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eula's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
3.75
ronitjauthor's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was the second Sherlock Holmes collection I read. This one was actually the first time I felt like I was reading the classic detective. Of course, it has aged and there are several dated ideas and elements, which make reviewing this one a little tricky. But, here goes nothing:
A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA:
This one read like a classic Holmes story. After the relatively disappointing first two entries, this was the first time I felt like I was reading a Sherlock Holmes story. I especially liked the ending where Adler outsmarts Holmes . I get why Irene Adler is such a liked character despite appearing in just one story.
A CASE OF IDENTITY:
Another classic, although a relatively silly explanation (mostly from a modern perspective). It was simplistic but still enjoyable.
THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY:
I have mixed feelings about this one. One the one hand, the build-up and mystery were great. On the other, the reveal and conclusion felt lacking and too easily resolved without any of the real stakes addressed.
THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS:
I really hated this one. The build-up was very good, and the mystery was something I was intrigued with, but both the deduction, explanation, and most importantly, the ending were so bland and disappointing. Still better than a Sign of Four.
THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP:
A very interesting tale. A brilliant start with the opium den. However, the ending made me confused as to why the culprit decided to stay in police custody instead of trying to escape or explain themselves until Holmes came into the picture. Not everything added up for me.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE:
This was the first and only Sherlock Holmes story I had read. It was a chapter in my school English textbook, and I quite enjoyed it, maybe because of nostalgia. A fun holiday story.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND:
I really liked this one. It did have a fair share of dated racism, so except that this one had a nice mystery, neatly laid out and resolved.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER’S THUMB:
I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the entire build-up with the machine and everything was super interesting. On the other, I felt like the ending was a kind of anticlimax that robbed us of a satisfying deduction, climax and conclusion. Not a bad story by far, but I wish there was less telling and more showing.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR:
Honestly, this is a pretty good detective story. For some reason, the client stories read like an agony aunt/gossip column issue which I found a little boring and bland.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET:
Another good detective story, and one of the better ones in this collection. The twist with the affair was a nice touch. Even Arthur’s remaining mum and not openly talking to his father was believable, given their strained relationship, which made the ending that much more satisfying.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES:
The perfect story to end this collection. Good detective work albeit brief, the setting too was an intriguing one. A thrilling climax, and a satisfying ending. This might be the best Holmes story I have read so far.
All in all, the collection as a whole was a significant improvement from the first two instalments. It feels like the author really found his footing with these stories, and the short story format serves Holmes much better than the novella/novel-length mysteries. (I know that Hound of Baskerville is meant to be the best story. I’ll decide for myself when I get to that).
Note: These stories are very very old, and parts in them clearly show how dated they are. There is racism, there is sexism, and many other things that wouldn’t sit well with modern sensibilities. I’m choosing to not judge them by a modern lens and look at the stories as just that. If you are bothered by such content, it’s best you avoid reading this book.
cainisbreezy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
calhale1989's review against another edition
5.0
Oh of my favorite Sherlock tales is The Red-Headed League and I find this series of stories to be really fun top-notch tales.
mirrorofneptune's review against another edition
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 Scandal in Bohemia” is one of my favorite Sherlock stories and the others aren’t too shabby either
enygirl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
2.0
I can appreciate the draw and love for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work, I just could not get in rhythm with his writing style and this very short piece just dragged on for me. I think I will stick to more contemporary mystery books from now on.
crabbyabbe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Even though Doyle wrote two novels before these twelve stories, for me, it all begins with this book and the first short story “A Scandal in Bohemia.“ If you're new to the world of Holmes and Watson, this is the book to start with. Twelve masterful short stories that have most of the best of the Holmes canon. I don't know how many times I've read these, but I keep rereading and will keep rereading for as long as I can. I am truly #sherlocked.
ameliepause's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.0