The Scientific Sherlock Holmes: Cracking the Case with Science and Forensics Illustrated Edition

This is a fun, fast paced book for readers with an interest in Sherlock Holmes or in the use of forensics in crime solving generally. The author makes a point of drawing in real life examples to highlight the use of these techniques, which livens up the story considerably – from the O.J. Simpson case to the theft of the Mona Lisa, which contributed to the unsuccessful denouement of a competing early approach to systematic evidence gathering. As is appropriate for failed analyses the author quickly dispatches of this precursor to Holmes’ more successful methods and goes on to provide a well researched, concise and friendly treatment of an angle of the Holmes stories that is somewhat overlooked. The lasting impression is that Holmes (whether by luck or the author’s design) was ultimately on the right side with many of the techniques he employed, usually far in advance of formal adaptation by Scotland Yard or the FBI. The author also drops in numerous little facts about the stories themselves and how they fit in to the entire body of work.There are abbreviations to the story titles that take some getting used to. But otherwise the book is crisp, making for a quick and enjoyable read. There were no issues here with confusion when it came to the more nuanced passages, nor with the frequent citations. In fact, the book is clearly exhaustively researched and no less exhaustively documented, as one would expect from a book about science. The author's conclusion regarding the quality of the stories, with supporting survey data and input from no less an authority than Arthur Conan Doyle himself, is worth the read alone.

Anything Sherlock is worth the buy.

For any scientific-minded reader. A must for Sherlockians, but important and entertaining for anyone else. From philosophy to brain chemistry and forensic science, this book explains the methods that made Holmes the great sleuth he was.

Nice look into everything Holmes. This book is for everyone, no background on science needed. Just sit back and enjoy.

4 stars for logical conclusions supported by experts and fans of Holmes alike. This book added to my enjoyment of one of my favorite collection.

This book was written by a former chemistry faculty member at Missouri State University, and contains a great analysis of the science used by Doyle and Holmes. It is an easy and enlightening read for anyone who admires the holmes books for the science used.

great

The information in this book is smartly organized and thoroughly comprhensive...it sits by my reading chair at all times. It has all the answers to "What would Sherlock do" and "How would he do it." I see so much more in Doyle's stories after having studied this book. I can't watch a Sherlock episode or read a Sherlock story any longer without refering to this book...what a great addition to the pleasure of knowing Sherlock Holmes! Thank you James O'Brien.