A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

The body of Enoch Drebber is discovered in an abandoned house in Lauriston Gardens, bearing no wounds, showing no signs of an attempt at robbery, with the word “RACHE” (German for “revenge”) written in blood on the wall above it. One such case becomes the focus of the rest of the novel. Holmes calls himself the world’s first consulting detective, and often receives calls from members of Scotland Yard to assist on cases that are beyond them. Holmes proclaims that by paying attention to the minute and mundane details of a person, one can deduce at least their profession, and many other particulars about a person. It isn’t until Watson reads and denounces an article about the “science of deduction” that Holmes reveals that he is not only the author of the article, but also of a new approach to detective work. Watson begins to make a study of Holmes’ odd habits, his expertise in some areas (mainly chemistry, anatomy and practical geology) and his complete ignorance in others, in order to discern what Holmes does for a living. The pair decides to take the pair of rooms Holmes has found at 221B Baker Street. Watson responds that he keeps irregular hours, objects to conflict due to his convalescence and is extremely lazy. Holmes suggests that it is best they know of each other’s faults before deciding to take up lodgings together of himself, he says that he can be prone to fits of melancholy in which he may not move or speak for days at a time, will likely be conducting experiments and often plays the violin.

An old acquaintance introduces Watson to Sherlock Holmes, who is also looking to divide the cost of a flat. Having little to do with his time and few friends to spend it with, Watson soon falls into dire financial straits and decides he must either find cheaper accommodation or leave London entirely. Watson narrates the first section of the novel, detailing his brief service in the second Afghan War, his injury and subsequent return to England. In the original book Part I is unnamed, but claims to be reprinted from the “reminisces of John H Watson, M.D.” and is often referred to as such.

The novel is divided into two segments of seven chapters each. It was first published in 1887 in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, and released as a separate book the following July (1888). A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle introduces the characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson, and is the first of four novels and 56 short stories in the original Holmes canon.