Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
I re-read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon every few years. It’s my favorite mystery genre, and I never get tired of revisiting Baker Street — whether through the books or rewatching the Jeremy Brett / Granada Television adaptation.
The Sign of Four is one of only four Sherlock Holmes novels, and I’ve always found the novels interesting compared to the short stories. Holmes as a character just seems to fit the short story format naturally. But whenever the story expands into a novel, you get a lot more context and color from Holmes’s world.
In this case, you get the Baker Street Irregulars, Toby the dog, and other minor characters that might not appear in a typical short story. I appreciate that Doyle didn’t write a ton of novels, so each one feels special in its own way.
Unlike The Hound of the Baskervilles, where Watson plays a much bigger role for a larger portion of the novel, I like how Sherlock Holmes is the one driving the action in The Sign of Four.
It’s a great novel and worth reading. Plus, it’s available for free as an ebook on Standard Ebooks, which makes it even easier to revisit whenever the mood strikes.
The Sign of Four is one of only four Sherlock Holmes novels, offering more context and minor characters than the typical short story format. Unlike The Hound of the Baskervilles where Watson dominates, Holmes drives the action here. The Baker Street Irregulars and Toby the dog add color to the world. A worthwhile read that's available free on Standard Ebooks.
- Holmes drives the action throughout, unlike other novels where Watson takes center stage
- Minor characters like the Baker Street Irregulars and Toby the dog add depth to Holmes's world
- Free and easily accessible on Standard Ebooks
- Holmes naturally fits short stories better than novel-length narratives
