Book Anatomy · Crime and mystery
Anatomy of The Hound of the Baskervilles
Arthur Conan Doyle, 1902. Public domain in the UK and the US. Fair play clues; a detective absent for the middle.
Ask The Hound of the Baskervilles a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
59,487 words
15 chapters
47% dialogue
14.7 words a sentence
first person
4.0 hours to read
Lessons to borrow
- Use a reliable narrator with limited knowledge to create genuine mystery; Watson's first-person account keeps readers in suspense alongside him.
- Plant small clues throughout the narrative that seem insignificant until the final revelation; the walking stick, portrait, and boot prints reward careful readers.
- Balance multiple subplots and red herrings to sustain tension; the escaped convict, Barrymore's activities, and the supernatural legend all distract from the true criminal scheme.
All 180 lenses
The 20 lenses below are the most asked for. The full set of 180 is grouped in 12 pages:
Beat positions Both
Story and structure · lens A1 · compare across books
| Beat | Where | Our reading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inciting incident | Ch 1 (Chapter 1), about 2% through | Dr. Mortimer brings Holmes the case of the Baskerville curse and Sir Charles's mysterious death. | |
| First turning point | Ch 4 (Chapter 4), about 19% through | Sir Henry receives a threatening letter and is followed by a mysterious spy in London. | |
| Midpoint | Ch 9 (Chapter 9), about 53% through | Watson discovers Barrymore signalling to the escaped convict and sees a mysterious figure on the moor. | |
| Low point | Ch 12 (Chapter 12), about 76% through | A body in Sir Henry's clothes is found dead on the moor, seemingly the baronet himself. | |
| Climax | Ch 14 (Chapter 14), about 90% through | Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade confront Stapleton and the hound on the moor, killing the creature but losing Stapleton to the Grimpen Mire. | |
| Resolution | Ch 15 (Chapter 15), about 97% through | Holmes explains the full scheme to Watson, revealing how Stapleton murdered Sir Charles and plotted against Sir Henry. |
It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. (Ch 1, para 14)
No. 2704 is our man. But that is no use to us for the moment. (Ch 4, para 109)
There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. (Ch 9, para 130)
That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. (Ch 12, para 2)
Percent is the middle of that chapter as a share of all words. The beat labels are our AI reading of the chapter notes.
Chapter length chart Count
Pace · lens D1 · compare across books
15 chapters. Median 3,868 words, shortest 2,283, longest 6,677. Whole book 59,487 words, about 4.0 hours at 250 words a minute.
Each bar is one chapter in reading order. Hover for the title and count.
Dialogue share per chapter Count
Dialogue and voice · lens C1 · compare across books
47% of all words are dialogue. A further 12% is long told stories inside quote marks (a narrator within the story), which we count apart. Speech tags: "said" is 72% of tag verbs we found.
Cast and presence map Count
Character · lens B1, B2 · compare across books
| Character | Role (our reading) | Share of mentions | Chapters on page | First appears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | lead | 21% | 15 of 15 | Ch 1, para 1 |
| Sir Henry Baskerville | love interest | 17% | 14 of 15 | Ch 2, para 33 |
| Dr. Watson | narrator | 12% | 15 of 15 | Ch 1, para 3 |
| Dr. James Mortimer | ally | 10% | 12 of 15 | Ch 1, para 2 |
| Sir Charles Baskerville | minor | 10% | 12 of 15 | Ch 2, para 8 |
| Stapleton | antagonist | 10% | 12 of 15 | Ch 2, para 39 |
| Barrymore | ally | 8% | 10 of 15 | Ch 2, para 32 |
| Mrs. Laura Lyons | minor | 2% | 5 of 15 | Ch 10, para 56 |
| Miss Stapleton | love interest | 2% | 6 of 15 | Ch 7, para 90 |
| Frankland | minor | 2% | 6 of 15 | Ch 2, para 39 |
| Selden | minor | 1% | 5 of 15 | Ch 6, para 38 |
| Lestrade | ally | 1% | 2 of 15 | Ch 13, para 86 |
Who is on the page, chapter by chapter
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | |||||||||||||||
| Sir Henry Baskerville | |||||||||||||||
| Dr. Watson | |||||||||||||||
| Dr. James Mortimer | |||||||||||||||
| Sir Charles Baskerville | |||||||||||||||
| Stapleton | |||||||||||||||
| Barrymore | |||||||||||||||
| Mrs. Laura Lyons | |||||||||||||||
| Miss Stapleton | |||||||||||||||
| Frankland |
Most shared chapters: Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes (15), Sherlock Holmes and Sir Henry Baskerville (14), Dr. Watson and Sir Henry Baskerville (14), Dr. James Mortimer and Sherlock Holmes (12), Dr. James Mortimer and Dr. Watson (12).
Counts use the names and aliases in our cast list. A name in narration or speech counts as a mention.
Chapter ending hooks AI
Pace · lens D8 · compare across books
Chapter endings: 6 question, 4 cliffhanger, 3 quiet, 2 reveal.
Chapters end with questions, reveals, cliffhangers, and quiet moments that balance mystery with reflection. Most chapters close with unresolved tension or Watson's uncertainty, drawing the reader forward.
Every chapter ending
- Ch 1: question. Holmes invites Dr. Mortimer to sit and speak plainly about his problem, leaving the reader curious about what he will reveal
- Ch 2: reveal. Mortimer whispers that the footprints were of a gigantic hound, shocking Holmes and Watson with the supernatural implication
Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound! (Ch 2, para 48)
- Ch 3: quiet. Holmes puts aside the case to play violin, asking Watson to postpone further thought until they meet the heir in the morning
and we will postpone all further thought upon this business until we have had the advantage of meeting Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville in the morning. (Ch 3, para 137)
- Ch 4: cliffhanger. Holmes sends Cartwright on a mission to find the mutilated Times page and plans to visit Bond Street galleries before meeting Sir Henry at the hotel
No. 2704 is our man. But that is no use to us for the moment. (Ch 4, para 109)
- Ch 5: question. Holmes expresses concern about sending Watson to Baskerville Hall, saying it is an ugly and dangerous business, leaving the reader uncertain about what awaits
It’s an ugly business, Watson, an ugly dangerous business, and the more I see of it the less I like it. (Ch 5, para 142)
- Ch 6: question. Watson hears a woman sobbing in the dead of night but can find no source, leaving the reader wondering about the mystery
It was the sob of a woman, the muffled, strangling gasp of one who is torn by an uncontrollable sorrow. (Ch 6, para 73)
- Ch 7: question. Watson leaves Merripit House troubled by Miss Stapleton's cryptic warning and the mystery of why she urged him to go back to London
- Ch 8: cliffhanger. Watson hears a key turn in a lock after Barrymore returns, leaving the mystery of his activities unresolved
What it all means I cannot guess, but there is some secret business going on in this house of gloom which sooner or later we shall get to the bottom of. (Ch 8, para 28)
- Ch 9: cliffhanger. Watson sees a tall, thin figure on a tor silhouetted against the moon, then it vanishes, leaving him uncertain whether it was real or a warder
There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. (Ch 9, para 130)
- Ch 10: question. Watson resolves to find Laura Lyons and uncover the truth about Sir Charles's death and the stranger on the moor
There, in that hut upon the moor, seems to lie the very centre of that problem which has vexed me so sorely. (Ch 10, para 90)
- Ch 11: cliffhanger. Holmes's voice reveals his presence just as Watson prepares to confront the unknown tenant, shocking Watson and the reader.
- Ch 12: reveal. The revelation that the body is Selden, not Sir Henry, transforms despair into cautious hope and shifts the investigation forward.
the body of Sir Henry Baskerville! (Ch 12, para 81)
- Ch 13: question. Holmes's cryptic remarks about the portrait and his rare laughter suggest he has solved the case but leaves Watson wondering what will happen next.
We have him, Watson, we have him, and I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be fluttering in our net as helpless as one of his own butterflies. (Ch 13, para 45)
- Ch 14: quiet. The narrative concludes with Stapleton's body lost in the mire and Holmes's reflection on the case, bringing closure to the mystery.
Somewhere in the heart of the great Grimpen Mire, down in the foul slime of the huge morass which had sucked him in, this cold and cruel-hearted man is forever buried. (Ch 14, para 82)
- Ch 15: quiet. Holmes invites Watson to the opera, shifting from case discussion to pleasant evening plans, closing the narrative with normalcy restored
And now, my dear Watson, we have had some weeks of severe work, and for one evening, I think, we may turn our thoughts into more pleasant channels (Ch 15, para 28)
Viewpoint per chapter Both
Viewpoint and narration · lens E2 · compare across books
Counted: the narration is mostly first person (first person words per 1,000 outside speech: 44.4).
Watson narrates throughout in first person, serving as both observer and participant. His perspective limits knowledge to what he discovers, creating genuine mystery for the reader alongside Watson.
- Ch 1 to 6: Watson
- Ch 7 to 10: Dr. Watson
- Ch 11 to 15: Watson
Want and need of the lead AI
Character · lens B3 · compare across books
| Lead | Sherlock Holmes |
|---|---|
| Wants | Holmes wants to solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse and protect Sir Henry from danger. |
| Needs | Holmes needs to see beyond the supernatural legend to the human criminal scheme beneath it. |
| False belief | None clear |
| Arc | positive. Holmes moves from initial scepticism about the case to full understanding and successful capture of the criminal. |
Scene log AI
Story and structure · lens A4 · compare across books
One line per chapter: goal, conflict, outcome
| Ch | Summary | Goal | Conflict | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holmes deduces the character of Dr. Mortimer from his walking stick, then meets the doctor and learns of a family curse and a recent death. | Holmes and Watson examine a visitor's stick to deduce facts about him; Dr. Mortimer arrives to consult Holmes about a serious problem | Watson's initial deductions are incomplete; Holmes reveals deeper truths; Dr. Mortimer struggles to explain a supernatural-seeming situation | Holmes impresses Watson with his methods; Dr. Mortimer presents a manuscript about the Baskerville curse and asks for help |
| 2 | Dr. Mortimer reads aloud an old manuscript about the curse of the Baskerville hound, then presents a newspaper account of Sir Charles Baskerville's mysterious death. | Dr. Mortimer explains the legend and the recent death to Holmes; Holmes learns the facts of the case | The legend seems supernatural; the death appears natural but has strange details; Holmes must determine if crime or superstition is at work | Mortimer reveals he saw gigantic hound footprints near the body but told no one; Holmes becomes deeply interested in the case |
| 3 | Holmes questions Mortimer about the hound footprints and the circumstances of Sir Charles's death, then learns that Sir Henry Baskerville, the heir, is arriving in London. | Holmes investigates the details of the death; Mortimer asks Holmes's advice about whether Sir Henry should go to Baskerville Hall | The evidence suggests both natural death and supernatural agency; Holmes must decide if the danger is real or imagined; Mortimer fears for the heir's safety | Holmes advises Sir Henry to go to the Hall; Holmes spends the day studying maps and theorizing; he and Watson discuss the case |
| 4 | Sir Henry Baskerville arrives and receives a threatening letter; Holmes analyzes the letter and discovers it was cut from a Times newspaper; Holmes and Watson follow Sir Henry and spot a spy in a cab. | Holmes meets Sir Henry and learns of the threatening letter; Holmes analyzes the letter's origin; Holmes and Watson follow the spy | Someone is warning or threatening Sir Henry; the spy escapes; Holmes loses the trail but gains the cab number | Holmes deduces the letter came from a Times article; Holmes identifies the cab as No. 2704; Holmes sends Cartwright to search hotel waste-paper baskets |
| 5 | Holmes and Watson visit Sir Henry at the hotel; Holmes checks the register and questions Sir Henry about his movements; Sir Henry's second boot goes missing; Holmes learns the spy claimed to be Sherlock Holmes; Watson agrees to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. | Holmes investigates the spy and the missing boots; Holmes and Watson lunch with Sir Henry; Holmes arranges for Watson to go to Baskerville Hall with Sir Henry | The spy is clever and has escaped; the missing boots are a mystery; Holmes cannot leave London; Watson must go in his place | Holmes learns the spy's name was given as Sherlock Holmes; Watson agrees to go to Devon; the missing brown boot is found in the hotel room |
| 6 | Watson, Sir Henry, and Dr. Mortimer travel to Devonshire; they arrive at Baskerville Hall and meet Barrymore; Watson hears a woman sobbing in the night. | The party travels to Baskerville Hall; Sir Henry takes possession of his inheritance; Watson settles in and begins his observation | The moor is wild and melancholy; an escaped convict is at large; the house is gloomy and full of history; Watson hears mysterious sounds | They arrive safely at the Hall; Barrymore and his wife are present; Watson hears a woman's sob in the night, suggesting hidden secrets |
| 7 | Watson investigates Barrymore's movements and meets the Stapletons, who warn him of danger on the moor. | Watson seeks to verify Barrymore's whereabouts and understand the household mystery | Barrymore's alibi is unclear, and Miss Stapleton urgently warns Watson to leave | Watson learns Barrymore received the telegram via his wife, and meets the Stapletons at their house |
| 8 | Watson reports to Holmes on the neighbours and discovers Barrymore signalling from a window at night. | Watson writes to Holmes with observations and discovers Barrymore's secret night-time activities | Watson must understand what Barrymore is doing and why he is signalling from the window | Watson observes Barrymore at the window with a candle, suggesting he is signalling to someone on the moor |
| 9 | Watson and Sir Henry stake out Barrymore, discover he is signalling to the escaped convict, and pursue him across the moor while hearing the mysterious hound. | Watson and Sir Henry want to catch Barrymore in his secret activity and apprehend the convict | Barrymore signals to someone on the moor; the convict escapes; the hound's cry terrifies them | The Barrymores reveal they are helping the escaped convict Selden; Watson and Sir Henry chase him but he escapes; they see a mysterious figure on a tor |
| 10 | Watson records his diary entries, learns that Sir Charles met a woman with initials L.L. before his death, and identifies her as Laura Lyons. | Watson seeks to understand the mystery of Sir Charles's death and identify the mysterious woman | Watson must find L.L. and learn why she met Sir Charles; he also worries about the stranger on the moor | Watson learns from Barrymore that Sir Charles was to meet a woman; Dr. Mortimer identifies her as Laura Lyons; Watson plans to visit her |
| 11 | Watson interrogates Mrs. Laura Lyons about her letter to Sir Charles, then discovers Holmes hiding in a stone hut on the moor. | Watson seeks to uncover Mrs. Lyons's connection to Sir Charles's death and locate the mysterious man on the moor. | Mrs. Lyons denies and then reluctantly admits writing to Sir Charles; Watson must find the hut where the stranger lives. | Mrs. Lyons confesses she wrote the letter but claims she never kept the appointment; Watson finds the hut and discovers Holmes has been secretly investigating. |
| 12 | Holmes reveals himself and explains his secret investigation; a terrible scream on the moor leads them to find a dead body in Sir Henry's clothes, but it proves to be the convict Selden, not the baronet. | Holmes and Watson must determine who has been killed and by what means; they must understand Stapleton's role. | A horrifying cry suggests Sir Henry has been killed by the hound; they find a body in the baronet's clothes but discover it is someone else. | The dead man is Selden the convict, who wore Sir Henry's old clothes; Stapleton appears and they must conceal their knowledge while gathering evidence. |
| 13 | Holmes reveals Stapleton is a Baskerville heir and sets a trap; he and Watson pretend to leave for London while Sir Henry is instructed to dine at Merripit House and walk home across the moor. | Holmes must gather final evidence and catch Stapleton in the act of attempting to murder Sir Henry. | Holmes needs to keep his plans secret while positioning everyone for the final confrontation; he must convince Stapleton they have left. | Holmes discovers Stapleton's family connection through a portrait; he arranges for Sir Henry to be the bait while he and Watson secretly return with Lestrade. |
| 14 | Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade ambush Stapleton and the hound on the moor; they kill the creature and save Sir Henry, but Stapleton escapes into the Grimpen Mire and is lost. | Holmes must stop Stapleton from murdering Sir Henry with the hound and capture the criminal. | A thick fog threatens to obscure the path; the hound appears and attacks Sir Henry; Stapleton flees into the mire. | The hound is killed; Sir Henry is saved; Stapleton drowns in the Grimpen Mire while attempting to escape; Mrs. Stapleton is found imprisoned in the house. |
| 15 | Holmes explains to Watson how Stapleton murdered Sir Charles and plotted against Sir Henry, revealing the full scheme from beginning to end. | Holmes wants to recount the complete Baskerville case to Watson while his mind is fresh | Watson must piece together a complex criminal plot involving disguise, a trained hound, and multiple victims | Holmes provides a detailed retrospective account that clarifies all mysteries, though one practical question remains unanswered |
Setups and payoffs AI
Story and structure · lens A8 · compare across books
| Planted | Pays off | |
|---|---|---|
| The walking stick with its engraving and wear marks, which Holmes uses to deduce Mortimer's character. (Ch 1) | Holmes's deduction method is confirmed as accurate when Mortimer's profession and character are verified. (Ch 2) | |
| The legend of Hugo Baskerville and the hell-hound curse from the old manuscript. (Ch 2) | The curse is revealed to be a real hound trained by Stapleton, not supernatural, validating the legend's basis in fact. (Ch 14) | |
| Sir Henry's missing boots in London, a mysterious incident. (Ch 4) | The old boot is used by Stapleton to set the hound on Sir Henry's trail, explaining the theft. (Ch 14) | |
| Barrymore's mysterious night-time activities and signalling from a window. (Ch 8) | Barrymore is revealed to be helping his brother-in-law, the escaped convict Selden, not plotting against Sir Henry. (Ch 9) | |
| The mysterious figure on the tor silhouetted against the moon. (Ch 9) | The figure is revealed to be Holmes, hiding in a stone hut to investigate the case in secret. (Ch 11) | |
| Laura Lyons's letter to Sir Charles with initials L.L., found in a burned letter. (Ch 10) | Mrs. Lyons is interrogated and reveals she was manipulated by Stapleton, who lied about his marital status. (Ch 13) | |
| The portrait of Hugo Baskerville hanging in the Hall. (Ch 13) | The portrait reveals Stapleton's family resemblance, proving his claim to be a Baskerville heir. (Ch 13) | |
| The mysterious gentleman hiding in stone huts on the moor with a servant bringing supplies. (Ch 10) | The gentleman is revealed to be Holmes, and the servant is Cartwright, gathering evidence against Stapleton. (Ch 11) |
As you value your life or your reason keep away from the moor. (Ch 4, para 14)
The story took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles, and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end. (Ch 7, para 31)
There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. (Ch 8, para 10)
Speech fingerprints Count
Dialogue and voice · lens C3 · compare across books
| Character | Share of attributed speech | Lines | Words a line | Questions per 100 lines | Exclaims per 100 | Pet words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | 63% | 115 | 17.2 | 23.5 | 17.4 | watson, case, mortimer, tell, shall, dear |
| Dr. James Mortimer | 18% | 32 | 18.0 | 28.1 | 12.5 | baskerville, charles, holmes, rather, henry, paper |
| Sir Henry Baskerville | 14% | 28 | 15.4 | 28.6 | 14.3 | don't, isn't, picture, things, barrymore, perhaps |
| Stapleton | 5% | 6 | 24.8 | 16.7 | 33.3 | ponies, excellent, perfectly, right, wary, discreet |
We give a line to a speaker only when one cast name appears in the narration of that paragraph, so many lines stay unattributed. Treat the figures as a sample.
Sentence length per chapter Count
Pace · lens D2 · compare across books
Mean sentence 14.7 words, median 12. 38% of sentences are under 10 words and 9% over 30. In the last fifth of the book, chapters run at 99% and sentences at 113% of the earlier average.
Emotional arc shape Count
Pace · lens D7 · compare across books
Computed shape: Riches to rags (fall) (fit 0.53 on a scale of 0 to 1).
We score the mood of each paragraph with a standard word list, then average across 20 equal slices of the book and smooth it. It is a rough reading of word mood, not of plot, and old styles of English can fool it. Shapes follow Reagan and others (2016).
When the lead and the first dialogue arrive Count
Openings and endings · lens F3, F4 · compare across books
First line of dialogue: after 3 words (Ch 1, para 2), 0.0% into the book.
The lead, Sherlock Holmes, is first named after 0 words (Ch 1, para 1). In a first person book the narrator may be on the page from the first line before we learn the name.
Mystery clue list AI
Genre craft · lens G4 · compare across books
| Clue | Kind | Laid | Explained | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The footprints of a gigantic hound near Sir Charles's body. | clue | Ch 2 | Ch 14 | |
| Sir Charles's altered footprints suggesting he ran on tiptoe in fear. | clue | Ch 2 | Ch 15 | |
| The threatening letter cut from a Times newspaper with the word 'moor' written in ink. | clue | Ch 4 | Ch 15 | |
| The escaped convict Selden on the moor, a dangerous man. | clue | Ch 6 | Ch 9 | |
| A woman's sob heard in the night at Baskerville Hall. | clue | Ch 6 | ||
| Barrymore's stealthy movements and signalling from a window at night. | clue | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | |
| The mysterious figure on the tor watching the moor intently. | clue | Ch 9 | Ch 11 | |
| Laura Lyons's letter to Sir Charles with initials L.L., found burned by Barrymore. | clue | Ch 10 | Ch 11 | |
| The portrait of Hugo Baskerville bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Stapleton. | clue | Ch 13 | Ch 13 | |
| The hound's glowing appearance caused by phosphorus paint, not supernatural fire. | clue | Ch 14 | Ch 14 |
He was running, Watson—running desperately, running for his life, running until he burst his heart—and fell dead upon his face. (Ch 3, para 129)
You,’ ‘your,’ ‘your,’ ‘life,’ ‘reason,’ ‘value,’ ‘keep away,’ ‘from the.’ Don’t you see now whence these words have been taken? (Ch 4, para 29)
It is Selden, the Notting Hill murderer. (Ch 6, para 38)
Antagonist AI
Character · lens B7 · compare across books
| Who | Stapleton |
|---|---|
| Goal | To murder Sir Henry Baskerville and inherit the Baskerville estate. |
| Methods | Uses a trained hound painted with phosphorescent material to frighten and kill his victims, manipulates Mrs. Lyons, and poses as a naturalist to gain access to the family. |
| Shows their hand | Ch 12 |
| Our note | Stapleton is revealed as a distant Baskerville heir who uses the family curse legend as cover for calculated murder. |
Tension curve AI
Pace · lens D6 · compare across books
Tension score per chapter, 1 to 5 (our AI reading). The narrative builds steadily from London investigation to Devonshire arrival, accelerates through the moor mysteries, and climaxes with the confrontation. The final chapter slows to allow Holmes's explanation and closure.
Subplot thread map Both
Story and structure · lens A7 · compare across books
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Baskerville curse and the hound legend | |||||||||||||||
| Sir Charles's mysterious death | |||||||||||||||
| The mysterious spy and threatening letter in London | |||||||||||||||
| Barrymore's secret activities and the escaped convict | |||||||||||||||
| The Stapletons and their true identities | |||||||||||||||
| Holmes's secret investigation on the moor |
- The Baskerville curse and the hound legend: The supernatural legend is gradually revealed to be a real hound trained by Stapleton as a murder weapon.
- Sir Charles's mysterious death: The death is revealed to be murder by Stapleton using the hound, with Mrs. Lyons's letter as the lure.
- The mysterious spy and threatening letter in London: The spy is revealed to be Stapleton's agent, warning Sir Henry away from the moor to prevent his arrival.
- Barrymore's secret activities and the escaped convict: Barrymore is helping his brother-in-law Selden escape, not plotting against Sir Henry.
- The Stapletons and their true identities: Stapleton is a Baskerville heir using a false identity, and Miss Stapleton is his imprisoned wife.
- Holmes's secret investigation on the moor: Holmes hides in stone huts to gather evidence and set a trap for Stapleton.
Motif tracker AI
Theme and motif · lens J3 · compare across books
- Deduction from small details (Ch 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 15): Holmes solves the case through careful observation of minor clues like scents, portraits, and boot prints.
- The moor as a place of danger, mystery, and concealment (Ch 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14): The moor serves as both the setting for danger and the place where truth is finally revealed.
- Hidden secrets and deception (Ch 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15): Characters conceal their true identities, motives, and activities until Holmes uncovers the truth.
- The hound as instrument of death and fear (Ch 2, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15): The hound embodies both the family curse legend and Stapleton's calculated murder weapon.
- Family inheritance and blood (Ch 1, 2, 3, 13, 15): The Baskerville inheritance drives the plot, with Stapleton's claim to the estate motivating his crimes.
- Surveillance and being watched (Ch 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11): Characters are constantly observed by Holmes, Stapleton, and each other, creating tension and revelation.
there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. (Ch 2, para 21)
Life has become like that great Grimpen Mire, with little green patches everywhere into which one may sink and with no guide to point the track. (Ch 7, para 123)
As the old man stood there he saw something coming across the moor, something which terrified him so that he lost his wits and ran and ran until he died of sheer horror and exhaustion. (Ch 8, para 13)
They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles. (Ch 9, para 108)
Signature words Count
Prose style · lens H3 · compare across books
Words this book uses far more than the other books on our shelf (log odds, at least 8 uses). Names often top the list.
Commercial facts card Research
Commercial facts · lens L1, L2, L4 · compare across books
| First published | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Author died | 1930 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the UK (author died 1930, so life plus 70 years has passed) and in the US (first published 1902, before 1931). |
| Length | 59,487 words in 15 chapters; about 4.0 hours to read |
| Genre | Crime and mystery |
| Sales and adaptations | Coming in a later phase, with sources. |
Method: counts come from a clean public domain plain text, split into chapters and paragraphs with stable IDs (for example c3p12 is chapter 3, paragraph 12, in reading order). Lenses marked AI are our AI reading of each chapter, made once and stored. Every quote shown was checked word for word against the text; 15 AI quotes for this book failed that check and were dropped.
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