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    A Study in Scarlet
    A Study in Scarlet
    A Study in Scarlet
    Audiobook4 hours

    A Study in Scarlet

    Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Narrated by David Timson

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    About this audiobook

    A Study in Scarlet was the very first Sherlock Holmes novel. Here, in the most remarkably precise manner, Doyle produced two of the most well-known characters in English fiction. Their individual traits and their relationships, their ambitions and foibles are introduced against the backdrop of an exciting story of revenge and persistance, which starts in Victorian England but moves to the American West, and the environment of the early Mormon communities. It is a full novel, and is here read, unabridged in richly characterised style by David Timson. This is the fifth Naxos AudioBooks recording of Sherlock Holmes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateDec 1, 2001
    ISBN9789629545055
    Author

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Arthur Conan Doyle was born in 1859. He trained to be a doctor at Edinburgh University and eventually set up a medical practice in Southsea. During the quiet periods between patients, he turned his hand to writing, producing historical novels such as Micah Clarke and adventure yarns including The Lost World, as well as four novels and fifty-six stories involving his most celebrated creations, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. Doyle was knighted in 1902. In later life he devoted much of his time to his belief in Spiritualism, using his writing and celebrity as a means of providing funds to support activities in this field. He died in 1930.

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    Reviews for A Study in Scarlet

    4/5

    275 ratings141 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is the first book I have read by the famed creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A Study in Scarlet is Doyle's first book featuring the infamous Sherlock Holmes. Holmes' character has been portrayed in the movies so much that I feel like I already knew the character. Reading the original text by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is, not surprisingly, better than any other theatrical take I have seen. A Study in Scarlet is an easy read that could easily be completed in one day. The edition that I own contains illustrations by the famous caricaturist, Gris Grimly. I am not a fan of graphic novels or even illustrations in books because it distract my own imagination of how things should appear. On the other hand, the illustrations are very impressive so if you are into that kind of thing, I would recommend this edition. Holmes' first adventure in detection in A Study in Scarlet reveals to the world the detectives impeccable deductive powers. Holmes meets his sidekick Dr. Watson in Doyle's freshman detective novel, where the two rent an apartment on Baker Street. It is a widely known fact that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle single handedly revolutionized the science of Forensics and crime scene investigation. There is an in-depth documentary about how Sherlock Holmes' methods were used in Doyle's fiction novels before they were ever used in real life. Knowing this fact makes reading these books much more interesting and entertaining to read. I plan on chronologically reading all the books written by Doyle that feature Sherlock Holmes.
    • 4/5
      I liked this one a great deal, gave all the important info I had been missing for so many years
    • 3/5
      I liked the first part - it was fun to read about Watson's first impressions of Holmes. The second part was such a change that I had to check that I was still reading the same book (I read this as part of The Complete Sherlock Holmes)! Although it all tied up in the end, it didn't work that well for me.
    • 5/5
      When I first got this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. But, I was pleasantly surprised as I was reading it. I was actually laughing at some of the things Sherlock said. It was entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who really likes detective stories.
    • 4/5
      Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has produced a very good tale that kept me interested enough to finish this book within a single day. One of the most surprising things was the author's ability to make me side with the villain. The first half of the story is all about Holmes's tracking down of the man who committed a murder. It abruptly ends with his capturing the man - someone whom no one suspected. The next part of the novel then starts in on a lovely narrative about the Latter-day Saints arriving in Utah, saving in the process the life of a man and young girl on the brink of death. The man joins the Saints in order to survive the harshness of the desert, but refuses to become polygamous - which leads to some problems:"He had always determined, deep down in his resolute heart, that nothing would ever induce him to allow his daughter to wed a Mormon. Such a marriage he regarded as no marriage at all, but as a shame and a disgrace. Whatever he might think of the Mormon doctrines, upon that one point he was inflexible. He had to seal his mouth on the subject, however, for to express an unorthodox opinion was a dangerous matter in those days in the Land of the Saints."While it is true that the Mormon leadership is made out to be a secretive society bent on incorporating as many young girls as possible into their polygamous harems, the novel, I feel, does a good job of describing the difficulties of having unorthodox opinions in a society where being a 'true believer' is highly valued. This ended up being the most interesting part of the novel for me (although I was anxious to see how this would all tie in Sherlock Holmes). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a terrific writer, I must say. Instead of writing the straightforward crime/mystery novel that I anticipated, he made me not only understand the motivations of the villain, but actually feel some sense of accomplishment on the villain's part. At the same time, I equally wanted to see Holmes track the man down and show that his superior use of deduction can solve a mystery that to others seems quite puzzling. However, in none of this was there a need to see justice done to the criminal. It would have been just as satisfying, perhaps more so, if the criminal had gotten away at the end (and in a way he does, dying of a heart condition before the trial is held).The book was immensely enjoyable and I highly recommend it. The Mormon section of the book gets a bad rap for painting Mormons in a negative light and for being a too extended digression from the main plot. I would argue otherwise. The Mormon section contains some of the best narrative exposition, and the departure from the Holmes plot helps to put the motivations of the crime into a much-needed perspective.
    • 5/5
      Classic (1st) Sherlock Holmes, very well read. The Mormons don't come out so well in this story...
    • 4/5
      Doyle's plotting in the deductive portions of the book are fast-paced and intriguing, but the history section in part two always fell flat for me. I don't like the sudden change of style and voice, though the first time I read the book I really enjoyed trying to put the clues together by the end to see if I had followed Holmes' deductions. It's really just on the second (or fifteenth) readings that I realized how -boring- it really is.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed the reveal at the end and the unexpected middle.
    • 4/5
      This story is the first work about Homes.For the widespread oh this story, his name has been famous.And this story shows the first contact of Homes and watson.You can know the root oh their relationship, if you read this.
    • 3/5
      I've long felt bad about never having read any of the nine books that make up the Sherlock Holmes canon, so finally I've rectified that... and what an odd little work it is.

      The first half of the book is what's important, historically, but it's the least interesting. Conan Doyle doesn't write natural dialogue, and a result the discussions between Watson and Holmes come across more like a treatise on how detective work - in the real world and in novels - is evolving and progressing. While this is all very very interesting, particularly to someone like myself who has read a lot of Christie and Poe etc, it feels like an essay that has been structured in story form, rather than the other way around.

      On top of this, I concede that I have a bias against this "one really smart quirky man always outdoes everyone" formula. Holmes started it, but it's returned in the last ten years or so to television, and personally I think it just weakens the narrative when every other character functions only as a sounding board for our god of a leading man. Sherlock is cunningly described by Watson as a seemingly paradoxical man who in fact has rational reasons for all of his education and activities, although even the great detective can't seem to fix his (bipolar?) moods. As their friendship is still embryonic at this stage, Watson can give us no insight into Holmes' life, and Holmes offers none, so he remains a cipher. But I'm treating this as a pilot episode, so that's okay. More immediately fascinating are the elements of contemporary life: street beggars working for Holmes, the necessary advantages and disadvantages that came from being a police officer in the era - thrilling stuff.

      The second half is a mixed bag also. Conan Doyle is an admirable prose writer, and his description of the events twenty years prior to the murders is captivating and gripping. On the other hand, it is filled with amazingly anti-Mormon sentiment. I'm no religious sympathiser myself, but I couldn't take it seriously when the narrator assured us that all Mormons kill or destroy anyone who attempts to leave their faith.

      An odd little novel, and I've already started the second one, since I'm very eager to see if Conan Doyle can somehow retain his marvelous leading character, whilst furthering his skills in the other required areas.

      (Two and a half stars)
    • 4/5
      I've read this series as a child and I'm re-reading it now after so many years. Unfortunately, in my memories it was a better book. I mean, the story is great! Completely unbelievable and unreal but great. However, Sherlock Holmes is much more annoying than I remember. When I was a child such peculiar and cocky creatures probably didn't bother me but now he is a bit too much for my taste.

      Anyway, it was a pleasure to read it again (especially after watching the TV shows based on the series in the meantime) and I will keep reading the other books in this series.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this book up to the point where we zoomed out on the world, and back in on the other side of the ocean. Once I figured out it was the background of the criminal, and not entirely a new story, I quickly reengaged. Sherlock is much more relatable in Doyle's writing than in some of their other incarnations. And the book proved a much better place to start than The Hound of the Baskervilles.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed my first foray into the world of Sherlock Holmes. The sudden change of pace, characters and location threw me for a moment but I soon got back into the swing of it. I will definitely read more of these tales.
    • 3/5
      5-stars for fun; 2-stars for writing. which was interesting but clunky. i loved sherlock in my teens so i was hoping this would have held up better for me.
    • 5/5
      Sherlock Holmes is an iconic character, and his first book is (I think) his best. A Study in Scarlet introduces Mr Holmes and showcases his analytical genius as he navigates through the first of many cases the detective solves. A classic.
    • 5/5
      My first Sherlock Holmes book was without disappointment. A very nice read and would be recommended to anyone asking for something to read.
    • 2/5
      This is the first Sherlock Holmes adventure chronologically. It was worth the price - free on my kindle. :) It was good enough (and since it came as part of a collection) I will go ahead and read the next book, too. It was entertaining to read the original adventure of how Sherlock and Watson met and how Doyle brought him to life. But, the entire middle section of the book took place in the 1850s in and around Salt Lake City, Utah. Not only was the all the geography the author describes wrong, but the entire portrayal of Mormons was incorrect. I wondered if the author had done any research at all. But, I also have to consider the time period the book was written in and consider the historical conditions. Perhaps some of Doyle's portrayal of Mormons is how they were perceived by outsiders at the time Doyle was writing, but I found the obvious errors distracting to the story line. The entire middle section of the book is back story on the murderer and their motivation for the crime.So, overall, it was okay and I'm going to give Holmes one more try, but it's nowhere near as good as the BBC Sherlock. ;)
    • 4/5
      I have been a fan of the tv shows and movies a wanted to see what the source material was like. I was not disappointed in my findings and will continue on with this series.
    • 5/5
      Before this book, I’d only read The Hound of the Baskervilles, so I’d never actually gotten to see the beginning of Holmes' and Watson’s adventures. Having read A Study in Scarlet, I now realize that I should have started with this story instead. It introduces the characters to the reader - and to each other - providing the perfect foundation for the rest of the mysteries.Watching Sherlock Holmes go about solving the case is highly entertaining. When the story suddenly shifts gears to delve into the killer’s motivations, I was a little annoyed at first. But it wasn’t long before I found myself gripped by this mini story-within-a-story. The descriptions of the American West and the Mormons are hilariously inaccurate at times (espcially with the distinctly British dialogue), but it serves to show what the attitudes and beliefs were in England at the time. I found myself just as captivated watching this drama play out as I was by the mystery itself.In short, if you’re looking for a good place to start with Sherlock Holmes, look no further than A Study in Scarlet. As much as I love the various TV and movie iterations, there’s no character quite like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
    • 4/5
      Der erste Band der Krimis um Sherlock Homes kann zweifellos als Klassiker des Genres gelten. Mit Sicherheit ist es einer der ersten Krimis, der das deduktive Schließen zur Lösung des Falls benutzt. Außerdem wurde in diesem Krimi das Detektivpaar etabliert, in dem es zum genialen Detektiv den vernünftigen SideKick gibt. In diesem Buch lernen sich Sherlock Homes und Doktor Watson kennen. Sie ziehen gemeinsam in die Wohnung in der Baker Street. Durch Zufall wird Watson von Holmes mit in die Lösung eines Falles hineingezogen, in der ein Mann tot in einer leeren Wohnung aufgefunden wurde. Der mittlere Teil des Buches beschreibt die Vorgeschichte dieses Mordes und ist enorm spannend und fesselnd. Der Fall selber wird von Sherlock Homes auf seine übliche geniale Weise gelöst.
    • 4/5
      This is the first thing I've read "cover to cover" on a Kindle. Interesting juxtaposition- 19th century London with a Kindle. Also- if you've watched the recent BBC Sherlock Holmes series, you'll find a lot of the characterization faithfully drawn from A Study In Scarlet. And possibly, other Holmes! I've downloaded the set, so we'll see!
    • 4/5
      Oh my, did I love this book!

      Ever since I was little, I always loved anything Sherlock Holmes related; I watched cartoons, movies...etc. But weirdly enough I never got around to actually read the books.

      I finally picked this one up and Damn son!

      The plot was so interesting and fun to go through, it kept me on my toes and I just NEEDED to know who the killer was.
      Then I reached the second part and I was confused for like 7 pages or so and then BAM everything fell into place.
      Well, color me surprised!

      One more thing;
      I absolutely Love Sherlock Holmes, with his odd behaviors and awesomely weird way of thinking!
      His companionship with Dr. Watson is just so precious I can't even!
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this Holmes tale much more than "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." The depth of the mystery was much greater than in the shorter vignettes and took me completely by surprise. At one point I had to actually look up information on the book to make sure it was one story and not two shorter ones because the second part was not obviously a flashback. Well done mystery and an enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      I quite enjoyed this book (my first foray into the Sherlock Holmes universe as created by Mr. Doyle.) My only real objection was the completely inaccurate portrayal of the mormons in pioneer Utah. They made excellent villains in this novel but it's a bit much. I enjoyed seeing Holmes and Watson meet.
    • 3/5
      Enjoyed reading this in conjunction with the PBS series, "Sherlock"
    • 4/5
      This is the first novel featuring Sherlock Holmes. As an introduction, it's perfect. Almost. The book comes in two parts. The first part is Holmes meeting Watson and working their first case together. The second part follows the story of the murderer, detailing his background and motive. At the end of that section the two stories join and he relates his tale to Holmes, Watson, and the police.The first part is obviously the best, since it features Holmes. After all, he is the reason I read the book, so it was a little disappointing to have him absent from nearly half of it. On the other hand, this is the first Holmes book, so Conan Doyle had very little way of anticipating the draw his detective would have on the audience.I already know the character so well, most recently from BBC's Sherlock (which, by the way, does a tremendous job at following this story in the episode titled "A Study In Pink.") and I couldn't help but smile at everything that I recognized and all the little details that I knew would figure in later, like testing poison on Watson's dog. I highly recommend this to any Holmes fan. the book is fast and fresh. It may be over 100 years old, but it doesn't feel like it. Go for it!
    • 4/5
      This is the first book about Sherlock Holmes, and begins with his initial meeting and growing friendship with Dr Watson, who narrates the story. It's set in the latter part of the 19th century, and is in two parts. The first shows Holmes' analytical mind and attention to detail as he explains to Watson how he solves a rather unpleasant crime. Part One ends with the perpetrator being arrested.Part Two goes back in time, introducing a man and a young girl travelling rough in the United States after the rest of their group perished. They've given up on finding water, when they're discovered by a band heading to Utah. I don't know how accurate the portrayal of Mormon life and culture in the 19th century is, but it makes an excellent story, albeit quite spine-chilling at times. Ethics and morals are not pointed out, but it gradually becomes clear that there are often two sides to any story, and that the initial clear-cut crime could have quite clear motivations. Recommended to teens or adults who like historical crime fiction. I read it on my Kindle but it's widely available in other forms, mostly inexpensively or (from Project Gutenberg) free.
    • 4/5
      Daring style, funny, original.
    • 4/5
      The quirky character of famous detective Sherlock Holmes is introduced with rapid language and ensuing hilarity in A Study in Scarlet, the first of the Holmes novels. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle engages readers in a story filled with twists, turns, and trails with dead ends. Told initially from the reminiscences of Doctor Watson, A Study in Scarlet follows the team through their first case together, a seemingly unsolvable murder. The oblivious Scotland Yard cannot find a single clue as to a potential suspect or the method of murder when Sherlock Holmes is called to assist. Witty banter allows readers to become acquainted with Holmes, and nonstop action (he seems incapable of sitting still or even sleeping) keeps the plot flowing with ease. Readers remain hooked as Conan Doyle presents new characters with perplexing additions to the case, another murder and a disguise that deceives even Holmes. Natural dialogue and picturesque descriptions bring the reader right to the streets of London, always one erratic step behind Sherlock.After Holmes abruptly and unexpectedly apprehends a suspect in the murders of Americans E.J. Drebber and Joseph Stangerson, readers are taken back many years before the crimes were ever committed and given a look into their past. Conan Doyle’s narrative here is slow and struggles without the character of Holmes to push the story along, but readers will press forward, searching for answers that seem nonexistent in this baffling mystery. Bookworms will be left searching for the next Holmes novel, eager for more stories of the witty and relentless detective.Paige
    • 4/5
      Leave it to Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery of two Americans who are travelling together through Europe, and are found dead in separate, but related incidents. There are indications that the deaths are politically motivated murders.The book is divided into three parts. The first part introduces Holems, his extaordinary intellect and powers of deductive reasoning, and the case of the two dead Americans.The second part shifts to the back story of the dead men, set in the American West amid the founding of Salt Lake City by the mormons, and is actually quite gothic in tone.The third and briefest part unites the first two parts in neatly packaged conclusion.I enjoyed this very much, but I was glad that it was a short, quick read.