Started: 30/03/17
Finished: DNF'd on 08/04/17
Spoilers:
DNF'd at page 251.
I very rarely DNF a book, but I just could not get into this. With only a few chapters left, I even tried skimming it, but Chapter Nine was a bridge too far, I'm afraid. Too much melodrama, not enough story.
The book trailer is better than the book, said no one ever . . . until now. The book isn't the worst I've read, but the trailer is very professional and sets expectations pretty high, to be honest.
As a lover of Sherlock Holmes, I really wanted to enjoy this retelling; after all, the cover art is gorgeous. Shame the actually content isn't nearly as enjoyable.
Setting
Sherringford: Some kind of boarding school for rich kids in Connecticut, and apparently the campus is open to the general public, allowing drug-dealers and journalists alike and come and go as they please and harass students.
I got really confused at times when Watson spoke about his childhood. He and Holmes are both English, but Watson was born in America and lived there for a portion of his childhood before moving with his mum to London. It's not detailed clearly enough, as I originally believed Watson to be a born and raised Brit, but then he starts talking about all the Connecticut schools he's been too. I had to stop and flick back to see if I'd missed a page that explained Watson's past. It's jarring, and completely pulled me from the story.
Characters
Characters felt a little flimsy, to be honest. Holmes and Watson needed more development, as did their relationship as a whole. The process from strangers to besties felt brushed over and rushed. If this was a movie, then these chapters would be a montage.
Within the first chapter, Watson proves himself to be hot-headed, irrational, and let's be honest, rather immature. He's had one social interaction with Holmes, in which she's pretty rude to him, but hey, that guy's being vulgar about her? No problem, just beat the shit out of him in front of everyone to defend the honour of a girl you don't know. That'll make things better, Watson.
Watson marginally redeems himself at the halfway point, but from then on he's nothing but a doormat and allows Charlotte to be a rude, impulsive, manipulative bitch to him, and somehow he sees it all as his fault.
Charlotte, well, other than having almost every characteristic, habit and personality trait of the original Sherlock, she isn't very likable at all. She's just rude, and I don't like rude people. Sorry.
Plot
It felt at times the drama was being fabricated out of nothing at all. One moment they're fine with each other, the next their arguing, and the next their over-angsty, horny teenagers.
Also, if Holmes is one of the suspects, pretty sure the police wouldn't accept any evidence from her that she found whilst contaminating a crime scene. Pretty sure they would be immediately suspicious and completely disregard anything she gives them in an attempt to clear her name.
It just wouldn't happen in real life I'm afraid. Sherlock got away with it because he was a consulting detective and invited to the crime scenes. Charlotte is a student and a suspect; why would the police have any reason to take her seriously?
So much of this book is ludicrous and unrealistic and pushed the boundaries of my credulity. It was all just too far-fetched for me.
It took about half through the book for me to finally get into it and start enjoying it. That first half felt rushed and over-dramatised for the sake of teenage hormones, rather than a murderer on the loose. I think round about the time the Moriarty family was mentioned I started to take an interest. But then it was downhill from there. The murder of Lee Dobson is all but forgotten, and Charlotte herself becomes Watson's personal mystery to solve. Sorry, but what about the murderer running loose, trying to frame you?
Writing Style
Maybe it's just me, but when I read a book based on Arthur Conan Doyle's characters, I'm kind of expecting Conan Doyle's calibre of writing too. The intelligent, witty writing is what makes the Sherlock Holmes novels so great.
This book, unfortunately is not on the same level. It's a YA book and it reads like a YA book.
I don't know if there was deliberate inconsistencies or not. For instance, as Watson was raised in both England and America, he talks both English and American. It would feel less like inconsistencies if he spoke in just one way, rather than calling his mother both mum and mom. Again, it pulled me out the story to flick back a few pages to make sure I'd read it correctly the first time.
Also, during prom night when Mrs Dunham comes to his room. She tells him:
"I brought you a cup of tea. And some cookies."
Fair enough. Nice lady. But then Watson narrates:
"She'd brought me English breakfast, and the steam fogged up my glasses."
Well, which is it, Watson? Which is it? Cookies or a fry-up?
Final Impression
All in all, disappointing. I expected so much more.
This is plain yoghurt book: utterly flavourless.
I may try to finish it at some point, but right now, I simply can't bring myself to read it any longer.
Rating based on what I read, which was majority of the book.
*edit from 2019 - unhauled book, so won't be finishing.
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