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timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad start, and I still haven't decided whether Charlotte's "you shan't make me marry" move is believable. But the result of it is, and we proceed.
Charlotte's deductive abilities are as ridiculous as Conan Doyle's but anyone who picks up this book knows this and wants more.
She meets a sponsor, and of course we readers all think, "that was too easy," and it was, but I will award Author Points for the way it was eventually explained.
We get into a moderately interesting mystery, with good use of the communications systems of the day. But then I got bogged down a bit with the weight of all the Lady Poot and Lord Foof and his half-brother Mr. Fuff and HIS mistress Miss Blung who is pretending to be Miss Blang, and the 32 servants and bearded-or-not photographers and remember that carriage driver from 200 pages ago?
And in the end, the solution is a damp squib.
This was satisfying enough to read, though, and I may look for #2 just to see whether "Charlock" can be sustained.
Charlotte's deductive abilities are as ridiculous as Conan Doyle's but anyone who picks up this book knows this and wants more.
She meets a sponsor, and of course we readers all think, "that was too easy," and it was, but I will award Author Points for the way it was eventually explained.
We get into a moderately interesting mystery, with good use of the communications systems of the day. But then I got bogged down a bit with the weight of all the Lady Poot and Lord Foof and his half-brother Mr. Fuff and HIS mistress Miss Blung who is pretending to be Miss Blang, and the 32 servants and bearded-or-not photographers and remember that carriage driver from 200 pages ago?
And in the end, the solution is a damp squib.
This was satisfying enough to read, though, and I may look for #2 just to see whether "Charlock" can be sustained.
oliviahayhoe's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Second time reading this book. I love the set up of the characters and their personalities. Such a cozy mystery read!
dayamarie's review against another edition
3.0
I’d give this book more like a 3.5. I was so bored the first half of the book. The series as a whole looked fun so I wanted to make it through the 1st book and all the character introductions. I’m happy to say that the 2nd half of the book really picked up and even had me laughing in parts. I’m still a little confused on some of the twists and turns so I may have to reread a little.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
Full of interesting ideas, but the plot meanders all over the place like an unedited 100+K fanfiction. I liked the one romance novel of Thomas' I read, so I know she can deliver, so I suppose eventually I'll be interested to see if she manages to iron out this series' kinks.
sklus's review against another edition
DNFed at 108 pages. Just didn't feel like finishing it, wasn't my cup of tea or super exciting. May finish later, but also may not.
cmonola504's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jocelyn73c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
Any author that takes on an established literary icon has some heavy lifting to do. For one thing, you have to convince the reader that it is worth their time to read yet another Sherlock reboot. And then you have to be original enough to warrant the reboot, but not SO original that you anger your best audience, which is the people who love the original.
I’d say that Thomas succeeds in creating a cast of characters that I’m willing to pursue. The brilliant Charlotte, who will never be allowed to exist independently in Victorian England, the excellent and surprising way a Watson sidekick appears, charlotte’s sisters and her longtime friend Ash- they’re fully realized and interesting.
It remains to be seen in subsequent novels how well the device of having Charlotte be the go-between between an invalid Sherlock and the rest of the world will work. It’s a bit thin. And the mystery itself was so unwieldy and complex that it practically fell apart under its own weight. I’m still not sure I understand what happened.
But I enjoyed it, and that’s plenty good enough to get me to read the next book in the series.
I’d say that Thomas succeeds in creating a cast of characters that I’m willing to pursue. The brilliant Charlotte, who will never be allowed to exist independently in Victorian England, the excellent and surprising way a Watson sidekick appears, charlotte’s sisters and her longtime friend Ash- they’re fully realized and interesting.
It remains to be seen in subsequent novels how well the device of having Charlotte be the go-between between an invalid Sherlock and the rest of the world will work. It’s a bit thin. And the mystery itself was so unwieldy and complex that it practically fell apart under its own weight. I’m still not sure I understand what happened.
But I enjoyed it, and that’s plenty good enough to get me to read the next book in the series.