A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1) in The Bookworm Challenge

Jan 30, 2016 Tricia Schneider rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, victorian-era

This is my second time reading this book. I started reading Sherlock Holmes over a decade ago and I was completely smitten. I got hooked by the characters, the storylines, the incredible detail and the author's voice. And since watching the BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, I've been wanting go back and explore the literary works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once again.

A Study in Scarlet is the first of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works and introduces us to the main character This is my second time reading this book. I started reading Sherlock Holmes over a decade ago and I was completely smitten. I got hooked by the characters, the storylines, the incredible detail and the author's voice. And since watching the BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, I've been wanting go back and explore the literary works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once again.

A Study in Scarlet is the first of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works and introduces us to the main characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Watson, returning to London after his time away at war and nursing a wounded leg, he finds lodgings with a man going by the name of Sherlock Holmes. As he learns about his new roommate, he discovers that Mr. Holmes is a consulting detective, the one and only of his kind. He finds the man is a complex study of humankind. He was as ignorant as he was brilliant. Knowledgeable of numerous subjects as well as knowing very little about others. And yet, he can clearly see the smallest detail in a scene that many others overlook. This ability is displayed when Scotland Yard consults Sherlock on a case that has them stumped. Dr. Watson comes along and witnesses the extraordinary ability of Sherlock as he is put to the test to identify the curious murder of a man.

I won't go into details of the investigation since I know I'll unwillingly include spoilers and this is a story that is best read without knowing what happens at the end. Well, other than the fact that Sherlock solves the mystery. But the journey to that discovery is an entertaining one.

Although I enjoyed reading this book immensely to re-discover the origins of two of my favorite characters, I must admit the section concerning Utah and Mr. John Ferrier and his daughter, Lucy, was a bit dull at first. Not until close to the end of that section when the action increased. I muddled through because I knew it would get better. For some reason, I didn't remember that part from the first time I read this book.

Other than that, the writing was interesting, full of details and gorgeous Victorian language. The mystery was puzzling and it was a joy to read how Watson portrayed Holmes. I would recommend this book to any mystery fan.
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Apr 24, 2018 Helena rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018

I didn鈥檛 care for the middle of the book that鈥檚 meant to give background to the events. This story should never have left London.

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Sep 25, 2018 Meera rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I felt as if I had read this before because it was familiar to me. If I had, it was a good refresher.

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Aug 21, 2018 Linda Hanson rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller-suspense

I think this is a must read for Holmes fans. You get the first meeting of Holmes and Watson and it's nice. The solving of the mystery is rather fun as well. The flashback sort of just surprises you and you think the printer made a mistake and put something in that wasn't supposed to be there. ...more

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Aug 08, 2021 Elle rated it really liked it

4.5 stars.

What a fun read! I love Holmes' witticism. Although admittedly it is a bit weird with it's divergent middle section diatribe on Mormonism, it's a very fast read with a lot of clever moments. I had heard about this strange middle section, but forgot about it when I went to read. I honestly thought I had mistakenly chosen an audiobook that had more than one story in it until I remembered about this little quirk.

The writing is great and laced with a bit of dry humor, which was completely ...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Sam rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, crime, mystery, proper-books

This is the first of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries where we see Holmes and Watson meet for the first time and take residence at 221B Baker Street. The story is told in two halves the first through Dr Watson and the second through the story of the man they are trying to catch. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first half and the conclusion of the second where it is Dr Watson narrating I wasn't too keen on the sudden shift to the murderer's story as it changed with no hint or explanation as to why un ...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Mandi rated it really liked it

When I first got this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. But, I was pleasantly surprised as I was reading it. I was actually laughing at some of the things Sherlock said. It was entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who really likes detective stories. ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Lavender rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: project-gutenberg

I have managed to start reading Sherlock Holmes out of order and finally came back to read this one, which I should have read first. A great opening story of how Watson and Sherlock first met.

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