The Sign of Four (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Ed Glinert (Editor), Peter Ackroyd (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: October 2, 2001

As a dense yellow fog swirls through the streets of London, a deep melancholy has descended on Sherlock Holmes, who sits in a cocaine-induced haze at 221B Baker Street. His mood is only lifted by a visit from a beautiful but distressed young woman Mary Morstan, whose father vanished ten years before. Four years later she began to receive an exquisite gift every year: a large, lustrous pearl. Now she has had an intriguing invitation to meet her unknown benefactor and urges Holmes and Watson to accompany her. And in the ensuing investigation which involves a wronged woman, a stolen hoard of Indian treasure, a wooden-legged ruffian, a helpful dog and a love affair even the jaded Holmes is moved to exclaim, Isn't it gorgeous!'

Editorial Reviews

Review

Of all the Holmes stories it is The Sign of Four which remains persistently in my memory. --Graham Greene

Sherlock Holmes is the very foundation stone of the edifice that is crime fiction. --Times

[Holmes] is probably the only literary creation since the creations of Dickens which has really passed into the life and language of the people. --G. K. Chesterton --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From the Publisher

This book is in Electronic Paperback Format. If you view this book on any of the computer systems below, it will look like a book. Simple to run, no program to install. Just put the CD in your CDROM drive and start reading. The simple easy to use interface is child tested at pre-school levels.

Windows 3.11, Windows/95, Windows/98, OS/2 and MacIntosh and Linux with Windows Emulation.

Includes Quiet Vision's Dynamic Index. the abilty to build a index for any set of characters or words. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140439072
• ISBN-13: 978-0140439076
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Doyle, Arthur Conan
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Sherlock Holmes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best $0.00 I ever spent, October 26, 2010

By 

Dustin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sign of the Four (Kindle Edition)

This was a great book, as expected of the Sherlock Holmes novels. The book gets really interesting towards the end as all the others seem to do when Sherlock reveals the mystery. It's a pretty short read, and it's free on kindle! Why wouldn't you get this?

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my gosh....AMAZING, February 13, 2010

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sign of the Four (Kindle Edition)

What starts out as a small meeting with an unknown man turns into a murder mystery for Sherlock Holmes. I don't like to spoil endings, but let me say this: if you think the book is boring at first, don't stop reading: there is a TON of action towards the end.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely gripping!, May 14, 2004

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sign of Four (Audio Cassette)

In this, the second Sherlock Holmes story written by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is called upon by a young lady who needs the great detective's help with a mystery. However, when this mystery leads to murder, Holmes must seek to uncover secrets that have lain hidden for many years, and have their roots in treacheries upon treacheries in far-off India. There's a one-legged man who is at the center of this mystery, and he has a murderous friend who may just be the end of Sherlock Holmes!

As I said, this is the second ever Sherlock Holmes story, written in 1890. As with the very best of the Holmes story, this one is absolutely gripping, carrying a fascinating story with mysteries wrapped up in mysteries that only Mr. Holmes can possibly conquer. As an added bonus, in this story, we get to learn about Dr. Watson's meeting of his true love, and his eventual marriage - which should end some rumors that people spread.

Yep, this is a great story, one that is sure to please any fan of mysteries, and is certain to delight any Sherlock Holmes fan!