The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1902. It is the fifth in the Sherlock Holmes series and one of the most enduring entries in the series. When it appeared, readers welcomed it as the triumphant return of Holmes after his presumed death, and its atmospheric blend of detective fiction and Gothic tension helped cement the character’s global fame. The book has since become a cornerstone of classic mystery literature, recognised for its eerie setting, memorable characters, and masterful pacing. The story begins with Dr. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes investigating the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, a case steeped in local superstition and whispered legends. The Baskerville family is said to be haunted by a ghostly hound, a tale that seems to gain weight with each unexplained event on the desolate Devonshire moor. When Sir Henry Baskerville, heir to the estate, arrives from Canada, Holmes sends Watson to accompany him to Baskerville Hall, setting the stage for a gripping interplay of logic, suspense, and unsettling folklore. Through Watson’s detailed observations and Holmes’s deductions, the novel explores the tension between rational explanation and seemingly supernatural occurrences. As the investigation deepens, readers are drawn into a landscape of shadowed tors, lonely dwellings, and suspicious neighbours — each contributing to a case that feels increasingly perilous. Its slow-building dread, atmospheric detail, and clever twists make it a favourite among readers of classic crime fiction and Gothic mysteries.