In January, I promised I would read the true classics of mystery, and behold, two months later, here it begins. What better place to start than the granddaddy of them all, Sherlock Holmes? I read a delightfully antique collection of the earliest works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which included A Study in Scarlett, The Bohemian Affair, The Sign of the Four, and The Ring of Thoth.
I want to structure this review a little differently than a typical post, if that’s alright with you, reader. (It is?!? Thanks, you’re swell.) I’m sure you know much about the original ionic detective. Based on the way the book repeatedly explains the concept of the consulting amateur detective to the reader, I believe Doyle may have invented the idea. Or, if he drew from another source, it was certainly not a well-known trope to the reading public. Rather than running over the basic plots, let’s discuss some takeaways from these iconic tales for the craft of mystery writing:
Ask Interesting Questions
Nobody wants to read about a man who lost his shoe, or some corporate embezzlement scheme (unless that embezzlement serves some more sinister end). The problems Holmes solves deal with ancient curses, scandals among European nobility, grizzly and creative murders, and decades-old feuds. As they should, the questions are strong hooks, dragging the reader along. If the question doesn’t draw me in, why would I care about the answer?
Reveal Engaging Clues
Some mysteries are constructed so that the reader can solve them as they go. The show Murder She Wrote comes to mind, with lingering shots on clues. These earliest Sherlock Holmes stories are more written to impress the reader with the character’s brilliance. For example, when there is something special about a set of carriage tracks, we don’t get exhausing details about them at first. Doyle foreshadows their importance by telling us only that Holmes noticed them, then, having him to explain the subtle clue he noticed a few pages later. The impression of sheer unrivaled cleverness scratches a certain escapist itch, inspiring a sense of wonder. That said, I appreciate that Doyle gives us just enough to explain without bogging us down with details. He presents as a matter of course, for example that Sherlock has developed a test to verify that a stain is blood, but he doesn’t drag the reader down into the nitty gritty details of proteins or chemicals.
Choose Your Perspective Wisely
Famously, Sherlock Holmes stories are narrated by his friend and assistant, Dr. Jon Watson. This is a solid creative decision, for it keeps the mystery of Holmes himself going. What drives him? How does his mind work? If, instead, we rode along in Sherlock’s mind, each mystery would follow a similar path:
- The victim finally finished the boring details of the life, onto the important details.
- Based on what we know so far, the solution is either this, that,or the other.
- First scene: three very specific clues. Cannot be that, must be this or the other.
- Second scene: another specific clue. Must be the other.
- Listen to the backstory.
I believe each story would be no more than 5 pages, 8 tops, were this the case. Whether narrating from multiple POVs or just one, a well-crafted mystery will chose the speaker with a strong emotional reaction to the events of the story, whether that’s the most to lose, the greatest sense of wonder, or some other connection.
The Villain is The Best Part
While the Sherlock and his friends are all interesting in their own right, there is something narratively limiting about the archetypal detective, assistant, and victim. The detective must be primarily good (or, at least, interested in good outcomes for their own ends) and ask lots of questions. The assistant must be loyal, and, above all, curious, to give the detective someone to explain things to. The victim is distraught and wants justice. It takes a skilled pen to tease out the unique details of characters in these roles.
But villains… there’s another matter.
I was initially surprised to find that nearly half of the wordcount on many Sherlock Holmes mysteries was dedicated to the villain explaining How and Why They Did It(tm). I shouldn’t have been surprised, this was invariably the most interesting part. It’s one thing to accept that Jim the Jilted Lover committed the murders. It’s another to hear of his slow descent into madness as lost love fueled obsession and rage.
Do They Hold Up?
In a word, yes, I can strongly recommend that if you haven’t read the original detective stories, it’s well worth your time to at least read a short story or two. The voice is of the times, but not unreadable, and carries with it a certain classic charm. Some of the clues, such as a heavy reliance on phrenology (the pseudo-scientific notion of the time that head shape revealed personality), have not stood the test of time, but most carry forward quite well. They’re brisk and easy to read, once you sink into the 1800s dialect.
I pity the modern mystery writer. Doyle was pioneering a genre. Every plot twist he dreamed up was relatively fresh. Over 100 years later, I imagine, it is comparatively difficult to pose new questions or dream up surprising twists.
Happy reading, folks. Keep an eye out for “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of”, coming sometime in the next 2-to-5 weeks.
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