Beth Morrison
Rating Breakdown -
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Emotional Impact: 3 stars
Personal enjoyment: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
This is widely regarded as one of the best Sherlock Holmes stories, and having read it, I can see why. The pacing was fast and the narrative was easily accessible, making it a compelling read right away.
The story starts off with the famous Baskerville curse, and the first half had a surprisingly comical undertone that immediately hooked my interest. But the second half is where the story truly grips you. It was thrilling and genuinely unpredictable for a long time, though I suspect many modern readers might piece together the mystery just before the final reveal.
The setting on Dartmoor is arguably the most powerful element of the novel. It’s not just a backdrop—it’s a character. Conan Doyle masterfully creates an atmosphere that is both desolate and deeply terrifying. The descriptions of the fog-shrouded, treacherous land, especially the Grimpen Mire, induce a palpable sense of dread. Every time a character ventured out, I felt that chill of isolation and
The plot is meticulously crafted, cleverly using the gothic legend of a family curse as the perfect smokescreen for a calculated crime. The characters are excellent; Sherlock Holmes is his usual brilliant self, but what distinguishes this story is the indispensable role played by Dr. Watson, whose detailed and earnest observations anchor the investigation. While the central theme of rationalism triumphing over superstition is executed well, I felt the exploration of other themes was slightly overshadowed by the sheer intensity of the mystery itself.
Favorite Lines
The prose is studded with sharp, memorable observations:
• "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."
• "Evil indeed is the man who has not one woman to mourn him."
• "Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."
And my favorite:
• "It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull."
Rating Breakdown -
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Emotional Impact: 3 stars
Personal enjoyment: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
This is widely regarded as one of the best Sherlock Holmes stories, and having read it, I can see why. The pacing was fast and the narrative was easily accessible, making it a compelling read right away.
The story starts off with the famous Baskerville curse, and the first half had a surprisingly comical undertone that immediately hooked my interest. But the second half is where the story truly grips you. It was thrilling and genuinely unpredictable for a long time, though I suspect many modern readers might piece together the mystery just before the final reveal.
The setting on Dartmoor is arguably the most powerful element of the novel. It’s not just a backdrop—it’s a character. Conan Doyle masterfully creates an atmosphere that is both desolate and deeply terrifying. The descriptions of the fog-shrouded, treacherous land, especially the Grimpen Mire, induce a palpable sense of dread. Every time a character ventured out, I felt that chill of isolation and
The plot is meticulously crafted, cleverly using the gothic legend of a family curse as the perfect smokescreen for a calculated crime. The characters are excellent; Sherlock Holmes is his usual brilliant self, but what distinguishes this story is the indispensable role played by Dr. Watson, whose detailed and earnest observations anchor the investigation. While the central theme of rationalism triumphing over superstition is executed well, I felt the exploration of other themes was slightly overshadowed by the sheer intensity of the mystery itself.
Favorite Lines
The prose is studded with sharp, memorable observations:
• "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."
• "Evil indeed is the man who has not one woman to mourn him."
• "Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."
And my favorite:
• "It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull."