Sherlock Holmes fans will know the deal with the story. A Scandal in Bohemia was the first Holmes short story that Conan Doyle wrote for The Strand Magazine – following two successful novels – and was part of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes compilation published in 1892. Holmes and Watson are approached by a tall, mysterious gentleman, who initially appears in a mask and who wants the consulting detective to retrieve an incriminating photograph of him. The photo is in the possession of one Irene Adler, who becomes a bit of a thing with Holmes in later stories. If Holmes doesn’t get hold of it, the picture will cause a scandal in Bohemia.
There are nice little interactive touches too, like the ability to rub out one of Holmes’ disguises, or to open drawers, manipulate objects and inspect documents. You can turn the aged, textured pages with a swipe, and sometimes something as simple as a shift in the type size is what lifts a section of the text.
The story itself, well it’s not so much a mystery as a mission for Holmes, but at $1.99 (iOS), and offering an hour or two of enhanced reading entertainment, it’s well worth it. This iClassic would also be an ideal way of engaging a young reader with Sherlock Holmes. It sits alongside a similarly presented collection of Edgar Allen Poe works, and you can also get iLovecraft, iWilde and iDickens.
More images from iDoyle can be seen below. If you like the sound of this, try The 39-Steps Interactive.
iClassics Collection
iOS/Android
$1.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
Who’s this slovenly horse groom? Rub his disguise away with your finger, and it’s Holmes!
An injured clergyman causes a commotion.
Mess about with letters and notes here an there in the presentation.
And here’s the client, in Bohemina garb.