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flooooo's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
golelifsu's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
vidhi26p's review
4.0
This was such a fun mystery!! It was really going around in circles, I loved it.
allerssi's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
outi's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
aliilman's review
4.0
I can’t remember what on earth happened in the first 10 stories. All I can remember is the unpredictability of Arthur Conan Doyle’s writings and Holmes wittiness. This is what taking over 3 months to finish a book does to you.
diana_raquel's review
4.0
"The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you only know how to use it."
This collection gathers 13 short stories of the most famous detective of the victorian age. Overall, I really liked these stories. They allowed me to explore the world of Sherlock Holmes, with intriguing stories, full of plot twists and interesting characters.
The Man with the Twisted Lip: I really loved this short story. A great way to start an anthology. The mystery was really intriguing and interesting, with a topic very interesting.
The Adventure of the Yellow Face: As I said in other reviews, this is one of my favorite stories of Sherlock Holmes. It has a human conflict at the center of the mystery case, which is something that I really love. This is also one of the short stories appointed whenever the discussion turns to the subject of Sherlock and race. If The Sign of the Four has been criticized for its depiction of imperialistic and race superiority ideas, this one has a sympathetic treatment and acceptance of interracial marriage, a depiction extremely liberal for the late Victorian era. If I'm going to criticize The Sign of the Four for its problematic content, then I have to give credit to this short story for its portrayal of race and give credit where credit is due.
The Adventure of the Resident Patient: This is another short story that I really liked. As a short story within the universe, this is a story that follows the structure of the others and there isn't much that I can say about the narrative. However, it's an interesting case, with intriguing characters.
The Problem of Thor Bridge: This one was a rollercoaster for such a short story! And I absolutely love it! It's a case more centered around women and their feelings. It can be a bit stereotypical, bordering the sexist view of women in the victorian age, but, the case is intriguing, to the point that I couldn't make a theory about what happened in the Thor Bridge until the very end.
The Adventure of the Gloria Scott: Chronologically, this case is the first case that Sherlock solved. Unlike the other stories where Watson is the narrator, this one is mainly narrated by Sherlock. And although the case is interesting and there's nothing wrong with the pacing, this one just fell a little short. It's a little "meh", for me.
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons: Within the official canon, this is one of Lestrade's last appearances as a working member of the Yard. He's still mentioned by Holmes or Watson, but this is one of his last appearances. The basic plot is very similar to the Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, but I liked the story. If we're going to compare the two stories I prefer the carbuncle but I still liked this case.
The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk : Another story that didn't convince me. For me, it's a little "meh". The case is interesting with good pacing but it just fell a little flat, for me.
The Adventure of the Crooked Man: I found this case an interesting one but not on the lever of other cases included in this anthology. I think my problem was the pacing. A bit too unstable for my liking.
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist: It is said that the first version of this story was refused by the editor of The Strand Magazine because the character of Sherlock Holmes was not very involved in the plot and that Conan Doyle himself was not very pleased with the story. Maybe I'm the exception that confirms the rule, but I really liked this story. It was infringing, had very interesting characters and the pacing was perfect. I really liked it.
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor: It's a very good mystery case and it has excellent pacing, but I just wished it was a bit longer. It had the potential to be a favorite of mine if it was just a bit longer.
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter: It was another "meh" for me. The case is interesting but I just "couldn't get into it".
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle: One of my favorite short stories. Not only is set on Victorian Christmas, but it also shows a more humane side of Sherlock Holmes, something that we, the reader, aren't used to. It was refreshing seeing this side of the character.
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches: This is probably the most gothic short story in the universe of Sherlock Holmes (I can't say for sure because I haven't real of the short stories and novels). It has a lot of the characteristics of the victorian gothic literary style and it made me think of Wuthering Heights at times. I really liked and I just wished that it was extended to a novel because it has the potential to be a really great mystery novel.
Final notes: If you're looking for a good adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I suggest the 1984 tv show adaptation produced by Granada Television and starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke and subsequently Edward Hardwicke as Watson. Between 1984 and 1994, 36 episodes and five films were produced over six series. It's one of the best adaptations of Sherlock Holmes that I've seen.
This collection gathers 13 short stories of the most famous detective of the victorian age. Overall, I really liked these stories. They allowed me to explore the world of Sherlock Holmes, with intriguing stories, full of plot twists and interesting characters.
The Man with the Twisted Lip: I really loved this short story. A great way to start an anthology. The mystery was really intriguing and interesting, with a topic very interesting.
The Adventure of the Yellow Face: As I said in other reviews, this is one of my favorite stories of Sherlock Holmes. It has a human conflict at the center of the mystery case, which is something that I really love. This is also one of the short stories appointed whenever the discussion turns to the subject of Sherlock and race. If The Sign of the Four has been criticized for its depiction of imperialistic and race superiority ideas, this one has a sympathetic treatment and acceptance of interracial marriage, a depiction extremely liberal for the late Victorian era. If I'm going to criticize The Sign of the Four for its problematic content, then I have to give credit to this short story for its portrayal of race and give credit where credit is due.
The Adventure of the Resident Patient: This is another short story that I really liked. As a short story within the universe, this is a story that follows the structure of the others and there isn't much that I can say about the narrative. However, it's an interesting case, with intriguing characters.
The Problem of Thor Bridge: This one was a rollercoaster for such a short story! And I absolutely love it! It's a case more centered around women and their feelings. It can be a bit stereotypical, bordering the sexist view of women in the victorian age, but, the case is intriguing, to the point that I couldn't make a theory about what happened in the Thor Bridge until the very end.
The Adventure of the Gloria Scott: Chronologically, this case is the first case that Sherlock solved. Unlike the other stories where Watson is the narrator, this one is mainly narrated by Sherlock. And although the case is interesting and there's nothing wrong with the pacing, this one just fell a little short. It's a little "meh", for me.
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons: Within the official canon, this is one of Lestrade's last appearances as a working member of the Yard. He's still mentioned by Holmes or Watson, but this is one of his last appearances. The basic plot is very similar to the Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, but I liked the story. If we're going to compare the two stories I prefer the carbuncle but I still liked this case.
The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk : Another story that didn't convince me. For me, it's a little "meh". The case is interesting with good pacing but it just fell a little flat, for me.
The Adventure of the Crooked Man: I found this case an interesting one but not on the lever of other cases included in this anthology. I think my problem was the pacing. A bit too unstable for my liking.
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist: It is said that the first version of this story was refused by the editor of The Strand Magazine because the character of Sherlock Holmes was not very involved in the plot and that Conan Doyle himself was not very pleased with the story. Maybe I'm the exception that confirms the rule, but I really liked this story. It was infringing, had very interesting characters and the pacing was perfect. I really liked it.
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor: It's a very good mystery case and it has excellent pacing, but I just wished it was a bit longer. It had the potential to be a favorite of mine if it was just a bit longer.
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter: It was another "meh" for me. The case is interesting but I just "couldn't get into it".
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle: One of my favorite short stories. Not only is set on Victorian Christmas, but it also shows a more humane side of Sherlock Holmes, something that we, the reader, aren't used to. It was refreshing seeing this side of the character.
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches: This is probably the most gothic short story in the universe of Sherlock Holmes (I can't say for sure because I haven't real of the short stories and novels). It has a lot of the characteristics of the victorian gothic literary style and it made me think of Wuthering Heights at times. I really liked and I just wished that it was extended to a novel because it has the potential to be a really great mystery novel.
Final notes: If you're looking for a good adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I suggest the 1984 tv show adaptation produced by Granada Television and starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke and subsequently Edward Hardwicke as Watson. Between 1984 and 1994, 36 episodes and five films were produced over six series. It's one of the best adaptations of Sherlock Holmes that I've seen.
lileuw's review
3.0
I always get into a reading slump during the colder months and this book is great to read eventhough you are in one! some stories are better than others, but the overall length of them is easy to digest (about 20 pages per story). It isn't the best I've ever read, but overall it was good.
dekilein's review
4.0
As I have read all short stories except one I will mark this as read. I am collecting all the Penguin Library editions concerning Sherlock Holmes.
sarrie's review
4.0
As with most Sherlock Collections I enjoyed this a lot. This may have had some of my favorite stories in it, most of which I had never heard of before. It also had some oddly short ones in it as well, I'm used to the longer Sherlock stories so those were a nice surprise.