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Sherlock Holmes - Neue Fälle #10
The Revenge Of The Hound: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
This authorized sequel to The Hound of the Baskervilles follows Holmes and Watson as they track a menacing hound on Hampstead Heath and uncover a murder, a fanatical plot to overthrow the government, and a secret mission to protect the king. Reprint.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 25, 2019
El doctor John H. Watson nos narra el caso al que se enfrentaron él mismo y Sherlock Holmes en el verano de 1902, cuando un vagabundo es atacado en el Páramo de Hampstead, encontrándose las huellas de un sabueso enorme en la zona, lo que no deja de recordar a otro antiguo caso, el llamado El sabueso de los Baskerville. Al mismo tiempo, Holmes está siguiendo los descubrimientos arqueológicos donde podrían hallarse los restos de Oliver Cromwell, asunto delicado cuando está cercana la coronación del rey Eduardo. Y si faltaba poco, el bueno del doctor Watson acaba de prometerse con la que sería su tercera esposa.
‘La venganza del sabueso’ (The Revenge of the Hound, 1987), del inglés Michael Hardwick, es un estupendo pastiche, bastante respetable con el cánon, con una lograda atmósfera, una buena trama y unos diálogos brillantes.
‘La venganza del sabueso’ (The Revenge of the Hound, 1987), del inglés Michael Hardwick, es un estupendo pastiche, bastante respetable con el cánon, con una lograda atmósfera, una buena trama y unos diálogos brillantes.
July 21, 2023
It's always good to see more of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
August 18, 2019
I don't think that this has the feel of a Sherlock Holmes story. It is too long, the plot is overly complicated and this Holmes and Watson bear little resemblance to the originals. It took a long time for me to get into it, there was an interesting bit in the middle, then it got bad again. There are many other authors who do a better variation on this theme.
December 13, 2020
Hardwick seems determined to drag in references to as many of the original Holmes stories as possible--everyone from Lestrade to Shinwell Jones to Inspector Gregson to Mycroft Holmes appears. I'm sure if he could have found a way to bring Moriarty back from the dead, he would have. I'm surprised that after titling the story The Revenge of the Hound he didn't pull Stapleton out of the mire and have him running about.* We visit places mentioned in "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax" and the "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and more. He seems to think that the more he proves how much he knows of the canon the more willing we'll be to accept his version of Holmes and Watson. But his characterization of the duo rings false throughout the first half to two-thirds of the book. Holmes is in a snit over Watson's impending third marriage and is unbelievably rude to Watson--he even throttles him quite thoroughly (supposedly to prove that a certain witness's story is a lie, but he fully admits that he feels much better after half-strangling his friend). The pair sound and act much more like themselves in the last third of the book, but by that point I'd already given up on them and the improvement didn't help much.
On top of there being too much of what I can only call "showing off my Holmes knowledge," there is way too much going on this story--to quote Watson: "The Carfax case. The hound. The disappearance of Cromwell's bones. Now this murder. Not to mention such incidentals as your concern about invasions, revolution, the 'Yellow Peril' and being commanded to act for the king....you have no time for chasing after random murderers." Hardwick may been "the first man after the late Christopher Morley to be honored the investiture of The Sign of the Four by the Baker Street Irregulars of America, one of the most prestigious honors possible for any Sherlockian." He may have known his Holmesian lore inside-out and front to back, but none of that's useful if the story isn't engaging and seems overly complex. Honestly, the best things about this one were the illustrations by Steranko. ★ and 1/2. [rounded up here]
*And speaking of the original story--it would have been nice if the plot had a real connection the original Hound of the Baskervilles instead of what we got. It felt like Hardwick just dragged that in to add some sort of Doyle legitimacy to the whole thing.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
On top of there being too much of what I can only call "showing off my Holmes knowledge," there is way too much going on this story--to quote Watson: "The Carfax case. The hound. The disappearance of Cromwell's bones. Now this murder. Not to mention such incidentals as your concern about invasions, revolution, the 'Yellow Peril' and being commanded to act for the king....you have no time for chasing after random murderers." Hardwick may been "the first man after the late Christopher Morley to be honored the investiture of The Sign of the Four by the Baker Street Irregulars of America, one of the most prestigious honors possible for any Sherlockian." He may have known his Holmesian lore inside-out and front to back, but none of that's useful if the story isn't engaging and seems overly complex. Honestly, the best things about this one were the illustrations by Steranko. ★ and 1/2. [rounded up here]
*And speaking of the original story--it would have been nice if the plot had a real connection the original Hound of the Baskervilles instead of what we got. It felt like Hardwick just dragged that in to add some sort of Doyle legitimacy to the whole thing.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
May 20, 2012
This has been in our collection for years. After all of my Sherlockian reading & viewing last year, this is admittedly the first non-Doyle piece I've deigned to touch. Now, I found reading about Sherlockians amusing (example: "The Sherlockian", read earlier this year). But reading a Holmes novel written from Watson's point of view in Doyle's style...insert hesitation here.
My fears would've been allayed if I'd read the author's info beforehand: "The late Michael Hardwick was the first man since Christopher Morley to be honored with the investiture of The Sign of the Four by the Baker Street Irregulars of America, one of the most prestigious honors possible for any Sherlockian. His novel 'Prisoner of the Devil' is considered by many to be the finest of all the Sherlock Holmes adventures written since Conan Doyle's death."
Yeah. I enjoyed it. The first third (or half) of it frustrated me to no end, most likely because I'm so used to the short-story formats of most of Doyle's works. But the payoff was worth it, and I could easily see this story made into a movie...even in the 70's style of the "Hound of the Baskervilles".
My fears would've been allayed if I'd read the author's info beforehand: "The late Michael Hardwick was the first man since Christopher Morley to be honored with the investiture of The Sign of the Four by the Baker Street Irregulars of America, one of the most prestigious honors possible for any Sherlockian. His novel 'Prisoner of the Devil' is considered by many to be the finest of all the Sherlock Holmes adventures written since Conan Doyle's death."
Yeah. I enjoyed it. The first third (or half) of it frustrated me to no end, most likely because I'm so used to the short-story formats of most of Doyle's works. But the payoff was worth it, and I could easily see this story made into a movie...even in the 70's style of the "Hound of the Baskervilles".
February 29, 2016
Boring.
There are many authors out there that attempt to keep the flame alive for Sherlock Holmes, sadly few know where to even look for the matches much less light the fire. This book falls into that category. If you are going to attempt to write a sequel of sorts to a classic like The Hound of the Baskervilles, you better have some big literary cajones. Sadly, Mr. Hardwick doesn't. My only solace in ready this book is that i did purchase it online, used, for only a couple of bucks. If i would have bought this new, you would be able to hear my sobs from your living room. If you want to venture outside the Conan Doyle canon to satisfy your Holmes fix, try Larry Millet or Alan Vanneman instead. Two great authors that have taken Sherlock Holmes and Watson to a new level. Stay away from this one.
There are many authors out there that attempt to keep the flame alive for Sherlock Holmes, sadly few know where to even look for the matches much less light the fire. This book falls into that category. If you are going to attempt to write a sequel of sorts to a classic like The Hound of the Baskervilles, you better have some big literary cajones. Sadly, Mr. Hardwick doesn't. My only solace in ready this book is that i did purchase it online, used, for only a couple of bucks. If i would have bought this new, you would be able to hear my sobs from your living room. If you want to venture outside the Conan Doyle canon to satisfy your Holmes fix, try Larry Millet or Alan Vanneman instead. Two great authors that have taken Sherlock Holmes and Watson to a new level. Stay away from this one.
June 28, 2017
This Sherlockian pastiche was written back when the Doyle estate still held the copyright on Holmes, and had to okay any uses of the character. That approval operated as a kind of quality control that's now sadly lacking since Holmes moved into the public domain. As a result, Hardwick gets the most crucial thing right: it *sounds* like it could be a Doyle story, except in its length and complexity. The title is also a misnomer: the connection to the Hound of the Baskervilles is tangential at best. It's clearly not Doyle--for one thing, he never wrote a true Holmes novel, just longer serialized stories. And although the plot does pull together at the end, there are some extreme coincidences that are clearly author's conveniences. Still, a Sherlockian could do worse.
October 23, 2020
Surprisingly, like a Nancy Drew mystery, this relied on the coincidence of interconnected mysteries though the original Holmes would never work on more than one mystery at a time as this Holmes does. And another thing he would never do is to be as rude and insulting to Watson as he is here. The book jacket touts Michael Hardwick as “the world’s foremost living Sherlockian author,” but I have read better pastiches from other pens. The setting of Hampstead Heath and Highgate Cemetery are interesting and novel for Holmes and Watson and some of the characters are well-done, though a few are a bit over-the-top. The plotting is good but the title is promises what it doesn't deliver. Not a pastiche I’d reread or recommend.
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
February 1, 2017
When I began reading the book, I had difficulty maintaining my interest in the story. After the first couple chapters I then began enjoying the story and would recommend it to any Sherlockian.
I have read other authors trying to mimic ACD, but they were usually miserable attempts and painful to read. Michael Hardwick does an excellent job in creating a similar atmosphere as ACD had done.
I have read other authors trying to mimic ACD, but they were usually miserable attempts and painful to read. Michael Hardwick does an excellent job in creating a similar atmosphere as ACD had done.
January 13, 2024
So often, when I read a novel that purports to be a sequel or pastiche of another book, I’m really annoyed. Of course, I might wish for a sequel because I really want to know what happened next, how the protagonist ordered his or her life after the conclusion of the original novel. Even sequels written by the author of the original, however, often lack the delightful originality of the first, while those who are written by others sometimes mutilate the characters’ ethics, personality, speech, etc., beyond all recognition. Often, only the characters’ names remain the same, but those names are recognizable, and the original was popular—both factors that will sell the sequel.
I recently picked up The Revenge of the Hound, which obviously invokes The Hound of the Baskervilles and began reading with a certain amount of trepidation. Tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson not written by Arthur Conan Doyle did not begin with Doyle’s death; indeed, they had already begun, and a flood of imitators have since moved into the void left by his passing. Naturally, the quality is quite varied, but even those books I would term as good to excellent may be, in some way, problematic. For example, although I admire Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series for many reasons, I simply cannot accept the fact that Holmes is married—a little voice in my head keeps reminding me that Doyle would never have written (or accepted) this aberration in the character he created.
The Revenge of the Hound, however, sounded so much like Doyle, it was easy to almost believe it was Doyle himself holding the pen. Holmes extracts clues from the slightest evidence or from no apparent evidence at all. Watson bumbles along in his wake, drawing all the wrong conclusions as the pair investigate a possible blackmail attempt, directed at the king, that could have international political implications. More serious, however, is another storyline: headless skeletons are uncovered, linked to a specific time in British history; revolution is in the air and the movement is picking up speed. Both plot and narration are familiar territory because of the way Doyle thought and wrote. Hardwick knew these well—he had adapted Holmes stories for both radio and tv, novelized a screenplay, and previously published original work on Holmes (both fiction and non-fiction).
The climax at Highgate Cemetery with its gothic atmosphere is thrilling but, generally, the narrative sometimes lags. It seems unnecessary that Mary Watson be deceased so that Dr. Watson can acquire a fiancée, Coral Atkins, who is absent for long stretches; furthermore, while her presence provides an opportunity for the reader to observe the doctor’s clumsy wooing, her major function seems to be to listen to his reports on what is happening in the latest case (which, has already appeared in his general narration). Her aunt and chaperone (who is always present when Watson sees Coral) is even less necessary, although it suggested to me that she might be a more appropriate choice for the next Watson wife.
In the end, The Return of the Hound is a fun read for Sherlock Holmes fans. It is certainly reminiscent of Doyle, but occasionally stumbles in the last half of the book.
I recently picked up The Revenge of the Hound, which obviously invokes The Hound of the Baskervilles and began reading with a certain amount of trepidation. Tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson not written by Arthur Conan Doyle did not begin with Doyle’s death; indeed, they had already begun, and a flood of imitators have since moved into the void left by his passing. Naturally, the quality is quite varied, but even those books I would term as good to excellent may be, in some way, problematic. For example, although I admire Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series for many reasons, I simply cannot accept the fact that Holmes is married—a little voice in my head keeps reminding me that Doyle would never have written (or accepted) this aberration in the character he created.
The Revenge of the Hound, however, sounded so much like Doyle, it was easy to almost believe it was Doyle himself holding the pen. Holmes extracts clues from the slightest evidence or from no apparent evidence at all. Watson bumbles along in his wake, drawing all the wrong conclusions as the pair investigate a possible blackmail attempt, directed at the king, that could have international political implications. More serious, however, is another storyline: headless skeletons are uncovered, linked to a specific time in British history; revolution is in the air and the movement is picking up speed. Both plot and narration are familiar territory because of the way Doyle thought and wrote. Hardwick knew these well—he had adapted Holmes stories for both radio and tv, novelized a screenplay, and previously published original work on Holmes (both fiction and non-fiction).
The climax at Highgate Cemetery with its gothic atmosphere is thrilling but, generally, the narrative sometimes lags. It seems unnecessary that Mary Watson be deceased so that Dr. Watson can acquire a fiancée, Coral Atkins, who is absent for long stretches; furthermore, while her presence provides an opportunity for the reader to observe the doctor’s clumsy wooing, her major function seems to be to listen to his reports on what is happening in the latest case (which, has already appeared in his general narration). Her aunt and chaperone (who is always present when Watson sees Coral) is even less necessary, although it suggested to me that she might be a more appropriate choice for the next Watson wife.
In the end, The Return of the Hound is a fun read for Sherlock Holmes fans. It is certainly reminiscent of Doyle, but occasionally stumbles in the last half of the book.
April 1, 2022
This is billed in some places as a sequel to "The Hound of the Baskervilles" but if you are expecting a return to the eerie moors and mires of Dartmoor and a return to the curse of the Baskervilles, you will be disappointed.
The tale begins after the death of Queen Victoria and the coming coronation of Edward VII and at the time of Watson's engagement to the woman who will be the third Mrs. Watson. Holmes is called in to investigate the attack of a tramp at Hampstead Heath, apparently by a large hound. At the time, Holmes is investigating the disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, which calls for a trip to the Continent. On their return, a steward is murdered on the ferry. Holmes is called in to negotiate the return of compromising correspondence between the new king and a former mistress, who is an associate of a noble who may or may not be associated with the theft of Cromwell's bones.
Confused yet? I plowed through this meandering stew of disconnected plots waiting for Hardwick - a celebrated Holmesian - to pull them together (and explain why this was called "the Revenge of the Hound") and he does a pretty weak job of it. The plot is just too disjointed, the shift from one storyline to another just too confusing to be suspenseful or even interesting. The jumble of plots and the thin thread that's supposed to explain how they are all connected make for a reading experience that is more frustrating than suspenseful.
The book was written in 1987 at a time when the copyright to Holmes was still in effect and authors had to be sanctioned by the Doyle estate to publish a Holmes work. This kept the further adventures of Holmes in very few hands and, IMHO, not the best ones - many of the more recent Holmes works I have read are superior to those by the bigger Holmes name authors, like John Dickson Carr or Adrian Conan Doyle.
There is one plus, and that is the author's ability to reproduce Conan Doyle's style and portrayals of Holmes and Watson. I always give high marks for that - Hardwick does a superior job. I just wish the plot was up to the same standards.
The tale begins after the death of Queen Victoria and the coming coronation of Edward VII and at the time of Watson's engagement to the woman who will be the third Mrs. Watson. Holmes is called in to investigate the attack of a tramp at Hampstead Heath, apparently by a large hound. At the time, Holmes is investigating the disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, which calls for a trip to the Continent. On their return, a steward is murdered on the ferry. Holmes is called in to negotiate the return of compromising correspondence between the new king and a former mistress, who is an associate of a noble who may or may not be associated with the theft of Cromwell's bones.
Confused yet? I plowed through this meandering stew of disconnected plots waiting for Hardwick - a celebrated Holmesian - to pull them together (and explain why this was called "the Revenge of the Hound") and he does a pretty weak job of it. The plot is just too disjointed, the shift from one storyline to another just too confusing to be suspenseful or even interesting. The jumble of plots and the thin thread that's supposed to explain how they are all connected make for a reading experience that is more frustrating than suspenseful.
The book was written in 1987 at a time when the copyright to Holmes was still in effect and authors had to be sanctioned by the Doyle estate to publish a Holmes work. This kept the further adventures of Holmes in very few hands and, IMHO, not the best ones - many of the more recent Holmes works I have read are superior to those by the bigger Holmes name authors, like John Dickson Carr or Adrian Conan Doyle.
There is one plus, and that is the author's ability to reproduce Conan Doyle's style and portrayals of Holmes and Watson. I always give high marks for that - Hardwick does a superior job. I just wish the plot was up to the same standards.
March 8, 2019
The beginning was a very slow start, and Holmes was a bit petty at first as well. Still, once this story picked up I thought it captured the feeling of a Holmes tale very well. It was nice to see Watson have more of a story this time, outside of both Holmes or one of his investigations. I did feel as though a little bit of the friendship between Holmes and Watson was missing, there was just something off about some of their interactions.
I liked the twisting threads of this case, the interconnecting plots and the characters felt like the author had really done his research. I believe the ending of the story made up for the slow beginning and the book definitely deserves a reread!
I liked the twisting threads of this case, the interconnecting plots and the characters felt like the author had really done his research. I believe the ending of the story made up for the slow beginning and the book definitely deserves a reread!
July 20, 2022
I’m not sure who the character in this book is, but he’s not Sherlock Holmes. This Sherlock might be the model for the petulant Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock. I should clarify that the book has nothing offensive in it. No language, no womanizing, not even any questionable language, as I recall. But while the story is entertaining and holds one’s interest well enough, it just isn’t a Sherlock Holmes story.
The prose itself is modern, the plot crowded and hectic.
If you’re looking for an extra-canonical Sherlock Holmes story, this one is inoffensive and amusing - it just isn’t Sherlock Holmes.
The prose itself is modern, the plot crowded and hectic.
If you’re looking for an extra-canonical Sherlock Holmes story, this one is inoffensive and amusing - it just isn’t Sherlock Holmes.
July 2, 2018
I have not read a Sherlock Holmes book in many years, in fact the last book was The Hound of the Baskerville so the title pulled me in. Michael Hardwick was an excellent choice to pick up the mantel from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Complicated and complex the story weaves separate threads together until the “game is afoot.” If you enjoy the adventures of Holmes and Watson, you will find this novel just right for you. Hardwick has done a masterful job.
September 3, 2024
Queen Victoria has died, and Holmes thin ks it's time for a change. So does Watson - he's thinking of marrying for a third time. But Lestrade arrives with news that a giant hound has been attacking people - is the Baskerville curse still alive? Holmes and Watson investigate, and discover that all roads lead to the same end...
A fun adventure, and Hardwick channels the spirit of Conan Doyle very well.
A fun adventure, and Hardwick channels the spirit of Conan Doyle very well.
January 8, 2024
Once again I applaud the late Michael Hardwick's work, it's a nicely complex Sherlock Holmes mystery with lots of threads to gather up and weave into the tapestry. Set in 1902 during the preparations for the coronation of Edward VII and written as Holmes last adventure before retirement and Watson's remarriage.
June 5, 2024
Another of Michael Hardwick’s classic-style Sherlockian pastiches. This one brings together a number motifs from the Canon to give us an original mystery. Aspects of the Baskerville Hound novel are central to the main plot as Holmes and Watson (along with Lestrade, Gregson, and even Mycroft) must battle a major conspiracy against the British government. Two thumbs up.
July 16, 2021
I had not read this author before. This story was well written and I enjoyed the premise of the hounds reappearance on the heath. I thought the side story regarding Mrs. Glanville was interesting and tied well to the storyline. An enjoyable read.
February 5, 2018
Excellent.
March 7, 2024
An entertaining read. Too many coincidences that tie the various plot threads together detract from the enjoyment though which is why I'm only giving it 3/5 stars. Probably a 3.5 in reality.
August 5, 2024
Me gusto como se retrata a Sherlock y watson pero sentí el misterio muy enrevesado en ciertos puntos.
August 24, 2024
Pretty decent Holmes knockoff with a good sense of time and place.
February 25, 2017
When I began reading the book, I had difficulty maintaining my interest in the story. After the first couple chapters I then began enjoying the story and would recommend it to any Sherlockian.
March 15, 2009
What a fun book! Not only does it move faster than The Hound of the Baskervilles did, it's written in the same style and one is able to imagine all the things just the way they would've been in Holmes' day. Quite an original idea too, continuing a series of a well-known and well-loved author.
January 30, 2017
Originally published in 1987, this is arguably Hardwick's best fiction book (or, at least, the best of the few I've read so far). Highly recommended for fans of Sherlock Holmes in the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as opposed to any Holmes interpretation on the large or small screens.
May 10, 2008
Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of seemingly unrelated crimes which turn out to be linked to a conspiracy to unseat the British monarchy.
September 6, 2010
Nothing compares with the original, but still good.
September 29, 2012
Certainly keeping an eye out for more of Hardwick's pastiches after reading this. Very enjoyable, fast paced, and even funny at times; the illustrations in my copy were gorgeously detailed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews