When Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Potter, he's going to be a very special man.
Everyone knows the most famous apprentice of magic, but the greatest detective as well. "Baskerville Hall" transports Arthur Doyle back to school days, to a mysterious boarding school. There, he meets Holmes, Watson, a secret society. What's missing? Plenty of puzzles - and fun.
"At our school, we value creativity and inventiveness. There are no hovering governesses or rigid teachers here. We've found that certain risks are indispensable on the path to good education. And we expect you to take these risks." The words of Director Challenger do not miss their mark on young Arthur. He had already noticed on his way to his new school, the boarding school "Baskerville Hall", that this place must have something special: Challenger had not only picked him up in an airship, but he had even let Arthur fly it. That was far from safe, as he had to maneuver directly through a heavy thunderstorm full of lightning. Ingenuity was required.
But it is this very quality that has led Arthur away from Edinburgh and his beloved family to this ancient building with its crooked towers and peculiar inhabitants. There is no owl, but instead a wolf named Toby who seems to guard students, teachers, and school alike. There are also numerous greenhouses filled with many plants Arthur has never seen before, a card-playing chimpanzee, gargoyles of all kinds, whether troll, dragon, or a nose-picking monkey.
Three Friends, Many Secrets
Arthur is amazed and full of anticipation. In Edinburgh, he had to provide for his family, as his father suffers from "alcoholism". Arthur fought with the older boys from his street, out of necessity when they bullied younger children again. Arthur shopped, played with his sisters. A life that he misses, but with a proper education, he can later take even better care of them. Arthur is sure of this: he will have fun learning at "Baskerville Hall".
Friends are quickly found, led by Jimmy and Irene. But Arthur also gets along with the rest of the class, except for Sebastian. A haughty and cunning wannabe. During a boxing match in PE, Arthur shows Sebastian what a hook is. Since then, the unsympathetic one has had Arthur in his sights. But since Sebastian also belongs to the clever ones, he, like Arthur, Jimmy, and Irene, receives a mysterious invitation. A secret society beckons, and the four must prove themselves worthy to be accepted. Apparently, the highest politicians of the country, business bosses, and rich people from high society come from this secret society. Maybe so, thinks Arthur. For sure: as part of it, he could help his family even more.
But when a mysterious burglary series hits "Baskerville Hall", Arthur can finally show what he's made of. Secret society or not. And Arthur wouldn't be Arthur if he didn't find the solution to the riddle. After all, "When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
In this, the lavish titles recall J.K. Rowling's series of magical apprentices. The characters, setting, and overarching theme of friendship also evoke memories of "Harry Potter". A mysterious boarding school, friends, enemies, good and evil teachers, grand tasks, and riddles. The question remains: Who is the greater name? Potter or Holmes? Or Doyle himself? The Edinburgh physician wrote his detective stories during his office hours due to a lack of patients. The rest is history - read, heard, and loved worldwide.
With the "Baskerville Hall" series, narrated by Johann von Bülow, Standish aims to introduce a younger audience to Doyle's work. It's certainly successful, thanks to Bülow's language and voice. He's already proven with Kai Meyer's "The Book Detective" that he can brilliantly bring fantastic plots to men, women, and children. The new "Baskerville Hall" series is no exception. Fans don't have to wait long for the second audiobook, but in the meantime, there's plenty of "Holmes & Watson" material to explore on RTL+. After all, "Baskerville Hall" follows the school motto: "Knowledge through exploration".
In the bustling world of "Baskerville Hall", crime has been making its presence felt. Unusual burglaries have been plaguing the school, leaving everyone in a state of bewilderment.
Given his innate detective skills and the mysterious invitation he received, Arthur finds himself drawn into the mystery, determined to solve the crime and restore peace to his new home.
