The Hound of the Baskervilles · Character

Sherlock Holmes

The razor-minded detective who reads a walking stick like a confession and turns a family curse into a problem of deduction.

major

Also known as Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Holmes, Holmes

First appearance: I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes

As a major figure in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

See Sherlock Holmes in I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes Book page

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Holmes enters the Baskerville affair through Dr. Mortimer's cane and legend, already several moves ahead of everyone in the room. His method is cold reason applied to hot superstition, and he treats Watson less as an assistant than as a conductor of his own genius. He matters because the novel's central question — whether a hound can be supernatural — is really a question about whether Holmes's logic can survive the moor.

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See Sherlock Holmes in I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Character Web

19 connections

A slice of how Sherlock Holmes sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Friendship
Psychological

Character groups

Main Cast and Suspects
Protagonist

+14 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Dr. Watson reaches his psychological breaking point, openly adm…

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Relationships

Sir Henry Baskerville
professional · positive
Holmes is hired to protect Sir Henry and solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse,… How this plays out →
Dr. Watson
friendship · positive
Dr. James Mortimer
professional · positive
Miss Stapleton
psychological · ambivalent
Sir Charles Baskerville
professional · ambivalent
Barrymore
professional · ambivalent
Sir Henry Baskerville
professional · positive
Holmes is hired to protect Sir Henry and solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse,… How this plays out →
Dr. Watson
friendship · positive
Dr. James Mortimer
professional · positive
Sir Charles Baskerville
professional · ambivalent
Miss Stapleton
psychological · ambivalent
Barrymore
professional · ambivalent

Sir Henry Baskerville
Holmes is hired to protect Sir Henry and solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse, acting as his detective and protector.
Dr. Watson
Watson is Holmes's loyal friend and colleague, assisting him in the investigation and reporting from Dartmoor.
Dr. James Mortimer
Mortimer consults Holmes professionally about the Baskerville case, bringing the legend and facts to his attention.
Miss Stapleton
Miss Stapleton is a pawn in her brother's scheme, and Holmes sees her as a key witness and potential victim of manipulation.
Sir Charles Baskerville
Holmes investigates the death of Sir Charles, piecing together the circumstances from reports and evidence.
Barrymore
Barrymore is questioned by Holmes about his late-night signaling and his knowledge of the Stapletons.
Sir Henry Baskerville
Holmes is hired to protect Sir Henry and solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse, acting as his detective and protector.
Dr. Watson
Watson is Holmes's loyal friend and colleague, assisting him in the investigation and reporting from Dartmoor.
Dr. James Mortimer
Mortimer consults Holmes professionally about the Baskerville case, bringing the legend and facts to his attention.
Sir Charles Baskerville
Holmes investigates the death of Sir Charles, piecing together the circumstances from reports and evidence.
Miss Stapleton
Miss Stapleton is a pawn in her brother's scheme, and Holmes sees her as a key witness and potential victim of manipulation.
Barrymore
Barrymore is questioned by Holmes about his late-night signaling and his knowledge of the Stapletons.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Sherlock Holmes in I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes

In the story

Sherlock Holmes appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Hound of the Baskervilles
Consulted by Dr. Mortimer regarding the Baskerville case; analyzes the evidence with keen observation.
I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Engages in deductive analysis of Dr. Mortimer's stick and receives Mortimer as a client.
The Curse of the Baskervilles
Listens to the legend and the newspaper account, initially dismissive but becomes attentive.
III: The Problem
Listens to Dr. Mortimer's account, questions him about the evidence, and decides to investigate the case. He spends the day studying a map of Dartmoor.
IV: Sir Henry Baskerville
Analyzes the threatening letter, deduces its source from the Times, and decides to follow Sir Henry and Dr. Mortimer.
Three Broken Threads
Demonstrates his power of mental detachment by focusing on art before the case; deduces that the watchers are not staying at the hotel; sends telegrams to verify Barrymore's presence; is momentarily stunned when the cabman reveals the spy used his name.
Baskerville Hall
Gives Watson final instructions at the station, advising him to report facts and keep his revolver handy.
XI: The Man on the Tor
Reveals himself as the mysterious man on the moor, having been secretly observing events.
Death on the Moor
Reveals himself to Watson on the moor, having been secretly investigating the case.
XIII: Fixing the Nets
Reveals himself to Sir Henry, devises a deceptive plan, and confronts Mrs. Laura Lyons.
XIV: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Leads the ambush, shoots and kills the hound, explains the case.
XV: A Retrospection
Retrospects on the case, explaining the sequence of events and Stapleton's motives.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Sherlock Holmes unlock in the free preview.

See Sherlock Holmes in I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes