The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes (1893) By Arthur Conan Doyle

"...to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers."

As I have been working my way through this classic Sherlock Holmes collection, I have grown to know the minds of the legendary fictional detective and hid trusty companion Watson all the more. For the most part, I have enjoyed exploring their various adventures, and was indeed hopeful of doing the same with this, the so-called 'Memoirs' of the great private investigator.

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important."

Much like some of the previous works in this series, this is another selection of mostly shorter mysteries. Indeed, it seems that Conan Doyle wanted to provide as many examples of his most famous character's skill and intellect as he could manage. This particular collection even introduces readers to Holmes' most iconic foe; the cunning James Moriarty.

"Of all ghosts the ghosts of our old loves are the worst."

Unfortunately, the most interesting stories were still very short, compared to the first couple of investigations. I wanted more time with Moriarty, for instance. One singular story did not feel like enough time to truly deliver the significance of him as a character. I wanted and, to a certain extent, expected more of him in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. It was a surprise that this was his eventual debut.

"Everything I have to say has already crossed your mind." / "Then possibly my answer has crossed yours."

Overall, I would say this was the most consistently entertaining selection of shorter investigations out of those I have read thus far. I liked that some of the investigations were a little longer - it gave them room to breathe. I would still classify 'A Study In Scarlet' as my most enjoyable read, to this point, although I still have a few more Holmes and Watson mysteries to read. Regardless of that fact, I thought that this was a very strong collection of tales, for the most part.

"He is the Napoleon of crime, Watson. He is the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city, He is a genius, a philosopher, an abstract thinker. He has a brain of the first order. He sits motionless, like a spider in the center of its web, but that web has a thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each of them. He does little himself. He only plans."