The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Two problems for the price of one client for Sherlock Holmes. Mary Morstan’s father disappeared ten years ago and, four years later, she began receiving a pearl in the post once a year, from an anonymous source – until this year, when there is a letter asking for a meeting as Mary is a “wronged woman”. And then it gets complicated – far too complicated to summarise here. But when the brother of the pearl-sender, one Thaddeus Sholto, is found dead and Thaddeus is arrested, it’s up to Sherlock Holmes to capture the perpetrator…

I decided to take a look at this one as it’s The Sign Of Three on Sherlock tonight and I thought I’d be prepared. I think it’s fair to say that not much of this is going to make it into the episode…

It’s been mentioned plenty of times that I didn’t read much Holmes when I was younger, so I come to most of the stories – in particular the novels – with a more critical eye. This is the second novel, written before the short stories (I think) so it’s only Holmes’ second appearance.

OK, before I get to the nigh-blasphemous part of the review – Holmes is on great form here. From the deduction from Watson’s pocket watch (which Sherlock viewers will recognise as the mobile phone deductions from A Study In Pink), to the final chase, he’s a joy to read about. Which is why it’s such a shame that the rest of the novel is so dull.

Really dull. Full of flashbacks and back story which could have been covered in a fraction of the page count. I was a bit snippy in my review of A Study In Scarlet for the sudden left turn halfway through, but at least that section held my attention. In this one, I’m afraid, I kept drifting off.

I can see why Doyle switched to short stories after this, as there’s only enough modern-day plot to fill such a tale – and those bits are very well done. Just a shame there’s so much dull back-story.

Not recommended, but if you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you’ll read it anyway. Back to the short stories for me (soon).