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daktor's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable Sherlock Holmes read! This one even had an action scene at the end involving a boat chase.
I was very impressed by the first book and had to read this straight after. It's hard to write a review about it without giving anything away but it is very good and involves a lot of information.
I don't want to say anymore without spoiling it so, just read it!
I was very impressed by the first book and had to read this straight after. It's hard to write a review about it without giving anything away but it is very good and involves a lot of information.
I don't want to say anymore without spoiling it so, just read it!
mike_cannon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
okjaaaaa's review against another edition
3.0
when i'm dead and in hell with doyle, i'm going to spend the rest of eternity pestering him for more sherlock holmes stories.
adonaldson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
naimar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Kinda mid and racist
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
joselynmartin's review against another edition
5.0
Plot synopsis: a confirmed bachelor and genius manages his bipolar disorder with various narcotics while pretending to take a long time solving crimes as an excuse to be near the love of his life who, in turn, pretends to fall in love with a woman with no character agency.
rymrgard's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I remember having trouble getting through this novel. Out of all of ACD‘s work this book has definitely aged the worst. There‘s just so much racism and British colonialist attitude in there.
I remember having trouble getting through this novel. Out of all of ACD‘s work this book has definitely aged the worst. There‘s just so much racism and British colonialist attitude in there.
jibraun's review against another edition
mysterious
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
1.0
Who knew Sherlock Holmes was a cokehead? I certainly didn't. He begins and ends this novel by doing coke because he was bored, no other reason than sheer boredom. I guess that is why lots of people do cocaine; I just didn't think Sherlock would be one of them.
If the novel was as exciting as doing coke, then maybe I'd like it; I can't be certain since I haven't experienced it. But it is the anti-cocaine in that it is abhorrently boring and a clear sophomore slump for Arthur Conan Doyle -- which makes sense because it does not seem like Sherlock Holmes became a smash hit until the subsequent release of a series of short stories.
This novel just goes nowhere fast. I don't understand what Doyle was setting out to do with this story. There is no real mystery. There is no real whodunit. Doyle only seemed to want to show that Sherlock is a brilliant investigator without providing the reader with any clues to solve the mystery, any relevant backstory, or relevant plotting. I suppose this novel like A Study in Scarlet were seminal works in mystery detective fiction. But as with many seminal works, subsequent writers adopted the good of Doyle, threw away the bad, and made actually entertaining novels, e.g. Agatha Christie.
Also, and while not surprising given who wrote it and when, Doyle was a horrid racist, xenophobe, and sexist. He openly insults all women. He also repeatedly describes South Asians in racist terms, saving his most bizarre xenophobia for Hindus. He also displayed stunning levels of ignorance, e.g. naming a character Mahomet (Muhammad) Singh; even though Singh is a Hindu/Sikh last name and Muhammad is obviously Muslim name. I guess his saving grace is that he seemed to think colonialism was bad and exploitative.
I've read the first two Sherlock novels now, and I've to say I'm underwhelmed. Hopefully Baskerville meets the hype.
1 star.
If the novel was as exciting as doing coke, then maybe I'd like it; I can't be certain since I haven't experienced it. But it is the anti-cocaine in that it is abhorrently boring and a clear sophomore slump for Arthur Conan Doyle -- which makes sense because it does not seem like Sherlock Holmes became a smash hit until the subsequent release of a series of short stories.
This novel just goes nowhere fast. I don't understand what Doyle was setting out to do with this story. There is no real mystery. There is no real whodunit. Doyle only seemed to want to show that Sherlock is a brilliant investigator without providing the reader with any clues to solve the mystery, any relevant backstory, or relevant plotting. I suppose this novel like A Study in Scarlet were seminal works in mystery detective fiction. But as with many seminal works, subsequent writers adopted the good of Doyle, threw away the bad, and made actually entertaining novels, e.g. Agatha Christie.
Also, and while not surprising given who wrote it and when, Doyle was a horrid racist, xenophobe, and sexist. He openly insults all women. He also repeatedly describes South Asians in racist terms, saving his most bizarre xenophobia for Hindus. He also displayed stunning levels of ignorance, e.g. naming a character Mahomet (Muhammad) Singh; even though Singh is a Hindu/Sikh last name and Muhammad is obviously Muslim name. I guess his saving grace is that he seemed to think colonialism was bad and exploitative.
I've read the first two Sherlock novels now, and I've to say I'm underwhelmed. Hopefully Baskerville meets the hype.
1 star.
nickthebookreader's review against another edition
4.0
The book was insightful
As again, Dir Arthur Conan Doyle was a remarkable author. The attention to detail in this book is at par.
I also found myself quite lost at sometimes & there were some parts which I had to re read to comprehend. Maybe I missed something. But overall it was a great read.
As again, Dir Arthur Conan Doyle was a remarkable author. The attention to detail in this book is at par.
I also found myself quite lost at sometimes & there were some parts which I had to re read to comprehend. Maybe I missed something. But overall it was a great read.
juicyslumber's review against another edition
4.0
i was srsly spooked. also i’m beginning to query the nature of Holmes and Watson’s domestic intimacy