Mystery · Classics
A Study in Scarlet
Dr Watson, back from war and looking for lodgings, meets an odd chemist called Sherlock Holmes. Together they investigate a dead man in an empty house and a word scrawled in blood on the wall.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1887
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 108
- Format
- Book 1 of 10 in Sherlock Holmes
Read this if you want to meet Holmes and Watson at the start and enjoy a Victorian puzzle with a surprising second half.
Skip this if you want a single steady plot, as the second half jumps to a different time and place.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about A Study in Scarlet
- What is A Study in Scarlet about?
- Dr Watson, back from war and looking for lodgings, meets an odd chemist called Sherlock Holmes. Together they investigate a dead man in an empty house and a word scrawled in blood on the wall.
- Who should read A Study in Scarlet?
- Read it if you want to meet Holmes and Watson at the start and enjoy a Victorian puzzle with a surprising second half. Skip it if you want a single steady plot, as the second half jumps to a different time and place.
- How long and how fast is A Study in Scarlet?
- It is a medium-paced, short read of about 108 pages, first published in 1887.
- Does A Study in Scarlet have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Violence.
- Can I borrow A Study in Scarlet for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends A Study in Scarlet; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after A Study in Scarlet?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Cuckoo's Calling.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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