“There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.”
A Study in Scarlet.
So begins the first case for Holmes and Watson.
This book was so much fun to read! I never thought I was much for mysteries, but I’m inspired to read the rest of the Sherlock Holmes books after this one.
Watson’s First Impressions of Holmes
This is the book you want to start with in the series, as it introduces Watson’s character, background, and how he meets Holmes.
Watson has come back from being an army surgeon in Afghanistan and is looking for a place to stay. The problem is, he doesn’t have much money. He needs to split a room with someone, and an old acquaintance introduces him to an eccentric student: Holmes.
It’s fun to hear Watson’s first impressions of Holmes, who becomes his new roommate:
As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life, gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.
A Study in Scarlet.
Apart from noticing his habits and physical oddities, Watson observes Holmes’ completely limited knowledge and competence in many ordinary subjects, and an expertise in strange subjects, such as chemistry and “sensational literature.”
Watson isn’t sure what to make of all this, until it’s Holmes’ moment to shine.
The Case
A tricky case is brought to Holmes. Using his powers of deduction and vast knowledge of murder, Holmes eventually solves it. However, the reader still doesn’t understand how Holmes solved it nor what the murderer’s motives were.
The second part of the book leaves Watson, Holmes, and England behind and travels to the midwest. We are introduced to new characters- an older man and a young girl, who are taken in by some Mormons.
Doyle inserts some history here, as the clan that the next several chapters follow are none other than those led by Brigham Young. Young had died (1877) only ten years before Doyle wrote this book (1887).
I won’t give too much away, but its an intriguing story that keeps you guessing until the end! I highly recommend it if you are new to mysteries like I am.
Classic Reads 