This is an enjoyable tale that's perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, and it's geared toward young readers and features a young Arthur Conan Coye. Characters are well-developed, with relatable strengths and weaknesses.
Overall, this is a great start to a series. I did expect more of a mystery angle to the story, so that was a bit disappointing. But if you're looking for a nice story about kids at an interesting boarding school, this is one to check out.

Really loved this one! Perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Enola Holmes. I loved all of the Sherlock references and enjoyed seeing appearances from iconic characters. The puzzle element was also super entertaining. I can definitely see this being a tv series on Netflix or Disney Plus! I think this will be a great hit and I am eagerly anticipating book 2.

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall is about a boy named Arthur Conan Doyle who comes from an impoverished large family and is accepted into a very prestigious boarding school for uniquely gifted children. He has no idea why he was chosen. But he does show signs of good deductive reasoning. Being a fan of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, I immediately recognized several names and titles that linked to them: Arthur Conan Doyle (the author and main character of this book), Dr. Watson (in this book, he is a teacher), James Moriarty (who is a friend of Arthur's in this book instead of Sherlock's archenemy), a chapter called "A Study in Scarlet", and of course the famous Baskerville Hall from "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (which is a boarding school in this book). Middle grade readers might not be excited to see them if they don't know them, but I definitely was! The storyline reminds me a bit of Harry Potter, but it was different because they were studying scientific subjects that go along with what Sherlock Holmes would find important in solving mysteries. Fans of both Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes series are going to love this book!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the Advanced e-book! These opinions are my own.

I knew this was a children’s book when I picked it to read and I was kind of hoping for encyclopedia brown ish but instead the book reminded me a little more of Harry Potter without the wizards. Arthur is recruited to a mysterious school that is not traditional in its lessons or expectations of its students. He makes friends quickly with other interesting/quirky children in his year and we follow their adventures. Even though this book was not what I expected at all and more science fiction than mystery, I really enjoyed. I do think it was a little long though for a children’s book but I was interested in it the entire time. I would love to learn more about Irene. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

What worked:
I’m sure I missed many but this story makes many references to the Sherlock Holmes books and their author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Arthur Doyle is the main character from a poor family and he’s invited to attend a unique private school, all expenses paid, that encourages risk-taking and innovation. He resides in Baskerville Hall with his roommate Jimmy Moriarty. James Moriarty is Sherlock Holmes’s nemesis in that series so readers might anticipate some type of rivalry will evolve. Dr. Watson is a teacher at the school and Sherlock makes an appearance late in the book. Arthur has the same keen observation and deductive skills wielded by Holmes so his interest is immediately aroused when he suspects something’s been mysteriously stolen from the school. Is it connected to the Green Knight he saw lurking in the forest?
The plot contains some elements of science fiction that become more important in the second half of the book. Arthur is initially transported to Baskerville Hall by an airship that travels much faster than should be possible. Different wings of the school house experiments conducted by the professors. A monkey has learned to play cards with its handler and another room is crammed full of clocks, one that does more than tell time. There are rumors that secret mines contain a crystal with almost magical properties. The use of electricity is still in its infancy so characters have reverent views of its applications. One character, in particular, has a life-changing invention that becomes a prominent part of the plot.
Arthur’s supporting cast is a curious blend of unique personalities. Moriarty’s father is very demanding with high expectations of his son so James is feeling pressure to excel at school. He thinks it’s crucial that he be accepted into a secret fraternity called the Clover or else his father will view him as a failure. Another classmate is called Pockets and her name is self-explanatory. She’s sewn pockets into all of her outfits and the contents frequently come in handy. Another boy is obsessed with death and the afterlife so his comments and contributions are usually focused on those topics. A large part of his attention is on writing the perfect obituary for one of the professors.
What didn’t work as well:
With Arthur having similar characteristics to Sherlock Holmes, readers may inadvertently think they are almost the same character. However, Arthur is not infallible and might make mistakes or misjudgments so remember he is a distinctive character by himself.
The Final Verdict:
This book is an entertaining first edition into a new mystery series. Readers will enjoy Arthur’s deductive reasoning as he informs them of how he considers the clues he finds. This plot centers on shadowy characters and unexplained events and clues are dropped near the end about where the sequel may go. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall Book 1 is a delightful adventure that is perfect for fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. This book follows the young Arthur Conan Doyle, as he attends a secret school for gifted children called Baskerville Hall. Alongside his friends Irene Eagle and Jimmie Moriarty, Arthur becomes embroiled in a mystery that leads him on a grand adventure filled with danger, puzzles, and a secret society.

Author Lucinda Curtle has done an exceptional job creating an immersive world filled with fascinating characters and intricate plotlines. The story is cleverly crafted, with twists and turns that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. Additionally, the use of famous literary characters such as Professor Sherlock Holmes adds an extra layer of depth and excitement to the book.

The characters are well-developed and likable, each with their own unique strengths and flaws. Arthur is a relatable protagonist, with his own set of insecurities and fears. Irene and Jimmie are excellent sidekicks, bringing humor and excitement to the story.

Overall, The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall Book 1 is an excellent start to what promises to be a thrilling series. This book is a must-read for fans of mystery, adventure, and the Sherlock Holmes stories. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what adventures await Arthur and his friends in the next installment.

Characters:

Arthur, Jimmie, and Irene felt pretty developed. The rest of the characters felt more like caricatures. Yes, Pocket and Grover were fun characters. But that's really all they were--the comic relief. They weren't multifaceted. The teachers at the school felt the same. Overall, I would have liked to see a little more depth.

I liked the budding friendship between Arthur and Jimmie, but I was scared that Standish would have something come between them. Thankfully, they remain friends throughout the novel. :)


Plot:

I don't want to say much about the plot to avoid spoiling anything. I think that the book would have worked better if it hadn't been tied to Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. I kept wanting Sherlock/mystery vibes, but that's not what the story is about. It does have a little bit of mystery, but the story isn't a mystery. Rather, it has an almost science-fiction tone further on in the novel.


Final Thoughts:
I read this book expecting an MG adventure/mystery story with Sherlock vibes. Since that's not what TIToBH is, I was a little disappointed. However, if you're looking for a story about a group of kids at an unusual boarding school, TIToBH might be what you're looking for.

This was interesting and unique! This was a great start to the series. It held my interest and I finished in one sitting!

this was a interesting concept for Arthur Conan Doyle and I was invested in what was going on. It was a great start to this series, I enjoyed the plot of the book and enjoyed the mystery going on. It worked well overall and I enjoyed reading this, it had great characters and I'm glad they felt like real people. I can't wait to read more in this series and from Ali Standish.

"Challenger’s face darkened. The two men strode off as Arthur scrambled to collect his bag and climbed clumsily down from the ship. By the time his feet found the ground, the headmaster and the brigadier were already approaching the steps that swept up to the manor’s front door. Strange, Arthur thought to himself. I wonder what that was all about?"