The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
The story of an old curse and a ferocious ghostly hound comes to life in one of Doyle’s most well-known mysteries. As Holmes and Watson work to uncover the numerous mysteries of the hazy English bogs, the reader will be haunted by the grey towers of Baskerville Hall and the wild, open landscape of Dartmoor.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
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It’s possible to be quite familiar with the fictitious character, the stories dedicated to him, and the cliches assigned to him without ever having read one of his actual stories because Sherlock Holmes has been so firmly ingrained in the literary and popular culture worlds.
And for a very long time, I was one of those individuals. Although I was well-versed in Sherlock and even knew the gist of “Hound of the Baskervilles” (thanks to Wishbone), I had never really read a Sherlock Holmes story. My first Sherlock Holmes story was “Hound of the Baskervilles,” and although though I already knew the main gist of the narrative, it was pleasant to read the original because it was nicely tense and full of surprises.
It is assumed that Sir Charles Baskerville suffered a heart attack when he was found dead on the moors close to his estate. Sherlock Holmes, the renowned investigator, has reason to believe that there has been foul play, so when Baskerville’s nephew attempts to claim the estate as the last surviving heir, Holmes sends his sidekick Watson to go with him and gather information. Watson faithfully keeps track of the intrigues and happenings at the estate and in the nearby fields and moors, but it will be up to Holmes to solve the riddle in the end. And it remains to be seen if the renowned detective can prevent a grim legend involving the Baskervilles—a mythology about a demonic hound—from reappearing and taking another life.
Unexpectedly, Sherlock Holmes is not present for the majority of this book. Watson, however, is a surprisingly likeable lead character. He is a regular guy without Sherlock Holmes’ amazing mind but is nonetheless analytical enough to spot clues and possesses the empathy and gentleness that Holmes often lacks. The novel also features a remarkably diverse and entertaining group of characters, from the unfortunate American immigrant attempting to settle in a drab English manor to the servants who each have a secret to hide to the eccentric doctor with a fascination with skulls.
Despite the fact that I was already familiar with this story (unsurprising as it is one of the most well-known Sherlock Holmes stories), I found it to be a beautifully eerie and thrilling read. The writing style can seem a little dated in comparison to a lot of contemporary literature, particularly thrillers, but it still manages to carry a lot of tension and creeping fear in addition to some genuinely funny and clever moments to lighten the mood as needed.
For good reason, the Sherlock Holmes tales have endured through the ages. Years after it was first published, Hound of the Baskervilles is still a spooky and thrilling read. It’s a terrific mystery novel with a dash of conceivably paranormal aspects to liven it up.
