A Study in Scarlet: Review

This short novel, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the first of many stories written with the character Sherlock Holmes. It starts with Dr. John Watson, an injured army surgeon, forced to retire. He meets up with a friend, and upon informing him that he is looking for a cheaper appartment, his friend introduces him to Sherlock Holmes, a man who is looking for someone to half the rent of some nice lodgings in 221B Baker Street. Watson agrees to live with Holmes, and they both move into the flat. Watson is curious about his new companion, who plays the violin very well, knows about biology, chemistry, and criminal history, and yet has absolutely no interest in politics or art. Watson finds out that Sherlock is a 'consultant detective', with astonishing deduction skills.
Holmes receives a letter from a Scotland Yard Inspector asking him for his help on a homicide case, and he initially decides to refuse the request, but upon Watson's persistence, they both end up going to the scene of the unusual murder. Holmes observes every detail around him, but keeps his deductions to himself. A dead body with no apparent injury surrounded with pools of blood in an abandoned house, with the word 'RACHE' written in blood on the wall, will Holmes be able to prove his astounding skills by solving this seemingly complicated murder? And will Watson begin to understand his newfound friend by tagging along on this case?

This book was first published in 1887. As the first Sherlock Holmes, it made sense for it to become material for the first Holmes movie. A silent movie version was made in 1914, but unfortunately, it has now been lost.
I enjoyed reading this, and I was surprised at the length of the novel (it was short, approx. 70 pages). I was also amused by some terms which I found to be very old fashioned.
Doyle wrote in the first person, with Watson as narrator. Although sometimes I found Watson irritating, I liked this way of presenting the story. I thought it was a deep meaningful tale, and the fact that it was told in such a, for lack of a better word, heartless way really contrasted and made it an intriguing novel. I would definitely recommend to anyone to read the Sherlock Holmes stories, as this is one of the those things that everyone should know about, just for general culture.

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