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sjbozich 's review for:

The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
3.0

Wish I had read the Penguin edition, that has Notes and an Intro. Read a cheap pb that just reprinted the story. Some information on British colonialism in India, and identification of some of the current-at-the-time sociologists would have been helpful.
Starts and ends with Holmes use of his "seven percent solution". Two stories inside the one larger story. For me the interest is not so much in Holmes solving the case as it is in Doyle concocting the story/solution. He makes Holmes brilliant, rather than Holmes actually beng a living, breathing brilliant detective.
Filled with of-the-time racism, xenophobia and intolerance.
Enjoyed this more than "Hound", perhaps because I have not yet watched either of the film adaptations I have available. So did not know the story/ending before reading it.
Want to read the other 2 Holmes novels, prefer in the annotated Penguin editions. Not so sure about the numerous short stories.