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Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Audiobook5 hours

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by Ralph Cosham

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Holmes encounters one of his most formidable adversaries and must unlock the mystery of the demonic hound, the curse of the Baskerville family. Published in The Strand magazine in episodes between August 1901 and April 1902, The Hound of the Baskervilles became one of the most popular of all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received a medical degree from the University of Edinburgh. He said of Dr. Joseph Bell, one of his instructors, "I thought of Joe Bell, of his eagle face, of his curious ways, of his eerie trick of spotting details. If he were a detective he wold surely reduce this fascinating business to something nearer to an exact science."
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 1, 2000
ISBN9781467610551
Author

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, most famous for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes and long-suffering sidekick Dr Watson. Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

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Reviews for Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

Rating: 4.116279069767442 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is quite the adventure for any mystery fans out there. The horrible howling of the hound is heard across the Moore, and all the while the family of Baskervilles falls off one by one, becoming victims of the superstitions of the the tale of the hound. The witty pair, Watson and Holmes, take the reader on a very investigative journey that leads them down many paths, all of which fall to great horrors and surprises. This book will astound you as you try to uncover the mystery of the hound of the Baskervilles.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A classic of the mystery genre. Sherlock Holmes and his faithful assistant are called in to investigate a seemingly supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville family. The mystery is satisfyingly creepy, without becoming ridiculous or unbelievable. I would complain about the notes in the Penguin Classic edition, though. People who have never read the story before should be careful not to read the notes, as several of them reveal important plot points.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was my first Sherlock Holmes book and I wasn't too impressed. I thought Holmes was just really mean, and Watson was too meek. Holmes barely appeared at all in this book and it consisted mostly of Watson's letters to him. The story was interesting enough, but I never at any point was confused as to who the villain of the story was. I was hoping this story would include a mystery that was nearly impossible to solve, but that wasn't the case at all. A real disappointment.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I purchased this in 1987 and it is one of the books that I often reread.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reading Sherlock Holmes in an edited version as part of your fifth grade curriculum is probably not the best introduction to the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - however, my initiation into the world of Sherlock Holmes was through the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles. And once I got into this world, I could never extract myself. The story starts with the calling of Sherlock Holmes to investigate the death of a Charles Baskerville, whose fortune is being inherited by a Henry Baskervilles, whose life is also in danger, according to Holmes upon investigation. The twist in the story comes with the family history including the legend of a supernatural "Hound" that has haunted the moors, and the Baskervilles, due to an ancestors cruelty. Holmes and Watson work together to solve the mystery, as you well know, neither believes in the supernatural. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's genius lay not only in the forensics that he brought into play in his tales, or merely the mystery and the thrills his stories entail, but also in characterization. He had a knack of creating characters that you could visually, and then set them in scenarios and locations just as vivid as the characters themselves. That, therein, is what made The Hound of the Baskervilles such an interesting read for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a super fun read. I was looking for something a little lighter to read and this definitely fit the bill!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After being decently entertained but not overly impressed by the other couple Sherlock Holmes novels, I decided to give him one last try with this one since I'd heard it was the best. It doesn't really give any more of the main thing I was hoping for when starting these books—a more involved look into the personality and quirks of the potentially interesting Holmes—but it does somewhat get rid of one of the biggest problem I had with the other stories.After the initial setup, most of the unfolding of the mystery is seen through the eyes of Watson without Holmes around. That means there's no more Holmes standing around talking about how he thinks he's got the whole thing solved but can't tell us the answer for some artificial reason that is surely just the author not wanting to give everything away too soon. Without that little irritation to constantly pull me out of the story to see the author standing above me pulling the strings, the mystery was a little easier to invest in, and the whole novel as a whole just felt more solid.Still, rather than plots or mysteries, it's characters I tend to want to invest in when reading, and that's not really what these books are about. Thus I think I'll be ending my little endeavor to try Sherlock Holmes books. They aren't a bad read, but they aren't something that overly appeals to my personal tastes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've read a fair number of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but this was the first novel-length one I've picked up. Holmes is called in to get to the bottom of the death of a man connected to a family legend of a hellhound. Holmes and Watson of course do not believe in the supernatural, and their methodical tying up of all the loose threads is fascinating, particularly considering this was written in a time before fingerprinting and DNA evidence. I suppose there are those who do not enjoy having every single minute detail explained, but to me that's what delights me most about Holmes stories: he loves to explain how he came to every single one of his seemingly random deductions. I especially like Holmes's childlike enthusiasm when faced with a challenge: the more difficult it is, the more he enjoys himself. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of this story, however, is how much of it is solved by Watson on his own. Evidently his many years as Holmes's companion have rubbed off on him. My husband has a huge tome o' Holmes on our bookshelf; I may have to read more of it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's been a very long time since I read any of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I think I was still in grade school, and now I'm going to have to go back and read them all, just such enjoyable reading. I was surprised at how it can still bring you to the edge of your seat.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really don't remember much of the Sherlock Holmes stories I read back in elementary school save for two conclusions (the speckled band and I don't remember the name of the other one, just the unusual murder weapon) and the fact that I really did like them. I had always thought that I would read them again but never had. This interest was re-awakened when Robert Downey, Jr.'s version of Sherlock Holmes came out in theaters and again just a couple months ago when I discovered, and fell in love with, BBC's version. This particular story I apparently had no familiarity with because I had no idea of what was going on. I found the language a little difficult to catch on to and did find myself re-reading many paragraphs to try and understand what it all meant. However, there were a few things that I loved...mainly Holmes and Watson. I see now why these characters have indelibly made their mark on literature and other assorted media. When Watson made his discovery out on the moor, I sat there grinning like an idiot. It was so cool. I was also taken by Doyle's descriptions of the moor in the moonlight, it makes it sound both desolate and intriguing.I was surprised by the lack of Holmes throughout much of this particular book and think I would like to take a stab at reading some of the other classic Holmes tales wherein I assume he makes more of an appearance. Perhaps the original version of "A Study in Pink" will be my next foray into this classic series (probably where I should have started to begin with LOL), as they did such a fantastic job re-creating the modern version on BBC.Quite enjoyable and a story I'll probably hold on to for my sons.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Having never read (or watched) a Sherlock Holmes story, I wasn't sure what to expect. The story starts on the Devonshire moors where the legend of the Hound is laid out. The story takes a swift turn to London where the creepiness starts and as Dr Watson returns with the new owner of Baskerville Hall to investigate whilst Holmes in busy with something else in London. Dr Watson then investigates all potential suspects uncovering many pieces of the puzzle but arriving at dead ends. Of course Holmes steps in near the end with some ideas of his own and manages to tie up Watson's dead & loose ends, solving the case. I found the story kept good steady pace and didn't feel at all dated, the plot twists & turns just keep coming.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was the first Sherlock Holmes novel I've ever read, even though I have had The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes sitting on my bookshelf since middle school or earlier (I got it with a 2 for $1 deal at Walmart). I like to read a series in its entirety and in order, and it was frustrating to me to not know which came first and what else there was; but then I realized that I was going to have to let it go and just enjoy what was in front of me (especially if I was going to finish it in time for the book club next week).This, I believe, was a great introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes. We all know of Holmes, through TV, movies, stories, etc. And really, he lived up to all of my expectations. I can't really say that his character surprised me in any way, because he's been so well-defined in other media. Which, in this case, is a good thing.The Hound of the Baskervilles is the only full-length Holmes novel, and it is definitely an adventure. From London to the moors of Devonshire, the reader is kept interested by Dr. Watson's account and interest in the neighbors of the haunted and cursed Baskervilles.Legend has it that Hugo Baskerville was a villainous man, and his evil deeds led to the creation of a very real demon from Hell, which hunted him down and killed him, with the threat/promise of killing the rest of his family for generations to come to atone for his misdeeds. And it seems that this curse is real, because many years later his descendant, Sir Charles Baskerville, is chased down and killed, the only evidence being a single footprint of a hound near the body. The last living relative, therefore, must come to live at Baskerville Hall, but not before enlisting the services of the one and only Sherlock Holmes.Will Holmes solve the mystery in time, or is there really a supernatural demon loose that cannot be stopped until vengeance is had? I was kept intrigued throughout the creepy and mysterious chapters, but not freaked out enough that I had to sleep with the lights on, which is a good combination for me. So, if you like a good mystery but don't like being scared silly, I highly recommend you read The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 4 out of 5 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Can Holmes find the truth behind the legend of the murderous demon-dog which has haunted the moors for ages? Spooky, dramatic and exciting, this classic is as intriguing as it is memorable. A non-stop page-turner!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Perhaps the most popular of all Sherlock Holmes stories, The Hound of the Baskervilles combines the traditional detective tale with elements of horror. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the wild Devon moorland with the footprints of a giant hound nearby, the blame is placed on a family curse-and it is up to Holmes and Watson to solve the mystery of the legend. Rationalism is pitted against the supernatural and good against evil, as Sherlock Holmes tries to defeat a foe almost his equal.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I can´t help it - this is my favorite Sherlock Holmes mystery. Maybe because it was the first I read but I do love the moor, the mist, the howling and the legend of the dreadful monstrous dog. It´s a perfect read for a stormy winter´s evening in your favorite chair with a cup of tea beside you.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was not looking forward to reading The Hound of the Baskervilles, but it was this month's book club selection and, as a good little book clubber, I knew I had to persevere. The book had two strikes against it: 1) I really don't like mysteries and 2) I envisioned several pages about a couple of boring Brits (not to be confused with Monty Python Brits) who occasionally stumbled over a body. One of the great things about book club is that it often proves me wrong. I really enjoyed the book, although the answer to the mystery seemed a bit obvious (probably because so many shows/movies/books today seem to mimic Doyle's mysteries, so modern audiences expect them to unravel in a Sherlock Holmes way). Holmes reminded me a lot of television's House, and so my only complaint was that the arrogant braggart wasn't in it enough to entertain me with his often curt and direct manner. Overall, enjoyable and I plan to seek out the short stories soon.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book is the last story of the series of Holmes. The story is about a person inerited a heritage at a very remote old manor. The ex-owner was dead not clearly in a corner of his house, and it seems that he was really scared before he dead. So people here all believed that there was a ghoset that becamed of a woman which dead because of the family of that ex-owner. So, the person who got the heritage asked Holmes to solve this thing. Final,Holmes found it's just a dog. Because one relative wanted to get the manor, so he creat all these things to try to kill the owner of this manor.It's hard for me to read this book because I always scared about these horror stories. That's why I have to finish this story one time. For me, The first part of this story is good and really attracted me, but as the story developed, it became a liitle farfetched,I mean, all of these is just came from a dog? Anyway, Holmes was a really good detective!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of Sir Arthur Conan's best detective novels. As he wrote this in the time period where Gothic novels were prominent, it is not the usual detective novel, but with a supernatural twist. When Sherlock Holmes is asked to investigate the mysterious curse which has plagued the Baskerville family for years, he finds himself in the midst of a dilemma. This novel is recommended for all fans of Sherlock Holmes and gothic fiction.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of those books which gets better every time you re-read it and let the atmosphere work on you. A good critical edition is a must and brings out some of the more interesting ideas, such as Conan Doyle's use of the Hound as a metaphor for hereditary disease.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I find this to be not only an enjoyable detective novel, one of the best in the series by Conan Doyle; but even more than that, a supreme example of the best of classic Victorian literature. It is well-constructed with examples of the techniques found in more typical "literary" novels. Arthur Conan Doyle demonstrates both superior narrative creation of a mood and elegant development of characters. His use of techniques such as advancing the plot through cleverly-placed letters (a technique use by Dickens, Dostoevsky and others) puts this novel in a class of fiction well beyond the genre to which it is often consigned. It is more than just a delightful read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My favourite Sherlock Holmes story. Excellently crafted, with marvellous descriptions of the Grimpen Mire. Holmes is on top form despite playing an almost backseat role.Most enjoyable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’ve always been a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes stories. They never fail to make me think and usually laugh. I’ve read collections, individual mysteries and I’ve even seen a play version that combines a couple tales. I was pretty sure I read this one in junior high, but I wasn’t positive, so I knew it was time to remedy that. The Hound of the Baskerville is everything you want in Sherlock tale; great problem, clever quips, brilliant detective, etc. A wealthy family has been haunted by tales a vicious, unearthly hound for years. Legend has it one of their ancestors was killed by the beast. When the current head of the family loses his life in a similar way, Sherlock is called in on the case. He sends Dr. Watson, his faithful friend, to the moors to gather clues. Like any good mystery, we’re given our suspects and clues bit by bit. There’s even a good red herring, diverting our suspicions. There’s nothing earth shattering about the plot, but it’s just the right pace for this little book. The real treat with Doyle’s work is character of Sherlock himself. He is completely unique. I love his condescension, even when he’s trying to compliment Watson, it comes across as an insult. His brain just works on a completely different level and he’s not always aware of the necessary social niceties. Or rather, he’s aware of them, but they are unimportant in the big scheme of things, so he chooses to ignore them. “That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. ‘Holmes!’ I cried.” – Watson (and that’s coming from the man’s best friend!)“One of Sherlock’s defects – if, indeed, one may call it a defect – was that he was exceedingly loath to communicate his full plans to any other person until the instant of their fulfillment.”If you’ve loved this series for years or want to try your first foray into the world of the Baker Street detective, this book is an absolute must. “There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.” - Sherlock 
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Really good books with a lot of suspense, mystery. But as you read this book, you "might" don't like Holmes because he is very arrogant to Watson. I think everybody should read this mystery book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another classic, if you haven't read any Doyle be prepared for a wild romp of a mystery. This was one of my first introductions to his works and I haven't read a work by this author that I haven't enjoyed.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Entertaining story and effective descriptions, but the story is a bit ludicrous and, as with most detective stories, the hero is conveniently TOO brilliant.I also correctly guessed the "villain" on their first appearance and figured out another 'significant' plot twist; translation...It's not very clever if a dope like me can figure it out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    this astonishing book is about a myth of a hound that kills but a mean and sellfish person named Jack made it come true. Everyone in Baskerville Hall is scared to look for the hound and see what they would find, whether the sight isd too scary for them and they don't want to say anything or the hound eats them alive. Sherlock Holes and Mr. watson came from scottland so that they could find out who is holding the hound and how it only kills at night. when they find out that Sir Henry is comming to inherit what his fatyher left, like Baskerville Hall, Sherlock holmes looks through his years of life, and finds out that he has another brother and the girl he wants to get engaged to is actually his so called brothers wife, even though they pretended that they were brother and sister. so that is why jack wants to kill Sir Henry, because Jack would be next to inherit all of his fathers fortunes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sherlock Holmes, detective extraordinare, was called on to investigate the death of Sir Charler Baskerville. Whilst no formal investigation is called for (no obvious signs of bodily injury), the local superstition of a demonic hound of the Baskervilles is believed to be behind his death.The Hound of Baskerville is known to haunt the Baskervilles and the safety the new heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, is questionable. Sherlock Holmes and his colleague, Dr Watson, are engaged to investigate and ensure the safety of Sir Henry.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I read this before when I was younger, so none of it was exactly surprising to me. It's better than the other two Holmes novels I've read: the structure is better, that is to say, although I also enjoyed the story a little more, probably because it's so iconic and because I remembered somewhat of what's supposed to be going on. Sherlock has less of a spotlight in this, I suppose, since Watson goes about on his own and investigates, but of course, it's Holmes that figures out everything at the end. I actually found the last chapter or so, the explanation, unnecessarily -- although that's probably because I've read it before, so I knew the significance of details like the boots.

    Like the other Holmes stories and novels, though, this is easy to read and fun and kinda hard to put down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a great book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A great powerful and intense story of bravey and intelligence. After Sir Hugo Baskerville and Charles Baskerville died only Sir Henry was left. Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes were on the case met by honesy and betrayal and probably most of all suspicion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bad doggie.Sherlock Holmes is a dick, and a terrible protagonist. As a rule, his adventures seem to have an odd, sagging pace to them simply because Holmes is so good at what he does; Holmes solves a case within five minutes, and the rest of us and poor Watson puff along playing catch up for the rest of the story as Holmes crows about his innate superiority. Luckily, in The Hound of the Baskervilles, we ditch Holmes' autistic, socially-retarded ass and ride side-saddle with Watson, who is hugely more qualified as a narrator. As a result, The Hound of the Baskervilles moves along at a wonderful, grim clip. Watson captures the bleak atmosphere of Baskerville Hall in all its terror, ratcheting up the tension as he stumbles across red herrings, bumps in the night, and deadly suspects. Watson’s not half the detective, but he’s ten-times the story-teller. Holmes and his wall-eyed logic would have killed The Hound of the Baskervilles, which thrives on its grisly, gothic atmosphere; Watson is infinitely more aware of the howls, the fog, and the ghosts, and his descriptions have a beauty of their own. The Hound of the Baskervilles is the perfect detective story (bad dudes! bad blood! vile trickery!) clad in the best traditions of a true horror story (dire omens! demonic possession! a curfew which thou must not break!) Worth It even if you’ve been thoroughly spoiled by That Wishbone episode.