- Title:
- The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Author:
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Release:
- January 10, 1902
- Format:
- Hardcover
- Series
- Sherlock Holmes #5
The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of those quick favorites for me. What I mean when I say that is when I experience a new piece of media; be it video games, books, music, movies, etc.; I tend not to call something a favorite unless I feel it holds the same amount of enjoyment for me in a year, with repeat visits in between. When I read this book for the first time earlier this year, I knew it was here to stay.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a book that doesn’t waste your time with side plots that don’t go anywhere. There aren’t any characters who never amount to anything plotwise. It’s short and to the point, doesn’t overstay its welcome, and keeps you guessing who the antagonist(s) are.
The book features far less Sherlock Holmes than I would have expected; what seems like the majority of the book is from the perspective of Dr Watson. This is the only gripe I have with the book. I started to feel a certain kinship with Holmes in the very first chapter when he asked sidekick to deduce information about their host, based on his walking stick. He not only waits for sidekick to make his inferences but even praises him along the way; only to immediately turn around and berate him for being wrong. The entire thing was a setup to deliver a backhand to the face, something I often relish at the chance to do.
I couldn’t recommend this book more, this book has been around since 1902 and I think this will be around for another 120 years. Do yourself a service and pick up a copy.
Box cover. 
Box back. 
Book cover. 
Book back.