Reviews

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

lorawonderland's review

adventurous 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

4.0

A great set of short stories! Honestly, one of my favorite sets from ACD’s canon. Holmes’s characterization in these stories is unmatched, caring and intelligent in ways that most retellings don’t capture.

orinposner's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 I've spent 2023 (re)reading all the Sherlock Holmes shorts stories (in audio form) and I'm glad to have finally read this final book. It has some really good and memorable stories - "The Illustrious Client" and "The Three Garridebs" are two great/important ones.

I was surprised at how many classic characters, concepts and quotes from the Sherlock Holmes world only appear in this one, this late in the canon. To give just one example, this wonderful telegram from Holmes to his Watson:

"Come at once if convenient—if inconvenient come all the same." 

jasminelk7's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

language_loving_amateur's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

meganpbennett's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I had the opportunity to take part in Letters from Watson, where the short stories of Sherlock Holmes were emailed out in (more or less) chronological order. Having read about half of them, this was a wonderful chance to revisit the stories. This collection was the beginning of the short stories I hadn't read before, and it was very interesting to read about an older Sherlock Holmes. I especially liked "The Adventures of the Lion's Mane," where we meet an older - retired - Sherlock Holmes at his cottage in Sussex with the bees. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Animal death, and Death

happysami's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

beth_books_123's review against another edition

5.0

(I'm not going to class this as a holiday read as I've been listening to the audiobook collection since 2018.)

I'd like to thank Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate Collection audiobook for allowing me to revisit this delight again.

I'm not going to review all the stories because I feel sick after four modes of transport today. Let's just say I loved it.
___________________________________________________________
MY FAVOURITE DETECTIVE AT HIS BEST - 5*

PERHAPS IN SOME HUMBLE CORNER OF SUCH A VALHALLA, SHERLOCK AND HIS WATSON MAY FOR A TIME FIND A PLACE, WHILE SOME MORE ASTUTE SLEUTH WITH SOME EVEN LESS ASTUTE COMRADE MAY FILL THE STAGE WHICH THEY HAVE VACATED.

I wanted an excuse to reread this series and finally the confirmation for season four gave me the perfect reason. Despite the season four episodes based on different books: The Dying Detective (His Last Bow), The Six Thatchers (based on The Six Napoleons from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) and The Final Problem (I don't think I'll ever be over this story -The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes). I wanted to read a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories because I'm in love and I read, watch and scour the internet to get my fix of Sherlock Holmes.

I've been in love with this character since I was eleven-years-old and my honest regret with this series is that I didn't start them sooner. I honestly loved Sherlock Holmes before the BBC decided to make it into a series (which I love most of the time) and I will love him when the BBC forget about him. Honestly, he's that one character, which made me truly fall in love with reading. (Sorry, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - I know that wasn't your intention.)

Onto the review of the actual stories, I love them all dearly and to be honest, I couldn't really pick a favourite. I cried at this book because honestly it is so beautiful and wow, wow, wow. Johnlock was strong. The stories are so well crafted that it really pains me because let's be real no author has ever come close. I love other authors for different reasons but nothing will come close to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...

I feel like I'm nearly complete with the merchandise (of the Penguin Classics Edition); I have the cup, the bag and the notebook. All of these items give me pure joy when I hold them because honestly it's like being embraced with my favourite author and favourite stories.

I love you, Sherlock Holmes.

davidjme's review against another edition

3.0

Now that I'm finished with the Sherlock Holmes Canon I'm faced with a more annoying task - whenever I hear the title of a Holmes story referenced I have to scratch my head and go "which one was that again...?"

mame_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

3.5

the_popcorn_dilemma's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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? Yes

4.0