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maggies's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book didn't live up to my (admittedly) very high expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read/listen. The voice acting, in particular, was commendable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Incest, and Suicide
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
softrosemint's review against another edition
3.25
i enjoyed this very much even if i cannot necessarily say it was good. i definitely had to turn my brain off at several bits.
however, i thought it was a pretty intelligent and interesting interpretation of the sherlock holmes stories, including how the original characters and their relationships were reinterpreted (absolutely delighted with sherlock being the pseudonym of a chubby food-loving woman in her mid-twenties who ruined her reputation to stop her parents from trying to marry her off). i also enjoyed the different dynamics - female relationships were definitely the centre of the novel but also the tension between charlotte and ingram was also palpable!
i can see myself devouring the rest of the series.
however, i thought it was a pretty intelligent and interesting interpretation of the sherlock holmes stories, including how the original characters and their relationships were reinterpreted (absolutely delighted with sherlock being the pseudonym of a chubby food-loving woman in her mid-twenties who ruined her reputation to stop her parents from trying to marry her off). i also enjoyed the different dynamics - female relationships were definitely the centre of the novel but also the tension between charlotte and ingram was also palpable!
i can see myself devouring the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
teapoweredrobot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this genderbent Sherlock Holmes story! Thomas did a great job sprinkling in hints and clues of how the "traditional" Sherlock stories would be adapted into hers. While I haven't read an OG Sherlock story in a while, the pacing and setting both felt similar to what I remember. I'm strongly considering continuing to read the series if I can fit it into my reading schedule.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
carmnsndiego's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse
Moderate: Death
elchiang78's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
linesiunderline's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s a pretty ambitious undertaking for an author to reinterpret a character as iconic and beloved as Sherlock Holmes. It’s a testament to Sherry Thomas’s skill that the absolute best part of this very successful book is its main character.
Charlotte is incredibly memorable. She is bold. She’s enough like Holmes that you enjoy the parallels but she has plenty of her own surprising and pleasing quirks (her love of flouncy fashions and cake, to name just two). She knows what she wants and she goes for it. I can’t wait to follow her through the rest of the series. (Also loved Mrs Watson - she is fabulous and I couldn’t be more delighted to have both of these characters reimagined so successfully as women). I’d say that spending time with the characters was the most satisfying aspect of the book.
It had a bit of a slower start, though I understand that the author had to get a lot of set up accomplished with Charlotte’s situation. That took time. Also, the mystery did not really hook me completely. At times I was not as invested as I hope to be when I read a mystery (and I was a tad confused now and then).
But the tone, the dynamic between the central characters, the ways that Thomas shifted the original story to make it her own while paying homage to Conan Doyle’s work, it all worked very successfully and I found myself more wrapped up in it as I read and eager to get my hands on the next book by the time I reached the end.
Very much looking forward to all of the rest in the series!
Charlotte is incredibly memorable. She is bold. She’s enough like Holmes that you enjoy the parallels but she has plenty of her own surprising and pleasing quirks (her love of flouncy fashions and cake, to name just two). She knows what she wants and she goes for it. I can’t wait to follow her through the rest of the series. (Also loved Mrs Watson - she is fabulous and I couldn’t be more delighted to have both of these characters reimagined so successfully as women). I’d say that spending time with the characters was the most satisfying aspect of the book.
It had a bit of a slower start, though I understand that the author had to get a lot of set up accomplished with Charlotte’s situation. That took time. Also, the mystery did not really hook me completely. At times I was not as invested as I hope to be when I read a mystery (and I was a tad confused now and then).
But the tone, the dynamic between the central characters, the ways that Thomas shifted the original story to make it her own while paying homage to Conan Doyle’s work, it all worked very successfully and I found myself more wrapped up in it as I read and eager to get my hands on the next book by the time I reached the end.
Very much looking forward to all of the rest in the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Murder, and Sexual assault
emberysing's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
jacquez's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was not expecting the resolution of the mystery, and found it rather jarring for reasons I will put in the content warning section below. The resolution made sense, and the story hangs together well, and the through-lines of narrative about "ruined" ("scarlet") women were really interesting -- the ways in which women had to cope with being damaged in the eyes of the world.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
Readers may want to be aware of certain content in the resolution of the story:
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