A Study in Scarlet

There's a murder and a message scrawled in blood, but the game afoot in this drama based on the first Sherlock Holmes story is most of all John Watson's study of the famous consulting detective. Dr. Watson moves into the lodgings at 221B Baker Street and becomes fascinated with his new roommate, a skilled boxer and fencer known for mysterious experiments and a remarkable base of knowledge. Clive Merrison gives Sherlock Holmes a maniacal laugh and a moody temperament that would seem incompatible with Michael Williams's calm, reserved Watson. First aired in 1989, this adventure kicked off a BBC Radio series. The emphasis on the interplay between the two characters makes this production sharp and entertaining. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine