pharmdad2007's review against another edition
3.0
If you're looking for a decent story written (or at least co-written) by a former NBA basketball star, then this is the book for you! If you're looking for a great modern masterpiece to add to the general Sherlock Holmes canon, then there are other books out there that are much better. Really, this was probably more like 2.5 stars to me.
rosexgold's review against another edition
3.0
I was expecting and hoping to enjoy this a lot more than I did. The mystery was... non existent? Was there really a mystery here? I suppose there was with the murdered children but it was kind of bland for what it was. It wasn't like I was dying (ha) to learn what the truth was. This was more of a burden to get through, because I kept convincing myself that surely it had to get better. It did not.
The story overall for me was pretty boring. Then again, as much as I love the concept of Sherlock Holmes, and him as a character, the original Doyle books are really... not that great. For me, they are hard to read and retain anything from.
Nevertheless I was disappointed with this and won't continue on with this series. I know in the next installments there is more interaction between Mycroft and Sherlock, but I really didn't care for it in this book. It drove me nuts how Sherlock was referred to as "Sherlock," but Mycroft was referred to as "Holmes." They are both Holmes. It was so confusing and annoying. Any times "Holmes" would do something, I'd imagine it was Sherlock, but then Sherlock was responding to what Holmes was doing so I'd have to readjust... Why do a book series where the whole point is to see Mycroft as his own character, and then only refer to him as Holmes? Was it some kind of marketing thing? It didn't work for me. Sad.
The story overall for me was pretty boring. Then again, as much as I love the concept of Sherlock Holmes, and him as a character, the original Doyle books are really... not that great. For me, they are hard to read and retain anything from.
Nevertheless I was disappointed with this and won't continue on with this series. I know in the next installments there is more interaction between Mycroft and Sherlock, but I really didn't care for it in this book. It drove me nuts how Sherlock was referred to as "Sherlock," but Mycroft was referred to as "Holmes." They are both Holmes. It was so confusing and annoying. Any times "Holmes" would do something, I'd imagine it was Sherlock, but then Sherlock was responding to what Holmes was doing so I'd have to readjust... Why do a book series where the whole point is to see Mycroft as his own character, and then only refer to him as Holmes? Was it some kind of marketing thing? It didn't work for me. Sad.
cgonya1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
alibrarycat721's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
ohquarrie's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't have enjoyed this book more. Absolutely one of my new favorites.
lolajoan's review against another edition
3.0
Not great, not terrible. The writing is a bit clunky, and the story is a little bit too improbable and also a little bit too obvious. It was mildly entertaining though.
hartd's review against another edition
I enjoyed this. Mycroft Holmes and Cyrus Douglas are both great characters, and there's a lot of banter and affection between them. They definitely have a similar dynamic to Sherlock & Watson. The various mysteries in the story were all pretty lurid, too, in the same vein as the original Sherlock Holmes stories and their adaptations. The novel takes place mostly on Trinidad, and deals a lot with race. In addition to Douglas, there are some interesting PoC side characters, too.
But there was a major plot point that disturbed me.
So, I'm not sure if I'm glad to have read this or not. But it's always strange for me to dip into mainstream books and get confronted with things like that; I'm very happy mostly reading books that are totally to my taste. Anyway, other readers probably wouldn't have the same objection I did. I'm not going to give it a star rating because I feel conflicted.
But there was a major plot point that disturbed me.
Spoiler
Mycroft's fiancee Georgiana turns out to be a villain. That's fine, I don't object to female villains at all. But I didn't like that her behavior was framed as an example of the fickleness of women, and she was the only prominent female character in the book. She wasn't fickle; she had a plan all along, but Mycroft doesn't react to her betrayal as though she is actually capable of evil.So, I'm not sure if I'm glad to have read this or not. But it's always strange for me to dip into mainstream books and get confronted with things like that; I'm very happy mostly reading books that are totally to my taste. Anyway, other readers probably wouldn't have the same objection I did. I'm not going to give it a star rating because I feel conflicted.
hammychop's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly picked this up during a Kindle sale and I'm glad I did!
This is more than about Mycroft and young Sherlock, it's really about slavery and race. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a solid mystery that is really entertaining. I read it in one sitting. It's not perfect, some parts are a little far reaching (Aaron Burr) but overall really enjoyable!
This is more than about Mycroft and young Sherlock, it's really about slavery and race. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a solid mystery that is really entertaining. I read it in one sitting. It's not perfect, some parts are a little far reaching (Aaron Burr) but overall really enjoyable!
spiderman15's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has proven as adept with handling the Holmeses as he was the rock. This first foray into the world of the Holmes pastiche is simply excellent... and the Master is just an ancillary character!