1000 Books Before You Die discussion

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

I have the complete Sherlock Holmes, so this was the first one I read.

This was a massive disappointment to me. It seemed very poor compared with Hound of the Baskervilles. The first part was ok, explaining how Holmes & Watson met. The story appeared to finish, then the next part was almost like reading a separate short story. A very odd book which has stopped me from wanting to read the other Sherlock Holmes stories.

Trisha, thanks for the information. I am still going to give A Study in Scarlet a try. I would like to read how Holmes and Watson met. And the book is not too long.

The second part of A Study in Scarlet is the exception to most of the Holmes books, and not nearly as good as the others.

Debra wrote: "Trisha, thanks for the information. I am still going to give A Study in Scarlet a try. I would like to read how Holmes and Watson met. And the book is not too long."

Yes, do try it - I’m sure you’ll enjoy the first part, & you may like it all.

Rosemarie wrote: "The second part of A Study in Scarlet is the exception to most of the Holmes books, and not nearly as good as the others."

That’s good to know, thank you.

This is a strange Holmes story for sure! Most do not have that second part like this one does. So far, I have enjoyed Hound of The Baskervilles and the short stories the most. The Sign Of The Four is pretty good as well!

The one thing about the second part that shows up in a few of the Holmes novels is the addition of some place that a Victorian reader may have found exotic or intriguing. The American West was considered quite wild, then there’s an Eastern influence in The Sign of Four, and (if I remember correctly) some secret society in Valley of Fear.

I’m gearing up for a reread of that one soon. But I remember Hound as being the best of the novels.