A review by kays_reading_journal
A Case of Madness by Yvonne Knop

emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“People like you keep me alive. Without you, I would only be a figure pressed between yellowed pages. I owe you my life.”

This book is so many things wrapped into one. It’s a book for Holmes lovers, it’s a romance, it’s a ghost story, its heavy, and it’s about becoming your true self. The characters were rich and well developed. The plot was easy to follow while also being surprising and intriguing. I truly enjoyed reading this. 

We meet Andrew during a mid-life crisis, when absolutely everything is going wrong. But Sherlock Holmes shows up to help him solve the case of himself. 

I enjoyed that even the side characters were well developed. Despite the book only being from Andrews pov, you still get a really strong sense of all the cast. I really enjoyed the plot too: the mystery of the note, the romance subplot, and everything that Andrew deals with. If you’re wondering, the romance came into play heavily about 40% in. 

I did find the dialogue hard to follow at times, it felt like I just didn’t understand the discussion, but for most of the novel this wasn’t an issue. 

Overall, if you enjoy Speculative Fiction, coming of age, a mid-life crisis, or romance sub-plots, I think you should give this book a try! 

Thank you to NetGalley, Improbable Press, and Yvonne Knop for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 
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