THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

Let’s first examine the available evidence: one great mystery, with Sherlock Holmes at his finest; an eerily atmospheric tale set on the English moors; and a spectacular narrator in Sir Derek Jacobi. And now, the particulars: Sir Derek approaches the book as a challenge, giving emotion and psychological weight to both Holmes and Watson while creating memorable voices for each of the other characters. He leads us through the maze of clues with expert pacing, never letting us know which are real and which are red herrings. Jacobi’s voice reaches a crescendo as we near the dénouement and then softens as the tale concludes. The result? A wonderful experience that’s elementary, dear reader, elementary. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB / MAR 03]