Midnight on Memory Lane

{Sunday Midnight Book Club #2} A Study in Scarlet: Chapters 3 - 4

Hello, Internet, and good mornight to you all!

My name is Taffryne, shoppekeeper of Midnight on Memory Lane, and it is my absolute delight to welcome you back to Sunday Midnight Book Club.

'Tis a pleasure, 'tis a pleasure.

As the title of this post says, we're going to be talking about the third and fourth chapters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first-ever Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet. I humbly present my thoughts for your enjoyment and consideration. Accordingly, please mind that there will be spoilers ahead!

Disclaimer: All of the original Sherlock Holmes books were written by a well-off, white gentleman in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, there potentially will be relics of their time, be it terminology or depictions, at varying levels of offensiveness. I mean no disrespect to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, nor his legacy; I merely want to make it clear that they were wrong during his time, they are wrong now, and I am wholeheartedly in no way endorsing them on this blog. Everyone has different levels of acceptability, so please advise and feel no judgement if you'd rather not take the risk yourself this time around.

Trigger Warnings: Discussion of Murder, Presence of a Dead Body, Generic Warning for Sherlock Holmes' Social Skills

Pagebound Link: click here!

Chapter 3: The Lauriston Garden Mystery

Recollection

As we've now gotten through the slog of having to introduce the characters and the world surrounding 221B Baker Street, I must say, it's truly so exciting to see the true "sherlocking" of Sherlock Holmes take shape and weave itself into reality. Everything from him knowing that rache is the German word for "revenge" to somehow knowing on which specific foot a horse has a new shoe is just thrilling to read. There's such an excitement I get with mystery novels (or any mystery-based series, really) when watching the piecing of the puzzle and unfolding of the secrets. While I don't think of myself stupid, I do recognize that I am not anywhere near the level of observation skills or general knowledge that my favourite characters like Sherlock Holmes or J.B. Fletcher have (Rest-in-Peace Angela Lansbury).

Honestly, I think it's their genius that makes their more direct style, or in Holmes' case, outright ineptitude at socialization so endearing and tolerable. It's not so bad to deal with a brash person when they are worth the effort and time, you know? Now, that's not an excuse for Holmes to be as lambasting and arrogant towards his colleagues. In anything, it's a...consolation reason? Yeah, consolation reason; if you're going to be rude, you better be worth the trouble.

As for the mystery itself, I think I already know the general gist of it from the first mystery arc in the BBC series...but that is the modern day version and not the 1800s version, so I'm keeping my eyes open to the new developments. So, excluding the parts I think I know already, I've got absolutely no clue how Mr. American died.

I'd like to give a special shoutout to this gem from page 14:

"I am the most incurably lazy devil that ever stood in shoe leather"

What an eloquent way to say "I don't wanna".

Chapter 4: What John Rance Had to Tell

Recollection

I truly, truly wonder what it would be like to be so environmentally aware as Sherlock Holmes. Ignoring all of his background knowledge and absurd levels of skill, I am simply in awe at how his written to notice the most minute of details in a scene. I understand that that's his job as the Great Consulting Detective, but damn, you know? How many people would notice a single hoof print leaving a sharper impression than the other three? Who could be trusted to see the most miniscule of scratch marks beneath blood-drawn letters on a peeling wall? For all his hassle, dang, does he make himself worth it.

Switching topics, I agree with Sherlock. YOU HAD A PHYSICAL PERSON AT THE SCENE OF A MURDER, DRUNK OR ACTING LIKE IT, AND YOU JUST LET HIM WALK AWAY??? Constable, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? I don't care if that person was so high on shrooms that they can't remember two seconds ago let along a couple hours; YOU KEEP HOLD OF THAT PERSON AND SOBER THEM UP. That person, for all we know, could be anyone from the witness, to a fled victim, to the assailant putting on a show. How absolutely thick does your skull have to be for you to see no value in keeping them within your custody. Now, they have to go and try who knows what methods to track down some random "drunkard" in the late 1800s and hope they don't get duped. Brilliant work, Mr. Rance. What a gem of the ranks you are.

I'd also like to point out that THEY SAID THE THING!!! They actually said "A Study in Scarlet" on page 23. I cannot believe the trope of name-dropping your own work was around even back in the 1880s. Additionally:

"...you shall come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all." (Sherlock, pg. 21) "I shall never do that." (Watson, pg. 21)

Sherlock, dearest, sarcastic Sherlock. I, nor do I think anyone, would ever waste the electricity needed to fire a single neuron towards the thought of considering you to be an "ordinary individual". "Ordinary" is a word that could not come within the same continent, no, within the same planetary orbit as anyone's half-baked description of you. There is far to much of...gestures vaguely "you" to disclaimer.

Thanks for Reading!

I hope you've been able to read and enjoy the story for yourself! If you haven't, that's okay too! My thoughts are here to keep you updated and entertained in the meantime.

This caps off this week's gathering of Sunday Midnight Book Club, so off into the nighttime we go in preparation for tomorrow! I hope you'll come back for Manga Monday's double feature of the first two volumes of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess!

May we meet again when the clock strikes 12:00!