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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes is like taking a long, foggy stroll through Victorian London—with a consulting detective who’s half genius, half chaos, and entirely allergic to emotional stability. And I loved it.
William Sherlock Scott Holmes himself is a spectacularly flawed man: a violin-playing, cocaine-inhaling, logic-wielding egomaniac who wouldn’t recognise a social cue if it slapped him with a monograph. He’s brilliant, yes—but also insufferable. And that’s the charm. The stories are never about a perfect man saving the day—they’re about a broken brain outthinking everyone else in the room (and probably lighting something on fire in the process).
Dr. John H. Watson, bless him, is the true heart of the whole thing. He’s not just a narrator—he’s William Sherlock Scott Holmes’s moral compass, emotional anchor, and long-suffering best mate. Honestly, he deserves more credit (and possibly a raise). Without Dr. John H. Watson, William Sherlock Scott Holmes would’ve either blown himself up or turned into a full-time Victorian cryptid.
Now, Irene Adler. My queen. The only woman to ever outsmart William Sherlock Scott Holmes and leave him utterly rattled. The rest of the women in the stories? Often written like nervous puddings. But Irene Adler? She walked in, outwitted the great detective, and vanished in a puff of competence. I only wish she’d returned to haunt William Sherlock Scott Holmes with her brilliance, but alas—Arthur Conan Doyle clearly didn’t believe in sequels for women.
Plot-wise, I was all in. Some cases (The Adventure of the Dying Detective, The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane) stood out for their oddity and charm. Others—A Study in Scarlet, I’m looking at you—got a bit bogged down in narrative detours and Wild West tangents. Still, the short stories shine the brightest. Quick, clever, and endlessly creative, they deliver just the right dose of deduction before the drama gets overwrought.
And the writing? Surprisingly sophisticated, with just enough dry wit to balance the melodrama. Sure, the period sexism and casual racism pop up like unwanted party guests, and they’re a definite “yikes.” But you also get sparkling dialogue, delightfully weird cases, and a detective who solves crimes with science, sarcasm, and sheer stubbornness.
All in all, this collection is a must-read for mystery lovers and classic fiction fans alike. William Sherlock Scott Holmes is not the man you’d want at your dinner party, but he’s exactly who you want solving your murder.
William Sherlock Scott Holmes himself is a spectacularly flawed man: a violin-playing, cocaine-inhaling, logic-wielding egomaniac who wouldn’t recognise a social cue if it slapped him with a monograph. He’s brilliant, yes—but also insufferable. And that’s the charm. The stories are never about a perfect man saving the day—they’re about a broken brain outthinking everyone else in the room (and probably lighting something on fire in the process).
Dr. John H. Watson, bless him, is the true heart of the whole thing. He’s not just a narrator—he’s William Sherlock Scott Holmes’s moral compass, emotional anchor, and long-suffering best mate. Honestly, he deserves more credit (and possibly a raise). Without Dr. John H. Watson, William Sherlock Scott Holmes would’ve either blown himself up or turned into a full-time Victorian cryptid.
Now, Irene Adler. My queen. The only woman to ever outsmart William Sherlock Scott Holmes and leave him utterly rattled. The rest of the women in the stories? Often written like nervous puddings. But Irene Adler? She walked in, outwitted the great detective, and vanished in a puff of competence. I only wish she’d returned to haunt William Sherlock Scott Holmes with her brilliance, but alas—Arthur Conan Doyle clearly didn’t believe in sequels for women.
Plot-wise, I was all in. Some cases (The Adventure of the Dying Detective, The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane) stood out for their oddity and charm. Others—A Study in Scarlet, I’m looking at you—got a bit bogged down in narrative detours and Wild West tangents. Still, the short stories shine the brightest. Quick, clever, and endlessly creative, they deliver just the right dose of deduction before the drama gets overwrought.
And the writing? Surprisingly sophisticated, with just enough dry wit to balance the melodrama. Sure, the period sexism and casual racism pop up like unwanted party guests, and they’re a definite “yikes.” But you also get sparkling dialogue, delightfully weird cases, and a detective who solves crimes with science, sarcasm, and sheer stubbornness.
All in all, this collection is a must-read for mystery lovers and classic fiction fans alike. William Sherlock Scott Holmes is not the man you’d want at your dinner party, but he’s exactly who you want solving your murder.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
I enjoyed this book so so much. Some of the mysteries seem so hard to solve, until you finish the story. Very good.
adventurous
mysterious
Some single stories that do not land well because of the racism present in the characters and author. However, overall an extremely enjoyable collection of stories. Amazing to see the original stories on which all kinds of modern day adaptations are based.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
fast-paced
This collection of stories took me longer to read than I expected. I found myself avoiding it and reading anything else. There were several stories that I will admit had plot twists progressive for when they were written. Overall, I would give it a 2.5 stars.