My quest to read the complete Sherlock Holmes (in clothbound Collector’s Library edition) has arrived at a volume containing two of his novels: The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Valley of Fear.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is the most famous and successful of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock stories—for good reason. The analytical perspective of the detective is pushed to the limit with what seems to be like a supernatural hound.

The Valley of Fear, like A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, is really two stories. The first half of the novel is a perplexing mystery overshadowed by the looming reputation of Professor Moriarty. The second half is a back story of sorts that, while interesting, doesn’t add significantly to the main narrative, despite the Epilogue that ties them together.

Overall, Doyle’s Sherlock stories are a joy to read. It’s strange to feel immersed in a world without video surveillance or digital footprints. No technical knowledge is required to suss out these mysteries—just an elementary attention to detail.

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles & The Valley of Fear. 1901, 1915. Collector’s Library, 2004.