The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

As a child I had adored Sherlock Holmes, I can remember one December evening in particular where I spent hours curled under a quilt reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and reverencing his incredible ability to deduce the truth in bizarre situations.

My only reading adventures with Sherlock Holmes at since that moment was my re-read of The Study in Scarlet earlier in the year.  Alas, I read The Study in Scarlet shortly after my wedding and I can't remember a blessed thing about the book (excepting that it had something to do with crazy Mormons).

I've had a reread of Holmes on my raider for a while, though.  Actually ever since I read The Thirteenth Tale.  In that book, the protagonist reads Sherlock Holmes after a particularly jarring shock and the books are prescribed by her doctor to help her get a grip on logic and reality.  The past few months at work have been stressful, crazy, and certainly not filled logic!  One afternoon on my lunch break I walked out to the stacks and plucked out The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for my break reading.

What a perfect choice!  The stories are short, intriguing, and filled with observation, logic, and super-deducing action.  I especially liked this quote from "A Scandal in Bohemia:"

“I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."

This was a perfect quote for my work at the time and I even considered making it my email signature line.

I could go through a summary of each story, but that simply wouldn't do the tales justice and as these are mysteries it is best to go in blind reading Holmes.  Pick up this collection of 12 tales if you have a hankering for logic in your life or you simply desire a ripping good read.