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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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:
Complicated
In the absence of an overarching complex plot, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle instead provides us with classic short stories rich with mystery. Despite their age, the stories hold up well even today. My only real critique is that it leaves the reader wanting for a deeper mystery on which to accompany his protagonists, and for more details of the case so as to have a better chance of truly solving the mystery alongside Holmes instead of listening in to his findings.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
I. A Scandal in Bohemia
I saw a Wishbone episode of this once, a long time ago. Of course, this story contains the brilliant introduction of the inimitable Irene Adler, the only woman to ever best Holmes. I love the trickery in this story. I love the depiction of Holmes and Adler both as actors, schemers, intellectual equals, but not as lovers.
II. The Red-Headed League
Another of the stories in which Watson visits 221B Baker Street after he has moved away and is married. Somethings strike me about the time in which these stories are written. I wouldn't have guessed that Sherlock Holmes was written during a time that London would have the Underground already but Watson mentions it in this story. This story is also a depiction of the time honoured manner of robbing a bank by tunneling. So many people have done this. One of my other favourite tellings of this same idea is Bob Dylan's "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts". I also love the description of Holmes as being drawn to the arts and music and poetry, thus belying the popular image that he is nothing more than a calculating machine that breathes.
III. A Case of Identity
This story was possibly the shortest Sherlock Holmes story I've read to date. It read more like a drabble than an actual story. Still, the descriptions of Sherlock being curled up in his chair was rather amusing, as well as his incorrect assumption as to what Dr. Watson was asking him about. The case was not so interesting, nor so believable, but it did pass a half hour's time while I was at work.
IV. The Boscombe Valley Mystery
A more interesting Sherlock Holmes case. I like the actual conclusion of the case, as well as Sherlock's words in conclusion: "I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter’s words, and say, ‘There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.’"
This particular case also serves as the origin of the line from the movie which has always struck me as being particularly rememberable; “It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely. while I was at work." I would like a chance to say that to someone and really mean it in the way that I feel Sherlock means it.
V. The Five Orange Pips
A story of the KKK and how Sherlock Holmes failed to save his client.
A very disappointing case for Sherlock Holmes. Not only did he send his client away to his desk, but he also failed to bring the perpetrators to justice as the weather apparently took them out before he was able to exact his own form of revenge.
Doyle's depiction of the KKK seems a little romanticised, as though he wasn't really familiar with the Klan but just read about them in the paper. It's a bit funny to see such a watered down history, as well as hearing that the Klan ended its activities in a certain year, as in many places in the south, the Klan still has meetings. This includes the town I grew up in.
Very enjoyable, I liked that even the great Sherlock Holmes can be bested by the weather.
VI. The Man With the Twisted Lip
"Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?” - Conclusion: Watson is pussywhipped.
Holmes is in the opium den in disguise!
"It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes’ requests." - Once again; whipped.
I like that Watson says himself that he sprang down from the carriage. All of the portrayals of Watson as a portly old, slow moving man really irk me. I think Jude Law and Martin Freeman have come the closest to portraying Watson's actual appearance and demeanor. He was a soldier, and a poor and injured one at that, when he came to Baker street, not a fat old man who spent his time playing cards rather than seeing the front lines.
I quite enjoy this story, I like that the villian/victim pointed out that it was more profitable for him to beg than to work.
VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE
“I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies."
I like this story for the slightly whimsical nature of it, as well as for the fact that, in the end, Holmes lets the theif go. I like that the point is made that he's not the police's bitch and has no responsibility to share with them what he's found.
VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
The old days when they were still living together!
Lol, bedroom invasion, Sherlock Holmes style.
“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.” - Where "knock you up" means to wake up.
And despite being woken at a quarter after seven, Watson is ready to go as always.
“I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of danger.” AWWWWW, he wants to protect his Watson!
"His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation." - Just...yeah. :D
Very good, a little bit creepy, a little bit reminicint of Edgar Allen Poe's work in the flavouring. And there was a lot that I really enjoyed in the interaction between Holmes and Watson.
IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER’S THUMB
The way they talk is hilarious. All British stiff upper lip, all the time!
I like that, indirectly, Holmes broke up an early version of a money counterfeiting ring.
I also like that he didn't actually solve any crimes or manage to capture the bad guys. In this case it was simply a rememberance of one of the more strange cases Watson observed.
I saw a Wishbone episode of this once, a long time ago. Of course, this story contains the brilliant introduction of the inimitable Irene Adler, the only woman to ever best Holmes. I love the trickery in this story. I love the depiction of Holmes and Adler both as actors, schemers, intellectual equals, but not as lovers.
II. The Red-Headed League
Another of the stories in which Watson visits 221B Baker Street after he has moved away and is married. Somethings strike me about the time in which these stories are written. I wouldn't have guessed that Sherlock Holmes was written during a time that London would have the Underground already but Watson mentions it in this story. This story is also a depiction of the time honoured manner of robbing a bank by tunneling. So many people have done this. One of my other favourite tellings of this same idea is Bob Dylan's "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts". I also love the description of Holmes as being drawn to the arts and music and poetry, thus belying the popular image that he is nothing more than a calculating machine that breathes.
III. A Case of Identity
This story was possibly the shortest Sherlock Holmes story I've read to date. It read more like a drabble than an actual story. Still, the descriptions of Sherlock being curled up in his chair was rather amusing, as well as his incorrect assumption as to what Dr. Watson was asking him about. The case was not so interesting, nor so believable, but it did pass a half hour's time while I was at work.
IV. The Boscombe Valley Mystery
A more interesting Sherlock Holmes case. I like the actual conclusion of the case, as well as Sherlock's words in conclusion: "I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter’s words, and say, ‘There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.’"
This particular case also serves as the origin of the line from the movie which has always struck me as being particularly rememberable; “It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely. while I was at work." I would like a chance to say that to someone and really mean it in the way that I feel Sherlock means it.
V. The Five Orange Pips
A story of the KKK and how Sherlock Holmes failed to save his client.
A very disappointing case for Sherlock Holmes. Not only did he send his client away to his desk, but he also failed to bring the perpetrators to justice as the weather apparently took them out before he was able to exact his own form of revenge.
Doyle's depiction of the KKK seems a little romanticised, as though he wasn't really familiar with the Klan but just read about them in the paper. It's a bit funny to see such a watered down history, as well as hearing that the Klan ended its activities in a certain year, as in many places in the south, the Klan still has meetings. This includes the town I grew up in.
Very enjoyable, I liked that even the great Sherlock Holmes can be bested by the weather.
VI. The Man With the Twisted Lip
"Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?” - Conclusion: Watson is pussywhipped.
Holmes is in the opium den in disguise!
"It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes’ requests." - Once again; whipped.
I like that Watson says himself that he sprang down from the carriage. All of the portrayals of Watson as a portly old, slow moving man really irk me. I think Jude Law and Martin Freeman have come the closest to portraying Watson's actual appearance and demeanor. He was a soldier, and a poor and injured one at that, when he came to Baker street, not a fat old man who spent his time playing cards rather than seeing the front lines.
I quite enjoy this story, I like that the villian/victim pointed out that it was more profitable for him to beg than to work.
VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE
“I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies."
I like this story for the slightly whimsical nature of it, as well as for the fact that, in the end, Holmes lets the theif go. I like that the point is made that he's not the police's bitch and has no responsibility to share with them what he's found.
VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
The old days when they were still living together!
Lol, bedroom invasion, Sherlock Holmes style.
“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.” - Where "knock you up" means to wake up.
And despite being woken at a quarter after seven, Watson is ready to go as always.
“I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of danger.” AWWWWW, he wants to protect his Watson!
"His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation." - Just...yeah. :D
Very good, a little bit creepy, a little bit reminicint of Edgar Allen Poe's work in the flavouring. And there was a lot that I really enjoyed in the interaction between Holmes and Watson.
IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER’S THUMB
The way they talk is hilarious. All British stiff upper lip, all the time!
I like that, indirectly, Holmes broke up an early version of a money counterfeiting ring.
I also like that he didn't actually solve any crimes or manage to capture the bad guys. In this case it was simply a rememberance of one of the more strange cases Watson observed.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The red-headed League is my favorite Sherlock Holmes story.
A thoroughly enjoyable continuation of my reading of the complete Sherlock Holmes collection.
sherlock holmes and john watson are two of my favourite fictional characters of all time
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is the first collection of short fiction in the Holmes bibliography, and contains many of Doyle's most memorable yarns.
"A Scandal in Bohemia" is justifiably one of the most famous Holmes stories, featuring Irene Adler, or "The Woman" as Holmes refers to her after she outwits his clever plan. This story marks a shift towards a more light-hearted tone that Doyle would frequently employ here, compared to the darkness of the first two novels. The story also first introduces the major theme of the collection, that of "true" justice as opposed to legal justice, as Holmes sympathizes with Adler over the Price who hired him.
"The Red-Headed League" has a clever plot featuring an elaborate con and a heist, which Holmes ultimately foils. It depends a little too much on Holmes having prior knowledge of the villain, though it's still a fun and memorable story.
"A Case of Identity" is another story of a con job, this time dealing with a step-father who cruelly tricks his daughter. Holmes passes stern judgement on the step-father, despite him having done nothing illegal.
"The Boscombe Valley Mystery" is the first murder mystery of the collection, and harkens back to the dark tone of the early novels. Despite all the evidence against a son in the murder of his father, Holmes suspects another plot entirely; through his exacting methodology, Holmes deduces the murderer's identity, who then confesses in a dramatic scene. Instead of pursuing the man's conviction, Holmes defers to a higher court of justice, as the man is already near death. The theme of colonial adventure (this time in Australia) recalls The Sign of Four.
"The Five Orange Pips" is another dark tale of murder, revenge, and a sinister secret society. All of these elements recall A Study in Scarlet, especially given the American origin of the menace - here the KKK. This one has a chilling ending, as Holmes is unable to prevent his client's demise. In a grim code, having discovered the identities of the murderers, they are presumed dead, their ship lost at sea.
"The Man with the Twisted Lip" starts with a vivid scene in which Watson visits an opium den, searching for a friend, only to find Holmes in disguise as an opium-eater. This evolves into another tale of a con man, here a wealthy gentleman who poses as a beggar. It's a clever set-up, though the ending is rather unsatisfying, as Doyle doesn't really tell us how Holmes solved the mystery.
"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is one of the more memorable tales in the collection, and a personal favourite of mine. Taking place at Christmastime, this story is Dickensian in both tone and scope, as Watson and Holmes traverse London to find the owner of a Christmas goose, encountering vividly-drawn characters along the way. A robbery plot is uncovered, the thief identified, and in the spirit of the season, the thief is granted mercy by Holmes.
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is another favourite, landing on the opposite end of the tonal spectrum of its predecessor. This one is dark, close to horror. A young woman tells Holmes and Watson of the strange circumstances of the death of her twin sister years earlier. Deducing that another murder is imminent, Holmes and Watson travel to a country estate to foil the villainous plot, resulting in a gruesome end for the murderer. The setting, tone and some of the plot details resemble The Hound of the Baskervilles, which is probably Doyle's best work.
"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" is another very good dark and scary tale, perhaps the most violent in the collection. An engineer gets caught up with a ring of nefarious counterfeiters and end up with his thumb brutally hacked off. The description of the bad guy's lair is nightmarish, like a torture dungeon out of Poe: a dark maze of corridors, stair cases, hidden doors and a hydraulic-power ceiling used to crush unsuspecting victims to death. Holmes cleverly deduces the location of this house of horrors, but is too late to catch the cabal.
"The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor" is the story of a runaway bride; it's a light palate cleanser after the darkness of the two preceding stories. Overall, it's perhaps the least of the stories in the collection, lacking much in the way of suspense or intrigue. It's perhaps most notable for the amicable way in which the conflicting parties meet at the end of the story.
"The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" is a tale of a burglary with an obvious suspect, though again Holmes doubts the presumed verdict. This features one of the best depictions of Holmes's methodical approach to investigation, showing him inspecting footprints and drops of blood in the snow before doggedly pursuing the logical suspect. It's very satisfying when Holmes finally gets his man, proving his initial intuition to be completely correct.
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" ends the collection on a very satisfying note. A governess relates the strange circumstances she witnesses at her house of employment, the details adding up to a very mysterious and creepy atmosphere. (This is another story that resembles The Hound of the Baskervilles in some of its details). Holmes impressively surmises the core details of the cases and intervenes to help the governess. However, a final twist emerges that Holmes did not anticipate, deepening the mystery even further.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection, an absolute must-read for fans of Sherlock Holmes or mystery fiction in general.
"A Scandal in Bohemia" is justifiably one of the most famous Holmes stories, featuring Irene Adler, or "The Woman" as Holmes refers to her after she outwits his clever plan. This story marks a shift towards a more light-hearted tone that Doyle would frequently employ here, compared to the darkness of the first two novels. The story also first introduces the major theme of the collection, that of "true" justice as opposed to legal justice, as Holmes sympathizes with Adler over the Price who hired him.
"The Red-Headed League" has a clever plot featuring an elaborate con and a heist, which Holmes ultimately foils. It depends a little too much on Holmes having prior knowledge of the villain, though it's still a fun and memorable story.
"A Case of Identity" is another story of a con job, this time dealing with a step-father who cruelly tricks his daughter. Holmes passes stern judgement on the step-father, despite him having done nothing illegal.
"The Boscombe Valley Mystery" is the first murder mystery of the collection, and harkens back to the dark tone of the early novels. Despite all the evidence against a son in the murder of his father, Holmes suspects another plot entirely; through his exacting methodology, Holmes deduces the murderer's identity, who then confesses in a dramatic scene. Instead of pursuing the man's conviction, Holmes defers to a higher court of justice, as the man is already near death. The theme of colonial adventure (this time in Australia) recalls The Sign of Four.
"The Five Orange Pips" is another dark tale of murder, revenge, and a sinister secret society. All of these elements recall A Study in Scarlet, especially given the American origin of the menace - here the KKK. This one has a chilling ending, as Holmes is unable to prevent his client's demise. In a grim code, having discovered the identities of the murderers, they are presumed dead, their ship lost at sea.
"The Man with the Twisted Lip" starts with a vivid scene in which Watson visits an opium den, searching for a friend, only to find Holmes in disguise as an opium-eater. This evolves into another tale of a con man, here a wealthy gentleman who poses as a beggar. It's a clever set-up, though the ending is rather unsatisfying, as Doyle doesn't really tell us how Holmes solved the mystery.
"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is one of the more memorable tales in the collection, and a personal favourite of mine. Taking place at Christmastime, this story is Dickensian in both tone and scope, as Watson and Holmes traverse London to find the owner of a Christmas goose, encountering vividly-drawn characters along the way. A robbery plot is uncovered, the thief identified, and in the spirit of the season, the thief is granted mercy by Holmes.
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is another favourite, landing on the opposite end of the tonal spectrum of its predecessor. This one is dark, close to horror. A young woman tells Holmes and Watson of the strange circumstances of the death of her twin sister years earlier. Deducing that another murder is imminent, Holmes and Watson travel to a country estate to foil the villainous plot, resulting in a gruesome end for the murderer. The setting, tone and some of the plot details resemble The Hound of the Baskervilles, which is probably Doyle's best work.
"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" is another very good dark and scary tale, perhaps the most violent in the collection. An engineer gets caught up with a ring of nefarious counterfeiters and end up with his thumb brutally hacked off. The description of the bad guy's lair is nightmarish, like a torture dungeon out of Poe: a dark maze of corridors, stair cases, hidden doors and a hydraulic-power ceiling used to crush unsuspecting victims to death. Holmes cleverly deduces the location of this house of horrors, but is too late to catch the cabal.
"The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor" is the story of a runaway bride; it's a light palate cleanser after the darkness of the two preceding stories. Overall, it's perhaps the least of the stories in the collection, lacking much in the way of suspense or intrigue. It's perhaps most notable for the amicable way in which the conflicting parties meet at the end of the story.
"The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" is a tale of a burglary with an obvious suspect, though again Holmes doubts the presumed verdict. This features one of the best depictions of Holmes's methodical approach to investigation, showing him inspecting footprints and drops of blood in the snow before doggedly pursuing the logical suspect. It's very satisfying when Holmes finally gets his man, proving his initial intuition to be completely correct.
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" ends the collection on a very satisfying note. A governess relates the strange circumstances she witnesses at her house of employment, the details adding up to a very mysterious and creepy atmosphere. (This is another story that resembles The Hound of the Baskervilles in some of its details). Holmes impressively surmises the core details of the cases and intervenes to help the governess. However, a final twist emerges that Holmes did not anticipate, deepening the mystery even further.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection, an absolute must-read for fans of Sherlock Holmes or mystery fiction in general.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really liked the partnership between Holmes and Watson. I found some of the cases easy to solve, some way too easy while others I couldn't but someone else probably could have. However I also found the tales a bit dull and overwritten and formulaic. I wish some of the more famous stories had appeared - my fault for not knowing they wouldn't I guess but I did miss Hound of the Baskervilles for example.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Police brutality