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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.75 stars
This was the first Sherlock Holmes book I read for pleasure (I studied Sign of the Four) and it was so fun to casually read. I can see why the books originally did so well and I'm glad that they did. I enjoyed noticing all the little links to the BBC series and understanding the story before TSOTF. It's also helped me formulate more ideas and I think it's given me a leg up to write about context and character development.
The first part (chapters 1-6) were classic Sherlock Holmes, ranging from meeting and moving in with Watson, to Watson joining the case and to them catching the criminal, interesting, halfway through the book. Holmes explains his thought processes and it's so interesting to read, Conan Doyle has written it like an elaborate spider web, and every paragraph has meaning, and yet the plotline was easy to follow and memorable. However I did write chapter summaries for my own following, as that's what I did when I studied the sequel.
The book is in two parts and the only thing I'd say is that the American part was key but also I was dreading it being reiterated in the present day. But it links so well together I couldn't stay annoyed forever.
Read if you want to get into reading classic fiction, it's a good place to start. Read if you enjoy the TV series and reading too. Read if you need to study Sherlock Holmes. Do not read if you don't know much about Victorian England, as the context is pretty important.
This was the first Sherlock Holmes book I read for pleasure (I studied Sign of the Four) and it was so fun to casually read. I can see why the books originally did so well and I'm glad that they did. I enjoyed noticing all the little links to the BBC series and understanding the story before TSOTF. It's also helped me formulate more ideas and I think it's given me a leg up to write about context and character development.
The first part (chapters 1-6) were classic Sherlock Holmes, ranging from meeting and moving in with Watson, to Watson joining the case and to them catching the criminal, interesting, halfway through the book. Holmes explains his thought processes and it's so interesting to read, Conan Doyle has written it like an elaborate spider web, and every paragraph has meaning, and yet the plotline was easy to follow and memorable. However I did write chapter summaries for my own following, as that's what I did when I studied the sequel.
The book is in two parts and the only thing I'd say is that the American part was key but also I was dreading it being reiterated in the present day. But it links so well together I couldn't stay annoyed forever.
Read if you want to get into reading classic fiction, it's a good place to start. Read if you enjoy the TV series and reading too. Read if you need to study Sherlock Holmes. Do not read if you don't know much about Victorian England, as the context is pretty important.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sherlock Holmes book report on A Study in Scarlet
Rec: Steve B. Mar 7, 2025
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. This book is a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery. This Sherlock Holmes story is particularly interesting because it details how he goes about collecting clues differently than other detectives. How he became associated with the narrator, Dr. Watson, is presented. What deductive reasoning is, and how it differs from the reasoning of other detectives, is incidentally included. In this story, the history of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) in America is described because it is involved in the murder in London. How it all comes together is the genius of Sherlock Holmes.
Rec: Steve B. Mar 7, 2025
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. This book is a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery. This Sherlock Holmes story is particularly interesting because it details how he goes about collecting clues differently than other detectives. How he became associated with the narrator, Dr. Watson, is presented. What deductive reasoning is, and how it differs from the reasoning of other detectives, is incidentally included. In this story, the history of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) in America is described because it is involved in the murder in London. How it all comes together is the genius of Sherlock Holmes.
interesting structure. i don't think it worked for me personally but i loved the parts with sherlock holmes and watson! such fun characters that compliment each other well.
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
Read September 2025
I’ve been watching Elementary (slowly making my way through the seasons) and when I came upon an episode inspired by The Hound of the Baskervilles (Hounded s4e16), I was reminded of how that book is still the only Sherlock Holmes I have ever read, so I decided to change that.
At first I was enjoying A Study in Scarlet but then the abrupt ending of part one, and the complete shift in tone/story of part two really threw me. Why the hell was I reading some kind of Mormon western story? Once things became clear, I appreciated it a bit more, but by then I had already spent too much time not caring for the Mormon western to really enjoy the book.
I’ve been watching Elementary (slowly making my way through the seasons) and when I came upon an episode inspired by The Hound of the Baskervilles (Hounded s4e16), I was reminded of how that book is still the only Sherlock Holmes I have ever read, so I decided to change that.
At first I was enjoying A Study in Scarlet but then the abrupt ending of part one, and the complete shift in tone/story of part two really threw me. Why the hell was I reading some kind of Mormon western story? Once things became clear, I appreciated it a bit more, but by then I had already spent too much time not caring for the Mormon western to really enjoy the book.
Watson, I too would feel the need to correct all the newspapers who were calling my new friend an amateur who might one day learn something from Lestrade and Gregson. Also have to say, I love Sherlock’s enthusiasm for curiosity itself — his intro scene was great! Still sad about the dog though, and part one was generally more engaging to me.