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Adventures of Sherlock Holmes / Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes / Return of Sherlock Holmes / A Study in Scarlet
624 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1917
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
16.4k books24.7k followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 1, 2021
I read Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. What a wild ride!
I thought at first I would struggle with it, forgetting that Arthur Conan Doyle's writing came later than Poe, which took me a while to get used to. These twelve stories were excellent, and I rated each one out of ten, in the same way i did the Poe stories I read. Spoilers ahoy.
Scandal in Bohemia- You mean the one with the woman Sherlock fans keep trying to set him up with? 8/10
Read Headed League- You mean the one where the scam lead to a bank robbery? 9/10
Case Identity- You mean the one where the guy CATFISHED his own STEPDAUGHTER?? 9/10
Bascombe Valley Mystery- You mean the one where definitely the son did it until he definitely didn’t? 9/10
Five Orange Pips- You mean the one with the GLOBE-TROTTING KKK ASSASSINS??? 9/10
Man with the Twisted Lip- You mean the one where the man lived comfortably and raised a family on a beggar’s salary in Victorian England? 8/10
Blue Curbuncle- You mean the one with more geese than you can serve at a Christmas lunch? 8/10
Speckled Band- You mean the one with the insane stepfather using a SNAKE as a murder weapon?? 9/10
Engineer’s Thumb- You mean the one where the people built a murder machine, cleaved off a guy’s thumb and still got away with it? 9/10
Noble Bachelor- You mean the one where I hoped it wouldn’t end the way I thought it would, but it did? 7/10
Beryl Coronet- You mean the one where definitely the son did it until he definitely didn’t? 9/10
Copper Beeches- You mean the one where you SWEAR there’s a sex cult going on… but it’s somewhat worse? 9/10
Total score: 8.6/10
I thought at first I would struggle with it, forgetting that Arthur Conan Doyle's writing came later than Poe, which took me a while to get used to. These twelve stories were excellent, and I rated each one out of ten, in the same way i did the Poe stories I read. Spoilers ahoy.
Scandal in Bohemia- You mean the one with the woman Sherlock fans keep trying to set him up with? 8/10
Read Headed League- You mean the one where the scam lead to a bank robbery? 9/10
Case Identity- You mean the one where the guy CATFISHED his own STEPDAUGHTER?? 9/10
Bascombe Valley Mystery- You mean the one where definitely the son did it until he definitely didn’t? 9/10
Five Orange Pips- You mean the one with the GLOBE-TROTTING KKK ASSASSINS??? 9/10
Man with the Twisted Lip- You mean the one where the man lived comfortably and raised a family on a beggar’s salary in Victorian England? 8/10
Blue Curbuncle- You mean the one with more geese than you can serve at a Christmas lunch? 8/10
Speckled Band- You mean the one with the insane stepfather using a SNAKE as a murder weapon?? 9/10
Engineer’s Thumb- You mean the one where the people built a murder machine, cleaved off a guy’s thumb and still got away with it? 9/10
Noble Bachelor- You mean the one where I hoped it wouldn’t end the way I thought it would, but it did? 7/10
Beryl Coronet- You mean the one where definitely the son did it until he definitely didn’t? 9/10
Copper Beeches- You mean the one where you SWEAR there’s a sex cult going on… but it’s somewhat worse? 9/10
Total score: 8.6/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2020
I finished reading some of Agatha Christie's books, and now I'm about to finish Doyle's "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Before, I thought Hercule Poirot was the best fictional Gumshoe; but when I started reading the latter, I gradually became confused. Well, this is just my opinion; I liked both of them, they both have incredible analytical thinking skills, which are vital to their passion. There is however one thing that makes Sherlock Holmes better than Poirot, and that is his capability to deduce several things about a centain individual's life with just a single glance, which I find really amazing.
When it comes to the story, however, I find the story of Ms. Christie more puzzling, amazing, enigmatic and realistic than of Doyle's. For me, it is possible for a human to possess a kind of intellect Hercule Poirot has. In some books of Christie, the way Poirot solves some mysteries, although they are not simple, is somewhat realistic. After reading, you can tell yourself that perhaps you can do that as well. As for Sherlock, although some of his explanations in the novel are convincing, his intellect is something that is impossible to achieve. His ability to crack the enigma of a certain thing by just a single glance is beyond human reach.
When it comes to the story, however, I find the story of Ms. Christie more puzzling, amazing, enigmatic and realistic than of Doyle's. For me, it is possible for a human to possess a kind of intellect Hercule Poirot has. In some books of Christie, the way Poirot solves some mysteries, although they are not simple, is somewhat realistic. After reading, you can tell yourself that perhaps you can do that as well. As for Sherlock, although some of his explanations in the novel are convincing, his intellect is something that is impossible to achieve. His ability to crack the enigma of a certain thing by just a single glance is beyond human reach.
July 2, 2023
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each one containing a different case that Holmes and Watson have to crack. Some of them are very famous, like A Scandal in Bohemia, where Holmes meets his match in Irene Adler, or The Red-Headed League, where a bizarre scheme involving a pawnbroker and a bank robbery is uncovered. Others are less known, but equally captivating, like The Adventure of the Speckled Band, where a young woman fears for her life after her sister dies in mysterious circumstances, or The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, where a governess finds herself in a creepy mansion with a sinister secret.
What I loved about these stories is that they are not only entertaining, but also educational. They teach you how to observe, how to deduce, how to think logically and creatively. They also show you a glimpse of the Victorian era, with its customs, its culture, and its crimes. You can learn a lot from Sherlock Holmes, not only about solving mysteries, but also about human nature.
The writing style of Arthur Conan Doyle is simple but elegant, clear but engaging. He knows how to create suspense, how to surprise you with twists and turns, how to make you laugh with witty dialogues and humorous situations. He also knows how to make you care about his characters, especially Holmes and Watson, who have a wonderful friendship based on mutual respect and admiration.
It is a book that you will want to read again and again, and that will make you appreciate the genius of Arthur Conan Doyle and his creation.
What I loved about these stories is that they are not only entertaining, but also educational. They teach you how to observe, how to deduce, how to think logically and creatively. They also show you a glimpse of the Victorian era, with its customs, its culture, and its crimes. You can learn a lot from Sherlock Holmes, not only about solving mysteries, but also about human nature.
The writing style of Arthur Conan Doyle is simple but elegant, clear but engaging. He knows how to create suspense, how to surprise you with twists and turns, how to make you laugh with witty dialogues and humorous situations. He also knows how to make you care about his characters, especially Holmes and Watson, who have a wonderful friendship based on mutual respect and admiration.
It is a book that you will want to read again and again, and that will make you appreciate the genius of Arthur Conan Doyle and his creation.
January 15, 2020
As always... A great storyline by Arthur Conan Doyle
February 24, 2021
Read all those listed and audiobooked most. Different dates. Re-read often.
May 28, 2024
I love just trying to figure out the mysteries on my own as well as the sudden plot twists. Overall, it's an amazing book.
October 8, 2025
splendid adventures. elementary, my dear watson indeed.
December 1, 2015
Its Sherlock Holmes! Need I say more? If you have yet to read a mystery or two from the brilliant Doyle, do yourself a favor a pick up a copy. They are amazing and enthralling stories that help you challenge your own deductive reasoning skills and helps you notice aspects of life you normally would not notice. The game is afoot!
June 14, 2015
I was surprised by the similarities and differences between the original literary character and the Holmes of popular culture. Reading these stories has been quite interesting, and I understand now why Holmes is such a well-known literary character!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews