A Study in Scarlet is the first of four full-length novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the brilliant Sherlock Holmes.  Published in 1887, it sets the stage with the character s and themes that recur throughout all the Holmes stories and novels.

Part I opens with the reminiscences of Dr. Watson of the initial meeting with the eccentric Holmes and their decision to share lodgings at 221B Baker Street. Dazzled by Holmes’ extraordinary intelligence and puzzled by his motley cast of visitors at all hours, he learns that Holmes is a “consulting detective”. Holmes’ description of his work gives Watson’s narrative its title: “There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it."  Scotland Yard requests Holmes in a baffling murder case and Watson is invited along as Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade chase down obvious but erroneous leads while Sherlock, with the help the “Baker Street Irregulars”, manages to apprehend the murderer. Part II flashes back to Salt Lake Valley in Utah and describes the convoluted misdeeds of the murder victims and the revenge sought by the murderer. The papers give Scotland Yard all the credit, as Holmes had feared they would, which prompts Watson to publish the adventure and set the record straight.

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