Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of Baskervilles Book Report Example

Title: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of Baskervilles

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Pages 225

Plot Summary

Dr James Mortimer calls on Sherlock Holmes in London after his friend Sir Charles Baskerville was found dead on his land on Dartmoor in Devon. According to Mortimer, Sir Charles' face was maimed, and not far from the corpse the footprints of a gigantic hound were clearly visible. According to an old legend, a curse has run in the Baskerville family since the time of the English Civil War. Supposedly, the same hound has been haunting the manor ever since, causing the untimely death of oodles of Baskerville heirs.

Sir Henry arrives from his home in Canada, eager to take possession of Baskerville Hall. Upon reaching his hotel room, Henry receives a note that says he should stay away from the manor if he values his life. Holmes asks Watson to accompany Henry to Baskerville Hall in order to protect him and search for clues about who is threatening his life.

Watson, Sir Henry and Mortimer arrive at Baskerville Hall, and are met by the Barrymores, who are the managers of the estate. Mr. Barrymore is the butler and his wife, the housekeeper. The estate is surrounded by the moor and borders the Grimpen Mire, where animals and humans can sink to death in bog. The news that a convict named Selden, a murderer, has escaped from the nearby Dartmoor Prison and is hiding in the nearby hills adds to the gloomy atmosphere. Watson searches for any leads to the identity of whoever is threatening Sir Henry's life, and sends the details of his investigation to Holmes.

Among the residents, the Stapletons, brother and sister, stand out: Jack is over-friendly and a bit too curious toward the newly arrived, while Beryl, seems weary of the place and attempts to warn Sir Henry, via Watson, of danger.

Howls and strange sightings trouble Watson during his long walks on the hills, and his mood gets no better even within Baskerville Hall. Watson grows suspicious of the butler, Barrymore, who at night appears to be signaling to someone on the moor. Watson discovers that Barrymore is helping Selden, the convict, who is Mrs. Barrymore’s brother.

Unknown to everyone, Holmes had been hiding on the moor the whole time and had solved the mystery. He reveals to Watson that the hound is real and belongs to Jack Stapleton, and that Beryl is actually his legitimate wife, beat and forced to trick Sir Henry and expose him to the hound.

On a walk to Baskerville Hall, Holmes and Watson hear a scream. The both of them trace the scream to Selden, who has become a victim of the hound. Holmes decides to use young Baskerville as bait to catch Stapleton red-handed. Holmes and Watson pretend to leave Dartmoor by train. Instead they hide near Stapleton's house with Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Despite the dark and a thick fog, Holmes and Watson are able to kill the hound as soon as it attacks Henry, while Stapleton, in his panicked escape, is presumed to have drowned in the mire.

Characters

Sherlock Holmes is pompous, full of himself and has an ego.

John Watson seems like a push-over and he wants approval from Sherlock.

James Mortimer seems like a spritely and sloppily dressed man who easily gives into superstition.

Henry Baskerville was described in the book to be ” a small, alert, dark-eyed man, about 30 years of age, very sturdily built. ”

Jack Stapleton had a temper

Beryl Stapleton was pretty in appearance and timid in personality.

Setting

The story takes place in the 1800s in Dartmoor, Devon. Baskerville Hall is described as being set in a park. Near the park is the Grimpen Mire, where animals and humans can sink and drown in the bog.

Personal Evaluation:

I liked the twists and turns of the story that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle integrated into the book and the style of how it was written.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery book.

I think this book could have used more action.