The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
(#128 on The Big Read. My Combined Score: 22)

This first book on the list that I’ve read previously. I’ve also seen quite a few of the TV and movie adaptions.

Writing: 7
Characters: 9
Story: 6
Total: 22 out of 30

Overall: This might actually be my least favorite Sherlock Holmes book. It’s easy to find gaps in logic in a lot of Doyle’s writing but it is especially bad here. The whole plot just doesn’t really make sense. The villains plan was to scare the guy to death? Really? I am guessing the reason this book is on the list is it one of the only Holmes stories that can be called a novel and it has been adapted so well and so often. I personally rank The Sign of the Four as the best of the few novels. But whatever, the reason you read a Sherlock Holmes books is for Sherlock Holmes and he is here in full force.

Recommendations: Just to Sherlock Holmes fans. Anyone who isn’t already a fan I would point to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the first collection of short stories.