4.5 estrellas

I’m only speaking about VALL because thats the one I’ve just finished - but these two are both wonderful and I enjoyed them immensely.

Stunning! After reading every Sherlock Holmes adventure this past year, I can’t say I didn’t see the twist coming, and with that it was a satisfying end. I must admit I was waiting with baited breath for some big racist element but thankfully that didn’t come.

What did come, was a big Reichenbach Hiatus parallel, I believe! A married-couple-and-bachelor dynamic from the start, leading into McMurdo himself being described with Holmsian characteristics. I’ve just put down the book, so I’m not sure how deep this might go (especially in conjunction with the current BBC adaptation), but they ended part two on a reminder of retirement to Sussex, for God’s sake!

The last few lines, too, of Holmes’ eyes threatening to break through the veil to the future - marvellous. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. A man who never lived and so can never die. Not to discredit Watson for his writing this: as we know, they dwell together still.

Both of these novels are absolute masterpieces! The Hound of the Baskerville is a chilling, wonderfully woven-together mystery full of Holmes’ usual brilliance and a new aspect of supernaturalism. But then there’s the Valley of Fear - which I might go as far as to say, is the best Sherlock Holmes novel of them all! This book literally left me speechless at a certain point in the story! What a brilliant, gripping tale! Not quite so mystic and spooky as it’s former, but mysterious in its own right. Even though we diverge from Watson’s perspective for quite a bit towards the end, (where Holmes is not present at all), the flashback is astoundingly brilliant. Nothing at all like ‘The Sign of Four’ flashback, which is slightly dull. Once again, just amazing!

Both novels are a MUST READ for detective-fiction lovers and those who might be new to the Holmes stories.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the most famous among Sherlock Holmes’s stories, and also one of my favourites. It has a mysterious tone and the narrative is full of surprises and plot twists.

What I liked the most in it is the atmosphere that flirts with the gothic tales: an old house that evokes memories of death and sorrow, and a devilish creature haunting the surroundings in a bucolic village.

The second story in the book, The Valley of Fear, is less interesting. It has a slower narrative, and after reading a classic Sherlock’s story, it doesn’t instigate curiosity so much. I also couldn’t connect with the story, hence the four-star rating.

It is divided into two narratives: the first one with Sherlock and Watson, a little bit predictable but still presenting some little surprises. The second part is made of memories, and that’s when I lost my interest in the story. The ending is really good though.

I really enjoy Sherlock Holmes mysteries. These are two longer stories, which is a nice break from the short stories (which can, if you read many in a row, feel repetitive).

The Hound of the Baskervilles is such a good thriller mystery, a curse upon a family, a ghostly hellhound and a few missing heirs to the Baskervilles estate. Holmes and Watson are the detective team for the ages and the thrilling twists make this story a classic!

I should note that I only read The Valley of Fear out of this volume, having read The Hound of the Baskervilles out of a different volume not long ago. Here again, Doyle has pulled the same trick he did in A Study in Scarlet -- the second half of the book is someone else's backstory that takes place in rural America. The two stories in this book are both very good (if the second one's politics are a little questionable), but it still is strange that out of four novels, only the second one features Holmes throughout the whole thing. You can tell the author didn't like the character, and yet he continues to shine on the page.

Well, no one could possibly say that THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES was anything less than exciting; but I'm bound to say that I think that THE VALLEY OF FEAR is better written. I had not read VALLEY before, and although it takes a sharp left-turn into a longish section set in America, it was satisfying and entertaining, despite its abrupt ending. HOUND has of course been filmed several times. Until I went looking, I was unaware of any filmed version of VALLEY aside from the 1916 silent. However, it seems there are three others:
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935), a British film starring Arthur Wontner as Holmes and Ian Fleming as Watson.
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962), although intended to be an adaptation of The Valley of Fear, only minor elements of the story remained in the final film.
Sherlock Holmes and the Valley of Fear (1984), an animated film starring Peter O'Toole as the voice of Holmes.

The problem with the Sherlock Holmes stories is that I can never remember which ones I've read, apart from those in the two short collections I own, and since I can't claim to be a fan of the famous detective without being entirely sure that I've read his most famous case, The Hound of the Baskervilles, I bought this wonderfully cheap copy. I'm still not sure if I'd read it before, but I am sure that I love Sherlock Holmes more than ever.

Lots of pomp and a lot of red herrings. Loved the hounds. Valley of fear was a great twist.

“The more outré and grotesque an incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined, and the very point which appears to complicate a case is, when duly considered and scientifically handled, the one which is most likely to elucidate it.”
- The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Baskerville family is haunted by a phantom beast which roams the moors around the isolated Baskerville Hall on Dartmoor. Now the hound seems to be stalking young Sir Henry, the new master of the Baskerville estate. Is this devilish spectre the manifestation of the family curse? Or is Sir Henry the victim of a vile and scheming murderer?

The Hound of the Baskervilles is the first Sherlock Holmes book that I’ve read, and I should say that it was really fascinating. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Hound of the Baskervilles consistently and meticulously portrays the atmosphere and the characters of the story. This novel is a typical classic detective novel which masterfully blends evil motivations, horror, suspense, and mystery.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5

Introduction
Sherlock Holmes is intrigued by the mystery of the Baskervilles and takes on this case. For centuries each generation of the Baskervilles have been mysteriously killed off by a monstrous hound. Sherlock is accompanied by his partner Watson and as they are investigating the Baskervilles huge estate,when a crazed convict escapes from jail. After the criminal escaped, the footprints of the hound were seen again. Will sir henry, the last remaining Baskerville, stay alive?

E. Hello Dr. Watson how are you doing today?

tW. Fairly good, thank you

tE. Now my name is Elizabeth and the date is the sixth of december 1889. I am here to ask a few quick questions about your life and how you interact with your mate Sherlock holmes. I understand that you and Holmes partnered up to take on the mystery of the baskervilles deaths. Could you tell me a little bit about this case, and whether it was challenging or not?

W. This project was quite interesting, and it wasn’t easy to the naked eye. Luckily Holmes has a special sense for these sort of out of the box cases and found it quite simple. He would usually wait until the very end of a case, once I had put all the pieces together to then finally say he solved the mystery from the moment we stepped foot into the Baskerville mansion. For this particular case, I wouldn’t want to release any undisclosed information that is not released to the public yet but what I can say is that the Baskervilles are one strange family.

tE. Great description, to give the public a deeper description into you, what are three words that you would use to describe yourself and Mr. holmes?

tW. Three words to describe myself would be, modest, intelligent, and a sensitive, gentile observer. Although I don't have lightning fast capabilities of solving a case like my mate Sherlock does, I take into account the logistics of a mystery and try to find the answer slowly but logically. On the other hand, three words I would use to describe Sherlock would be critical, brilliant, and eccentric. Holmes has many weird and unique habits such as not eating while he is on a case or not talking for days one end but all in all that is what makes Sherlock, Sherlock.

tE. Now we have talked a great deal about your mate Sherlock. Would you consider him your best mate?

tW. Sherlock is most definitely my best mate. Is he a good one, that's questionable but he definitely is my closest mate. Holmes is quite a mysterious and private person but once you get to know him he's not all that scary.

tE. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! If you could have one thing in the world what would it be?

tW. If I could have one thing in the world it would probably be a holiday!

tE. Ha Ha Ha Ha!

tW. I spend so much time with my work and with Sherlock I would like to go on a nice tropical trip, by MYSELF. My job is very stressful and dangerous so to go on a holiday would be amazing!

tE. What is the best advice you have ever heard?
t
W. hmm? The best advice I have ever heard was probably from my lovely wife Mary. She once told me that if I am happy doing whatever I'm doing no one can tell me I am not successful.

tE. Lovely lovely, If you could have any job in the world, including yours that you have now, what would it be?

tW. If I could do any job I would definitely not be working with sherlock! I would like a nice calm job such as a baker or you know … maybe a teacher. Just any job where my life is not in danger!

tE. Great! What is one thing you would consider your mate, Holmes to be bad at?

tW. One thing? Just one thing? There are many things Sherlock is bad at!

E. Ha Ha Ha!

W. If I had to pick one thing that Sherlock is extremely bad at is driving. Whenever we ride together he always insists on driving but we end up getting into almost 20 collisions.

E. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life which would it be?

W. If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life it would have to be a croissant. I absolutely love croissants and after Holmes and I finish a case we always go out and get some, as a sort of a celebration, so if I had to pick it would be a croissant.

E. If you could have one superpower in the world what would it be?

W. If I could have one superpower it would definitely be to fly. If I could fly I would fly straight out of London and go to the Carribbean. I have always wanted to go and I heard it nice. I would also rub it in Sherlock's face that I could fly and he couldn’t!

E. Ha Ha! Now last question, what is the greatest achievement so far?

W. You know I am always bashing on my mate Sherlock but I really appreciate him. My greatest achievement would probably be working alongside the greatest detective in the world and being able to call him my best mate.

E. Brilliant! Thank you so much for your time Dr. Watson, and I can't wait to read about the Baskerville mystery! If you guys at home would like to read about it, make sure to check your local paper for the story or you can buy the book, it is The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan doyle. Once again thank you so much for your time Dr. Watson.

W. No problem, I had a lovely time!