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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Took me three tries to listen to this final chapter, but a worthy, convoluted mystery. One day I'll have read all of Sherlock Holmes I think, the audiobooks are infinitely listenable.
What do I need to say it was just a really incredibly good time
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay, I clearly don't have the time or interest to write any reviews right now, so for later reference if I forget: I got the Stephen Fry audiobook with all the Holmes stories and listened to it while following the text in my own omnibus edition (because I love my book and my mind tends to wander when listening to an audiobook). Fry's approach is very lively, and he took the trouble to read the characters in a different voice/accent as well.
Not terrible but not exactly impressed with the abridgment. Due to the extreme editing there is a choppiness to the story that leaves it still readable but less enjoyable. While i wasn't impressed by the illustrations they weren't horrible by any means either. Overall a decent introduction to Doyle, but not one that i could see being a great encouragement into reading the longer and more impressive Sherlock Holmes.
arc from NetGalley
arc from NetGalley
This isn't the first time I've read this book, but the last time was a very long time ago, and I didn't remember a single thing from it, so it was well worth re-reading. I really enjoyed the characters of Holmes and Watson. I was also impressed by the depiction of the moors. I'm not a very visual reader, so I have trouble picturing scenes a lot of the time, but I feel like I really got a feel for the moors. I'll admit I'm not a very big mystery reader, but I also enjoyed the mystery that was central to the plot. In all, a fun and engaging read.
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” - Arthur Conan Doyle
That is to say, nobody but you, Sherlock Holmes!
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up Sherlock Holmes and this book did not disappoint! In fact, it was more than the opposite—it was a splendid kickoff to the start of spooky season. This one has a gothic vibe and a very ominous tone and I found myself on the edge of my seat quite frequently while reading it.
A concerned friend of the recently deceased owner of Baskerville Hall consults with Sherlock Holmes when his friend is found dead out on the moors around the estate. The death is mysterious to begin with, but even more so when large paw prints are found near the body. He relays to Sherlock the legend surrounding this family—a curse involving a supernatural fiend, a hell hound of sorts, sent to hunt down the males in the Baskerville family line, as reparations for the evil deeds done by their ancestor. What? Something horrifying is afoot, Watson!
Well, I didn’t figure out who did the murder. All along, right up till the very end, I had someone else pegged, so well done Sherlock for seeing the things I did not.
That is to say, nobody but you, Sherlock Holmes!
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up Sherlock Holmes and this book did not disappoint! In fact, it was more than the opposite—it was a splendid kickoff to the start of spooky season. This one has a gothic vibe and a very ominous tone and I found myself on the edge of my seat quite frequently while reading it.
A concerned friend of the recently deceased owner of Baskerville Hall consults with Sherlock Holmes when his friend is found dead out on the moors around the estate. The death is mysterious to begin with, but even more so when large paw prints are found near the body. He relays to Sherlock the legend surrounding this family—a curse involving a supernatural fiend, a hell hound of sorts, sent to hunt down the males in the Baskerville family line, as reparations for the evil deeds done by their ancestor. What? Something horrifying is afoot, Watson!
Well, I didn’t figure out who did the murder. All along, right up till the very end, I had someone else pegged, so well done Sherlock for seeing the things I did not.
A fun mystery (with some problems/reflections of its time) that weaves in a little sense of mythology as the title suggests.
welcome to...THE HOUND OF THE DECEMBERVILLES.
man, every sherlock holmes title sounds like it was randomly generated by a computer.
anyway, it's another PROJECT LONG CLASSICS installment. this is not that long of a classic, but i couldn't think of a better pun (i know – think of how low of a bar), so i'll be reading a chapter of this per day all month long.
let's get into it!
CHAPTER 1: MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES
likely title for chapter 1 to be.
kind of fun to just watch watson and holmes gossip for a while...attempt their little "deductions" and whatnot. and then also be totally wrong.
CHAPTER 2: THE CURSE OF THE BASKERVILLES
inching ever closer to that title.
unfortunately i find it very difficult to be scared by the thought of a big dog, which is the best kind of dog there is.
CHAPTER 3: THE PROBLEM
to be honest i would have pinpointed "guy murdered by magic ghost dog" as the problem. but i guess that's why i'm not sherlock holmes.
CHAPTER 4: SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE
i bet this guy is about to seem completely innocent and normal.
he actually does seem okay. but the doctor just revealed a phrenology side interest that i'm not loving.
CHAPTER 5: THREE BROKEN THREADS
i want to say that holmes and watson have a will they / won't they thing going on, but i'm scared of the fanfiction creators i would align myself with.
CHAPTER 6: BASKERVILLE HALL
oh, what a coincidence. there's a deranged escaped murderer lurking around our new neighborhood. chekhov's nearby serial killer.
CHAPTER 7: THE STAPLETONS OF MERRIPIT HOUSE
can't a woman even sob horrifically through the night with no tangible cause without being considered a clue in a murder anymore?
CHAPTER 8: FIRST REPORT OF DR. WATSON
can't wait for this dork's basic thoughts to be translated into brilliance by sherlock.
i have to say, it's an interesting strategy for a (checks notes) sherlock holmes book to have its hero offpage the whole time for...the incredible reasoning of "he's working on other cases which we are not reading about."
CHAPTER 9: SECOND REPORT OF DR. WATSON - THE LIGHT UPON THE MOOR
two people are hunting an actual nearby serial killer in the dead of night on a mysterious moor, and they're more scared of a dog they heard barking. get real.
CHAPTER 10: EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF DR. WATSON
no chance this is anything but "Mr. Dr. Sherlock Holmes...Mr. John Holmes...Dr. Mr. John Watson Sherlock Holmes...he loves me, he loves me not..."
CHAPTER 11: THE MAN ON THE TOR
let's play another round of my favorite game: Am I In A Bad Mood Or Was This Twist Annoying?
CHAPTER 12: DEATH ON THE MOOR
dun dun dun!
this is a lot more scandalous than other sherlock installments i've read. all sorts of impropriety happening.
CHAPTER 13: FIXING THE NETS
it's all coming together now...
CHAPTER 14: THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
title chapter title chapter title chapter!
we gained awareness of an evil dog and we lost awareness of an evil woman...tragedy unfolding before our eyes.
CHAPTER 15: A RETROSPECTION
sounds like this one will be action-packed.
OVERALL
this is not the best sherlock (he's barely there, the mystery itself requires multiple extensive recaps, the big reveal is kind of drawn out and therefore disappointing) but it's still sherlock.
rating: 3.5
man, every sherlock holmes title sounds like it was randomly generated by a computer.
anyway, it's another PROJECT LONG CLASSICS installment. this is not that long of a classic, but i couldn't think of a better pun (i know – think of how low of a bar), so i'll be reading a chapter of this per day all month long.
let's get into it!
CHAPTER 1: MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES
likely title for chapter 1 to be.
kind of fun to just watch watson and holmes gossip for a while...attempt their little "deductions" and whatnot. and then also be totally wrong.
CHAPTER 2: THE CURSE OF THE BASKERVILLES
inching ever closer to that title.
unfortunately i find it very difficult to be scared by the thought of a big dog, which is the best kind of dog there is.
CHAPTER 3: THE PROBLEM
to be honest i would have pinpointed "guy murdered by magic ghost dog" as the problem. but i guess that's why i'm not sherlock holmes.
CHAPTER 4: SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE
i bet this guy is about to seem completely innocent and normal.
he actually does seem okay. but the doctor just revealed a phrenology side interest that i'm not loving.
CHAPTER 5: THREE BROKEN THREADS
i want to say that holmes and watson have a will they / won't they thing going on, but i'm scared of the fanfiction creators i would align myself with.
CHAPTER 6: BASKERVILLE HALL
oh, what a coincidence. there's a deranged escaped murderer lurking around our new neighborhood. chekhov's nearby serial killer.
CHAPTER 7: THE STAPLETONS OF MERRIPIT HOUSE
can't a woman even sob horrifically through the night with no tangible cause without being considered a clue in a murder anymore?
CHAPTER 8: FIRST REPORT OF DR. WATSON
can't wait for this dork's basic thoughts to be translated into brilliance by sherlock.
i have to say, it's an interesting strategy for a (checks notes) sherlock holmes book to have its hero offpage the whole time for...the incredible reasoning of "he's working on other cases which we are not reading about."
CHAPTER 9: SECOND REPORT OF DR. WATSON - THE LIGHT UPON THE MOOR
two people are hunting an actual nearby serial killer in the dead of night on a mysterious moor, and they're more scared of a dog they heard barking. get real.
CHAPTER 10: EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF DR. WATSON
no chance this is anything but "Mr. Dr. Sherlock Holmes...Mr. John Holmes...Dr. Mr. John Watson Sherlock Holmes...he loves me, he loves me not..."
CHAPTER 11: THE MAN ON THE TOR
let's play another round of my favorite game: Am I In A Bad Mood Or Was This Twist Annoying?
CHAPTER 12: DEATH ON THE MOOR
dun dun dun!
this is a lot more scandalous than other sherlock installments i've read. all sorts of impropriety happening.
CHAPTER 13: FIXING THE NETS
it's all coming together now...
CHAPTER 14: THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
title chapter title chapter title chapter!
we gained awareness of an evil dog and we lost awareness of an evil woman...tragedy unfolding before our eyes.
CHAPTER 15: A RETROSPECTION
sounds like this one will be action-packed.
OVERALL
this is not the best sherlock (he's barely there, the mystery itself requires multiple extensive recaps, the big reveal is kind of drawn out and therefore disappointing) but it's still sherlock.
rating: 3.5