A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes Novel)

Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson are the great great great grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They have never met before, but as with all of the Watson and Holmes family members, they are knowledgeable and curious about each other. Well, at least the Watson’s in this book showed curiousity, and the Holmes’ tolerated it. Charlotte and Jamie find each other going to the same school in Connecticut and become the main suspects in a murder. Charlotte has to do more than tolerate Jamie, she has to work with him to find the murderer. Brittany Cavallaro crafts an intricate mystery filled with the history of one of our most famous pairs of detectives but in a contemporary setting and told with a great amount of humor.

Jamie Watson had followed Charlotte’s amateur sleuthing career with dreams of someday meeting her and matching wits. When he finds himself at the same school he is a flustered school boy, which does not charm Charlotte at all. In fact, if they were not being set up for murder, she probably would have gone on ignoring his presence. However the chemistry between the two was almost instant, although not the kind of chemistry Jamie had dreamed of, at least not yet. Working this mystery together and chasing down leads put them on a fast track to friendship and when their lives are in danger they find out that they can only rely on each other.

This book stayed true to the original Holmes and Watson formula. Two people who couldn’t be more different and become great friends, trusting each other over every other person in their lives. This series looks to do the same thing, but with a possible romantic twist. It was incredibly entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny, but at the same time made my heart twang with emotion. This novel hit all of my hot buttons and I loved it. ❤❤❤❤❤

The story takes place in a fictional version of the real world where Sherlock Holmes and John Watson were real people. And all of the characters in the stories are real people too. The story is told from the perspective of John Watson’s great-great-great-grandson, James Watson or Jamie which is what everyone calls him much to his dismay. And then theres Charlotte Holmes, she is mysterious and has been solving crimes since she was a kid.

Jamie and Charlotte become friends, slowly building up a bond and becoming the modern day Holmes and Watson.

I loved this book. It was fun and fast paced, the characters developed and were so relatable. Jamie is funny and smart, and also completely in love with the idea of Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte is also smart and funny, she is also a mastermind. The two of them together make an unstoppable duo.

Jamie really cares about Charlotte, he wants to get to know her and be able to understand her. He is also willing to wait and not force Charlotte to talk about things she doesn’t want to, which proves just how much he cares.

I love Jamie. He is adorable and cute and just awesome. Charlotte is a kick ass girl who doesn’t need anyone to help her, but she does need Jamie.

The writing of the story was clear, the characters were funny and the plot was awesome. I like how the author gives us all the background information we need about Sherlock and Watson to understand the story itself.

I’m extremely excited to read the next book in the trilogy, The Last Of August.

Delightful start to a fun Holmes takeoff. Holmes and Watson were real and they have descendants in the current era. Charlotte HOlmes is the great great granddaughter and the Holmes family has stayed in the business of crime solving through the years. She is a teenage girl banished to boarding school. The Watsons are less well off what with John selling the rights to Conan Doyle after all. But the families stay in contact. James Watson arrives at the same boarding school and is excited to meet his counterpart. But in classic Holmes fashion she is rather aloof and self contained. Things change when a fellow student is murdered and the duo is framed with canon clues. They team up and solve things. Interesting dimension with the possible attraction between teenagers. Will read again for sure.

I'll admit I didn't have high expectations. Another Holmes novel, based on the pairs decendents? Those are always iffy. But you know, I actually enjoyed reading this one.

It starts off with Jaime Watson being shipped off to an American boarding school, where he meets Charlotte Holmes, who has quite the shady past, as per her Holmes nature. They're fatefully thrown together when a series of murders frames them, and of course Holmes is the only one who can solve them-if she can get over her typical Holmes hang ups (spoilers)
See where it sounds typical?
Yet I found that I couldn't put this book down. The mystery was intriguing, and there were little to no clues dropped for it-the most foreshadowing was Jaime's suspicions which were, like a Watson, just off. Because there isn't much in the way of clues, the mystery solving is a surprise. I was almost annoyed that there weren't clues, because I enjoy testing out my deductive abilities, but I had a few suspicions, and those carried me through to the reveal (of course it has the typical villian reveal. Its a Holmes novel).
Really what threw me the most were the character inconsistencies. Jaime has the most, probably because the story is from his POV. He's all at once compassionate and then flying off into a random rage, wanting a dating life and then saying he doesn't actually care. Perhaps I'm too far removed from being a teenager, but the characters needed more structure. They sometimes felt like plot devices instead of an actual character that I'd like or hate or what have you. The emotions running through the teens seemed a little random-I understand rages, but not without any build up.
That's why I removed one star. Because in spite of the character inconsistencies, I really enjoyed this novel, and so did my husband. And I'm sure that many other people who read it will enjoy it as well. It can be laugh out loud hilarious, absolutely depressing, and all with a twinge of mystery. Although I can't say it's the same caliber as other Holmes novels, it's a great novel. It's truly worth a read.

Like the original Sherlock Holmes stories, A Study in Charlotte is told from the perspective of a Watson. Jamie Watson is a descendant of Doctor John Watson and is now attending school with Charlotte Holmes, a descendant of the famous detective.

Jamie and Charlotte seem to be anything but civil until they are blamed for a murder they didn’t commit. Now they are forced to work together to clear their names. They need to find out who is framing them and why before someone else dies.

I am a fan of the original Holmes tales and so I could not pass up the opportunity to read A Study in Charlotte. There were parallels and allusions to the originals, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Holmes is still a drug addict, much to the dismay of Watson. Holmes thinks in a uniquely Holmesian way and plays violin. There are the Moriartiys and an elder Holmes brother running the world behind the scenes. Watson is a writer with aspirations to being a novelist someday.

Holmes is still a drug addict, much to the dismay of Watson. Holmes thinks in a uniquely Holmesian way and plays violin. There are the Moriartiys and an elder Holmes brother running the world behind the scenes. Watson is a writer with aspirations to being a novelist someday.

Basically, what I am saying in my incoherent ramblings is that I love this novel. There were parts that seemed unnecessary and, while I am sure Charlotte deduced something from them, I wouldn’t have needed them at all.

While I am not a super-big fan of contemporaries (or mysteries, for that matter), I really enjoyed A Study in Charlotte and cannot wait to read the next Charlotte Holmes novel.

This review first appeared at Orandi et Legendi.

Book #4 Read in 2016
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Descendants of the legendary Sherlock Holmes (Charlotte) and Watson (Jamie) meet up at a boarding school in CT. A fellow student is murdered and the pair are the main suspects so of course they team up to find the real murderer. I enjoyed the references to the Sherlock Holmes stories and the unraveling of the many layers to the mystery. This book was well written and besides the mystery, there were elements of humor and romance in it, along with interesting characters. High school students and adults would enjoy this read. I received a copy of this book from the store Vine in exchange for a honest review.

This review originally appeared on my young adult book blog, herestohappyendings.com.

A Study in Charlotte was an interesting mystery novel that plays on the Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet. While I honestly haven’t read that, I have to say, this book was written pretty well – it was like a young adult recreation of that, and it was pulled off pretty darn well. It’s not one of those books that you can read while half asleep (as I’ve learned) because it takes quite a bit of paying attention in order to absorb all the important details regarding the mystery in this book (and believe me, it’s filled with them). So I had to go back and re-read several parts more than once, but that’s okay, because the book was really enjoyable.

James Watson (yes, a descendant of that Watson) is moved from his comfortable London home that he shares with his mother, and sent to live in a boarding school in the states on a rugby scholarship. His father, whom he hasn’t spoken to in years, lives nearby, but other than that, he’s pretty much friendless and isolated. When he comes across Charlotte Holmes (again, yes, a descendant of that Holmes), he feels like perhaps the two of them should be friends, considering that hey, they’re both at this boarding school far away from home, and well, they’re Watson and Holmes – they pretty much have to be friends, right?

As Watson tries to gain her friendship (not very easy, that’s for sure), he comes to see that she really isn’t like any other girl he has met – and she has incredible intelligence and is a fantastic detective. So, when a student is murdered on campus, and Watson and Holmes are blamed (the student in question had gotten into a fight with Watson earlier, and had tormented Holmes for a very long time), they know they have to partner up in order to clear their names and solve the mystery. As more crimes start to add up, they realize that they’re dealing with something series – and they race against the clock to discover the real murderer.

The first thing I liked about this book is that it is told from James Watson’s point of view – which is a welcome treat, considering most YA books are told from a female’s perspective these days. It was such a nice change – James was such a great character – very easy to relate to and I enjoyed reading how he told the story. While Charlotte Holmes had a bit of a personality that might have to grow on you, I absolutely loved her. She was real. She had problems – family problems, friend problems, and even a drug problem, but she wasn’t some fake, quickly thrown together character. She was interesting and deep, and I loved how the author wrote her.

I also loved how there were references to Sherlock Holmes mysteries throughout the entire book – each crime committed had one, and that was another nice touch that was carefully added.

Seriously, everything about this book is just impressive. Plus the ending brings the entire book together perfectly…and adds a little bow on top.

Since my husband has recently got me hooked on the Sherlock TV series, I knew I would enjoy this book – and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. It was the perfect YA mystery, and it was such a clever, unique twist on the Sherlock Holmes novels.
I really can’t wait for the next book in this new trilogy!

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte Holmes is the great, great, great granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes, and she has inherited his brilliant deductive mind and too many of his eccentricities. As a child she was already solving crimes, and now as a defiant teen she has been sent to the United States to a Connecticut Prep school; hopefully to keep her out of trouble. At the same school is Jamie Watson, he is the 3 times great grandson of Dr. Watson. Jamie is an attractive good guy who has inherited his 3 times great grandfathers’ talent for writing, and he also has a quick temper which gets him into trouble. When a student, whom Jamie fought with because of Charlotte, ends up dead; his suspicious death makes them look like prime suspects. Even though they barely know each other, they must work together to prove their innocence.

I enjoy reading all things Sherlock. It’s interesting how different authors handle the genre. This book is fun and a bit challenging to read. The author keeps you on your toes as she leads you down the rabbit hole filled with clues and misdirects. She has left the door open for a sequel. My only caution for readers is that the teens swear frequently and there is a disturbing issue which I won’t tell because it would be considered a spoiler alert. 4 stars

When I first saw this cover and synopsis, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be reading this book. First of all, the cover is adorable! Secondly, it takes place in Connecticut! I rarely find books that take place in my home state, so when I do I HAVE to read them. Add in the Sherlock retelling aspects and the the boarding school setting and it was a no-brainer. I'm happy to say that overall I really enjoyed this one!

Admittedly, I had a few issues with it... but let's discuss the positives first. I haven't read (or watched) Sherlock, so really I have the bare minimum information that we all have, but none of the specifics. So I can't completely comment on how accurate of a retelling this is. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the Sherlock aspects! And I liked that the genders were reversed in this book. Major points for that!! I also really enjoyed the mystery. I had no idea how this story was going to turn out, and was really pretty shocked once I reached the end. So yes, more major points for that!

Now, the few things that kind of irked me. First, the pacing was a tad slow in parts. Not majorly slow where I wanted to put it down, but just slow enough that I was a bit bored and waiting for things to pick back up. I also was a little confused about the timing of the story and the characters being descendants of Sherlock and Watson. The story was stated as being written by Doyle, yet Sherlock and Watson were real people and not fictional characters. This was never addressed, unless I missed it, so I really was a tad lost on that aspect of the story. And lastly, my biggest issue, which is totally a "it's not you, it's me" type of issue. But it's a huge pet peeve of mine when characters have issues, the issues are addressed, yet nothing is ever done in regard to those issues. In this case, Charlotte had a drug problem. It was addressed so that we all knew it was there, yet there were never steps taken to help her resolve this problem. It was just kind of expected that since her ancestors had drug issues, she was bound to also. This bothered me quite a bit. I don't mind when characters are flawed and have their own personal baggage. Let's face it... we all do. But to have the others basically turn their other cheek because it "ran in her family" kind of bothered me. Yes, drug abuse can be genetic, but at least try to help this girl out. Just a little. Please.

Overall, this was a very fun mystery that kept me guessing til the end. I just recently noticed that this is actually the first book in a series, which I didn't know before, so I'm eager to see where the next book will take us.

(Thanks to Katherine Tegen Books for the review copy!)

Brittany Cavallaro's debut, A Study in Charlotte, is simply divine. On the one hand, it's a crackling, modern homage to the Sherlock Holmes oeuvre, with intelligent, wise-cracking teens taking the place of snobbish Holmes and erstwhile Watson. Cavallaro is fully in command of the mystery/detective genre and nimbly tucks those tropes amongst teen fiction tropes: this is also a pretty neat prep-school drama. But what really sold me was, well, you guessed it: Holmes and Watson. Because if your two leads aren't beautiful, tragic, wounded, and too smart for their own good, where's the fun? And: there's a lot of fun. But there's also a hard-hitting commentary on what it's like to be a young woman in a world that's threatened by your intelligence.

As huge fans of Sherlock and the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, I bought this book hoping it would be a great option for my young teenage children to read. Wow, the swearing (quite a few f-bombs) made us put it away before the end of the first chapter. I'm no prude, but good grief! There are better ways to express things, and we're moving on to find an author that knows how to do so.

Sherlock Holmes re-imagined as a teenage girl is possibly one of the best ideas, and well-executed concepts I've read lately...You will love the characters, and find yourself completely engaged with the mystery. Pick up the sequel while you're at it, cause I guarantee one book of Charlotte Holmes will not be enough....

A contemporary novel that follows the lives of currently-teenaged Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson—decedents of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. The characters have the intellect and eccentricities of their forefathers. In addition to mystery, murders, and mayhem, there is a tremendous focus on the use of drugs; apparently,​ the author feels it runs in the Holmes bloodline. The story—told from Watson's point of view— is well crafted.

Jamie Watson is sent to Sherringford, a Connecticut boarding school, on a rugby scholarship. Also there is Charlotte Holmes. And yes they are both descendants of the famous Holmes and Watson of the past. While the pair have some tense moments when meeting, once there is a murder and it is looking like someone is framing them, the two must figure out who is setting them up.

Disclaimer: I know nothing but the very basics of Sherlock Holmes stories. I have never read any of the originals, retellings, seen the show or any of the movies. So I went into this fairly blind.

The first thing I need to get out of the way is how much I love that cover. Perfection! Love the colors, relates back to the story not too busy. I can’t wait to see the other covers in the trilogy! OK with that out of the way let’s get to some thoughts on the actual story.

I feel like with other first books in a detective mystery series/trilogy there is a lot of set up. I always find that to be the hardest part to get through and what can slow down a book. It was no different here with A Study In Charlotte. The beginning definitely lagged and I kept putting it down. Once we got past all the background on Jamie and Charlotte and got to the mystery was I was more invested and really got through the rest rather quickly.

The mystery part was pretty fun. I was interested and there was enough thrown in there to keep me guessing to who was behind on all the mischief. There were a lot of suspects floating around but I couldn’t quite guess who or why and that was a good thing!! I do feel like a lot information/ background was needed to be given at the end again to fully understand the why part of it though.

The best parts for me were Jamie and Charlotte. I liked them both so much even though they were clearly VERY different. Jamie was smart just not SMART you know what I mean? He kind of had an anger issue at times. But still seemed like a guy who cared. Charlotte was mysterious, smart and complicated. I can see how some might not like or connect with her though. There was a fun tension between the two that changed over the course of the book. I really liked reading about them together and want to read more about them, especially since we won’t need all the background beginning nonsense next time.

Overall I enjoyed this one despite the issues. I am really looking forward to continuing with the next books.

It’s entertaining and well written but it’s just too much like a TV pilot with too many characters and unnecessary subplots that could serve as a set up for future stories. I’ve been a Conan Doyle fan since a teenager and his stories were straight forward, linear. It may well be that upcoming stories are much better, without the need of so much ‘back-story’.

Such a fun and interesting read! I was pleasantly surprised with the original Sherlock Holmes stories tie ins and how they flowed naturally throughout the whole story. I enjoyed the two main characters and their banter with each other and I’m excited to see what the next book has in store

The three stars is based purely personal enjoyment. I enjoyed this book, and I laughed several times. It is very well written. However, I have difficulty making it through books written in first person unless I am speed reading, so after a few days, the ending felt stale. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy all things Sherlock and are not adverse to reading in the YA genre.

This was an interesting remake of Holmes and Watson. Charlotte was a little hard for me to warm up to but after reading the epilogue, I liked her more. Jamie was Great. I'll check out more of this series.

Brittany Cavallaro's "A Study in Charlotte" is a nice modern re-working of the Sherlock Holmes formula. The two leads have a good chemistry. The mystery is solid. I thought it was going to be a quick read but it took a bit longer than expected because it had detail to linger on. Although there were times when the formula felt a bit too close, I could forgive it and enjoy it for what it was: a good mystery with good characters.

"Her brain was like a bear trap; nothing escaped alive."

I love Charlotte Holmes! She's smart and mysterious and has the best dry wit. My favorite part of this book was the epilogue supposedly written by Charlotte, in which she corrects some of Jamie Watson's writing: "When I speak, I don't sound like Winston Churchill."

The allusions to the original Sherlock Holmes stories were another great part of this book. Jamie and Charlotte have to figure out who is staging scenes from the original stories to dangerous effect. But Charlotte is secretive, and Jamie has an explosive temper, both of which hinder their investigation. As the clues come to light and the mystery unfolds, more allusions to the original Sherlock Holmes become clear, and the puzzle gets even more exciting.

There are so many great turns of phrase in this book that I could almost just type those out and leave my review at that. The writing is sharp and surprising and nicely punctuated by Jamie's vulnerable admissions of doubt and guilt. The relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson is the main focus of the story, and it's such a fun, complicated relationship. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequels, in which I think Jamie and Charlotte will have an ever stronger rapport now that their partnership is established.

Definitely check this one out if you love Sherlock Holmes in any of its forms, or even if you just enjoy a complicated relationship between two unusual teens.

“A Study in Charlotte” by Brittany Cavallaro is a modern twist on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson (or at least their descendants). It is a thrilling adventure where readers will be pulled into the mystery of Charlotte Holmes.

James Watson was forced to move to a boarding school in Connecticut after earning a scholarship for rugby. There he meets Charlotte Holmes, the great-great-great-granddaughter of the famous Sherlock Holmes — a girl he used to dream up going on adventures with. When a rival student with suspicious connections to the Sherlock Holmes stories mysteriously dies , the pair decide to work together to solve the case and clear their name.

“The two of us, we're the best kind of disaster. Apples and oranges. Well, more like apples and machetes.”

Ms. Cavallaro’s fast paced story and quirky dialogue is able to replicate the atmosphere and the sensation of the well-known Holmes and Watson adventures. There is suspense, mystery, shock, agitation, and relief.

“A Study in Charlotte” is told through the perspective of James, as he is trying to adjust moving to the middle of nowhere and near the father he is upset with. We get an insight of what it is to be young, frustrated, and scared with everything that can happen in one’s life.

Fans of shows like Elementary and Sherlock, will be captivated by Ms. Holmes — a genius and violin player, who performs forensic experiments with a volatile temperament and a slight drug addiction, just like her famous grandfather. However, unlike Sherlock, she has a more human side to her — filled with emotions she continuously tries to repress.

This novel is not a re-telling of the old classic, but a what-if future where the Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty all kept the essence of their famous relatives in a modern society. Ms. Cavallaro creates a beautiful what-if scenario of a younger super sleuth duo, with well-known Sherlock Holmes plots weaved into the narrative.

“We weren't Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. I was ok with that, I thought. We had things they didn't, too. Like electricity, and refrigerators. And Mario Kart.”

While “A Study in Charlotte” is a YA novel , it is not a romance novel. It is about a fateful friendship that is brought to light as these two characters complement each other.

Ms. Cavallaro’s writing is fresh, fast, and gripping. Her characters are well-drawn and developed, and secondary characters are equally as important to the narrative as the main sleuthing duo. This is a book you will pick up, get gripped, and not want to put down.

My absolute favorite genre is boarding school stories, and also I love Sherlock Holmes stories and spinoffs... so I was very excited about A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. This YA novel is the first in a planned trilogy about a new Holmes and Watson pairing.

Jamie Watson is an English boy at an American boarding school- the same school that Charlotte Holmes attends. They are the descendants of the famous Holmes and Watson, and Charlotte has been demonstrating her aptitude for sleuthing since she was a child. Jamie, however, has not had any opportunities to sleuth, and he feels simultaneously awkward and excited when that opportunity arises unexpectedly.

A student is found dead- a rather nasty fellow- one whom both Jamie and Charlotte had negative encounters with in the very recent past. So, in order to avoid implication in the boy’s death, Holmes and Watson must try to solve the case.

I enjoyed reading A Study in Charlotte. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are multiple allusions to famous Sherlock Holmes cases, and these clues are used to mock Charlotte and Jamie. It’s clear that this is not just a cut-and-dry schoolboy murder, but the reader is left wondering about how big the “bigger picture is until the very end.

The most controversial of the allusions to classic Sherlock Holmes is Holmes’ drug use. This is present in the original stories, and serves as a subplot in the BBC’s present-day Sherlock series. So, it should not be a surprise that Charlotte Holmes is a drug addict, but it’s somewhat shocking because she’s a teenage girl despite her lauded lineage. If there happen to be any parents reading this review because they are trying to determine suitability/appropriateness of their children’s reading material, then they should know that the drugs are certainly not glorified.

I would recommend A Study in Charlotte. I know that Sherlock can be popular with the YA audience, and this is the sort of book that is going to appeal to them. I would also posit that this book would appeal to adult fans of Sherlock as well. I am looking forward to what Cavallaro is going to do next with her new Holmes and Watson.

CW: Drug abuse, mention of rape

This book was one of the gifts I got for my birthday from my fiancé back in October and I am so happy I decided to pick it up now. I had seen the cover around other blogs, videos, and on social media but I didn't know much about it other than it was some sort of Sherlock Holmes retelling.

I love the fact that it wasn't so much as a retelling, as a companion series 100 years after the famous stories in The Adventures in Sherlock Holmes. I loved the idea of our main characters being the descendants of Holmes and Watson. I will admit I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy, kind of like the Descendants books/movies (which isn't any shade towards them! I find them fun, but they're definitely a bit cheesy at times). But it wasn't, instead it was kind of exactly what I wanted out of a story with a premise like the one above.

First, the characters. I genuinely loved Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes. I have a soft spot for John Watson, so I loved Jamie a little bit more but just like Sherlock, Charlotte was as charming as she was intelligent. I loved their friendship, the way they bickered and debated but held a underlining tone of respect and love for each other. I would easily pick up the other books just on the fact that I want more of their interactions, and that isn't taking the well written mystery.

The mystery was a lot of fun, and definitely gives off a Sherlock Holmes vibe. Because Charlotte is so young, even with all the detective training she has been given she's also just a teenager who has had a very interesting childhood and is going through some pretty adult things. I thought it felt realistic and I think because I was expecting for the story to be cheesy, I was just shocked at how mature the story was but especially Charlotte's story. Jamie's character was great because I loved being in his head. I like that he was smart, smarter than he gave himself credit for, but he was also well loved. Like I said earlier, I have a huge soft spot for John Watson, so I think Jamie fit under that soft spot also. It is mentioned he's on the rugby team to help his aggression, but I would have liked to see more of that with him. We see Charlotte dealing with her abuse of drugs, so it would be nice to see Jamie struggling with his anger. Maybe it'll come up in later books, or maybe him focusing so hard on solving mysteries with Charlotte helped.

The writing was really well done. I think it was a great young adult companion to the original stories. The story is fast paced and kind of drops you into the story right away, which sometimes can be jarring in other experiences but I didn't find it to be in this case. I thought it was easy to get into the story and keep up with the pace. There was only one thing I honestly had a bit of a problem with and that had to do with Charlotte's drug use. We are told her family put her in rehab a handful of times but she still continues to use drugs. I understand that is a parallel to her great-great-great-granddaughter and there is a message of "don't do drugs kids" but I don't feel like anyone other than Jamie is really concerned about her drug abuse. Maybe that's a comment on boarding/private schools and caring more about their student's public reputation, but I feel like it was a bit odd that Charlotte didn't have many repercussions in the present story.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, if you like the Sherlock Holmes movies or even the Sherlock BBC show, then I think you'll like this. If you aren't experienced in the Sherlock Holmes world, I think this could be a fun introduction. Either way, I say pick it up and try it because I think it's worth it!

Ever wondered what Holmes and Watson would have been like as teenagers? Any Sherlockian would, but let's keep going with the delightful surprises. Holmes is female and the two come from a long line of Holmes and Watson partnerships. Oh, and there might be an arch-villain Moriarity sighting and a brutal murder which all evidence points to Holmes and Watson in a modern boarding school setting Gah! I honestly don't know how I waited this long to start the series.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I settled in for the story. The tone and character had a distinct connection to the classic though the author balanced this with modern elements so it was something of a variation, but also felt freshly original.

A Study in Charlotte introduces Jamie Watson as the narrator for this one.

I enjoyed the way Jamie was portrayed. This was no bumbling Watson who was oblivious and played the foil to Holmes. This Jamie plays rugby, is a loner, has a bad temper, and is nobody's fool. He comes from a split family and carries all the baggage from that (I like how a secondary storyline explores this). He is an equal partner. But, he's also just what Holmes ultimately needs. He's a loyal friend even when she is being a truly irritating and nearly drives him to box her ears.

That brings me to Charlotte Holmes. If Holmes was female, she would be it. She has the right genes, but her parents added a bit of Holmsian nurture in with that nature so that she never stood a chance of being average or normal. This Holmes is drug-addicted, bored with ordinary school and conducts her own studies and yes, she has a lab and violin and a weekly poker tourny to have some spending money. She has the deductive skills of the original, but a few vulnerabilities of a teenager. She also values Jamie as a real partner in crime-solving though she can try his loyalty and patience like no other.

The mystery is a darker murder mystery and is more than it seems. I enjoyed the twists and turns it took. I had my finger on the right person, but missed the larger solution which came down in a few startling twists and turns. Loved the tension of this one.

YA warnings: moderate language and violence, off scene rape

All in all, I had a wonderful time and will definitely pursue the next in the series. I'm so curious whether this pair will be a bit of something more to each other and what will come of that final reveal at the end. Exciting and great tribute to the classic. Lovers of darker YA romantic suspenses that shade more to the suspense should give this one a go.

For some odd reason, James Watson came back to the US and stay with his dad, but will live in a boarding school. I guess it's not so bad, Charlotte Holmes is in this school too. Having Dr. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes as their ancestors, it's in their blood to be friends, right?

My curiosity was piqued because it's a modern-retelling of Sherlock Holmes! I got excited. But it's not one of those books that I have to buy... The classic was hard for me to read so I never got into actually reading it. So I thought that reading this modern-retelling would be great and I would understand the classic. And I thought it was... okay.

I didn't really think it was amazing, but I thought it was good. I wasn't a fan of the main characters being related to the duo. And they kept talking about their lineage as if the family members were destined to be partners in crime or something. I thought it was so linear. It kinda stressed me out that in some way, the Holmeses need to be in the detective business, and the Watsons are writers or doctors.

Also, I read this as an audiobook, and I didn't appreciate the reader that much. Yes, he was doing voices but I just thought he was kinda lacking in emotion or something, I can't even point it out.

On the positive note, I did stick around and most importantly, I thought the mystery and the adventures were great! I didn't get to guess the culprit right. I also like the main characters. They still had a hint of their own selves even though they were heavily influenced by the classic duo.

Truthfully, I'm not sure if I'll read the whole series. But actually read it, not listen to it.

"Her brain was like a bear trap; nothing escaped alive."

I love Charlotte Holmes! She's smart and mysterious and has the best dry wit. My favorite part of this book was the epilogue supposedly written by Charlotte, in which she corrects some of Jamie Watson's writing: "When I speak, I don't sound like Winston Churchill."

The allusions to the original Sherlock Holmes stories were another great part of this book. Jamie and Charlotte have to figure out who is staging scenes from the original stories to dangerous effect. But Charlotte is secretive, and Jamie has an explosive temper, both of which hinder their investigation. As the clues come to light and the mystery unfolds, more allusions to the original Sherlock Holmes become clear, and the puzzle gets even more exciting.

There are so many great turns of phrase in this book that I could almost just type those out and leave my review at that. The writing is sharp and surprising and nicely punctuated by Jamie's vulnerable admissions of doubt and guilt. The relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson is the main focus of the story, and it's such a fun, complicated relationship. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequels, in which I think Jamie and Charlotte will have an ever stronger rapport now that their partnership is established.

Definitely check this one out if you love Sherlock Holmes in any of its forms, or even if you just enjoy a complicated relationship between two unusual teens.

I really, really enjoyed this book.

James Watson, great great great grandson of the famed John Watson, friend of Sherlock Holmes, is sent to America to a boarding school on a rugby scholarship. Which would be fine except he's not that great at rugby. He misses London, and he can't stand how close the school is to his estranged father. The only bright spot in his new life is that Charlotte Holmes, descendant of Sherlock Holmes also attends the school, and he's determined they will be best friends.
But when a student is murdered and it looks like Watson and Holmes are the only suspects, they have to join together to become more than friends to clear their names.

If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, than you'll love A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE. Cavallaro clearly knows her Sherlock Holmes and the book is almost saturated with nods to the original stories and characters.

Charlotte is very much like her predecessor, including a penchant for the violin and drugs, but her relationship with Watson is delightful and heartfelt and I loved it any time they were on the page together.

And the climax of the book is so fantastic, including a delightful epilogue, that I didn't stop turning the pages until I had reached the end.

And when it was all over, I couldn't help but wish for another James Watson and Charlotte Holmes mystery to read.

The perfect YA Sherlock Holmes adaptation. The conceit here is that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were real people, who went on to have children who maintained the family legacy. But this book isn't about them, it's a character study in Charlotte Holmes (and Jamie Watson) and their relationship.

And it's done masterfully. It's a rare book (especially if it's the first in a series) that makes me care so much about two characters and their dynamic so quickly. And it's such a complex dynamic--somewhat dependent (the Holmes/Watson dynamic always pushes at the idea that they might be too co-dependent, and this book is no different), at times a little romantic (I have a lot of Emotions.)

I love both Charlotte and Jamie individually too. Jamie is allowed to be angry to almost a fault--there's not any softening of that. And Charlotte is prickly and not always likable and yet still has a heart and is so fully sympathetic.

Jamie's narration makes it all the more interesting--his life very much becomes consumed by Charlotte and this mystery, and at times, it feels like maintaining their relationship and friendship matters more than solving the actual mystery. But the mystery itself is fun too (even as it's a murder mystery with high stakes).

Finally, the writing here is first rate. There are evocative sentences, wonderful analogies, and metaphors. And there are tiny moments of character that say so much. It would be a wonderful story even without strong writing, but this pushes it over the edge to phenomenal.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS.

I love Sherlock Holmes. I haven’t watched the popular TV show Sherlock yet (pitiful, I know), but I’ve read the original series, and I loved every bit of it. The mystery, the fun, the suspense, the explanations that are so complicated, but seem so fantastically simple when Sherlock explains them–and, of course, Sherlock and Watson’s friendship.

So when I heard about this YA Sherlock retelling–where murders are happening, and those murders are based off of the murders in the original series–I was super excited. And it delivered.

Though this book has many differences from the original series (Sherlock is a girl here, both Sherlock and Watson are at boarding school together, the book is set in the U.S. instead of the U.K./Europe, etc.), A Study in Charlotte was successful in reminding me why I love the original series so much. It hearkened back to the old while simultaneously bringing something new to the table.

The main reason I loved this book is because of the characters. While true to the characters they were based off of, Cavallaro’s interpretations of Sherlock and Watson were amazing. Both were developed, well-rounded, independent individuals–in their own ways, of course. Jamie was sensitive without being overbearingly so, and Charlotte was cunning, clever, and methodical without being a robot. Jamie and Charlotte balance each other out very well, and I loved the way their friendship developed and the way they both grew to depend on each other without becoming overdependent. It was entertaining, it was wonderful, and it was real. Their chemistry (both in a platonic and romantic sense) was the main reason why I finished this book in one day.

And if you know me, you know I never have the stamina to finish a book over 200 pages in one day. But this book is different.

I also enjoyed how Cavallaro incorporated science into this novel, just like the original series did. Technologically-speaking, a lot has changed since Sir Conan Doyle wrote his series, and we know a lot more now than we did then. But, when Charlotte and Jamie sleuth–and use science to do it–it has that old-school, cleverly-obvious feel, without being outdated. Each new Sherlock-inspired murder brought a bought of nostalgia for me (call me morbid if you want, but whatever) as I remembered Sherlock and Watson’s old adventures and all the twisty, mind-boggling mysteries they solved. Orchestrating the murders that way was a clever tribute to the old series, and it made me smile. (Again, murder itself does not make me smile, but…I think you get what I’m trying to say here.)

The ending/final reveal, while unexpected, was a bit difficult for me to follow, but I blame this largely on the fact that I was tearing through the last 50 pages to get to the end, and my brain was mush from so much reading. Still, we received a nice conclusion for this book, and a great set-up for the sequel, The Last of August.

All in all? A well-delivered, unique tribute to a much-loved series, with just as many tricks up its sleeve as the original Sherlock books. This book was one of my favorite reads of the year.

The perennial draw of Conan Doyle and the popularity of the BBC's Sherlock has finally had a trickle down effect on teen fiction, giving us a recent spate of rewrites and re-imaginings starring variations on the inimitable Holmes and his stalwart companion Watson. Given the series' most famous (and apocryphal) catchphrase, I keep waiting for these to migrate down from secondary to grammar school, but for now it remains high school rather than elementary, my dear readers.

In this particular pastiche, the descendants of the ur-Holmes and Watson - both very real, and famous through the efforts of their chronicler, Arthur Conan Doyle - wind up not-so-coincidentally attending the same prep school in Connecticut. Shortly after Charlotte and James's first meeting, an unpleasant classmate winds up dead and the game's a-footing in a tale that harkens back to its titular reference without recreating it beat-for-beat. It's propulsive and fun, and slyly referential without being too winky.

The obvious draw of Cavallaro's version is the Sherlock-in-skirts angle, but though the gender-swapping could feel like a gimmick it's actually part of the novel's larger and more brilliant ploy. By making her leads descendants rather than updates, the author allows herself more latitude than a strict reincarnation of the characters would enjoy. Charlotte is a Holmes and James is a Watson, with all the emotional and historical baggage those bloodlines entail, but they're not the Holmes and the Watson, so readers are less primed to nitpick deviations from character canon. In fact, deviations can in this set-up even be read as deliberate choices, as both Charlotte and James struggle to separate themselves from the legends they're descended from. Thus far they hew pretty close to the family line - Watson is loyal, Holmes is smart - but with more nuance. James, for instance, struggles with anger issues. Charlotte is as broken as she is brilliant, and the famed Holmesian tendency to drug addiction is not softened or undercut here, for which I give Cavallaro extra points.

I approached A Study in Charlotte with more trepidation than enthusiasm, which I largely blame on a recent reading of Petty's Lock and Mori, but Cavallaro's update completely won me over. This is easily the best teen Holmes since Chris Columbus's in 1985.

Brittany Cavallaro's debut novel, A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE, explores the descendants of one of history’s most beloved duos. In our world, Sherlock and Watson are fictional, but in the world of Cavallaro's book, these two men were real people, and now their great-great-great-grandchildren repeat history and become a fantastic crime-solving pair. Within the first few pages, I already knew that this book would be a wild ride. And I was right.

Jamie Watson (yes, that Watson) never thought he would ever leave his beloved London, much less receive a scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school an hour away from his father, who he has not seen in years. To make things worse, Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’s great-great-great-granddaughter. She has not only inherited Sherlock’s genius and love for the violin but also his unpredictable mood. Jamie knows that it will be better to keep his distance from Charlotte.

But you cannot resist fate for long. When they meet, there is a crackling energy in the air that they cannot deny --- and when a Sherringford student that they both have history with is murdered, they are forced together to solve the case. As they delve deeper into the conspiracy, Holmes and Watson realize that they are being framed for murder and other crimes, each eerily mirroring classic Sherlock Holmes stories. As the tension rises, they realize they can only rely on each other and that no one is who they say they are.

Although this book was wildly entertaining, I did think A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE needed more exposition. From page one, you are hooked, but you are thrown into a world with characters that you know little to nothing about. I would have liked to read about Jamie’s last days in London and some details about what happened to Charlotte before Jamie arrived. I feel this would have given me a greater insight into both characters and what makes them tick. Overall, all of the characters needed more fleshing out, but this book is the start of a series, so we have plenty of time for that. I would particularly like to learn more about Charlotte, because in this first book, she is an enigma for most of the story, which makes her a very compelling heroine. Another thing about Charlotte: sometimes her “deductions” did not make a lot of sense. It seemed she would pull a conclusion from a small clue, something that did not seem to mean, at all, what she was saying it meant.

In spite of this novel’s weak spots, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There is something to be said for writing that flies by, leaving you wondering how you managed to read 50 pages in 20 minutes. I was thoroughly addicted to the story, eager to find out what crime would be committed next and desperate to know who was framing Charlotte and Jamie. Although I was satisfied by the end of the book, I am still very excited for the sequel. It takes a special kind of writing for me to ignore faults that usually make or break a book, and Brittany Cavallaro has it. All of the shortcomings I found can easily be fixed within the next book, as plotting, pacing and character development are all things that you learn with practice and experience --- amazingly addictive writing, however, is rare and hard to learn if you don’t have it naturally. I very much enjoyed A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE. The writing, the flawed characters, and the addictive mystery kept me going until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of BBC’s "Sherlock," Arthur Conan Doyle’s wonderful stories and novels, RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard and any Gillian Flynn novel, for the addictive writing qualities.

Reviewed by Bryn D., Teen Board Member

I was very uncertain about this series. I love anything Sherlock Holmes, and upon reading the synopsis I couldn't help but purchase the book. I really liked the idea of a female descendant of Sherlock Holmes - Charlotte Holmes - who is British, and another American descendent of John Watson - Jamie Watson. You also have an entire storyline dedicated to the Moriarty's and how the families still cannot stand each other although there was a brief truce at one time.

When I started reading it, and we are first introduced to Charlotte, it all felt a bit off. I couldn't allow myself to accept a female version of the great detective. The same sarcasm, cynicism and darkness, all wrapped into a 16 year old girl was just...weird. But a few chapters into it and it suddenly starts to make sense. It doesn't matter anymore, you get used to the character and you remember why you love the interaction between Watson and Holmes so much when you see the interaction between Jamie and Charlotte.

The mystery was also fantastic, and the hunt for the murderer was such a thrill. I loved their chemistry, their partnership, the journey to finding clues and breaking rules and going on their own manhunt, it felt very akin to reading a true Sherlock mystery. I loved how in true Watson nature, Jamie felt a responsibility towards Charlotte. Looking after her, caring for her, worried for her, made sure she was OK, and just generally tried to be protective of her. However, a few differences would be the level of maturity - given that they are teenagers - but also, a different kind of chemistry that is conveyed in the story. A romantic kind. Perhaps many readers and true Sherlock fans would balk at such an implication, but I loved it. I love a sprinkle of romance in stories, especially the YA kind, and this one, although not a main storyline was so natural that I really didn't question it too much.

The darkness in the story though, the darkness in Holmes, was surprising and true and at first, hard to grasp, because Holmes in this case is a young female protagonist.

Wonderfully written with a complex plot that is about to get a lot more complex in the next book!

Holmes and Watson. Two of the most famous names - and personalities - in literature. But what if those names belonged to real people? People who manage, somehow, to always find their Holmes or their Watson, even as successive generations come and go? And what sort of chaos may be following them?

Jamie Watson has just gotten himself shipped off to a school in Connecticut where he is *supposed* to be getting to know his father. The fact that he has no intention of doing so doesn't seem to mean much to those involved in the final decision. To add to the drama, he is aware that Charlotte Holmes also attends that school, but he has been warned that it might be best to keep his distance - even though he has imagined meeting her for years. Unfortunately, boarding schools can be a hotbed of trouble, and when a student that both Jamie and Charlotte had a run-in with is found dead, the two are thrown together in order to attempt to clear their names.

While this is a young adult book, I found it a fun and interesting read. The author does an excellent job of NOT talking down to her audience, even when there is violence involved. A quick warning - there is some talk about a rape, and while there are not a lot of details given, it could be a trigger for some. However, I felt that it was handled quite well, and was appropriate for both the story and the potential ages of future readers.

It does appear (according to the author's website) that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. If the second book is as good as the first, then it will be a rollicking read with mystery, danger, and a touch of romance.

A Study in Charlotte is the first in the Charlotte Holmes series. Brittany Cavallaro puts an interesting twist on the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson characters by imagining what their descendants would be like. Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson meet at boarding school in Connecticut. Holmes has been solving crimes since she was a young child, and Watson is a typical teenage boy. When a fellow student turns up dead, the pair strike up a fated friendship and set to solving the case.

I’ve never read Sherlock Holmes, but I have watched the BBC show Sherlock and the Robert Downey Jr. movies, so I am familiar with the characters. I really enjoyed this reimagining of the classic characters. The murders in this book seem to be copycats of the murders in the Sherlock Holmes books, so that added an extra element to the plot.

The gender swap was fun. Charlotte is as aloof and unemotional as her great-great-great grandfather and Watson is devoted to her, just as he ancestor was to Sherlock. The book is written from Jamie’s point of view. I don’t read many books narrated by male characters, so that was interesting. His narration includes a lot of emotional turmoil, sarcasm, and other humor. The audio book was very well done.

I was very excited that the second book was already out when I read this one, so I could immediately get more of these characters.

Blog: Opinionated Book Lover

I love Sherlock Holmes books. But when I read this I found myself horrified by it. In this book you have a 16-17 girl that is addicted to drugs and smokes(which we don't know why), not to mention she gambles. Yes, she was punished for the drugs but because of that she got raped and no one seems to care but Watson! For a girl that is supposed to be the great great great grand-daughter of Sherlock Holmes and is exactly like him, you would think she would know better. If the author is trying to show what the real world is like, she shouldn't have done it with a book intended for young adults. She should have made it to where Charlotte is a role-model for all young girls instead of making her a drug addict and a smoker. Charlotte might be good at deductions and is just like Sherlock, but the author could have kept the drugs, the rape, the gambling and the language out. Charlotte wasn't a like able character and throughout the book, it was like "yes, Watson we are friends, but don't expect much from it." She was kind of self-absorbed,only did things for herself and she was emotionally cut off. She didn't have feelings and even though she was Watson's "friend", it felt one-sided. She never hesitated to manipulate if it was for her self-gain. The author ruined the integrity of what could have been a good book had she left out the drugs, the gambling, the rape and the language.

I adore mysteries, and I love Sherlock Holmes stories, but I wasn't sure what to expect--Holmes adaptations can be a bit unpredictable, right?

So I am delighted to say that I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The writing is lovely, the mystery is clever and kept me guessing, and the nods to Arthur Conan Doyle's stories are abundant and obviously come from a place of great love and admiration.

Best of all are the two main characters, who are so incredibly darling I sort of want to steal them away and adopt them for my very own. (I know, I know. They wouldn't like that very much.) This Holmes and this Watson aren't copies of their namesakes--but they're not supposed to be. They're both layered, flawed, and interesting, with their own baggage and their own issues. Their friendship is rocky at times, terribly charming, and always complicated because they're complicated, and it all feels so very believable and real. I loved watching them figure each other out just as much as they were figuring the mystery out.

I was kind of looking forward to reading this book as I thought it was a cool twist on the Sherlock stories. But I'm a little disappointed in the result.

The premise sounded promising but I started to read the book it just never quite took off for me. I had a really hard time staying in the story. I just don't think that there was anything that hooked me and made me want to keep reading. I think part of the reason was that I'm not sure that I cared for Charlotte Holmes that much. I don't know if I found her age and the extreme drug use by her to be necessary. I'm open-minded about it but I felt it was rather extreme and unneeded in the story.

I'm sad that I didn't love this book because I so wanted to.