Sherlock Holmes & The Beast of the Stapletons by James Lovegrove
Synopsis:
1894. The monstrous Hound of the Baskervilles has been dead for five years, along with its no less monstrous owner, the naturalist Jack Stapleton. Sir Henry Baskerville is living contentedly at Baskerville Hall with his new wife Audrey and their three-year-old son Harry.
Until, that is, Audrey’s lifeless body is found on the moors, drained of blood. It would appear some fiendish creature is once more at large on Dartmoor and has, like its predecessor, targeted the unfortunate Baskerville family.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are summoned to Sir Henry’s aid, and our heroes must face a marauding beast that is the very stuff of nightmares. It seems that Stapleton may not have perished in the Great Grimpen Mire after all, as Holmes believed, and is hell-bent on revenge…
Review:
The Beast of the Stapletons is a sequel to the original Hound of the Baskervilles. It has been a while since I read the classic, but thankfully, there was a good recap included. It seems like another beast has been stalking and killing at Baskerville. And Sherlock Holmes is the only one who can hunt down the actual killer.
While it may seem like a sequel, the story is wholly standalone. There is plenty of suspense, drama, and intriguing mystery. And the pacing never slows. Just when you think you know what’s going on, a huge twist comes along. This latest Holmes mystery and adventure is a lot of fun. The story kept me guessing. The characters were fun, if more than a bit over-the-top. And the climactic ending was exciting and fulfilling. This escapade was unexpected.