Member Reviews
What a great book. I always thought there was more to Sherlock and Irene's story. Hope we see more of this future Holmes and Watson. Very captivating.
I found this book while poking around on Netgalley and found it among St Martin’s Press’s new releases. I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes (and, ok, Sherlock, Elementary, and the RDjr movies, too) and was delighted to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And, I honestly liked this book. This book takes place after Sherlock has passed and the plot is carried out by Dr. Watson and the next generation…Watson’s son, John (also a Doctor Watson), Lestrade’s son, and – as the title suggests – the daughter of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, even the villain is set up to be the son of a previous villain and the plot points are set out to be similar to those in a past case.
Which, while it felt like curling up to read an old favorite, also didn’t tread a lot of new ground. The mystery wasn’t really a mystery, the villain was who you expected it to be, and everything was clearly and endlessly discussed both before and after the plot events transpired, so you could see how everything would unfold before the events occurred.
One thing I did enjoy was the slight romantic angle for the story. It is kept clean G or PG rated. But, much like anticipating the next book – if this becomes a series – I hope that Watson and Holmes will *ahem* work together to produce another generation of super detectives.
I am so excited Sherlock Holmes has a daughter! Brilliant, beautiful, her father would have been proud! What an exciting case, and a great premise for all of us who know Sherlock Holmes and Watson, as well as we know ourselves! To have more Sherlock is a dream come true, to make his prodigy a woman, priceless! I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒
Is there a detective more famous than Sherlock Holmes? I can't think of any. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mysteries have stood the test of time and are still popular today--inspiring new books, movies and TV series' regularly. I love the good detective, and love to listen to the radio programs featuring his adventures on satellite radio. I've read several modern-day books written about him, and his faithful companion, Dr. John Watson. I must admit there have been a few duds in there that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. I'm happy to say that The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg is great, and definitely worth reading!
It all begins at that great address, 221B Baker Street, where Dr. Watson lives since the passing of his friend, Sherlock Holmes. His son, also named Dr. John Watson, is visiting him one evening when he receives a visit from a young woman asking for his help. Her brother, Charles Harrelston, is dead and the police say he committed suicide. The family is convinced he would never do such a thing. When the young lady says that one of the witnesses to the crime was a young boy and his mother--a widow named Joanna Blalock--Dr. Watson is quick to say he'll help. As it turns out, Joann Blalock is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler, although her identity is a secret that only Watson knows. Together, Dr. Watson, Joanna and John set out to prove that Charles was murdered. Joanna's observation skills rival those of Holmes himself. But there is an even darker scheme beneath the surface. If the trio doesn't figure it out in time, more people will be killed and a criminal mastermind will escape for good. And there may be a little romance brewing on the side, too...
I have to warn you that while this book is a great mystery, and it is in the vein of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this book can't quite match his works. But it is really good, and the plot and characters are satisfying. I couldn't figure out the mystery, and--in a true Sherlockian fashion--there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. There were a lot of great connections to the classic tales, too. In addition to John Watson, Jr., and Joanna as Sherlock's daughter, Inspector Lestrade's son is the investigating detective, and the criminal has links to the infamous Professor Moriarity.
I really did like the sweet little romance that was blooming between Joanna and John, but it came across as a little bit awkward. I'm pretty sure that men and women can find more romantic words to say than, "You're beautiful," and "You're handsome." But they did have a few other moments that were really sweet, so I'll forgive the more awkward ones.
A true Holmes fan may not like this idea for the simple reason that the true Sherlock would never sire a child. But if you like your Holmes with a little imagination thrown in, you're sure to love this new mystery. I think this book would make a great start for a new series. Something about the new adventures of Holmes and Watson. That's definitely a series I would read!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.
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A thoroughly enjoyable read. The progeny of Sherlock Holmes is well explained and the characters channel Sherlock expertly. I would hope that future books would stop comparing the old cases with new ones. it would be nice if the characters could have their own adventures. Hopefully they won't be combatting and battling wits with only the children or relatives of former Sherlock Holmes villains. I look forward to reading more.
I was blessed enough to be approved by the publisher via Netgally to receive a free E-Arc of the book in exchange for my honest review of the book which is as follows:
I really liked “Jonna” as a character as well as seeing how well all of the Sherlock Holmes lore/methodology was woven into the storyline.
I personally found the love story angle of the book to be a bit too “insta love” for my personal tastes. Overall I personally rate this book a 6 and a half out of 10 and I definitely recommend reading it if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes or female detectives