Book Review of A Study in Charlotte

“I began wondering if there was some kind of Watsonian guide for the care and keeping of Holmeses.”

Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson seem destined to be best friends. So, when the great-great-great-grandchildren of the iconic Holmes-Watson duo end up in the same school, people expect them to get along on the first go. Instead, things go a little haywire, and Jamie and Charlotte don’t exactly start off on the right foot. But they’re almost forced to come together when a student, someone they were both not particularly fond of, is found dead. They’re being framed in a crime where the killer is aping mysteries from the Sherlock Holmes series, and they only have each other to rely on.

Brittany Cavallaro chooses one of the most beloved set of stories to take her readers to a crazy ride down the memory lane. She shifts the crime scene from Victorian England to modern-day Connecticut, and builds a thriller that’s very rare in the genre of young adult contemporary fiction. We’re immediately plunged into a world of nostalgia, and Cavallaro blends it with the freshness of the 21^st century to create an ambience that’ll enchant ardent fans and newbies alike. The writing is crisp and smooth, and the plot hooks you instantly. The narrative is fast-paced, and the dialogues keep you gripped. While the ending might leave you with the feeling of a slightly haphazard and almost too convenient solution, you’ll have to settle owing to the willing suspension of disbelief attached with crime thrillers.

Out of the many things to appreciate about this novel, the initial striking factors are the skillfully delineated characters. You’re bound to get attached to Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson, and the minor sidekicks, too, are well-written and interesting. The camaraderie between the lead pair is sparkling as well as endearing. If you’ve grown up reading Sherlock Holmes, then you’ll most definitely find yourself drawn to Charlotte, whose lineage is reflected in her razor-sharp wit. Jamie serves as her comparatively level-headed counterpart, and together they make a pair that you can’t help but root for.

Rating: 4/5.