Overbooked -- May 1, 2023

The Overbooked gang met this month to discuss the many short stories of the iconic Sherlock Holmes complied in the aptly titled book, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. The book contains twelve of Doyles' earliest short stories involving the astute detective, all told from the perspective of his trusted confidant, Dr. John Watson. 

Some of the highlights from the collection were "A Scandal in Bohemia", which features the first appearance of Irene Addler, a popular character. Many group members were surprised to learn this is the only story she appears in; "The Five Orange Pips" finds Holmes investigating mysterious deaths that may have sinister ties to a radical American organization; and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" kept members trying to figure out the strange manner in which a young woman died in her room shortly before her nuptials. 

Members agreed that they enjoyed the stories being told from Watson's point of view. It helped them to immerse themselves in the investigations as they tried to work out each case, as the reader is only privy to what Watson sees and knows. The cleverness of Holmes and his world famous deductive reasoning were also seen as a more modern approach than what readers had expected for the time period. 

All in all, members of the group were in agreement that they were glad to have read this collection of short stories and can now say that they have read the great Sherlock Holmes. It received an average four star rating.