Reviews
The Crown Jewel Mystery: A Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Story by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley
mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
Although this is listed as the fourth book in the Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James mystery series, it is actually a prequel. I am of two minds on the subject of prequels. Sometimes you don't know that a series has a prequel and either don't read it at all, or you find it less fulfilling than the series itself. I think the latter happens when the prequel is actually an afterthought. In this case, I think that "The Crown Jewel Mystery" is appropriately placed in the reading order. It doesn't feel like an afterthought, but it certainly does add to what we already know about Sherlock and Lucy.
As usual, I read About the Authors and found out that Charles Veley is the 'voice' of Doctor John Watson, while Anna Elliot is the 'voice' of Lucy James. I find that the two voices mesh seamlessly into a tale with two points of view that don't step on each other's toes.
I think it is still too soon to discuss the relationship of Holmes and James because you really need to read the first two novels (THE LAST MORIARTY and THE WILHELM CONSPIRACY) without my spoiling them for you.
I am a binger. I binge TV shows with streaming channels, and I binge book series with equal enthusiasm. To me, there is nothing better than reading a series as if it was one very long novel, so my next read is THE JUBILEE PROBLEM.
As usual, I read About the Authors and found out that Charles Veley is the 'voice' of Doctor John Watson, while Anna Elliot is the 'voice' of Lucy James. I find that the two voices mesh seamlessly into a tale with two points of view that don't step on each other's toes.
I think it is still too soon to discuss the relationship of Holmes and James because you really need to read the first two novels (THE LAST MORIARTY and THE WILHELM CONSPIRACY) without my spoiling them for you.
I am a binger. I binge TV shows with streaming channels, and I binge book series with equal enthusiasm. To me, there is nothing better than reading a series as if it was one very long novel, so my next read is THE JUBILEE PROBLEM.
kirkw1972's review against another edition
3.0
The synopsis is a little misleading as while the two stories overlap the characters don't interact beyond a phone call. It's a fast page turner that can be read in a couple of hours.
Lucy James is at a bank in London trying to establish her identity and the mysterious benefactor that has been paying for her upkeep and education when the bank is attacked by armed robbers. It's a little bare on the descriptions - no characters really get much detail and the big reveal at the end comes out of nowhere. I'm assuming that as this is a prequel that Lucy & Sherlock have a lot more involvement in later books but this one is not one worth buying just for the Sherlock name as he's hardly in it. It's all about Lucy.
It's a fun little book though and a good introduction to Lucy herself.
Free arc from netgalley
belindaclemons_123's review against another edition
5.0
I really love Sherlock and Lucy and This Prequel is just perfect.
cgomen's review against another edition
4.0
#30. A great backstory with a delightful mystery and fun intersection of their stories without them actually meeting.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
And this is how Lucy ends up living in London :D
A lovely prequel to the series and an excellent preview of Lucy's character :)
A lovely prequel to the series and an excellent preview of Lucy's character :)
singerwriter94's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on: The Quirky Book Nerd
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Again, I have been pleasantly surprised by another installment of this series. This is only a short novella—a prequel to the main series—but it is just as thrilling and suspenseful as the full length novels. In fact, I think this is my favorite story so far; it is incredibly captivating and full of surprises that will keep readers on their toes. We are able to go back and take a look at the origins of our characters and what eventually brings them together. It does a wonderful job of further developing backstories and fleshing out many basic aspects of the general series plotline.
In this novella, we primarily follow the perspective of Lucy James, the intelligent, brave, and witty young woman who serves as the main character in the previous novel. Lucy and her friend, Johnny Rockefeller, have just arrived in London in pursuit of the answers that have been hidden from Lucy all her life—who her family is and who has been financially supporting her all through her early years. While following a major lead, the pair suddenly find themselves embroiled in a dangerous con, one with far more twists and turns than anyone can imagine.
I had such a great time reading this story. Though they do not actually meet at this point, it is interesting to see how close Lucy comes to meeting Sherlock. They each play a crucial part in solving this mystery and bringing about justice without even knowing the other’s involvement.
Once again, we get a vivid picture of what an incredibly clever and strong heroine Lucy is. She fits in fairly easily among these other well-known characters, which adds to the plausibility of the narrative when compared against the original stories. Lucy is a very well-developed, multi-dimensional character, who holds her own and makes a solid protagonist for these novels.
Occasionally, Lucy comes across as being just a little too perfect. I always feel that one of the main elements that makes Holmes so incredible is the portrayal of his flaws that remind you he is human. This is an extremely minor complaint though—one that does not negatively affect this novella at all. It is only a point that would add even more dimension to Lucy if used.
Really the main issue that I had is essentially the same one that I had with the previous novel—I still struggle with Lucy’s familial connection to Holmes. This is absolutely nothing that Elliot did wrong; I think she does a fantastic job of making the idea of their relationship realistic and believable. However, I personally am overly picky when it comes to adding elements that really stray far from the original story to a generally faithful retelling. And I admit, the more I read from this series, the more that aspect of the plot grows on me, which is a testament to how well Elliot weaves her characters into the world of these classic tales.
Overall, this novella is a fantastic addition to the Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mysteries series. It is a very fun, fast-paced read that also adds more dimension to the series as a whole. We are able to see what finally brought Lucy into the paths of Holmes and Watson, as well as an early picture of her astounding powers of deduction. Though I still do have a few personal issues reconciling the details of her link to the great detective, she is a skillfully crafted mirror of him, while also retaining those things that make her a unique character in her own right. I am loving this series so far and I cannot wait to continue on with it.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Again, I have been pleasantly surprised by another installment of this series. This is only a short novella—a prequel to the main series—but it is just as thrilling and suspenseful as the full length novels. In fact, I think this is my favorite story so far; it is incredibly captivating and full of surprises that will keep readers on their toes. We are able to go back and take a look at the origins of our characters and what eventually brings them together. It does a wonderful job of further developing backstories and fleshing out many basic aspects of the general series plotline.
In this novella, we primarily follow the perspective of Lucy James, the intelligent, brave, and witty young woman who serves as the main character in the previous novel. Lucy and her friend, Johnny Rockefeller, have just arrived in London in pursuit of the answers that have been hidden from Lucy all her life—who her family is and who has been financially supporting her all through her early years. While following a major lead, the pair suddenly find themselves embroiled in a dangerous con, one with far more twists and turns than anyone can imagine.
I had such a great time reading this story. Though they do not actually meet at this point, it is interesting to see how close Lucy comes to meeting Sherlock. They each play a crucial part in solving this mystery and bringing about justice without even knowing the other’s involvement.
Once again, we get a vivid picture of what an incredibly clever and strong heroine Lucy is. She fits in fairly easily among these other well-known characters, which adds to the plausibility of the narrative when compared against the original stories. Lucy is a very well-developed, multi-dimensional character, who holds her own and makes a solid protagonist for these novels.
Occasionally, Lucy comes across as being just a little too perfect. I always feel that one of the main elements that makes Holmes so incredible is the portrayal of his flaws that remind you he is human. This is an extremely minor complaint though—one that does not negatively affect this novella at all. It is only a point that would add even more dimension to Lucy if used.
Really the main issue that I had is essentially the same one that I had with the previous novel—I still struggle with Lucy’s familial connection to Holmes. This is absolutely nothing that Elliot did wrong; I think she does a fantastic job of making the idea of their relationship realistic and believable. However, I personally am overly picky when it comes to adding elements that really stray far from the original story to a generally faithful retelling. And I admit, the more I read from this series, the more that aspect of the plot grows on me, which is a testament to how well Elliot weaves her characters into the world of these classic tales.
Overall, this novella is a fantastic addition to the Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mysteries series. It is a very fun, fast-paced read that also adds more dimension to the series as a whole. We are able to see what finally brought Lucy into the paths of Holmes and Watson, as well as an early picture of her astounding powers of deduction. Though I still do have a few personal issues reconciling the details of her link to the great detective, she is a skillfully crafted mirror of him, while also retaining those things that make her a unique character in her own right. I am loving this series so far and I cannot wait to continue on with it.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
In 1895 Lucy James has just arrived in London in the company of Johnny Rockefeller to find out her real identity. This leads them to a bank at the same time that the police with Holmes and Watson arrive in the area.
This prequel to the series is an enjoyable quick read.
A NetGalley Book
This prequel to the series is an enjoyable quick read.
A NetGalley Book
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