February 2010: A Study in Scarlet, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: A Study in Scarlet
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Year Published: 1887

Synopsis: A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the first story to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes, who would later become one of the most famous and iconic literary detective characters, with long-lasting interest and appeal. The book's title derives from a speech given by Holmes to his companion Doctor Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story's murder investigation as his "study in scarlet": "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."

Chosen by: Jaimie

Reason this book was chosen: I recently went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie in theaters and realized that I've never actually read a Sherlock Holmes book! 
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Jaimie's Review

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I would. I love classics, in general, so I really loved the older, more proper style of wit and grammar.  I also liked meeting Sherlock Holmes and Watson, and seeing their characters develop.  The problem I had with this book was that the portion involving Holmes and Watson was very short.  The book begins in London, with Holmes being consulted by detectives on a case.  Holmes gathers some pertinent clues, and then, only about 1/3 of the way through, captures the criminal.  At that point the book goes back and tells the story of how the situation came to be - which has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes.  You don't see him for the rest of the book, until the very end!

This style of narrative (getting the mystery out of the way first, then telling the back-story) also takes away from the suspense.  "A Study in Scarlet" was Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, so I wonder whether he wrote the book this way on purpose, or if this book reflects his lack of experience writing crime fiction.  I also read "The Hound of the Baskervilles", because it was bound with "A Study in Scarlet" in the copy I received from the library. It was Doyle's 5th Holmes novel, and was much more suspensful and well developed.
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Stephanies's Review

Wow, the first Sherlock Holmes story! I can't believe I hadn't read it before! I loved it, of course, along with all characters who use deductive reasoning to unravel a mystery using their unique abilities to "see" clues others miss and find a logical explanation. I was shocked two thirds of the way through when the good author leaves us hanging on the very cusp of the mystery's solution and then launches into a separate and seemingly unrelated story...I flipped around confused, thinking-is this a new mystery? Do we not get to know what Sherlock solved? Is this like Encyclopedia Brown mysteries but without the explanation in the back? So I went with it and found that our dear author was laying a foundation for the reader to "get behind the eyes" of the murderer. We were in his story, seeing his history, wounding, and motive for the murder. It was wonderful! 

I thought it amazing that the whole plot was based on the Mormon founding fathers and the new community in Utah, and revealed a very ugly side to it! I had read about the "Avenging Angels" Mormon gestapo before, but was surprised to see it play such a large role in such a famous book and not cause a huge controversy! But, of course, this book was written when Mormonism was hugely unpopular and "political correctness" was not in vogue. Still, I didn't realize that Sherlock Holmes would deal with such topics-very interesting. I'm curious if the Mormon Church had banned this book from its member's libraries?

I always enjoy a good, murder mystery in the which the detective uses "logic" to solve the case. Sherlock reminds me of characters created by Jules Vern (Around the World in 80 Days) and Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Murder Series); characters who use deductive reasoning to reach a conclusion based on evidence gathered purely through their fives senses. I feel like logic is a lost art and not valued as much by our culture. As "they" say, "...they don't teach logic in the schools anymore!" People wholly ruled by logic are seen as nerdy and unable to effectively mix with society at large- which may be true. But I still love these characters and the flavor they add to the world, even if they have a tendency to place emotion, compassion, and empathy, all key ingredients to humanity, beneath the task at hand. Heartless or just focused? Notice in this first Sherlock story, his effect on people and inability to or perhaps disinterest in socializing with the larger populace. Only Watson seemed fascinated by Holme's eccentricities and hell bent on unraveling them. Too fun! Good choice.
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Lindsay's Review
 
I have seen some of the movies and different adaptations made for television, but this was my first time reading a Sherlock Holmes novel. I thought it was interesting how it is told from Dr. Watson’s point of view; the reader is only allowed to know the little details Watson picks up along the way. I suppose if it had been written from Holmes’ perspective the books would have been infinitely lengthier. I enjoyed the moments when Holmes shared his observations with Watson; they were small glimpses into the intricate thought processes of a brilliant detective.
 
This book in particular is unusual due to the way the author builds the story to the conclusion. Halfway through the book Sherlock claims he has unraveled the whole mystery; the next chapter begins in a completely different setting and the reader is left trying to figure out how all the new characters tie into the original story. You begin to realize how everything fits together and by that point you have solved the original crime on your own. It’s not how I would have chosen to end the book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The copy I read contained a second story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, which I also enjoyed. Sherlock Holmes novels are timeless classics and I plan on reading more in the future.