Fans of Sherlock Holmes need to get their hands on this book immediately. Fans of mystery, poignant coming-of-age novels, and unexpected endings need to get their hands on this book even faster. Brittany Cavallaro delivers a beautifully delightful story in the first book of her Charlotte Holmes series, a book that surprises all kinds of readers. With an exciting mystery, a tension-filled relationship, and characters that truly bring a story to life, A Study in Charlotte will leave readers on the edge of their seats long after the mystery has been solved.Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes novels. With Emily Henry, she is the author of Hello Girls. She is also the author of the poetry collections Girl-King and Unhistorical. A recipient of a National Endowment in the Arts fellowship, Cavallaro received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. If you're interested in more of my reviews of Cavallaro's works, you can find them all here.
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 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.
Jamie is such a fun narrator to this mystery-and-coming-of-age novel. I love his razor-focus to the story, and his dedication to the details. While that is mostly a tribute to how well Cavallaro writes, a big part of his character is making sure the story stays true. This dedication is balanced by his great desires and the wildest confusions of his life -- he doesn't exactly know who he is, but he knows what he wants and he's willing to find out where that will lead him. Of course, it brings him face-to-face with Charlotte Holmes, whose described as a girl with "genius" and "volatile temperament." In every way, Jamie is Charlotte's opposite, but he's the person he's always dreamed himself being with -- solving mysteries, saving each other, and saving the world. Dreams aren't all they're made up to be, though, so he's in for a big surprise when he does start solving mysteries with Charlotte. For some, Charlotte might not be a lovable or relatable character -- she can be kind of coarse, with sharp edges. Jamie's character and his narration blunt those things for readers, so we can see her through his ("romanticized," as Charlotte says) eyes. While of course the parallel is too great to pass up (the Watson writing the Holmes story), it truly was the best choice for Cavallaro and readers to be inside Jamie's head and see with his eyes. It helps us be taken by surprise when the murder is solved, when the team is betrayed, and we can feel the characters' pains and triumphs better through the character that lets himself feel all of these things.
Charlotte, on the other hand, is no less interesting and well-developed than Jamie. It is true that she has a temper, a crazy genius, sharp edges and not instantly lovable, but all of those are what make her immensely interesting. She's one of the characters that seem like they must be hard to write, because of how witty and explosive she can be. It's certainly not easy to watch her fall apart, or to tear Jamie into pieces, and yet it's impossible for her not to, because that's who she is. Everything Charlotte does is in character -- which might sound silly to say, but it's harder for readers to understand a character if they're too unpredictable. All of Charlotte's actions have reasons that match her character, which allows for readers to fall back and understand her, even if they don't love her. I, for one, every time I read this book, feel like I start to love Charlotte more and more. Even though she seems sharp and ragged, I think she's the character with the potential for the most growth as the series advances. She's also somewhat morally gray, and those characters have always piqued my interest the most, because they're the characters you can always learn the most from. I'm excited to see how far Charlotte goes in the series, and how much more she'll let herself be herself in front of Jamie (and thus, the readers).
While I'm not as familiar with the Sherlock Holmes books as I am with other stories that also have newly released retellings, Cavallaro imbues this novel with references and stories that make you feel like you've read all the Sherlock Holmes books. Her details are exquisite, and make every reader feel like they're solving the mystery right alongside the newest Watson and Holmes. For those who are familiar with the Sherlock Holmes novels, I'm sure so many of the smallest details will delight and intrigue. For those who aren't familiar, those details are also delightful, because they make the story lush and vibrant. You can truly fall into this world of mystery at Sherringford, because the world is detailed and so lovingly rendered around the Sherlock Holmes books. I can't analyze how well Cavallaro implemented those details and references, but I can only say that she did a wonderful job making sure those not familiar with the Sherlock Holmes novels wanted to read them, for sure, once the curtains closed on Jamie and Charlotte.
Another truly magical thing about this story is that it unfolds like a story, not a book. Sometimes, books can feel very mechanical, and tied down to the barebones origin of how to tell a story. A Study in Charlotte unfolds organically and surprisingly, not at all like a book. This, of course, is due in part to the narration, but also to the plot line. The twists and mystery-reveals were at the most unexpected parts, which kept the novel fast paced. I never wanted to put it down. There was also a masterful balance between the murder mystery and Jamie's so-called "study in Charlotte" -- the balance of the grim, gritty mystery and the poignant coming-of-age aspect of all young adult novels. The writing flows off the page, and helps build the story around the reader, to where the reader feels just as embedded in the story as the characters. We're all invested, as the story unfolds, in who committed the murder, and how Charlotte and Jamie will solve it and figure out each other. Every time I open this book, I never feel like I'm reading a book, but like I'm re-uncovering a story off a dusty shelf that I've always loved and continuously want to be surprised by -- and it works, every time.
With the mystery solved, Watson and Holmes have entered a state of peace -- or, really, a state of waiting for their next case. What will it be? Find out in the second book of the series, The Last of August. Find the next review here!
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