The complete novels of sherlock holmes by Arthur Conan Doyl by Arthur Conan Doyl

Book Summary

This collection includes four full-length novels and 56 short stories featuring the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend, Dr. John Watson. The stories are set in Victorian and Edwardian London, showcasing Holmes’s brilliant deductive reasoning and Watson's insightful narration.

The Novels:

1. A Study in Scarlet (1887)

   • Summary: The first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They meet as flatmates and soon get entangled in a murder mystery that leads them to uncover a tale of revenge involving Mormon settlers in the American West.

   • Key Theme: The origins of Holmes and Watson’s partnership.

2. The Sign of the Four (1890)

   • Summary: Holmes and Watson investigate the case of a young woman searching for her missing father and a hidden treasure linked to a secret pact made during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

   • Key Theme: Themes of greed, betrayal, and adventure.

3. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902)

   • Summary: Perhaps the most famous Holmes novel, this story revolves around a cursed family and a supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville estate on the eerie Dartmoor. Holmes faces one of his most chilling challenges.

   • Key Theme: The clash between science and superstition.

4. The Valley of Fear (1915)

   • Summary: Holmes investigates the murder of a man in a locked room, leading to a complex story involving secret societies, espionage, and a hidden past connected to the American labor movement.

   • Key Theme: The dark side of human ambition and betrayal.

About the Author:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a British writer, physician, and creator of the world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally trained as a doctor, Doyle wrote his first Sherlock Holmes story while studying medicine. His creation became so iconic that it overshadowed his other works. Apart from the Holmes stories, he wrote historical novels, science fiction, and even ventured into political commentary.

Doyle’s influence on detective fiction is immeasurable, and Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most beloved characters in literary history.