Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

The Hound Of Baskervilles
The Hound Of Baskervilles
The Hound Of Baskervilles
Audiobook (abridged)2 hours

The Hound Of Baskervilles

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by Peter Egan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

It is strange to consider that, although The Hound of the Baskervilles is Conan Doyle’s most popular novel, his hero is absent for much of the time. Notice how he sets up an atmosphere of supernatural horror right from the start through Dr Mortimer’s reading of the ancient curse, and how he then presents as assortment of bizarre clues – in particular, the riddle of the missing boots – which Holmes will have to unravel. As the story progresses, red herrings are thrown up to put Holmes and Watson – and the listener – off the scent, so that interest is sustained throughout.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 1, 2014
ISBN9781780001838
Author

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859. Before starting his writing career, Doyle attended medical school, where he met the professor who would later inspire his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet was Doyle's first novel; he would go on to write more than sixty stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. He died in England in 1930.

More audiobooks from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Related to The Hound Of Baskervilles

Related audiobooks

Classics For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for The Hound Of Baskervilles

Rating: 3.96117809437751 out of 5 stars
4/5

3,735 ratings149 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story begins at Sherlock Holmes' place, where he's joined by his friend Dr. Watson. The two are naturally in the middle of investigating a stranger's walking stick, accidentally left at Holmes' house. The stick, it turns out, belongs to a Dr. Mortimer, who is asking the two for help with a manuscript documenting the Curse of the Baskervilles. And so it begins, in a 19th-century smoke-filled room, as Sherlock meditates on the strange, morbid occurrences that have plagued the Baskerville family for generations. And you, reader, if I still have your attention, will soon become another detective, unlocking the mysterious past of these sad characters trapped in the gloom of the moor.Needless to say, this story of Mr. Baskerville's eerie family legacy is a classic for a reason. I liked it just as I had expected to like it, knowing I'm not so crazy about detective novels, and yet that I love a good gothic atmosphere and interesting tale of death, evil and melancholy. Definitely worth a read for the beautiful language and atmosphere.
  • 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
    This was a super fun read. I was looking for something a little lighter to read and this definitely fit the bill!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I liked 'A Study in Scarlet', 'The Sign of Four', and the short stories I read from the Sherlock Holmes canon a year and a half ago, but 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' was significantly more enjoyable. I'll have to revisit more Holmes stories soon!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An excellant Sherlock Holmes quest.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Writing Style: 4.5; Doyle was masterful as he kept you waiting for the next sceneTheme: 4.5; Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have to track down the person (or thing) haunting the Baskerville family; it has intriguing turns throughout; it keeps you guessingContent: 5.0; violence, murder, and deception, but in no way condones any of theseLanguage: 5.0; nothing objectionableOverall 4.5; first Sherlock Holmes unabridged story I have ever read; quite impressed- great spell-bounding tale; highly recommend***April 15, 2013***
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have really enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes stories and was excited for this one as it is often promoted as the best. While I did like this story, I did not think it was one of the best. The mystery was not all that challenging, and I felt that the story dragged a bit in places. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, but not my favorite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you haven't read this, you need to. It's Sherlock Holmes!!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I’ve read most of Holmes before, but somehow I hadn’t read this one. Atmospheric, creepy, and marvellous. [June 2010]
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of Doyle’s better known Holmes stories, The Hound of the Baskervilles, is one that begins in benign city drudgery and ends in the sensational, sensual moors of the countryside. A family history, plagued by the evil tale of a spiritual being, imposes itself on the pragmatic and scientific modernity of Holmes and Watson’s practice, throwing them for a ghostly loop.When I was in third grade, I “read” the Hound of the Baskervilles. I had been given a collection of Doyle’s Holmes stories by some well-intentioned relative and being the avid little reader that I was, dug in. I remember very few of the the other stories but because I was, even (or especially) at 9, an avid animal advocate, I remember the The Hound.At least I thought I did. When I am distressed about the things my son (currently 19 months) is reading in seven and a half years, I’ll have to remind myself that The Hound stuck with me in little part regarding the plot. The tawdry implied love affairs and inherent violence had no effect on me at that age. I think I read it simply because of the dog.Of course, as a 26 year old, Watson’s recount of the countryside drama, packed with supernatural intrigue, holds much more weight. There are great writers still working today and they’ll certainly do in a pinch but there is nothing quite like the witty one liners and beautiful mysterious prose of Dolye’s stories. Through and through its tiny entirety, the Hound of the Baskerville is fantastic craftsmanship and an inevitable crowd favorite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read this as a youngster, and I'm so glad I read it again! Good thriller, tightly paced, with enough twists and turns to keep my interest! Bravo Holmes!
  • 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
    The real hero of these stories is Watson for having the restraint not to have strangled that insufferable egomaniac Holmes whenever he had a chance. Holmes is brilliant...and never misses an opportunity to let you know it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a traditional black and white graphic novel. The story is well known and as a graphic novel it sticks to the plot of the original novel well. The drawings are basic and I have to admit to wanting a little colour. Having said that the drawings are clear and concise with good consistency with the characters faces.This is a short graphic novel which was a quick fun read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was the first "Sherlock Holmes" book that I had ever read. It was very good and interesting; quick and witty dialogue fast-paced, etc. My only complaint was that it did begin to drag near the end. I will definitely read another of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was an interesting way to read this iconic Sherlock Holmes case. The illustrations worked well to bring the narrative to life, especially with the nature of abridgement making it difficult to get details into a story. A little more attention to word bubble (is that the technical term for them?) placement would have improved the reading experience a little bit, especially for younger readers. A few panels had a third, "off-screen" character talking, but the placement made it seem like one character had two spots of text when it wasn't the case.

    The abridgement itself would likely be effective for a young reader to read and enjoy this Holmes story. For an adult I felt it was a little too abridged in places; a little rushed. Overall it was an entertaining, refreshing look at Doyle's work.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Het oer-detectiveverhaal, maar minstens evenzeer neogothic verhaal. Breder thema: de zekerheden van wetenschap en rede tegenover bijgeloof; zelfs Holmes als aardsrationalist gaat aan het twijfelen, ook hij gebruikt intu?tie, speculatie en verbeelding! Het verhaal zelf wordt grotendeels gedragen door Watson.Eerste lectuur toen ik 16 was en de finesses nog niet helemaal kon waarderen.
  • 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
    My favorite Sherlock Holmes story. I love the longer format and the spooky location.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was the first "Sherlock Holmes" book that I had ever read. It was very good and interesting; quick and witty dialogue fast-paced, etc. My only complaint was that it did begin to drag near the end. I will definitely read another of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was the first "Sherlock Holmes" book that I had ever read. It was very good and interesting; quick and witty dialogue fast-paced, etc. My only complaint was that it did begin to drag near the end. I will definitely read another of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "THE HOUND! COME, WATSON, COME!"

    A fun way to introduce kids to the exciting world of Sherlock Holmes. The illustrations are very well done, and make the whole book a lot of fun to read. The characters are portrayed in the classical fashion--Watson in a tweed coat, and Holmes with pipe in hand in almost every scene. The dialogue must necessarily be shortened to fit this smaller volume, but the key conversations are preserved nicely.

    The illustrations are in monochrome for a reason--so that young readers can have fun penciling, or using some markers to add color.

    The Watson resembles David Burke of the PBS "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series" (Burke was the "first" Watson in that series.)

    THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES will be a fun, enjoyable read for young readers (and artists, too).


  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is a classic. When you look at all the other reviews of it out there I wonder, what can I add? I think that out of all of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries this would have to be the best one. At least, in my eyes the most popular. I highly recommend this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I think that I would have enjoyed this even more if I hadn't already known the solution from movies and dramatizations. Even so, this is one of Holmes' more suspenseful stories and the descriptions of the moors and the hound are amazing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very, very enjoyable read: definitely the pinnacle (thus far) of the Holmes canon.

    Every element fits into its proper place: the isolated location is well described, with many fascinating features such as the Neolithic huts, fatal bogs and rows of yews. Each character is well-drawn, and each has their own mystery which interlocks perfectly with the overarching puzzle. By utilising different aspects of Watson's narrative voice - his diary, his letters, his reminiscences - Conan Doyle is able to shake up his writing formula somewhat, and present us with a mystery in which both Watson and Holmes are used to their respective strengths.

    Beyond this, the mystery is multi-faceted and - particularly noteworthy - the novel is about every aspect of the crime, not just the "whodunnit" or how. As a result, even though the revelations are really no more than typical Conan Doyle fare, they are in no way a letdown, because it is only part of a larger canvas.

    Seasoned crime readers like myself will probably pick up on the big clue planted very early in the book but, even then, it by no means allows you to solve the crime. The only aspect which might be seen by some as negative is that the book is always happy to pause and consider any minute clue (half a chapter is spent on exactly which newspaper a ransom-style note was cut from). To me, though, this is quintessential Holmes. The traces of romantic characterisation and storytelling linger, but are kept in check by the power of the work overall. As a result, I'm soldiering on with renewed vigour to the sixth of the nine Holmes books.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dr. Watson moves in with a man in danger of being murdered, possibly by a demon.C (Indifferent).I suspect this story was initially planned without Sherlock Holmes, and he was added to sell it. It really doesn't work as a Holmes story, and it doesn't have a chance to work as anything else since it IS a Holmes story.(Oct. 2022)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
     I realized late in the book that Holmes is absent from the story for long stretches, where Watson contributes a lot of the detective work for the reader. An unusual and yet unsurprising twist on the structure, since Watson is the main POV of these stories. As far as the Holmes novels go, so far this one is the most advanced mystery-wise. We get a red herring or two and Watson has to figure out what’s going on for himself. It utilizes a creepy, gloomy atmosphere fit for the genre that’s more heightened than the previous two. It has the titular monster as its central symbol, a potentially supernatural/demonic beast that haunts a countryside mire. It’s more visually thrilling—a greater feeling of danger. And the mystery is just preposterous enough to intrigue.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I expected this to be much like those stories which, while entertaining, started to get more tedious as I read on. However, Doyle is renewed in his sense of Holmes' and Watson's characters and produced a wildly entertaining mystery full of deceit, scandal, and murder. Holmes' genius and dry, sarcastic wit plus Watson's admiration for his companion and own brand of intelligence make this a great study in character. The story itself is full of adventure and has many characters and plots that keep the reader guessing until finally the mystery is solved by the dynamic duo and friends.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sir Charles Baskerville has just died on his Dartmoor estate, seemingly the victim of a generations-old curse on the Baskervilles and the giant hound that haunts the moor. His heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, is due to arrive to take possession of the estate, and the neighborhood doctor fears for his life. Sherlock Holmes sends Watson to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall and to keep watch over him while Holmes attends to urgent business in London. As if a ghostly beast wasn’t enough, an escaped convict is also loose somewhere on the moor. Watson does his best in Holmes’s absence, but it will take the great detective to put an end to the curse.All of the story elements work together to create one of the most memorable mysteries ever written. Baskerville Hall and Dartmoor are described so vividly that I could imagine I was actually there. I would recognize the characters on the street from the thorough descriptions of their physical characteristics and mannerisms. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of horror, suspense, and intrigue, with just a dash of humor. I regret that I had only one chance to experience this book for the first time, and this wasn’t it. Re-readings can’t recapture the thrill of the first time around.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Some books have such a grip on the popular imagination that it is easy to fall under the mistaken impression that you know them very well. One such novel is certainly Conan Doyle's “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, in which the great “consulting detective” Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery of a spectral hound haunting the scions of a wealthy family on the bleak Devon moors.

    I vaguely recall reading “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in my early teens. Fresh from a week’s stay in Dartmoor, I returned to it, and was surprised to discover that my impressions of the novel were based less on my recollections than on misconceptions and second-hand retellings.

    For one thing, at the very beginning of the book I noticed an element of what could only be “self-parody”. Consider the following extract from the opening chapter, which led me to double-check whether I was reading the original text or a spoof:

    I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before...
    "Well, Watson, what do you make of it?"
    Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.
    "How did you know what I was doing? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head."
    "I have, at least, a well-polished, silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me," said he.


    Although the setting of the story is before Holmes’s presumed death at the Reichenbach Falls in (what should have been) his “Final Problem”, the Hound of the Baskervilles was the work in which Holmes returned to print after an absence of eight years to appease the public clamour for a new adventure featuring the seemingly omniscient detective. Conan Doyle’s playful opening scene might be poking fun not only at his own characters but also at the public’s obsession with his creation.

    I was also surprised at the fact that, for the greater part of the novel, Watson is the protagonist. Certainly, the “presence” of Holmes hovers over each chapter, but putting Watson in the foreground gives the book a particular flavour. As Anthony Lejeune puts it in his foreword to this Capuchin Classics edition, you can stereotype Holmes but not Watson. It also makes this more of an “adventure story” than a “puzzle-solving” crime novel.

    The most striking fact about Doyle’s “little book” however is how much it owes to the Gothic genre. Whilst most Holmes stories have a gothic element, this is generally of the Dickensian “London” type, where evil is battled in foggy city streets. Here however we’re in the classic territory of solitary country mansions, nightly terrors, eerie moorland, mires which entrap unwary men and beasts, escaped convicts, femmes fatales, family curses and, to top it all, a giant ghostly hound with flaring nostrils. And although the final neat (yet complex) solution explains away the supernatural trappings (as is typical of that strand of “rationalistic” Gothic which runs from Ann Radcliffe to Scooby-Doo), the brooding sense of fear and dread is difficult to shake off and gives the novel its distinctive aftertaste.

    This is an undisputed classic.