A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1) (1887)

by Arthur Conan Doyle

This book tells the story of how Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson came to be partners and details their first murder case.

 

Virtually every conscious person in the Western world has heard of Holmes, and it is gratifying that his titanic status in our popular culture rests on the foundation of a solid mystery tale and character study.

 

It's very entertaining to follow as A. Conan Doyle introduces the various facets of the Holmes legend: we meet Gregson and Lestrade, watch Holmes and Watson take up lodgings at 221B Baker Street, and are introduced to Holmes' violin playing, pipe smoking, snuff addiction, and, of course, his incredible powers of deduction, which are a marvel to all.

 

Arthur Conan Doyle

Watson's musings on Holmes' nature are often quite humorous as he attempts to figure out this eccentric individual.

 

The mystery itself is quite good.

 

Many have remarked on how the story derails with its lengthy digression to the back story of the murder, which occurred in Utah.

 

This part of the story is sure to offend Mormons, who are here portrayed as a cultish fascist state that will resort to officially sanctioned murder to accomplish its ends.

 

Nevertheless, this section of the book is quite effective and suspenseful in its own way despite the absence of the famous sleuth.

 However, the major strength of the story is, of course, Holmes himself.

 

Doyle focused on Holmes much more closely in later stories, but the novels continued to feature long stretches without him.

"A Study in Scarlet" (Danish)

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"The Brixton Mystery" (Hungarian)

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"Etude in Red Lacquer" (Persian)

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"A Scarlet Study" (Romanian)