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jocelyn73c's review
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.
millsy07's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
e_l_smith's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A delightful and fresh retelling of a beloved classic. I will happily plow through the rest, and would be even happier to see these made into a show.
tungstenmouse's review against another edition
I’m just really bored. I’m so bored with this I’m actively avoiding it.
curious_artifact_reads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
priya_amrev's review against another edition
2.0
Idk. I liked it. I liked her independence, how the book stayed relatively true to the original Holmes character. I didn’t even mind the slow pace so much. But I didn’t like the relationships. So I won’t be finishing this. At least for now.
I disliked this book primarily because of the relationship between Charlotte and Ingram. I don’t like that she had to give something up because of society just for a measure of independence, to then be shunned by everyone. And I dislike that she’s stuck in that situation and the issue between them because of Ingram’s stupidity. Exactly what or how that situation came about, I am not sure, because I didn’t read far enough.
I might have liked this book, or at least finished it if not for that relationship between them.
I disliked this book primarily because of the relationship between Charlotte and Ingram. I don’t like that she had to give something up because of society just for a measure of independence, to then be shunned by everyone. And I dislike that she’s stuck in that situation and the issue between them because of Ingram’s stupidity. Exactly what or how that situation came about, I am not sure, because I didn’t read far enough.
I might have liked this book, or at least finished it if not for that relationship between them.
quinzelle's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5