The Sign of Four

Paperback, 153 pages

English language

Published Jan. 7, 2007 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:
978-0-14-103437-9
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OCLC Number:
233261531

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4 stars (4 reviews)

A dense yellow miasma swirls in the streets of London as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson accompany a beautiful young woman to a sinister assignation.

For Mary Morstan has received several large pearls – one a year for the last six years – and now a mystery letter telling her she is a wronged woman. If she would seek justice she is to meet her unknown benefactor, bringing with her two companions.

But unbeknownst to them all, others stalk London’s fog-enshrouded streets: a one-legged ruffian with revenge on his mind – and his companion, who places no value on human life...

101 editions

Review of 'The Sign of Four' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

While most Sherlock stories are intriguing, this one stood out to me as perhaps the most interesting. Not because of the crime, but because of all the original stories I have read thus far this one seems the most interested in Sherlock's motivation and character- fleshed him out as it were.

I also can't help but be amused by Doyle's treatment of Sherlock's drug addiction and apparent manic depression. No apologies. I just can't help but feel like Doyle has been trying despretly since day two to convince his audience that Sherlock is not a good guy. Kind of like how J.K Rowling feels about people obsessing over Draco.

Review of 'Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction) Unabridged and Annotated Volume' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Sherlock Holmes is bored because there are no puzzles for him to solve until a beautiful woman (who catches the eye of Watson) asks Holmes to track down the mysterious person who is sending her very expensive pearls every month. Said woman's father serviced in the East India Company, but disappeared upon his return to England. The mystery deepens as the pearls seem to be part of a much greater lost treasure.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one. The action doesn't break in the middle and Holmes has to make a bigger effort to catch the clever criminal. And again, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle let us know that justice is not black or white, but lies in a grey area.

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Subjects

  • Fiction
  • John H. Watson (Fictitious character)