I received a free copy for an honest review.

As much I like fantasy, shifters have never really had the appeal on me. I know it's only the first book but it misses something to really had me going further the series.

This murder mystery set in a high school for shape shifters falls squarely within the “School for Supernaturals” category, so if Harry-Potter-with-wereteens is your cup of tea, this book is for you. Even more so, Marisol Holmes is the heir to the jaguar clan, which holds the throne among shifters, and she’s the descendent of the legendary detective. At the beginning of the story, she’s still reeling from what she refers to as “The Big Betrayal,” in which her much-loved cousin died, and also in which she trusted the wrong charismatic, manipulative, devilishly handsome suitor. To make matters worse, she’s unable to shift into her jaguar form and is desperate to keep that failure a secret.

Now Marisol must earn her place in the law enforcement Conclave again by solving the murder of a high school student from a rival, leopard clan. On the surface, it looks very much as if the jaguar clan (and therefore Marisol’s mother, the Queen) are going to be ousted as a result of their role in the murder. Marisol suspects the evidence is a setup, planted for political reasons. Now all she has to do is find out who really did it, while dealing with her snake shifter supervisor and the haunting memories of her past. Has Mannix, the suitor who lured her into the plot that killed her cousin, returned and if so, for what purpose? (I found it no coincidence that Mannix and Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’s arch-nemesis, begin with M.) Then there’s Roan, fellow jaguar shifter and intimate pen pal, who’s mysteriously disappeared after attending the same high school Marisol is investigating.

A Study in Shifters fits neatly into the magical high school and teen detective murder mysteries categories. It’s similar enough to stories of both types to be immediately accessible – the students even make reference to Harry Potter. Yet the elements of the shifter clans and their politics and abilities offer fresh, original material, and the mystery unfolds in unexpected ways that kept me turning the pages. I loved Marisol’s “inner jaguar” and her perfectly depicted teenager uncertainties. Marisol is faced with not only solving the mystery but coming to terms with her own nature and choices. For me, that makes for an immensely satisfying story. I look forward to more from this author.

Really interesting concept but poorly executed with repetitive phrasing.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

What really caught my attention and interest in reading this book is the interesting combination of murder mystery and paranormal YA. As a Sherlock Holmes/murder mystery fan and active YA reader, this combination got me so excited that I requested it almost immediately reading the synopsis. So, did it live up to that inner hype of mine?

I definitely got my fill of murder mystery, I loved that. You can tell the author really tried to make a flushed-out interesting murder mystery that is actually a mystery, and I tried to figure out the truth along with the protagonist (which is where the fun is). I wasn't very bothered by this (but I can understand why others are), but there wasn't as much of a paranormal (specifically shifter) element as expected since the book title is literally called "A Study in the Shifters". For people who are thinking of reading this book, hopefully, this early warning can help if you're expecting anything else.

Marisol is a standard typical strong, interesting and witty protagonist that you literally see in every single YA book. It's not exactly "bad", but it's really standard because of how overused it is since it's a “safer” portrayal of the protagonist. Take this however you like, but I'm putting this fact in the review so that if you (the reader reading this review) is thinking of reading this book, you can get more information to whether or not you want to read this book.

Overall, this book is pretty standard, but it definitely can be enjoyable and is very safe if you're just looking for an enjoyable read and not the best book you've read this month or week.

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish I could state that this one stood out to me. As I read it, it kept me engaged and I read it within a few days but once I put it down I never really thought about it again. It had a better background to the entire story, to the main character and the others that surrounded her, but at the same time it fell into a level of originality that is only slightly better than what I have read before. I have paced my way through these -main character must solve a mystery in order to keep her family safe- etc more times than I can remember, and it has made me cynical, not to mention a story needs to be extremely special for me to notice it. This wasn't one of them.

I won't go into much detail over the actual story, because that is one of its' strong points. I wouldn't read it again, and I don't think it would ever come to the forefront of my head if someone asks me for a recommendation within this genre. As I have said before: the story is interesting; the main character and the other characters are different enough and better rounded than most within these kinds of books, and there's a good background to how this is possible, but it's more one I read in passing but not again.

I hope that for someone, this may be a lift in the almost stifling genre of supernatural young adult involving a mystery and helps them realise that there are good books out there. They just might take a bit of a bigger hunt then expected to find.

I completely got into this book. Marisol is a decedent of Sherlock Holmes...she is also a shifter princess and a detective. There was a lot on the line for Marisol in solving the mystery she is assigned to. She has a partner that I really got to liking and thought maybe that would be her Watson. There is a backstory that I want to have a book all it's own (totally hope the author does that!).

Going to the school and blending in, not to mention a friend from the past and a foe that make their way into the story. So much going on in the shifter world and a possible battle for power. Her mother being distant because of how Marisol messed up. I just can't say more for fear of giving away secrets, but you need to read this book.

The way this ended, gah! Give me the next book now! It was a 5/5 for me.

This book had potential, sadly now of it was met. From the start, the story is chaotic, but instead of drawing the reader to the story, it only serves to bore and irritate the reader, leaving them confused and uninterested.

I was rather impressed by this adaptation of the Holmes name. The story does start off a bit slow, but the author does have a way of including the Holmes/Moriarty dynamic pretty well (of which I assume Mannix represents Moriarty) and bringing in the excitement that only a Holmes could bring when solving a case. I am tempted to pick up the next book just to see more of these characters.

As you might expect from the title, this has a Sherlock Holmes connection, in this case featuring a descendant of his who’s also a shapeshifter. . . except she can’t shapeshift anymore, after a bad mission she feels really guilty about.
She can still sniff like a jaguar, though. When we meet her she’s trying to solve a locked room puzzle, though there’s no speckled band in sight. She’s rich and lives in Paris, but is sent to investigate a murder in a fancy school in England; never would have thought a book about a shape shifting Holmes descendant would be full of teenage-y cliquey high school stuff.
She starts timid, still scarred by her previous failure, but as she regains her confidence I like her more and more. Given how much time was spent detailing her previous mission, it’s no surprise it has a bearing on the current one.
There’s a lot of mention of her inner jaguar, as though it’s a separate entity, as is her rational Sherlock mind. Strange to think her brain isn’t integrated, but by the end it’s somewhat resolved.
The ending felt tacked on, obviously there just to make a hook for the sequel. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Could not get into this at all - the writing was very juvenile and not at all interesting to me. Didn't get past the first few pages.

I was excited to see a book with a character who is a descendant of Sherlock Holmes and also a jaguar shifter. Unfortunately, A STUDY IN SHIFTERS didn't quite work in it's execution of the story. I enjoyed the mystery aspect with a magical flair and a protagonist showing various beloved traits of Sherlock Holmes (no drug addiction though!). We got that to an extent.

There were many superfluous repetitions and odd side conversations that really sapped my enjoyment of the story. There are multiple reference to the "Big Betrayal" which I get is a hook to read more but the way it's presented over and over in the first few pages made me have to go back and check that this wasn't book two of the series. I felt like I was missing something constantly which took me away from fully engaging with the story out of sheer annoyance at Marisol's "Big Betrayal" being yet again mentioned. We're also being constantly reminded about Marisol's connection to Holmes. It's in the title of the series and the title is a reference to a Sherlock Holmes story, A STUDY IN SCARLET. We get it, no need to reference it beyond the first chapter!

I loved the idea of Marisol being a descendant of Sherlock Holmes and seeing her use her analytical mind to figure out the big mystery was fun! She's clever, dedicated, and determined. She's young and has that idealistic "I can't get hurt" mindset of someone her age. This leads to a issue I have with YA in general. I just can't get past the juvenile mindset and actions of characters. The conflict in YA novels seems to always revolve around a protagonist's love life. I read romance for that sort of conflict, thank you. She keeps hanging onto the whole love life angle more heavily than the fact that there is a killer or killers on a school campus and they need to be stopped.

The writing of A STUDY IN SHIFTERS' writing felt too young for me especially with the repetition of plot points and character descriptions. Part of that is due to my constant struggle to enjoy YA books (there are some, I promise), part is that I just don't think the writing was that great. I really enjoyed the idea of this story and hope that it works out the kinks in the following books.

“The game is afoot.”

A Study in Shifters is the first installment in author Majanka Verstraete's The Adventures of Marisol Holmes series. Meet 17-year old Marisol Holmes, the great, great, great granddaughter of the infamous Sherlock Holmes. But, let's stop there or a minute. By the obviousness of its title, this book is about paranormals. Paras who are mostly shifters like jaguar, snake, wolf, bear, etc. And, while Marisol is being portrayed as the heir apparent to the Holmes line, she is in deep trouble with the Conclave as the story begins thanks to trusting the wrong person.
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
The Conclave is supposed to protect humanity from overzealous paranormals. The Conclave is an underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases.The Conclave is not known to all shifters. Just those chosen and royal families. The Conclave, especially snake shifter Balthazar Rollins, hates Marisol. He wants to see her gone and forgotten. After all, she's not a full blood, so how dare she be able to consider herself part of the shifter royalty like her mother who is La Duchess who rules all other shifter species?
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Rollins offers Marisol one more chance to prove herself. All she has to do is catch a killer. The catch? She has to work with Indra, a snake shifter and senior agent. Marisol and Indra enroll in a posh English private school called Waynard Academy, where a shifter from an important family has been murdered by what appears to be a jaguar. With rumblings about The Gathering of Clans, and the desire of a group of shifters who want Marisol's mother removed from power, especially with Marisol being a half-breed, the pair need to walk softly and carry a big stick in order to find out the truth.

Just when things couldn’t get worse, Marisol’s ex-boyfriend-turned-nemesis, Mannix, starts leaving sinister clues for her. In her last case, which the author calls the Big Betrayal, Mannix broke her heart and ruined her case. Marisol isn't sure which is worse. But, after learning that a best friend has disappeared, Marisol fears this case too might be far more personal than she could’ve imagined. It’s time for Marisol to prove her worth, or her people could fall into chaos while her best friend loses his life.

Ah, where do I begin to describe the reason for my review? At the very beginning. The author taunts readers with a broken Marisol who is being tested to see if she will remain part of the Conclave or not. She hints about the Big Betrayal and the fact that she can no longer shift. She hints at the villain, Mannix, who not only broke her heart, but also destroyed an innocent life. I, like others, have compared Mannix to Moriarty and I think that is by far a fair assessment.

Both are evil. Both are masterminds. Both are bloody brilliant and can outwit a Holmes like nobody's business. More than anything, I compare Indra to a big sister, or a babysister. Marisol is the brains, Indra is the one who has to approve and keep the Conclave updated. My other complaint is the repetitiveness. Especially when Marisol moans about the Big Betrayal and her inability to shift, and the fact that everyone hates her because she's a half breed. I hope, I repeat, I hope by the time the second installment comes around, the author will get more to the point right out of the door. The author really turns the screw on the readers by writing such a twisted and heart breaking ending. No, I will not spoil. I will say that things are going to get very bumpy from here on out.

Today I am here to discuss a relative new release that I finished last week but have been a bit slow to get my thoughts to paper. The title is the first book in a new series, A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1) by Majanka Verstraete. I was provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Monster House Books.

Rating: 4 Stars

Marisol Holmes, descendant of Sherlock Holmes, and half jaguar shifter and next in line to the shifter throne, is trying to repair the damage done from a mistake she made. After she trusted the wrong guy in the worst way Marisol is able to convince the Conclave, the underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases, to give her a chance to redeem herself. She is put on a new case, one she has even more reason to solve as the evidence is pointing towards a fellow jaguar shifter and that could spell bad news for her mother and her place on the throne. She is on the case, undercover at the school working in secret with her new supervisor, *cough* babysitter *cough* but things get very personal as the case unfolds. Can she unravel the mystery and solve the case before too much damage or life is lost?

So I was stoked about this book for obvious reasons. Shifters, Sherlock, and I have read all but one series by this published house and loved them so far so why not. It was a new to me author and I was ready to dive in. Like the other books I have enjoyed from this publisher it has beyond everything else awesome worlds and super fast paced books you can fly by. This was no exception. A Study in Shifters is a fast paced read that really keeps the story moving along as it builds the world around you. Marisol is trying to recover from a big mistake involving a boy and more than just a broken heart. I liked diving right into things. Marisol was really hard on herself for her mistakes, which I find relatable. I'm not a shifter and thankfully none of my mistakes were ever this life and death but I know each time I make one, more so when I was still in school, I could fill a library with my worried 'should of' or 'could of' moments. Still even as she struggles with pushing things down she is very clever and amazing at facts and puzzles, something we associate with a Holmes. Stealing a line from a fav show that recently got the boot, she has a high IQ but low EQ, basically book smart not interacting with people smart.

There is a strong hierarchy in the shifter world. Each clan has a leader and then a leader of the clans which is a power struggle. I loved the dynamic about the different clans and look forward to getting to know more of the different clans and their ins and outs as the series continues. Mannix, the one who betrayed Marisol, is a great Moriarty like villain. All of this was a fun and interesting story full of mystery and puzzles which I adored.

Still there were a few things that for me lessened my adoration of the book slightly. Again I was reading an ARC so some of this may have been corrected or edited prior to publication. The biggest was some repetition. I understand the need for some for sure in building but some aspects , but the constant references to the "big betrayal," were a bit excessive especially in the first part of the story. IT was mentioned so often I felt they whole event could have been explained twice instead of the references. There was also a lot of talk about the different modes and the mind palace which I enjoyed but sometimes her mode or palace was mentioned a few times in the same paragraph. It pulled me slightly from the action of the story here and there which is a shame because it's really good. I think I just didn't connect as much to that lead in being as mysterious and vague, maybe because that wasn't the mystery I wanted to focus on.

So overall I enjoyed this start to a new series and will be looking for book two for sure. The story, the characters, mystery, and this fun little world melding Sherlock and shifters is bound to be lots more fun. And most importantly it was entertaining and that is what counts for me. I was captured and really enjoyed my reading time so I still rate it high and look forward to reading more. Because to be sure there are some things I figured out and others I did not see coming in the least and that is always great. I'm excited to see what is next for Marisol, Indra, Mannix, Roan, Wyatt and the shifter clans!

I have always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and tales of YA mysteries. I love teen detective books. I loved the twist of this book where we discovered that not only was Marisol related to the great Sherlock Holmes, but she is also part jaguar and is a shapeshifter. Marisol is a half-blood and heir to the shifter throne as her mother is Duchess and the Jaguars rule the shapeshifter kingdom. After a recent mission went completely wrong and Marisol not only felt betrayed by someone she thought she loved, but she also lost her cousin and the ability to shift into a jaguar. Now to get back to the Conclave and do what she does best by solving mysteries. She must remain under supervision when she is completing her fieldwork and spy assignments. The latest one is a difficult one for her as a leopard shifter has been killed and the killer is being made to look like a Jaguar did it. This is highly unlikely as Marisol is about to discover. Who wants Jaguars to look weak? What happens though when Marisol discovers that her worst nightmare has returned and now to save her friends, she must play a game of wits with him once again? Can Marisol save the day and prove not only her worth to the Conclave but also will pushing herself to force her Jaguar to be unleashed and give her once again the ability to shift? Find out in this fast-paced mystery and stay tuned for more Marisol Holmes adventures. P.S This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I have to admit I did not see this ending coming.

Marisol Holmes is a half shifter and a descendant of Sherlock Holmes. She made the mistake of trusting the wrong person and now the Conclave wants her to prove herself before they will let her return to investigating supernatural cases. She is a very skilled detective, especially since she takes after her Holmes ancestor. Her trial case seems to involve a jaguar shifter and Marisol must not only prove her abilities, she must determine if this murder was an attempt to get her mother off the shifter throne? Will Marisol uncover the truth before it hits closer to home? What will she learn about herself in the process?

A Study in Shifters is the first book in The Adventures of Marisol Holmes series. The most frustrating portion of the book is the fact that Marisol is constantly thinking about events that happened in the past, leading the reader to think they may have missed a book or two. With that being said, the mystery and adventure were entertaining and Verstraete has definitely created a cast of characters that readers will want to return to. There should be more cases in the future and maybe even a prequel to explain the events from the past.

Lets start with this: the opening for this novel is terrible. It follows half-panther shifter Marisol Holms who is also a decedent of the Sherlock.

The author, Majanka Verstraete, went for the super witty, cocky, royal, female lead. Who is also skinny, so she shouldn't eat hamburgers.

STOP IT. I just, there are ways to work that character. This book isn't one of them. 

The writing doesn't capture me at all, to the point where I don't remember anything about this. Who dated who, facebook, just... nothing. This whole book was a confusing blur that I didn't appreciate. The writing was unclear and muddled, the shifting of time made no sense,

You want something with shifters? Go ahead, give this a try. Otherwise, I would say don't bother.

Study in Shifters is the first book in a fun new series that puts a feminine (and paranormal) spin on Sherlock Holmes.

Marisol Holmes is a great x3 granddaughter to the infamous Sherlock, but she's also a jaguar shifter. And her mother's the head of the jaguar shifter clan. That makes her a half-blood, and not every other shifter is keen on having a half-blood in line for the throne.

Marisol has had her ups and downs, but lately it's been a lot of downs. She put her trust in the wrong guy, and let's just say that didn't have a happy ending. Then, to make matters even worse, a girl at a private school turns up dead, and all signs point to a jaguar shifter. It's up to Marisol to figure out what's really going on before it's too late.

I found the story to be an entertaining, quirky, and fun read. I've always loved Sherlock mysteries, and mysteries that were similar in vein (like Encyclopedia Brown), so A Study in Shifters was right up my alley. Plus, it had a paranormal aspect, which I found to add even more intrigue to the story. I'm not a huge fan of shifters, but I think that's because most shifter stories are more adult romance rather than YA mystery. I enjoyed the shifter aspect in this story.

I found Marisol to be a smart, albeit a little naive, girl who could hold her own, even against some not-so-nice characters. She's relatable, but still someone you wish you could be like.

I also really liked the girl who was a fox shifter (her name slips my mind right now). She was intelligent, and even though she only shows up a couple of times, she became a character I couldn't wait to see again. It might be my love of all things foxes, though, and that's why I liked her so much. I'd be a fox shifter if that were possible. lol

Of course there are characters you love to hate, too. The Head of the Conclave is one of them (his name also slips my mind right at the moment), as is Mannix.

The plot chugs along at a nice pace. It's not too slow, but not so quick that you speed through it. The storyline is intriguing and holds you rapt with attention, and you actually want to help Marisol solve the mysteries that are going on around her. There's an almost interactive quality to it, which I liked.

I also really love this cover.

The only thing I would have liked more of was shifting. I get why Marisol didn't shift into her jaguar until closer to the end, but it would have been fun to see some of the other characters in their animal form. Like a fox. Or an otter. That would've been fun.

Overall, I quite liked A Study in Shifters, and I am definitely looking forward to more books in the series.

Four stars from me!

Thanks to the publisher for an arc to read and give my honest opinion.

Marisol Holmes, descendant from the great Sherlock Holmes and also a jaguar shifter. After being outed from the Conclave for royally screwing up her last mission to the point of people getting hurt, she warrants another chance. This time Marisol heads to the exclusive Waynard Academy in England to investigate a murder of one of the students there.

This was an amazing read! I absolutely loved it since I am a huge Sherlock fan. The author did an amazing job of giving Marisol an arch nemesis in Mannix, the guy who betrayed her. I can't wait for another book! Five huge stars of entertainment! The shifter part is really cool too, a unique blend for sure.

I picked this book up for two major reasons, number one being shifters, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a good shifter book, number two being Sherlock Holmes. Every mystery lover must admire Sherlock Holmes. Jackaby was a novel that I felt like combined Sherlock Holmes and the fantasy world, so I hoped that this might be like that. But unfortunately this book was not like that at all.

The title A Study in Shifters makes you think the book would be about shifters, but none of the characters actually shifted into their animal forms until the last ten percent of the book. It was basically a high school murder mystery book with some shifter politics thrown in. Which is fine, but not exactly what I was expecting.

The one thing that really bothered me about this book was the way Marisol’s thoughts and internal monologue were done. When Marisol was trying to piece together parts of the mystery or having any internal thought she would refer to it as “going into Sherlock mode” or going into her “mind palace” and searching through the imaginary cabinets in it for memories or answers. When she referred to her jaguar side she referred to it like it was a separate part of herself. It was like reading about someone with multiple personality disorder who was aware of the other personalities. It really disrupted the flow of the story and I just couldn’t get used to it.

…..”At this, my jaguar let alone an enormous roar that echoed off the walls of my mind palace. She jumped up and clawed at the air, showing her teeth, and I knew that if I could still shift, my jaguar would have no trouble clawing her eyes out.”

Yes, this is a real quote. Where she is referring to the jaguar in her mind, not a real jaguar. Instead of saying, the jaguar part of me wanted to shift and tear her face off, you got a picture of how the jaguar who lived in her “mind palace” responded to things.

“As I ran through those hallways, I reached deep within myself, to the dark hallways of my mind palace, and I began running too, toward that room that had served for so long as a prison for a part of me I couldn’t live with anymore. The door was half-destroyed already, my jaguar having done most of the work for me. She stared at me through the ruined door.”

One of the things I did really like was the Indiana Jones style of puzzles for the mystery. There was a cipher and some interesting riddles that Marisol had to solve in order to figure out the mystery. It had some National Treasure vibes that were fun to read about.

The pacing and plot were kind of slow, but it’s really the writing that killed it for me. I just couldn’t get into it. This isn’t really a book I would ever recommend, which is sad. I really wanted to like this one, it had so much potential, but it just didn’t come anywhere near fulfilling it.



I received a copy from Netgalley and also participated in the Blog Tour for this book. A Study in Shifters by Manjanka Verstraete–Blog Tour with Giveaway

Marisol Holmes like her great-great-great grandfather Sherlock Holmes likes to solve crimes and is or was a member of the Conclave, an underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases. After a case that goes horribly wrong Marisol is no longer a member of the Conclave but she plans to remedy that real soon.

In order to be reinstated as a member of the Conclave Marisol is sent on test case to prove to them if she is capable to be a detective. A young shifter girl turns up dead at the prestigious Waynard Academy boarding school in England so Marisol is sent by the Conclave to solve the murder.

Later Marisol finds out that her best friend Roan is missing and now she must find him before it is too late if it is not already. Was Roan kidnapped? If so who took him and why? Does Roan being missing have anything to with the any of the girls that were murder?

A Study in Shifters is filled with mystery around every corner and will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out whodunit. I tried all through the book to figure out who was doing the killing and thought I had it figured out to but boy was I surprised when I finally found out. Majanka Verstraete knows how to tell a story and keep you guessing the whole way through. I loved it. I can’t wait to see what Marisol and her friends have in store for un in the next book.

If you like a good mystery book then you are going to love A Study in Shifters. Pick up your copy today.