THE IMPROBABLE TALES OF BASKERVILLE HALL: THE SIGN OF THE FIVE (BOOK 2)

THE IMPROBABLE TALES OF BASKERVILLE HALL: THE SIGN OF THE FIVE (BOOK 2) by Ali Standish

Young Arthur Conan Doyle is back for a second mystery with his friends at the elite school, Baskerville Hall. This time, several of his professors, including Sherlock Holmes, are being poisoned, but the "how" or "why" is escaping everyone including the Scotland Yard detective who has come to investigate. It doesn't take long to reveal that the answers are not in the present, but in the school's past. Once upon a time, five students made a promise to each other that they would live forever. That pact was broken and the ramifications are still being felt in the present.

The positives of this book - Standish is dedicated to bringing the characters from the Sherlock Holmes mysteries to life in her series including: Watson, Holmes, and Moriarty. How all that breaks down is fun to watch! The mystery itself is very engaging and brings in the Green Knight from King Arthur Legends. Friendship is a big theme in this book. Doyle desires close friendships and there is a struggle with the trust factor with Moriarty.

HEADS UP- The part that makes this book difficult is the large space dedicated to the spiritual world. We know that the real Sir Arthur Conan Doyle devoted a huge part of his life to attempting to commune with the dead. That shows up here. There is a ghost that roams Baskerville Hall and Doyle and his friends communicate with it through an early version of the Ouija Board.

 Part of living forever was transferring a person's spirit into a younger person's body. This is what causes the split in the group. The majority of the members refuse to be a part, but it is attempted in the book unsuccessfully.

Also a pentagram is used multiple times in reference to the early group.