• A Study in Scarlet

  • A Sherlock Holmes Novel
  • By: Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (258 ratings)

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A Study in Scarlet  By  cover art

A Study in Scarlet

By: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

In the first of all the Sherlock Holmes stories, Dr. John Watson, discharged from military service after suffering severe wounds, is at a loose end until a chance encounter leads him to take rooms with a remarkable young man. The arrogant, irascible Sherlock Holmes is a master chemist, a talented musician, and an expert on all aspects of crime. And when Watson is drawn into the investigation of a bizarre murder in which Holmes is involved, he is unaware that it is the beginning of the most famous partnership in the history of criminal detection.

The mystery begins when a body turns up in an abandoned building. A baffled Scotland Yard calls in the world's first "consulting detective," Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Through observation, subterfuge, and tenacity, he is soon able to discover the identity of the assassin, but that is only the beginning of the bizarre mystery. This audiobook includes the bonus Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

©1923 Public Domain (P)2009 Tantor

What listeners say about A Study in Scarlet

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
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  • NT
  • 03-10-16

Very enjoyable reading

Some readers read too quickly, some too slowly. This actor had a wonderful pace and while he doesn't have too wide a variety of voices, he is easy to follow through the story. He demonstrates emotions and tensions throughout the story very well.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

masterful performance<br />

Once again, one of the very best narrators. good story master of voices. kids. enjoyed it too.


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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

This is probably heresy to Holmes fans but...

I've become enamored of detective fiction only in the last year, and I came to Holmes through his reinterpretations by authors like Laurie R King and Nicolas Meyer. I was delighted to see new versions of the Conan Doyle's classics and eagerly wanted to listen to this one --Perhaps my expectations were just too high.

The original Holmes is still a great invention, but Conan Doyle didn't create great fiction around him, in this novel anyway --Even Simon Prebble couldn't make this a great listen to me (and sometimes I wonder if Simon was bored -- this is not his best narration). Also, the recording quality of my download was a bit wonky -- I didn't bother to re-download to see if that corrected the sound glitches (probably would).

I will persevere on to other of Conan Doyle's novels or short stories, but without as high expectations. And I look forward more to next year's release of Laurie R Kings' second part of "The Language of Bees."

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2 people found this helpful

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

Great book-classic

I have read this book since I was a kid. It's awesome that they have it on here. All of the Sherlock Holmes books are true classics. Great read.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Homes' deductions a bit too excessive for my taste

What did you like best about A Study in Scarlet? What did you like least?

The era is quite charming and Watson is very likeable, but I have to say that Homes' extraordinary deductions based on apparently insignificant details are just too fictitious and over-the-top for my taste.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Not a fan of the STUDY IN SCARLET mystery.

I didn’t like the direction the STUDY IN SCARLET took in the 2nd half. It read like a grim telling of a Western Ghost story. The details came together in the end but unfortunately I had lost interest by then. If I could return this audio for my money, I would do so. It’s unfortunate neither the reviews nor the blurb provided better details of the unusual aspect of this case (which partly occurs on the US frontier). I felt this was not a typical Sherlock Holmes mystery. I didn’t care for it.

The second mystery of the Speckled Band in the final chapter was okay. The reading by Simon Prebble was fine.

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

Great book, should not some problematic stuff

This book was released in the 1800s so it comes as no surprise that today it is able to be viewed as it is: a fantastic story with racist, misogynistic, and anti semitic undertones. Just a forewarning, I wouldn’t let it stop you from reading it, it did sour my experience a bit but was still good.

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

great as always

I love the Sherlock Holmes stories and this was not disappointing. I can listen to these repeatedly and just may do do again.

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

excellent choice

very good choice, great plot, well done. the narrator should have made more of a difference in the voices of Watson and holmes. it was sometimes difficult to determine which of the characters are speaking.

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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

Best narrator there is

The only thing better for Holmes mystery lovers than reading one of Conan Doyle's tales is hearing it narrated by Simon Prebble. He is one of the best, and I recommend you seek out any & all of his audiobooks. The Dick Francis books narrated by him are a joy as well.

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