The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John 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 enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.
Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that 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.
Goodreads Summary
When I saw this book I knew that I had to pick it up and read! I was convinced that my mom and sister would enjoy it too-and I was right! Jamie is the great-great-grandson of John Watson and Charlotte is the great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes. The pair aren't instant friends, in fact, they don't always get along. Watson knows that Charlotte is going to end up meaning something to him, but he doesn't know what. The plot was the best part of this book. Fast-paced and engaging, it was hard to put the book down and a quick read.
My least favorite part of the book was Charlotte's drug habit and Jamie's lack of sticking-up-for-himself. I know that Sherlock Holmes took drugs, but I wouldn't have minded if that fact had been left out in this book. Jamie and Charlotte, though sometimes at odds, worked well together. Charlotte's critical thinking skills complemented by Jamie's intellect helped them solve the death in the book. I liked how Jamie's character was portrayed as "softer" than Charlotte's. She is cold, calculating, and sometimes felt like a predator (like how a cat stares at a mouse). He brought a little romance and fun into the novel. I liked the ending and the author's style of writing was fun and exciting. This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.
4 Stars
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | The Book Depository
ABOUT BRITTANY CAVALLARO:
Brittany Cavallaro is a poet, fiction writer, and old school Sherlockian. She is the author of the poetry collection Girl-King (University of Akron) and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. She earned her BA in literature from Middlebury College and her MFA in poetry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she's a PhD candidate in English literature at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she teaches creative writing, detective fiction, and lots of other things. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, cat, and collection of deerstalker caps. Find her at her website, brittanycavallaro.com, or on Twitter @skippingstones.
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE (US Only)a Rafflecopter giveaway
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ
Posts
I'm pretty psyched about this one! Glad you enjoyed it. I definitely need to get around to reading it as well :)