Generally well written. Very original idea to divide the novel in two parts - one in which the murderer is found and another in which his motives are explained through a (very) thorough back story. The first part of the story is not that memorable. Doctor Watson lacks personality and the story of his encounter and aquintance with Sherlock Holmes is too scarcely described. Sherlock Holmes is an interesting character and his habits and relations with other people are queer and not without charm. He is however too fantasticly great a detective and this is actually one of the major drawbacks of the book as it simply does not seem credible that Sherlock can decipher absolutely everything from completely random things like the type of mud on someones boots to the way a certain floor board is bent. He is simply too superhuman. The second part of the book is quite original and is probably the highlight of the book. The back story gives an insight into the mormon religion and the founding of the mormon colony of salt lake city told from a personal point of view. This story simultaneously gives us s view of the murderers motives of vengeance and lost love. It integrates well with what we know already from the first part of the book.
Verdict: Quite good - okay crime story, although Sherlock is too superior, very good second part
