I am a lover of Sherlock Holmes retellings, and I love them even more when they take place in a sci-fi or fantasy setting. I am very lucky that there have been several in recent years. However, this isn't one of my favorites, I'm sad to say. The writing is strong; the author is clearly talented and imaginative. The chronic illness representation is excellent. My struggle with this is that it really is a very, very close retelling of Study in Scarlet, with a dash of BBC Sherlock thrown in at the end - and that means I've read this story before, and I already knew exactly what the expect the entire time. The characters and plot just didn't diverge enough. I liked the worldbuilding, such as it was - but because the story hewed so closely to the original Doyle, it didn't get to really dive into that in any real way.

I think this author has promise, and if this has sequels, those may be enjoyable to explore, but I hope the author allows themselves to take inspiration from Doyle and not pull so closely from the source text. When I want the original Sherlock Holmes, I read the original Sherlock Holmes; I hope for more variety from retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

„A Study in Black Brew“ is a masterpiece.
I honestly don‘t know how I could sum up my love for this book in just a short review.

This reminded me of why I loved Sherlock Holmes stories in the first place. But while the Sherlock and Watson dynamic as well as the intriguing cases are already a great base for an interesting story, the way Marie Howalt put a creative spin on it by setting the story on a foreign planet and adding lots of sci-fi elements makes this even better than a classic retelling.

I would have loved to make a creative comparison to this story being like drinking coffee and getting a caffeine rush, with the plot getting faster and more addictive here, but that would simply not do this book enough justice.
Right from the beginning, you are immediately drawn in by an intriguing main character, who‘s balancing the line between being a John Watson reimagining and still being a unique character, to perfection. And then you just never get pulled out of the thrilling adventure that this story is.

There is only one thing about "A Study in Black Brew“ that I was disappointed about. It‘s a standalone. Because how should I cope with the fact that this is all I get of Kellieth and Raithan‘s story?
I fell in love with the characters (a nonbinary, chronically ill chemist and a charismatic, incredibly intelligent agent-what's not to love?) and the planet as well as the writing style head over heels, I was hoping the book would never end. Well, I guess this means I will have to fight my sadness by reading every other book by Marie Howalt.

This story is a true gift to every Sherlock Holmes enjoyer as well as everyone who enjoys science fiction, crime solving, and an outsider perspective on our absurd human behaviors.


Thank you to NetGalley and Spaceboy Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable cozy novella, but not one that will stay with me for long. The mystery felt too similar to BBC’s Sherlock episode A Study in Pink, which took away some of the suspense, especially in the final showdown. However, I appreciated the thoughtful representation of living with chronic illness. The worldbuilding felt a bit lacking, but overall, it was still a pleasant read.

A Sherlock Holmes inspired tale that truly does justice to the original sleuth. Oh, the main detective and partner, Aliens. It was such a perfect change. A fairly low stakes and what I would call cozy fantasy mystery that left me wanting the sequel immediately despite no cliffhanger. The world was one of a complimentary one of inclusion, while questioning both the society and internal beliefs that still harbor prejudice. The start of world building is one I cannot wait to see continued on, there is a solid start in such a large world that left me wanting to learn more. Author, Marie Howalt, has been added to my list of authors to follow and I am greatly anticipating more of Kellieth and Raithan.

This read was definitely outside my comfort zone, but man am I incredibly pleased! I loved the world building in this novel and all the well rounded characters. I'm not too familiar with any of the tales of Sherlock Holmes, but still found this story too be very intriguing and fun. Also hilarious! I also love how diverse the species and profiles were. I would love another story in this universe.

“I could make a list of your many talents, Raithan, but I could certainly also make one of your flaws.”

Thank you to @mhowalt and @spaceboy_books (and later on @netgalley ) for the arc of this book, which should be out on 22nd May 2025.

Listen, there was A Study in Scarlet, then there was A Study in Pink and now there is A Study in Black Brew. I can’t lie, I never tire of a good Sherlock Holmes retelling, and this one was very fun.

Kellieth and Raithan form a very dynamic duo. They are similar enough to Watson and Sherlock that we know immediately where to stand, and yet they are different enough that it does feel like a brand new story with brand new dynamics.

I really liked how seamlessly the well-known story was incorporated into this futuristic world and all the interesting changes and questions that brought (questions about speciesm, ableism, difference, culture, customs, technology…). Watson’s disability was always a given but i never felt it was truly fully explored, while Kellieth’s informed their character, their view on the world and their new neighbour, as well as the investigation itself. And yet, they were never reduced to it and therefore, it made for a very interesting part of the story.

I loved every little way the story differed from the original all while maintaining a deeply nostalgic feeling about it. I felt excited to discover what was going to happen even as I felt I deeply knew the story. What a treat.

Bonus points for the humour in this novella. The lamp joke will remain my favourite (iykyk) but i could quote many others.

Bonus bonus points for the “crysant”. As a French woman, I feel fully represented.

(same review already available on my Storygraph today and will be available on my instagram on the 25th of march 2025)

Did I enjoy this book? I loved it!

Do I recommend it?
Yes. A thousand times yes.

A Study in Black Brew is a reimaging of Sherlock Holmes but with aliens. The relationship between the two protagonists is just perfect. Watching it unfold was so compelling I nearly read the book in one sitting. The whole story is excellent, with a compelling mystery, intriguing world building and interesting side characters.
I must talk about the chronic illness representation. As a chronic illness warrior myself I don’t think I have ever read a book that made me feel so seen. Kellieth’s struggles with their own body and the situation they find themselves in were so relatable. Everyone should read this book for this representation alone.

Any criticisms?
Nope.

Will I read it again? Will I read the sequel?
Yes, I can see this becoming one of my comfort reads.

Will I read the sequel?
I have already demanded book two from the author.

For fans of:
The Colibri Investigations Series
Sherlock Holmes
Heartstopper
A Psalm for the Wild Built
All Systems Red