A Study in Scarlet by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE [Paperback]

"A Study in Scarlet" is the first novel featuring the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. John Watson, written by Arthur Conan Doyle and first published in 1887. This novel marks the beginning of the long-running Sherlock Holmes series and introduces the iconic characters and the brilliant detective’s unique methods of deduction.

Book Description:

The story begins with Dr. John Watson, recently returned to London after serving as an army doctor in Afghanistan, seeking affordable accommodation. He is introduced to Sherlock Holmes, a peculiar and enigmatic man, by a mutual friend. Watson is intrigued by Holmes' extraordinary powers of observation and reasoning, and they decide to share an apartment at 221B Baker Street.

Watson’s curiosity is soon piqued when Holmes is called to investigate a mysterious murder. The victim, Elias Openshaw, is found in a strange setting, with a cryptic message written on the wall in blood: “Rache” (the German word for "revenge"). Holmes quickly uncovers a series of intricate clues leading to a complex tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance. The investigation takes Watson and Holmes across London and eventually to the American West, where a tragic story unfolds involving a group of Mormons, and the victim’s past ties to them.

As Holmes pieces together the puzzle, his sharp intellect and unorthodox methods of deduction reveal a shocking truth, while Watson becomes increasingly fascinated by his friend’s extraordinary ability to solve crimes.