The Sign of the Four Illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle

3.61 AVERAGE

jordannedunn's profile picture

jordannedunn's review against another edition

4.0
Better than the first.

I definitely preferred this to the first book, A Study in Scarlet. I much prefer the Mary portrayed in the BBC show but then she didn't get much time in this whereas she gets to show of a bit more in Moffat's adaption. A well paced story that kept me interested (at least more so than the first) and I'm coming to really enjoy Dr Watson's narrative viewpoint. Onward with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

mbragg's review against another edition

2.0
Not a bad book, just wasn't my favorite

chasingom's review against another edition

4.0
Reading my first Sherlock Holmes has sent me into a rabbit hole that will likely take me all of 2017 to read -- from Sir Doyle's entire Holmes catalogue to gender swapped retellings to Sherlock in his young, the opportunities for more banter and case solving are endless!

I read this as a "read-a-long" with friends on Litsy, so I'm going to have to go back and read "Study in Scarlet" next to get the full, original picture.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read "the Classics" but also enjoys a good mystery.

My Rating System:
5 Stars = great book, would enthusiastically recommend
4 Stars = good book, would recommend
3 Stars = so-so rating, might recommend
2 Stars = finished, but would not recommend
1 Stars = bailed

vvnobook's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous informative mysterious fast-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
The Sign of Four reads like a true pulp/adventurous novel. Again this is no simple crime story there is some overseas adventures reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo. It's shortness is what makes it so addictive. One can't help but to turn to the next page and see how Holmes will lay all the information that has been laid before the characters and the reader to make them both look foolish. Compared to A Study in Scarlet, this novel shows more it's dated view on colonialism and the role of women in Victorian society. Women of the novel are simple objects written only to please the men and colonialism is referenced as something that is essential and good for the colonizers and the colonized. Even though certain topics are dated the writing style is not. Doyle writes with such imagery that it is easy to imagine scenes from a movie within one's head while reading (the boat chase scene comes to mind). Sherlock Holmes again proves to be one of the most interesting character in fiction not because of the depth of the character although, his drug used is explored a bit more in this novel, but rather because of the lessons he he shows to the reader in the power of observation and consequently the human condition.

soepie's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kritim's review against another edition

3.0
It was good enough. Was a little bit sexist and racist but considering the time period it was written in, I guess it was not surprising.

Compared to other Sherlock Holmes story, it wasn't that engaging.

francescabooks's review against another edition

3.75
mysterious reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

moonxeph's review against another edition

2.5
mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot

smepsmorp's review against another edition

3.0
Sherlock Holmes is just a silly little guy doing silly little things :)

tyneath's review against another edition

4.0
4,25