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congressbaby143's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the whole thing on Spotify from Phoebe Reads A Mystery. Her narration is so good.
Having finished this collection, I have found the BBC Sherlock the most far-fetched portrayal of ACD’s Sherlock Holmes. I think the closest would be CBS Elementary’s Sherlock. Sherlock, simply, wasn’t a sociopath. It was clear in many instances how socially attuned he was. In A Case of Identity, he was very kind to the woman and to so many women and young folks in his adventures. The ending of The Blue Carbuncle, when Sherlock decided that it was better that he had made an honest man instead of surrendering the guy to the law, I saw the kindness which I’ve always believed a feat to the intelligent. I am now and always more drawn to the benevolent detectives who cared about the people enough to be kind to them and to take their matters seriously (Benoit Blanc from Knives Out, Sherlock and Joan Watson from Elementary, and ACD’s Sherlock) instead of smug “I am smarter and better than you and I don’t care what you make of that”.
PS
This wasn’t a very well thought-out review but I gave all of this a five star rating because I couldn’t put it down and when I did, I looked forward to continuing it. I love John and Sherlock. I think ACD has written it in such a way that I am always pleasantly surprised even if I have guessed it and never betrayed when it turns out I haven’t. Great character from a great writer.
Having finished this collection, I have found the BBC Sherlock the most far-fetched portrayal of ACD’s Sherlock Holmes. I think the closest would be CBS Elementary’s Sherlock. Sherlock, simply, wasn’t a sociopath. It was clear in many instances how socially attuned he was. In A Case of Identity, he was very kind to the woman and to so many women and young folks in his adventures. The ending of The Blue Carbuncle, when Sherlock decided that it was better that he had made an honest man instead of surrendering the guy to the law, I saw the kindness which I’ve always believed a feat to the intelligent. I am now and always more drawn to the benevolent detectives who cared about the people enough to be kind to them and to take their matters seriously (Benoit Blanc from Knives Out, Sherlock and Joan Watson from Elementary, and ACD’s Sherlock) instead of smug “I am smarter and better than you and I don’t care what you make of that”.
PS
This wasn’t a very well thought-out review but I gave all of this a five star rating because I couldn’t put it down and when I did, I looked forward to continuing it. I love John and Sherlock. I think ACD has written it in such a way that I am always pleasantly surprised even if I have guessed it and never betrayed when it turns out I haven’t. Great character from a great writer.
congressbaby143's review against another edition
4.0
I’m sure I have finished this in a series before but I still enjoyed listening to it on audiobook in my morning commute today.
sophia_med's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sabas_library's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stefica's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rr_author's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars! I really liked the funny/non-murdery stories. The ones with murders, not as much.
rymrgard's review against another edition
3.0
I. A Scandal in Bohemia: This is a wonderful story — one of the most famous ones, maybe even THE Sherlock Holmes story — and a fantastic entry into this volume. This is the one featuring the (in)famous Irene Adler and the tale of how she . So far definitely my favourite and a great change from the usual We are the British Empire, the colonies (= India or Australia) are scary, we are salty about the US and we are now being threatened by the consequences of our actions - setup from the usual stories.
Overall a well deserved 3.5 stars .
II. The Read-Headed League: The word best suited to describe this story with is: meh . It‘s not bad, definitely better than some of the other ones in this volume, but it just doesn‘t have a chance compared to A Scandal in Bohemia . Its saving grace — as is often the case with ACD‘s writing — is the beautiful language and memorable quotes it shows you every time you are about ready to be done with it. There is really nothing more of substance I can say.
An unremarkable 3 stars .
III. A Case of Identity: Really not memorable. In fact, since some time has passed since I read this, I can hardly remember what this one was about, and my lack of notes and annotations speak for themselves. It‘s not a bad story either — bad is another form of memorable after all —, simply… decent.
A lower end 3 stars .
IV. Boscombe Valley Mystery: Again not memorable, but an overall better read than III. I would say that II is a better mystery but this story features some really funny moments and opportunities for characterisation for Holmes, Lestrade and Watson. This story made me realise how much I appreciate ACD‘s subtle, understated humour. While I would not categorise this volume as humourous per se, I enjoy the small, soft moments of levity amidst a serious narrative.
Overall, 3 stars for character and wit.
V. Five Orange Pips: Easily the worst story so far — and hopefully the worst in the volume. A lot has been said about the inaccuracies and logic holes, I will not repeat them. Simply judging the narrative, this wouldn‘t be higher than a 2 — if looked at with modern sensibilities maybe even a 1.5. However, I do not simply judge narrative, and this story, short as it is, again features some beautiful writing and an abundance of characterisation for Holmes and his relationship to Watson. It is different from all the other stories before, and I can appreciate that.
A surprising 3 stars .
VI. Man with the Twisted Lip: This one starts promising, but falls flat in the end. Surprisingly honest and brutal comments on drug (ab)use and 19th century opium dens, but, ultimately, disappointing.
Again lower end of 3 stars .
VII. Blue Carbuncle: Extending one‘s suspension of disbelieve into accepting that there is such a thing as a Blue Carbuncle, one finds a nice, short tale here, best enjoyed around the holidays. It‘s got almost everything: a big gem, a goose, the christmas spirit, a chase, a switcheroo — it simply lacks some of the memorable language found in the earlier stories. You just can‘t have it all.
A thoroughly entertained 3 stars .
VIII. Speckled Band: This story is definitely one of the better ones in this collection. It features an intriguing setup, humourous dialogue, Holmes looking into the fire thoughtfully and a suspenseful, atmospheric conclusion. It is certainly a darker tale than the previous ones — both in tone and matters addressed — with moments of levity woven in between.
An eery, upper-end 3 stars
IX. Engineer‘s Thumb: This story is a bit of special case, seeing that it really is not a mystery at all. The questions of who, why and how are answered almost instantly and Holmes doesn‘t really have anything to do besides pointing at the right direction. It is a suspenseful story, however, even more so than the last, with the victorian version of an action scene in its narrative climax. Even though our protagonist would certainly be eligible for the Darwin award, I still found myself enjoying the story. Sadly, no memorable language or quotes here. It certainly seems that I will only find one or the other in these stories.
Once again a solid 3 stars .
X. Noble Bachelor: This story I greatly enjoyed. While not a mystery per se — or, at least, a very obvious one since the twist can be seen from a mile away — it is an immensely funny tale. Holmes‘ entire interaction with Lord St. Simon is among the funniest dialogue I‘ve read from ACD so far. In fact, the way ACD describes (and Holmes interacts with) the British aristocracy is hilariously brilliant. It showcases all of the snark and snide and sarcasm British humour is rightfully famous for. This gets dampened a bit from a modern perspective by Holmes wishing for a „world-wide country under a flag which shall be a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes“ … Sincerely: No thank you. Did I mention the fin de siècle already?
Due to its rather simple plot it sadly does not quite reach the heights of A Scandal in Bohemia , however.
Overall, another upper-end 3 stars .
XI. Beryl Coronet: Once again a meh sort of tale — pretty standard as far as Sherlock Holmes stories are concerned. Once again —as with most stories in this collection — the major part of the story is spent with the client telling Holmes the backstory to the case, with Holmes actually solving the mystery taking a backseat. It‘s a stylistic choice which doesn‘t always work for me. Especially in this instance, the actual solution felt „abgefrühstückt“, as Germans would say it — meaning: rushed, gotten over with quickly. It‘s not that different to the previous stories but somehow it bothered me more here. Still, overall a decent tale, pretty straight forward.
3 stars . Off to the last one.
XII. The Copper Beeches: What a way to end this first collection of Holmes stories. I loved this story — my favourite one next to the first, creating a wonderful full circle. This is the creepiest, eeriest story yet; to the point that atmosphere and character strongly remind me of Stephen King. In just a few sentences such an oppressive sense of danger and unease was created that I felt strongly with Miss Hunter —the protagonist in this story from which we hear the usual retelling of events leading up to her seeking help from Mr. Holmes. While the story twist is again quite easy to guess, it leaves enough room for speculation especially in the beginning — and, generally, I do prefer mysteries where it is possible for the reader to solve the riddle instead of the author withholding crucial information until the reveal. Even in the final confrontation there remains a certain sense of danger, leading to an unusually violent climax — including the sentence: I blew its brains out . My criticism of the previous story — the majority of the tale being a retelling of past events — still holds true here: instead of one, we are presented with three separat flashbacks. However, I do not find myself bothered by it here —probably because the narrative quality of at least the first and second retelling is enough to mollify me.
Finally another fantastic 3.5 stars .
______
Overall, an enjoyable collection which — aside from the first and last story — do not rise above decency for me. I will continue on with Sherlock Holmes, naturally, and while I do not think it will ever become one of my favourites, if at worst I am entertained by them, I can still be satisfied.
A concluding 3 stars
Favourite stories: (in order of appearance)
I. Scandal in Bohemia
X. Noble Bachelor
XII. Copper Beeches
Least favourite stories:
III. Case of Identity
V. Five Orange Pips
VI. Man with the Twisted Lip
Spoiler
defeated the fabled Mr. Sherlock Holmes in a battle of witsOverall a well deserved 3.5 stars .
To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. […] And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.
II. The Read-Headed League: The word best suited to describe this story with is: meh . It‘s not bad, definitely better than some of the other ones in this volume, but it just doesn‘t have a chance compared to A Scandal in Bohemia . Its saving grace — as is often the case with ACD‘s writing — is the beautiful language and memorable quotes it shows you every time you are about ready to be done with it. There is really nothing more of substance I can say.
An unremarkable 3 stars .
And now, Doctor, we‘ve done our work, so it‘s time we had some play. A sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony […].
III. A Case of Identity: Really not memorable. In fact, since some time has passed since I read this, I can hardly remember what this one was about, and my lack of notes and annotations speak for themselves. It‘s not a bad story either — bad is another form of memorable after all —, simply… decent.
A lower end 3 stars .
Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence.
IV. Boscombe Valley Mystery: Again not memorable, but an overall better read than III. I would say that II is a better mystery but this story features some really funny moments and opportunities for characterisation for Holmes, Lestrade and Watson. This story made me realise how much I appreciate ACD‘s subtle, understated humour. While I would not categorise this volume as humourous per se, I enjoy the small, soft moments of levity amidst a serious narrative.
Overall, 3 stars for character and wit.
„We have got to the deductions and the interferences,“ said Lestrade, winking at me. „I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies.“
„You are right,“ said Holmes demurely; „you do find it very hard to tackle the facts.“
V. Five Orange Pips: Easily the worst story so far — and hopefully the worst in the volume. A lot has been said about the inaccuracies and logic holes, I will not repeat them. Simply judging the narrative, this wouldn‘t be higher than a 2 — if looked at with modern sensibilities maybe even a 1.5. However, I do not simply judge narrative, and this story, short as it is, again features some beautiful writing and an abundance of characterisation for Holmes and his relationship to Watson. It is different from all the other stories before, and I can appreciate that.
A surprising 3 stars .
All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like untamed beasts in a cage.
VI. Man with the Twisted Lip: This one starts promising, but falls flat in the end. Surprisingly honest and brutal comments on drug (ab)use and 19th century opium dens, but, ultimately, disappointing.
Again lower end of 3 stars .
He found, as so many more have done, that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror and pity […], the wreck and ruin of a noble man.
VII. Blue Carbuncle: Extending one‘s suspension of disbelieve into accepting that there is such a thing as a Blue Carbuncle, one finds a nice, short tale here, best enjoyed around the holidays. It‘s got almost everything: a big gem, a goose, the christmas spirit, a chase, a switcheroo — it simply lacks some of the memorable language found in the earlier stories. You just can‘t have it all.
A thoroughly entertained 3 stars .
Of course it is a nucleus and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil‘s pet baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed.
VIII. Speckled Band: This story is definitely one of the better ones in this collection. It features an intriguing setup, humourous dialogue, Holmes looking into the fire thoughtfully and a suspenseful, atmospheric conclusion. It is certainly a darker tale than the previous ones — both in tone and matters addressed — with moments of levity woven in between.
An eery, upper-end 3 stars
„My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been saying to you?“
„It is a little cold for the time of the year,“ said Holmes.
„What has she been saying to you?“ screamed the old man furiously.
„But I have heard that the crocuses promise well,“ continued my companion imperturbably.
IX. Engineer‘s Thumb: This story is a bit of special case, seeing that it really is not a mystery at all. The questions of who, why and how are answered almost instantly and Holmes doesn‘t really have anything to do besides pointing at the right direction. It is a suspenseful story, however, even more so than the last, with the victorian version of an action scene in its narrative climax. Even though our protagonist would certainly be eligible for the Darwin award, I still found myself enjoying the story. Sadly, no memorable language or quotes here. It certainly seems that I will only find one or the other in these stories.
Once again a solid 3 stars .
„Well, said our engineer ruefully, as we took our seats to return to London, „it has been a pretty business for me! I have lost my thumb, and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what have I gained!“
„Experience,“ said Holmes, laughing.
X. Noble Bachelor: This story I greatly enjoyed. While not a mystery per se — or, at least, a very obvious one since the twist can be seen from a mile away — it is an immensely funny tale. Holmes‘ entire interaction with Lord St. Simon is among the funniest dialogue I‘ve read from ACD so far. In fact, the way ACD describes (and Holmes interacts with) the British aristocracy is hilariously brilliant. It showcases all of the snark and snide and sarcasm British humour is rightfully famous for. This gets dampened a bit from a modern perspective by Holmes wishing for a „world-wide country under a flag which shall be a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes“ … Sincerely: No thank you. Did I mention the fin de siècle already?
Due to its rather simple plot it sadly does not quite reach the heights of A Scandal in Bohemia , however.
Overall, another upper-end 3 stars .
„A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr. Holmes. […] I understand that you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society.“
„No, I am descending.“
„I beg pardon.“
„My last client of the sort was a king.“
XI. Beryl Coronet: Once again a meh sort of tale — pretty standard as far as Sherlock Holmes stories are concerned. Once again —as with most stories in this collection — the major part of the story is spent with the client telling Holmes the backstory to the case, with Holmes actually solving the mystery taking a backseat. It‘s a stylistic choice which doesn‘t always work for me. Especially in this instance, the actual solution felt „abgefrühstückt“, as Germans would say it — meaning: rushed, gotten over with quickly. It‘s not that different to the previous stories but somehow it bothered me more here. Still, overall a decent tale, pretty straight forward.
3 stars . Off to the last one.
„It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. […] “
XII. The Copper Beeches: What a way to end this first collection of Holmes stories. I loved this story — my favourite one next to the first, creating a wonderful full circle. This is the creepiest, eeriest story yet; to the point that atmosphere and character strongly remind me of Stephen King. In just a few sentences such an oppressive sense of danger and unease was created that I felt strongly with Miss Hunter —the protagonist in this story from which we hear the usual retelling of events leading up to her seeking help from Mr. Holmes. While the story twist is again quite easy to guess, it leaves enough room for speculation especially in the beginning — and, generally, I do prefer mysteries where it is possible for the reader to solve the riddle instead of the author withholding crucial information until the reveal. Even in the final confrontation there remains a certain sense of danger, leading to an unusually violent climax — including the sentence: I blew its brains out . My criticism of the previous story — the majority of the tale being a retelling of past events — still holds true here: instead of one, we are presented with three separat flashbacks. However, I do not find myself bothered by it here —probably because the narrative quality of at least the first and second retelling is enough to mollify me.
Finally another fantastic 3.5 stars .
Spoiler
„Why do you think that I lock this door?“
„I am sure that I do not know.“
„It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you see?“ He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. […] „And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again-“ here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon, „I‘ll throw you to the mastiff.“
______
Overall, an enjoyable collection which — aside from the first and last story — do not rise above decency for me. I will continue on with Sherlock Holmes, naturally, and while I do not think it will ever become one of my favourites, if at worst I am entertained by them, I can still be satisfied.
A concluding 3 stars
Favourite stories: (in order of appearance)
I. Scandal in Bohemia
X. Noble Bachelor
XII. Copper Beeches
Least favourite stories:
III. Case of Identity
V. Five Orange Pips
VI. Man with the Twisted Lip
veraann's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful collection for those who like the Sherlock Holmes stories. It had a great set up in the order of things that ramped up into the Hound of the Baskervilles. By then you get very familiar with the characters of Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson.
barefootsierra's review against another edition
Extremely boring, couldn’t get into it