The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II

by Arthur Conan Doyle, Christopher Roden (Introduction), Barbara Roden (Introduction)

World of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes --
General introduction / by Kyle Freeman --
Introduction to Volume II / by Kyle Freeman --
Note on conveyances --
Return of Sherlock Holmes: Adventure of the empty house ; Adventure of the Norwood builder ; Adventure of the dancing men ; Adventure of the solitary cyclist ; Adventure of the priory school ; Adventure of Black Peter ; Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton ; Adventure of the six Napoleons ; Adventure of the three students ; Adventure of the golden ponce-nez ; Adventure of the missing three-quarter ; Adventure of the Abbey Grange ; Adventure of the second stain --
Valley of fear --
His last bow: Adventure of Wisteria Lodge: Singular experience of Mr. John Scott Eccles ; Tiger of San Pedro ; Adventure of the cardboard box ; Adventure of the red circle ; Adventure of Bruce-Partington plans ; Adventure of the dying detective ; Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax ; Adventure of the devil's foot ; His last bow --
Case book of Sherlock Holmes: Adventure of the illustrious client ; Adventure of the blanched soldier ; Adventure of the Mazarin stone ; Adventure of the three gables ; Adventure of the Sussex vampire ; Adventure of the three garridebs ; Problem of Thor Bridge ; Adventure of the creeping man ; Adventure of the lion's mane ; Adventure of the veiled lodger ; Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place ; Adventure of the retired colourman --
Introduction to Doyle's parodies --
Two parodies by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Field bazaar ; How Watson learned the trick --
Two essays by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Truth about Sherlock Holmes ; Some personalia about Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Genres: Classics, Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Crime, Detective, Literature

656 pages, ebook

First published October 31, 1914

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the complete Sherlock Holmes canon by Arthur Conan Doyle in these two volumes has been a remarkably rewarding experience. I'm truly sorry to be finished with these stories and novels (although I know from past experience that they reward rereading). In this reading I've gained an even clearer appreciation for the links between Holmes and the traditions of Gothic and science fiction literature, and I've certainly enhanced my enjoyment of the BBC's brilliant new Sherlock series. These are wonderfully crafted tales with truly compelling main characters (not to mention one of the greatest bromances of all time). Most of all, I'm reminded of Nicholas Meyer's words: "The message of Sherlock Holmes is simple," he says. "Life can be understood." My world is a better place for spending time at 221B Baker Street, and I plan to return repeatedly and often.

[lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of hard to write a review for this, considering it's a bind up of various short stories. I do want to say Arthur Conan Doyle is a really great writer, and every time I read his Sherlock Holmes stories, I am very impressed.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE BBC because literally the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch is so flipping spot oh my lord.

If you do watch BBC Sherlock, I would 100% recommend you read the original stories because you appreciate the show so much more, and you see all the little parallels, and it's just great.

[Олександра Рижкова · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) без зайвих слів

[Emma.catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike my usual style of novel reading, this whooper book is a collection of short stories to which I found myself enjoying far more than I originally thought. There is no wasted words in this book, it is straight to the point; just how I like it. I realised whilst reading this that this was the first classic book I’ve read written by a man and I actually found it much easier to follow than the likes of Jane Austen (I do love her stories though) - I suppose this is down to the short, snappy and logical way of portraying his adventures. All in all a great read but a long one if you are to read all the stories contained.

[Avery Judd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes is a character that you love right away. He’s hilarious, intelligent, and sometimes gets on my nerves because of how great a detective he is. Which makes him so realistic. Even though I didn’t enjoy them as much as I thought I would, I’m very sad to leave Sherlock. And Watson couldn’t be a better sidekick! :)

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Wiki, I check, correct, verify, add, such as synopsis for Mazarin Stone, so slow progress here. Summaries have spoilers, so here I'll extract teasers, enough to remind me, postpone opinions to after cogitation. I prefer plots outside set format. I first thought I'd rather skip Baker Street and starts with what he's given, dive right into the clues he finds, then wrap-up. But consistent openings do increase our familiarity with the setting - sips of tepid tea, crumbs of crisp crumpet, morning newspapers, wreathed puffs of aromatic pipe - we are right in there all the way. Doyle doesn't go out of print because he wrote right.

Full-length novels have second part backstory, 20 year-old trigger for crime, based on real events: Mormon vigilantes (Study in Scarlet), Pinkerton undercover ops (Valley of Fear). Timeline for Holmes is tricksy; Doyle drops false identities for 'confidentiality'. Fascinating. Gutenberg says keep author spelling, yet changes Wistaria to Wisteria. Intro by Kyle Freeman adds to my understanding of how Doyle's life, age, and events, influenced his styles.

Other extras: a brief Bio, World - listing of important years for Doyle: events, publications, Note on Conveyances - still leaves questions I've researched since my first "historical" romances, so I'll write my own Carriage Comparison, maybe for Wiki. End extras, two each parodies and essays, are, like the back cover, black print on dark purple background, not worth the effort.

In Further Reading, internal dates and minute detail attracts me to a two-volume The Annoted SH set, edited by William Baring-Gould. pub Clarkson NY 1968, one source for Brad Keefauver 2001.
http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_...
Keefauver is too precise for me. "August 20, Saturday -- "The Retired Colourman" (Y-S)" I'd set more generally to "summer" ("within 2 years" after marriage "early 1897" is 1898).

Plot Details (some enlarged in Wiki):
The Return has 13 cases. See my review of "The Illustrated 2nd Volume" for Valley of Fear, His Last Bow (except Cardboard Box), and Case-Book sets.

Return (13 cases):
Added Synopsis for: and corrected other cases
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adve...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adve...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adve...

Empty house across from Baker St flat has clear shot of wax Holmes, bait for Colonel Sebastian Moran, surviving lieutenant of villain Moriarty. When widower Watson checks Park Lane, where gambler Ronald Adair was shot in closed room the week before, a wizened book-seller bumps into him and follows him home.

Norwood Builder, Jonas Oldacre, reclusive retired bachelor, could not be found when the lumber in his yard caught fire in a tremendous conflagration. Signs of struggle, object dragged from safe to woodpile then burned, and blood on an oak cane belonging to late-night visitor, junior lawyer John McFarlane.

Dancing Men are stick figures representing letters for coded messages, found by Hilton Cubitt. The notes terrify his wife of one year, Elsie, who warned that she had a troubled past she wished left behind in America.

Solitary Cyclist is a bearded dogged follower of young Violet Smith on a lonely stretch of the route home to her mother on weekend visits. She consults Holmes, then vanishes.

Priory School headmaster Thorneycroft Huxtable is distraught over the disappearance of ten-year old Lord Saltire, only son and heir of recently estranged Duke of Holdernesse, left fully dressed, no sign of force, along with the resident of the opposite room, quiet German teacher Heidegger, no shirt or socks, by bicycle. There are cow tracks, but no cattle evident.

Black Peter was for the beard and nature of Captain Carey, seal and whale fisher retired after a voyage to Norway, known for attacking his wife and daughter after drinking, found harpooned in the ship-style cabin where he slept.

Charles Augustus Milverton advertises for compromising letters, then blackmails without remorse, until "the most beautiful debutante" Lady Eva Blackwell, to be married in two weeks, asks Holmes to intercede and mediate.

Three Students are suspect when Mr Hilton Soames, lecturer and tutor in Greek, sees next day's exam papers disturbed after he departed for tea, door key left in the outer lock by his servant Bannister asking about tea.

Golden Pince-Nez were found gripped in the hand of the well-liked Willoughby Smith, secretary to invalid Professor Coram. As he died from a neck wound stab by a small sealing-wax knife, he said "it was she".

Three Quarter is Godfrey Staunton, "crack" young Varsity International football player, crucial to an upcoming game against Oxford, heir to "one of the richest men in England", who vanishes in the company of an older worried "rough" man. friend".

Abbey Grange owner, violent drunkard Sir Eustace Brackenstall, had head bashed in by fireplace poker, after Lady Mary née Fraser, wife of one year, says she was tied up and gagged by burglars.

Second Stain is the blood on the wooden floor set differently than on the covering rug, beneath the knifed corpse of Eduardo Lucas, one of only three spies bold enough to steal a foreign potentate's regretted rant, rash enough to cause war if disclosed.

Last Bow:

Cardboard Box holds two ears, a lady, and a man (presumably a sailor by the earring hole) preserved in salt, addressed to Miss S. Cushing. Meek Susan hasn't heard from sister Mary or her naval steward husband Jim Browner, for weeks, since sister Sarah quarrelled with all and moved out.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II.

Generally these stories weren’t as good as those in Volume 1. Still entertaining.

[TheBookDude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth a read.

[Віталій Дмитрук · Rating 4 out of 5]

Шерлок Голмс... Другий том має три збірки оповідань і одну повість. Повість "Долина жаху" стоїть тут ніби окремо і своєю побудовою дуже нагадує "Етюд у багряних тонах" з першого тому. Перші дві збірки оповідань - це "Повернення Шерлока Голмса" і "Його останній уклін". Їх можна сміливо назвати тим Голмсом, якого всі знають і люблять. Хороші загадки і стрункі, чіткі розв'язки з поясненням, які замішані на пригодах. "Архів Шерлока Голмса", третя і остання збірка, значно відрізняються від знайомого нам детективу. Тут додається трохи містики, незрозумілого... І дуже часто не надто кримінального.
Усі твори в книзі впорядковані за датою їх публікації. Оповідання з "Архіву..." Конан Дойл писав на схилі літ і маючи за плечима багатий літературний досвід. І в рамках традиційного Голмса йому було не надто цікаво. Мабуть саме тому тут можна зустріти згадки про вампірів, загадкових морських істот і медикаменти, які трансформують людей.
Окремо хочу відзначити видання. Воно прекрасне. "А-ба-ба-га-ла-ма-га" створили чудову книгу, яку хочеться брати до рук і милуватися нею.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I said in my review of volume I, these stories are kind of ridiculous but amusing. If they were not, I would never have had the patience to practically do them all in one sitting. Although you don't fully buy into the crimes or the facile solutions, it is not really about that. It's similar to the description of mobsters as nice guys in the Damon Runyon stories. There is an element of truth in a more satirical vein.

I did not realize that the final story was published in 1927. Although Conan Doyle was probably sick and tired of Holmes by then, the public simply would not accept his "death," and he was forced to resurrect him.

So now I am actually interested in seeing the Granada TV adaptations that ran on British TV in the 1980s, being what many consider the "gold standard."

[MC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes has had many adventures, but in this second volume of stories, he may have met his match, that of an author who was apparently weary of his resurrected character, and out of ideas. Tongue-in-cheek statements aside, it is well-known that Holmes' creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, wanted to write other books, and that is why he killed off the famed detective in the story, “The Adventure of the Final Problem”. Of course, pressure was brought to bear from the public, publishers, and his own mother. After a decade, Doyle gave in and resurrected Holmes.

At first, no truly discernible difference was apparent in the quality of the writing, but near the end of the “official canon”, the stories took a decided nose-dive in terms of said quality. The stories began to be predictable. No longer was Holmes the brilliant forerunner of modern forensic science and criminology, but his tales became mere “logic puzzles” that mysteries are accused of being. The sad part is that Doyle had earlier ridiculed, through his character of Holmes, such stories, but now the great detective's adventures were becoming exactly what he disdained. On top of this, Holmes became more and more coarse, and, at times, cruel and haughty. Instead of a gentleman, he began to show signs of enormous conceit and arrogance toward those lower than himself in terms of intelligence and wealth.

All of this increasingly poor writing culminated into what many “Sherlockians” (as more knowledgeable fans (of which I admittedly am not) call themselves) absolutely hate, which is The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. Though all evidence seems to clearly indicate that Doyle did, indeed, write these stories, many of these more committed fans refuse to believe this. I can kind of understand why. My reading of this second volume of the Holmes canon ended early. I couldn't bear to read all of the tales in this Case Book, which thankfully came at the end of this two volumes of collected stories, so I still read the other adventures outside of the few I missed from said book. Seeing how badly written these later stories were, was too much for me.

Before I am accused of an out-and-out bashing of these later stories, let me give some praise of the worth-while ones. There were such quiet, but very good tales, such as “The Problem of Thor Bridge” and “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger”. The latter isn't a grand adventure, but a quiet story in which Holmes convinces a suicidal woman not to take her life. The poignancy of that is not lost on the reader. When one considers that Doyle lost close friends and relatives in the Great War, this story takes on some significant meaning.

There is also a tale where Holmes narrates, on a challenge from Watson, which is a delight for the simple fact that Holmes states his contention that Watson plays down his own talents and plays up Holmes' talents. That is a terrific aspect to the canon, to see Holmes state unequivocally how talented and useful Watson is.

And of course there is His Last Bow, where Holmes deals with cases and crises of an international scope, culminating in capturing a brilliant German spy on the cusp of World War I. These stories are strangest of all, because they are high-quality tales, but are so different from the typical fight against criminals for which Holmes is known. It's strange to see the great detective as a counter-intelligence agent, but it works, so who am I to argue?

Most of the tales in this volume, including the earlier tale of The Hound of the Baskervilles are well worth reading. Baskervilles, along with the earlier mentioned tale, showed that Watson is no slouch, and is highly intelligent. For a fan of the good doctor such as myself, that story was a masterpiece. If the reader ignores the infernal Case Book (with the exception of the “Thor Bridge” and “Veiled Lodger” entries, as well as the Holmes' narrated tale, “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier”), I can easily recommend this volume.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world’s most revered and famous fictional detective first appeared from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle almost a 130 years ago, but the author did not finish with his greatest creation until almost 40 years later even after unsuccessfully killing him off. In this second volume of all the collected works that feature Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson, the reader gets reacquainted with the great detective and his friend through 33 short stories and a short novella with the added bonus of two Doyle written parodies as well as two essays by the author.

The second volume of the original works of Conan Doyle, in the American publication order, begins with Holmes return to life in “The Empty House”. The opening story of The Return of Sherlock Holmes is just an okay start to the detective return to practice before the story quality through most of the collection improves—“Priory School”, “Three Students”, “Solitary Cyclist”, and “Dancing Men” being the best—until the final three stories. The novella The Valley of Fear begins a noticeable drop in quality throughout the rest of the works, the first half the novella is Holmes at his best but then Conan Doyle repeats his great since with his first Holmes novella Study in Scarlett in which the second half is all flashback of dubious narration or not.

In the collections His Last Bow and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, only four of the 20 stories could be considered close to the same quality of the earlier Holmes stories. In “The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge”, Holmes finds competing with a county Inspector who’s methods of deduction gain Holmes’ respect while “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans” is a well-written twist of an earlier Holmes story. The Holmes narrated “The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane” is the better of the two Holmes ‘written’ stories while “The Adventure of the Dying Detective” was Conan Doyle writing a wonderful counter-formulaic story.

Yet while those four stories stood out as the best of the late Holmes stories, the others were of subpar quality and included two of the worst. The third person narrative of “Mazarin Stone” doomed the story from the start and details within the study defied the reader’s suspicion of disbelief. The very next story was in my opinion the worst of all Holmes stories, “The Adventure of the Three Gables”, mainly due to the fact that the Sherlock Holmes presented in that story was not the Holmes in all previous stories and all those that followed.

Although the majority of the volume saw for the most part the quality of Conan Doyle’s storytelling fall, one cannot fail to notice that the author who at one time loathed his creation would do ensure that his—both Sherlock’s and his own—legacy endure with as best writing as he could produce. Within the collected 34 original works, there are many diamonds in the rough that any reader will enjoy reading whether they have read other Holmes works or not.

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how many times I've reread these stories, I always find something new to admire and appreciate each time I revisit them.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 1400 pages of Holmes, I'm still not tired of him.

[Ngan · Rating 5 out of 5]

note to self: tmi but i remembered having my first period when reading this lmao

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I did it; I read every story and novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, as written by his creator (and reluctant resurrector), Arthur Conan Doyle. This second volume picks up with said resurrection, a forerunner of "somehow, Palpatine has returned" if ever I saw one.

Indeed, the return of Sherlock Holmes was something that Conan Doyle was almost bullied into, much like how Disney and J.J. Abrams were forced by "fan" backlash against The Last Jedi to scrap everything in that for the travesty that is Rise of Skywalker. But happily, the results for Holmes, Watson, and company are much better, if not up to the same quality as the original run of stories and novels. Conan Doyle still has no idea what to do with Holmes in the setting of a novel, but the stories included here, while not as memorable as the earlier stories, do include gems of character and intrigue that work in their favor and make this an enjoyable experience.

First things first: I actually like how Holmes returns, it's a nice out-of-the-blue development that Conan Doyle doesn't dwell on because "then the story can happen." Holmes comes back to sew up the last loose threads of the Moriarty network, and then launches back into his private practice, with a newly single Watson (his wife conveniently killed off-stage) as his boon companion for the adventures (except for two written from Holmes' perspective, a rare treat and kind of fun, honestly). The stories include the fourth Holmes novel, a howler called "The Valley of Fear," which (like "A Study in Scarlet") features a long section set in the American West and seemingly conveying Conan Doyle's desire to do a Wild West novel, as well as having a tenuous grasp on how Americans speak and how they lived in the Wild West. I think it's nice to see a literary figure stumble and fall, however, and "Fear" is kind of good-bad, in that it's so hilariously overwrought in its American section that it's fun to read for the comedy factor alone.

The rest of the stories, as I said, don't quite measure up to Conan Doyle's original run, and I think that, if I'm being honest, maybe he shouldn't have brought Holmes back. I understand the fans ultimately pushed Conan Doyle to do so, and it wouldn't surprise me if Holmes' creator loathed having to revive a character whose arc could be said to be well and done with his fall down the Reichenbach Falls. But the fans spoke, and eventually Conan Doyle brought Holmes back to life, and whatever defects there are to the stories included here, there's enough here to enjoy.

I think I had the ambition last year to try and complete the Holmes story cycle last calendar year, having finished the first volume sometime in February or March of 2023. Alas, I have fallen a little outside even managing it in a year's time, but that's okay. Having developed a real passion for crime fiction over the last couple of years, I'm glad that I read this at all, even if this second story cycle doesn't measure up to what came before. It's still a good time, albeit aware of some of the flaws with the story, characters (even Holmes is not above the prejudices of his time, sadly, as some of the non-white characters testify to in how they're discussed) and even if Watson continues to think that anyone who carries themselves like a gentleman can't possibly be a criminal (that's funny, actually, though both Holmes and Watson continue to think of women in very condescending terms). The stories presented here aren't perfect, but they have some great moments and are worth your time if you've read the first volume or are looking for some classic "whodunit" reading material. The Complete Sherlock Holmes, volumes 1 and 2, are hard to beat.

[Anna Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection of short stories about how Sherlock Holmes, a famous detective, solved a multitude of mysteries. It is narrated by John Watson, Holmes friend and sidekick. Since this is a collection of shorter stories, I’ve chosen to summarize one of the longer and more complex stories: The Tragedy of Birlstone. In this story, Holmes is asked by British detectives to assist them with the murder of Mr. Douglas of Birlstone. The crime scene makes it appear that Douglas was shot in the face by a robber, and the robber, realizing he had raised alarm, fled the house. Holmes, however, upon investigating the scene, finds many flaws in that theory, and begins to discover what really happened. He questions the wife, family friend (Mr. Barker), Butler, and maid, and finds that the wife and Mr. Barker must be hiding something. Holmes, being more reserved, leaves Watson in the dark as Holmes evolves his theory. Finally, Holmes invites Watson and the British detectives with him one night to the house. Holmes and his company wait to see if Holmes experiment prove results. Holmes had given Mr. Barker false information in order to prove his theory, which he has yet to tell anyone, wishing to make it more dramatic when he reveals the truth. When Mr. Barker appears at a certain window as Holmes predicted, he led them into the house, and laid bare the entire mystery except for the motive. What truly happened in the Tragedy of Birlstone was that an unknown enemy of Douglas's came to murder him. Douglas had caught this person, and, in an act of self defense, had shot the intruder in the face, making him mistakable for himself. He then took Barker and his wife into his confidence of his past secrets, and together they faked Douglas's death. Holmes had figured all this out, and brought Douglas out of his hiding. Douglas then gave Watson a papers telling about his past and motive for hiding. Douglas was Birdy Edwards, a retired American detective responsible for the collapse of a serial killer gang. Though Edwards broke up the gang, not all the members were convicted, including some who wanted Edwards dead. So, Edwards changed his name and travelled to California, where he met Barker, but his enemies discovered him, and he moved to England. There he married Mrs. Douglas and settled at Birlstone, but even there his life was attempted, leading to the murder of his pursuer.
This story and many of the others in this collection followed a similar plot. The themes, however, changed depending on the motive for the crime, which added diversity to what would otherwise be a repetitive version of events throughout the book. This book has appealed to me in a very logical way. It is a organized line of thought once Holmes explains his thinking. It challenged me in more than just the reading level, but in trying to figure out the crime as I read.

[Robert Earl “Bobby” Bisbing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle outdid himself on volume 1 and the second volume was a change from the Sherlock we became so fascinated by. However, I still recommend both volumes 1 & 2 for any reader of detective works. After all, there are reasons he is referred to as the world's greatest detective.

[Michelle Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will say I think the later Holmes stories lack the same charm the earlier ones do, but still, what an enjoyable way to spend time with a book. The entire Holmes collection is something I like to re-read every few years, and for good reason. Quick, gripping detective stories are a nice little thrill, and I like this spot in the middle of the road between cozy and dark. Great place to start if you want to read more classics but find them to be intimidating.

[Flynt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a classic! ACD's writing is stellar & the man sure knew how to engage his readers. Yes, there is some racism & misogyny, along an abundance of British class distinctions. So if you are into presentism you will definitely need to confront your tendency to apply present-day attitudes to the past.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easier to read than you would think! The editor provided some good insights in the end notes and intros, but I would love to see fully annotated versions of some of these stories for more context! Highly recommend.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still fun to see the ways this has been adapted. I enjoy the adaptations more because they leave out the elements that haven't aged well.

[Jim Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

of course, fun stories to read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorites in this one are probably Devil's Foot and The Dying Detective. I did not care for the Three Gables at all.

[Krystelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little to say here that’s not been said already. Always steady, logical, and fun to come back to.

[Jack Purcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars. You can’t not absolutely love Sherlock and his deductive stills, complete stoicism, and his many quirks. There are several incredible stories within Volume II but some of the later stories lack the voice and grace that the reader has grown accustomed to over many Holmes stories.

One thing that is ideal about Sherlock is the short nature of the stories: they make great audio books and they can be squeezed into a busy day due to their relative brevity.

[sophs! ♥︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

O Cão dos Baskerville ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

arthur conan doyle escreveu um romance gay incubado por 40 anos e ainda fez a elite britânica acreditar piamente que eram só 2 parceiros de investigação pfff

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td2Zjd... Preview Sherlock Holmes 2 Downey-Law film.
http://annetoronto1.blogspot.ca/2013/... #2 Review
http://aneyespy.blogspot.ca/2011/12/s... #1 Review
http://aneyespy.blogspot.ca/2011/12/d... Cumberbatch-Freeman Review
This humorous, dangerous, very British 2010 BBC UK version updated with internet and mobile phones revived my interest in Doyle's classic Victorian murder mysteries promoting early forensics and deductive solutions. Surprisingly, old and new Watson (Freeman) are both injured veterans of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The city of London is still an old character. Cumberbatch has a lighter, less swoopy tadara interpretation than Jeremy Brett, and not caught in explosions like Downey. Study in Pink is loosely based on Study in Scarlet having a choice of pills, placebo or poison, and a hack-cab driver hiding in plain sight.

1930 Doubleday Vol 1 has Study in Scarlet, Sign of Four, and 23 short stories in 480 pages. Preface assures us that some cases referenced were never published.

With a toothbrush and gun, meticulous research, observation, and deduction, we learn how to solve puzzles, and chase evil across Victorian London and world. I recall many cases, yet enjoy reruns. (Because quotation marks glitch in Goodreads, I start each summary with the case title.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_of...

Capsules (try to) remind me without giving away full answer.

p15 Study in Scarlet 1887 trails minatory bloody thread to American Western, Mormon Avenging Angels based in fact and folklore.
p87 In Sign of the Four 1890, Watson falls for Mary, recipient of fine pearls from a guilty Bombay valetudinarian who knows how her father vanished years ago in a conspiracy of four thieves.

Adventures (first pub 1891-2)
In p161 Bohemia, their king asks Sherlock to retrieve incriminating evidence from the beauty Irene Adler, his equal at ingenuity and intellect (changed onscreen).
p176 Red-headed foolish pawnbroker gives his new assistant free run of the basement.
p190 Identity remains hidden, when Holmes decides the prosperous sheltered daughter would not believe where her suitor vanished on the verge of their wedding.
p202 Also for Boscombe Valley, he hides the confession, to protect a couple - the father who made his fortune in Australia supports the other, now murdered.
p217 Five Orange Pips warn of KKK assassins who slip the noose.
p229 Twisted Lip is professional beggar, last to see a missing husband.
p244 Blue Carbuncle is jewel hidden in Season of Forgiveness goose, tracked to thief.
p257 Speckled Band are the last words of latest family female to succumb, leave wealth to step-father Doctor from India.
p273 Engineer's Thumb is severed fleeing from repairs for a secretive German.
p287 Noble Bachelor seeks rich American goldfield bride who vanished just after ceremony.
p301 Beryl Coronet taken home by a banker lost stones after being twisted and broken by his gambler son, who loves vanished ward.
p316 Copper Beeches is estate where newly hired governess suspects nefarious employers who ask her to cut her hair, sit so, wearing such, for extravagant wages.

Memoirs 1892-3
p335 Silver Blaze, missing winner racehorse when "the dog did nothing in the night-time", and the trainer was killed.
p350 Yellow Face mask in the window is an innocent, not a blackmailer of remarried Atlanta widow.
p362 The Stockbrocker's Clerk was hired away before he started.
p373 Gloria Scott, his first case, was an Australia-bound convict ship, the loss explained by posthumous record from his college friend's father.
p386 Musgrave Ritual was a family rhyme leading to treasure found and lost by a learned butler.
p398 In Reigate, a manservant is shot apparently preventing a second neighborhood burglary.
p411 Crooked Man from India reveals end of career soldier and role of too pretty wife.
p422 "Resident Patient" Blessington funds doctor's startup, hanged when protection fails.
p435 Greek Interpreter is abducted to strange house with tortured victim and surprised girl (introduces brother Mycroft at Diogenes Club where talking is forbidden, unlike onscreen).
p447 Naval Treaty needs recovering after accused thief recovers.
p469 The Final Problem is the fatal confrontation with arch-evil Professor Moriarty.

http://www.sorbie.net/old_occupations...

[Kim Savage · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. I think I’ve read them all now. Reading the entire volume at once is
a little daunting, but I will always reread a novel or a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

[Darinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories. The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II contains one novel, three books of short stories, two parodies, and two essays.

Novel:
1. The Valley of Fear

Short Stories:
1. The Return of Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventure of the Empty House
- The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
- The Adventure of the Dancing Men
- The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
- The Adventure of the Priory School
- The Adventure of Black Peter
- The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
- The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
- The Adventure of the Three Students
- The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
- The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
- The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
- The Adventure of the Second Stain
2. His Last Bow
- The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
- The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
- The Adventure of the Red Circle
- The Adventure of Bruce-Partington Plans
- The Adventure of the Dying Detective
- The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
- The Adventure of the Devil's Foot
- His Last Bow
3. The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
- The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
- The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
- The Adventure of the Three Gables
- The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
- The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
- The Problem of Thor Bridge
- The Adventure of the Creeping Man
- The Adventure of the Lion's Mane
- The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
- The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
- The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

Parodies:
1. The Field Bazaar
2. How Watson Learned the Trick

Essays:
1. The Truth about Sherlock Holmes
2. Some Personalia about Mr. Sherlock Holmes