the novel. This is one of the least-read Holmes books I've read, just because of the lack of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson - I strive for that relationship. It's such a beautiful companionship.
I agree with everything I said previously. The Stephen Fry foreword at the beginning of this part of the audiobook allowed me to gauge a deeper understanding of the times when the Valley of Fear was wrote and why it was so prominent in its times (and so prominent now). I adore this book even though 45% takes place without Holmes and Watson.
_________________________________
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a craft master - 5*
There is no doubt that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the best crime writer and in my opinion, the best writer of all time. He crafts his stories so beautifully. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are well-established characters by the time of the Valley of Fear. Doctor Watson even says that he gets tired of Sherlock Holmes- how is that even possible?
45% of this novel takes place without Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in the second-half of the novel to fully explain the murder. It's surprising that Conan Doyle doesn't need his trusted characters to develop and extend a plot further. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's written has grown beautifully.
I read this book when I was in secondary school. I did not read these in order because i was new to detective and crime novels. They weren't really common beforehand and so when I first read Sherlock Holmes, I engulfed them.
I have not reviewed the book until today because I think this book deserved a full review with my full emotions after reading the novel. This is one of the least-read Holmes books I've read, just because of the lack of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson - I strive for that relationship. It's such a beautiful companionship.