My first foray into the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was with A Study in Scarlet, back in October of 2010. I enjoyed it and planned to read more of Dr.Watson’s recollections of the adventures of the world’s foremost consulting detective, never realizing that a decade would pass before I would again visit the duo on the printed page.
Just prior to the pandemic closing stores I made a trip to Barnes and Noble and purchased a number of books in support of what I knew might be a time of decreased income for the store. When they opened up I did the same thing, in celebration of the ability to once again walk into a book shop and be surrounded by new books, waiting to be read. It was on that visit that I picked up a copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The anticipation of September’s arrival being the unofficial beginning of Autumn, I no longer could resist and began reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous novel. I had a difficult time laying it aside, enjoying every word in this 169 page novel.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a suitably atmospheric tale if you are looking for a mystery with elements of superstition and the supernatural weaving among story threads.
From the very beginning the mystery is presented to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as one that simply must have some supernatural element to it, despite everyone’s level-headed belief that this could not be possible.
[Story structure spoiler alert…I will not spoil the mystery]. One of the things I enjoyed so much in this novel, and had not expected, was how much the ongoing unfolding of the mystery would revolve around Watson’s observations and reports to Sherlock Holmes, as Holmes was to remain in London to devote himself to other cases while Dr. Watson traveled with the protagonist, Sir Henry Baskerville, to his newly inherited estate among the moors where a visit from a hound from hell was predicted to be his fate.
It was fun to read Watson’s reports and speculate on what Holmes would be making of each exacting detail, knowing full well that at some point the infamous detective would do what he does so well: solve seemingly impossible mysteries.
This is a quick read, with beautifully crafted language and the kind of economy of language that keeps the reader engaged and the story moving forward. The story manages to maintain a haunting mood until the very end while not veering from the analytical, deductive world of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
I was impressed with A Study in Scarlet. I am more so with The Hound of the Baskervilles.
#ripxv
I like your spoiler free review, and I won’t spoil things either, but it should be mentioned that nothing supernatural happens. I am a Christian, and in case someone else reads this who also abstains from the supernatural reads this, I wanted to make that clear
I’m glad you enjoyed it Sean.
One of my favorite Holmes stories. And while I love Holmes as a character, I really enjoy the lack of Holmes for a good stretch.
I enjoyed that aspect. It reminded me of my favorite (thus far) of the Ian Fleming Bond books, From Russia With Love, where for the first half of the book it is focused on a different character entirely. It makes what happens in the second half of the book that much more powerful.
I’ve never read it but really want to now. I love that cover too.
It is a nice book. I enjoyed author Laurie R. King’s introduction…which I didn’t read until AFTER I had read the story. It is also annotated, and I loved looking back at each annotation as I was reading.
Carl,
I admit I’m not much of a fan of the crime genre which is maybe why I could not be so enthusiastic about Holmes (and Doyle) as you are.
(You can see my review of this story at https://jackdeighton.co.uk/2018/03/14/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles-by-arthur-conan-doyle/)
It definitely makes it harder to enjoy a book (or film, etc.) if you aren’t a real fan of the genre. I know there are probably many well-written books and films deserving of their critical acclaim that I won’t ever even bother reading/watching because I’m just not a fan of those types of books/films. Which to me would only be an issue if there was a lack of variety of things to read or watch. We are blessed that this is not a problem!
As I told you on Instagram, this is the only Holmes I’ve ever read. And now after reading your post, I really want to read it again! But seriously, shouldn’t I read one of his other books instead–lol. But there really is something to be said for the comfort of rereading too, yes?
I do like to reread, very much in fact. But the older I’m getting I’m often having that debate about rereading vs. trying something new. I’m such a mood reader that the debate doesn’t usually take very long…I simply pick up whatever book I am in the mood for and that is where I go. Since I walk almost every day and drive to and from work five days a week, I’ve been taking care of some of my rereading desires by listening to audio books. I’m currently “rereading” The Graveyard Book via the full cast audio version. Love visiting those characters again.
During my 30s and 40s I eschewed re-reading in favor of always picking something new. But over the past year, as I approached and then crossed 50, I found myself revisiting old favorites and planning on more re-reads to come. Part of it is certainly these crazy times – there’s great comfort to be found in renewing literary acquaintances.
Glad you enjoyed Hound. I have yet to read a bad Conan Doyle book, and if you like historical fiction I highly recommend Sir Nigel and The White Company.
Thanks for the recommendations.
I know I started rereading at a early age because I was just getting into science fiction and when I found something I liked I just read it to death. Did the same with library books. I would go get some and that was all I had to read until the next trip, being at the mercy of my parents taking a trip into town, that I would read and then reread them. I read a ton when I was a kid, just getting lost in books for hours. So it was easy to tear through a book in a day and want to get back to it after I had exhausted whatever other reading I did. Now, like you, it is very much about the comfort I get from revisiting those familiar characters, places, plots, etc.
I love the cover on this edition. It’s the only Sherlock Holmes mystery I’ve read and I honestly can’t remember how it ended! (just that I really enjoyed it) If I ever reach a point I’m willing to re-read books (I have far too many unread books in my TBR), it might have to go on my list. There was a time I would never have begun a “re-read list”, but I have…. and it’s getting longer!
I don’t have too long of a re-read list. It is mostly books that I reread and a fairly regular basis: Neverwhere, Stardust, and The Graveyard Book by Gaiman, the first 5 Stainless Steel Rat books, A World Out of Time by Larry Niven, Susanna Clarke’s short story collection The Ladies of Grace Adieu, some of Kate DiCamillo’s books.
I still have not read any Sherlock Holmes! I know unreal. That is a great cover and thank you for sharing more about this. Sounds like I should add this to my R.I.P. potential reads.
I’m pretty sure the first time I did it was for a R.I.P. event.
Over a decade?! What a long wait! After reading my first Holmes and Watson mystery, I read ALL the rest in pretty quick succession. Although I enjoyed them all, I think this is still my favourite. I hope you’re able to read more soon and this such a lovely edition of it. 🙂
No matter how much I like a book I often don’t go on to the next one right away. Just a weird quirk. I do sometimes, like when I read 9 Louise Penny books in a row, but that is very rare. I do often wonder when I am visiting these classics and liking them so much, why I don’t read them more often, but that is the way the reading whims go. 🙂
The Hound of the Baskervilles is my very favorite of all the Holmes stories. I’ve read it twice and could easily read it again! While the structure is definitely part of its charm, what I really love is the atmosphere and feeling of suspense. Great fun.
Wow, I could have sworn I commented to this! Love the Book, and loved the movie with Basil Rathbone and Richard Greene played Baskerville (much later to play Robin Hood as a television series)..
Wow, I could have sworn I commented to this! Love the Book, and loved the movie with Basil Rathbone and Richard Greene played Baskerville (much later to play Robin Hood as a television series)..