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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This was really fun! This was like, teenage Sherlock Holmes, but with a less assholey Sherlock Holmes (and also Sherlock Holmes is mentioned in the novel, so the character exists in that universe). It reminded me a lot of Elementary actually, only of course, the protagonists were only 17 and the whole thing was set in Australia.
I don't have a whole lot to say about this other than that I really enjoyed it, I LOVED the romance between the two characters and the mystery was fun!
I don't have a whole lot to say about this other than that I really enjoyed it, I LOVED the romance between the two characters and the mystery was fun!
I am a self-proclaimed fan of all things Sherlock related, so a request for this book was a no-brainer when it showed up as a book for early review on LibraryThing. I enjoyed the book. It had a good storyline and was a tip of the hat to the Sherlock stories without being over-the-top. I liked the romantic chemistry between Mycroft and Watts, and the mystery played out well. The downside to this book was the profanity. I get that it fit the characters, but profanity in books is always a turn-off to me.
Would I recommend this to my fellow book lovers? Eh. It's a take it or leave it book.
Would I recommend this book for children/teens? No. I don't like the glorified use of cigarettes and overall teen independence.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars.
Would I recommend this to my fellow book lovers? Eh. It's a take it or leave it book.
Would I recommend this book for children/teens? No. I don't like the glorified use of cigarettes and overall teen independence.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars.
I could not put this book down until I had turned the last page. The story, narration and twists were excellent, but what won me over was the in depth characters and palatable true depiction of suburban Australia.
Luckily I already purchased the second book to immediately dive back into the mysterious adventures of Watts and Mycroft.
Luckily I already purchased the second book to immediately dive back into the mysterious adventures of Watts and Mycroft.
For some unknown reason my reading record and review for this book went missing so if this isn't a sign for me to come back to YA and start by rereading Aus lit then I dunno what is
also Harris' book is coming out in August and since I still haven't finished Every Move (bad Lisa), I decided to start from the beginning and reread the whole series and maaaaaaan
I forgot how awesome OzYA is and I MISS MELBOURNE. I also forgot how intense this book was and also the sexual tension wee~
also Harris' book is coming out in August and since I still haven't finished Every Move (bad Lisa), I decided to start from the beginning and reread the whole series and maaaaaaan
I forgot how awesome OzYA is and I MISS MELBOURNE. I also forgot how intense this book was and also the sexual tension wee~
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an impressive and well-written mystery that grips you from the start and doesn't let go until the very last page. It may not be especially mind-blowing or unpredictable in its reveal, but the wonderful cast of characters makes up for that.
When Rachel Watts and James Mycroft go to the zoo, they're shocked to find the murdered body of a man known as "Homeless Dave." When it soon becomes clear that the police aren't going to be any help solving the case, Rachel and James decide to take matters into their own hands and try to find the murderer themselves.
Rachel is a well-written and relatable protagonist. She may be a bit on the quiet side, but she is extremely intelligent and observant, and is always there for her friends.
Mycroft is complex and realistic. He's got a tragic backstory, but he's also got a charm that constantly radiates off of him.
Mycroft and Rachel have absolutely wonderful chemistry. They start out the book as friends, but it's clear there's something more to their dynamic than that, and it's absolutely wonderful watching their relationship progress throughout the story.
The supporting characters also have their own amount of depth and backstory. The characterization of Rachel's friends Mai and Gus, as well as her brother Mike, was especially superb and noteworthy.
The mystery itself is where I felt the story was a bit lacking. I wasn't completely mind-blown or surprised when the culprit was revealed, and I wish there were simply more red herrings as to their identity so the reveal could come as a bit more of a surprise.
The story takes a little while to really get going, but once you're fully invested in the story, you won't be able to put it down. I have not seen Sherlock Holmes, so I can't say how this does as a retelling of that story, but on its own this is a strong beginning to what is sure to be an amazing series.
So, this was a hard book to rate. I really liked the premise of this book. Set in modern-day Melbourne, Australia, two teenagers, James Mycroft and Rachel Watts decide to investigate the murder of their friend when they find him dead by the Melbourne Zoo. It's a creative new take on Sherlock Holmes. The mystery was compelling and kept me reading. There is also a blooming romance between Mycroft and Watts.
The major problem that I had with this book was the language. There is A LOT of swearing, including the use of the F-word. I almost DNF this because of the language. If you are offended by a lot of swearing, then I don't think I would recommend it. There are some adult issues as well, so I wouldn't recommend this to younger teens. There is also teen smoking and drinking.
The major problem that I had with this book was the language. There is A LOT of swearing, including the use of the F-word. I almost DNF this because of the language. If you are offended by a lot of swearing, then I don't think I would recommend it. There are some adult issues as well, so I wouldn't recommend this to younger teens. There is also teen smoking and drinking.