Cover Image: A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet

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Member Reviews

A good graphic adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes story for kids, but I wasn't blown away by it. The art was good, the story was solid, but there wasn't much to make it stand out.

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As a longtime Sherlock fan like so many mystery readers, I am quite familiar with the original version of this story and was excited to read a version meant for younger readers. This retelling was well done and kept the characters traits in tact but made them approachable for children who are just getting to know Sherlock and Watson. This story covers the introduction between the two and the first case they work on together. The illustrations were well done also!

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I'd like to thank Arcturus Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alex Woolf.

A Study in Scarlet is the first book in the Sherlock Holmes book series, and Alex Woolf does a phenomenal job in rewriting this story for children in a way that they'll understand. They illustrations we're amazing and we're a great contribution to the story. I think this retelling will encourage children to read more.

I would have loved reading this as a child. Five out of five stars.

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A Study in Scarlet is a fantastic entry point for young readers to the world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This retelling of murder and revenge will enthrall any budding mystery buff and belongs in every classroom.

Thank you NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

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This is the first book in the series, which I am not reading in order. This book is when the dynamic duel first met. Also their first case together. I cannot get over how the how the author takes a classic adult mystery and turn it into a mystery for the children to understand. I takes such skill and its wonderful how authors are doing this for children. The story is wonderful and I loved it. Hope the author will do the same.thing for other adult classics


I received a copy book of the book and is voluntaryly writing a review.

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A wonderful adaptation and a jewel of a mystery that Sherlock solves with logic and determination. These youth aimed Holmes stories are just the right blend of clues and humor. The illustrations are clever and amusing. I particularly enjoy that they don’t shy away from murder, poison, etc. I’ve loved them all!

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This is such an iconic story in Arthur Conan Doyle’s writings. The very beginnings of Watson and Holmes with the first ever case they worked on together. It’s a lovely first read for young audiences and generations to get into these classics and get a feel for just how they run. It’s a great introduction to the characters and the amazing deducing skills of this great consulting detective.

It starts with Watson in need of finding a place to stay. London isn’t cheap at the best of times and soon he meets one Sherlock Holmes and the rest is history. They move into 221B Baker Street, with our beloved landlady Mrs Hudson, we meet the Baker Street irregulars and see a murderer caught and put to justice. What’s not to love?

Classics can often be a little difficult for younger readers so these adaptations are absolutely fantastic for disseminating them to a new audience. With great illustrations and wonderfully adapted, you can’t go wrong with these stories!

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Thank you so much to Arcturus and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Watson tells his story of the first case he studied with Holmes, a dead body in an abandoned house and evidence that Holmes spots as clues. A case that spans from America to the U.K. and was built on revenge.

This was a really riveting story from Watson having never been apart of a case before, to the really unusual case that Holmes was put on. I liked seeing how they started together and how they managed to team up to work on the case together.

The case itself was so strange and I had literally no idea what was going on or how he had managed to solve this one so easily but I loved finding out the reasons and getting the clauses they picked up on together.

I really enjoy reading this Holmes stories and reading them in an easier format is much better, they give you the same excitement and tell you the same story but shorter and with illustrations. I do recommend them.

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4.5 stars

My favourite Sherlock Holmes adaptation from all of Alex Woolf's retellings so far. We learn here about how Watson met Holmes for the first time, the impression he made on him, and how Sherlock solved the case of two murdered US citizens that is an apparent case of revenge. Or so the too-obvious word in German would have us think.

It's a very ingenious criminal case, told in a way that's sure to keep children engrossed, and, as with the first adaptation I read, tries its best to stay true to Sir Arthur's style. I'm liking this series of Sherlock for children books more and more with each installment!

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The first meeting of Watson and Sherlock is brilliantly illustrated and retold for children!

It’s also perhaps one of my favourites as it has so many twists and turns and introduces another iconic character: Lestrade!

I’m genuinely obsessed with these retellings!

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** “He’s rather too scientific for my tastes — almost cold-blooded in his search for the truth.” **

Alex Woolf retells “A Study in Scarlet,” one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes short stories that deals with revenge.

When Dr. John Watson reminisces about when he first met Sherlock, who worked at the chemical laboratory at the hospital and was looking for a roommate at the time, we are introduced to 221B Baker Street and one of the world’s greatest partnerships.

He remembers the case of two American men found mysteriously dead, both with the message “RACHE,” German for revenge, written at the scene. Can Holmes deduce how both men died, and if there is a culprit behind their untimely deaths?

“A Study in Scarlet” also introduces us to several familiar characters, including inspectors Gregson and Lestrade, as well as the Baker Street Irregulars.

Filled with delightful illustrations by Eve O’Brien, “A Study in Scarlet” is told in a fun and easy way kids of all ages will understand. This series is a great way to introduce young readers to Doyle and the great Sherlock Holmes, but adults will also enjoy these short stories. The story slowly lays out the clues, allowing the reader to solve the mystery alongside Sherlock.

Five stars out of five.

Arcturus Publishing provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

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This series of books are great reading for all of the family. They are just as satisfying as the original books but made more suitable for a younger audience. Love the illustrations too.

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Young fans of Sherlock Holmes: Have you ever wondered how Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson first met each other and started working together? What was their very first case together? Well, this is the book where you find out! A man has been murdered in an empty house in Brixton, and Sherlock Holmes is called to investigate. The man seems to have been poisoned by someone seeking revenge, as the German word for revenge was found written in blood on the wall where the corpse lay. When another man, an acquaintance of the first, is also found murdered with the same word on the wall, things get very interesting. Read this book to discover how Holmes cleverly connects the dots to find the murderer, and what the murderer's motives truly were!

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A study in Scarlet By Alex Woolf and Arthur Conan Doyle

This is a retelling of the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery but told in an easier format for children and they are also illustrated by Eve O'Brien.

I really like the retellings of Sherlock Holmes as
I think the older classics can be hard to read and these books make it easier to appreciate..

This is a great story.. it’s the murder of a rich man and a abandoned wedding ring and the word RACHE painted in blood next to his body..

The books are pithy and they are a faithful retelling of the classic story, I really enjoyed it and these books are a great accompaniment to the original stories

#NetGalley #astudyinscarlet #mystery #classic

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A brilliant way to get the stories of Sherlock Holmes in to children. I really enjoyed these and think these are perfect for readers of any age

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Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a daring adventure.

A wealthy man has been murdered in the strangest circumstances. A woman's wedding ring has been found with the body and the word "RACHE" has been scrawled in red on a nearby wall. Is this mystery too baffling for even the brilliant Sherlock Holmes?

This thrilling tale has been retold and adapted with new illustrations, making it perfect for younger readers. Adapted by award-winning children's fiction author Alex Woolf, it will delight bright young things aged 7+.
Truly enjoyable read definitely recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing
I just reviewed A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alex Woolf. #NetGalley

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This retelling of Holmes’ and Watson’s first meeting was well done for a young audience. The cartoon drawings are cute and help set the scene without being graphic at all. The book definitely emphasised the mystery and Holmes’ unique style of deduction. There was not a lot of description of the relationship between Holmes and Watson, although, to be fair, this was their first meeting. The adaptation stayed true to the original story and updated some of the phrases to be better understood by a younger audience. I’d say it’s a solid introduction to the canon stories for elementary students.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! I will look for more in the series!

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A fantastic abridged version of the classic Sherlock Holmes novella A Study in Scarlet, that captures the narrative and spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work brilliantly. A Study in Scarlet is the very first Sherlock Holmes story to be written, and in it we see how Dr Watson came to live with Sherlock Holmes and the origins of their extraordinary friendship and partnership in solving mysteries. Watson accompanies Holmes on the case of the murder of the Americans Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson who had just arrived in London. The strange inscription of "Rache" (German for "revenge") in blood on the wall at the separate sites of the two murders links the two. What dark past connects these two men, and for what has the unknown murderer taken revenge? Holmes must catch the culprit before the inept inspectors Lestrade and Gregson put the wrong man in prison!

Although A Study in Scarlet is much longer than the short stories, this book does a great job of condensing the gist of the novella. Of course readers will miss out on the slow building of suspense and many details which enrich the plot, especially details of the lengthy backstory set in Utah Mormon society -- but that is to be expected of any abridged edition. This book includes cartoonish illustrations that capture the main plot points nicely and will be sure to an extra layer of entertainment for young readers as they follow Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in unravelling the mystery behind these strange murders. This entire series is an excellent introduction for kids to Conan Doyle's classic stories, and will hopefully inspire them to read the originals as well one day! I will certainly be recommending these books to my younger students as the natural next step from the Famous Five and Secret Seven books.

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A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alex Woolf.
This is how Watson met Holmes in children style. Loved how it was written. Loved the illustrations too. This is a good way to get any young person started on sherlock Holmes. 5*.

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The first in a fantastic series, the illustrations and text work wonderfully together. So many young children are interested in a good mystery and these books are perfect for fulfilling that need!

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