The Sign of the Four (Easy Classics)

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Stephanie Baudet

Narrated by Richard Usher

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages!
'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre tonight at seven o’clock. You are a wronged woman and shall have justice. Do not bring police. If you do, all will be in vain.'
When Holmes is asked to look into a cryptic message received by Mary Morstan, neither he nor Watson expect to be drawn into a decades-old web of betrayal. Soon they’re conducting dangerous moonlit expeditions to uncover the meaning of the sign of the four, and resolve a long-buried crime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781782264101

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859. Before starting his writing career, Doyle attended medical school, where he met the professor who would later inspire his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet was Doyle's first novel; he would go on to write more than sixty stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. He died in England in 1930.

Reviews for The Sign of the Four (Easy Classics)

[therebelprince · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After being disappointed with "A Study in Scarlet", I decided to tackle a second Holmes novel in the hopes that things would improve. Sadly, they didn't. I'm not beaten yet - I'll be attempting "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" as my next train-to-work novel - but so far, this doesn't do anything for me.

There are some good elements here: Holmes of course is an enjoyable response to the crime fiction that existed at the time. His methods of deduction, while sometimes ponderous, are always clever. Unfortunately, there's very little else to be said for this book.

Watson continues to be an uninteresting narrator; the supporting characters are mostly forgettable, with the exception (oddly) of the police characters, who so far I have found pleasant; and Holmes himself, as many other reviewers seem to note, is at his least likeable here. Obviously, we're supposed to be somewhat confounded by his aloof personality, but his treatment of other members of the human race is extremely off-putting. Like the 2000s versions - Dr. House, etc. - it's supposedly tempered by his desire to help the innocent and fearful, but really the fact that he only seems to have a heart for small children just leads me to assume he is a sociopath.

And then there is the mystery itself: here, Conan Doyle reveals himself as mostly a pulp writer, it seems. Like "A Study in Scarlet", this mystery is decidedly outlandish: cannibalistic midgets, wooden legs, etc, etc. Yes it's escapism and I accept that, but the problem is these mysteries are almost tailor-made for Sherlock Holmes. No human being could possibly be expected to guess from a simple murder that it involved so many elaborate contrivances and foreign devils. It seems strange to say it, but if Holmes could instead investigate a (complex) drawing-room mystery or the like, I might be drawn into the work more, as this would require him to piece together clues within my human scope of comprehension. I'm not asking for an easy mystery, just one that has more of a human element.

Anyway, I'll be interested to continue reading the Holmes books (although I may slow down, as I do have the rest of my life), and perhaps find out why he has become such a mythical figure!

[funstm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this. It was much better than A Study in Scarlet. It was much more action packed and riveting. It was fast paced and the mystery was fascinating. The romance between Watson and Mary was a little odd but sweet enough. What we did see of Mary I liked. She seemed very intelligent and genuine. Holmes was much more like the later versions - brilliant and brutal with observations. He could be rather blunt and intense. I was surprised to see him using cocaine. I hadn't realised that Elementary (the tv show) had incorporated the original material when portraying Sherlock as an addict. And I'm sure it said somewhere in A Study in Scarlet about the unlikeliness of Holmes using drugs. Anyway overall fast paced mystery with some interesting twists.

[foof2you · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes and his buddy Watson combine forces to solve another difficult case about a woman who may have been denied her rightful claim to a treasure. However Watson finds his love in this story and ends up getting married.

[comfypants · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes solves a murder, then doesn't know where the murderer is.2/4 (Indifferent).First of all: racism. Second of all: the mystery is literally solved less than halfway through the book. Then we just wait around for the murderer to show up, seemingly in real time. The one redeeming thing this book has is a little romance subplot with Watson, which is brief but extremely wholesome.(Mar. 2022)

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holmes gains a client but loses a roommate in this novel-length adventure. Miss Mary Morstan’s father, a military officer, had disappeared several years earlier. Then she started receiving a valuable pearl on the same date every year. She turns to Holmes for help in solving these mysteries. The one tangible clue she has is a map her father had possessed, signed with four names. Holmes’s investigation leads him to possibly the ugliest twins in England, hidden treasure, an unusually small person wielding a deadly blow dart, and the hunt for a missing boat.There are enough broad similarities to plot elements of The Moonstone that it seems like more than coincidence. It suffers from the same weakness as many of the Holmes stories, in that the culprit reveals most of the details of the motive and crime in a long information dump after he’s caught.

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read for my OU course. Classic Holmes, accompanied (rather than aided) by Dr Watson.The concluding chapter is one long recounting of the original crime, rather than Holmes actually deducing anything, but before that he gets to say that oft-quoted thing about the improbable truth being what is left when the impossible is excluded, and Mrs Hudson and the Baker St Irregulars make appearances.Problematic depiction of the inhabitants of India at the time of the Empire, although the Sikhs come out of it rather well, I thought.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While the pacing is a bit uneven and there are a few unresolved plot holes, we do get Mary Morstan, who never really gets her due in the book series.

[mbmackay · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

From the Guardian list of 100 best novels - another good choice.Conan Doyle was the master of the then new genre of detective fiction, and Sherlock Holmes has become a byword. The book reflects the mores of the times - the growing intellectual movement combined with the bigotry and racism of the time.There's more than a hint of The Moonstone in the basic plot, but the style is clearly unique.Good fun.

[philsyphe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the thrill of the chase more than the kill, so to speak. That’s usually how I find most detective fiction, which is why I don’t read too much of it. When you find out who did what, it’s invariably “told” in backstory, whereas I’d rather it was “shown” through dramatization.As noted, I did enjoy the build-up, where Holmes and Watson are out and about investigating. Luckily, this occupies much of the novel, so my interest didn’t start to drift off until near the end.Another element I like is the subtle love story between Watson and Holmes’s client Mary Morstan. It adds a little colour to the narrative.

[angelajmaher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable and entertaining mystery.

[muumuumousie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my least favorite of all the Sherlock Holmes novels. I’d probably give it 3.5 stars, if we had half-star ratings. What I liked: Even though its tone is very dark, it fits the story, since this novel is all about the evils of colonialism. Its villain is well fleshed out, as are the supporting characters. It’s got a strong female character, whom Sherlock even praises for her “genius” (his word). There is some good humor here, too, as when Watson, overcome by Mary’s beauty, gets tongue-tied and says some really goofy things. There is subtlety here, too, with Sherlock’s character. He seems vulnerable here in a way that he generally doesn’t, and I get the strong impression that he is lying to Watson when he mentions how little notice he (Holmes) takes of the opposite sex. He seems very much affected by women, both here and in later stories, and his denial seems forced, almost desperate. There’s definitely some room for interepretation here. My impression is that Holmes likes being in control of everything, and women, who can prompt strong emotional reactions in men, are a threat to that control. And I really love that Doyle went out of his way on a couple different occasions to mention Watson’s limp. His army backstory is a constant presence here, and it adds still more depth to an already interesting character. And romance! Watson does not talk about himself enough in these stories, so it was nice seeing him get a love story here.What I didn’t like: Okay, I’m gonna come right out and say it. Sherlock is mean to Watson! This is the story where he crosses the line from lovably egotistical to just plain rude, and Watson must really love this man to keep on forgiving him like that. I do like that Holmes’ behavior isn’t excused; Watson really IS hurt by the comments, and Holmes even apologizes in one place. But Holmes’ egotism and self-centeredness reach their peak in this story, and that can be difficult. I also didn’t like how bleak everything turned out. So many characters are corrupt, and even the decent ones aren’t always great, and most elements of the story don’t really end well (although some do). There is a fairly long flashback scene near the end, but it doesn’t really add much. It doesn’t really make the villain more sympathetic; neither does it flesh out the victim in any meaningful way. The flashback in “Scarlet” did both of these things. Although this book has some beautiful moments, it’s just not my cup of tea.

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not typically a fan of Sherlock Holmes, but this one struck a chord in me. The plot was well-paced, Holmes and Watson were good, breathing characters and the conclusion was satisfactory. Everything that I had come to expect from these sorts of tales was there and there were even moments of surprise amidst the mystery and adventure that Doyle took me on. Overall, a good book and one that should not be missed.3.25 stars.

[robinrowlesauthor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Sign of Four means murder! Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson accompany a beautiful young woman to a sinister assignation. Mary Morstan receives a mystery letter telling her she is a wronged woman. In order to seek justice she's to meet her unknown benefactor, bringing with her two companions. But surprise, surprise, there are others stalking in the fog of London! A one-legged ruffian has revenge on his mind - and his companions, who place no value on human life!
This story has non-stop action and it's certainly believable (bearing in mind when it was written)- It has a really surprising ending - jewel-thieves at its best. With greed another factor, there is plenty of adventure and mystery to get you turning-over the page. There's also a destination of love for Dr Watson with Mary Morstan!
Yes, at times it's certainly curious and intriguing.. along with its whodunit theme.
A well written story with lots of very good description and detail. Some really great characters.

[theeclecticbookworm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book for a few days on my way to/from work, which was easy to do. I hadn't heard of this story before and I'm not really surprised. It was okay, and i liked it, but I don't think I'd bother to listen to it again, or to read it.

[asxz-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Opens with Sherlock self-administering class-A drugs intravenously... because he's bored. How very Trainspotting. Another romp through the streets of London or rather down the Thames in this instance. A locked-room mystery instantly solved and love at first sight for Dr. Watson. Charming and fun.

[scorched_earth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Sign of Four, which is the second book featuring the famed detective Sherlock Holmes, the authors vivid imagination tells another riveting detective story. The book begins and ends with Sherlock Holmes injecting himself with cocaine simply because he is bored due to not having a murder case to occupy his mind. Readers get to know Holmes and Dr. Watson a little better in this book. The story is so detailed and well conceived that it almost seems real. I will be looking forward to the next installment in this series, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

[lgandt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Liked the book far more than any of the screen adaptations I have seen, well worth the reading.

[marcusbastos-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holmes and The Science of Deduction This is chronologically the second book of Sherlock Holmes cases. The story evolves around a treasure that came from India in an exquisite manner. The possession of the treasure’s riches cause, as one can expect, some murders. Holmes is called to discovery the reason for the disappearance of Mary Morstan’s father, which appears to have direct connection with the treasury. With the help of Watson, the famous “consulting detective” used all his abilities to solve the mystery. Careful observation added with the special ability of deduction help Holmes to find the answers. In this adventure Watson knows someone who will have an important place in his heart and ultimately in his life. The story has a lot of action and the finish is somewhat surprisingly. After “A Study in Scarlet”, the reader knows a little bit more of Holmes and Watson and the relationship both build.

[she_climber · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Interesting enough story about lost and stolen treasure, interesting characters, poison arrow darts, brilliant deductions, and even some romance for Dr. Watson. Even the First time in the classic Holmes that I recall hearing of his drug use.Normally I love Sherlock Holmes but this one just drug on for me. I'm going to blame it in part of the Audio, the music in between scenes just didn't do it for and I'm guessing I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for some classic Holmes.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Originally published in 1889, this is the second Sherlock Holmes mystery. We meet Dr. Watson's future bride-to-be, Mary Morstan.One of the most prominent characteristics of Sherlock Holmes's personality is his cheeky hubris, especially when he makes comments like, "Yes, I have been guilty of several monographs" (p 4), or "I cannot live without brainwork" (p 8). Aside from his ego, Holmes carries a sharp sense of reasoning and deduction and of course, the acute ability to draw unsuspecting witnesses out of their privacy, getting them to spill the beans by pretending to know everything they do already. An age-old police tactic.To sum up the complicated mystery: it involves a secret pact between four criminals, a treasure and Mary Morstan. Mary's father has been missing for ten years. He disappeared without a trace. Four years after his disappearance Mary started received a pearl a year from an unknown benefactor. Where's rumor of a hidden treasure.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A client walks in and Watson falls in love. At the end there is a long section with Jonathan Smalls back story leading up to the case.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Stars. Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I inherited a set of Holmes a few years back but hesitated to read them for fear they'd be difficult due to old-fashioned language & style, and due to references to unfamiliar history and culture. Well, they were amazingly accessible and interesting. Highly recommended.

But don't start with this one (or with Hound of the Baskervilles) and do try to read them in some sort of order. This particular was a bit convoluted (after all, it's longer than many, too).

[bauernfeind · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good old comfortable read

[floratina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

READ IN ENGLISH

The Sign of The Four will be used in the third series of BBC Sherlock as The Sign of Three. I'm quite thrilled that for once I have read the book before they used it, and I will be able to look for everything they used form the book. I can't wait till the third series start!

I liked reading this book as well. The writing style is still quite modern, and reads very easily. The story itself is quite interesting, so it was really a nice read.

[fictionzeal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mary Morstan becomes a client for Sherlock Holmes and a very beautiful and interesting lady for Dr. John Watson. She reports that her father, Captain Arthur Morstan, has disappeared. However, the disappearance was not recent … it was ten years before when he’d telegraphed her to meet him at the Langham Hotel in London. Once there, she was informed he’d not returned to the hotel from the night before. Later, she begins receiving anonymous packages – one for the past six years – each containing a precious pearl inside.Holmes, Watson, and Mary set up a meeting with Thaddeus Sholto. He was the son of her father’s best friend, Major John Sholto. He confirms that his father had met with Morstan on the night he died. They had quarreled over treasure Sholto had brought back from India. Sholto confesses to his two twin sons, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, that he’d murdered Morstan. Before giving them the location of the treasure, they were purposefully distracted. When they returned to their father, he’d been killed. A note was left upon him, “The Sign of Four”.This is the second novel of Sherlock Holmes written by Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1890. It is the first which details Sherlock Holmes use of cocaine, or as he would put it, his seven percent solution. I felt the pace in this full-length story tapered off mid-way, but picked back up toward the end. As always, I enjoyed Holmes’ powers of deduction. The story is more convoluted than A Study in Scarlet. The contemporary adage of ‘follow the money’ seems to have been just as true in the late 1800’s as it is today.

[vlcraven_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes, the world’s first consulting detective, is bored. And when he’s bored he injects himself with one of two types of drugs–cocaine or morphine. His housemate and biographer, Dr Watson, hates to see the genius in such a state so when Mary Morstan turns up at 221B Baker Street with a puzzling case he is relieved. Relieved, and other things. Miss Morstan is rather fetching.The young woman presents her story, which involves her long-missing father, pearls that began arriving mysteriously a few years ago and, now, a note promising to explain everything if only she meets a stranger that very evening and doesn’t bring any police. She may bring two friends, though. Holmes and Watson will do nicely and they’re certainly up for it.Off they go and are soon mired in a story involving a locked-room murder and missing treasure and a boat race on the Thames.And casual racism. Sakes alive, the casual racism. One has to be prepared for it in fiction from 100+ years ago–the Victorians in particular loved some anthropologically-based racism. They started stumbling across new races of people and immediately began ascribing all sorts of negative and offensive characteristics to them. This novel is particularly rife, though.Story-wise I’d give this one a 4/5. Holmes is doing his typical deductive thing, which is why I like reading the stories and why I assume others do, too. If you’re a completest and want to read all of them then it’s a fine read, though if casual racism puts you off stories, this one is going for gold.The Sign of Four is the second story featuring Sherlock Holmes. The first was A Study in Scarlet .[Completely off-topic editorializing: Dang, white people are awful. Just because you own the world doesn’t mean you’re the barometer against what everything else should be measured. Reading it from the point of view of a person writing from the country that had the largest empire on Earth at the time is interesting in terms of getting a sense of ego. It’s a digression, but I kept thinking about it while reading the book so it became part of the experience of the novel for me.]

[carsonkicklighter · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Watson, maybe there are easier ways to pick up women than chasing pygmies and peg-legged people down the Thames.

[scolgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick, easy and straight-forward read. I liked how the solutions were doled out in bits & pieces as the story progressed. Sherlock Holmes remains my favorite cocaine-addicted detective. LOL!!

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the second Sherlock Holmes story, written following the famous arranged literary encounter between Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde (which resulted in the latter's Picture of Dorian Grey). The structure is quite similar to A Study in Scarlet, though Sign has probably more typical Sherlockian features. Again, there is a (rather overly long) backstory to the villain Jonathan Small's actions, dating back to his time in India and as a prisoner on the Andaman islands in the Indian Ocean, though it doesn't dominate the story quite as much as the Utah desert part of A Study in Scarlet. Great, swashbuckling and exciting stuff, despite the now cringingly dated racial and religious stereotypes and the poor research (a character named Mahomet Singh, a Muslim/Sikh hybrid, makes no sense). The story is also famous of course for Watson's marriage to Mary Morstan at the end of the story, a decision the author clearly regretted as she scarcely appears ever again and is killed off to give a reason for Watson to move back into Holmes's rooms.