I like a well-crafted mystery, from time to time, as you may have guessed from my earlier articles on M.C. Beaton's Death of a Witch and other Hamish Macbeth mysteries, or my review of Michael Connelly's The Brass Verdict. But with all due respect to the prowess of the mystery-solvers in those books, there really is no one quite like Sherlock Holmes to unravel a conundrum with style and flair.
Some sleuths, like Lt. Colombo, clearly belong on the screen, but I think Holmes has always done his best work on the printed page. Attempts to portray him live have been uneven. A number of the Basil Rathbone movies were okay. Other live renditions were only so-so, and some less so. The 1965 Broadway musical, Baker Street, was a boring flop; the present PBS series of Holmes mysteries is dull and unpleasant, and the 1976 movie, The Seven-Percent Solution, was a waste of a perfectly good rental. Just letting you know, I'm not a pushover for any pipe-smoking limey in a two-billed hat.
In the course of formulating my list of what I consider the top 10 Sherlock Holmes stories, I have thrown in a somewhat unexpected twist, which will be revealed further on in this essay. I did not do it to be whimsical, but because it represents my taste in well-written mysteries.
Without further ado, let me start right in on the list. I'll be listing the stories in chronological order.
A Scandal in Bohemia (pub. 1891)
The aspect of this story I liked the best was that the heretofore and thereafter invincible Holmes gets outwitted...by a woman.
The narrator in these stories, his assistant, Dr. John Watson, in case you did not know, goes on at great length how little Holmes seems to be impressed by a woman's charms, even the most charming of them, or so it would seem.
The woman in question is a Miss Irene Adler, an actress and singer, from New Jersey. She does not prevent Holmes' client—a Bohemian crown prince—from obtaining the relief from his dilemma that he seeks, but, in the process, she clearly gets the better of the brilliant sleuth from Baker Street.
Some sleuths, like Lt. Colombo, clearly belong on the screen, but I think Holmes has always done his best work on the printed page. Attempts to portray him live have been uneven. A number of the Basil Rathbone movies were okay. Other live renditions were only so-so, and some less so. The 1965 Broadway musical, Baker Street, was a boring flop; the present PBS series of Holmes mysteries is dull and unpleasant, and the 1976 movie, The Seven-Percent Solution, was a waste of a perfectly good rental. Just letting you know, I'm not a pushover for any pipe-smoking limey in a two-billed hat.
In the course of formulating my list of what I consider the top 10 Sherlock Holmes stories, I have thrown in a somewhat unexpected twist, which will be revealed further on in this essay. I did not do it to be whimsical, but because it represents my taste in well-written mysteries.
Without further ado, let me start right in on the list. I'll be listing the stories in chronological order.
A Scandal in Bohemia (pub. 1891)
The aspect of this story I liked the best was that the heretofore and thereafter invincible Holmes gets outwitted...by a woman.
The narrator in these stories, his assistant, Dr. John Watson, in case you did not know, goes on at great length how little Holmes seems to be impressed by a woman's charms, even the most charming of them, or so it would seem.
The woman in question is a Miss Irene Adler, an actress and singer, from New Jersey. She does not prevent Holmes' client—a Bohemian crown prince—from obtaining the relief from his dilemma that he seeks, but, in the process, she clearly gets the better of the brilliant sleuth from Baker Street.
Comments
I've read Beekeeper and Monstrous Regiment-- I'll have to look out for the rest of the series.
This is so thorough. Makes me want to get a Sherlock Holmes book. Super job, Thomas. :-)
I know you will be shocked, but the only Holmes story I have read is Speckled Band. If it is the best, does this mean I will be disappointed from now on?
Fine choices! Even ol' Watson would approve.
I agree. This was so totally thorough! Great job on your top 10 Sherlock Holmes stories!
When you decide to write about something, you can be very thorough. This was amazing.
Also on the "Speckled Ban" - snakes don't drink milk. By the way, do you know the Father Brown mysteries by G.K. Chesterton - Fr. Brown is very much like Holmes, not wearing the distinctive cap but an ecclesiastical collar.
Great article. I've read ONE Sherlock Holmes mystery--THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. I read it because my dad told me it was the scariest book he'd ever read. I remember enjoying it, but I can't recall a single detail. You've really gotten me interested in the Laurie King series. I used to read a lot of mysteries. At the moment, I'm finding it hard to read ANY novels, but I'll keep Laurie King in mind the next time I'm at the library. :)
A gentleman by the name of Thayer Cummings retired to York Harbor. He was an expert on Holmes. Fascinating, when I could get him talking! You would have loved him!
Well, that list was...ummm...elementary
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