TITLE: A Study in Charlotte
AUTHOR: Brittany Cavallaro
SERIES: Charlotte Holmes #1
RELEASE DATE: March 1st 2016
RELEASED BY: Katherine Tegen Books
SYNOPSIS:
The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.
From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.
Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense.
REVIEW:
I thought A Study in Charlotte was an okay read with a few shining moments. I found Holmes' deduction skills quite interesting, though the entire mystery still wasn't nearly as entertaining as that of other mystery-detective books that I have read in the past. In fact, I only got absorbed into the story in the last 15%. But it was an extremely compelling 15%, to say the least.
The characters didn't make it easy for me. Charlotte and James were difficult to connect with. I don't know if it's because I'm not used to genderbent Holmes and Watson, but Charlotte has so many of issues and dark secrets. While I sympathized with her sometimes, I was more often than not rolling my eyes at her. And James, ugh, his voice was just so flat and he could totally use some more character. I actually enjoyed Charlotte's voice in the epilogue a lot better. As well, I felt no chemistry between the two whether as bestfriends or as lovers. For the first time, I hoped that they wouldn’t get together in the end, at least not until they sort out their personal demons and differences.
A Study in Charlotte was wholly different from what I imagined. I thought it was gonna be an easy-going read, but no, A Study in Charlotte delves deep into some heavy and dark topics. I didn't find it hilarious, as what's stated in the synopsis, and though it wrapped up the mystery quite well, the plot never hurried in terms of character development which means there will be a lot more of that in the second book and it gives me the impression that this series means serious business. If anything, I'm actually a little excited for the next book. I’d love to see the changes Cavallaro has in store for us readers.
RATING: 2.5 Fairy wings
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