Santa Rosa Beach - A Santa Rosa Beach man believes readers can't get enough of detective Sherlock Holmes. That's why two years ago "Chick" Huettel set out to write a tale of mystery and romance based on the most famous Sherlock Holmes story "The Hound of the Baskervilles." An international publishing company out of London liked what they saw and picked it up.

How many people do you know passionate enough about something that even their bathroom sink reflects their admiration? Meet Chick Huettel, a local historian and columnist for the Walton Sun. He grew up reading the stories of the world's most famous detective and joined the Sherlock Holmes club in Memphis when he was 21. "I was on the Memphis Police Dept. reserves for over 27 years so my interest in crime and police work led me into the Sherlock Holmes thing," said Huettel.

After writing two works of historical non-fiction, it was "Elementary, dear Watson," that he would write a third book, this one a fictional novel incorporating the story of the Baskerville Hounds and Sherlock Holmes, set in the 20th Century. It's titled "The Mark of the Baskerville Hound." "It's a mixture of mystery and romance on the moors, in the fog moors of England," said Huettel.

While writing can be a solitary venture, Huettel shares his enthusiasm for Sherlock with dozens in northwest Florida through the local chapter of the Sherlockian society he founded, the Beach Hounds. "When you get initiated into the society the first thing all societies say is that Sherlock Holmes is not dead, Sherlock Holmes is merely old and he is keeping bees in Sussex. So you have to take an oath that you believe Sherlock Holmes is alive and well and still solving crimes. It's a very eccentric group," said Huettel.

If you'd like to become a member of the Beach Hounds, their annual meeting is on February 21st at Bayou Bills Crab House on Highway 98. The guest speaker will be from the FBI. Cocktails start at 5:45, program at 7pm.

Huettel hopes "The Mark of the Baskerville Hound" is the first of a trilogy he plans to write. His book is available on amazon.com and at large bookstores.