Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons Review

January 29, 2021 at 6:55pm
By Krista Stettner

Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons by James Lovegrove is a continuation of the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles. I received this lovely book in hardcover. The dust jacket is simple in a scrolling design with hints of the story to come. I’m not a fan of hardcover books but I do appreciate that when the dust jacket is removed the design on the front cover is of a simple gold moth and castle.

This tale begins five years after the events of the hound of the Baskervilles with Watson narrating the eerie tale which plagues Sir Henry Baskerville causing him once again to look to Sherlock Holmes to save him. Unfortunately Watson will not be at his side this time as he is suffering from an acute fear of canines and is not his usual fearless self. Instead we are introduced to Corporal Benjamin Grier a concerned pal of Sir Henry who will accompany Sherlock to Baskerville Hall.

Sir Henry’s wife Audrey has been killed and her body eerily drained of its blood leaving him in a precarious state with a three year old son to protect. Has Jack Stapleton been brought back to from the dead to haunt the Baskervilles? Did he elude death altogether or is it a new threat terrorizing Sir Henry?

A giant moth has been spotted flying across the moon is it responsible for Audrey’s death? Fans may not appreciate the temporary absence of Dr Watson from this tale but I believe that James Lovegrove offers a fresh outlook on the continuation of a Sherlock Holmes tale complete with ingenious contraptions, threatened bloodlines and hauntingly scary creatures.

The Conclusion

Giving Holmes a new partner to assist him in continuing a well known storyline is risky but new characters are sometimes necessary to invite modern readers. I’m always happy to see a new twist on an old tale and just hope that as a fan of Sherlock Holmes that his legendary skills of deduction will survive to entice readers to enjoy stories of his exploits both new and old.

The references to the previous story are explained properly which lets the book stand on its own. After reading this book I feel I want to revisit the Hound of the Baskervilles and enjoy it again with a fresh view.

Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons Book Review
Author: James Lovegrove
ISBN: 9781789094695
Review Copy Provided by Penguin Random House Canada

Rating Overall: 7.5