“It was easier to know it than to explain why I know it. If you were asked to prove that two and two made four, you might find some difficulty, and yet you are quite sure of the fact.”
- Title: A Study in Scarlet
- Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Genre: Mystery
- Pages: 123 pages
- Publication date: November 1887
- Publisher: Ward Lock & Co
Upon all the classics, Sherlock Holmes is not one that goes unmissed. About a year ago, I got The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I found time to pick up the over a 1,000 page book and read through it this month. I read A Study in Scarlet first.
Dr. Watson narrates the story, which brings an interesting view to the story. Watson is able to keep up with Sherlock and the mystery of the two deaths, but does not catch everything Sherlock does. It’s fascinating to see how Sherlock can catch details that almost seem impossible. Watson also has a good snappy voice that’s easy to read.
But the book has two parts. The first part is from Watson’s point of view (POV). The second part begins with a third person POV of what happened before the murder. The story is told in great detail and seems off-topic at first. It’s not clear what the story is following for a while since it starts like a whole new story. They connect back together after about five chapters. Which, to me, puts the whole story at a disadvantage.
Overall, the first Sherlock book isn’t too long. It’s a good read that has an interesting murder to solve. It’s not one I could’ve solved without Sherlock. I would recommend this classic.
Score: 7/10
Average rating on Goodreads: 4.15/5
Robin LeeAnn 