When I was a kid, I liked the old Sherlock Holmes movies featuring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr Watson. Bruce's Watson always seemed to be something of a dunderhead, but a lovable one. In the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, Watson is centre stage and he proves himself to be anything but a dunderhead.
A certain Dr James Mortimer comes to consult Holmes at his Baker St home. He states that Sir Charles Baskerville, a minor aristocrat, has died from sheer terror on the grounds his Devonshire estate. He suggests to Holmes that the death could have been caused by the appearance of an enormous phantom hound long associated with the Baskerville estate. Dr Mortimer is worried that Sir Charles' heir Henry may be in grave danger. Holmes takes the case but is unable to attend immediately because he is currently involved in solving another case. He appoints to Watson to go to the Baskerville estate to protect Sir Henry and to conduct preliminary investigations. In Holmes absence, and its a prolonged absence, Watson has to demonstrate his competence as an investigator and protector.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is both a detective novel and a gothic horror novel. Much of the action takes place on the wilds of Dartmoor, where the phantom hound can be heard howling in the mists at night. There are enough clues and red herrings to keep the armchair sleuth guessing, making for an exciting and satisfying reading experience.
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