‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ by Arthur Conan Doyle (1892)

In light of recent adaptations and appropriations of this iconic text, I thought I’d touch on this gorgeous collection of fictional cases featuring Sherlock Holmes and his friend Doctor Watson. Of course, the murders are morbid but we must always remember the context- London in the 19^th Century was plagued with murderer cases. A consulting detective solving murder crimes was the by product of public fear.

This is the first collection of short stories in the Sherlock Holmes series but the third piece overall- two novels began the series. These works were all originally published in a London newspaper so this collection is diverse. The first case in this novel is the famous ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ and, in my opinion, an interesting case indeed, as it features a cunning female lead. Perhaps that is why many readers in the modern world can still relate to the series- the characters are timeless.

The moody and dramatic Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion Doctor Watson make a formidable team and when Conan Doyle adds in some notable others, such as ‘The Woman’ (Irene Adler), you get a brilliant mystery that keeps you guessing.

Of course, as with all books, not everyone adores this series. Some may find the cases boring; others may find the language too difficult to understand. As per usual, I would strongly recommend that everyone attempts to read this book, or even any of the other eight in the Sherlock Holmes series. The conclusion of each case is nothing less that satisfying and the mysteries are always enjoyable to read.

Read this if you enjoyed: A Study in Scarlet (Conan Doyle); Murder on the Orient Express (Christie); The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Larsson).


-Steph.