Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Classic Mystery Annotation: The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles
By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle





Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are enlisted to unravel the curious circumstances surrounding the demise of the most recent occupant of the Baskerville Estate and, in so doing, prevent the death of new owner. Locals fear the legend of a demon hound haunting the Baskerville family is true, but Sherlock Holmes suspects something more sinister is afoot.

Genre: This tale is most definitely a mystery; a classic detective novel.

Pacing: Fast-Paced

Tone: Suspenseful

Characteristics that Make it a Mystery:

  • The solving of a crime, usually a murder, drives the plot
  • The reader sorts through clues along with the detective
  • The frame of the mystery is crucial to its appeal (foggy moor-land, old estate in this case)
  • Story is fast-paced, moving the reader towards the solution
  • Main characters are recurring
Read-a-likes:

  • Relic by Douglas J. Preston (for those who like Sherlock, but prefer a more modern style)
  • Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout (a more classic mystery style)
  • Any other Sherlock Holmes title by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Donald Serrell Thomas (for those who have read all the Doyle stories, but can't get enough Holmes)
My thoughts: Well for the first time this year I'm going to give a book my Highwater Mark. I love Sherlock Holmes and this book is no exception. I love engaging my mind when I read and Sherlock stories allow me to try my hand at solving the case along with "The World's Greatest Detective." I had not read this one, shockingly enough, prior to this class, and I can say that is my favorite one so far. For readers that love a good mystery but like to avoid all the gory details of a murder, then Sherlock Holmes is a good choice. Doyle weaves intricate details together for a satisfying conclusion and develops his characters exceedingly well. Throw in a fair amount of good humor and you have a great read. Highly recommended. Also, reading a few Sherlock stories will help you appreciate the Robert Downey Jr. movies even more.
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2014 at 11:05 AM

    I read some Sherlock Holmes for my classic mystery too! I'm a huge fan of the BBC mini series Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch, and I was excited to see that many of the mini series episodes tied in very closely to cases from the book too! :)

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  2. UnknownFebruary 27, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    I love Elementary and the Downey movies (one thing I have notice, some of Sherlock's quotes, like "My mind rebels at stagnation" actually come from the stories. I think even Downey himself used a quote when he won the Golden Globe in 2010.) The BBC one I will have to check out.

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