The Sign of FourThe Sign of Four
Score Classic
What it's about
In Arthur Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel, first published in 1890, a young woman brings Holmes and Dr. Watson a mystery: a secret shared by four former convicts from India and a hidden treasure. It also reveals Holmes's drug habit.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. It's a classic of detective fiction.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Moonstone
Murder on the Orient ExpressGood to know
It's short. It's also where Watson meets his future wife.
By the numbers
- Readers17 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #394 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #629 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2189 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Quick answers
Is The Sign of Four worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. It ranks #2,189 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Sign of Four about?
In Arthur Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel, first published in 1890, a young woman brings Holmes and Dr. Watson a mystery: a secret shared by four former convicts from India and a hidden treasure. It also reveals Holmes's drug habit.
How long does it take to read The Sign of Four?
About 4 hours (158 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Sign of Four?
If you liked it, try The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins or Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.