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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This was an enjoyable historical mystery and while it was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, there were enough differences that I liked it for its own worth. I will continue with this series.
Sherry Thomas has written a clever and exciting mystery that everyone will enjoy--especially fans of Sherlock Holmes and strong women characters. I can't wait to read the next in the series!
Trigger warning: child abuse
Trigger warning: child abuse
While browsing thru available audiobooks at my library, I came across this title. The story sucked me in and I enjoyed the characters and murder mystery. It was fund to see how the traditional Sherlock Holmes components were drawn together into the storyline.
I listened to this first on audiobook, and that had to pick up a paper copy because it brought me so much joy. The lilt of the phrasing, the vocabulary, the characters that seem like they could step into your life at any second - I was hopeful about a female Sherlock, and I was so glad that there's more in the serious. Sherry Thomas is now on my list of favorite authors.
My favorite quote: "Do not make that mistake, my dear. Do not undervalue what you are ultimately worth because you are at a momentary disadvantage."
My favorite quote: "Do not make that mistake, my dear. Do not undervalue what you are ultimately worth because you are at a momentary disadvantage."
This was very confusing to say the least. I think the easiest way to do this is to list my problems with this book (and there were a lot of them).
1) The beginning involves multiple points of view which were hard to follow.
2) Charlotte's sister Livia was the main character for much of the first third of the book and was never heard from again.
3) All of a sudden, after calling the sister "Livia" for 3/4 of the book, she's suddenly referred to as "Olivia" which was very confusing.
Notice how I haven't mentioned Charlotte Holmes, the main character, yet?
4) That's because Charlotte is barely in it, and when she is in the story, she isn't a detective. She occasionally gives advice to two detectives who actually solve the crime
5) Charlotte is very unlikable as a character. I didn't relate to her at all. I found her whole situation very implausible. I didn't understand her motivation either. What was the point of that random sex scene? She had an explanation for it but it didn't make sense to me.
6) She doesn't become a "detective" (and I use the term very loosely) until 2/3 of the way through the book!
7) The "Watson" character felt thrown in and I didn't really care for her either.
8) Why must every book with a female Holmes involve her pining away for some guy??? Charlotte had a bad case of puppy love. I wanted to tell her to get over it! I wanted her to be autonomous and live on her own and not care about having a man.
9) the mystery itself was very convoluted and made little sense. There were too many suspects with similar sounding names. It was hard to keep track of everyone and their servants.
It pains me to give this a one star, but I was quite dissatisfied with it overall.
1) The beginning involves multiple points of view which were hard to follow.
2) Charlotte's sister Livia was the main character for much of the first third of the book and was never heard from again.
3) All of a sudden, after calling the sister "Livia" for 3/4 of the book, she's suddenly referred to as "Olivia" which was very confusing.
Notice how I haven't mentioned Charlotte Holmes, the main character, yet?
4) That's because Charlotte is barely in it, and when she is in the story, she isn't a detective. She occasionally gives advice to two detectives who actually solve the crime
5) Charlotte is very unlikable as a character. I didn't relate to her at all. I found her whole situation very implausible. I didn't understand her motivation either. What was the point of that random sex scene? She had an explanation for it but it didn't make sense to me.
6) She doesn't become a "detective" (and I use the term very loosely) until 2/3 of the way through the book!
7) The "Watson" character felt thrown in and I didn't really care for her either.
8) Why must every book with a female Holmes involve her pining away for some guy??? Charlotte had a bad case of puppy love. I wanted to tell her to get over it! I wanted her to be autonomous and live on her own and not care about having a man.
9) the mystery itself was very convoluted and made little sense. There were too many suspects with similar sounding names. It was hard to keep track of everyone and their servants.
It pains me to give this a one star, but I was quite dissatisfied with it overall.