The Scientific Sherlock Holmes is a scholarly fan's discussion of the use of various scientific methods for crime solving in the Sherlock Holmes stories. The book includes chapters on finger prints, foot prints, hand writing analysis, cryptography and tracking dogs, comparing each of these as used by Holmes against their uses in modern criminal cases. I was surprised to learn that many of the techniques discussed (particularly finger prints) were, at the time of Conan Doyle's writing, revolutionary new ideas in police work. Also examined are Holmes' knowledge of chemistry, biology, geology, physics and mathematics. Two sections I particularly enjoyed were a discussion of false gems and brief afterward about famous hoaxes credited to Conan Doyle himself. Google “The Piltdown Man” if you are curious about the later.