The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
karieh13's review against another edition
3.0
I got this book for my ten year old son to read, as he’d enjoyed the first two books in this series. After two chapters, though, he put it down saying it was boring. Not one to let a book go to waste, I picked it up.
The first two chapters are a little slow…but after that, this book picks up the pace and was an engaging read. I am a huge fan of the BBC series “Sherlock” and so I enjoyed this look at what people and events might have formed this fascinating and enigmatic character.
After the slow start, this book is almost a non-stop adventure…and although I wasn’t a big fan of all the people (and their intensity) trying to kill a young Sherlock…I understand that it’s a part of the story and the legend.
There were a couple of lines that ring particularly true. As Mycroft (who almost has more of a presence here than Sherlock) contemplates his actions on the world stage: “It is not a game, let alone a great one. Sitting here in London, in a comfortable armchair, it is possible to lose track of that. Perhaps if my time in Russia has taught me one thing, it is that the pieces we so blithely move on the chessboard are real people, with real feelings.”
And in true Mycroft fashion: “That is the way international relations ought to be conducted: politely and with refreshments…”
There is just something about the legend of Sherlock Holmes that is irresistible to readers of all ages. I think I might make my son now read Chapter Three…
The first two chapters are a little slow…but after that, this book picks up the pace and was an engaging read. I am a huge fan of the BBC series “Sherlock” and so I enjoyed this look at what people and events might have formed this fascinating and enigmatic character.
After the slow start, this book is almost a non-stop adventure…and although I wasn’t a big fan of all the people (and their intensity) trying to kill a young Sherlock…I understand that it’s a part of the story and the legend.
There were a couple of lines that ring particularly true. As Mycroft (who almost has more of a presence here than Sherlock) contemplates his actions on the world stage: “It is not a game, let alone a great one. Sitting here in London, in a comfortable armchair, it is possible to lose track of that. Perhaps if my time in Russia has taught me one thing, it is that the pieces we so blithely move on the chessboard are real people, with real feelings.”
And in true Mycroft fashion: “That is the way international relations ought to be conducted: politely and with refreshments…”
There is just something about the legend of Sherlock Holmes that is irresistible to readers of all ages. I think I might make my son now read Chapter Three…
bones_jackson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Gostei muito, mas o final foi bem apressado.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Death, and Gaslighting
Minor: War
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
A fast-paced novel, more MG than YA, but with a decent mystery and fairly solid writing.
purrpurr's review against another edition
3.0
yes, as a matter of fact i read this book on german. i have only found out now that the german blurb is VERY different than the english one. my expectations would have been lower if i had only read the english one. (okay, can we talk about how cute the word blurb is? blurb)
"Mycroft wurde mit der Leiche in einem verschlossenen Raum gefunden, ein blutiges Messer in der Hand. Nur Sherlock glaubt an die Unschuld seines Bruders. Doch kann er sie auch beweisen ... und Mycroft vor dem Galgen bewahren?" das ist der deutsche klappentext. ich habe mir davon einen spannenden agatha christie-artigen roman erwartet, in dem sherlock alleine gegen die zeit arbeitet um mycroft zu retten. aber nein, das "wie" wurde innerhalb von seiten geklärt und noch nicht einmal von sherlock.
die verfolgungsjagden wurden alle sehr gut und spannend geschrieben, aber bis auf eine waren alle ziemlich unnötig. außerdem macht sich sherlock zwar während den jagden zwar immer viele gedanken und sorgen, aber sobald diese vorbei sind, würde man meinen sein gedächtnis wurde gelöscht und er macht die gleichen fehler nochmal.
"Der junge Sherlock Holmes ermittelt in Moskau", ja ich glaub auch. sie waren genau 94 seiten in moskau. ich dachte, die ganzen moskau gespräche im buch bauen darauf auf, dass es im nächsten teil nach russland geht, aber nein. mycroft kauft sich einfach aus dem ganzen mit-einer-leiche-im-gleichen-raum-gefunden-skandal raus und im letzten drittel machen sie sich auf den weg nach russland. wofür?
in conlusion: auf keinen fall ein schlechtes buch. sehr spannend und interessant erzählt, aber leider nicht das was ich mir erhofft habe.
"Mycroft wurde mit der Leiche in einem verschlossenen Raum gefunden, ein blutiges Messer in der Hand. Nur Sherlock glaubt an die Unschuld seines Bruders. Doch kann er sie auch beweisen ... und Mycroft vor dem Galgen bewahren?" das ist der deutsche klappentext. ich habe mir davon einen spannenden agatha christie-artigen roman erwartet, in dem sherlock alleine gegen die zeit arbeitet um mycroft zu retten. aber nein, das "wie" wurde innerhalb von seiten geklärt und noch nicht einmal von sherlock.
die verfolgungsjagden wurden alle sehr gut und spannend geschrieben, aber bis auf eine waren alle ziemlich unnötig. außerdem macht sich sherlock zwar während den jagden zwar immer viele gedanken und sorgen, aber sobald diese vorbei sind, würde man meinen sein gedächtnis wurde gelöscht und er macht die gleichen fehler nochmal.
"Der junge Sherlock Holmes ermittelt in Moskau", ja ich glaub auch. sie waren genau 94 seiten in moskau. ich dachte, die ganzen moskau gespräche im buch bauen darauf auf, dass es im nächsten teil nach russland geht, aber nein. mycroft kauft sich einfach aus dem ganzen mit-einer-leiche-im-gleichen-raum-gefunden-skandal raus und im letzten drittel machen sie sich auf den weg nach russland. wofür?
in conlusion: auf keinen fall ein schlechtes buch. sehr spannend und interessant erzählt, aber leider nicht das was ich mir erhofft habe.
manarelkodes's review against another edition
4.0
The exact rating 3,75 ..
I have Fun reading This , like so much ✨ , but i think the second book was better ..
I have Fun reading This , like so much ✨ , but i think the second book was better ..
amirahjantzen's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mountie9's review against another edition
4.0
The Good Stuff
Enjoyed the fleshing out of the character of Mycroft
More fast paced than the first story in series -- which I think will interest the intended audience a little more
Nice light humour
You can really see how this Sherlock could develop into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock
Love how the author throws in some history, science etc so subtlety that kids won't pick up the fact that they are learning stuff
The historical notes at the end are a fabulous addition
Lots of twists and turns
Need to find out what Mrs Egaltine's agenda is
Not as dark as book 1
Accidentally read book #3 instead of book #2 -- but didn't feel too lost or disorientated from missing it (Now going to start book #2 to fill in the blanks)
The Not So Good Stuff
Still a wee bit slow - it works, but might turn off some more reluctant readers
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"This is all very interesting," Sherlock said cautiously, but I'm not likely to take up fishing as a hobby. It seems to consist of a whole lot of sitting around waiting for something to happen. If I'm going to sit around for a long period of time, I'd rather have a good book in my hands than a fishing rod."
"Less than an hour before he had been running for his life through dark tunnels, and now he was sitting in the sunshine waiting for cake to arrive. Life could be strange, sometimes. Actually, he reflected, life could be strange a lot of the time."
"The problem with life," Mycroft observed. "is that it rarely gives us what we want, or even what we need. I've heard it said that the Lord does not give us anything that we cannot cope with. In my experience this is not true, and merely serves as a mechanism for helping religious people accept the unacceptable. Life is harsh, and we cannot even hope to survive it."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Perfect for boys 10 and up who like action and mystery
Might be more suited for a stronger reader rather than a reluctant reader, but that is just my uneducated guess
Jake is going to love this in probably a year or two -- he's a wee bit sensitive so I am going to wait for a while
Girls will enjoy this as well - especially the more "tomboy" type
4.25 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins in Exchange for an Honest Review
Enjoyed the fleshing out of the character of Mycroft
More fast paced than the first story in series -- which I think will interest the intended audience a little more
Nice light humour
You can really see how this Sherlock could develop into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock
Love how the author throws in some history, science etc so subtlety that kids won't pick up the fact that they are learning stuff
The historical notes at the end are a fabulous addition
Lots of twists and turns
Need to find out what Mrs Egaltine's agenda is
Not as dark as book 1
Accidentally read book #3 instead of book #2 -- but didn't feel too lost or disorientated from missing it (Now going to start book #2 to fill in the blanks)
The Not So Good Stuff
Still a wee bit slow - it works, but might turn off some more reluctant readers
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"This is all very interesting," Sherlock said cautiously, but I'm not likely to take up fishing as a hobby. It seems to consist of a whole lot of sitting around waiting for something to happen. If I'm going to sit around for a long period of time, I'd rather have a good book in my hands than a fishing rod."
"Less than an hour before he had been running for his life through dark tunnels, and now he was sitting in the sunshine waiting for cake to arrive. Life could be strange, sometimes. Actually, he reflected, life could be strange a lot of the time."
"The problem with life," Mycroft observed. "is that it rarely gives us what we want, or even what we need. I've heard it said that the Lord does not give us anything that we cannot cope with. In my experience this is not true, and merely serves as a mechanism for helping religious people accept the unacceptable. Life is harsh, and we cannot even hope to survive it."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Perfect for boys 10 and up who like action and mystery
Might be more suited for a stronger reader rather than a reluctant reader, but that is just my uneducated guess
Jake is going to love this in probably a year or two -- he's a wee bit sensitive so I am going to wait for a while
Girls will enjoy this as well - especially the more "tomboy" type
4.25 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins in Exchange for an Honest Review
britterization's review against another edition
DNF at 2/6 cds. I tried to listen to this book, but the narration was just not for me. Very monotone. I also didn't realize that this was third in a series...oops!
swagner's review against another edition
3.0
I remember picking up this book when it first came out a couple of years ago. After reading the first two installments of this series, I wanted more, especially after the sheer sinister antagonist's story-line in the second book. However, book 3 had to wait to be read and I deeply regret not reading it before now. I can only imagine, (but judging from my liking of the first 2 books that I read when I was about Sherlock's age (14)) but I can't help to feel like I would have liked this book a lot more if I had been younger. It is easily read and rather quick-paced, which is good for getting out of a reading slump, however doesn't fulfill my personal need of complexity that I expect a book about Sherlock Holmes to have. By that I mean that the "villain" is not as intimidating as I would have wished him - or rather them - to be. The riddles were not as enjoyable as I remembered them to be from book 1 and 2 because they were mostly just Mycroft or Amyus Crowe listening to Sherlock figuring out an answer while being omniscient about it all which was a little tiring.
All in all, an enjoyable and easy-to-follow entertaining read, but simply not my present taste in literature.
All in all, an enjoyable and easy-to-follow entertaining read, but simply not my present taste in literature.