Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sherlock Holmes is bored.
After all, there’s only so many treatises one can write about the one-hundred-and-forty different types of tobacco ash before one feels singularly overqualified for solving London’s petty crimes. Nowadays, the only source of mental stimulation Sherlock can find is in cocaine (despite the good Doctor Watson’s remonstrances).
Even a serious, pretty young woman’s dilemma involving pearls and a missing father seems clear-cut to the consulting detective. That is, until the case grows murkier, involving grinning corpses, high-speed chases, and mysterious references to the Sign of Four…
Could this be the case that completely confounds Sherlock Holmes… or will he crack?
5 stars // read April 2022
random thoughts:
-the scene with Holmes’ disguise brought back fond memories of the old “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” TV show ❤️
-Classic Doyle- involves a really quirky case with a smidgen of the macabre- unfortunately, also typical Doyle, includes an aside in a foreign country explaining backstory that I don’t really care about. Thankfully, it’s not to the extent that A Study in Scarlet was (*shudders*), but enough to give me flashbacks.
-“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
-the subtle humor- it seems like Doyle is actually making fun of his characters at some points
-also the interesting untranslated snippets in Italian/German/French that the audience is just supposed to *know*… part of the classic book flavor
-unexpected John/Mary backstory ❤️
Content: Mild. Some brief references to cocaine/drug use; descriptions of a dead body; somewhat racist attitudes typical of the time period (1800s England/India)
After all, there’s only so many treatises one can write about the one-hundred-and-forty different types of tobacco ash before one feels singularly overqualified for solving London’s petty crimes. Nowadays, the only source of mental stimulation Sherlock can find is in cocaine (despite the good Doctor Watson’s remonstrances).
Even a serious, pretty young woman’s dilemma involving pearls and a missing father seems clear-cut to the consulting detective. That is, until the case grows murkier, involving grinning corpses, high-speed chases, and mysterious references to the Sign of Four…
Could this be the case that completely confounds Sherlock Holmes… or will he crack?
5 stars // read April 2022
random thoughts:
-the scene with Holmes’ disguise brought back fond memories of the old “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” TV show ❤️
-Classic Doyle- involves a really quirky case with a smidgen of the macabre- unfortunately, also typical Doyle, includes an aside in a foreign country explaining backstory that I don’t really care about. Thankfully, it’s not to the extent that A Study in Scarlet was (*shudders*), but enough to give me flashbacks.
-“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
-the subtle humor- it seems like Doyle is actually making fun of his characters at some points
-also the interesting untranslated snippets in Italian/German/French that the audience is just supposed to *know*… part of the classic book flavor
-unexpected John/Mary backstory ❤️
Content: Mild. Some brief references to cocaine/drug use; descriptions of a dead body; somewhat racist attitudes typical of the time period (1800s England/India)
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
After the strangeness of the case in A Study in Scarlet I was expecting a little more intrigue, but maybe I just overhyped the first. Still a riveting read, although the Watson love story seems a little strange to me. Is that how quickly people fell in love in the 1880’s? I did thoroughly enjoy how in your face Sherlock is with his addiction. Not subtle at all
I think the racist undertone was seriously offputting although I understand that in the time period this was considered the norm. Holmes' persona and antics is what is the most intriguing feature of the book, it really builds his character and Watson's as well.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't really know hy I didn't liked it as much as the first but meh. However the story was great and really entertaining but I think I was just not as much immersed in this book than in the last one. I was also a little uncomfortable by the way Sherlock's use of drug was written sa casually. Beside that, good book !
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Listening to a british soldier talk about the indigo uprising and the riots as “the black devils attacking the comfortable lifestyle of indian colonies” was funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Other than that I liked that the characters were a little more fleshed out in this book!