• A Study in Emerald

  • By: Neil Gaiman
  • Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
  • Length: 49 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (3,521 ratings)

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A Study in Emerald  By  cover art

A Study in Emerald

By: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
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Publisher's summary

Alluding to both the Sherlock Holmes canon and the Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos, this Hugo Award-winning short story will delight fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H. P. Lovecraft, and of course, Neil Gaiman.

A Study in Emerald draws listeners in through carefully revealed details as a consulting detective and his narrator friend solve the mystery of a murdered German noble. But with its subtle allusions and surprise ending, this mystery hints that the real fun in solving this case lies in imagining all the details that Gaiman doesn't reveal, and challenges listeners to be detectives themselves.

©2006 Neil Gaiman (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

  • Hugo winner, Best Short Story, 2004

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and More From Neil Gaiman

What listeners say about A Study in Emerald

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,732
  • 4 Stars
    978
  • 3 Stars
    529
  • 2 Stars
    177
  • 1 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,309
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    401
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    30
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,129
  • 4 Stars
    452
  • 3 Stars
    237
  • 2 Stars
    68
  • 1 Stars
    43

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great Gaiman story

Neil Gaiman never ceases to surprise me. A must read in addition to all his other works

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Just a tidbit of the genius of NG

While I give this book a 5 star rating, it is not because it is one of my personal favorite Neil Gaiman pieces; it is not. Dubliners is not my favorite James Joyce. Both, however, are examples of wonderful writing that clearly stand out among the common fair. My favorite NG includes Graveyard Book and Stardust. Both completely different from A Study in Emerald but still of the same literary excellence.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great short story

this was a great short story, reminded me of Sherlock Holmes. Niel Gaiman is a great author and a great narrator. I was amazed at how much character development was achieved in such a short amount of time. I could (and have) listen to this story over and over again! Neil Gaiman is a favorite.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Would you please repeat that.....

Well.., I had three thought patterns happening at once but it was not revealed until the end why. Sherlock Holmes, H.P. Lovecraft for sure, however, the killing of the German Noble had me stumped. There was a German, not to have been thought a noble,... but, yet a Merchant Seaman. Could it be? I wanted to try a short by Gaiman to see if his style appealed to me. I was not disappointed. Among his other works is, "The Graveyard Book", I hope it can live up to this dash of cunning creativity.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best Freebies on Audible

Cthulu + Holmes = 45 minutes of superlative listening.

If you like Lovecraft and Conan-Doyle, you must read this. Gaiman has done an admirable job of honouring both of these author's styles in this short story. If you've not read Call of Cthulu, I suggest that you do. It's eminently creepy and worthwhile, plus it will make this story even better.

Excellent, excellent twist at the end. I think it's Gaiman's very best.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic Neil Gaiman

Great story, very engaging, very-well written. Gaiman has this ability to just suck you in and hearing it read actually increases that engagement.

Much of Gaiman's work seems to made to read out loud and this is no exception.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Strange story

It was an unusual story and quite strange. It was quick and a conversation starter with the family.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Clever and creepy.

Once again, Gaiman is playing with literary and historical references, and as usual the result is funny, interesting, and subtly disturbing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great with the companion of the written copy

Neil Gaiman offers a free copy of this story on his personal webpage. I highly recommend read it while listening to the audiobook (especially for us who English is not our native language).
It's a great story that will please even the non-Sherlockians (although they will not appreciate the multiple and brilliant references).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Outstanding

If there is a better way to spend an hour, I haven't found it yet. Recommended for anyone who likes mysteries, Lovecraft, alternate history, or a great short-story.

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