A Study in Scarlet
Complete textRecovering from military service, Dr. Watson needs affordable London lodgings and accepts an introduction to Sherlock Holmes. Their new shared household soon leads Watson into a murder investigation whose puzzling physical evidence conceals a history far beyond the city.
Continue readingAbout A Study in Scarlet
Watson first studies Holmes almost as a case of his own, measuring unusual expertise against striking gaps in ordinary knowledge. The investigation then broadens into a separate account of earlier lives. This change of setting asks readers to connect an apparently contained puzzle with motives that evidence alone cannot fully describe.
Reading focus
Read the London clues alongside the later change of setting to distinguish explanation from moral judgment.
This reading edition contains 43,308 words in 14 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: Arthur Conan Doyle. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
(Being a reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., Late of the Army Medical Department.)
Contents
All sections- PART I. — CHAPTER I. MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES.13 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER II. THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION.17 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER III. THE LAURISTON GARDENS MYSTERY18 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER IV. WHAT JOHN RANCE HAD TO TELL.12 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER V. OUR ADVERTISEMENT BRINGS A VISITOR.12 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER VI. TOBIAS GREGSON SHOWS WHAT HE CAN DO.15 min
- PART I. — CHAPTER VII. LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.16 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER I. ON THE GREAT ALKALI PLAIN.17 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER II. THE FLOWER OF UTAH.12 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER III. JOHN FERRIER TALKS WITH THE PROPHET.9 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER IV. A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.16 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER V. THE AVENGING ANGELS.17 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER VI. A CONTINUATION OF THE REMINISCENCES OF JOHN WATSON, M.D.21 min
- PART II. The Country of the Saints. — CHAPTER VII. THE CONCLUSION.10 min
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Is this the complete A Study in Scarlet?
This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 14 sections and 43,308 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
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