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Great Cases of Sherlock Holmes (Franklin Library of Mystery Masterpieces)
A collection of 19 of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short stories.
483 pages, Leather Bound
First published November 1, 1986
30 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
15.6k books24.2k followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 7, 2016
Like many, I am an avid fan of the new Sherlock Holmes movie. Robert Downey Jr. was engaging and dynamic a our favorite eccentric detective, and Jude Laws was charming as Dr. Watson. I can just watch those movies over and over again. I didn't think the stories would be the same. They are.
Sherlock Holmes had earned a bad reputation over the years as being stodgy and logical, a detective that simply solves problems. In reality, the original text is witty, descriptive, and at times suspenseful. You are immersed into the world of Baker Street, of 19th century London, of Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Watson is an excellent narrator. He accounts every detail, but it is clear he doesn't always know the outcome or what Holmes is thinking. The reader makes these discoveries as he does. It is almost tragic we never get into Holmes's head, but then again I am not sure we would be able to follow that narration.
I was surprised to see how much of the direct text the movies used. There were also many witty lines that did not make the cut (though they should because they're brilliant). Holmes and Watson's banter is just as clear in the original stories as in the movies, and I was snickering when Holmes would subtly insult Lestrade or poke fun at his friends. Of all the stories, my favorite was probably A Scandal in Bohemia due to my fascination of Irene Adler. I definitely love the twist the movie puts on it (and yes, now I understand why he had her picture. Awesome reference!)
I have to admit, the characters and the world enthralled me more than the mysteries. Maybe I have watched too many cop shows, but I felt like they were all formulaic in one way or another. Also, Doyle does a lot of telling instead of showing, and that gets tedious. My main problem with the stories was that I wanted more. More about Holmes, his upbringing, his brother, etc. I wanted more back story. Maybe I'll just have to read the other stories and see if more is offered.
Overall, an excellent read. I sincerely enjoyed my love affair with Sherlock Holmes. I hope you decide to start one of your own!
Sherlock Holmes had earned a bad reputation over the years as being stodgy and logical, a detective that simply solves problems. In reality, the original text is witty, descriptive, and at times suspenseful. You are immersed into the world of Baker Street, of 19th century London, of Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Watson is an excellent narrator. He accounts every detail, but it is clear he doesn't always know the outcome or what Holmes is thinking. The reader makes these discoveries as he does. It is almost tragic we never get into Holmes's head, but then again I am not sure we would be able to follow that narration.
I was surprised to see how much of the direct text the movies used. There were also many witty lines that did not make the cut (though they should because they're brilliant). Holmes and Watson's banter is just as clear in the original stories as in the movies, and I was snickering when Holmes would subtly insult Lestrade or poke fun at his friends. Of all the stories, my favorite was probably A Scandal in Bohemia due to my fascination of Irene Adler. I definitely love the twist the movie puts on it (and yes, now I understand why he had her picture. Awesome reference!)
I have to admit, the characters and the world enthralled me more than the mysteries. Maybe I have watched too many cop shows, but I felt like they were all formulaic in one way or another. Also, Doyle does a lot of telling instead of showing, and that gets tedious. My main problem with the stories was that I wanted more. More about Holmes, his upbringing, his brother, etc. I wanted more back story. Maybe I'll just have to read the other stories and see if more is offered.
Overall, an excellent read. I sincerely enjoyed my love affair with Sherlock Holmes. I hope you decide to start one of your own!
January 2, 2023
This was such a good read! It had a collection of interesting Sherlock cases. It definitely lived up to the title. Some of them were a little laborious, but the dynamic between Sherlock and Watson was priceless.
September 19, 2025
As an avid comic book reader, I like anything serialized that I can enjoy in small doses over the course of several days. Books like this where you can read one case every day or so and get a whole month's worth of content out of a book is right up my alley. Also much like a comic run, not every case is great, but it is rewarding to read them all and chronicle how Doyle comes up with the tropes and characterization that would come to define not only Holmes and Watson, but the mystery genre as a whole.
I would compare it to reading early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man or The Fantastic Four, where they might not have aged particularly well, yet with each issue you can see the development of the characters, stories and tropes which would define the genre, and get a glimpse into the genius workhorses behind them, who had to pump these stories out at a rapid rate, whether it is Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, or indeed Arthur Conan Doyle.
I would compare it to reading early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man or The Fantastic Four, where they might not have aged particularly well, yet with each issue you can see the development of the characters, stories and tropes which would define the genre, and get a glimpse into the genius workhorses behind them, who had to pump these stories out at a rapid rate, whether it is Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, or indeed Arthur Conan Doyle.
August 26, 2020
I really like Franklin Library books. They're not as good as Easton Press, nor are they as good as the Folio Society; indeed, I wouldn't put them above the Library of America, but they do have a certain charm to them. Picking them up for a cheap price is fun, if not the epitome of it. Now, older Franklin Library books, before cheapening out and going under, are spectacular: this is only in reference to their post-financial-trouble days.
Anyway, this isn't a review of the story, but rather of the book itself, and it is - if I may say - fine. But not the best.
Anyway, this isn't a review of the story, but rather of the book itself, and it is - if I may say - fine. But not the best.
February 12, 2022
It's not bad very intellectual but also older literature.
June 23, 2024
Such a classic and so fun to read!
February 5, 2016
A favourite of most people when it comes to detective stories, actually the writer immortalised his medical teacher in his methods of detecting decease from symptoms and observations.
Hound of Baskerville is the most favourite generally, and most people swear by The Hound of Baskerville, to which I prefer The Speckled Band, and the last one for its descriptions of Swiss landscape.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008.
.............................................
Of course Return of Sherlock Homes is even better, with the episode that is capture of the villain, Moriarty, eerily like the story of hunting of a cheetah I read about long ago.
The encounter of Sherlock Holmes with Moriarty - his silent waiting in a house opposite his own window and with a view of the street, so as to see the street and the window - is very very evocative of a real story of someone hunting a cheetah that was terror of a village with many people including children taken by the cheetah - the hunter, silent in a hut verandah, expected the cheetah to stroll in as usual from the jungle by the path he was watching, but it was all too silent and this warned him instinctively - next fraction of a second, the cheetah (who was all too aware of the hunter and his whereabouts) had jumped from the roof of the hut and was right at the hunter, who would be dead but for the heeding of the warning of the instinct. In the even he barely got one shot and was lucky to not be mauled and finished.
Hound of Baskerville is the most favourite generally, and most people swear by The Hound of Baskerville, to which I prefer The Speckled Band, and the last one for its descriptions of Swiss landscape.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008.
.............................................
Of course Return of Sherlock Homes is even better, with the episode that is capture of the villain, Moriarty, eerily like the story of hunting of a cheetah I read about long ago.
The encounter of Sherlock Holmes with Moriarty - his silent waiting in a house opposite his own window and with a view of the street, so as to see the street and the window - is very very evocative of a real story of someone hunting a cheetah that was terror of a village with many people including children taken by the cheetah - the hunter, silent in a hut verandah, expected the cheetah to stroll in as usual from the jungle by the path he was watching, but it was all too silent and this warned him instinctively - next fraction of a second, the cheetah (who was all too aware of the hunter and his whereabouts) had jumped from the roof of the hut and was right at the hunter, who would be dead but for the heeding of the warning of the instinct. In the even he barely got one shot and was lucky to not be mauled and finished.
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February 3, 2016As a fan of the BBC show "Sherlock" I wanted to get more into the world and go back to the original stories where my beloved character originated from. Typically I will not watch a movie or show if I have not read the book first. This was one of the rare expectations, so when I finally did get a copy of some of the cases of Sherlock Holmes I was eager to read them. I found that the show did a great job of capturing the essence of Holmes and Watson from the book and putting them into modern day. In every case I found myself eager to find out how they did it and happy when I could occasionally come to the same conclusion as Holmes, on my own. Although sometimes it could be a little slow to start, by the end of each case I was fully absorbed. The copy that I read has random cases of Sherlock Holmes and I guess that it is okay to read them like that, but I would recommend reading them in order because the relationships get a little confusing when jumping around. I would also recommend this as a classic that is easy to read, but I do have to warn that there is quiet a bit of drugs, and they are not being shown in the typical negative light of today. I really enjoyed this world and the characters and would recommend this to anyone looking for a world to escape too.
November 12, 2012
In light of all the recent interpretations of Holmes & Watson, I thought it would be a good idea to go back to the original. It was definitely worthwhile, and made for a very interesting read. It was also interesting to see how many repeated themes appear throughout the various interpretations, which may not have been as prominent in Doyle's actual works.
On a side note, it was interesting to learn that in some ways, Wilson's character on House was based on Watson, and House himself on Holmes.
On a side note, it was interesting to learn that in some ways, Wilson's character on House was based on Watson, and House himself on Holmes.
May 10, 2010
I am fascinated by the character Sherlock Holmes. Kudos to Arthur Conan Doyle to be able to create such a person! These cases make you want to be more observant of the world around you, which is hard for me- especially because I can't even remember what I was wearing yesterday! A fun exercise for the mind...
July 22, 2012
This is a wonderful book! Great short stories with a bonus of maps (of where the mysteries were) and a layout of Holmes' home at 221B.
This was my first reading of Sherlock Holmes. I really enjoyed it! A few of the mysteries were really far fetched, but still very readable! Sherlock is not the nicest guy around, but he certainly has great abilities of reasoning and protecting himself.
This was my first reading of Sherlock Holmes. I really enjoyed it! A few of the mysteries were really far fetched, but still very readable! Sherlock is not the nicest guy around, but he certainly has great abilities of reasoning and protecting himself.
November 15, 2012
I totally loved this collection! I think after watching so many movies (new and old), I'd come to know Sherlock and Watson quite well. Well, I know them even better now, and I'm eager to read some more. Astounding feats of deduction - those will never come from my brain, but it's fun to read about them.
February 6, 2017
Checked out of the library a couple different times to finish. Interesting stories, but fairly dense. Not a quick read, but worth it.
February 25, 2010
This isn't the exact copy that I read. I held onto my copy for years the finally got around to reading it when I was sick in bed for several days. It was the highlight of each day. I have yet to read the novels.
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August 5, 2014read
March 20, 2013
I just love reading Sherlock Holmes books, what a brilliant observant man.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews