A Study in Scarlet

November 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-A great way to introduce young adult readers to Sherlock Holmes. This unabridged version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1887 novel has been updated with Grimly's signature dark and stylized illustrations. The artwork suits the sinister, bizarre nature of the tale-the characters have crazy, twisted hairstyles, super skinny necks, and are reminiscent of graphic-novel figures. Readers will quickly become absorbed in the story of the first time that Holmes meets his future partner Watson, who has just returned from an exhausting military stint in Afghanistan. Police are baffled at first when a dead man is discovered in an empty house and the word "RACHE" is scrawled in blood on the wall. Holmes's powers of deduction keep the plot engaging. Readers will also enjoy the flashback to the origins of the murder, which lends a heartbroken romanticism to the tale. Even though this mystery was originally published in a bygone era, the sinister plot will hook modern-day readers. Hand it to teens and expect them to come back for more literature from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Recommended for most public libraries.-Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

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