‘A study in scarlet’ is a novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle which showcases the most famous

detective duo in popular fiction i.e. Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. It was first published in
1887 in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, and released as a separate book the following July (1888).
The novel is divided into two segments :

(a) The Reminiscences of Dr Watson

In part one , the readers are introduced to Dr John H Watson , he returned to
England after serving in the second Afghan war. With the help of an old friend he
meets Sherlock and become flatmates at 221B Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes is a
renowned detective who helps members of Scotland Yard in solving cases. A case
came across the duo where the body of Enoch Drebber was found in an abandoned
house , with the word “RACHE” (meaning revenge in german) written on the wall
above it. After investigating the crime scene , they found that the victim was
poisoned and a woman’s ring was accidently left there. In order to catch that
person , they posted an advertisement about a lost ring found in Brixton Road. They
followed an old woman who claimed to be the owner of the missing ring , she gets in
a cab and at the end of the trip is found nowhere. Meanwhile the other detectives
Lestrade and Gregson both follow their own hunches , detective Lestrade found
another dead body of Joseph Stragerson who was Drebber’s secretary. A vital
evidence is found near the windowsill which was a strange looking pillbox. A cabbie
arrives at the doorstep of Mr Holmes and helps him in moving his luggage , suddenly
he was handcuffed and declared as the killer (Jefferson Hope, the cabbie) by
Sherlock.

(b) The Country of Saints

In part two , the readers are informed with the backstory of the killer and motive
behind these gruesome murders. Thirty years back a man named John Ferrier and
his adopted daughter Lucy were found by a group of Mormons and in return they
converted their lifestyle to Mormonism. Lucy fell in love with a non-Mormon who
was Jefferson Hope , the council didn’t approve their relationship. They tried to
escape but sadly Lucy was captured , forced to marry a Mormon who was Enoch
Drebber , ultimately dies of a broken heart and Ferrier was killed in a struggle. After
that Jefferson Hope took an oath to get his revenge on both Drebber and Stragerson.