The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall is the first book in a middle grade series by Ali Standish. What if young Arthur Conan Doyle really went to a secret school for extraordinarily gifted children called Baskerville Hall? When a mysterious man with a pipe notices young Arthur’s incredible deductive skills, Arthur’s offered a spot at the esteemed Baskerville Hall and a chance to lift his family out of poverty. There Arthur makes quick friends with Irene Eagle, a girl who boldly strides into any adventure and Jimmie Moriarty, a boy whose brilliance rivals Arthur’s own. But he makes enemies, too, who want Arthur expelled, or worse. Soon Arthur and his friends (and enemies!) are invited into a powerful secret society called the Clover. In order to be accepted into the illustrious social club, they must pass three tests, but along the way, Arthur uncovers a mystery that will lead to grand adventure and even greater danger. Arthur will need all the help he can get to solve the puzzle and keep a shocking truth from falling into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, he will finally meet the man who becomes his greatest mentor: Professor Sherlock Holmes.

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall is an engaging start to a new series. There have been make takes on young detectives over the years, but I am excited to see where this one goes. I thought the blending of historical truths, universal feelings of looking for your place, and mystery about just what might be going on at Baskerville hall blend together seamlessly and make this a fun read. I was concerned for Arthur at many points, and I love the little group that he finds. I also enjoyed the use of names and tidbits of Sherlock lore that are woven into the story, that just might lead younger readers to discover the references for in Doyle's works. I think this is a great read for those that love a good mystery, and those that can still get caught up in the doubts and fears many of us face when trying to find our path and our people.

This one puts me in mind of the Young Bond and Leviathan series. We have a known figure in his youth and the narrative pays respect to the true things we know about Doyle, about his family and background, and then invents this fantastic school where he can prove himself exceptional. We meet many familiar names from his stories as other characters - friends, bullies, rivals, etc. There's enough fancy at play that we're not going to mistake it has history. It's a fun read for upper middle grade and young teens.

I think there are a lot of retellings of Sherlock Holmes and it's interesting to see him put into this context of the book. I had high hopes for this one because I loved Standish's Yonder, but this book fell short to me. I think if kids love history and mystery, then they will like this book, but I thought it was a standard book.

This is a fun magical mystery and the main character is Arthur Conan Doyle. There are lots of references to Sherlock Holmes but the story really revolves around Arthur at a boarding school trying to solve mysteries with his friends. It feels a lot like Harry Potter.

I typically love love love this author and most everything she writes - however this one didn't grab me. It just didn't have the typical character that grabs your attentions and that you want to root for. It was a fine little mystery, it just didn't have the heart of her usual books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Improbably Tales of Baskerville Hall.

This was a fun middle grade read, but overall, just okay for me.

THE IMPROBABLE TALES OF BASKERVILLE HALL is the first of a series of books about the fictitious adolescence of real-life Sherlock Holmes writer Arthur Doyle. This story introduces Arthur, his skills of observation, and ultimately, his acceptance into and adventures at a peculiar and mystical school, Baskerville Hall. He meets new friends (and enemies), goes on adventures, and saves the day.

This story didn't feel like anything new or original, and the writing was too much telling, not enough showing. There are so many standout middle grade novels out, and for me, this just wasn't one of them. Perhaps a good series for hungry readers to explore, but ultimately, not my favorite.

Thank you to HarperCollins Childrens and NetGalley for the e-book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE IMPROBABLE TALES OF BASKERVILLE HALL is out now.

I loved this creative take on Sherlock Holmes characters and stories, placing Sherlock's creator in the role of protagonist. Young Arthur Conan Doyle receives a mysterious letter inviting him to attend Baskerville Hall, an exclusive and secretive boarding school in England. There he encounters mysteries aplenty, and characters that may be familiar to readers. The characters are of diverse backgrounds and push back against stereotypes, while the boarding house setting will feel reminiscent of many beloved series. This is a brilliant blend of beloved tales and new perspectives and a fantastic introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes. I look forward to reading more in this series!

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish is a cute middle-grade novel that pays homage to Sherlock Holmes. However, it is the tale of two books. The beginning started so strong. The initial scene reminded me so much of Sherlock, with the logical reasoning and deduction I love. However, once at Baskerville Hall, the logic is gone. The story turns into a typical kid's mystery that struggled to keep my attention. I do think kids will find this to be a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Harper Collins for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first chapter of this book was incredible. I was hooked. But as it continued I just found myself disappointed. I wanted more of Arthur determining things through deduction. While it happens in the story it didn't work for me.
That being said, I am not the intended audience and I can see this being a great read for YA and Middle Grade readers.

Arthur does something at the beginning to gain the attention of someone who sends him and invitation to a boarding school. Arthur is hoping that going to this school that he can do well to help his family.

He meets some interesting kids, makes some friends and works on solving the mystery around a secret society called The Clover.

It was quirky and different but at the same time a lot like any other kid goes to boarding school type book.

It has a little bit of a fantasy element as well which I wasn't really expecting but it was okay.

Secret societies are always a big hit with middle-graders. I'm not sure how many know who Arthur Conan Doyle is but maybe this will spark an interest in reading older books like Sherlock Holmes.

I enjoyed this book at first, especially Arthur's deductions, but the second half of the book lost its luster for me. It felt like it moved from a Holmes mystery to a Chamber of Secrets knockoff. I do think many kids will enjoy it, but it wasn't a favorite for me.

A young Arthur Conan Doyle has an encounter on an Edinburgh road that results in his invitation to study at an unusual private school. There he meets fellow students Irene Eagle and Jimmie Moriarty, is invited to join a powerful secret society and is drawn into a mystery.
This is a quick and delightful read, a sort of steampunk reimagining of Doyle’s childhood with Arthur being whisked off the school in an inexplicably speedy airship. The various characters are named for people who will show up later in the real Doyle’s various books - Headmaster Challenger, Headmistress Mrs Hudson, Jimmie Moriarty, Brigadier Gerard, Sebastian Moran, and, of course, Professor Sherlock Holmes. As Arthur makes friends and enemies he learns one of the secrets lurking in the school and along with his friends will find themselves drawn into the continuing mystery concerning the Green Knight. I thoroughly enjoyed this though obviously I am not the primary age group it is aimed at. Young readers will enjoy Arthur’s adventures, especially with Kipper, and older readers will enjoy all the allusions to Doyle’s famous works of fiction. I look forward to the next book in the series and hope we will not have to wait too long. Highly recommended.

This was an enjoyable tale along the lines of the Enola Holmes books. Young and clever Arthur Doyle gathers a crew of misfit friends at a very special boarding school and is faced with a mystery whose boundaries keep shifting.

I had a little bit of trouble keeping up with the direction of the plot, though I greatly enjoyed it, and a lot of the questions from the beginning are never answered. I suppose we'll have to wait for sequels to get those answers. Characters from the Sherlock Holmes Stories pop up scattered throughout the story, including the man himself. There are some more fantastical elements to the story and it's not strictly solvable by deductive reasoning and science, which surprised me a bit. Perhaps that was to distinguish the stories from the Enola Holmes stories.

Overall, great fun and I'll be reading the next ones.

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an early copy for review.

A fun story about a young boy from Scotland who ends up at a fancy boarding school, where he meets and befriends a handful of classmates, battles with a bully, and solves a mystery. I'll be interested to see where this series goes!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Ali Standish and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fictional tale of a young Arthur Conan Doyle going to a school for gifted children. When a secret man notices Arthur's incredible detective skills, he is offered a spot at Baskerville Hall. This is a dream for Arthur and hopes it will get him and his family out of poverty and get his dad back to his old self.
Once at Baskerville Hall, Arthur and his friends are offered to join a secret society. The only problem? They have to complete three tasks. Along the way though, Arthur discovers a great danger that could impact everyone at Baskerville Hall? Will Arthur and his friends be able to solve the puzzle?

A fun mystery read for young readers! I love the idea of a young Arthur Doyle and this book did not disappoint! I look forward to recommending it to others and my students. I also look forward to another possible book! :)

When Arthur saves a fainting woman and her baby, he makes the acquaintance of an English gentleman. The man was impressed when Arthur explained how he knew the woman was in imminent danger. Upon his leaving, the stranger told Arthur, "Your powers of observation served you well today. Perhaps even better than you know." With those enigmatic words, Arthur heads home to retell his family all about the adventure.

Life has been anything but easy for Arthur. As an older child, he feels the weight of the family's poverty. Arthur's father was an illustrator but strong drink has diminished his productivity. His mother is a master at making meager portions stretch and infusing hope and encouragement into her children. She is convinced that Arthur is destined for great things. Sohis mother is not at all surprised when a mysterious summons appears inviting Arthur to attend Baskerville Hall (tuition-free).

The original manner in which Arthur is conveyed to school offers a hint at the thrills that await him. He soon makes friends with Irene and Jimmy (if this is all sounding like Harry Potter, the similarities are there--as well as a formidable foe). Unlike Hogwarts, the "magic" of Baskerville Hall is mostly based on scientific inquiry. (Just a note, there is a bit of mysticism thrown in with a mention of seances but those were not central elements of the story). As Arthur begins to feel as though he may have a chance to really make something of himself, he finds himself facing possible expulsion. Will the truth come out in time or will Arthur have to face the humiliation of leaving Baskerville Hall? Readers will love the suspense and mystery of this band of three friends. I highly recommend the first in this very entertaining new series for readers in middle grade and look forward to the next installment!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

I do love Sherlock Holmes. I found this book about Arthur Conan Doyal to be fun and entertaining. Just a glimpse into his young life and the man he becomes. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

This book caught my interest from the very beginning. Arthur was a character you kept cheering for. The book did give me Harry Potter vibes, but it also had its own story line. I liked the mystery and fantasy worlds working together. I will definitely read the 2nd one when it come out.