spiderman15's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
All through this enjoyable third entry in the series, I found myself thinking "the first two were better". Then came the ending! Could have come from the pen of Doyle himself! An excellent end to this well-crafted trilogy.
swancubine's review against another edition
2.0
So disappointing. The surprisingly good second book ends with 2 emotional hooks: one that Mycroft's health is dangerously poor, and two that because of that health, he couldn't save Sherlock and their already thin relationship is further frayed. You'd expect these to majorly influence the third book but... instead Mycroft's heart condition is fixed with surgery immediately, with no lasting effects. The relationship between the brothers is written exactly the same as the other books. These authors fail at the most basic follow-up. Late in the book after a (verbal) fight with Mycroft, Douglas is captured and injured for... some reason and simply is not there for the ending. No resolution to their disagreement. Is it being saved for the beginning of a theoretical next book? Why?
The mysteries are convoluted and one of them is plain dumb with how illogical it is. This unnamed serial murderer is killing people whose relatives died in an explosion... for investing in a sketchy mine by... using a blowdart because... he's been all over the world and... uses a trained bird to retrieve the dart to hide the crime (which is a cactus spine coated in poison why doesn't the bird die??). Writing a mystery is hard, I get it, but this is so stupid, and ends so abruptly.
The only reason it's 2 stars is that I still like the characters and there's some good moments. Sherlock and Huan bonding, Ai Lin being the nicest person ever, and Mycroft and Douglas's moral quibbles are all fun and I'd rather they focus on the character development and keep the mystery simple.
The mysteries are convoluted and one of them is plain dumb with how illogical it is. This unnamed serial murderer is killing people whose relatives died in an explosion... for investing in a sketchy mine by... using a blowdart because... he's been all over the world and... uses a trained bird to retrieve the dart to hide the crime (which is a cactus spine coated in poison why doesn't the bird die??). Writing a mystery is hard, I get it, but this is so stupid, and ends so abruptly.
The only reason it's 2 stars is that I still like the characters and there's some good moments. Sherlock and Huan bonding, Ai Lin being the nicest person ever, and Mycroft and Douglas's moral quibbles are all fun and I'd rather they focus on the character development and keep the mystery simple.
mad_about_books's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Each new book about the brothers Holmes provides more insight into how Mycroft and Sherlock evolved into the characters written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse have crafted stories about two iconic characters that not only make a great deal of sense but offer some true hindsight that fits perfectly with the canon.
There were several passages in MYCROFT AND SHERLOCK: THE EMPTY BIRDCASE that were 'aha' moments when relating them to the works of Doyle. Jabbar and Waterhouse make it very clear that their books revolve mainly around Mycroft, the elder brother to Sherlock. It is Mycroft that has status, and Sherlock, although far from bumbling, has a lot to learn.
It is interesting to read the way that Mycroft and his friend Cyrus Douglas deal with the somewhat blatant bigotry of Victorian London. It is comforting to me to read that the Holmes brothers do not base their friendships on the status conferred upon those being white and English.
I am definitely looking forward to a next book in this series that I sincerely hope this dynamic writing duo is writing.
There were several passages in MYCROFT AND SHERLOCK: THE EMPTY BIRDCASE that were 'aha' moments when relating them to the works of Doyle. Jabbar and Waterhouse make it very clear that their books revolve mainly around Mycroft, the elder brother to Sherlock. It is Mycroft that has status, and Sherlock, although far from bumbling, has a lot to learn.
It is interesting to read the way that Mycroft and his friend Cyrus Douglas deal with the somewhat blatant bigotry of Victorian London. It is comforting to me to read that the Holmes brothers do not base their friendships on the status conferred upon those being white and English.
I am definitely looking forward to a next book in this series that I sincerely hope this dynamic writing duo is writing.
kathrynkatz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
meggxh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
apurpleyuan's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure what I expected going into this, beyond the novelty of reaching a pastiche written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't read the first two in the series, but I didn't really feel like I missed out (beyond some oblique references). The year is 1873, 8 years before Dr. Watson would arrive in London and find lodgings with Sherlock Holmes. Despite the lack of Dr. Watson, both Holmeses have partners to bounce ideas off of and confide in, and I found that the original characters worked really well with both Holmeses.
Mycroft's characterization was different from my own personal headcanon, but I still really enjoyed this characterization. Definitely more human, and his desperate crush was at times funny but mostly sad. Sherlock's characterization, on the other hand, I found matched up with my headcanon pretty well - a bit of a wild child, headstrong, careless with his own health and money. You can really see where he might eventually grow into the man we see by A Study in Scarlet.
Notably, the vast majority of the original characters were people of color. It was pretty clear this was deliberate decision to bring in non-white characters, and it's written carefully into the measures the Holmeses sometimes need to take to avoid too much scrutiny. The fact that there were many different ethnic groups living in England at the time is highlighted and explored sensibly; the book isn't in-your-face about it, but neither does it shy away. I'm always hesitant when authors try to do this, but I thought this book was more than just tasteful; it was intriguing.
I will say that the ending really does feel really rushed. Near the end, I don't believe that this necessarily takes away from the rest of the book, however.
Nonetheless, I will look forward to a sequel, if there is one!
Mycroft's characterization was different from my own personal headcanon, but I still really enjoyed this characterization. Definitely more human, and his desperate crush was at times funny but mostly sad. Sherlock's characterization, on the other hand, I found matched up with my headcanon pretty well - a bit of a wild child, headstrong, careless with his own health and money. You can really see where he might eventually grow into the man we see by A Study in Scarlet.
Notably, the vast majority of the original characters were people of color. It was pretty clear this was deliberate decision to bring in non-white characters, and it's written carefully into the measures the Holmeses sometimes need to take to avoid too much scrutiny. The fact that there were many different ethnic groups living in England at the time is highlighted and explored sensibly; the book isn't in-your-face about it, but neither does it shy away. I'm always hesitant when authors try to do this, but I thought this book was more than just tasteful; it was intriguing.
I will say that the ending really does feel really rushed. Near the end,
Spoiler
Douglas is kidnapped, though nobody notices for a good while. We get to a chapter that is from Douglas's point of view, and he's suddenly found by Mycroft, without even a scene that shows Mycroft even noticing that he was missing. Mycroft also uncovers the scheme that would somewhat ruin the family of the woman he would love, and he sends off a telegram to save her from that fate; however, in the very last page, we simply receive a letter from her saying that it didn't work, and oh, she contracted smallpox and is forever scarred. It's just... very abrupt.Nonetheless, I will look forward to a sequel, if there is one!
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
I probably liked this book the best of the three in the series thus far.
Possibly because there is less of the completely infallible Sherlock and less of the annoyingly accurate Mycroft too.
Still would like an afterword for history buffs (or they could add it to a website say). For instance I happen to know about John Snow, having read The Ghost Map, but others might confuse him with the GOT character. It would also be interesting to know which of the other characters and events - e.g. the collier explosion, etc.
I imagine the abrupt ending of the book (which kept me away from the 5 stars, though I was close!) is a lead in to the next book in the series, or at least I can hope it is, but it does leave one with the feeling that the party was ended early by parents.
Possibly because there is less of the completely infallible Sherlock and less of the annoyingly accurate Mycroft too.
Still would like an afterword for history buffs (or they could add it to a website say). For instance I happen to know about John Snow, having read The Ghost Map, but others might confuse him with the GOT character. It would also be interesting to know which of the other characters and events - e.g. the collier explosion, etc.
I imagine the abrupt ending of the book (which kept me away from the 5 stars, though I was close!) is a lead in to the next book in the series, or at least I can hope it is, but it does leave one with the feeling that the party was ended early by parents.
jordan_dobbs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Ugh I love Mycroft and Sherlock I really wish that there was a fourth book. This series was so good.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
4.0
The pacing is perfect, the dialogue realistic and sharp, the story engaging and the relationship between Mycroft Holmes and Cyrus Douglas is now among my favorites. I hope for more in this series. I especially hope for the series to continue until Mycroft becomes Mycroft, and of course Sherlock becomes Sherlock. It's so interesting to see how we are edging there, slowly but surely.