A Study in Scarlet [Paperback]

A Study in Scarlet is the first story introducing Sherlock Holmes to the world and how Watson and the great detective first meet and become roommates. It is also the first book I read on my first/new Kindle.

Kindle Edition: This version cost me 99 cents and was money very well spent. It is nicely formatted with the 'Go To' letting you go to the Table of Contents - not all older Kindle books do that. The TOC does have workable links to go to each chapter but you cannot use the left - right ends of the 5 way controller to flip to each chapter - not a big deal. Other than the cover photo of Holmes by Sidney Paget this version does not include any illustrations.

The Story: A Study in Scarlet is the first story in the Holmes Canon, and includes how Watson and Holmes meet.... 'This is a novel, not a short story'. The second story in the canon is also a novel, A The Sign of the Four. This was then followed by the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which is a book of short stories beginning with, A Scandal in Bohemia. Later on Doyle penned two other novels including the well known, Hound of the Baskervilles - actually written after he killed off Holmes in the story, The Final Problem (last story in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' but the pubic demanded his return so many more stories were written - Holmes comes back in The Adventure of the Empty House, the first story in book "The Return of Sherlock Holmes". I do suggest that one begin their reading with A Study in Scarlet followed by The Sign of Four as this novel gets into how Holmes mind needs stimulation and when not on a case he lapses into injecting his 7% solution (there is a movie of this title). His 7% solution is the ratio of cocaine in his syringe where he shoots up to pass the time.

This original/first story/novel has two parts with Part 1, narrated by Watson, on how Holmes uses his powers of observation and deduction to solve a double murder. Part II may start off a bit confusing to the reader since it is not narrated by Watson. It takes the reader back to another place, in an earlier time leaving the reader to first scratch his head wondering if this is a different book. What part 2 is is a detailed backstory for the motivation of the murders in part 1. Well written but it does take up over a third of the book before returning to present time.

A Study in Scarlet was never made into a movie or TV show because of the way it portrays the early Mormons - which is the way they were believed to be at the time of the writings. Study in Pink in the new, 2011 BBC series. Sherlock, is a modern story loosely based on this book but leaves out this part. Their is a movie from the 30's with this title but it is not the same story.

Bottom line, this is the first book introducing the eccentric Holmes and it's a real page turner. This Kindle edition is well formatted for Kindle but does not include illustrations. There is a reason why 120 years later this is a still widely read. It is a must read for any fan of the most famous detective that never lived. After reading this pick up Sign of Four, then short stories in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes

This book should be free. It is a pre 1923 book, so there should be no copyrights. Since it's the digital edition, it should be free. Head over to project gutenberg, and donate your money instead. Books should be wildly available to everybody.

A Study in Scarlet, by A. Conan Doyle

This story introduced the world to John H. Watson M.D., who was wounded in the second Afghan war and then suffered from enteric fever. He was invalided back to England. He is looking for reasonable lodgings. A friend tells him about Sherlock Holmes who is also looking for someone to share expenses. Holmes is described as cold-blooded in outlook. Holmes is excited by his discovery of a test for old bloodstains (Chapter 1). Holmes explains the reasoning for his deductions. Then a letter requests help. A man was found dead in an empty house, no wound on the body, but blood in the room. Holmes & Watson go there to inspect the scene. Holmes explained his deductions (Chapter 4). An advertisement is placed in the "Found" column. Watson loads his revolver to deal with the claimant. The claimant used a cab to escape her shadow! Detective Gregson visits Holmes to explain how he solved the murder. Lestrade arrives to tell of another murder: Stangerson, the secretary of Drebber! Gregson's suspect could not have done it. Holmes shows his brilliance by the surprise introduction of the murderer!

Part 2 tells about the background of the events that resulted in the murders. In 1847 a man and a girl were lost in a desert. They were rescued by Mormons on their way to a new land. Years later Lucy Ferrier was rescued by Jefferson Hope, and they fell in love. The leader of the Mormons commanded Lucy to marry a man she did not love. John Ferrier rejected this ruling. Jefferson Hope returned at night to lead them to Nevada and freedom. But after going hunting Hope found Lucy was captured and John killed and buried. Lucy's husband inherited John's property. Poor Lucy pined away and soon died. Hope planned his cold revenge. Chapter 6 contains Jefferson Hope's story, and his end in jail. Chapter 7 explains Holmes' actions in reasoning backwards.

This story introduced Sherlock Holmes to an audience that never tired of these stories. Note the intermix of dialogue followed by explanatory comments. More modern stories used mostly dialogue to carry the story along and bring out the facts. The solution occurs in the last chapters. The use of exotic American locales was a way to add interest, although Doyle's knowledge came from second hand sources (as in "The Valley of Fear"). Background descriptions are sparse. I wonder what stories from America inspired this novel? Note how it tells the readers why a man can have a "florid face", a medical fact.

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