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aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Cultural appropriation
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
The plot was interesting, and it was a reminder to myself that I should trust my mystery book instincts more... I had a hunch about the whodunnit, but since the characters weren't considering that angle at all, I let myself forget about it.
I guess I just never got hooked on the characters as presented in this book. I didn't connect with Mary Russell in a way that compelled me to keep reading, and Holmes and Watson both felt close enough to their original versions that there was nothing "new" there for me to discover. (Perhaps in later books I would connect more with the characters, but that hasn't happened yet.)
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
hannah_hall's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation
seaschells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation
eamily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Dementia, Medical trauma, and War
caramellattekiss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Sherlock Holmes is pretty out of character for most of the book and spends a lot of time talking about how wonderful Russell is compared to the bumbling idiot Watson. I really disliked the constant putting down of Watson. I'm not sure King has actually read much Sherlock Holmes, or she'd know that these two men have a lot of love and respect for each other. Watson might not be a teenage genius, but he's not a fool.
The mystery itself is a fun read, with satisfying twists and turns. The clues for the final reveal are all laid, without giving everything away. The fun story saved this book from being a DNF, even though the characters were largely unlikeable.
Graphic: Gun violence and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
hafable's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Gun violence and Cultural appropriation