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misscoffeereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Sign of the Four is the second entry in the Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Arthur Conan Doyle. Mary Morstan is the new client who arrives at 221B Baker Street to present Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson a new mystery which at the onset involves a father's disappearance and the receipt of pearls, but soon evolves to be more complex and mysterious than initially believed.
The novel is a light mystery read featuring the classic mix of Holmes' keen intellect and deduction, and Watson's steady, empathetic voice. The mystery itself was more clear cut than I expected, with no major twists or red herrings. The dash of romancebetween Watson and Mary was cute amidst the dark setting of a murder. Admittedly the book went by quickly and lacked much surprises. But it certainly left a taste for wanting to read a couple more of Holmes and Watson's adventures.
The novel is a light mystery read featuring the classic mix of Holmes' keen intellect and deduction, and Watson's steady, empathetic voice. The mystery itself was more clear cut than I expected, with no major twists or red herrings. The dash of romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Racism
Minor: Cannibalism
frankieclc's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
decodethebooks's review against another edition
dark
2.0
commits both the sins of being hugely racist and just really confusing.
locked room mystery was fun. turning that into a treasure hunt is not so fun.
and once again the massive amounts of racism and descriptions of colonisation was a real turn off… shocking I know.
locked room mystery was fun. turning that into a treasure hunt is not so fun.
and once again the massive amounts of racism and descriptions of colonisation was a real turn off… shocking I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Colonisation
e_ski's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Racism
theatrenerd_'s review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I preferred this to A Study in Scarlet, although it followed a similar structure. Loved this and the appearance of the Mary Morstan plotline!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Ableism and Murder
acogna's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Racism
lavenderlion's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It was hard to get through this Holmes’ story due to Conan Doyle’s racist and pro-imperialist biases.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
annoying_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
elenavillan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use