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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I liked it. It took a moment to get over the old English references. It is dated. But I liked the mystery of the book. This is the first Sherlock Holmes book and it will not be the last. It kept me intrigued the whole time. I like it a lot.
Generally I'm not a fan of the 'classics', but for Sherlock Holmes I make an exception.
This story is really cleverly written! This was my second read through, but there were still so many details I had forgotten.
Trying to piece the clues together was a fun challenge, and made this a highly enjoyable read.
I particularly liked reading about the moor. The way it was described made it sound almost alive, and ti was a really cool setting for the book.
The story is multi-layered, and the complexity of the solution, I think, is a major factor of what makes this the most famous Sherlock Holmes novel.
And of course I have to mention John Watson. He is an absolute legend, and I love that the books are from his perspective!
This story is really cleverly written! This was my second read through, but there were still so many details I had forgotten.
Trying to piece the clues together was a fun challenge, and made this a highly enjoyable read.
I particularly liked reading about the moor. The way it was described made it sound almost alive, and ti was a really cool setting for the book.
The story is multi-layered, and the complexity of the solution, I think, is a major factor of what makes this the most famous Sherlock Holmes novel.
And of course I have to mention John Watson. He is an absolute legend, and I love that the books are from his perspective!
Watson and the Dartmoor setting get to shine in this one. Some bits around science and superstition, and an unsettling preoccupation with contemporary ideas about race and lineage (applied to humans, phrenology and the like) that curiously link to the dog-theme. I watched the 1988 adaptation after finishing the audiobook.
mysterious
This was my 122nd book finished in 2025.
It really surprises me that this seems to be the "holotype" of Sherlock Holmes stories - it's so unlike any that came before it.
I think it benefited from a slower pace, so we were able to get to know all the characters better. We could have a story unfold before us, rather than Doyle's favourite way of storytelling - the monologue!
Unfortunately half way through it fell into a framing device that I really don't like - diary entries and correspondences. I guess Doyle is trying something different, but it's not my preferred style.
One thing I couldn't understand, is why does this SHERLOCK HOLMES book contain hardly any Sherlock Holmes? I always found Watson to be the least interesting of the duo, so most of the book was him fumbling over tors and moors.
The atmosphere of the book was pretty good in places, and I loved the Dartmoor setting (one of my favourite places in the world). I'm sure it was still a really wild place at the beginning of the 20th century.
Ultimately not quite as exciting as I was expecting, but the occasional action scenes were thrilling.
It really surprises me that this seems to be the "holotype" of Sherlock Holmes stories - it's so unlike any that came before it.
I think it benefited from a slower pace, so we were able to get to know all the characters better. We could have a story unfold before us, rather than Doyle's favourite way of storytelling - the monologue!
Unfortunately half way through it fell into a framing device that I really don't like - diary entries and correspondences. I guess Doyle is trying something different, but it's not my preferred style.
One thing I couldn't understand, is why does this SHERLOCK HOLMES book contain hardly any Sherlock Holmes? I always found Watson to be the least interesting of the duo, so most of the book was him fumbling over tors and moors.
The atmosphere of the book was pretty good in places, and I loved the Dartmoor setting (one of my favourite places in the world). I'm sure it was still a really wild place at the beginning of the 20th century.
Ultimately not quite as exciting as I was expecting, but the occasional action scenes were thrilling.
might have been better if we didn’t have to complete study guides and have a test on it
This is the first Sherlock Holmes story I have ever read and I definitely enjoyed it. I loved the mystery and how the whole idea of local legends tied into it. I also must admit that I did not manage to guess who the villain was until it was revealed and I thought that it was a good reveal and I loved how everything tied up together in the end. I can see why the Sherlock Holmes stories are universally loved and do plan to read more of them at some point in the future.
mysterious
tense
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
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Yes
Doyle revolutionises the Sherlock formula by placing the backstory at the start of the book rather than the end. We get to spend more time following the case ourselves that way, in meeting the wider cast, following evidence and making deductions along with Watson.