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A review by nothingforpomegranted
The Hound of the Baskervilles & The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I remember reading a few Sherlock Holmes stories as a child, encouraged my dad who remembered loving them when he was a kid. I always appreciated and admired the clever detective, but I never got hooked. Recently, my husband and I have been ploughing our way through the TV adaptions, binging Sherlock and now more slowly watching Elementary, so when I discovered this copy of Conan Doyle’s most famous story in our local used bookstore, I had to pick it up.
I completely understand why Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers for so many generations. The clever, creative, calculating hero is exciting and inspiring, and these two stories highlight the surprises of crime and the intellectualism behind it all. I was actually a bit disappointed by how little Sherlock Holmes himself was involved in these two particular stories, but the writing was engaging as these fast paced plots intermingled with character study.
I was surprised that I actually preferred “The Valley of Fear,” despite Holmes’ near-total absence. Conan Doyle’s talent for writing and for building a complicated story shone through, and I look forward to reading more Sherlock Holmes stories as I encounter them.
I completely understand why Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers for so many generations. The clever, creative, calculating hero is exciting and inspiring, and these two stories highlight the surprises of crime and the intellectualism behind it all. I was actually a bit disappointed by how little Sherlock Holmes himself was involved in these two particular stories, but the writing was engaging as these fast paced plots intermingled with character study.
I was surprised that I actually preferred “The Valley of Fear,” despite Holmes’ near-total absence. Conan Doyle’s talent for writing and for building a complicated story shone through, and I look forward to reading more Sherlock Holmes stories as I encounter them.