A Study in Scarlet is a fine detective novel in its own right, but it's most notable for being the first of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. The introduction of the character of Holmes (as narrated by his sidekick Dr. Watson) is one of the most celebrated in all of fiction, and for good reason. Every time I re-read the novel I am struck by how economically Doyle introduces the character; within a few pages he has sketched out in full Holmes's singular character. At the same time, Doyle's vivid descriptions immerse us in late 19th century London, a bustling metropolis where adventure lurks around every corner. Many of the other familiar trappings of the Holmes stories are first mentioned here too: Scotland Yard, Inspector Lestrade, and, of course, 221B Baker Street. The murder plot itself is rather grisly, taking place in an abandoned house in the middle of a rainy night. Doyle excites the reader by describing how thoroughly Holmes investigates the scene, and how quickly he is able to deduce the identity of the murderer. Once the case has been solved, the novel takes a strange left turn and becomes a Western. Again Doyle is able to vividly describe the environment, this time the harsh mountains and salt-plains of Utah. We learn of the strange society built by the Mormons after their exile from the United States. The portrayal of the early Mormon theocracy is bone-chilling; this was a society where absolute religious dogma was expected, the patriarchy reigned supreme, and women were treated like cattle, forced into polygamous marriages. All of this serves as an elaborate origin story for the murderer eventually caught by Holmes; this man swore revenge on two Mormon elders who kidnapped his beloved, and forced her into marriage. This sequence is striking for how unnecessary it seems - after all, the murderer's motive could have been related in far fewer words. It seems that Doyle wanted to stretch himself by including this section, and he must have wanted to tell a tale of adventure and horror. There is some controversy over his portrayal of Mormon society, but let's keep a few things in mind. Mormon history was quite bloody, and did practice polygamy. This is enough to make them fair game as villains in a work of fiction (unless you don't think it's right to ever make any group into villains). Though <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> is not the best Holmes novel, it is a must-read for fans of Sherlock and of mystery fiction in general.