The Hound of the BaskervillesThe Hound of the Baskervilles
Score Classic
What it's about
Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate on the bleak moors of Devon, his face twisted in terror, and near his body are the footprints of a gigantic hound. A family legend tells of a demon dog that has hunted the Baskervilles for centuries. When the young heir, Sir Henry, arrives from Canada, Sherlock Holmes sends Dr. Watson to protect him.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It's the most famous Sherlock Holmes story, a gothic mystery on the moors.
You'll love it if you liked
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Tales of Edgar Allan Poe
RebeccaGood to know
It's short. Holmes is offstage for much of the middle, with Watson in charge. You don't need to have read other Holmes stories.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #48 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #195 of the 762 classics we rank
- #614 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Arthur Conan Doyle
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The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
Crime and Punishment
The Name of the Rose
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Quick answers
Is The Hound of the Baskervilles worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It ranks #614 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Hound of the Baskervilles about?
Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate on the bleak moors of Devon, his face twisted in terror, and near his body are the footprints of a gigantic hound. A family legend tells of a demon dog that has hunted the Baskervilles for centuries. When the young heir, Sir Henry, arrives from Canada, Sherlock Holmes sends Dr. Watson to protect him.
How long does it take to read The Hound of the Baskervilles?
About 8 hours (333 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Hound of the Baskervilles?
If you liked it, try The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, Tales of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.