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"A Study in Scarlet" was published 46 years (1887) after Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841) and there are a surprising number of similarities in the two stories, both the first in a series:
1) Narrator. In "Scarlet" the narrator is Watkins and not the hero detective, Holmes. In "Morgue", the narrator is unnamed and again not the hero, Dupin.
2) In both stories, there are two victims who are murdered.
3) In both, we learn early that robbery (of money or jewelry, etc.) was not the motive.
4) In both, an ad is placed in a newspaper to lure the guilty party in to Holmes and Dupin.
5) In both, the guilty party is not a native of London, nor even England.
6) In both, and the biggest similarity in my opinion, there are reasons that readers, as well as Holmes and Dupin and a jury, might feel each guilty party can't really be convicted of the crime.
7) Both Dupin and Holmes are the brains, while the narrator is little more than, well, a narrator.
8) And finally, both authors reach across "the Pond" (the Atlantic Ocean) to tell their stories.
What's different? Poe's story is far darker and much more violent while Doyle seems to be writing "Poe-light." For today's readers, Doyle presents an easier, more accessible read. But we can't accuse Doyle of plagiarism because if we did, the same would apply to Poe, who was indeed inspired by previous writers. Now, I'll repeat a few adages: 1) There is only one crime: taking something that doesn't belong to you. 2) There is only one story: someone moves- perhaps to a new place, into a new station, into a new relationship - and said story ensues.
What I liked best, though, about "Scarlet" was that Doyle presents an interesting, and seemingly unresolved, mystery to the reader. Early in the story, Watkins tells Holmes that he, Watkins, "keeps a bull pup." But there is no further mention of this pet, and there is a note in this edition that "Critics have made much of the lost bull pup that is never mentioned again in 'A Study in Scarlett' or in any subsequent story." Hum...interesting! "But oh", I modestly say, twisting my Herculian brain and beautiful mustaches, "given that Holmes kills a terrier (who is very ill) to test the efficacy of a suspected poison during the story, Watkins simply decides it might be best that he not bring his beloved pet (housed temporarily in a kennel, as Watkins has been staying in a hotel before moving in with Holmes) near Sherlock. I'd love to remove this dear animal from the kennel and house it myself, but alas, my dearest beloved at home has allergies." Now, on to my next dazzling feat of detection.