Shaped by Watson's role as narrator as well as by the genre of detective fiction, the tone in "A Scandal in Bohemia" is specific, scrutinizing, sincere, and admiring. Watson narrates nearly all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and his characteristic tone is arguably as important for the consistency of the stories as the Baker Street setting or Holmes's incredible power of deductive reasoning.
Serving as Holmes's associate, Watson has a firsthand view of how the case unfolds. His narration is with detail, which makes his tone specific and scrutinizing. Although he may not notice and intuit on the same level as Holmes, he absorbs and takes written note of as much as he can. He takes Holmes's work, as well as his own recording of it, very seriously. This dedication to his subject matter and task imbues the tone with sincerity. Interspersed with Watson's summary of what actually takes place are reflections marked by awe and respect for Holmes, which give his narration an admiring tone. Whereas Holmes seems to lack empathy, Watson is compassionate, and the story is delivered to the reader through this empathetic frame.
Watson's specificity and sincerity are related to his position as a writer within his fictional world. He isn't simply a narrator telling a story but a narrator writing the story he is narrating. This conscious composition, and his awareness of the reader, shapes his tone. It is not only Doyle, on the level of author, who is committed to making the story constructed in a clear and engaging way. On the level of narrator, Watson is also aware that the text he is writing will have readers, and that it is his job to capture and make sense of Holmes's genius.
