Scan barcode
isisiis's review against another edition
2.0
i dont really like this books i think im just not smart enought tbh
hatetowin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
humatariq's review against another edition
5.0
SPOILERS Ahead. Consider yourself warned!!
This is one of the few full length Holmes novels; though if I remember correctly, it was quite short. Read it for the first time from my school library and loved it. I think this is the one with secret rooms which Holmes figures out using simple mathematics. I think there was also some sort of trigonometric reference to finding the location of hidden treasure with the help of the shadow of a tree.
What I do remember was that there was a map of the house Holmes was investigating and I drew my own version of that map on a piece of white cotton. Later I tried to make my parchment age a bit by burying it in the garden and some other tactics that I do not remember now (on hindsight, now I know why I like watching White Collar so much).
kwellon's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
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? No
3.5
falseoracle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
mitis22'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
muksreads's review against another edition
3.0
A well-crafted mystery with with ecclectic group of villians. Sherlock Holmes is at it again with another fresh mystery. I've knocked this down to three stars because I didn't particularly care for the explanation of the story after the suspect had been caught. It was rather long-winded and didn't provide much more to the story than Holmes had already pointed our during the investigation.
I enjoy trying to solve murder mysteries as they're playing out, however with this book it seemed like you weren't able to solve it. Holmes simply states a series of deductions and follow-ups that he made in private at the end to reveal how he unravelled the mystery. This is interesting in itself but also robs me of the classic murder mystery experience and instead focusing on the competence of this brilliant detective.
Overall I think the story was almost as good as one could expect given it's only around a hundred and fifty pages. It has intrigue, twists, surprises and the continual build-up of an almost buddy cop relationship between Watson and Holmes. If the story could be more fleshed out and I could be made to care for more of the characters I would no doubt rate this higher but as it is, it's a very enjoyable read.
I enjoy trying to solve murder mysteries as they're playing out, however with this book it seemed like you weren't able to solve it. Holmes simply states a series of deductions and follow-ups that he made in private at the end to reveal how he unravelled the mystery. This is interesting in itself but also robs me of the classic murder mystery experience and instead focusing on the competence of this brilliant detective.
Overall I think the story was almost as good as one could expect given it's only around a hundred and fifty pages. It has intrigue, twists, surprises and the continual build-up of an almost buddy cop relationship between Watson and Holmes. If the story could be more fleshed out and I could be made to care for more of the characters I would no doubt rate this higher but as it is, it's a very enjoyable read.
emily_gaynier'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