A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SHERLOCK HOLMES | SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

 To the great mind, and beyond...

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Rating: All the stars in universe!!!

Genre: Murder, mystery, crime, action

Finally, I've finished the complete Sherlock Holmes collection and proud of myself that I did. I can't wrap my mind around the greatness of our one and only Consulting Detective, the master of deduction. I'm just so in love with Sherlock and Watson. And their friendship! Just like two teenagers on adventures.

The amount of people who have neither read any Sherlock Holmes story nor watched any movie, is obviously very few (is there any at all?). Apart from the world of avid readers, Sherlock is loved and his cases are savored by almost anyone of any age.

Sherlock Holmes collection comprises of 4 novels and 56 short stories. Reviewing Sherlock Holmes is, according to me, a daring and impossible job. Besides, I don't possess the audacity to technically review Sherlock Holmes. So, here's a quick guide for you, if you are, just like me, a sucker for good detective stories. 

Whenever you're picking a huge collection or series, the first question that pops up in mind is 'From where do I start?' Well, good for you, it doesn't matter here. You can start from anywhere and still be able to get the full essence.

I however prefer to read systematically and here's the order I followed.

• A Study in Scarlet
• The Sign of Four
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
• The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes
• The Hound of the Baskervilles
• The Valley of Fear
• His Last Bow

"I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world."

~~behind the titles~~

A Study in Scarlet: The introduction of Holmes and through the eyes of Watson at first, then as a crime-solving-geek, a sociopath, a maniac whose only interest lies in feeding his brain with complicated cases to solve, the lack of which leads to uncontrolled consumption of cocaine. An underwhelming debut of the greatest detective. Although I liked it, just not as much as I did the rest.

The Sign of Four: A gloomy, fog-swirling weather becomes mystical when a young, beautiful but distressed woman steps in 221B Baker Street, appointing Holmes to clear the fog involved with her father's disappearance ten years ago. An intriguing and exciting read!

The Hound of Baskervilles: The ball of energy bursts in Holmes when Dr. Mortimer asks him to find the actual truth behind the death of his friend Charles Baskervilles whose horrified facial expression and 'footprints of a gigantic hound' not so far from his dead-body baffled him entirely. The plot itself is absolutely extraordinary, isn't it? My most favorite Holmesy-Novel indeed!

The Valley of Fear: The final novel features 'The Napoleon of Crime', Mr. Moriarty, according to Holmes, his only true competitor. Holmes receives a cipher message from Fred Porlock and air instantly becomes filthy with the scent of crime. Loved this one!

"You see, but you do not observe."

The 56 short stories, scattered around the rest of the books, are what I adore the most. I love each one of them, immensely. Personally, I enjoyed the stories more than the novels. They're just so unique, gripping. Short and Crisp!

I won't the reveal the title of them, neither their blurbs. I want my reader friends to build the thirst and curiosity in them and when it'll be overpowering, they will simply pick up Holmes, flip through the pages and lost in the world of Sherlock, the debonair.

All I can say is Sherlock Holmes and Watson will never let you down.

comment if you like...