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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II
Audiobook3 hours

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II

Written by Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by David Timson

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

In this collection are four of the finest cases of Mr Sherlock Holmes, narrated by his faithful friend and admirer Dr Watson. What was the mystery of the engineer’s thumb? What was behind the disappearance of the race horse? Why did masked royalty walk up to see Holmes in Baker Street? These and other puzzles are solved by this bloodhound of a genius.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 22, 1999
ISBN9789629545079
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II
Author

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, most famous for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes and long-suffering sidekick Dr Watson. Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

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Reviews for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Volume II

Rating: 4.122552091644909 out of 5 stars
4/5

3,064 ratings119 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Short stories are easy to read - can pick it up and just read one story before bed - does make me take more time to read.Find I prefer the stories that are mysteries/puzzles, rather than murders - liked 'The Empty House' (& the way Holmes returned), 'The Priory School' and 'The Three Students' best.Really like the picture on the cover (one of my favourites in the series).Arthur Conan Doyle seems to like to give the stories a happy ending - even when someone is caught and has to leave the country, they planned to go anyway. ^_^
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Delightful stuff, loved the librivox.org free audiobook version. Not quite as engaging as the earlier stories, but still well worth the read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Holmes that returns from Reichenbach is a very different one to that before Final Problem. I can't remember the last time I read this but the stories don't have the same mental intensity of the earlier works. Here, Holmes deals with a different class of clientele, there is less of foggy, atmospheric London and greater reference to the colonies of the Empire. Most importantly there is less detection. Either I've gotten smarter or the stories are less painstaking in its detail - and I doubt it's the former. On resurrecting Holmes, Doyle's writing is occasionally half-hearted and dour. His reluctance may also account for the memorable but gruesome violence and the abrupt conclusions to cases. However, Return is still, in my mind, a classic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A better collection of short stories (Puffin has published some of these stories in a collection called 'The Great Adventures of SH'. Includes one of my favourite short stories, 'The Dancing Men' and adventure based around a writing code featuring little stick men. All very much worth a read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Three years after Sherlock’s death at the hands of Moriarty, Dr. Watson is shocked to discover he’s actually alive and well! He was so shocked in fact he faints for the first and only time in his life. The story that follows explains Sherlock’s absence over the past couples years and his current predicament. Some of Moriarty’s agents are trying to find and kill him and they’ll stop at nothing to do so. The clever Holmes devises a plan to not only catch his enemies, but also to solve an open case for the police at the same time. **SPOILERS**Colonel Moran is Sherlock’s pursuer in this novella. He is an admired military man with a reputation as an skilled hunter. Sherlock compares Colonel Moran (to his face) to the very tigers he hunted for so many years. It must have been salt in the wound to someone so proud of his ability to hunt. Holmes had no qualms about insulting him and making sure he understood that he was now the captured prey. Clearly the brilliant Sherlock has returned. **SPOILERS OVER**BOTTOM LINE: An excellent story and a must read for anyone who finishes The Final Problem.  
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Holmes and Watson come alive in short stories. Someone (who, I wish I'd recall) once said that if you only read Agatha Christie's short stories, and Conan Doyle's novels, you'd think both were terrible writers. It certainly seems true in Conan Doyle's case (from the two I've read thus far).

    Either way, of the twelve stories in this collection, all of them are quite enjoyable. They showcase a slightly more even relationship between the two heroes, as well as featurnig a varied array of guest characters, and mysteries which Conan Doyle easily shifts from political intrigue, to international conspiracy, to simple mistaken identity. In fact, the only story that I don't think really works anymore is "The Five Orange Pips" - and this is only because it has dated to the point where the killer's identity was something new and curious in the 1800s, but is now quite commonly known by most Westerners, meaning that most readers will probably catch on from about page three.

    After this, I have renewed vigour to move on to the 4th of Holmes' 9-book canon. We'll see!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One day I came across The Sign of Four and said, "what the heck let's read it". I loved it. Now I am slowly reading all the books and short stories.
    From a historical perspective I loved reading about late 19th century London i.e. the customs, the conveyances, how women were regarded.
    My favorite from this volume is the Adventure of the Speckled Band. It was scary and mysterious. How could Sherlock solve it?
    Pros : I felt like I was there
    Cons: Sherlock always disappears to gather evidence, sometimes I wish we could go along on the trail.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Excellent short stories with the same detective and his friend Dr. Watson, the stories normally being less than 20 pages. I like how the stories are bizarre yet still realistic and that logic plays such a big part. Quite entertaining.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Sherlock Holmes solves mysteries.2.5/4 (Okay).Some of these are pretty bad, especially the early ones where Doyle (and therefor Holmes) is on the side of the villains as often as not. They improve as they go, as Doyle settles into a formula. Unfortunately, unlike the preceding novellas, there's no character development at all.(May 2022)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I liked the first and the last stories the best, but I really like the longer novel length stories the best in the Holmes canon. 3 1/2 stars
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This first collection of shorter Holmes and Watson adventures is massively enjoyable.

    Yes, the stories are a touch formulaic in that Holmes and Watson are typically met by a confused or panicked individual who manages to provide a completely coherent and well-observed summary of the mystery. Then Holmes almost always has the answer almost immediately and heads off to confirm his theory, then there is the denouement where certain suspicions are confirmed, and Holmes walks us through his solution.

    And yet, for all of that, each one is vastly entertaining and well-written. Holmes is surely one of the pinnacles of fictional characters.

    Love this stuff.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Rating 3.8ReviewI've had this on my TBR for a long time. I thought I had the one that is part of 1001 but I checked further and not all are the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. This consisted of 12 short stories narrated by the good doctor Watson POV. Entertaining, not complicated, easily to engage stories. I had read only one previously The Blue Carbuncle which was a free one at Christmas time a few years back. These stories are full of social justice issues.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Classic, great, fun all that. I think I'm just more partial to the pacing and length of the four novels.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Enjoyed more than I expected! I hadn't read some of these stories since high school, but some of the memories came sprinting back. Looking forward to reading more of the Holmes canon.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A varied, intriguing collection. My favorites are "A Scandal in Bohemia," "A Case of Identity," "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," because they are fascinating but deliciously plotted mysteries. "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is suuuuper creepy (and it involves a creature I hate), but it's one of the most suspenseful stories in the collection.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    2020 reread via this Tantor audiobook:An excellent way to experience these short stories but unfortunately, it is missing the 2nd story "The Red-headed League". According to the pdf file that came with the audiobook, this story should have been included; it is possible this defect is individual due to my download but for those considering buying this audiobook, make sure that you get the whole book.Simon Prebble did a good narration.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The classic collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories. I enjoyed re-reading these classic favorites. My favorite story was "The Five Orange Pips". There have been many watered down retellings of this story, but the original is much grittier and unusual for the setting.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    These are the classic Sherlock tales, and they’re probably the best known of all the short stories. I remember my dad reading these aloud to my brother and me when we were children. These stories are distinctive and quite enjoyable, and in my opinion, some of Sherlock’s most memorable moments occur within these pages. I liked that not all of these stories involved traditional crimes, and I also liked that several of them featured strong women. Holmes fails in at least two of these stories, and it really was something to see the great detective in his lower moments as well. He is still a very human character, for all his powers, and he’s very well fleshed-out here. On the whole, a wonderful collection of tales.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A wonderful collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories. At first, I wasn't thrilled with the narrator, but shortly into the first story I found that he suited the material well. I only wish he would have tried for different voices for Holmes and Watson, but that's a minor point.

    Out of this collection, "A Scandal in Bohemia" is the rough basis for the season 2 Sherlock premiere, "A Scandal in Belgravia". Reading it, you can definitely see where the TV series borrowed portions. Not that either suffers from the comparison. It's also the where Irene Adler first appears in a Holmes story.

    There's a variety of different kinds of mysteries in the collection. Some are terrible crimes to be solved/averted while others are simply interesting mysteries to be solved. But, one can't always tell which stories fits into which category. Some stories are truly fantastic, while others are merely good.

    I'd highly recommend that fans of mysteries and in particular, fans of the BBC series read these stories. You won't regret it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This collection of a dozen short stories recorded by Dr. Watson showcases the deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes. The crimes range from murder to blackmail, robbery, and missing persons. They’re not in chronological order. Watson is married in some stories, and in others he is a bachelor sharing rooms with Holmes. The impression one gets is that Watson is writing up cases from his notes as something triggers his memory of a particular case. This time around I listened to the audio by Ralph Cosham. I prefer Edward Hardwicke’s narration of the Holmes stories, perhaps because he played Watson in the Granada TV series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My first collection of Sherlock's shorts and they were super fun. Witty, varied, self-referential, Holmes is a much gentler fellow in these tales than he appears in recent incarnations. He fights for the underdog and cares about the wronged. Some of these stories seem to have been told and retold in every detective series ever imagined but they shine here in their original forms.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've read this multiple times, having first come to Holmes as a teenager. This was the first time I've listened to them, and having Stephen Fry narrate is a stroke of genius. He has that patrician voice that seems to match nicely with the tone I can hear in Watson as he narrates the stories. The short stories make it easy to listen while commuting. That and the fact that as I listened to them I could remember what the puzzle or situation involved meant this was a bit like revisiting an old friend and finding them both changed and reliably the same.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A strong collection of Holmes stories, highlighted by the powerfully creepy “The Speckled Band,” the modesty gothic “The Copper Beeches,” and the delightful “A Scandal in Bohemia.”The only story that was substandard for me was “The Blue Carbuncle,” in which the plot was too fantastic to be believed. But even that story is full of the late Victorian atmosphere and Holmes at his best.We tend to forget how much mystery stories and novels owe to Conan Doyle. His ideas and plots are being used even today as inspiration for authors.If you long for gas-lit London, hansom cabs, fog, and excellent detecting, try this volume, either for the first or fifth time. You’ll be glad you did.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great little mystery stories, I had fun reading this!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the first book I have read out of all Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has made me want to read the actual novels, names and incidents of which were mentioned in several of the stories in this book.

    I loved both the observation of Sherlock Holmes himself, by Dr. Watson who writes the accounts of their investigations, in the first person. I love how, seemly odd events come together to make such intriguing tales. It is less 'mystery thriller' or 'whodunnit' and more the small almost imperceptible occurrences which grow into something more, or baffling accidents which become investigative worthy. I loved the simplicity of how such detailed and convoluted happenings come together and unfold into something criminal - things that would be completely missed by anyone but Sherlock Holmes' keen eye.

    I loved the style of late Victorian writing, reminiscent of a time gone by. It made me realise that the recent Sherlock Holmes films (staring Robert Downey Jr.) reflect both the time and the writing. This has book has turned me into a Sherlock Holmes fan!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Powers of ObservationSherlock Holmes was a busy detective. In this stage of his illustrious career there is so much to tell. Dr. Watson, his faithful companion and oficial schreiber, gives us a summary of Holmes’s most interesting cases. The short stories found in this book provide the reader enough material to appreciate Holmes’s powers of careful observation and enlightened deduction. Holmes’s path to mystery solving is quite unique. His behavior somewhat funny. The short stories show all this. Although I cannot recollect the details of most stories, I enjoy a lot the book. Above all one feel more familiarity with Holmes and that is good.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great mystery stories that I will miss reading on the couch each night.The clues offered give readers a chance to figure out the crime and criminalsand none is gruesome or horrifying, though The Thumb can be rough to endure.The characters of Holmes and Watson are so finely tuned that we fit right in as soonas the fireplace or dressing gown or breakfast are mentioned.A few of the stories could have used more suspense, as though Doyle was tired and just wanted to end them,yet what a variety!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It was nice to re-read these.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) is the first book-length collection of Holmes short stories, they were originally published in The Strand Magazine 1891-92. Most of them have small references to other stories so there is a sense of coherence and world-building. It includes "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" which Doyle considered his all-time favorite Holmes story. It's gaslight entertainment that evokes an age. The spooky mansions with the evil mastermind, brutish henchmen and the locked room with a mystery. Well, it's better than Saturday morning cartoons.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is filled with several short stories. They were interesting and live up to the adventures part of the title. I believe the shortness of the stories made me not get into them as much. I still liked them for sure.