Review: The Last of August

Charlotte Holmes: The Last of August | Brittany Cavallaro

Published by: Katherine Tegen, February 14th 2017

Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Katherine Tegen, via Edelweiss

In the second brilliant, action-packed book in the Charlotte Holmes trilogy, Jamie and Charlotte are in a chase across Europe to untangle a web of shocking truths about the Holmes and Moriarty families.

Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are looking for a winter break reprieve in Sussex after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But nothing about their time off is proving simple, including Holmes and Watson’s growing feelings for each other. When Charlotte’s beloved uncle Leander goes missing from the Holmes estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring—the game is afoot once again, and Charlotte throws herself into a search for answers.

So begins a dangerous race through the gritty underground scene in Berlin and glittering art houses in Prague, where Holmes and Watson discover that this complicated case might change everything they know about their families, themselves, and each other. 

Oh yeah, the last of August. REAL FUNNY TITLE THERE. 

Aside from tricking me into thinking August was safe and tricking me into liking him, this book is pretty great. Not as good as the first book, but I like how it takes place away from the school. I thought they'd all be set in the school so it was fun to mix it up with Europe.

The plot is interesting, and has a tonne of different elements, but I didn't connect with it in a way I did the first book. It didn't really feel urgent, or important, even with Leander being in danger and Charlotte's mum poisoned. But I liked the relationships between everyone, and it had enough of that Charlotte Holmes spark (genuis and inventive and destructive all at once) that I read it quickly, and it didn't bore me once. Plus it wraps up nicely and cleverly and feels a lot like the ending of a Sherlock Holmes story.

Just as smart and thoughtful and moving as book one - I just didn't love it quite as much. Still can't wait to see what happens to Charlotte and Jamie next! Just hope it involves less emotional turmoil!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

ARC Review: A Study In Charlotte

Charlotte Holmes: A Study In Charlotte | Brittany Cavallaro

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books, March 1st 2016

Genre: YA, Mystery, Retellings

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Katherine Tegen

The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy. 

I've decided to rate this 5 star, and go with my heart-rating, not my brain-rating. Because I loved this book. It immersed me fully in the nostalgic experience of reading the original stories for the first time.

Charlotte and James are great characters, without being carbon copies of Sherlock and John. Charlotte is the most like her ancestor, but that similarity is very well explained - stoicism, her knowledge, and her skill set have been bred into her since birth. She's trained to be that way. But over the course of the book we do see her break away from what she's supposed to be in order to be friends with James, and we also see her buckle under pressure, which was nicely realistic and made me really feel for her. I loved the relationship between the two, and while a big part of my is dying for romance, I also really hope they'll be best friends forever. Other great relationships in this book include friendships (and betrayal!) and father-son stuff which was an unexpected surprise.

What this book does fairly well is realistically portray a victim dealing with rape, particularly sex she was too high to consent to. It isn't presented as Charlotte's fault AT ANY POINT, which I really appreciated.

As for the story, it's a great multi-faceted mystery. There's a villain that stands out a mile, but this book tricks you into thinking it's too obvious. Also, she's just a puppet so it's kinda-her-kinda-not-her at the same time. I will say the archetypes (of Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty) feel a bit forced at points. I'm tired of the every-Moriarty-is-a-bad-guy thing, but I'm hoping we'll meet another Moriarty in the second book and that'll all be resolved.

Well written, well researched, and full of love for the originals. It was pretty emotional to see my own passion for the Sherlock Holmes stories mirrored in this book, and I loved it.

Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world ★★★★☆
Writing ★★★★☆

Follow all my reviews on Bloglovin!