The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Hound of the Baskervilles
(A Sherlock Holmes novel, Book 3)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Public Domain Books
Fiction, Mystery
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: The desolate moors of Devonshire are full of secrets: deadly mires, ancient tors, abandoned mines... and black curses. Long ago, the baronet Hugo Baskerville's evil actions brought a curse upon the line that persists to this day, a curse embodied in a demonic hound. The latest victim, Sir Charles Baskerville, died in a state of utter terror. Not a mark was left on the body... but a giant paw print nearby told of the hound's return.
Sherlock Holmes is a rational man, giving little credence to legends and superstitions. When a friend of the late Sir Charles comes to call, he and Watson find themselves drawn into the dark tale of the Baskerville curse. The last known heir to the ill-omened line is on his way to claim the family title and estate... and, already, there are signs of danger. Sent to Baskerville Hall on Holmes's behalf, Watson struggles to untangle a knot of suspects and peculiarities, even as he hears strange cries from the wild moorlands - cries like the voice of a demonic hound...

REVIEW: A classic tale of suspense, it holds up fairly well. For once, Watson manages to hold his own in the investigation, even earning some rare praise from the great detective for his efforts. Doyle again sketches several memorable characters, tying them to a mystery with many twists and turns and false trails that almost best Sherlock Holmes himself. Even having seen more than one adaptation of this story, I found it a gripping read.

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