10. Hound of the Baskervilles Conan-Doyle

I am becoming a bit of a Sherlock Holmes obsessive... Having now watched the film twice in the last three months, and having literally just watched a very impressive BBC adaptation of the great detective, I am definitely going to be looking out for a lot more of Conan-Doyle's creation.

What I enjoyed most with the Hound of the Baskervilles is the attention that is paid to the little details:

"My first impression as I opened the door was that a fire had broken out, for the room was so filled with smoke that the light of the lamp upon the table was blurred by it. As I entered, however, my fears were set at rest, for it was the acrid fumes of strong coarse tobacco which took me by the throat and set me coughing. Through the haze I had a vague vision of Holmes in his dressing-gown coiled up in an armchair with his black clay pipe between his lips" 

Further to the detail I adore the characters and the ability Conan-Doyle has to allow you so quickly to get to grips with exactly what each of the characters are like, even minor parts like a cab-driver or waiter. The explanation of the relationship that exists between the characters of Holmes and Watson is what makes these books so enjoyable to me and is one of the reasons why I will be returning to read the rest of the series once this challenge is done!

I think there is always something quite enjoyable about books which have been written to be serialised. The story of the Hound of the Baskervilles is not the greatest story ever created, but the way in which it keeps you gripped from start to finish can't be faulted. To me if I never read another book other than this one I think I would die content - this is everything I love to see in a novel.