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The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume I, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:
New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
Biographies of the authors
Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
Footnotes and endnotes
Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
Comments by other famous authors
Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
Bibliographies for further reading
Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes comprises four novels and fifty-six short stories revolving around the world’s most popular and influential fictional detective—the eccentric, arrogant, and ingenious Sherlock Holmes. He and his trusted friend, Dr. Watson, step from Holmes’s comfortable quarters at 221b Baker Street into the swirling fog of Victorian London to exercise that unique combination of detailed observation, vast knowledge, and brilliant deduction. Inevitably, Holmes rescues the innocent, confounds the guilty, and solves the most perplexing puzzles known to literature.
Volume I of The Complete Sherlock Holmes starts with Holmes’s first appearance, A Study in Scarlet, a chilling murder novel complete with bloodstained walls and cryptic clues, followed by the baffling The Sign of Four, which introduces Holmes’s cocaine problem and Watson’s future wife. The story collections The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes feature such renowned tales as “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Red-Headed League,” and “The Musgrave Ritual.”
Tired of writing stories about Holmes, his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, killed him off at the end of “The Final Problem,” the last tale in The Memoirs. But the public outcry was so great that eight years later he published the masterful The Hound of the Baskervilles, which supposedly takes place before Holmes’s death.
The separate Volume II of The Complete Sherlock Holmes collects the remaining accounts of Holmes’s exploits, including “The Adventure of the Empty House,” which reveals the elaborate circumstances behind Holmes’s literary resurrection.
Kyle Freeman, a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast for many years, earned two graduate degrees in English literature from Columbia University, where his major was twentieth-century British literature.
New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
Biographies of the authors
Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
Footnotes and endnotes
Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
Comments by other famous authors
Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
Bibliographies for further reading
Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes comprises four novels and fifty-six short stories revolving around the world’s most popular and influential fictional detective—the eccentric, arrogant, and ingenious Sherlock Holmes. He and his trusted friend, Dr. Watson, step from Holmes’s comfortable quarters at 221b Baker Street into the swirling fog of Victorian London to exercise that unique combination of detailed observation, vast knowledge, and brilliant deduction. Inevitably, Holmes rescues the innocent, confounds the guilty, and solves the most perplexing puzzles known to literature.
Volume I of The Complete Sherlock Holmes starts with Holmes’s first appearance, A Study in Scarlet, a chilling murder novel complete with bloodstained walls and cryptic clues, followed by the baffling The Sign of Four, which introduces Holmes’s cocaine problem and Watson’s future wife. The story collections The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes feature such renowned tales as “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Red-Headed League,” and “The Musgrave Ritual.”
Tired of writing stories about Holmes, his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, killed him off at the end of “The Final Problem,” the last tale in The Memoirs. But the public outcry was so great that eight years later he published the masterful The Hound of the Baskervilles, which supposedly takes place before Holmes’s death.
The separate Volume II of The Complete Sherlock Holmes collects the remaining accounts of Holmes’s exploits, including “The Adventure of the Empty House,” which reveals the elaborate circumstances behind Holmes’s literary resurrection.
Kyle Freeman, a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast for many years, earned two graduate degrees in English literature from Columbia University, where his major was twentieth-century British literature.
739 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1927
1313 people are currently reading
18167 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
15.8k books24.4k 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 - 30 of 530 reviews
August 23, 2013
I had forgotten so many little things about Holmes and Watson and the original stories of ACD.
It seems like a phenominal statement to make doesn't it? Holmes and Watson have been fixtures in my life, since I can't remember when. I have been watching movies and TV shows about them since my parents got our 1st TV when I was six years old. The can still remember the horror I felt watching one of the The Hound of the Baskervilles movies (I do not remember which version).
This year, there is a new TV show called Elementary where Dr. Watson is a woman.
I am still watching the Jeremy Brett episodes on public TV as well as the newer verson called Sherlock. There is a blog on the internet written by Dr. John Watson that chronicles Sherlock from the show. I can watch them all in the same week AND pop in a DVD of the newest movies any time I want.
The greatest thing though, is that I can still read all of the original stories and books - written over 100 years ago because they are still in print. I can download them onto my e-reader or go to the library and check them out or go to the bookstore or internet and buy a book.
What I liked about this book is the editor's notes and the history and timeline information.
The foot notes about the British terms, and translations of the French, German and Latin sayings and mini history notes referenced about the people mentioned in the stories is wonderful. Author Cannon Doyle put SO MUCH in his stories besides just Holmes and Watson. Don't get me wrong - I love them, I do, but I love the people, history, art, and literature in the stories too!!!
Next up, volume II...
It seems like a phenominal statement to make doesn't it? Holmes and Watson have been fixtures in my life, since I can't remember when. I have been watching movies and TV shows about them since my parents got our 1st TV when I was six years old. The can still remember the horror I felt watching one of the The Hound of the Baskervilles movies (I do not remember which version).
This year, there is a new TV show called Elementary where Dr. Watson is a woman.
I am still watching the Jeremy Brett episodes on public TV as well as the newer verson called Sherlock. There is a blog on the internet written by Dr. John Watson that chronicles Sherlock from the show. I can watch them all in the same week AND pop in a DVD of the newest movies any time I want.
The greatest thing though, is that I can still read all of the original stories and books - written over 100 years ago because they are still in print. I can download them onto my e-reader or go to the library and check them out or go to the bookstore or internet and buy a book.
What I liked about this book is the editor's notes and the history and timeline information.
The foot notes about the British terms, and translations of the French, German and Latin sayings and mini history notes referenced about the people mentioned in the stories is wonderful. Author Cannon Doyle put SO MUCH in his stories besides just Holmes and Watson. Don't get me wrong - I love them, I do, but I love the people, history, art, and literature in the stories too!!!
Next up, volume II...
April 10, 2009
Since 8th grade I have been head over heals for Holmes. I guess I just like moody intellectuals. It is so intertaining to watch him demonstrate his superior intellect again and again. I am really glad I picked these up a B&N. It's great to have all of Sherlock Holmes in two volumes.
January 2, 2025
Попередній раз я читала Шерлока Голмса російською, десь класі в пʼятому. Тому досвід прочитання цієї книги зараз дуже цікавий та повчальний. По-перше, звертаєш увагу на те, наскільки нерівні оповіді. Деякі з них захопливі, а по деякім прям помітно, що вони писались за три години до здачі в газету. Звертаєш увагу на ті деталі сюжету, які в пʼятому класі не цікавили, наприклад, історія повстання сипаїв в Індії чи те, наскільки близька в часі до оповідань Англо-Бурська війна, і як вона впливає на британські тогочасні суспільні настрої та політику. Герої Дойля упереджені до людей інших класів та національностей, відверто мізогінистичні, а те, як Дойль натягує сову сюжету на глобус фізіогноміки, мене тішило в кожному оповіданні. Але магія улюбленого героя (і першого пейрингу, не будемо прикидатися) нікуди не поділася після стількох років перерви.
"Собака Баскервілей" на голову вище всіх оповідань, не зважаючи на те, що сюжет памʼятаєш напамʼять, все одно неможливо відірватися.
Переклад мені не дуже зайшов, він нерівний, є якісь дивні конструкції та відсилки до очевидно радянських джерел на кшталт "англійська буржуазна революція".
"Собака Баскервілей" на голову вище всіх оповідань, не зважаючи на те, що сюжет памʼятаєш напамʼять, все одно неможливо відірватися.
Переклад мені не дуже зайшов, він нерівний, є якісь дивні конструкції та відсилки до очевидно радянських джерел на кшталт "англійська буржуазна революція".
October 14, 2019
4 stars. The stories in Volume 1 of The Complete Sherlock Holmes provided a good escape for me as a reader. The diversity of the stories in this collection kept my interest and I enjoyed reading this Sherlock Holmes collection.
The character Sherlock Holmes is an icon of literature and rightfully so. What I believe makes that character so memorable is because he’s ultimately a force for good. Look past the facts that he’s cocky, and his methods and personal habits have a lot to be desired - his morality defines why and how he lives his life. There’s a lot to be said for that!
The character Sherlock Holmes is an icon of literature and rightfully so. What I believe makes that character so memorable is because he’s ultimately a force for good. Look past the facts that he’s cocky, and his methods and personal habits have a lot to be desired - his morality defines why and how he lives his life. There’s a lot to be said for that!
December 22, 2020
Для цього харизматичного чоловіка не існує в світі нерозгаданих таємниць та нерозкритих злочинів. Якщо вони й бувають, то дуже швидко стають очевидними. А все тому, що за справу береться він – Шерлок Голмс.
Щиро каюсь, бо лише минулого місяця вперше в житті познайомилась із персоналією відомого детектива Шерлока Голмса та його помічника доктора Вотсона. Можливо, так і не дійшла б до класики жанру від Дойла, якби @ababahalamaha. Чудове видання про Голмса просто промовляло до мене: «Олю, ну давай, ти маєш мене прочитати»! Після цього я вже не могла взяти й не прочитати. Хоч книга велетенська, тримати в руках не тяжко, сторінки цупкі, а ілюстрації доповнюють історії автора. Тішусь, що нарешті в україномовному сегменті з’явилось повне, впорядковано-хронологічне видання творів про Шерлока Голмса.
Мені здається, про Шерлока Голмса та Джона Вотсона немає сенсу розповідати, всі і так знають, хто це. Натомість я мала якесь викривлене уявлення про них, лише після прочитання зрозуміла, що це за герої. Шерлок виявився занадто зарозумілим і впевненим у своїх вміннях та таланті. Спочатку це дратувало, згодом ж навпаки доповнило загальну картину цього геніального детектива. Вотсон – спокійний, вірний та розсудливий. Персонаж, який максимально імпонує. Варто не забувати, що Шерлок – класичний детектив, де реальність переплітається з цією ідеальністю.
Перший том складається з оповідань та повістей. Насправді, читати «залпом» книгу складно. Хочеться смакувати по 2-3 оповідання в день, розкривати справи разом із Голмсом, не бути стороннім спостерігачем. Тому жарти мого тата про те, що цю книгу читатиму місяць виявились реальністю. Я повністю насолодилась повільним та розміреним читанням. Найбільше сподобалась повість «Собака Баскервілів». Химерно, містично, з чудовим реалістичним підґрунтям. Все як я люблю.
Давним-давно я була впевнена, що не подивлюсь сучасний серіал «Шерлок» за мотивами творів Дойла. Була юна, не тямила, що говорю. Зараз продовжую насолоджуватись Шерлоком і його пригодами вже на екрані, а також планую читати другий том цієї осені.
Щиро каюсь, бо лише минулого місяця вперше в житті познайомилась із персоналією відомого детектива Шерлока Голмса та його помічника доктора Вотсона. Можливо, так і не дійшла б до класики жанру від Дойла, якби @ababahalamaha. Чудове видання про Голмса просто промовляло до мене: «Олю, ну давай, ти маєш мене прочитати»! Після цього я вже не могла взяти й не прочитати. Хоч книга велетенська, тримати в руках не тяжко, сторінки цупкі, а ілюстрації доповнюють історії автора. Тішусь, що нарешті в україномовному сегменті з’явилось повне, впорядковано-хронологічне видання творів про Шерлока Голмса.
Мені здається, про Шерлока Голмса та Джона Вотсона немає сенсу розповідати, всі і так знають, хто це. Натомість я мала якесь викривлене уявлення про них, лише після прочитання зрозуміла, що це за герої. Шерлок виявився занадто зарозумілим і впевненим у своїх вміннях та таланті. Спочатку це дратувало, згодом ж навпаки доповнило загальну картину цього геніального детектива. Вотсон – спокійний, вірний та розсудливий. Персонаж, який максимально імпонує. Варто не забувати, що Шерлок – класичний детектив, де реальність переплітається з цією ідеальністю.
Перший том складається з оповідань та повістей. Насправді, читати «залпом» книгу складно. Хочеться смакувати по 2-3 оповідання в день, розкривати справи разом із Голмсом, не бути стороннім спостерігачем. Тому жарти мого тата про те, що цю книгу читатиму місяць виявились реальністю. Я повністю насолодилась повільним та розміреним читанням. Найбільше сподобалась повість «Собака Баскервілів». Химерно, містично, з чудовим реалістичним підґрунтям. Все як я люблю.
Давним-давно я була впевнена, що не подивлюсь сучасний серіал «Шерлок» за мотивами творів Дойла. Була юна, не тямила, що говорю. Зараз продовжую насолоджуватись Шерлоком і його пригодами вже на екрані, а також планую читати другий том цієї осені.
January 4, 2021
Well, I think I can appreciate the fascination with the character of Sherlock Holmes and his stories. LOL...I never knew he was a raging cokehead though. A good collection of detective stories!! I have to admit though, that I grappled with this thing a bit, and I'll have to reread it at some point in the near future.
December 7, 2022
Primul volum ne face cunoștință cu ingeniosul Sherlock Holmes și prietenul său Doctor Watson. Cuprinde romanele "Un studiu în roșu", "Semnul celor patru", dar și povestiri. Indiferent de complexitatea cazului, Sherlock găsește rezolvarea. Câteodată Scotland Yard-ul (poliția) îi cere ajutor.
August 26, 2013
A truly awesome collection of short stories and novels. There's no doubt in my mind that Sherlock Holmes is a master at his craft. Thoroughly entertaining; can't wait to dive into Volume II!
March 27, 2018
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and love a good mystery, grab this classic collection.
August 27, 2024
Я обожнюю всі пригоди Голмса. Як же приємно їх перечитувати.
March 22, 2015
Holmes & Watson <3
April 2, 2014
The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Volume I by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is great fun to read. Other than the three short novels, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, and The Hound of the Baskervilles, this first volume is comprised of a collection of Holmes stories (also published under the titles of Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes). I read this large volume over the course of three months or so, reading stories between the run of bad books I’ve unfortunately had this winter. I’ve never been interested in Sherlock Holmes, probably due to his over-exposure. He’s everywhere and thus I felt no need to read the original stories. That changed when I began watching BBC’s excellent Sherlock. I found the character of Sherlock intriguing (to say nothing of my newly-formed Cumberlust) and the relationship between Sherlock and Holmes is complex and funny and intriguing. So I bought this volume at my local Barnes & Noble and I’ve enjoyed it so much. Even the not-so-great stories are fun.
What I enjoy so much about the stories aren’t necessarily the mysteries. I’ve read much more complex and suspenseful mysteries by other authors. I didn’t have the crimes solved before Sherlock did, but I usually had a fairly good idea of what was going on. What I like is the excellent, no-nonsense, crisp writing. The writing is so economical and practical and what long descriptions there are set the mood effectively. I don’t have to read long annoying passages about how the characters feel. Doyle lets the reader figure that out. I like that Sherlock isn’t overly emotional and his intelligent conversation and deductions are enjoyable. His deductive skills are best displayed in The Sign of Four when Sherlock looks at a watch Watson recently inherited and deduces much from it. This scene is also brilliantly adapted by Sherlock for “A Study in Pink” (1.1). In this episode, Watson’s cellphone (which was given to him by his sister) is the modern substitution for the watch, and the scene is just as enjoyable to watch as it is to read (although I think the modern mystery is better).
I like Watson and his bemusement at Sherlock’s deductive powers. He also struggles to understand why a man who is so intelligent in some areas is completely ignorant in others. There is a scene in a Study in Scarlet in which Watson makes a list entitled: “Sherlock Holmes—his limitations.” Sherlock’s knowledge of literature, philosophy and astronomy are summed up thusly: “nil” and his knowledge of politics is “feeble.” This is also when Watson is flabbergasted to learn that Sherlock doesn’t know that the earth goes around the sun: “My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to me to be such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it” (14). When Watson reproaches him for his ignorance, Sherlock interrupts impatiently: “What the deuce is it to me? You say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work” (15). Benedict Cumberbatch, by the way, said this line with such childish irritation and arrogance while flouncing around in his robe; a great interpretation of the complex, mercurial personality that is Sherlock Holmes.
The Sherlock Holmes stories are very evocative of nineteenth century London and I feel as if I am there walking the foggy streets dimly lit by gas lights. The descriptions of the moor in The Hound of the Baskervilles make the story even more creepy and scary: “Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering” (615). This was creepy story and I enjoyed it immensely.
What surprised me to learn is that the things Sherlock is most famous for (the cape, the curved pipe and the deerstalker cap) don’t exist in the stories. Sherlock does smoke a pipe, but it’s straight, not curved. An early illustrator of the original stories added these affectations. Sherlock’s famous line, “It’s elementary, Watson” (and variations on that) is said only once in all the stories. What Sherlock most often says is, “You know my methods, Watson,” but apparently that’s too wordy and not as catchy. Also, Professor Moriarty, Sherlock’s genius evil alter-ego, only appears in one story: “The Final Problem.” Since so much is made of him, I thought he would be a repeating character, but he is not. However, he is so clever and evil and so like Sherlock, he makes an impressive and lasting impression.
I would have enjoyed these Sherlock Holmes stories anyway, but my enjoyment was heightened whenever I came across a plot or character habit or dialogue that had been adapted directly into the BBC’s Sherlock. The two mediums together are a special treat. However, when I read the stories, I don’t picture Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock. The Sherlock Holmes and John Watson of the stories are similar, but not the same, as the characters in the television show. If you are a fan of the show, you may want to go right to the source and read the stories. I absolutely loved them and look forward to starting volume two and the resurrection of Sherlock in “The Empty House.”
What I enjoy so much about the stories aren’t necessarily the mysteries. I’ve read much more complex and suspenseful mysteries by other authors. I didn’t have the crimes solved before Sherlock did, but I usually had a fairly good idea of what was going on. What I like is the excellent, no-nonsense, crisp writing. The writing is so economical and practical and what long descriptions there are set the mood effectively. I don’t have to read long annoying passages about how the characters feel. Doyle lets the reader figure that out. I like that Sherlock isn’t overly emotional and his intelligent conversation and deductions are enjoyable. His deductive skills are best displayed in The Sign of Four when Sherlock looks at a watch Watson recently inherited and deduces much from it. This scene is also brilliantly adapted by Sherlock for “A Study in Pink” (1.1). In this episode, Watson’s cellphone (which was given to him by his sister) is the modern substitution for the watch, and the scene is just as enjoyable to watch as it is to read (although I think the modern mystery is better).
I like Watson and his bemusement at Sherlock’s deductive powers. He also struggles to understand why a man who is so intelligent in some areas is completely ignorant in others. There is a scene in a Study in Scarlet in which Watson makes a list entitled: “Sherlock Holmes—his limitations.” Sherlock’s knowledge of literature, philosophy and astronomy are summed up thusly: “nil” and his knowledge of politics is “feeble.” This is also when Watson is flabbergasted to learn that Sherlock doesn’t know that the earth goes around the sun: “My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to me to be such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it” (14). When Watson reproaches him for his ignorance, Sherlock interrupts impatiently: “What the deuce is it to me? You say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work” (15). Benedict Cumberbatch, by the way, said this line with such childish irritation and arrogance while flouncing around in his robe; a great interpretation of the complex, mercurial personality that is Sherlock Holmes.
The Sherlock Holmes stories are very evocative of nineteenth century London and I feel as if I am there walking the foggy streets dimly lit by gas lights. The descriptions of the moor in The Hound of the Baskervilles make the story even more creepy and scary: “Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering” (615). This was creepy story and I enjoyed it immensely.
What surprised me to learn is that the things Sherlock is most famous for (the cape, the curved pipe and the deerstalker cap) don’t exist in the stories. Sherlock does smoke a pipe, but it’s straight, not curved. An early illustrator of the original stories added these affectations. Sherlock’s famous line, “It’s elementary, Watson” (and variations on that) is said only once in all the stories. What Sherlock most often says is, “You know my methods, Watson,” but apparently that’s too wordy and not as catchy. Also, Professor Moriarty, Sherlock’s genius evil alter-ego, only appears in one story: “The Final Problem.” Since so much is made of him, I thought he would be a repeating character, but he is not. However, he is so clever and evil and so like Sherlock, he makes an impressive and lasting impression.
I would have enjoyed these Sherlock Holmes stories anyway, but my enjoyment was heightened whenever I came across a plot or character habit or dialogue that had been adapted directly into the BBC’s Sherlock. The two mediums together are a special treat. However, when I read the stories, I don’t picture Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock. The Sherlock Holmes and John Watson of the stories are similar, but not the same, as the characters in the television show. If you are a fan of the show, you may want to go right to the source and read the stories. I absolutely loved them and look forward to starting volume two and the resurrection of Sherlock in “The Empty House.”
December 28, 2010
Since I’ve been reading this off and on since February (yeah, that’s right, ten months!), I’ve forgotten a lot of particular criticisms and compliments for individual mysteries. So, although I can’t be exactly in-depth with this, I can account for the general, over-all feel of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
When I first started reading, I found it difficult to picture Holmes and Watson as younger men. They’re in their mid-30s, probably, but for some reason the tone of the book makes them feel like they're much older than that.
Basically, when I began, I was picturing them as looking quite a lot like this:
Blame it on my childhood, will you?!
A Study In Scarlet was a strange tale, but I remember laughing out loud when Holmes was “sniffing about the room like some highly trained dog” (or something like that), and the introduction to Holmes as a character was very interesting. The mystery would’ve been fine if not for the Mormon plot-line, which really took me off guard. I guess it added depth, but it made the story drag along since it wasn’t all that interesting and it was long-winded and…well, strange.
The Sign of Four was about on the same level, without the weird Mormon plot. I had a happy little moment when Toby showed up to smell out the criminal, since Toby was also in The Great Mouse Detective (I know, I know! But I loved that cartoon when I was younger).
And also, Watson gets married at the end, which was kinda sweet. We’re also informed near the beginning that Holmes is a crack addict. AHEM *cough cough cough.* We all know this of Holmes with or without reading the mysteries, but it was rather disturbing to read about him stabbing himself with the needle repeatedly and syringing the stuff into his bloodstream. Ugh. Gross.
And yet, when I informed my sister, “Sherlock Holmes really is a druggie!” I kind of um…busted up laughing. :S
I am a horrible person…
Then I was thrust into all the little short stories from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. These were all good, but not exciting enough to keep me from setting the book aside for other pursuits. My favorite in The Adventures was, I think, “The Five Orange Pips.” I remember that interesting me more than many of the others, although the one about the blue carbuncle in the goose was also quite intriguing, with a few memorable lines about, you know, food.
After that was another series of short stories/mysteries called Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. These were also good, but I was starting to get bored because there wasn’t really anything too remarkable. I didn’t feel like I was getting to know the characters any better and they seemed dull and unchanging. Also, half of the story would be taken up by someone coming to 221B Baker Street and laying out the mystery in the most minute detail. I know this was probably necessary, but sometimes it just got BORING.
The most entertaining part of Memoirs was the first page of The Musgrave Ritual, in which Watson shares with us that Holmes was unorganized with his papers, kept his tobacco in a Persian slipper, and would sit in his armchair with his hair-trigger and adorn the opposite wall with a V.R. done in bullet-holes. After that it got better for me. And although it’s sad, and it’s not actually a mystery, The Final Problem may very well have been my favorite from Memoirs. Which is strange, of course, since Sherlock "DIES" in that one. :S But I saw more life and excitement in Sherlock Holmes just before his "death," which reminded me of the movie that finally succeeded in getting me to pick this volume up at Barnes & Noble.
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle finally decided to write about his beloved detective again, he did it with style. The Hound of the Baskervilles was my favorite of them all. Very well written and exciting the whole way through. It’s suspenseful, appropriately dark, and just…WOW. Bravo, Doyle, I applaud you. This would have gotten 4 stars if not for that last one.
I have to say that I like the novel form for the mysteries a lot more than the short story form which ACD used more often for Holmes, since there’s more time to create a deeper plot and build up to a proper climax.
If you've been wanting to read about the famous detective, but haven't worked up the bravery to read the complete series, then I recommend reading A Study In Scarlet since it is the introduction to Holmes, and The Hound of the Baskervilles because it is an absolute masterpiece in classic mystery. Really just phenomenal.
I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Volume 2!
Also looking forward to movie #2. ;)
P.S. Random quote from Watson about Holmes: "I have not heard him laugh often, and it has always boded ill to somebody." xD Yep, pretty much.
When I first started reading, I found it difficult to picture Holmes and Watson as younger men. They’re in their mid-30s, probably, but for some reason the tone of the book makes them feel like they're much older than that.
Basically, when I began, I was picturing them as looking quite a lot like this:
Blame it on my childhood, will you?!
A Study In Scarlet was a strange tale, but I remember laughing out loud when Holmes was “sniffing about the room like some highly trained dog” (or something like that), and the introduction to Holmes as a character was very interesting. The mystery would’ve been fine if not for the Mormon plot-line, which really took me off guard. I guess it added depth, but it made the story drag along since it wasn’t all that interesting and it was long-winded and…well, strange.
The Sign of Four was about on the same level, without the weird Mormon plot. I had a happy little moment when Toby showed up to smell out the criminal, since Toby was also in The Great Mouse Detective (I know, I know! But I loved that cartoon when I was younger).
And also, Watson gets married at the end, which was kinda sweet. We’re also informed near the beginning that Holmes is a crack addict. AHEM *cough cough cough.* We all know this of Holmes with or without reading the mysteries, but it was rather disturbing to read about him stabbing himself with the needle repeatedly and syringing the stuff into his bloodstream. Ugh. Gross.
And yet, when I informed my sister, “Sherlock Holmes really is a druggie!” I kind of um…busted up laughing. :S
I am a horrible person…
Then I was thrust into all the little short stories from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. These were all good, but not exciting enough to keep me from setting the book aside for other pursuits. My favorite in The Adventures was, I think, “The Five Orange Pips.” I remember that interesting me more than many of the others, although the one about the blue carbuncle in the goose was also quite intriguing, with a few memorable lines about, you know, food.
After that was another series of short stories/mysteries called Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. These were also good, but I was starting to get bored because there wasn’t really anything too remarkable. I didn’t feel like I was getting to know the characters any better and they seemed dull and unchanging. Also, half of the story would be taken up by someone coming to 221B Baker Street and laying out the mystery in the most minute detail. I know this was probably necessary, but sometimes it just got BORING.
The most entertaining part of Memoirs was the first page of The Musgrave Ritual, in which Watson shares with us that Holmes was unorganized with his papers, kept his tobacco in a Persian slipper, and would sit in his armchair with his hair-trigger and adorn the opposite wall with a V.R. done in bullet-holes. After that it got better for me. And although it’s sad, and it’s not actually a mystery, The Final Problem may very well have been my favorite from Memoirs. Which is strange, of course, since Sherlock "DIES" in that one. :S But I saw more life and excitement in Sherlock Holmes just before his "death," which reminded me of the movie that finally succeeded in getting me to pick this volume up at Barnes & Noble.
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle finally decided to write about his beloved detective again, he did it with style. The Hound of the Baskervilles was my favorite of them all. Very well written and exciting the whole way through. It’s suspenseful, appropriately dark, and just…WOW. Bravo, Doyle, I applaud you. This would have gotten 4 stars if not for that last one.
I have to say that I like the novel form for the mysteries a lot more than the short story form which ACD used more often for Holmes, since there’s more time to create a deeper plot and build up to a proper climax.
If you've been wanting to read about the famous detective, but haven't worked up the bravery to read the complete series, then I recommend reading A Study In Scarlet since it is the introduction to Holmes, and The Hound of the Baskervilles because it is an absolute masterpiece in classic mystery. Really just phenomenal.
I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Volume 2!
Also looking forward to movie #2. ;)
P.S. Random quote from Watson about Holmes: "I have not heard him laugh often, and it has always boded ill to somebody." xD Yep, pretty much.
July 16, 2025
nahhh 700+ pages??
February 10, 2010
This is the first of a two volume set containing all Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s published works featuring Sherlock Holmes. Collected here in order of original publication, this first volume includes the first two novels (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four), followed by the first two collections of short stories (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes) and ends with the third novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Overall, it a wonderful collection featuring some of the most well known mysteries such as “The Red-headed League”, “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”, and “The Final Problem”. Indeed, “Speckled Band” is reportedly Doyle’s personal favorite of all the Homes tales.
Doyle’s first Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, is clearly his weakest, though it is amusing for the Holmes fan to see the introduction of the now-famous consulting detective to the world. The second Holmes work, also a novel (The Sign of Four), is a little better, but still falls short of Doyle’s general quality. To the casual reader, I would recommend skipping these two and jumping straight into the two collections of short stories and the third novel.
The short stories from the Adventures and Memoirs collections range from amusing (e.g. “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle”) to the bizarre (e.g. “The Five Orange Pips” in which Holmes and Watson take on the Ku Klux Klan) to the truly disturbing (e.g. “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”), but they are always clever and endearing. My favorite stories are “The Man with the Twisted Lip” and “The Musgrave Ritual”, but the best tale in this volume is Doyle’s third Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles which is far improved over his early novels.
Doyle’s first Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, is clearly his weakest, though it is amusing for the Holmes fan to see the introduction of the now-famous consulting detective to the world. The second Holmes work, also a novel (The Sign of Four), is a little better, but still falls short of Doyle’s general quality. To the casual reader, I would recommend skipping these two and jumping straight into the two collections of short stories and the third novel.
The short stories from the Adventures and Memoirs collections range from amusing (e.g. “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle”) to the bizarre (e.g. “The Five Orange Pips” in which Holmes and Watson take on the Ku Klux Klan) to the truly disturbing (e.g. “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”), but they are always clever and endearing. My favorite stories are “The Man with the Twisted Lip” and “The Musgrave Ritual”, but the best tale in this volume is Doyle’s third Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles which is far improved over his early novels.
May 10, 2010
It's amazing how much English literature became less dense between Austen, Dickens and Thackeray to Doyle. I admit I was avoiding reading this because I thought it would take the same level of time and commitment as a Dickens novel, but I was (pleasantly) surprised by how much easier it was to read.
I really enjoyed reading this compilation of four of Doyle's Holmes novels. It's easy to see why so many people love Sherlock Holmes and the books are so widely read.
However, I have to admit that "A Study in Scarlet" was not in the least my favorite, because of its stereotyping of Mormons and its mischaracterization of Brigham Young and overdramatization of polygamy, which members of the LDS church (aka Mormons) practiced at the time and abandoned more than a century ago.
I really enjoyed reading this compilation of four of Doyle's Holmes novels. It's easy to see why so many people love Sherlock Holmes and the books are so widely read.
However, I have to admit that "A Study in Scarlet" was not in the least my favorite, because of its stereotyping of Mormons and its mischaracterization of Brigham Young and overdramatization of polygamy, which members of the LDS church (aka Mormons) practiced at the time and abandoned more than a century ago.
July 12, 2016
I love Sherlock Holmes. Written in the late 1800s/early 1900s in London. I love the old vocabulary and the history. I can hear the horsedrawn hansons clattering down the brick streets. I can smell the tobacco of Holme's pipe. I have enjoyed the odd friendship of Holmes and Watson. And I have enjoyed the adventure and mystery these 2 gentlemen find themselves in. This volume takes some time to read, but I recommend anyone who is interested in mystery to read about this famous detective's adventures.
February 13, 2014
Whatever you do, read Hound of the Baskervilles. Holy cow, that's now one of my favorite books. The short stories are fun, but some are better than others.
It feels like Holmes and Watson are really fleshed out as dynamic characters in Baskervilles. Is it the longer length? Is it because it was written so much later than the short stories?
It feels like Holmes and Watson are really fleshed out as dynamic characters in Baskervilles. Is it the longer length? Is it because it was written so much later than the short stories?
June 22, 2025
Little to say here that’s not been said already. Always steady, logical, and fun to come back to.
August 31, 2025
I am purely guesstimating when I started reading this collection, but it had to be some time around 2008 when I received this first volume. It has taken me years, not because it is all that horribly long (though it is thick), but because I am a horribly slow, distracted reader. In truth, I picked this book up again just a few months ago somewhere around the halfway point and was able to finish it in shorter order. If I had been as diligent in my youth, this review would have come much sooner. I digress:
Don’t let the length of my reading time keep you from indulging in Sherlock Holmes. There is no rush to get through these classic stories! By this point, anyone who would have anything to say about the Sherlock Holmes stories has already said it. I love these tales immensely no matter how believable or not they may be, and if you’re into detective literature, look no further than the world’s greatest detective to see you on your way. The Hound of the Baskervilles is truly an epic story with which to tie off the first volume!
5/5 I’m beyond biased so feel free to disregard my review.
Don’t let the length of my reading time keep you from indulging in Sherlock Holmes. There is no rush to get through these classic stories! By this point, anyone who would have anything to say about the Sherlock Holmes stories has already said it. I love these tales immensely no matter how believable or not they may be, and if you’re into detective literature, look no further than the world’s greatest detective to see you on your way. The Hound of the Baskervilles is truly an epic story with which to tie off the first volume!
5/5 I’m beyond biased so feel free to disregard my review.
August 30, 2024
Hard to rate as a whole when I liked some of the stories far more than others, but overall the stories are all clever and engaging. Doyle relies heavily on the pseudoscience of physiognomy and is a terrible misogynist with few women and even fewer spoken of with anything close to respect. Excepting those aspects, I enjoyed the stories.
March 3, 2025
Always worth a re-read, but I hadn't read the Hound in a while. What a masterpiece.
June 29, 2020
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence."
Reread: May—June 2020
I sort of reread this on a whim after recently reading A Study in Charlotte and finally watching the very last episode of BBC's Sherlock. It had been so long that I really only recalled the outcome of a few of these stories, so my perspective was able to remain much more fresh and objective than I would have expected in such a reread.
To be honest, Sherlock Holmes is not as impressive as I remember finding him at fourteen. I think I was more in awe of BBC's Sherlock than I was of Conan Doyle's original character, and that may have tainted my initial impression. What really surprised me, though, was the lack of action present in these stories. Nearly all of them are relayed secondhand to Watson, who then relays them thirdhand to the reader, so that there is a certain distance from the immediate drama of the crime which I found rather disappointing. I also found I can't really stand Watson himself anymore, as here he came across to me as somewhat annoying and, rather than opening up the intricate world of Holmes' mind, somewhat of a bumbling hindrance to much of the stories' unfoldings. The whole approach of Watson as chronicler just seems so lazy and unnecessary to me now.
In this reread, I really ended up enjoying the novellas best, particularly The Hound of the Baskervilles, and I think this was because they actually contained a much larger amount of action than the typical short story did, centering upon dramatic action unfolding across the wild moors or the American West rather than focusing on a client unburdening his woes in Baker Street and Sherlock subsequently disappearing to solve the mystery alone.
I'm leaving my rating the same as before, as I can truly appreciate Conan Doyle's inventiveness and the legacy of these works, but I am maybe not as much of a proponent of Sherlock Holmes' as I was before. I now know what I like in a good mystery, and, unfortunately, Holmes and Watson did not quite live up to my preferences upon this little revisit.
November 4, 2012
3.5 Stars
I cannot believe I am finished! I started, stopped, sputtered-to-life, halted, then started again. It took me 4 months to plow through this book; which is rare, since size does NOT matter. I have tackled larger books in less time. I did not find this book very interesting in the beginning, but once I set my mind to it this last month, it went quickly (I mostly read it on the weekends this past October).
The stories were relatively short, and actually quite humorous (Robert Downey Jr. played in my head the entire time). With a wonderful British accent, humor and obsessiveness down pact; the stories became quite enjoyable. A Scandal in Bohemia, which introduces us to Irene Adler; The Woman; and The Hound of the Baskervilles; were my favorites. The rest of the adventures were nicely done, and made me use my brain, trying to figure out the dastardly deeds of these criminals. The crimes were no different than today's; with murder, adultery, theft and pure scandal. Thrilling indeed.
I think I would have enjoyed the stories more in "bite-sized chunks" (wal-mart layaway commercial, sorry); than has a complete set. I think the size of it unnerved me and set me up for failure. Well, I don't give up unless the book sucks. This one did not; I didn't even throw it against the wall... count it blessed.
I do recommend reading the stories individually, and not as a set. This book or the stories within would have received 4 stars, due to Sherlock's ability to solve the crimes while being entertaining at the same time.
I cannot believe I am finished! I started, stopped, sputtered-to-life, halted, then started again. It took me 4 months to plow through this book; which is rare, since size does NOT matter. I have tackled larger books in less time. I did not find this book very interesting in the beginning, but once I set my mind to it this last month, it went quickly (I mostly read it on the weekends this past October).
The stories were relatively short, and actually quite humorous (Robert Downey Jr. played in my head the entire time). With a wonderful British accent, humor and obsessiveness down pact; the stories became quite enjoyable. A Scandal in Bohemia, which introduces us to Irene Adler; The Woman; and The Hound of the Baskervilles; were my favorites. The rest of the adventures were nicely done, and made me use my brain, trying to figure out the dastardly deeds of these criminals. The crimes were no different than today's; with murder, adultery, theft and pure scandal. Thrilling indeed.
I think I would have enjoyed the stories more in "bite-sized chunks" (wal-mart layaway commercial, sorry); than has a complete set. I think the size of it unnerved me and set me up for failure. Well, I don't give up unless the book sucks. This one did not; I didn't even throw it against the wall... count it blessed.
I do recommend reading the stories individually, and not as a set. This book or the stories within would have received 4 stars, due to Sherlock's ability to solve the crimes while being entertaining at the same time.
November 11, 2014
I loved the novels (The Hound of the Baskervilles was a reread for me), but the stories were very much hit-or-miss.
January 17, 2015
Ugh I love Sherlock stories.
April 23, 2013
It doesn't matter how many times I've reread these stories. With each revisitation, I always find something new to admire and appreciate.
May 16, 2017
I loved this book! However, I'm a slow reader and it took me about a year and a half to finish. But if you're like me and love mystery, then I would highly recommend this book.
December 17, 2024
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born of Irish-Catholic parents in England in the mid 1800s. Alcoholism plagued his father which ultimately led to his parents separating and reuniting during this period. Doyle spent much of his childhood in tenement housing until his father died in the late 1800s. Doyle, supported by wealthier members of his family, would attend school with a focus on medicine.
Doyle would later attend University of Edinburgh Medical School. It was during this time that Doyle met surgeon and professor Joseph Bell, who would serve as the inspiration behind the greatest detective the world has ever known: Sherlock Holmes. Doyle had spent several years in the medical field, ranging from serving as a surgeon on a ship, to studying eye disorders in Vienna. However, it would appear, even based upon his writings in medicine, Doyle had a fascination with solving mysteries and crimes Doyle would publish a little over 200 stories and and articles. The most popular of all his creations, the crime solving duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, was almost never to be. Doyle had a very hard time trying to find a publisher that would take a chance on his characters. In fact, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson did not achieve mass appeal until the publishing of the duo’s second short story, “Scandal In Bohemia.” Three novels, and 23 short stories later, Doyle tried to kill off his most famous detective; only to be forced to bring him back due to public outcry.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume 1 contains these four novels: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and the 23 short stories compiled in two books. This first volume of stories was published between 1890 and 1902. Reading through this volume feels akin to bingeing a long running series on streaming. The reader joins the duo through their early encounter on 221B Baker Street, to Watson reconciling the endless work of private detective business with the needs of his new wife, to Holmes facing his greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty, and “dying” in an attempt to bring him to justice.
Sherlock Holmes has achieved immortality in Western Culture. Generations today can identify the trademark deerstalker hat and pipe. However, it is his powers of observation and deduction that have fascinated and thrilled readers for over a hundred years. Holmes serves as a testament that human beings learn a lot from each other by simply observing each other.
Doyle’s stories are a quick read. One might argue that these were entertaining as serialized stories, much like Law and Order is entertaining as a show that airs every week. Taken as a whole, though, it is evident that Doyle was as methodical about writing as he was about studying medical science. A mysterious crime happens, Sherlock Holmes and Watson are called to investigate it. A series of strange occurrences, red herrings, and stories are told to the dynamic duo. Doyle’s use of 3rd person limited point of view and Holmes’s secrecy regarding his inner thoughts make the reveal at the end of each story a surprise, but makes the writing formulaic. This is not a problem when consuming these stories in serialized form, after all look at how many seasons and off shoots Law and Order has had as the result of this style of writing. However, when reading straight through this collection, the same thing happens when you binge a T.V. series: it all becomes a blur.
Despite this, Doyle has made some stand out stories. Sign of Four, Scandal in Bohemia, and some unknowns like the Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb, contain the same cerebral thrill that many recognize as invaluable to Western literature. As Holmes says in the Sign of Four: “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” As it is impossible to erase the character of Sherlock Holmes, as improbable as it may be that Doyle wrote a character that will endure forever, it must be the truth.
Doyle would later attend University of Edinburgh Medical School. It was during this time that Doyle met surgeon and professor Joseph Bell, who would serve as the inspiration behind the greatest detective the world has ever known: Sherlock Holmes. Doyle had spent several years in the medical field, ranging from serving as a surgeon on a ship, to studying eye disorders in Vienna. However, it would appear, even based upon his writings in medicine, Doyle had a fascination with solving mysteries and crimes Doyle would publish a little over 200 stories and and articles. The most popular of all his creations, the crime solving duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, was almost never to be. Doyle had a very hard time trying to find a publisher that would take a chance on his characters. In fact, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson did not achieve mass appeal until the publishing of the duo’s second short story, “Scandal In Bohemia.” Three novels, and 23 short stories later, Doyle tried to kill off his most famous detective; only to be forced to bring him back due to public outcry.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume 1 contains these four novels: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and the 23 short stories compiled in two books. This first volume of stories was published between 1890 and 1902. Reading through this volume feels akin to bingeing a long running series on streaming. The reader joins the duo through their early encounter on 221B Baker Street, to Watson reconciling the endless work of private detective business with the needs of his new wife, to Holmes facing his greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty, and “dying” in an attempt to bring him to justice.
Sherlock Holmes has achieved immortality in Western Culture. Generations today can identify the trademark deerstalker hat and pipe. However, it is his powers of observation and deduction that have fascinated and thrilled readers for over a hundred years. Holmes serves as a testament that human beings learn a lot from each other by simply observing each other.
Doyle’s stories are a quick read. One might argue that these were entertaining as serialized stories, much like Law and Order is entertaining as a show that airs every week. Taken as a whole, though, it is evident that Doyle was as methodical about writing as he was about studying medical science. A mysterious crime happens, Sherlock Holmes and Watson are called to investigate it. A series of strange occurrences, red herrings, and stories are told to the dynamic duo. Doyle’s use of 3rd person limited point of view and Holmes’s secrecy regarding his inner thoughts make the reveal at the end of each story a surprise, but makes the writing formulaic. This is not a problem when consuming these stories in serialized form, after all look at how many seasons and off shoots Law and Order has had as the result of this style of writing. However, when reading straight through this collection, the same thing happens when you binge a T.V. series: it all becomes a blur.
Despite this, Doyle has made some stand out stories. Sign of Four, Scandal in Bohemia, and some unknowns like the Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb, contain the same cerebral thrill that many recognize as invaluable to Western literature. As Holmes says in the Sign of Four: “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” As it is impossible to erase the character of Sherlock Holmes, as improbable as it may be that Doyle wrote a character that will endure forever, it must be the truth.
June 12, 2022
I had read many of these before but there were a few new ones that led to this read, and I reread the rest in order to refresh for a book group. Holmes stories are interesting in that they are mysteries, but not ones where you are given the information to try to actually solve it as more recent ones go with the hints and the red herrings and such. These you just go along for the ride admiring Holmes' genius.
I did notice this time through that most, if not all, of the female characters were very strong. They were smart, observant, deep-thinking, strong-willed, brave, even with a fainting spell here or there, there was a lot of respect to the women despite Holmes' wanting to write off the female sex. And the one person to fully "beat" him that we read about was a woman. There is only one character I can think of off the top of my head that might not fit the profile, but even she had many admirable qualities and had some good insights. But then again, it took me almost a month to read this through so I may be forgetting or muddling.
I did notice this time through that most, if not all, of the female characters were very strong. They were smart, observant, deep-thinking, strong-willed, brave, even with a fainting spell here or there, there was a lot of respect to the women despite Holmes' wanting to write off the female sex. And the one person to fully "beat" him that we read about was a woman. There is only one character I can think of off the top of my head that might not fit the profile, but even she had many admirable qualities and had some good insights. But then again, it took me almost a month to read this through so I may be forgetting or muddling.
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