Finished: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Doyle) Finally in the mood to read some Sherlock Holmes, I went with one of Doyle's most famous...the story of the Baskerville family in the English moors and the otherworldly hound that has terrorized them for generations. As usual, Sherlock Holmes is essential to solving the big mystery. He's got his trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson, who does some very good investigating, but it's always Holmes who comes to the rescue with his seemingly miraculous brain. :-) I'm not going into depth with the recap. The whole story boils down to the substantial wealth of the latest Baskerville, Charles, and who would inherit his money and estate if he were to die. Of course, he does die right off the bat, and his nephew, and supposed only living heir, Henry Baskerville comes to town to take over where his uncle left off. Henry is a very good guy and is instantly taken under the protective wings of Holmes and Watson as they sleuth this one out. Turns out there IS another long lost, unknown heir who is less than benevolent who's got his sights set on being the next heir, even at the cost of Henry's life, and he happens to be a neighbor. The enormous hound does turn out to be more than the mere legend it was in the past, but it's not otherworldly. It's real hound...a cross between a bloodhound and a mastiff, who Mr. Stapleton, the evil heir and neighbor, keeps hungry and then cruelly paints with phosphorous paint around the mouth and eyes to simulate fire before he lets him out to terrorize the Baskervilles. Naturally Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson figure things out in the nick of time and save the day! An entertaining read. :-)