The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes (Headline))
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Product Description
Product Description
As a dense yellow fog swirls through the streets of London, a deep melancholy has descended on Sherlock Holmes, who sits in a cocaine-induced haze at 221B Baker Street. His mood is only lifted by a visit from a beautiful but distressed young woman - Mary Morstan, whose father vanished ten years before. Four years later she began to receive an exquisite gift every year: a large, lustrous pearl. Now she has had an intriguing invitation to meet her unknown benefactor and urges Holmes and Watson to accompany her. And in the ensuing investigation - which involves a wronged woman, a stolen hoard of Indian treasure, a wooden-legged ruffian, a helpful dog and a love affair - even the jaded Holmes is moved to exclaim, 'Isn't it gorgeous!'
About the Author
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh where he qualified as a doctor, but it was his writing which brought him fame, with the creation of Sherlock Holmes, the first scientific detective. He was also a convert to spiritualism and a social reformer who used his investigative skills to prove the innocence of individuals. Peter Ackroyd is a writer of novels including, 'Milton in America' and 'Hawksmoor', and of biographies of Chatterton, Dickens, William Blake and Thomas More.
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First Sentence
Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe1 from its neat morocco case. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe1 from its neat morocco case. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this, the second Sherlock Holmes story written by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is called upon by a young lady who needs the great detective's help with a mystery. However, when this mystery leads to murder, Holmes must seek to uncover secrets that have lain hidden for many years, and have their roots in treacheries upon treacheries in far-off India. There's a one-legged man who is at the center of this mystery, and he has a murderous friend who may just be the end of Sherlock Holmes!
As I said, this is the second ever Sherlock Holmes story, written in 1890. As with the very best of the Holmes story, this one is absolutely gripping, carrying a fascinating story with mysteries wrapped up in mysteries that only Mr. Holmes can possibly conquer. As an added bonus, in this story, we get to learn about Dr. Watson's meeting of his true love, and his eventual marriage - which should end some rumors that people spread.
Yep, this is a great story, one that is sure to please any fan of mysteries, and is certain to delight any Sherlock Holmes fan!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"The Sign of Four" is the second of Conan Doyle's four longer Sherlock Holmes stories - I wouldn't call it a novel, because it's shorter even than the other three.
The level of detection and the intrigue surrounding the mystery is as clever as ever, and possibly more complex than in its predecessor, "A Study in Scarlet". The structure of the book could be seen as a little clumsy, with the story of Small tacked onto the end as an extra thirty pages - but using the first-person viewpoint like he does, there was no other way for Conan Doyle to integrate it into the story.
This story is also worth reading for its long-term developments in the Holmes stories. We learn of Holmes' cocaine addiction and his reasoning behind it. This is also where Watson meets his wife, which - along with the treasure seeking - makes it the more romantic of the longer stories. The relationship is hardly developed realistically, but Conan Doyle always seems to sacrifice character development in favour of brilliant plots.
If you simply enjoy the mystery and try not to think about such things, the book is very good indeed. It's a very easy read; Conan Doyle's style flowing brilliantly and so offering a perfect form of escapism.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Great intro, notes and appendices without too much detail - and lots of interesting points to hold your attention. Not to mention a great Holmes and Watson story!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A brilliant second installment for the most famous of all fictional...
I was surprised at how this starts and ends with Holmes' drug addiction, and also shows a tender side to Watson with his feelings for the central character, Mary Morstan. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Louise Roberts
Exciting and strange but perhaps not perfect
I fancied some good old crime fiction so I turned to Mr Doyle. This novel was short and starts off with Holmes and Watson having some good banter at the start. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Nikki Dudley
Dr. Watson falls in love
Sir Arthur Canon Doyle's second novel is just as gripping as his first novel. It starts of in similar fashion as most other Sherlock Holmes stories. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Thomas Koetzsch
Effortless reading
This, Holmes and Watson's second appearance on the page, turns out to be an excellent read. It shows off Doyle's ability to transport the exotic right into the heart of ordinary... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Tom S
Not as good as the beginning but still entertaining
Although I still liked this book, disappointingly I didn't find it as enjoyable as A Study in Scarlet. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Katie Stevens
A Sure Sign To Read Sherlock
As `The Sign of Four' opens we are greeted by a bored Sherlock Holmes. Without anything to occupy or tax his mind he is regularly turning to cocaine much to the horror and concern... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Simon Savidge Reads
A Great Book
Sherlock Holmes lives up to his reputation as being the worlds best detective as he solves another seeming impossible case. Read more
Published 22 months ago by E. H.
Another Stunning Holmes Caper
I have not long completed "A Study In Scarlet" which was Doyle's first jump into the world of Sherlock Holmes, and it was a jump I thoroughly enjoyed. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by Steven Stewart
Well-paced addictive puzzle
The Sign of Four is the second Sherlock Holmes novel. It is a fast-paced story involving theft, murder and betrayal, the beginnings of which lie in a robbery that took place during... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2009 by Mr. B. Hillis
Sherlock Holmes #2
The 2nd Sherlock Holmes novel follows in much the same vein as the first, with another mystery of revenge and murder for Holmes to unravel, though unlike in 'A Study in Scarlet'... Read more
Published on 12 April 2008 by Jane Aland
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