I have been in love with Sherlock Holmes since I saw the 2009 movie starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. So when I find Holmes books involving romance, I snap them up. I gave this book five chapters to change my opinions and, unfortunately, it failed.

Someone in the reviews described this as “Sherlock Holmes in Darcy mode” and, frankly, that person doesn’t really understand either character if the review was genuine. I picked this ebook up with visions of Mrs Hudson, rolling pin in hand, giving everyone’s favorite detective a good thwack for making advances on her niece. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to ever happen.

Mirabella (whose name upsets my autocorrect to no end), is a fairly run of the mill OC. She’s pretty, but she doesn’t believe it. She’s high spirited and doesn’t know when to shut her pie hole, but never suffers for it. She’s interested in chemistry and forensics and, overall, she’s Not Like Other Girls. She’s a sexy lamp who wants a chemistry degree. I’m sorry, I don’t like her.

Holmes and Watson are, upon further inspection, probably based off of their TV counterparts (think BBC Sherlock and not Jeremy Brett). Which is unfortunate because the author chose to set the story in the 19th century and not the 21st (I decided to stop reading because contact lenses were mentioned when the story takes place a full four-ish years before they were developed for general use.) and didn’t bother to use period accurate language.

Holmes is an ass in this story, which is in character for the Cumberbatch version, but not so much for the original. Watson is more Nigel Bruce than Martin Freeman.

The really sad part about this is that the plot is fantastic. Wild Eastern European princess finds herself in peril at the London finishing school? International intrigue? Forbidden romance? I’m there! Maybe, at some point in the future, when I find myself with more patience, I’ll go back and finish this one. But for now, it’s firmly on the DNF shelf. ( )

Cumberbatch/Sherlock meets his match! Publisher's summary outlines the plot adequately, and spoilers are inappropriate. What you really want to know that this book is great fun and has an interesting slant on Holmes and company. The characters are quite well developed by the author, but Froomkin's performance really animates them and cranks up the wiseassery level bigtime. The imagery is excellent, whether of a personage or a setting or an interaction. I found no boring or dull spots that were not backstory. If tempted to over compare this with Conan Doyle, I will advise you that Holmes is 27 and Watson is 29 here, so adjust your thinking. Also, be aware that this book is the vehicle to introduce a new character into the action: a much younger, more socially cognizant female who is more than capable of sparring with good old Sherlock. I hope for more of their adventures! ( )

I was not certain I would enjoy this story. After all, many parodies and pastiches are written about Sherlock Holmes, some of them dreadful.

But Ms. Hollingsworth did her homework. Almost nothing written about Sherlock Holmes mentions his athleticism, his physical abilities. But in this book, it is immediately pointed out and those abilities are used in the book, teaching Mirabelle to fight.

And I think it is fair to say that Holmes is presented from a woman's point of view. He is seen more through his emotions and personality than through his intellect, although that facet ofThe Great Detective is not neglected.

I was also glad to find that the book was well edited. There were very few spelling errors, no grammar errors I noticed and the syntax was good. The story moved along with a good plot and developing characters. This was a well crafted book.

So unless you are a Sherlock Holmes purist I think you will like this book. I can recommend it without reservation for the type of book it is.

Cumberbatch/Sherlock meets his match! Publisher's summary outlines the plot adequately, and spoilers are inappropriate. What you really want to know that this book is great fun and has an interesting slant on Holmes and company. The characters are quite well developed by the author, but Froomkin's performance really animates them and cranks up the wiseassery level bigtime. The imagery is excellent, whether of a personage or a setting or an interaction. I found no boring or dull spots that were not backstory. If tempted to over compare this with Conan Doyle, I will advise you that Holmes is 27 and Watson is 29 here, so adjust your thinking. Also, be aware that this book is the vehicle to introduce a new character into the action: a much younger, more socially cognizant female who is more than capable of sparring with good old Sherlock. I hope for more of their adventures!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )