The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

By Arthur Conan Doyle

A new collection to coincide with the upcoming major motion picture starring Robert Downey, Jr., and Jude Law, Sherlock Holmes

This gripping collection includes many of the famous cases-and great strokes of brilliance-that made the leg­endary Sherlock Holmes one of fiction's most popular creations. With his devoted secretary, Dr. Watson, Holmes emerges from his smoke-filled rooms on Baker Street to grapple with the forces of treachery, intrigue, and evil in such cases as "The Speckled Band," in which a terrified woman begs Holmes and Watson's help in solv­ing the mystery surrounding her sister's death, and "A Scandal in Bohemia," which portrays a European king blackmailed by his mis­tress. A spine-tingling treat for anyone who loves a classic whodunit, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes shows the inimitable detective at his best.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Sep 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9781101144992

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, most famous for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes and long-suffering sidekick Dr Watson. Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

Reviews for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read this multiple times, having first come to Holmes as a teenager. This was the first time I've listened to them, and having Stephen Fry narrate is a stroke of genius. He has that patrician voice that seems to match nicely with the tone I can hear in Watson as he narrates the stories. The short stories make it easy to listen while commuting. That and the fact that as I listened to them I could remember what the puzzle or situation involved meant this was a bit like revisiting an old friend and finding them both changed and reliably the same.

[asxz-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My first collection of Sherlock's shorts and they were super fun. Witty, varied, self-referential, Holmes is a much gentler fellow in these tales than he appears in recent incarnations. He fights for the underdog and cares about the wronged. Some of these stories seem to have been told and retold in every detective series ever imagined but they shine here in their original forms.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This collection of a dozen short stories recorded by Dr. Watson showcases the deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes. The crimes range from murder to blackmail, robbery, and missing persons. They’re not in chronological order. Watson is married in some stories, and in others he is a bachelor sharing rooms with Holmes. The impression one gets is that Watson is writing up cases from his notes as something triggers his memory of a particular case. This time around I listened to the audio by Ralph Cosham. I prefer Edward Hardwicke’s narration of the Holmes stories, perhaps because he played Watson in the Granada TV series.

[ragwaine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet (Son is accused but daughter stole it, son got it back.)-The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (Steals the jewel then loses it. Good.)-The Adventure of the Copper Beeches (Hired to impersonate, daughter because she's locked up.)-The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb (Not really a mystery. Just a tale. Bad guys got away too.)-The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor (Bride finds outher old husband is alive and disappears.)-The Boscombe Valley Mystery (Average, Holmes style mystery with killer who is not really a bad guy.)-The Five Orange Pips (Way to short. Cool that the KKK guys died but Holmes didn't get a chance to punish them.)-The Red-headed League (Too short but the red-headed league was very original.)

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this one, it had a number of interesting short stories in highlighting the skills of Sherlock Holmes. I much prefer longer novels to short stories but I did all these stories fully engaging. Onto the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes now.

[therebelprince · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holmes and Watson come alive in short stories. Someone (who, I wish I'd recall) once said that if you only read Agatha Christie's short stories, and Conan Doyle's novels, you'd think both were terrible writers. It certainly seems true in Conan Doyle's case (from the two I've read thus far).

Either way, of the twelve stories in this collection, all of them are quite enjoyable. They showcase a slightly more even relationship between the two heroes, as well as featurnig a varied array of guest characters, and mysteries which Conan Doyle easily shifts from political intrigue, to international conspiracy, to simple mistaken identity. In fact, the only story that I don't think really works anymore is "The Five Orange Pips" - and this is only because it has dated to the point where the killer's identity was something new and curious in the 1800s, but is now quite commonly known by most Westerners, meaning that most readers will probably catch on from about page three.

After this, I have renewed vigour to move on to the 4th of Holmes' 9-book canon. We'll see!

[bohemima · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A strong collection of Holmes stories, highlighted by the powerfully creepy “The Speckled Band,” the modesty gothic “The Copper Beeches,” and the delightful “A Scandal in Bohemia.”The only story that was substandard for me was “The Blue Carbuncle,” in which the plot was too fantastic to be believed. But even that story is full of the late Victorian atmosphere and Holmes at his best.We tend to forget how much mystery stories and novels owe to Conan Doyle. His ideas and plots are being used even today as inspiration for authors.If you long for gas-lit London, hansom cabs, fog, and excellent detecting, try this volume, either for the first or fifth time. You’ll be glad you did.

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great little mystery stories, I had fun reading this!

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Intussen al een eeuw klassieke detective verhalen. Wat opvalt is dat Holmes eigenlijk geen sympathieke held is, en zelf regelmatig in zijn hemd wordt gezet.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Prior to this, the only Sherlock Holmes I had attempted to read was "The Hound of the Baskervilles" which I started at least twice but never finished. I've enjoyed the PBS series "Sherlock" and a friend mentioned that some of the events in that corresponded with what she'd read in the stories/novels. So when this one came up as free on Amazon, I downloaded it and decided I'd give it a try. I enjoyed the stories, but I don't follow the clues that Holmes sees/hears as he investigates--so his reveal is always a bit of a surprise to me.

[msaucier818 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a quick read of short stories featuring the classic Sherlock Holmes. The stories were simple and fun to read. I enjoyed the personality and thought-process of Holmes more than the mysteries, but I think it was worth the read.

[rayski_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A collection of short stories as told by Dr Watson of his cases with Sherlock Holmes. Watson (author Doyle) isn't afraid to demonstrate Holmes' personality tics and general moral faults, while admiring Holmes' ability to find a needle in a haystack through keen observation and precise deduction. Holmes is CSI before there was CSI and does it without the tools of today's TV shows. Holmes listens to his interviewees in great detail, is quick to observe the littles things (her left hand was more worn than her right with that crease in her dress she therefore was spending great deal of time sewing) and is able to connect all the dots and even add the missing dots. Entertaining and very easy to read, leave and pickup because each story is only an hour or so read.

[stbalbach_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) is the first book-length collection of Holmes short stories, they were originally published in The Strand Magazine 1891-92. Most of them have small references to other stories so there is a sense of coherence and world-building. It includes "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" which Doyle considered his all-time favorite Holmes story. It's gaslight entertainment that evokes an age. The spooky mansions with the evil mastermind, brutish henchmen and the locked room with a mystery. Well, it's better than Saturday morning cartoons.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was nice to re-read these.

[maxernst11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Intussen al een eeuw klassieke detective verhalen. Wat opvalt is dat Holmes eigenlijk geen sympathieke held is, en zelf regelmatig in zijn hemd wordt gezet.

[omf_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nett zu lesende Kurzgeschichten aber als Krimi ungeeignet. Was das Buch dann doch noch lesenswert macht ist das Lokalkolorit des auslaufenden 19ten Jahrhunderts.

[yogiabb_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I just finished the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was a free download from Amazon onto my Kindle.You know what I really liked it. Sherlock Holmes is really fun smart guy except he cannot let his super logical brain be diverted by any sort of female wanderings. It makes me wonder about him. He is also a cocaine addict and proud of it. It helps him sort things out. And he has been known to hang out in opium dens.The stories are very clever and well written. I mean how many people actually have actually read the book? I never had.Anyways, I give the books a three out of five stars. Three is worth reading. The stories get a little repetitive and I admit I only read about half of them. Sorry!

[m.belljackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great mystery stories that I will miss reading on the couch each night.The clues offered give readers a chance to figure out the crime and criminalsand none is gruesome or horrifying, though The Thumb can be rough to endure.The characters of Holmes and Watson are so finely tuned that we fit right in as soonas the fireplace or dressing gown or breakfast are mentioned.A few of the stories could have used more suspense, as though Doyle was tired and just wanted to end them,yet what a variety!

[smitie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The stories are interesting even today, but the writing does not fully survive the test of time. The language used on conversations is old fashioned, but even for a not-native speaker it is not hindering the experience. The only part that I really dislike is how Sherlock Holmes is portrayed as a god of deduction while Watson is constantly downgrading himself as not worthy common man next to the superior Sherlock. I'm glad the movies have fixed this and have given Watson a more active role and Sherlock some flaws.

[dragonasbreath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Holmes is ALWAYS worth a read.

[paul_salter-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic collection of Sherlock Holmes Stories.

[blake.rosser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You pretty much know what you're getting with Sherlock Holmes, and these are some pretty fun brainteasers that all blend together after you read several in a row.

[librarycin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Sherlock Holmes book. It is a collection of short stories, and I am generally not a big fan of short stories. They were mostly o.k., but I had a hard time focusing on it. My mind tended to drift. And, as with most collections of short stories, some are better than others. Although, I thought they worked well as short stories, but given how much my mind wandered, I can only rate it o.k. I will likely try another Sherlock Holmes, but a novel instead next time.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think that perhaps, apart from a few Nancy Drews, it was the Sherlock Holmes stories that got me started on a lifetime of mystery reading. I've reread them several times and enjoyed them just as much or more each time.

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration of a classic collection of mystery stories! The version I listened to was performed by Ben Kingsley. These mysteries really do stand the test of time. One thing I found interesting is that Holmes is not a very likeable character. I have also been reading Laurie King's Mary Russell series that features a Holmes who is brusque and incredibly intelligent in that superior obnoxious way, but shows a bit more humanity.

[dulac3_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, what can I say? It's Sherlock Holmes. Even if you've never read any of Conan Doyle's stories (and shame on you!) you probably still know quite a bit about this figure that is one of the most iconic in literature and even know details of many of his cases. Prior to this more systematic read-through I had only actually read a few of the stories and much of my knowledge came from the (admittedly excellent) BBC TV series starring the late great Jeremy Brett (the best of all Holmes').

These twelve stories represent the first of his continuing adventures published after the initial novels _A Study in Scarlet_ and _The Sign of Four_ (which I have yet to read). They are all uniformly entertaining and well-written, though some stood out to me, most notably "A Scandal in Bohemia" where Holmes is actually beaten, and not by a criminal nemesis like Moriarty, but by the brilliant Irene Adler; "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" which encompases unrequited love, outlaws on the frontier, and treacherous blackmailing; "The Five Orange Pips" which pits Holmes against the nefarious machinations of the KKK; "The Man with the Twisted Lip" one of the many cases which makes use of mistaken identity, and "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" which portrays the also common theme of familial dysfunction and paternal greed.

I was a little surprised to note a few things in my reading, one of which was the number of strong female characters Doyle made use of. From Irene Adler and Violet Hunter, who both impress Holmes with their intellignece, courage and ability, to the no nonsense Hatty Doran and Mrs. Toller. Next, I think Doyle may not have had much of a fondness for dogs given their characterisation in "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" and (from what I gather at least) _The Hound of the Baskervilles_...maybe he was a cat guy? It was curious to see several references also made to Holmes' great physical strength...something I wasn't particularly aware of. I had mistakenly thought him to be primarily an intellectual hero. Finally it was a bit surprising to see the number of times that Holmes does not "get his man" and the criminals escape, perhaps to be punished by Fate, but this is not always the case. Somewhat tied in with this last point: Holmes seems content to let his fair share of criminals escape 'justice' so long as he sees the validity of their actions or believes in the sincerity of their contrition. He's simply interested in the puzzle (and crime merely gives it more zest), not really in meting out justice per se.

Many plot elements seem to recur in these stories, but I don't know that this is a major detraction since the main draw of all of these tales is, of course, the unparalleled character of Holmes himself and the incredible deductive method he uses. Yes it's true, Holmes is a bit of a prick and he always likes to show off (though he'd never admit it). He is, however, nearly always right, so can you blame him for having a somewhat cool disdain for us mere mortals? He also has enough failings to make him interesting (whether it's his monomania when it comes to solving puzzles, his drug addiction, or his passive-aggressive need to be praised by his somewhat dim compatriot Dr. Watson). He was also made somewhat more sympathetic (to me at least) in his ironic disdain for many of the upper class people that become his clients (most notably the King of Bohemia and Lord Robert St. Simon who are at the receiving end a few choice bon mots) and his very real sympathy for the weak victims preyed upon by the strong and unscrupulous in his cases.

Overall, Sherlock Holmes' adventures provide very enjoyable reading and one almost feels they are walking through the foggy streets of London, or across the blustery English countryside with him in these reminiscences of the good doctor. I should note here that I was listening to the free Librivox audio recording for this "read" as performed by Ruth Golding. She was an excellent narrator with good pace and excellent dramatic feeling. Her character of Holmes was quite good, but I must admit that I found Watson's 'voice' a little bit odd (I think this may have contributed above and beyond anything in the actual text to making him appear a bit of a simpleton), and some of the secondary characters followed suit. Overall though, a very enjoyable listen.

[purlewe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first Sherlock Holmes.. and it won't be my last!

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

A collection of tales from Sherlock Holmes.

[jeremypreacher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I will admit I was reading this primarily to provide context for the recent movies (and... other media) so I wasn't nearly as concerned with the quality of the mysteries. I can definitely see why Holmes and Watson are such resilient characters - their relationship is delightful. The actual stories are pleasantly short, and I was satisfied that while I couldn't actually solve the mystery most of the time (the reader doesn't get enough info) I could usually see the shape of it, which made me anticipate the reveal more tan I would have otherwise.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think I liked these short stories better than I liked the novels -- or novellas, or whatever you wish to call A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four. I think that was partially because they suffer less from what I think is a pretty off-putting structural problem with the longer stories, and instead keep things simpler. It's also nice that they represent a wider range of cases, with some that aren't specifically crimes/don't involve death, and with Irene Adler there to put Holmes in his place -- just a little.

The stories are also amazingly easy to read. I've read modern work which is less accessible and engaging.