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annamickreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5! One day Goodreads will let us add the very important and specific half stars.
So perhaps this is a result of my terrible eyesight, but I was originally under the impression this was a sapphic retelling of Holmes & Watson--not that I can hold that against this book, but it was a little bit of a shock 2 pages in.
I appreciate any Holmes & Watson retelling that updates the stories people know and love for modern audiences, and I think Charlotte's voice especially has all the key elements of a great Holmes. I also appreciated the nuances to Jamie's character, giving Watson a bit of an upgrade (as Jamie himself points out, Watson is typically allotted the character trait of "oblivious scribe"). I love the idea that Holmes and Watson were once real people that have since trickled down into descendants with messy family histories, including links to the Moriarty family.
SPEAKING of the Moriarty family, no spoilers, but I will say the sort-of plot "twist" didn't catch me at all by surprise, and was maybe a tiny bit of a let down. What I honestly found more enjoyable was the lead-up, watching Watson AND Holmes cracking clues together rather than Holmes dragging Watson along for the ride (although let's be fair, there was some of that too, so Jamie's frustration was incredibly understandable)
Regardless, it was a fun book and I already have the next one in hand!
So perhaps this is a result of my terrible eyesight, but I was originally under the impression this was a sapphic retelling of Holmes & Watson--not that I can hold that against this book, but it was a little bit of a shock 2 pages in.
I appreciate any Holmes & Watson retelling that updates the stories people know and love for modern audiences, and I think Charlotte's voice especially has all the key elements of a great Holmes. I also appreciated the nuances to Jamie's character, giving Watson a bit of an upgrade (as Jamie himself points out, Watson is typically allotted the character trait of "oblivious scribe"). I love the idea that Holmes and Watson were once real people that have since trickled down into descendants with messy family histories, including links to the Moriarty family.
SPEAKING of the Moriarty family, no spoilers, but I will say the sort-of plot "twist" didn't catch me at all by surprise, and was maybe a tiny bit of a let down. What I honestly found more enjoyable was the lead-up, watching Watson AND Holmes cracking clues together rather than Holmes dragging Watson along for the ride (although let's be fair, there was some of that too, so Jamie's frustration was incredibly understandable)
Regardless, it was a fun book and I already have the next one in hand!
annamary54's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
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? Yes
1.75
If this wasn’t a book club book it would’ve been a DNF. The writing made me feel like and English teacher grading papers. Confusing writing/plot line, I still don’t quite understand if Sherlock and Watson are real people or fiction or both?? Or if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle exists in this world??? Narrator Jamie pissed me off from the beginning, just annoying. Not enough Lena content, loved her. Pages like I think 200ish-270ish were entertaining to me, everything else was kinda meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
mscreads's review
5.0
i loved how the author wrote from a male perspective and i thought it was super well done.
there were no cliches or stereotypes and i felt that both Charlotte and Jamie were complex characters
i thought their relationship was so well done and not creepy or sexist
there were no cliches or stereotypes and i felt that both Charlotte and Jamie were complex characters
echocide's review against another edition
3.0
La storia in sé è molto carina: mi è piaciuto il ricalcare le avventure di Holmes e Watson ma in chiave young adult, con due personaggi che hanno le loro caratteristiche anche se inquadrati nei ruoli di Watson e Holmes.
Perché sì: la storia è carina, Charlotte e Jamie sono adorabili e molto sfaccettati, il problema è che tutto è chiuso nelle dinamiche di Holmes e Watson. Non si devia. Jamie è nato Watson, quindi da Watson si deve comportare. Charlotte è nata Holmes da Holmes deve vivere.
Non si scappa.
tolto questo particolare - che è un po’ grosso come particolare, dato che è alla base della storia - per il resto mi è piaciuto tutto: lo stile molto fresco e semplice, il caso in sé, la risoluzione, la storia fra Charlotte e Jamie.
In generale mi è piaciuto, continuerò a leggere la serie, anche se c’è quel difetto che non me la fa apprezzare appieno.
Perché sì: la storia è carina, Charlotte e Jamie sono adorabili e molto sfaccettati, il problema è che tutto è chiuso nelle dinamiche di Holmes e Watson. Non si devia. Jamie è nato Watson, quindi da Watson si deve comportare. Charlotte è nata Holmes da Holmes deve vivere.
Non si scappa.
tolto questo particolare - che è un po’ grosso come particolare, dato che è alla base della storia - per il resto mi è piaciuto tutto: lo stile molto fresco e semplice, il caso in sé, la risoluzione, la storia fra Charlotte e Jamie.
In generale mi è piaciuto, continuerò a leggere la serie, anche se c’è quel difetto che non me la fa apprezzare appieno.
cgharbison's review
4.0
I found this to be a fun read - I won’t claim to be a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, as I haven’t read the stories myself, but I did love the show and movies. (Definitely plan to read them at some point!) Anyway, I enjoyed the idea of the descendants of Homes and Watson teaming up together, and especially the added dynamic of having a female Holmes. Sure, some of the details were far-fetched and sometimes the plot moved almost too quickly, but still a fun read. I liked it enough to want to read the others!
coolcatsbookshelf's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
marvelruinedmyspirit's review against another edition
2.0
Having read every single Sherlock Holmes story out there (bragging rights) and having watched the Sherlock Is Garbage and Here Is Why masterpiece more times than I can admit to, I'm deeply interested in SH retellings. I'm not sure if this one counts as one technically, but I would forgive it its flaws and tone if it had been entertaining. As it was, it was a bit dull, and the intervention of Charlotte's almost superpowered brother did not do the book any favors . Meh.