As I was reading A Game Most Foul, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it magical realism or were the characters just crazy? Was this light-hearted mystery or was it headed someplace dark? Honestly, now that I’ve finished, I’m still not sure I know what this book was.

I definitely enjoyed the characters. The main character, Jules, is hard of hearing and I appreciated gaining that perspective. I loved that Holmes and Watson were characters. I loved seeing how their established personalities played out in this new story. Books that reference other books are always a favorite.

Here’s where it lost me. The whole vibe of the book didn’t feel consistent. I think it wanted to be a dark, true crime novel in the vein of Truly Devious, but it just didn’t fully commit. It left me unsure of where the book was going and not in a good way. There was an element of whimsy and fantasy that didn’t seem consistent with the rest of the novel. I didn’t really see the ending coming, but again, not in a good way. I think I wasn’t engaged enough in the plot to be making predictions and, overall, it didn’t feel satisfying.

I really wanted to love this book and I just didn’t. I wouldn’t discourage students from reading it, especially if they’re really into mysteries and Sherlock Holmes, but I wouldn’t necessarily encourage them either.