The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes are very enjoyable. They consist of four novels and fifty-six short stories. The short stories are around twenty pages long which makes them just enough for enjoying a lovely afternoon read.
The stories range from the simple (The Noble Bachelor) to the most bizarre (The Engineer’s Thumb). Some can even be comical (The Red-Headed League). The Final Problem really tugs at the heart strings as Watson recalls the show down between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. Despite being a fictional character, you can really feel Watson’s emotions whether it is excitement, disbelief or deep in grief. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle really makes you feel for the characters and the cases that get brought to them despite only having twenty pages to convey it all in.
The characters of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are very enjoyable to read. Watson is the narrator of each individual case and although it is meant to have been written after the case has been solved. It is great to see how the case unfolds and the reader only knows new information when Watson knows it allowing for Sherlock’s big reveal at the end. The dynamic between the two works really well. Sherlock brings the knowledge and Watson bring the compassion.
Although Holmes can be abrupt and considered rude, he is not prejudiced between classes and accepts a case on how interesting it is rather then how much money the client has. In the short story The Speckled Band Miss Stoner is unable to pay Holmes until she is married for that is when she comes into her small inheritance. Holmes replies that no reward is needed and any expenses that he occurs during the solving of the case can be paid when Miss Stoner is able to. Holmes takes cases from the government and royalty who have come for his advice. Holmes also gets assistance from time to time from boys off the streets who can go around undetected due to their social background and being largely ignored by the higher classes. He does assist the police and usually gives them the majority if not the full credit of solving the case.
Overall, they are brilliant mysteries that are very enjoyable to read. Some of the novels can be a bit long but shape the story line well.
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