Estudio en escarlata

Por Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Tras la publicación en esta misma colección de El perro de los Baskerville, con ilustraciones de Javier Olivares, seguimos con nuestro propósito de publicar todas las novelas de Conan Doyle que tienen como protagonistas al detective más famoso de todos los tiempos, Sherlock Holmes, y a su inseparable doctor Watson.
Publicada en 1887, Estudio en escarlataes la primera entrega de la serie, en la que John H. Watson inicia las memorias de sus aventuras. Todo comienza cuando él y Holmes van a compartir casa en la ya famosa dirección del 221B de Baker Street. Allí, Watson convivirá con las excentricidades de Holmes y será testigo de su asombrosa habilidad para obtener información sobre todo lo que le rodea.
Aturdido en ocasiones por la personalidad del detective, Watson se verá, sin embargo, deslumbrado por su genialidad.

Fernando Vicente ha recreado este caso y ha dado vida gráfica a estos dos míticos personajes.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Nórdica Libros
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 3 nov 2014
• ISBN: 9788416112487

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish author best known for his classic detective fiction, although he wrote in many other genres including dramatic work, plays, and poetry. He began writing stories while studying medicine and published his first story in 1887. His Sherlock Holmes character is one of the most popular inventions of English literature, and has inspired films, stage adaptions, and literary adaptations for over 100 years.

Vista previa del libro

ESTUDIO EN ESCARLATA

Arthur Conan Doyle

Ilustraciones de Fernando Vicente

Traducción de Esther Tusquets

Título original: A Study in Scarlet

© de la traducción: Esther Tusquets

Edición en ebook: septiembre de 2014

© Nórdica Libros, S.L.

C/ Fuerte de Navidad, 11, 1.º B 28044 Madrid (España)

www.nordicalibros.com

ISBN DIGITAL: 978-84-16112-48-7

Diseño de colección: Diego Moreno

Corrección ortotipográfica: Juan Marqués y Ana Patrón

Maquetación ebook: Caurina Diseño Gráfico

Cualquier forma de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública o transformación de esta obra solo puede ser realizada con la autorización de sus titulares, salvo excepción prevista por la ley. Diríjase a CEDRO (Centro Español de Derechos Reprográficos, www.cedro.org) si necesita fotocopiar o escanear algún fragmento de esta obra.

Contenido

Portadilla

Créditos

Autor

Ilustraciones

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Contraportada

Arthur Conan Doyle

(Edimburgo, 1859 - Crowborough, Reino Unido, 1930)

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Novelista británico. De familia escocesa, estudió en las universidades de Stonyhurst y de Edimburgo, donde concluyó la carrera de Medicina. Entre 1882 y 1890 ejerció como médico en Southsea (Inglaterra). En 1887 publica Estudio en escarlata, que se convertiría en el primero de los sesenta y ocho relatos en los que aparece uno de los detectives literarios más famosos de todos los tiempos, Sherlock Holmes. En un momento de auténtica inspiración, basándose en el modelo de don Quijote y Sancho que tantos novelistas han utilizado, el autor creó al doctor Watson, un médico leal pero intelectualmente torpe que acompaña a Holmes y escribe sus aventuras. En julio de 1891 empezó a publicar en la revista Strand Magazine las andanzas de su personaje.

Fernando Vicente

(Madrid, 1963)

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Fernando Vicente (Madrid, 1963). Comienza su trabajo de ilustrador a principios de los años 80 colaborando en la desaparecida revista Madriz. Gana el Laus de oro de ilustración en 1990.

Colabora asiduamente con el suplemento cultural Babelia del diario El país desde el que muestra su trabajo más literario cada sábado y donde ha ido perfilando su actual estilo como ilustrador. Con este trabajo ha conseguido tres Award of Excellence de la Society for News Design.

PRIMERA PARTE

REIMPRESIÓN DE LAS

MEMORIAS DE JOHN H. WATSON,

DOCTOR EN MEDICINA

Y EX MÉDICO DEL EJÉRCITO

1

EL SEÑOR SHERLOCK HOLMES

El año 1878 me doctoré en Medicina en la Universidad de Londres y me trasladé a Netley con el fin de asistir al curso obligatorio para cirujanos del Ejército. Al terminar mis estudios allí, fui destinado al 5.º de Fusileros de Northumberland como cirujano auxiliar. Por aquel entonces el regimiento estaba destacado en la India y, antes de que yo pudiera incorporarme, estalló la segunda guerra de Afganistán. Al desembarcar en Bombay, me enteré de que mi unidad había cruzado la frontera y se había adentrado ya en territorio enemigo. Sin embargo, seguí viaje, con otros muchos oficiales que se encontraban en la misma situación, y conseguí llegar sano y salvo a Candar, donde encontré mi regimiento y me incorporé en el acto a mi nuevo puesto.

La campaña proporcionó honores y ascensos a muchos, pero a mí solo me trajo desdichas y calamidades. Me separaron de mi brigada y me destinaron al regimiento Berkshire, con el que participé en la desastrosa batalla de Maiwand. Allí fui herido en el hombro por una bala jezail, que me destrozó el hueso y me rozó la arteria subclavia. Habría caído en manos de los asesinos gazis a no ser por la lealtad y el valor de que dio muestras Murray, mi ordenanza, que me tendió sobre un caballo de carga y logró llevarme a salvo hasta las líneas británicas.

Consumido por el dolor y debilitado por las prolongadas penalidades, me trasladaron, en un gran convoy de heridos, al hospital de la base Peshawur. Allí me restablecí y, cuando ya podía pasear por las salas e incluso tomar un poco el sol en la veranda, caí enfermo de tifus, ese flagelo de nuestras posesiones de la India. Durante meses me debatí entre la vida y la muerte, y, cuando por fin reaccioné e inicié la convalecencia, estaba tan débil y extenuado que un consejo médico dictaminó que se me enviara de regreso a Inglaterra sin perder un solo día. Por consiguiente, me embarcaron en el transporte militar Orontes, y un mes más tarde tomaba tierra en el muelle de Portsmouth, con la salud dañada sin remedio, pero con un permiso del paternal Gobierno para intentar recuperarla en los siguientes nueve meses.

Yo no tenía parientes ni amigos en Inglaterra, y era por lo tanto libre como el aire, o todo lo libre que se puede ser con una asignación diaria de once chelines y seis peniques. En tales circunstancias me dirigí, como es lógico, a Londres, gran sumidero al que son arrastrados inevitablemente todos los haraganes y desocupados del Imperio. Durante un tiempo me alojé en un buen hotel del Strand, y llevé una existencia incómoda y sin sentido, gastando el dinero de que disponía con mucha mayor liberalidad de lo que podía permitirme. El estado de mis finanzas llegó a ser tan alarmante que pronto comprendí que, o abandonaba la metrópoli y me iba a languidecer al campo, o tenía que cambiar por completo mi estilo de vida. Elegida la segunda alternativa, mi primera decisión fue abandonar el hotel e instalar mis cuarteles en un alojamiento menos pretencioso y menos caro.

El mismo día en que llegué a esta conclusión estaba en el Criterion Bar, cuando alguien me dio un golpecito en el hombro y, al volverme, reconocí al joven Stamford, otrora ayudante mío en el hospital. Ver un rostro amigo en el inmenso páramo de Londres es realmente un placer para un hombre solitario. En el pasado no habíamos sido especialmente amigos, pero ahora lo acogí con entusiasmo, y él, por su parte, pareció encantado de verme. Llevado de mi arrebato de alegría, le invité a almorzar en el Holborn, y hacia allí nos dirigimos en un coche.

—¿Qué ha sido de su vida, Watson? —me preguntó, sin ocultar su asombro, mientras traqueteábamos por las concurridas calles de Londres—. Está tan delgado como un fideo y tan moreno como una nuez.

Le hice un breve resumen de mis aventuras, y apenas había terminado cuando llegamos a nuestro destino.

—¡Pobre amigo! —me dijo él en tono compasivo, tras escuchar mis desdichas—. ¿Y qué hace ahora?

—Busco alojamiento —respondí—. Intento resolver el problema de conseguir habitaciones confortables a un precio razonable.

—Qué curioso —observó mi acompañante—. Es usted la segunda persona que me habla hoy en estos términos.

—¿Y quién ha sido la primera? —pregunté.

—Un colega que trabaja en el laboratorio químico del hospital. Se lamentaba esta mañana de no encontrar a nadie con quien compartir unas bonitas habitaciones que había encontrado, y que eran demasiado caras para su bolsillo.

—¡Por Júpiter! —grité—. ¡Si está buscando de verdad a alguien con quien compartir las habitaciones y los gastos, yo soy su hombre! Prefiero tener un compañero a vivir solo.

El joven Stamford me miró de un modo raro por encima de su vaso de vino.

—Usted no conoce todavía a Sherlock Holmes —dijo—. Tal vez no le guste tenerlo constantemente de compañero.

—¿Por qué? ¿Qué tiene de malo?

—¡Oh, yo no he dicho que tenga nada malo! Alimenta ideas un poco raras, le entusiasman determinadas ramas de la ciencia. Pero, que yo sepa, es un tipo decente.

—Estudia Medicina, supongo.

—No. No tengo la menor idea de lo que pretende hacer. Creo que domina la anatomía, y es un químico de primera, pero, que yo sepa, nunca ha seguido cursos sistemáticos de Medicina. Sus estudios son poco metódicos y muy excéntricos, pero ha acumulado gran cantidad de conocimientos insólitos que asombrarían a sus profesores.

—¿No le ha preguntado usted nunca a qué piensa dedicarse?

—No, no es hombre que se deje llevar fácilmente a confidencias, aunque puede mostrarse comunicativo cuando le da por ahí.

—Me gustaría conocerlo —dije—. Si he de compartir alojamiento, prefiero a un hombre estudioso y de costumbres tranquilas. No estoy lo bastante fuerte todavía para soportar mucho ruido y barullo. Tuve bastante de ambas cosas en Afganistán para lo que me resta de vida. ¿Cómo podría conocer a ese amigo suyo?

—Seguro que está en el laboratorio —respondió mi compañero—. A veces pasa semanas sin asomar por allí, y otras veces trabaja allí desde la mañana hasta la noche. Si usted quiere, podemos ir en coche después del almuerzo.

—Claro que sí —contesté.

Y la conversación tomó otros derroteros.

Mientras nos dirigíamos al hospital tras abandonar el Holborn, Stamford me informó de otras peculiaridades del caballero con quien me proponía yo compartir alojamiento.

—No me eche a mí la culpa si no se llevan bien —me dijo—. Solo sé de él lo que he averiguado en nuestros ocasionales encuentros en el laboratorio. Ha sido usted quien ha propuesto este arreglo, de modo que no me haga responsable.

—Si no nos llevamos bien, será fácil separarnos —respondí—. Pero me parece, Stamford —añadí, mirándole fijamente—, que debe de tener usted alguna razón concreta para lavarse las manos en este asunto. ¿Tan insoportable es ese individuo? Hable sin rodeos.

—No es fácil explicar lo inexplicable —respondió, riendo—. Holmes es un poco demasiado científico para mi gusto... Raya en la falta de humanidad. Puedo imaginarlo ofreciéndole a un amigo una pizca del más reciente alcaloide vegetal, no por malevolencia, entiéndame, sino simplemente porque su espíritu curioso quiere formarse una idea clara de sus efectos. Para hacerle justicia, creo que ingeriría él mismo la droga con idéntica tranquilidad. Parece sentir pasión por los conocimientos concretos y exactos.

—Lo cual está muy bien.

—Sí, pero puede alcanzar extremos excesivos. Si llega hasta el punto de golpear con un palo los cadáveres de la sala de disección, toma una forma ciertamente chocante.

—¡Golpear los cadáveres!

—Sí, para verificar qué magulladuras se pueden producir en un cuerpo después de la muerte. Se lo vi hacer con mis propios ojos.

—¿Y dice usted que no estudia Medicina?

—No. Sabe Dios cuál será el objetivo de sus estudios. Pero ya hemos llegado, y usted podrá formarse su propia opinión.

Mientras él hablaba, doblamos por un estrecho callejón y traspusimos una puertecilla lateral, que daba a un ala del gran hospital. El terreno me era familiar, y no necesité guía para subir la lúgubre escalera de piedra y recorrer el largo pasillo de paredes encaladas y puertas color pardusco. Casi al final se abría un bajo pasadizo abovedado que llevaba al laboratorio de química.

Era una sala de techo muy alto, con hileras de frascos por todas partes. Sobre varias mesas, bajas y anchas, se agolpaban retortas, tubos de ensayo y pequeñas lámparas Bunsen de vacilantes llamas azules. En la habitación solo había un estudiante, que se inclinaba sobre una mesa apartada, absorto en su trabajo. Al oír el sonido de nuestros pasos, dio media vuelta y se levantó de un salto con una exclamación de alegría.

—¡Lo he encontrado! ¡Lo he encontrado! —le gritó a mi compañero, corriendo hacia nosotros con un tubo de ensayo en la mano—. He encontrado un reactivo que se precipita con la hemoglobina y solo con la hemoglobina.

Si hubiese descubierto una mina de oro, su rostro no hubiera reflejado mayor satisfacción.

—El doctor Watson, el señor Sherlock Holmes —nos presentó Stamford.

—¿Cómo está usted? —me dijo Holmes cordialmente, estrechándome la mano con una fuerza que yo habría estado lejos de atribuirle—.Veo que ha estado en Afganistán.

—¿Cómo diablos lo sabe? —pregunté atónito.

—Carece de importancia —dijo, sonriendo para sí mismo—. Ahora se trata de la hemoglobina. Sin duda usted percibe la importancia de mi descubrimiento, ¿verdad?

—Es interesante desde el punto de vista de la química, claro está —respondí—, pero desde el punto de vista práctico...

—Pero, hombre, ¡es el descubrimiento más práctico de la medicina legal de los últimos años! ¿No ve que nos proporciona una prueba infalible para las manchas de sangre? ¡Venga conmigo!

En su impaciencia, me agarró por la manga de la chaqueta y me arrastró hasta la mesa donde había estado trabajando.

—Tomemos un poco de sangre fresca —dijo, clavándose en el dedo una gruesa aguja y dejando caer en una probeta la gota de sangre—.Y ahora añado esta pequeña cantidad de sangre a un litro de agua. La proporción de sangre es como mucho de una millonésima parte. Y estoy seguro, no obstante, de que podremos obtener la reacción característica.

Mientras hablaba, echó unos cristales blancos en el recipiente, y después agregó unas gotas de un líquido transparente.

Comentarios para Estudio en escarlata

[seriousgrace · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Study in Scarlet is in two parts. Part one: "Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., Late of the Army Medical Department." It's here that Dr. Watson and Mr. Sherlock Holmes meet for the first time. Watson, arriving in London and needing a place to stay, learns of Holmes looking to share his apartment. From the very beginning they are thrown together in a murder mystery. Watson is astounded by Holmes's ability to deduce facts from the smallest pieces of evidence.Part two: "Country of the Saints" steps back in time and tells the story of the Brigham Young and the Mormons settling in the plains of Utah. John Ferrier meets up with the four elders, Stangerson, Kemball, Jonston & Drebber and they take him and his young companion in. This story sets the backdrop for the murder mystery Holmes is trying to solve.

[carsonkicklighter · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I was not expecting the Church of Latter-Day Saints but maybe Sherlock was.

[doihachiro · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[kenzen-2 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Sherlock Holmes, Mormons, murder. Great read!

[nohablo · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

On one hand, it's lovely to meet young Sherlock and Watson before they've formed their scabrous, mean adult exoskeletons, but goddamn is the second half of this book DUMB. On one hand, it's pretty hilarious to see Conan Doyle's version of a BODICE RIPPIN WESTERN. On the other hand HOW THE HELL IS THIS EVER A PUBLISHABLE SENTENCE: "an old-standing and romantic feud, in which love and Mormonism bore a part." Sweet Jesus.

[andreablythe · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A Study in Scarlet is both Doctor Watson's and the world's first introduction to the frustrating, arrogant, and brilliant Sherlock Holmes. Watson in seeking a new flat to in which to live ends up paired with the consulting detective at 22B Baker Street. While at first Sherlock's profession and strange behavior is a mystery to the Doctor, he soon finds himself following Sherlock along in seeking out the truth behind the mysterious death of an American traveler. While I didn't like it as much as I enjoyed the tales in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the novel is short and a quick read with a compelling mystery.

[schmerguls · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I read The Hound of the Baskervilles when I was in high school, but not anything else till I read this--the first Holmes novel, published in 1887. The first hald of the book where we are introduced to Dr. Watson and to Holmes' methods, is of some interest. But the second hald,which tells of events before the muders in the first hald, is creaky and anot much. The Mormons in Utah are the villians, as they are in Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage. I don't think I need read any more Holmes books

[ct4bergeron · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is the first Sherlock Holmes I read on my own. I remember reading the hound of baskerville in school, but forced to do so, didn't remember that I enjoyed it.With the movie that came out recently, I found myself wanting to know more about sherlock and watson. There relationship and the type of intrigue that they would solve.I really enjoyed this one, it is short and sweet, but a good read nonetheless.

[wassilissa · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[gunnargrey · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Not even gonna try to calculate how long it's been since I've read these original Holmes stories. They're still just as good as I remember from way back when. I admit I skip the little detour in the middle about how the original crimes happened. It's not necessary to enjoy the real story, which is how Holmes and Watson got together and started solving crimes. Very good story.

[jopearson56 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

The first Sherlock Holmes book -- did Conan Doyle invent the filtering of a story through a secondary participant (Dr. Watson)? I haven't ever read any Sherlock Holmes books, and I wasn't overly impressed. It was okay and a quick read, but Holmes seems like a pretty arrogant SOB to me. Knows too much and is glad to tell everyone so. The Utah digression was distracting.

[floratina · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

READ IN ENGLISH

I'm a fan of the BBC-series called 'Sherlock' and that made me want to read the original books. I really loved to see that the series were based so much on the book. It became a search to find all the resemblances between the two. When the second part started (about the Mormons) I at first thought there was some sort of mess up whit my version of A Study in Scarlet (and that it was a completely different story). I read it anyway and it happened to be just a part of this book. That was a thing I thought was a bit strange, but I liked the over all story. The next books are on my To-Be-Read-List...

[booklove2 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Sherlock was one of the books I thought I'd never read... until I caught the BBC series. After reading, I think both the series and the books are fantastic in their own ways. This is my favorite of the first three Sherlock books. I'm planning on reading the others at another time. I had to write a review after a previous reviewer said they didn't like the books after seeing the series. It IS possible to enjoy both!

[amydross · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I vaguely knew , but had kind of forgotten just how much of this book takes place in America (among Mormons, no less!). It's so weird.It's like, you carry around this sense in your soul of who Arthur Conan Doyle is, and what Sherlock Holmes mysteries are like, and there's lots of violin playing and pipe smoking and breakfasts at 221b and it's all quite civilized, and you forget all about these pioneer people herdin' cattle and goin' a courtin' in Salt Lake City. It was surprisingly okay, though.I was more puzzled by the ending, elements of which seem like a weird departure from the rest of the mystery.

[sueincyprus · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[stephlaymon · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I was very much enjoying this book when all of a sudden I realized I was entirely lost.The writing style, characters, narration and the facts leading up to the mystery were all remarkably good, but in the end I was left completely confused and I found myself questioning if I somehow missed something. After that ridiculous backstory of the murderer, I still have to ask... Who the hell is it? What just happened?I will certainly read more of Holmes as there is much to come back for. I may have to re-read this one to see where I fell off from the story.

[nataliec7 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I just loved everything about this book!

[catquilt-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Amazing book! Most (all?) of the other Sherlock Holmes books take place totally in Great Britain. This one makes a *very* interesting side trip to the United States.

[roulette7russe · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

My version of the book contained A STUDY IN SCARLET (the first Sherlock Holmes adventure) and A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA (the episode in which Irene Adler appears). The book opened on a very interesting introduction, and so I would encourage reading the VINTAGE 2009 edition of the Conan Doyle books.(I must say I read the book after watching the Guy Ritchie movie that just came out and so had Robert Downey Jr in mind reading this : somehow, he really fits the character as portrayed in the book!)I'm not a big fan of detective fiction in general, and my knowledge in that field is, well.... next to non-existent (although I was an avid watcher of cartoon series such as 'Sherlock Hounds' and 'Dog City', as a kid... Does that count? Heh, heh?) It's just not the kind of story I'm usually drawn to/into, but I must say Arthur Conan Doyle knows how to put the FUN in detective fiction!The Sherlock Holmes books are not books you read trying to figure out who is the killer before the detective does, since mister super-sleuth always knows the answer way before anyone. The main interest of the book is the character himself and his crazy deduction methods.This first episode (A study in Scarlet) has ups and downs: the whole Mormon segment that takes place in the U.S. seems way too long and slow paced in comparison to the London scenes... In the introduction to my edition, it was discussed that the two stories were probably written independently from one another and put together by Conan Doyle when he decided to publish. In A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA, Holmes is outsmarted by a fancy woman, and the conclusion to the story is delightfully cute and funny.A good read, very entertaining!

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is were it all started. It was okay. A bit on the boring side. There are better Sherlock Holmes story than this one.

[adilinaria · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

** spoiler alert ** I was a little worried going into this, just unsure of how a longer Holmes story would read. I really enjoyed The Hound of Baskerville when I read it but I loved the short stories I read between these two. I shouldn't have been too worried however, this was excellent. I really enjoyed the second portion of the story, deviating from Sherlock and Watson to give us the back story of our murderer. It was different from the previous books in it's delivery and made the victims seem more the villains and our murderer more the almost hero. A great way to turn it around. Overall, a great one. I really enjoyed it and will definitely recommend it for any new fans of the series.Side note - this was the story that the first Sherlock episode is based on. That tickles me.

[rosalita_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

The first book I read in 2012 was The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. I remarked back then that I was a bit disappointed in my first-ever reading of a story featuring the detective we all know so well. I also wondered if going back and starting at the beginning might make a difference, and indeed it did.A Study in Scarlet is the first Holmes novel, and it beautifully sets the stage for everything that (we know now) is to come. Here we witness the first meeting between Holmes and his faithful assistant, Doctor Watson. We witness Holmes' scientific experiments, his amazing breadth of knowledge in some areas and equally amazing ignorance in others that he does not perceive useful. In this first novel, Sherlock is called upon to help the police solve a seemingly impossible crime: a man's body has been found in an abandoned house, with no apparent cause of death and no clues. Wait, did I say no clues? Ha! Not with Sherlock on the case. He quickly figures out virtually the whole scenario that first night, but establishing standard protocol Conan Doyle withholds the key information from Dr. Watson who withholds it from us.I was startled by an interlude in the mystery, which switches to third person (most of the Sherlock stories are told in the first person as a memoir by Watson) to provide some key background information about the murdered man and his killer. It was completely unexpected to me, which I guess proves that there are still surprises to be found even in an overly familiar canon.There was one other factor that made A Study in Scarlet more enjoyable to me. The novel-length story really gave room for Sherlock's wizardry and subsequent reveal to seem more natural. In the short stories of The Memoirs, I felt the solution to the puzzle was almost tacked on as an afterthought. There was too much telling and not enough showing, I think. Thankfully, Scarlet does not suffer that fate, and it's an excellent beginning to my planned chronological read of all the Holmes stories.

[iftyzaidi · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is the first Sherlock Holmes book I've read. I'm not particularly well read in the mystery/detection genre - its not my usual cup of tea - but I really enjoyed this work, burning through the short, light read in no time. I enjoyed the characterisation of Holmes and the dynamics of his interactions with Watson, from whose point of view most of the story is told. I did find the sudden transition to the wilds of Utah in the middle of the book somewhat odd - I even checked to make sure my copy of the novel hadnt been misbound, mixing in the pages of some pulp western with the Holmes story! But it all made sense in the end - just Arthur Conan Doyle developing the background to the mystery while also dipping into the moral panic occasioned by Mormon religious practices such as polygamy. Setting that and other niggling fin-de-seicle British bourgeoisisms (the murderer had learnt vindictiveness from the Indians, the dirty street children are nicknamed arabs, etc.) this is a greatly enjoyable read and certainly good enough to instill a desire to read more of the adventures of Holmes and Watson.

[mossjon · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I read A Study in Scarlet on the heels of Murders in the Rue Morgue. Poe paled when compared to Doyle's rich characters and superb storytelling. My only complaint was the abrupt return to North America which left me reeling as to what the heck had happened but I eventually tuned back in.

This story is a great introduction (just as it was for the characters) to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

[gogglemiss · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Thought I'd give this author a try, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the story. The second part was even more intriguing, and fitted well. Will be reading more from ACD.

[magemanda · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is the first story concerning that most famous detective Sherlock Holmes and the doctor Watson. It concerns the first meeting of Holmes and Watson, the the case which cements Watson's desire to record Holmes' doings.I really enjoyed this rather pulpy detective story. It is fast-paced with very little deviation from the telling of the crime and the resolution.The main delight comes from the characters. Everyone knows of Sherlock Holmes, such as his deerstalker hat and pipe, and his ability to solve crimes. Now that I have read this story, I can appreciate his dry wit, towering arrogance and slight wistfulness that he never seems to garner the credit for solving mysteries.Watson is often represented as being rather stupid, but I infer from this story that he is merely naive about what human beings are capable of and doesn't have Holmes' expert knowledge of criminology. I loved the way that Holmes was patient and exasperated by turns when explaining his deductions to Watson. You also get a sense of the fact that Holmes is just dying to show off his abilities, and Watson's faithful recording of the case fits this neatly.The story loses half a star for two reasons, both of which are probably attributable to the time and manner of when it was released.The first is the abrupt switch from the location in London to the detailed story of Jefferson Hope, who hails from America. At first I was not at all clear why this had been introduced. I believe it may have been done because of the serialised nature of many Sherlock Holmes stories, enabling both new and existing readers to enjoy the tale, but it did jar somewhat.The second is the way that Mormons and Native Americans are dealt with, although I freely admit that this is due to modern sensibilities and an environment that now decries anything deemed not politically correct. I was a little shocked to see it, but accept that this is the peril of reading anything set in this era.Altogether, a pacy read with lovely dialogue and an instantly unforgettable character in the form of Sherlock Holmes.

[nosajeel · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Brilliant from beginning to end, even the notorious extended flashback to the adventure story set in the American West. The first Sherlock Holmes book introduces Watson, depicts his first meeting with Holmes, and sets them off on a classic puzzle mystery.

[leslie398 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[rubs917 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

good book, it makes you think!

[folkeb_2 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

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