Another boring book review? No way. This time you can sing along! Pete reviews 'The Hound of the Baskervilles.'

Like so many others, I’ve seen Sherlock Holmes in many movie adaptations and television shows. I wasn’t certain, however, if I’ve ever actually read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories or novels. In order to rectify the situation, I recently finished The Hound of the Baskervilles, a thrilling mystery about an old family curse. I very much enjoyed the style and ease of Doyle’s writing. You needn’t be as smart as Sherlock or even Dr. Watson to understand the case and its outcome. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that in lieu of describing any part of the plot, I’ve written a song about it instead. It’s doubtful the song will crack the top 40, but here goes anyway…

It’s Elementary (My Dear Watson)

There’s doings on the moor
as there’s been some kind of fright.
Seems the Hound of Baskervilles
is roaming in the night.
It’s elementary.

This Sherlock Holmes, indeed, favors
a logical conclusion.
The fearsome hound, he knows,
may be a strange illusion.
It’s elementary.

Oh…it’s elementary!
It’s elementary.
Dear Dr. Watson…
It’s elementary!

The fiend needs no disguises,
does his deeds behind the scenes.
Now the cold and fog are seeping in
and he’s getting kind of mean.
It’s elementary.

Holmes and Dr. Watson raise
their guns and take their aim. 
They better hope the roaring
Hound is just a little off his game.
It’s elementary.

Oh…it’s elementary!
It’s elementary.
Dr. Watson…
It’s elementary!

They chase the fiend into the night
engulfed in soggy bog.
The monster merely a man at best,
The Hound was just a dog.

It’s elementary.
It’s elementary.
My Dear Dr. Watson,
it’s elementary.

Case closed.

**The country and hip-hop versions are available by request. The opera remains a work in progress.