Tab Article

ratings: (4.6/5)
Genre: Classic Literature, Crime Fiction, Detective Fiction, Mystery

Book Review:
'A Study in Scarlet' is where it all begins. It is the novel that introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes, the world's first and only consulting detective, and his faithful friend, Dr. John Watson. From the moment they meet in the famous laboratory at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, their partnership is one of the great delights of literature. Watson is the perfect foil for Holmes: practical, loyal, and utterly baffled by his friend's genius. Holmes is a creation of pure brilliance—arrogant, eccentric, and possessed of a mind that works like a finely tuned machine. The mystery they are called to solve is a classic: a man found dead in an abandoned house, no visible wounds, and the word ''RACHE'' scrawled in blood on the wall. The solution, when it comes, is both satisfying and surprising. But the novel is more than just a clever puzzle. The second part, which takes us to the American West, provides a backstory that is both melodramatic and moving, and it gives the crime a depth and meaning that elevates it above a simple whodunnit. This Collins Classics edition is a wonderful way to discover the origins of a literary legend. With its helpful supplementary material, it is perfect for both new readers and longtime fans. As Holmes himself might say, ''There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it.'' And in this book, that duty is performed to perfection.