Sherlock Holmes Remastered: A Study in Scarlet

The Very First Sherlock Holmes Story Ever Told

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes in 1887 with A Study In Scarlet, and later went on to write another 3 Sherlock Holmes novels and 56 short stories.

Watson Meets Holmes

All of the Sherlock Holmes books and almost all of the short stories are told from the perspective of Dr. Watson. A Study in Scarlet begins with Watson returning injured from the British war in Afghanistan and looking for an affordable place to live. His friend Stamford tells him that someone he met in the chemistry lab is looking for someone to share rooms with, but gives him the warning, “You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get along with him...This was your idea, so you must not hold me responsible.” Disturbed by this statement, Watson asks Stamford what's bothering him. “It is not easy to express the inexpressible,” he replies. “Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes. I could imagine him giving a friend a little pinch of something he made in the lab just to see how it would effect him. To do him justice, I think that he would take it himself with the same readiness.”

Watson is taken aback by his first interaction with the enigmatic Holmes, but chooses to live with him anyway. Injured and virtually friendless, Watson initially spends most of his time confined to their rooms, and sets about trying to unlock the mystery of Sherlock Holmes, trying to figure out to what purpose his flatmate has acquired such a unique array of skills.

The Murder That Baffles Scotland Yard

Sherlock Holmes is in the middle of one of his periodic depressions when an emergency call comes in from Scotland Yard: There has been a murder and they need his help. In his depressed state, Holmes has no desire to go, but ultimately agrees at Watson’s bidding. When he arrives, he finds an American man dead on the floor of an abandoned house. The man has not been robbed and has no apparent injuries. The main clues? A wedding ring lies on top of the body and written in blood upon the wall is the word RACHE, the German word for revenge.

This Is Not The Original Text

This is a Remastered version that strives to make the classic story more accessible to readers who might never have otherwise read the classic. In other words, it's not meant to be a replacement of the classic, but rather a bridge, exposing a new class of readers to the brilliance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. While the vast majority of the text is original, hundreds of modifications have been made to make the story an easier, smoother reading experience for modern readers. The changes include:

• Replacing or defining outdated vocabulary or concepts
  
• Decreasing long narrative descriptions
  
• Increasing live action
  

We hope these changes will allow a new generation to enjoy the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes.

Take the Sherlock Holmes Remastered Challenge

Not sure if the original or the Remastered version is right for you? Then try them both. Download a free sample chapter of both versions and then decide.