A Study in Scarlet

The first Sherlock Holmes book, and the start of one of the most iconic characters of all time. Unlike movies and TV shows, a flashback to Utah plays an important role in the book. Although it came as a surprise, I did enjoy the payoff in the book moreso than in the video form. There was much more background to the murders that gave the villain more of a heart – and a real motive.

Con este libro me extraña la popularidad que tiene este célebre detective y su acompañante, por así decirlo, podemos hablar de este libro como la raíz, el nacimiento de una leyenda que nunca morirá.

9/10

I loved the second part. Actually seeing the reason for the crime from the killers perspective was cool!

A heartfelt classic and a great way to introduce a beloved and interesting character in Mr. Sherlock Holmes. I love how the story is narrated from Dr. Watson's perspective too. Great classic read.

I've always loved Sherlock Holmes movies and shows. The books are so much better! A Study in Scarlet sets the stage for the other stories by introducing Holmes and Watson. The story is a standard who dunnit and then... it's not. I love every page. 

Very very familiar with this book. This book introduced one of the greatest detectives of all time - Sherlock Holmes. I love reading the early days of Holmes and Watson. The story itself is rather long, the Mormon story is a little booklet in itself. But overall it is an interesting read. 

Yes you could read this like someone who doesn't like context, in which case it's fine but clearly not the strongest detective story going around, Holmes and Watson and their relationship aren't fully formed, and the salacious shift to the foothills of Utah feels a little disjointed.

Or you can read this as the invention of entire genre, like Dracula. It's hard to pick between Sherlock Holmes and Dracula for who is more culturally significant. What's bigger, detectives or vampires? Impossible to answer. But the point is that is where this book sits in the history of culture.

It's definitely not as good as Dracula but, lets face it, few things can be. It's still fun, and if you read it as someone experiencing the concept of a detective for the first time it's even better. All the elements of all detective stories are there, the experienced but cynical genius, the police claiming the glory, the extended reveal at the end, it's great!

Plus as a 19th Century resident of England think how exciting and exotic the Mormons would sound like, it helps explain that extended detour.

Just a fantastic book overall. There's something about the way Sherlock's stories are presented that keep me on the edge of my seat every time. This being the introduction to our protagonists, is an amazing start. 

The first half of the book, focused entirely on Sherlock and Dr Watson, from how they get to be roommates to how they get involved in the mystery of Drebber's assassination, is just perfect.
I didn't love the pages set in Utah on the love feud between Jefferson Hope, Stangerson and the aforementioned Drebber as much as I did the ones set in England and that actually included Sherlock and Dr Watson in them. 
Even though I understand the huge importance of that part of the story, they're simply not as good as the rest and I would've preferred it if it were shorter and overall, we had a bigger part set in England. And because almost half of the story tells said love feud, I don't give this book five stars.

rereading this, and can definitely say was NOT bored even a single moment! but the story felt quite rushed especially when sherlock was describing his deductions...

Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with the idea of a fictional detective, yet I realized I had never read a single one of his stories.

A Study in Scarlet, the story that introduces Holmes and Watson, exceeded my expectations. I did assume I would be in for a dry, dusty, 18th-century novel with a pretty good mystery to solve in there somewhere. But, as a fan of mystery, pop culture, history and so on, I figured I should dive in anyway.

Instead, this seemed fresh, bright, energetic. Telling the story through Watson's eyes was a great way to show Holmes' talents and eccentricities insight of someone a bit more average, I suppose.

The mystery itself was also excellent, full of interesting details, compelling motivation and not something you could easily guess.

yeah, i guess um...
i guess i'm just a little uh...
i just don't really understand.

Wasn't expecting to enjoy listening to this as much as I did!

A classic. I love anything with Sherlock and John.

It would've been a 4 star but the second half was very boring and confusing at times, I understand that it was backstory but it really didn't need to go on for that long

Before reading this, I never knew that the 2nd part was such a departure from the original portion of the book. And at first, I was confused with this sudden change in place, plot, and setting, but that portion of the book turned out to be an interesting read and gave the vibes of a Western.
I would have to say though that the contrast between the 2 storylines was quite jarring.

I found the first part interesting and fun. The second section discussing life in Utah and the behaviors of the Mormons was aweful. Mostly because I happen to be Mormon and it's a very messed up representation.

A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes book written by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was first published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887, though it was at the time not very popular, and later reissued in novel format.

The novel is split into two quite separate halves. The first is titled “Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John Watson, M.D., Late of the Army Medical Department”. This part is told in first person by Sherlock Holmes' friend Dr Watson, and describes his introduction in 1881 to Holmes through a mutual friend and the first mystery in which he followed Holmes' investigations. The mystery revolves around a corpse found at a derelict house in Brixton, London with the word “RACHE” scrawled in blood on the wall beside the body.

Part I: The Reminiscences of WatsonPart I leads with a heading which establishes the role of Dr. John Watson as narrator and sets up the narrative stand-point that the work to follow is not fiction, but fact: "Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, MD, Late of the Army Medical Department."The story begins in 1881, when Watson, having returned to London after serving in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, visits the Criterion Restaurant and runs into an old friend named Stamford, who had been a dresser under him at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Watson confides in Stamford that, due to a shoulder injury that he sustained at the Battle of Maiwand, he has been forced to leave the armed services and is now looking for a place to live-before his six-month half-pay pension runs out. Stamford mentions that an acquaintance of his, Sherlock Holmes, is looking for someone to split the rent at a flat at 221B Baker Street, but he cautions Watson about Holmes's eccentricities.Stamford takes Watson back to St. Bartholomew's where, in a laboratory, they find Holmes experimenting with a reagent, seeking a test to detect human hemoglobin. Holmes explains the significance of bloodstains as evidence in criminal trials. After Stamford introduces Watson to Holmes, Holmes shakes Watson's hand and comments, "You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive." Though Holmes chooses not to explain why he made the comment, Watson raises the subject of their parallel quests for a place to live in London, and Holmes explains that he has found the perfect place in Baker Street. At Holmes's prompting, the two review their various shortcomings to make sure that they can live together. After seeing the rooms at 221B, they move in and grow accustomed to their new situation.Watson is amazed by Holmes, who has a profound knowledge of chemistry and sensational literature, very precise but narrow knowledge of geology and botany; yet knows little about literature, astronomy, philosophy, and politics. Holmes also has multiple guests visiting him at different intervals during the day.After much speculation by Watson, Holmes reveals that he is a "consulting detective" and that the guests are clients. Facing Watson's doubts about some of his claims, Holmes casually deduces to Watson that one visitor, a messenger from Scotland Yard is also a retired Marine sergeant. When the man confirms this, Watson is astounded by Holmes' ability to notice details, assemble them, and draw conclusions.However, a good case soon drops in his lap when he is asked by Scotland Yard detective Gregson to assist him in solving a crime just recently committed. Holmes asks Watson to accompany him and they travel to an empty house in a London neighborhood. There they observe a crime scene that includes cab prints in the street and footprints in the yard, a dead man who has been poisoned but not robbed laid out in a room, and the word RACHE (the German word for revenge) in blood on the wall. A woman's wedding ring falls off of the body when it is lifted. The dead man's name is Enoch Drebber, and he was from Cleveland. There was a note to his secretary, Joseph Stangerson.Over the next couple of days Watson watched more pieces of the puzzle fall into place for Holmes. He informed Watson how he determined the murderer's age and height from his observations, as well as his complexion. An interview with the constable on duty that night revealed that a drunken man in the street was actually probably the murderer returned for the ring. In the middle of the investigation, another Scotland Yard detective on the case named Lestrade, whom Holmes respected, bursts into the Holmes' and Watson's apartment announcing that Stangerson had also been killed. This turned out to be a result of a stabbing, not poison. In Stangerson's room was a box of the pills that Holmes identified as the method of death for Drebber. With this piece of information Holmes excitedly announces that his investigation is complete. Moments later, a cab driver that Holmes called for arrived to pick him up. Holmes burst out that this man, Jefferson Hope, is the murderer of Drebber and Stangerson. With the help of Watson and the detectives, the man was subdued. This is the end of part one.Part two begins with a vivid description of the wild, isolated, and dangerous great American desert. There were two travelers struggling to survive after the deaths of their companions –the tall and gaunt John Ferrier, and his tiny and lovely adopted daughter Lucy. They were rescued from starvation by a massive caravan –the Latter Day Saints on their exodus. Their leader Brigham Young allowed Ferrier to travel with them if he converts; the latter agreed. The caravan continued to Utah.The subsequent years saw the population and wealth of the Mormons' chosen site of Salt Lake City explode. Ferrier grew prosperous amongst the Mormons, but refused to marry. Lucy grew up beautiful and independent. One day she was saved from near death in a herd of stampeding cattle by the handsome, solitary, and industrious hunter/miner Jefferson Hope. The two fell in love and Ferrier gave them his permission to marry when Hope returned from a few months' journey.This was unacceptable to Brigham Young, who personally visited Ferrier and commanded Lucy to marry one of the sons of the Elders, Enoch Drebber or Joseph Stangerson. He gave Ferrier a month for her to decide. Young's behavior was typical of the manner in which the Mormons had been conducting themselves; they were once persecuted but had now turned persecutors. Their community was secretive, violent, controlling, and exclusive. Ferrier had long hated the Mormons and promised his daughter she would not have to marry either of the sons and that they could escape.Drebber and Stangerson arrogantly visited Ferrier's house to talk to him about Lucy, but he threw them out. This egregious act of disrespect increased the surveillance and threats levied upon Ferrier and his daughter. Finally, the night before the month was up, Jefferson Hope arrived at their home in the middle of the night and the three escaped into the mountains. Unfortunately, when Hope went off to hunt game to feed to famished escapees, he returned to an empty campsite –Ferrier had been murdered and Lucy abducted for marriage.Hope made his way back down to Salt Lake City and learned that Lucy had been married to Drebber a few days before. Within a month she died. Hope swore that he would spend his life exacting revenge for the murders (he deemed Lucy's death a virtual murder). Taking her wedding ring off her dead finger before she was buried, Hope fled Utah to concoct a plan and raise money.He tracked Drebber and Stangerson all over Europe. The two men had been part of a fringe group of Mormons that had broken away. They were also aware that Hope had been dogging their steps for many years, and always managed to be a step ahead of him. Hope finally learned they were in London and set in motion his plan to murder them.At this point the narrative returns to Holmes, Watson, the detectives, and their detainee. Hope was taken to the police station but asks to tell his tale because he would not be going to be able to have a trial or go to prison. The men learned this was because Hope had an aortic aneurism that could burst any day. He was allowed to finish his narrative.Hope explained how he got a job as a cab driver and tracked Drebber and Stangerson. He caught Drebber drunk one night and killed him with poison. He tried to do the same with Stangerson but had to stab him in self-defense when the latter fought back. He remained driving the cab for a few days so as to not appear suspicious. The next day Hope was discovered dead of the aneurism, a peaceful smile upon his face.Holmes spoke with Watson about his ability to reason backwards; this method helped him solve the case. He further elucidated the ways in which he figured out certain aspects of the case, especially that it was about a woman. The novel ends with Holmes and Watson reading a newspaper article about the end of the investigation; it only mentions Holmes as an amateur detective who helped but gave primary credit to Lestrade and Gregson.

All in all a decent story. Most importantly you can see why Holmes and Watson would become iconic figures. Holmes solve the puzzle of the murders in an entertaining way. And it's clear that Conan-Doyle is a great storyteller. Even after all this time he still captures the attention of the reader.

I kind of wish I could give this 4.5 stars but I guess 4 will have to do. I'm a sucker for a good origin story so “A Study in Scarlet” will always be one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes stories. I love getting to see how Holmes and Watson met and, in the case of the book, how Doyle initially characterizes Sherlock. I guess he's supposed to be about college age in this which totally threw off how I was picturing him. I've been picturing him as more of a 40-ish gentleman but now I'm not sure. Also, what's the timeline of these stories, do the characters age? Ah well.

I was really surprised to see how close this book was to the BBC adaptation, down to the culprit being a “cab” driver (I suppose cabs were pulled by horses back then though). Of course everything does a complete 180 in the second half and we get the cab driver's entire life story, making him one of the heroes all of the sudden. (I'm pretty sure in the TV show he was just some crazy guy). We didn't get anything like this in the other two compilations/novels I've read so far so I wonder if this is early installment weirdness? Anyway, I didn't dislike the second half but I was a little eager to get back to Holmes and Watson. The book suddenly turns into a survival-action-cult-avenger story which was entertaining, but not what I signed up for. It felt weirdly modern because I literally just watched a True Crime video about the Latter Day Saints and a recent missing person's case they're involved in. For some reason, I've always thought of cults as something that started around the 60s and 70s so I was really surprised to see them show up in a novel written in 1887.

Hope dedicating his life to vengeance felt kind of like a cheesy action-movie plot. Like, what is this, John Wick? Really, I cared less about the mystery and the back-story in this one than I did character interactions. Mainly, I liked seeing Sherlock playing off Lestrade and Gregson and also Watson and Sherlock's getting-to-know-you phase. The scene where Watson trash talks Sherlock's writing without knowing it's his was great, I love how calm and cool Sherlock is in the face of criticism. Watson realizes in this book that Holmes loves being praised (his face flushes and can't stop himself from smiling-too cute!) and I feel like that's why he does it so much in all the stories. What an adorable friendship :) I look forward to continuing on!

It was good, but the mid-story change of a story within a story was confusing. Enjoyed the relationship between Holmes and Watson.

A fantastic classic. I was throughly invested in the story and the character development of both gentle Watson and eccentric Holmes. A great start to the world of Sherlock which I am sure I will continue with. Also high praise to Stephen Fry's narrator of the book and the Sherlock Holmes collection on audible as he really helps create the atmosphere and phenomenal storytelling tone apt for a Holmes novel. A throughly indulgent and pleasurable read. A high 4 star read for me. It didn't rock my world enough to be a 5 star read but i throughly enjoyed it and I raced through it. A classic I am happy I have ticked of the list and I will be continuing with.

My first Sherlock Holmes novel! Definitely slower-paced than I was expecting, but I enjoyed it, even though it took me a long time to get through this short book because I kept trying to read it before bed. I can definitely see the bones that have made these stories such compelling movies, TV shows and book adaptations, and I'll probably read more (considering this was the first novel in one of those Barnes and Noble collections of all the Sherlock Holmes books, which my husband brought to our marriage - one of the first times Matt read something before I did!).

Because I'm likely to forget which is which when reading a mystery series: rich man Drebber and his secretary Stangerson are murdered due to a 20-year-old love feud between Jefferson Hope (a "Gentile" engaged to marry the daughter of a semi-Mormon rich man), and Drebber/Stangerson (the former-Mormon fundamentalist men who kidnapped her when she tried to escape the Mormon church, whose leadership was trying to force her to choose her marriage between the two Mormon men instead of marrying the man she actually loved, and the woman's immediate death after marrying Drebber, who might have also killed her father). Hoo boy, that was complicated now that I wrote it out. Can't believe all that was in 96 pages. And also, this part was much more interesting than the parts where Sherlock plays his violin and thinks.

A really good read with a rather epic turn halfway through. This worked well after recently reading Edgar Allan Poe's Dupin stories.

This was such a twisting and winding tale! I was lost halfway through when the story's narrative moved to the US. I thought I'd accidentally started reading a different book! But it was tense and had me on edge!

Just got the super bumper edition of all the Sherlock Holmes stories read by Stephen Fry on Audible. I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed this quite so much if anyone else had been reading it. Plot wise, it's a 3. Performance by Stephen Fry, 4. Writing style and engagement, 4. The descriptive writing at the beginning of the second part, the back-in-time part, is excellent. It drew me right in and felt just a little bit like Steinbeck. Not a lot mind you, but enough that I was drawn right in which, up until then, the novel hadn't done.

《There's a scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.》