Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.5 stars
Sadly disappointing.
Sherlock Holmes is definitely a fascinating character. His knowledge on stuff like the intricacies of crime history, soil varieties, and cigarette ash, while absurd, lends credence to his seemingly supernatural deductive conclusions (sidenote - a bit better than the show because here he's in a setting where his skills are both unique and unappreciated in a completely believable way). He was a pretty fleshed out character, what with his manic depressive tendencies and reliance on his violin and just everything else that makes him unique. Watson also serves well as the audience stand-in - some of the best parts of this book were honestly even before the mystery started, when Watson was trying to figure out what the hell Sherlock was up to.
However, this book had a glaring issue. Right when the murder is about to be explained, we take a long detour into Mormonism in Utah. And suffice it to say that this bit is not interesting. I admit I did end up being invested in Lucy getting away but the dry progression of events made it hard to sustain even that.
Even without that, the murder investigation itself was not very engaging, but I don't really know why. It might have been the writing style but I just found myself a bit bored with the exception of some particularly interesting moments in the case.
Sadly disappointing.
Sherlock Holmes is definitely a fascinating character. His knowledge on stuff like the intricacies of crime history, soil varieties, and cigarette ash, while absurd, lends credence to his seemingly supernatural deductive conclusions (sidenote - a bit better than the show because here he's in a setting where his skills are both unique and unappreciated in a completely believable way). He was a pretty fleshed out character, what with his manic depressive tendencies and reliance on his violin and just everything else that makes him unique. Watson also serves well as the audience stand-in - some of the best parts of this book were honestly even before the mystery started, when Watson was trying to figure out what the hell Sherlock was up to.
However, this book had a glaring issue. Right when the murder is about to be explained, we take a long detour into Mormonism in Utah. And suffice it to say that this bit is not interesting. I admit I did end up being invested in Lucy getting away but the dry progression of events made it hard to sustain even that.
Even without that, the murder investigation itself was not very engaging, but I don't really know why. It might have been the writing style but I just found myself a bit bored with the exception of some particularly interesting moments in the case.
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:
No
Sherlock Holmes owns stupid detectives with deductive reasoning and observation while solving case with ease. The self-insert power fantasy of mystery novels, which I say—despite how it sounds—mostly neutrally. There is a satisfaction to it if you can get on board with Holmes' arrogant "face-slapping," to put it in Chinese web novel terms.
The second part is alright, but it's a bit too long-winded, especially with how much it digresses from the main plot.
The second part is alright, but it's a bit too long-winded, especially with how much it digresses from the main plot.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this started in an interesting way, seeing how Holmes and Watson first met was entertaining and unexpectedly "normal". I disliked almost everything after.
ESPECIALLY the second half. I despised reading about American Mormon scum tbh lol
that whole addition genuinely ruined a perfectly okay story. i only half read most of the second half and genuinely I missed nothing.
a shame.
ESPECIALLY the second half. I despised reading about American Mormon scum tbh lol
that whole addition genuinely ruined a perfectly okay story. i only half read most of the second half and genuinely I missed nothing.
a shame.
"Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo ipse domi simul ac nummos contemplor in arca"
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Frankenstein retelling with a Mormon twist
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
This is a re-read for me but it has been many years and I had only a fuzzy memory of the story. I listened to the audiobook read by Greg Wagland (Magpie Audio YouTube channel), who is a brilliant performer. His Holmes is second only to Jeremy Brett, who will always and forever remain my definitive Sherlock ♥️
The book is divided into two parts, and I enjoyed the first part, where Holmes and Watson first meet and move into their apartment at 221 B Baker Street. We see the beginning of the long and deep friendship that is to develop over the years between this inimitable duo, in the form of Watson’s awe at Sherlock’s singular powers of observation and deduction and Sherlock’s casual yet humble acceptance of Watson’s interest and admiration. The mystery itself is set in London, where Holmes is called in by Chief Inspector Gregson of the yard, to help him solve a rather dramatic murder. His rival, Lestrade also gets involved but Holmes with his usual emphasis on observation, solves the case with relative ease!
Part II delves into the past and provides historical background and context for the murderer’s motivation. I found it a tad tedious and predictable. However, I traced my first review and find that I’ve given it 1/2 a star more than I did then! I’m including that review here for ease of future reference.
I’m on a Sherlock Holmes binge at the moment and this time, Greg Wagland’s narration plays a big part in my enjoyment, in addition to the nostalgia the stories evoke and the brilliance of Doyle’s writing!
My Review on Goodreads: 5th Feb 2018:
Having just finished Jane Eyre, I was wondering what to read next. I didn’t want to leave the Victorian era but I didn’t feel up to another Brontë or the like. I needed an amuse bouche as it were before my next serious read!
And so, Sherlock Holmes to the rescue 😊 A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes yarn ever written. In it he and Dr. Watson meet and move into their Baker Street rooms and begin their long association while solving their first crime together. We are introduced to the ‘ferret-like’ Lestrade and his rival in the Yard, Gregson. The crime itself was not as fascinating as some of his later cases, but it’s a fine introduction to Sherlock’s methods and means. Although this is not my favourite Holmes tale, it served to keep me in my favourite era reading my favourite genre - crime!
As a young reader, I never gave much thought to authors - the story was everything. Now re-reading childhood favourites makes me research them and learn more about the men and women that brought me such joy with their stories. I read a synopsis of Conan-Doyle on his website - a fascinating personality indeed! I didn’t know he’d written a lot of fiction other than Holmes and plenty of non-fiction besides, that he was a practising physician and drawn to the occult.
I will be returning to Mr. Holmes at regular intervals when I feel the need for comfort and an old friend, much like I do with Hercule Poirot😊
The book is divided into two parts, and I enjoyed the first part, where Holmes and Watson first meet and move into their apartment at 221 B Baker Street. We see the beginning of the long and deep friendship that is to develop over the years between this inimitable duo, in the form of Watson’s awe at Sherlock’s singular powers of observation and deduction and Sherlock’s casual yet humble acceptance of Watson’s interest and admiration. The mystery itself is set in London, where Holmes is called in by Chief Inspector Gregson of the yard, to help him solve a rather dramatic murder. His rival, Lestrade also gets involved but Holmes with his usual emphasis on observation, solves the case with relative ease!
Part II delves into the past and provides historical background and context for the murderer’s motivation. I found it a tad tedious and predictable. However, I traced my first review and find that I’ve given it 1/2 a star more than I did then! I’m including that review here for ease of future reference.
I’m on a Sherlock Holmes binge at the moment and this time, Greg Wagland’s narration plays a big part in my enjoyment, in addition to the nostalgia the stories evoke and the brilliance of Doyle’s writing!
My Review on Goodreads: 5th Feb 2018:
Having just finished Jane Eyre, I was wondering what to read next. I didn’t want to leave the Victorian era but I didn’t feel up to another Brontë or the like. I needed an amuse bouche as it were before my next serious read!
And so, Sherlock Holmes to the rescue 😊 A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes yarn ever written. In it he and Dr. Watson meet and move into their Baker Street rooms and begin their long association while solving their first crime together. We are introduced to the ‘ferret-like’ Lestrade and his rival in the Yard, Gregson. The crime itself was not as fascinating as some of his later cases, but it’s a fine introduction to Sherlock’s methods and means. Although this is not my favourite Holmes tale, it served to keep me in my favourite era reading my favourite genre - crime!
As a young reader, I never gave much thought to authors - the story was everything. Now re-reading childhood favourites makes me research them and learn more about the men and women that brought me such joy with their stories. I read a synopsis of Conan-Doyle on his website - a fascinating personality indeed! I didn’t know he’d written a lot of fiction other than Holmes and plenty of non-fiction besides, that he was a practising physician and drawn to the occult.
I will be returning to Mr. Holmes at regular intervals when I feel the need for comfort and an old friend, much like I do with Hercule Poirot😊