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bethanie22's review against another edition
4.0
I adored this book! I am always down for a good Sherlock story and this did not disappoint!! I felt so much love for Mary throughout this story. The moment she a Holmes decided to fake anger broke my heart. Like I literally felt her grief from being separated from her friend, it is was torture. The wit and wisdom of Sherlock was not lacking here, everything was just done right!!
creepella's review against another edition
Well I gave it 100 pages and I don't like it. But I'll be nice and give it 1.5 stars.
My first big beef is the age difference. I could understand a 30 year old with a 45 year old. I do not understand (and do not accept) a romance between Mary and Holmes. She was 15 when they met and he was 54, I believe. That really puts me off. Oh and, I'm sorry, even in his old age, I don't buy Holmes being in a relationship, let alone getting married!
I still can't get over the way King talked about Watson (even though I've only read one or two stories, from what I understand, Watson is actually quite intelligent). And I'm sorry, you picked this series, why are you bashing one of the main characters?!
I started getting put off this book with the introduction, the editor's preface and the "author's" note. It just felt a little...honestly a little arrogant. I'm all for being confident and satisfied with one's accomplishments, especially writing and publishing a book (!), but this went a little too far. AND in the introduction to a book drawing (heavily) from the Sherlock Holmes's series, don't put down that series, especially since you're profiting from that series....I'm just saying...
I really wanted to like Mary Russell because the idea of her character was awesome, but sheesh. She was quite obnoxious (to be fair, I do think she calls herself precocious or something similar) and she is a teenager, but she ended up being not quite as clever as she thought she was. While Mary talked about Watson's need to keep asking Holmes what was going during an investigation, she ended up doing the same thing!
The writing was nice and pretty easy to read (I did read this in about a day), but I don't like the age difference, I really didn't care for her treatment of Watson and I never could warm to Mary. I don't think I'll be reading anything else by this author and I don't recommend this...obviously.
My first big beef is the age difference. I could understand a 30 year old with a 45 year old. I do not understand (and do not accept) a romance between Mary and Holmes. She was 15 when they met and he was 54, I believe. That really puts me off. Oh and, I'm sorry, even in his old age, I don't buy Holmes being in a relationship, let alone getting married!
I still can't get over the way King talked about Watson (even though I've only read one or two stories, from what I understand, Watson is actually quite intelligent). And I'm sorry, you picked this series, why are you bashing one of the main characters?!
I started getting put off this book with the introduction, the editor's preface and the "author's" note. It just felt a little...honestly a little arrogant. I'm all for being confident and satisfied with one's accomplishments, especially writing and publishing a book (!), but this went a little too far. AND in the introduction to a book drawing (heavily) from the Sherlock Holmes's series, don't put down that series, especially since you're profiting from that series....I'm just saying...
I really wanted to like Mary Russell because the idea of her character was awesome, but sheesh. She was quite obnoxious (to be fair, I do think she calls herself precocious or something similar) and she is a teenager, but she ended up being not quite as clever as she thought she was. While Mary talked about Watson's need to keep asking Holmes what was going during an investigation, she ended up doing the same thing!
The writing was nice and pretty easy to read (I did read this in about a day), but I don't like the age difference, I really didn't care for her treatment of Watson and I never could warm to Mary. I don't think I'll be reading anything else by this author and I don't recommend this...obviously.
gaga2203's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ltfitch's review against another edition
2.0
I've realized I'm not a Sherlock Holmes fan. Fingerprints and footprints in the mud aren't the most interesting ways to solve a crime on paper to me. So I didn't love this book.
amandabethrose's review against another edition
2.0
It took a long time to get started, and at times felt like the author was trying to write individual short stories and a novel at the same time. I did enjoy the characters and the relationship between Russell and Holmes, enough for me to pick up the second book and continue reading.
kmdolphin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Overall I liked the book but there were times it moved very slow! Then it would pick up and grab me again. Will be interested to read the next in the series.
t_z_devil's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
liznutting's review against another edition
5.0
One of my all-time favorite books! A great story with great characters. King is one of the few writers (since Arthur Conan Doyle, that is) to truly capture Sherlock Holmes. And Mary Russell is a wonderful character, Holmes' match in every way.