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

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro is a fun, entertaining young adult mystery novel that follows the great-great-grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson as they solve mysteries at a 21st-century high school campus. 

Summary

When Jamie Watson gets shipped off to boarding school in Connecticut, leaving London behind, he is only filled with gloom. However, in an unexpected quirk of fate, Charlotte Holmes, the descendant of the infamous Sherlock Holmes, attends the same school.

Mirroring her famous lineage, 16-year-old Charlotte Holmes is brilliant, observant, and logical. She can be cold at times, and she inherited the substance abuse issues her ancestors struggled with, but she possesses a sharp mind and a strong deductive reasoning ability, allowing her to solve mysteries effectively. Our female main character tends to be socially awkward, emotionally reserved, and hesitant to let people in her bubble, but the one exception seems to be Jamie Watson. Unlike eccentric Charlotte, Jamie is more ordinary, but this grounds his shadow. His kindness and genuine good nature are what win over his unsociable friend.

When an arrogant school jock is mysteriously murdered one chilly autumn evening, the two immediately recognize that the murder clues match a famous Holmes story, “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” Both Jamie and Charlotte had clear motives against this student; and when an attack on another student follows that leads people to believe that they were responsible, it is clear to them that someone is trying to frame them. The amateur sleuths decide to work together to clear their names and find out who is liable for the atrocities occurring.

Why read A Study in Charlotte?

This whodunit is perfect for anybody who enjoys a puzzling mystery and bona fide writing. For those who read either Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes or watched the popular BBC show, this novel embeds elements of the originals while still bringing new ideas and perspectives to light. While keeping a solid plot, the many twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is important to note that there are many mentions of serious topics, such as addiction, rape, and murder. It is best suited for teenagers above the age of 13.

This book is the first of 4 in the Charlotte Holmes series, but it is not necessary to read the rest to enjoy the first. A Study in Charlotte is suitable as a standalone, as the main mystery is resolved within the first book. However, if you end up loving it, 3 more will be waiting! 

What did I think?

When I first picked up the book, I didn’t know how hooked I would become. I was up reading late at night- I couldn’t put the book down. I ended up finishing it within 4 hours.

For me, A Study in Charlotte was 4/5 stars. Cavallaro well balances the line between paying reverence to Holmes and also being modern and original. I am an avid mystery/thriller fan, and this modern take did not disappoint me. Every plot twist excited me, and the characters were truly enjoyable and I loved reading about them. Jamie Watson is a sweetheart character; he is exactly how you would imagine a modern-day Watson to be- from loyalty and sarcasm to the ambitions of writing. Jamie is written to perfectly complement Charlotte’s more serious yet savage personality. While I usually don’t read mysteries with romance in them, it is perfectly woven throughout the novel. It does not steal the focus away from the mystery, but the inevitable tension between Charlotte and Jamie does not to my dismay. It is a slow-burn, rather than a typical “instant-love trope” which was all the better. 

In short, A Study in Charlotte is a worthy book that had me, and will have you Sherlocked!