A review by vvnobook
The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

adventurous informative 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

The Sign of Four reads like a true pulp/adventurous novel. Again this is no simple crime story there is some overseas adventures reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo. It's shortness is what makes it so addictive. One can't help but to turn to the next page and see how Holmes will lay all the information that has been laid before the characters and the reader to make them both look foolish. Compared to A Study in Scarlet, this novel shows more it's dated view on colonialism and the role of women in Victorian society. Women of the novel are simple objects written only to please the men and colonialism is referenced as something that is essential and good for the colonizers and the colonized. Even though certain topics are dated the writing style is not. Doyle writes with such imagery that it is easy to imagine scenes from a movie within one's head while reading (the boat chase scene comes to mind). Sherlock Holmes again proves to be one of the most interesting character in fiction not because of the depth of the character although, his drug used is explored a bit more in this novel, but rather because of the lessons he he shows to the reader in the power of observation and consequently the human condition.