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thebeautyofliterature's review against another edition
2.0
I just don't get it at all. I didn't enjoy Watson or Sherlock or any of the other characters. The case didn't interest me at all and the solution was way too long and slow. Just really not my kind of book, I guess.
maria_rb's review against another edition
2.0
Reading Victorian texts with a 21st C POV means fighting not to be offended by essentialist and racist profiling and stereotypical depictions of anyone who isn’t British.
The mystery is rooted in a colonialist history in India, so I had a hard time not cheering on the loss of “looted” treasure.
The mystery is rooted in a colonialist history in India, so I had a hard time not cheering on the loss of “looted” treasure.
tricksyliesmith's review against another edition
4.0
This novel doesn't waste any time at all before jumping into the action headfirst! The Game's afoot!
It's once again surprising to find (as Martin Freeman also points out in his intro here in my edition) how much of the characters we know and love have always been a part of the books, and despite their many reincarnations they were always the modern, exciting duo of their time.
The fast-paced speed at which Holmes works; the witty banter between him and Watson (at one point Holmes arrives in Watson's room in the middle of the night dressed as a sailor and announcing he's going out... hilarious!) all goes towards making this a little gem.
Much better pace and flow to this than "...Scarlet..."; which spent too much time on a huge diversion in the middle to explain the back plot of the culprit. Conan Doyle uses one chapter in "...Four..." to allow the authorities to hear out the criminal; his plot and his motive, and more importantly to prove Sherlock's theories correct.
Heavy references too to Sherlock's drug-taking here (assuming part of Conan-Doyle's attempt at making Sherlock un-palatable, but which only makes him more intriguing, and a quality which has mostly been edited out of the twee adaptations of the past) and we are also introduced to Miss Mary Morstan...
It's once again surprising to find (as Martin Freeman also points out in his intro here in my edition) how much of the characters we know and love have always been a part of the books, and despite their many reincarnations they were always the modern, exciting duo of their time.
The fast-paced speed at which Holmes works; the witty banter between him and Watson (at one point Holmes arrives in Watson's room in the middle of the night dressed as a sailor and announcing he's going out... hilarious!) all goes towards making this a little gem.
Much better pace and flow to this than "...Scarlet..."; which spent too much time on a huge diversion in the middle to explain the back plot of the culprit. Conan Doyle uses one chapter in "...Four..." to allow the authorities to hear out the criminal; his plot and his motive, and more importantly to prove Sherlock's theories correct.
Heavy references too to Sherlock's drug-taking here (assuming part of Conan-Doyle's attempt at making Sherlock un-palatable, but which only makes him more intriguing, and a quality which has mostly been edited out of the twee adaptations of the past) and we are also introduced to Miss Mary Morstan...
wheretomeg's review against another edition
3.0
Significantly better than the previous, “A Study in Scarlet”. I also loved recognizing some of the mentioned locations due to our recent London trip.
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I read The Sign of the Four many years ago, and enjoyed it. Read it again as part of the Letters from Watson, where in 2023 we read all the short stories in internal chronological order, and in 2024, the four novels. Very interesting, this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
today_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sometimes so boring sometimes make me feel Okay, but over all is good
stressedscientist's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
emilygaynier's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read any Sherlock Holmes in years and I decided to pick up my bind up on a whim. I am so glad I did.
While there are still some problematic things in these stories, Watson and Holmes are a lot more feminist and understanding then I originally thought. Sherlock Holmes is not the cynical, rude, unfeeling man that modern adaptions will make you believe. He can be rude at times, but he apologizes when he realizes his mistake.
Also I actually fell in love with Dr. John Watson in this book. He is a very smart man and it's unfair to him when people think of him as less intelligent because he doesn't have the same deductive skills as Sherlock. The thing that really made me love Watson was the way he and Mary interacted in this story. The scene in the garden was so sweet.
I know that Doyle eventually dislikes writing about Sherlock Holmes, but I hope I still love how he writes those later stories.
*2022*
I really wish I could ask someone if Toby was the inspiration for Toby in the Great Mouse Detective
While there are still some problematic things in these stories, Watson and Holmes are a lot more feminist and understanding then I originally thought. Sherlock Holmes is not the cynical, rude, unfeeling man that modern adaptions will make you believe. He can be rude at times, but he apologizes when he realizes his mistake.
Also I actually fell in love with Dr. John Watson in this book. He is a very smart man and it's unfair to him when people think of him as less intelligent because he doesn't have the same deductive skills as Sherlock. The thing that really made me love Watson was the way he and Mary interacted in this story. The scene in the garden was so sweet.
I know that Doyle eventually dislikes writing about Sherlock Holmes, but I hope I still love how he writes those later stories.
*2022*
I really wish I could ask someone if Toby was the inspiration for Toby in the Great Mouse Detective