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Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel
This classic “whodunit” story with the famous Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is now told in graphic novel format. More than 100 pages of illustrated action and adventure! Sir Charles Baskerville, master of the Baskerville estate, is found dead at the gates with a look of horror on his face. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in to investigate the possibility of foul play. After several false leads, they solve the mystery and reveal the truth.
128 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 29, 2018
A good retelling of the Hound of the Baskervilles in comic book form! The artwork is dark and creepy, giving deep shadows to everything, and perfectly reflecting the mysterious nature of the story.
I thought that Holmes' character is represented beautifully both through the artwork and the dialogue. His austere personality and furtive energy comes across strongly on every page!
I felt like the plot moved a little too quickly, barely having time to explain the basics of the plotlines. There's not enough time to get attached to the characters or really get immersed in the menacing moors. I wish the book were longer, so that more attention could be paid to some of the details. But of course, it's always difficult to condense a classic story into a smaller format.
I really enjoyed revisiting this favorite classic, and I loved the expressive artwork!
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I thought that Holmes' character is represented beautifully both through the artwork and the dialogue. His austere personality and furtive energy comes across strongly on every page!
I felt like the plot moved a little too quickly, barely having time to explain the basics of the plotlines. There's not enough time to get attached to the characters or really get immersed in the menacing moors. I wish the book were longer, so that more attention could be paid to some of the details. But of course, it's always difficult to condense a classic story into a smaller format.
I really enjoyed revisiting this favorite classic, and I loved the expressive artwork!
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
December 5, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It's been ages since I've read the actual novel of this story so I'm not sure how faithfully it reproduces it, but it was a fun overall read although it also felt like it was maybe a little bit rushed. It was fun for me to read because no matter what it seems like I can never actually remember 'whodunit' with Sherlock Holmes stories so it's like every time I'm reading it for the first time again. I don't know if that says something about the stories themselves or my memory or both. I would probably recommend this for casual Sherlock Holmes fans who are maybe just looking for a quick refresher on the story and don't necessarily want to go back and read the entire book.
It's been ages since I've read the actual novel of this story so I'm not sure how faithfully it reproduces it, but it was a fun overall read although it also felt like it was maybe a little bit rushed. It was fun for me to read because no matter what it seems like I can never actually remember 'whodunit' with Sherlock Holmes stories so it's like every time I'm reading it for the first time again. I don't know if that says something about the stories themselves or my memory or both. I would probably recommend this for casual Sherlock Holmes fans who are maybe just looking for a quick refresher on the story and don't necessarily want to go back and read the entire book.
November 30, 2017
I received an eARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adore all things Sherlock Holmes. He is one of my absolute favorite literary characters. I really love his wit and sarcasm. Even more than that I love his relationship with Dr Watson.
This comic is well drawn and very visually pleasing. The main idea is laid out in an easy to follow manner. All of the important bits were included.
My one complaint is that the characters fell short for me. I didn't feel like the characters we know and love were portrayed in their normal light. It didn't so much take away from the storyline, but I feel like it took away from the experience.
I absolutely adore all things Sherlock Holmes. He is one of my absolute favorite literary characters. I really love his wit and sarcasm. Even more than that I love his relationship with Dr Watson.
This comic is well drawn and very visually pleasing. The main idea is laid out in an easy to follow manner. All of the important bits were included.
My one complaint is that the characters fell short for me. I didn't feel like the characters we know and love were portrayed in their normal light. It didn't so much take away from the storyline, but I feel like it took away from the experience.
August 21, 2018
I liked this installment of the Dark Tales series the best so far, for a few reasons! First off, this classic Sherlock Holmes mystery translates perfectly to the graphic novel format. It's just as exciting to see Sherlock and Watson bounding off into the unknown, determined to get to the bottom of the Baskerville murder, as it is to read about in the original story. Add in the fact that the illustrations in this one were much crisper, and felt to me like they fit the story a lot better, and you have a graphic novel that I had a fun time reading. This is a wonderful way to share the Sherlock Holmes saga with a new set of readers.
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July 3, 2025How? Grabbed randomly off the shelf while going through the library with the kiddo.
What? It's the Hound of the Baskervilles, the one Conan Doyle novel about Holmes. As some critic or other noted, in order to write a full-length novel, Holmes is effectively put into an entirely other genre: the Gothic.
Yeah, so? The kiddo enjoyed it, and hopefully now he has some greater foundation for the Enola Holmes book we read a while ago.
What? It's the Hound of the Baskervilles, the one Conan Doyle novel about Holmes. As some critic or other noted, in order to write a full-length novel, Holmes is effectively put into an entirely other genre: the Gothic.
Yeah, so? The kiddo enjoyed it, and hopefully now he has some greater foundation for the Enola Holmes book we read a while ago.
June 15, 2018
As a lover of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, I could not pass up a chance to read this new version of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Part of Dave Shephard’s Dark Tales series of graphic novels, The Hound of the Baskervilles was the perfect story to pick as the setting of the miry moor and the tales of a ghost dog make this one of the creepiest of the Sherlock Holmes tales.
Shephard’s pictures evoke the desolate landscape, the old manor, and the complex plot well. Readers who are familiar with the screen and television versions of Doyle’s stories will note with pleasure the visual references to familiar actors and settings.
Other books in the Dark Tales Graphic Novel Series from Canterbury Classics include The Call of Cthulhu, The Snow Queen, and Beauty and the Beast.
I received copies of The Hound of the Baskervilles from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Shephard’s pictures evoke the desolate landscape, the old manor, and the complex plot well. Readers who are familiar with the screen and television versions of Doyle’s stories will note with pleasure the visual references to familiar actors and settings.
Other books in the Dark Tales Graphic Novel Series from Canterbury Classics include The Call of Cthulhu, The Snow Queen, and Beauty and the Beast.
I received copies of The Hound of the Baskervilles from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2018
Despite the fact that I was most familiar with this one (I even had a kiddie book version of it as a kid!), it wasn't my top favorite of the Dark Tales series. It might have been the familiarity that had it sink a bit, but I think it was also the illustrations. While well penned and certainly depicting the scenes as they came, they just didn't sit as well with me. Cie la vie, the story IS just as amazing as it's always been though, so certainly no love lost there, and it makes a great way to introduce another generation to the story they may be reluctant to divulge in classic lit.
**copy received for review
**copy received for review
November 30, 2017
First off I like to say that I'm really not interested or into graphic novels, but when I saw this I decided to give it a try because it was The Hound Of Baskerville ,which is my all time favorite Sherlock Holmes book, and unfortunately this graphic novel didn't just make the cut. It actually fell short of how good the actual story is, while it did some ways follow the story the graphics just didn't bring it to life.With that said I would like to say thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity and the chance to read and review it in change for my honest opinion.
December 5, 2017
I received an EARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I haven't read Sherlock yet but I have seen the BBC show. I know the basics of Sherlock and that's about it. I liked this but it also felt like there should have been more. It was very short and just had the feeling that something was missing from it. The art was good and it was easy to follow. The main plot of the story was there but that is all. There was nothing built up into the relationships of any of the characters so I didn't really connect with anyone.
To be honest, I haven't read Sherlock yet but I have seen the BBC show. I know the basics of Sherlock and that's about it. I liked this but it also felt like there should have been more. It was very short and just had the feeling that something was missing from it. The art was good and it was easy to follow. The main plot of the story was there but that is all. There was nothing built up into the relationships of any of the characters so I didn't really connect with anyone.
March 3, 2022
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic NovelI got The Hound of The Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel for Christmas this year and as soon as I saw it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. But I waited until February to crack it. It wasn’t a book I wanted to read a page at a time, but all at once while under a blanket with a cup of tea and, maybe, as the winter afternoon darkened into evening, a glass of whiskey with ice. It’s the kind of book that’s just nice to hold in your hands, a paperback with nice stiff, smooth paper and colorful pictures and a glossy inset image of Sherlock Holmes on the cover that’s fun to run your finger over. Of course, there’s the most important thing, the prospect of an exciting story … My experience with this little treasure did not disappoint. Maybe, in the illustrations, illustrator Dave Shephard’s Sherlock Holmes was a little too debonair and ordinary-looking, a little too chisel-faced Cary Grant, for my taste—for some reason, I want him to look a little weirder—but other than that, the illustrations are wonderful, full of energy and darkness, and text is used to great effect. The great sweeping strokes used to paint the wild moor are especially nice, and a similar technique—half- or whole-page depictions with just dots of text—used to bring alive the cavernous secrets of Baskerville Hall were equally effective, and made me desperate to pass a night in a creaky old creepy English house in the country. Hot chocolate would also be an appropriate accompaniment to this treat of a book.
August 1, 2021
When Sir Charles Baskerville dies mysteriously, it's up to Holmes and Watson to solve the case and protect his sole heir. According to an old legend, the local moor is haunted by a terrifying hound. Is the ghostly canine to blame?
___
This graphic novel adaptation of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle story manages to hit all the key points of the story in a visually pleasing way but doesn't quite do justice to the original. The Hound himself looks fantastic and the character designs are distinct enough to easily be able to discern them, but many of the transitions are confusing (lacking narration boxes to identify the passage of time) and without Watson's narrative voice to set the tone, the atmosphere (while nice and spooky) doesn't quite hit the mark.
The artwork itself is very svelte, clean, and gothic-looking. Due to the low price-point, I rounded my rating up from a 3.5 to a 4. I bought this book from Ollie's for $2.99 and easily got my money's worth. Plus it makes a nice decoration on my bookshelf.
I would recommend this book for fans of Sherlock Holmes or for young readers who might find classic stories a bit less accessible than a graphic novel.
___
This graphic novel adaptation of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle story manages to hit all the key points of the story in a visually pleasing way but doesn't quite do justice to the original. The Hound himself looks fantastic and the character designs are distinct enough to easily be able to discern them, but many of the transitions are confusing (lacking narration boxes to identify the passage of time) and without Watson's narrative voice to set the tone, the atmosphere (while nice and spooky) doesn't quite hit the mark.
The artwork itself is very svelte, clean, and gothic-looking. Due to the low price-point, I rounded my rating up from a 3.5 to a 4. I bought this book from Ollie's for $2.99 and easily got my money's worth. Plus it makes a nice decoration on my bookshelf.
I would recommend this book for fans of Sherlock Holmes or for young readers who might find classic stories a bit less accessible than a graphic novel.
April 27, 2020
'Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel' by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Ned Hartley with art by Dave Shephard is a classic story adapted to a graphic novel.
A man inherits property after a relative is brutally murdered, reportedly by a supernatural dog. Watson goes ahead of Holmes and enters the eerie area of Baskerville with it's foggy landscape and boggy land. The fog is not the only thing holding on to secrets and Watson does his best to find out the truth.
This is a pretty good adaptation of the classic story. I really liked this version because the art uses a simpler format versus overly complex art, and the story is adapted and moves along briskly.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Printers Row Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
A man inherits property after a relative is brutally murdered, reportedly by a supernatural dog. Watson goes ahead of Holmes and enters the eerie area of Baskerville with it's foggy landscape and boggy land. The fog is not the only thing holding on to secrets and Watson does his best to find out the truth.
This is a pretty good adaptation of the classic story. I really liked this version because the art uses a simpler format versus overly complex art, and the story is adapted and moves along briskly.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Printers Row Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
October 20, 2023
3.5 While I am not familiar with the original, this was a decent read. My biggest complaint is with how the speech bubbles are lined up when two people are conversing back and forth. It was inconsistent whether the top most (right) was first or the left most (bottom) was first. I have read manga that did it better even though the rules were opposite what I as an English reader am used to.
August 27, 2021
Fantastic artwork that perfect for the settings of the story, felt little rushed.
January 4, 2022
The illustrations were crisp and fit the story. I enjoyed it.
August 25, 2022
I’m glad I read it as a graphic novel. I wouldn’t have been able to finish it otherwise.
This could be a great movie though. 🤷🏼♀️
This could be a great movie though. 🤷🏼♀️
September 28, 2023
this was a very interesting book! i really liked this book it was awesome!
June 18, 2018
The Dark Tales series, published by Canterbury Classics, is a collection of four graphic novels, each a new version of an old classic. The series includes two fairy tales, a Sherlock Holmes story, and one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most famous works. Each graphic novel begins with an introduction explaining the origin of the story and the illustrator’s interpretation, in addition to a dramatis personae (“persons of the drama”), which includes an illustration of each character. This is particularly helpful when you’re reading and you forget which middle-aged man is which (I’m looking at you, The Hound of the Baskervilles). I really enjoyed all four of these books, but I did enjoy some more than others, so I will review them in order, from mostly liked to absolutely loved, which coincidentally is also the order in which I read them.
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is an adaptation of the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with illustrations by Dave Shephard. In his introduction, Shephard explains how this novel was the start of today’s modern detective story. If you’re looking for a graphic novel of a Sherlock episode, this isn’t really it. Conan Doyle’s story has a twist that today’s reader will definitely be familiar with, and Sherlock Holmes barely appears. The plot moves very quickly, but it is mostly just people speaking to one another about the danger they are in and the mystery that needs to be solved. The illustrations are lovely to look at, and it’s an easy book to get through, but it really didn’t engage me like some of the others.
Dark Tales: The Call of Cthulhu is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s famous story, with illustrations again by Dave Shephard. I really enjoyed this one, because beyond Cthulhu’s presence in modern popular culture, I knew nothing about the story. Shephard has adapted this story to create an ominous tale of one man’s journey to discover the truth about Cthulhu and the cult created in its name. The unresolved ending left me thinking about the story and the consequences of the beliefs humans hold. Although, as with The Hound of the Baskervilles, Shephard jumped from scene to scene quickly and with little explanation, and the similar looks of the characters made it challenging to remember who they all were.
Dark Tales: The Snow Queen is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s story, with illustrations by Emilie Majarian. My only familiarity with this story was Disney’s Frozen, and reading this graphic novel taught me that the original tale is very different. The Snow Queen is about young Gerda and her quest to save her best friend Kay when a demon poisons his heart and the Snow Queen captures him. In her introduction, Majarian explains how she illustrated the Snow Queen to be much more ferocious than the original, even taking on animal qualities sometimes. Her illustrations do not disappoint. The Snow Queen is a terrifying opponent for small Gerda, and I loved seeing Gerda do all she can to save her best friend. The illustrations were striking, and the story moved quickly, but clearly. This was a great way to learn the real story behind Frozen and an excellent adaptation of a classic tale.
Dark Tales: Beauty and the Beast is an adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Leprince’s version of the tale, with illustrations by Pete Katz. Katz explains in his introduction how he chose to add a villain to his version of the tale, which comes in the form of a demon who plagues the castle in which the Beast lives. This version also has Beauty’s two siblings, who are reminiscent of the stepsisters in the story of Cinderella. The basics from the Disney movie are in here, but there are many differences, all of which I found very satisfying. Katz has depicted Beauty as a “strong, courageous, and skilled” woman who “has a large hand in the outcome of her story.” I won’t spoil it for you, but the ending really is amazing. If only they’d read this version before writing the 2017 Disney film.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this series. Several of these stories were entirely unfamiliar to me and I most likely would not have ever read the original tales. The graphic novel format makes these classic extremely accessible and enjoyable. If you have ever been curious about the original stories behind Sherlock Holmes, Cthulhu, the Snow Queen, or Beauty and the Beast, I definitely recommend picking up these novels.
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is an adaptation of the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with illustrations by Dave Shephard. In his introduction, Shephard explains how this novel was the start of today’s modern detective story. If you’re looking for a graphic novel of a Sherlock episode, this isn’t really it. Conan Doyle’s story has a twist that today’s reader will definitely be familiar with, and Sherlock Holmes barely appears. The plot moves very quickly, but it is mostly just people speaking to one another about the danger they are in and the mystery that needs to be solved. The illustrations are lovely to look at, and it’s an easy book to get through, but it really didn’t engage me like some of the others.
Dark Tales: The Call of Cthulhu is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s famous story, with illustrations again by Dave Shephard. I really enjoyed this one, because beyond Cthulhu’s presence in modern popular culture, I knew nothing about the story. Shephard has adapted this story to create an ominous tale of one man’s journey to discover the truth about Cthulhu and the cult created in its name. The unresolved ending left me thinking about the story and the consequences of the beliefs humans hold. Although, as with The Hound of the Baskervilles, Shephard jumped from scene to scene quickly and with little explanation, and the similar looks of the characters made it challenging to remember who they all were.
Dark Tales: The Snow Queen is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s story, with illustrations by Emilie Majarian. My only familiarity with this story was Disney’s Frozen, and reading this graphic novel taught me that the original tale is very different. The Snow Queen is about young Gerda and her quest to save her best friend Kay when a demon poisons his heart and the Snow Queen captures him. In her introduction, Majarian explains how she illustrated the Snow Queen to be much more ferocious than the original, even taking on animal qualities sometimes. Her illustrations do not disappoint. The Snow Queen is a terrifying opponent for small Gerda, and I loved seeing Gerda do all she can to save her best friend. The illustrations were striking, and the story moved quickly, but clearly. This was a great way to learn the real story behind Frozen and an excellent adaptation of a classic tale.
Dark Tales: Beauty and the Beast is an adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Leprince’s version of the tale, with illustrations by Pete Katz. Katz explains in his introduction how he chose to add a villain to his version of the tale, which comes in the form of a demon who plagues the castle in which the Beast lives. This version also has Beauty’s two siblings, who are reminiscent of the stepsisters in the story of Cinderella. The basics from the Disney movie are in here, but there are many differences, all of which I found very satisfying. Katz has depicted Beauty as a “strong, courageous, and skilled” woman who “has a large hand in the outcome of her story.” I won’t spoil it for you, but the ending really is amazing. If only they’d read this version before writing the 2017 Disney film.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this series. Several of these stories were entirely unfamiliar to me and I most likely would not have ever read the original tales. The graphic novel format makes these classic extremely accessible and enjoyable. If you have ever been curious about the original stories behind Sherlock Holmes, Cthulhu, the Snow Queen, or Beauty and the Beast, I definitely recommend picking up these novels.
December 31, 2017
The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes stories. There are others that are just as good, but nothing beats a story based on a frightening legend of a hell-hound beast loose on the moor. I've read the story many, many times and never grow tired of it. So when I had the chance to review a graphic novel version of the same story, I was happy to read and review it. The illustrations are well done.
Complaints from other readers include the fact that the story feels rushed. I think the big portion missing is the description of the scenes. It's really all dialogue and little else. However, the illustrations, even those without words, do well enough to convey the emotions within the scene. Not everything needs to be explained to death. The reader is smart enough to figure things out. Still, it is lacking what the original story had; however, if the reader is more of a fan of graphic novels, this is the best way to present one of the most entertaining Holmes stories written by Doyle. I'm a big fan of the author and the characters, so reading the actual story is enough for me. But if I wanted my kids to enjoy it like I did when I was a kid, I might have to introduce them to this version.
If I had a choice between electronic version or physical copy, I'd go with the physical copy. While the electronic version worked well on my computer, there's just something more enjoyable about sitting in a chair, with a nice cup of tea and reading a paperback (or hardback) graphic novel. That would really be my only complaint. I don't care for graphic novels in electronic format. I received a complimentary copy through Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Complaints from other readers include the fact that the story feels rushed. I think the big portion missing is the description of the scenes. It's really all dialogue and little else. However, the illustrations, even those without words, do well enough to convey the emotions within the scene. Not everything needs to be explained to death. The reader is smart enough to figure things out. Still, it is lacking what the original story had; however, if the reader is more of a fan of graphic novels, this is the best way to present one of the most entertaining Holmes stories written by Doyle. I'm a big fan of the author and the characters, so reading the actual story is enough for me. But if I wanted my kids to enjoy it like I did when I was a kid, I might have to introduce them to this version.
If I had a choice between electronic version or physical copy, I'd go with the physical copy. While the electronic version worked well on my computer, there's just something more enjoyable about sitting in a chair, with a nice cup of tea and reading a paperback (or hardback) graphic novel. That would really be my only complaint. I don't care for graphic novels in electronic format. I received a complimentary copy through Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 4, 2018
3 1/2 Stars
I received a copy of Dark Tales: The Hound of Baskervilles from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’m a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and anything related to it, so obviously when I saw this graphic novel, which is based off the Hound of Baskervilles, I knew I had to read it. As far as adaptations go, this wasn’t a bad one. I do think that there are a few things the creative team could have done different, but on the whole I felt it was worth reading.
I’ll admit that it has been a while since I’ve actually read the Hound of Baskervilles, so I’ve likely lost a lot of the details and thus can’t really comment on that. I did like what I saw in this adaptation, which few exceptions. The art style was perfect for this story, as it fit the mood exactly. It was creepy and dark, but it also never scarified details for the sake of the style either.
I do feel that the characters were a bit flat, and never really appealed to me during their telling. Considering how much I love many of Sherlock’s characters, this was both surprising and disappointing. I understand that they likely had to condense the story quite a bit to make it fit in a graphic novel this size, but I don’t agree with the decision to have the character development/interaction be what was cut.
I’m curious to see if the creative team will be doing more adaptations for Arthur Conan Doyle’s other works, there’s certainly plenty to choose from. I think if they change their focus just a little bit the next adaptation could be even better.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
I received a copy of Dark Tales: The Hound of Baskervilles from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’m a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and anything related to it, so obviously when I saw this graphic novel, which is based off the Hound of Baskervilles, I knew I had to read it. As far as adaptations go, this wasn’t a bad one. I do think that there are a few things the creative team could have done different, but on the whole I felt it was worth reading.
I’ll admit that it has been a while since I’ve actually read the Hound of Baskervilles, so I’ve likely lost a lot of the details and thus can’t really comment on that. I did like what I saw in this adaptation, which few exceptions. The art style was perfect for this story, as it fit the mood exactly. It was creepy and dark, but it also never scarified details for the sake of the style either.
I do feel that the characters were a bit flat, and never really appealed to me during their telling. Considering how much I love many of Sherlock’s characters, this was both surprising and disappointing. I understand that they likely had to condense the story quite a bit to make it fit in a graphic novel this size, but I don’t agree with the decision to have the character development/interaction be what was cut.
I’m curious to see if the creative team will be doing more adaptations for Arthur Conan Doyle’s other works, there’s certainly plenty to choose from. I think if they change their focus just a little bit the next adaptation could be even better.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
January 5, 2018
The famous Sherlock Holmes story is adapted into a graphic novel.
Holmes is asked to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles appears to have died of fright while walking on the foggy moors near his estate. Mysterious footprints of a hound are found nearby. The locals suspect a centuries old curse on the Baskerville house is to blame for Sir Charles' death.
Set in atmospheric Dartmoor England, Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the first psychological thrillers. This is also one of few stories where Watson gets to play detective without Holmes initial assistance. The plot lets the reader also play detective as all the clues to the conclusion are there, but not necessarily in plain sight.
The story was written in 1901 but remains relevant to today’s audiences. The Hound of the Baskervilles is usually regarded as Arthur Conan Doyle's finest Sherlock Holmes novel. It is based on a legend surrounding a real English Squire in the 17th century.
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is a great way to attract new, especially younger, readers to Doyle's intriguing plot. One note for viewers of the famous 1939 movie with Basil Rathbone, the movie added scenes particularly at the end. This graphic novel follows the book's plot perfectly so nothing is lost in the translation.
For parents and teachers of mystery readers who are reluctant to read the original novel, this is an excellent choice. For all others, it receives 3 stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Quarto/Canterbury Classics, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy.
Holmes is asked to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles appears to have died of fright while walking on the foggy moors near his estate. Mysterious footprints of a hound are found nearby. The locals suspect a centuries old curse on the Baskerville house is to blame for Sir Charles' death.
Set in atmospheric Dartmoor England, Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the first psychological thrillers. This is also one of few stories where Watson gets to play detective without Holmes initial assistance. The plot lets the reader also play detective as all the clues to the conclusion are there, but not necessarily in plain sight.
The story was written in 1901 but remains relevant to today’s audiences. The Hound of the Baskervilles is usually regarded as Arthur Conan Doyle's finest Sherlock Holmes novel. It is based on a legend surrounding a real English Squire in the 17th century.
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles is a great way to attract new, especially younger, readers to Doyle's intriguing plot. One note for viewers of the famous 1939 movie with Basil Rathbone, the movie added scenes particularly at the end. This graphic novel follows the book's plot perfectly so nothing is lost in the translation.
For parents and teachers of mystery readers who are reluctant to read the original novel, this is an excellent choice. For all others, it receives 3 stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Quarto/Canterbury Classics, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy.
December 6, 2017
Graphic novels are great in that they lure in people who would perhaps have never read the story otherwise. This almost seems unimaginable to us who are fans of Sherlock Holmes and deeply appreciate his wit and word play in his relationship with Dr Watson.
In this novel, I like the way they introduce the story and the cast of characters.
I did like that when they took you back in time to 1742 they stuck with a print font instead of cursive making it easier to view. Also, the graphic weight of the piece, which is thick with dialogue, especially in the 1st half, seems decent.
This novel does focus on the main characters, perhaps a little bit more than I would have liked, early on. But, I felt the artwork and display of emotion on page 62 was outstanding and the focus on the shoe in the mud ....beguiling. ..along with the split in the way they captured Dr. Watson peering in the window.
I was not extremely fond of the speech balloons with the exception of the brilliant one depicting the moon. But, I'm viewing a small galley so the work may appear differently later on, and in the print edition.
In general, I think this is a great graphic novel. l felt the 2nd half of the novel out-shown the first. And that feels authentic to how stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle read....as the story builds and cycles through some small crescendos before the reveal.
I highly recommend and look forward to seeing this graphic novel in print.
Reviewed for Net Galley
In this novel, I like the way they introduce the story and the cast of characters.
I did like that when they took you back in time to 1742 they stuck with a print font instead of cursive making it easier to view. Also, the graphic weight of the piece, which is thick with dialogue, especially in the 1st half, seems decent.
This novel does focus on the main characters, perhaps a little bit more than I would have liked, early on. But, I felt the artwork and display of emotion on page 62 was outstanding and the focus on the shoe in the mud ....beguiling. ..along with the split in the way they captured Dr. Watson peering in the window.
I was not extremely fond of the speech balloons with the exception of the brilliant one depicting the moon. But, I'm viewing a small galley so the work may appear differently later on, and in the print edition.
In general, I think this is a great graphic novel. l felt the 2nd half of the novel out-shown the first. And that feels authentic to how stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle read....as the story builds and cycles through some small crescendos before the reveal.
I highly recommend and look forward to seeing this graphic novel in print.
Reviewed for Net Galley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
I love Sherlock Holmes. So I was so excited to see this graphic novel on NetGalley.
I enjoyed reading this story. I felt a little confused when I read the original story years ago. The story jumps around a lot, and some of the names are similar. This graphic novel made it much easier to understand, but it still has the tension of a Holmes mystery.
The art in this graphic novel was awesome! I loved the different colours the artist used. When the story told something that happened in the past, it was coloured in sepia tones. When the characters were in the dark, it was in dark blues. And when they were in the light, the colours were natural. This was a great way to depict different time periods and settings without having to describe them in words.
This is a great graphic novel that I would recommend for Holmes fans and people who want an introduction to the famous detective.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley.
I enjoyed reading this story. I felt a little confused when I read the original story years ago. The story jumps around a lot, and some of the names are similar. This graphic novel made it much easier to understand, but it still has the tension of a Holmes mystery.
The art in this graphic novel was awesome! I loved the different colours the artist used. When the story told something that happened in the past, it was coloured in sepia tones. When the characters were in the dark, it was in dark blues. And when they were in the light, the colours were natural. This was a great way to depict different time periods and settings without having to describe them in words.
This is a great graphic novel that I would recommend for Holmes fans and people who want an introduction to the famous detective.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley.
March 28, 2018
*eARC received through NetGalley*
I haven't read the original Sherlock novels by Arthur Conan Doyle, but I have watched the show. Overall, I gave this adaptation 3 stars, because it was visually pleasing and the story was easy to follow. The major reason for this being a mediocre read for me was the lack of detail and character development. I love Sherlock and Watson individually and also enjoy their banter, but this book didn't capture the relationship very well. For two guys that live together and solve mysteries together, their conversations were very formal and unlike a conversation between friends. It seemed very rushed and to the point of the story rather than fleshing it out and showing us the personalities of each character. The story itself was laid out well but there was no drama that Sherlock adaptations usually have. I hoped that Sherlock's wit and sarcasm would've been a more prominent character detail but sadly it was just missing.
I haven't read the original Sherlock novels by Arthur Conan Doyle, but I have watched the show. Overall, I gave this adaptation 3 stars, because it was visually pleasing and the story was easy to follow. The major reason for this being a mediocre read for me was the lack of detail and character development. I love Sherlock and Watson individually and also enjoy their banter, but this book didn't capture the relationship very well. For two guys that live together and solve mysteries together, their conversations were very formal and unlike a conversation between friends. It seemed very rushed and to the point of the story rather than fleshing it out and showing us the personalities of each character. The story itself was laid out well but there was no drama that Sherlock adaptations usually have. I hoped that Sherlock's wit and sarcasm would've been a more prominent character detail but sadly it was just missing.
January 7, 2018
Dark Tales takes the classic Sherlock Holmes tale and put it in graphic novel format. This version is a lovely visual for the iconic detective.
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead, Holmes is hired to investigate a family curse. The heir to the family arrives to a warning and shoes stolen so Watson follows Henry Baskerville to the family home to get to the bottom the Baskerville tragedy.
I really like colors. Colors are changed based on location and time of day, doing better than many comics to show passages of time and creating a spooky atmosphere.
The only draw back is the art makes it more action packed and the pacing leaves more traditional scares than psychological horror. To get the full emotional impact, I suggest reading the traditional version of the novel.
Fun and entertaining, House of the Baskervilles is yet another good example of blending comics with classics.
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead, Holmes is hired to investigate a family curse. The heir to the family arrives to a warning and shoes stolen so Watson follows Henry Baskerville to the family home to get to the bottom the Baskerville tragedy.
I really like colors. Colors are changed based on location and time of day, doing better than many comics to show passages of time and creating a spooky atmosphere.
The only draw back is the art makes it more action packed and the pacing leaves more traditional scares than psychological horror. To get the full emotional impact, I suggest reading the traditional version of the novel.
Fun and entertaining, House of the Baskervilles is yet another good example of blending comics with classics.
August 8, 2018
And because I need to read more Sherlock Holmes I haven't read this original story either so I am not sure where the dark tales part comes into play on this one.
Holmes and Watson are asked to look into a case when Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead with a look of fright on his face. Some are saying that the family is cursed with the hound of Baskerville but it's it really something superstitious or are there other things at play here. Sherlock sends Watson on this own to investigate while he stays back and does some research on his own as of course Sherlock is pretty sure he knows what is going on before even getting there! :)
I found this very interesting and entertaining, though I am sure there is a lot more to the case than could be conveyed into 125 page graphic novel. I though the illustrator did a great job as well.
Holmes and Watson are asked to look into a case when Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead with a look of fright on his face. Some are saying that the family is cursed with the hound of Baskerville but it's it really something superstitious or are there other things at play here. Sherlock sends Watson on this own to investigate while he stays back and does some research on his own as of course Sherlock is pretty sure he knows what is going on before even getting there! :)
I found this very interesting and entertaining, though I am sure there is a lot more to the case than could be conveyed into 125 page graphic novel. I though the illustrator did a great job as well.
January 2, 2018
3.5 Stars
Illustrations & Story Arc - 4 Stars
Essence of Original Work - 3.25 Stars
A graphic novel version of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes work, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The artwork included in this adaptation embodies the emotion of the original story well. This storyline also follows the novel story arc pretty close. The relationship between the two MCs is harder to portray in this medium. If the graphic novel was a little longer, Holmes and Watson's friendship and the procedural approach to solving cases that a reader may find in Doyles's series may be illustrated better here. Overall, a fun interpretation of a classic, especially for Sherlock fans.
Net Galley Feedback
Illustrations & Story Arc - 4 Stars
Essence of Original Work - 3.25 Stars
A graphic novel version of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes work, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The artwork included in this adaptation embodies the emotion of the original story well. This storyline also follows the novel story arc pretty close. The relationship between the two MCs is harder to portray in this medium. If the graphic novel was a little longer, Holmes and Watson's friendship and the procedural approach to solving cases that a reader may find in Doyles's series may be illustrated better here. Overall, a fun interpretation of a classic, especially for Sherlock fans.
Net Galley Feedback
January 21, 2018
-ARC provided by NetGalley-
I love Sherlock Holmes and the stories are always intriguing, as is The Hound of the Baskervilles. I'm really glad I got to read the graphic novel this time.
This was a pretty good one. The story seemed a little rushed but I don't really mind that. I'd rather read a shorter book that emphasizes its important events than falling asleep over unnecessary details.
The graphics were pretty good too! I liked it how the illustrator knew how to make the difference between the story that happened in the present and the one in the past.
The acknowledgments were really cute. That made the book even better.
I recommend it if you're in the mood for a quick detective comic with a pretty interesting plot!
I love Sherlock Holmes and the stories are always intriguing, as is The Hound of the Baskervilles. I'm really glad I got to read the graphic novel this time.
This was a pretty good one. The story seemed a little rushed but I don't really mind that. I'd rather read a shorter book that emphasizes its important events than falling asleep over unnecessary details.
The graphics were pretty good too! I liked it how the illustrator knew how to make the difference between the story that happened in the present and the one in the past.
The acknowledgments were really cute. That made the book even better.
I recommend it if you're in the mood for a quick detective comic with a pretty interesting plot!
December 31, 2018
Truth be told, I am a hardcore Sherlock Holmes fan and have been so for many years. Shephard blows this adaptation out of the water, capturing the essence of this classic story perfectly. Shephard’s bold-lined, fully-colored, and dark-toned illustrations worked well with the simple story-telling style of Doyle, accenting the thrill of the mystery perfectly. This adaptation closely follows the original, keeping up with the nostalgia of the Holmes saga. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any in search of a good mystery or a warm welcome back to an old favorite in a new format! *Please note I received a free review copy of this book
January 5, 2018
This is a graphic novel version of the famous Arthur Conan Doyle story of The Hound of the Baskervilles. I have never read the original story, just seen copies of the basic storyline here and there in tv and such.
It was quite an interesting read, and it kept me reading continuously. I really enjoyed the overall story and I liked the artwork, it was modern, but old in style as well. Hard to explain. This is a worthy graphic novel for kids who may not like reading books but will read a comic.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
It was quite an interesting read, and it kept me reading continuously. I really enjoyed the overall story and I liked the artwork, it was modern, but old in style as well. Hard to explain. This is a worthy graphic novel for kids who may not like reading books but will read a comic.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
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