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queenofthesouthernsun's review against another edition
4.0
Quite an engaging mystery, although it could have been more complicated - along the lines of The Hound of the Baskervilles - with the family secret. It was fairly compelling, however, and the ending is almost funny in how simple it was. The narration was interesting, as well, even though it was told almost entirely in a flashback.
amelieboucher's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this one! There was a certain atmosphere of mystery and the outcome was unpredictable. I also liked the shift if point of view, with Holmes telling Watson - and therefore us - about his first cases.
ulexic's review against another edition
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
3.75
basicquartz's review against another edition
4.0
Characters: Holmes, Watson, Musgrave, the intelligent butler and maid
Plot: Sherlock recounts to Watson a case from his youth, when, upon the disappearance of 2 of his household staff (the butler and a maid), Musgrave turns to an old college friend for help.
The Musgrave ritual, a treasure hunt of sorts, leads Sherlock to the butler’s body in a pit in the cellar, thus deducing that, having been engaged by the butler to help shift the trapdoor, the maid left the butler trapped in the chamber.
Opinion: These short stories are relatively simple to solve- the solution was predictable, which is perhaps a good thing. I enjoyed the frame narrative, however I found some of the geographical technicalities of the estate too confusing to visualise
Plot: Sherlock recounts to Watson a case from his youth, when, upon the disappearance of 2 of his household staff (the butler and a maid), Musgrave turns to an old college friend for help.
The Musgrave ritual, a treasure hunt of sorts, leads Sherlock to the butler’s body in a pit in the cellar, thus deducing that, having been engaged by the butler to help shift the trapdoor, the maid left the butler trapped in the chamber.
Opinion: These short stories are relatively simple to solve- the solution was predictable, which is perhaps a good thing. I enjoyed the frame narrative, however I found some of the geographical technicalities of the estate too confusing to visualise
countbywords's review against another edition
Read for school so no rating
A pretty simple story that I was kind of expecting more from. It was far too quick and definitely would've benefited from being longer. Nevertheless, the resolution was unexpected and satisfying.
A pretty simple story that I was kind of expecting more from. It was far too quick and definitely would've benefited from being longer. Nevertheless, the resolution was unexpected and satisfying.
jasminjoyful's review against another edition
3.0
somewhere between 3 & 4 stars, probably 3.5.
Not really mindblowing but quite entertaining.
It's my first Doyle so I might expected more than I should have.
I might rerate it when I've read some more of Sherly's adventures :D
Not really mindblowing but quite entertaining.
It's my first Doyle so I might expected more than I should have.
I might rerate it when I've read some more of Sherly's adventures :D
jaymie_bookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
This was another different mystery for Sherlock. He needed to use a little more of his skills to figure out the mystery, but it still wasn't as intense as most of his cases. I enjoyed this one because we really get to see a lot of his personality. He is untidy and all over the place. He has strange quirks that I now understand appears in the movies. I loved it!
tea_rex_love's review against another edition
4.0
I love this story so much, mostly because it includes a lot of iconic images we associate with Sherlock Holmes. SO many icons, it brought me happiness when I read the words: "he affected a certain quiet primness of dress," "his tobacco in the toe end of a Persian slipper," and "his unanswered correspondence transfixed by a jack-knife into the very centre of his wooden mantelpiece."
It came of no surprise to me that Holmes would keep the flat in a disarray, for, "he had a horror of destroying documents". I had to laugh when Watson wrote that Holmes could only bring himself to clean once every year or two. I can relate. Holmes is such a Type A procrastinator that he distracted Watson from making him clean by telling him a story.
The idea of Holmes telling Watson a story of his past by the firelight is so homely to me. I'm sure I will reread this story very soon, mayhaps as an amazing pick-me-up.
It came of no surprise to me that Holmes would keep the flat in a disarray, for, "he had a horror of destroying documents". I had to laugh when Watson wrote that Holmes could only bring himself to clean once every year or two. I can relate. Holmes is such a Type A procrastinator that he distracted Watson from making him clean by telling him a story.
The idea of Holmes telling Watson a story of his past by the firelight is so homely to me. I'm sure I will reread this story very soon, mayhaps as an amazing pick-me-up.