Sherlock and Moriarty, infamous enemies, are boyfriend and girlfriend in the Lock & Mori series. When we last saw these two, Sherlock betrayed Moriarty. I thought as I picked up this book, "She's going to try to kill him." That's what I surmised from their last meeting. She would never forgive for what he had done. But that wasn't the case. She is still pretty angry with him, he is stuck in his ways according to her, and they have to deal with the repercussions of the night she tried to kill her father and failed.

Mind Games was such a surprise because I didn't think it could get any better from the last book and it did. I had a couple of complaints about the last story that I felt this one improved on. Mostly Sherlock didn't annoy me as much. Sherlock "annoy me?" you gasp with indignation. Yes, well Sherlock is a lovable, awkward, genius but in a relationship he just seems - desperate. I just don't like the way he acts around Mori. Either Mori was too angry with Sherlock and she spent less time with him or the rest of the story captured me so much that I didn't bother with him. Anyway you out it, I just liked the story more.

Mori is now dealing with her father being in jail (trying to get out), the police harassing her, and someone wanting her dead. She's been getting drawings that show her what she's done and is told to confess or trouble will happen. Mori tries all that she can to keep her brothers safe from her monster of a father while also trying to quell the monster in her. The mystery was very intriguing. I was enraptured by all the connections that were being made and the possible suspects. It was a very good twist that I would have never guessed.

Mind Games and this series is mostly about Mori and becoming the villain she was always meant to be. There is a lot of talk about how the police are corrupt, how she is helpless to keep her brothers safe, and how much better it would be to resolve everything the way her mother did - with cunning and persuasion. Mori's angry side is showing as well. She sees that she's not good enough for Sherlock. She wonders when he will see her for who she truly is. Now Sherlock on the other hand, is himself to the very core but there is one thing I can see changing - his belief in the police. He wants Mori to trust them and go to them. I think after all of this he's going to start saying how incompetent the are but he will still have the sense of justice we know of him having today.

I fear the worst with Mori and this twist ending. Mori isn't really a monster. She's angry and will kill to save her brothers but she's still the kind person who goes to Sherlock's aid when he truly need her. I have a theory that she will become who she really is when her brothers are taken away from her. That will destroy any goodness inside her and she will become not Mori but Moriarty. She will take back her father's name and unleash herself upon the world.

I'm pretty excited to see it all play out. Mori will surely lose her humanity and get her revenge. Sherlock will see her for who she really is. It's inevitable and I love it.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Lock & Mori: Mind Games by Heather W. Petty. This sequel begins two weeks after the first book in the Lock & Mori series ends. Alice, a close friend of their mother, comes to stay with Mori and her brothers while their father is being investigated. A severed hand is found in the outside garbage can causing suspicion to fall on Mori. The four siblings try to go to school, but are bombarded by reporters and angry people. Alice helps more than the siblings could have imagined and even though their father has been arrested, he still continues to threaten their safety. This story keeps twisting and unraveling and then finally shows who the killer is and why. Mori loves her brothers and struggles to keep them safe and together and she shows maturity beyond her years. Lock and his brother Mycroft help keep the siblings safe and work with Mori to solve the murders that have been taking place. The author has created a complex story around Sherlock and Moriarty and they have a strong friendship and charming relationship. 5 stars for this suspenseful and thrilling mystery!

I was unable to download this book before it expired. No review available.

After nearly dying at her father's hands, Mori wants nothing more than for her father to rot in jail, but she knows that her James Moriarty is more than capable of hurting his family even from behind bars. Several of the police officers on the case are friends with Mori's father and would love nothing more than to poke several holes in Mori's story. Protestors are camped out in front of the Moriarty home, and Mori starts receiving threatening letters and weird photographs. No, Mori definitely does not feel safe.

There are a few bright spots. Sherlock Holmes continues to be a stolid friend (boyfriend?), even as Mori debates whether or not she should push him away for his own sake, and Mori's mother's friend, Alice, arrives in town complete with a forged custody file that will allow Mori's brothers to stay in their home.

I was not expecting to like this sequel so much. I absolutely flew through this book. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but it was a little dark for me (there was some heavy stuff in the first book), and I remember feeling like I wasn't quite jiving with the writing. I don't know if I was just in the right place this time around or if something changed behind the scenes, but I am now completely sold on this series.

One thing I absolutely love about this series is how complicated Mori is. The reader can easily see how Mori could go down a path that will lead to the amorality we associate with Sherlock Holmes's nemesis. In fact, Mori clearly identifies and struggles with this aspect of her personality as well. The result is that the relationship between Lock and Mori is so fraught. I just so badly want them to be happy, but I can see the tragedy coming.

The twists at the end of this book kind of killed me. I need the next book in the series.

Lock and Mori is a modern re-telling of the infamous Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty - if they were teenagers and dating. In the first book, Lock & Mori, we learn that Mori is the daughter of an abusive, cop and her dead mother was not the saint Mori remembers. In the explosive conclusion, Mori feels as though Sherlock has betrayed her and is trying to find a way to forgive him and move forward.

Lock & Mori: Mind Games picks up where book one ends with Mori trying to protect her brothers, not just from her father, but from a vicious public and new unknown threats. Both Sherlock and Mori face tragedy and find ways to stand by one another in an ever more complicated relationship.

Watching Moriarty's descent into the criminal mastermind she becomes, feeling her pain and knowing her reasons makes this a most fascinating story. Mind Games is intense mystery at its finest - compelling and astounding in the depth of its plot. If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend it.

~ Shel

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lock & Mori was one of my favourite books this year, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on book 2. When the opportunity came up to be a part of the blog tour, I jumped at the chance, so thank you Hannah, and the team at Simon & Schuster!

After the ending of Lock & Mori, Mori is now feeling somewhat safe. Her father has been arrested, and she and her younger brothers are safe from his abuse. However, there are many who believe her father had nothing to do with the murders, and instead, are blaming Mori. As she becomes more and more involved in keeping her father in prison, and proving her innocence, the more she falls into danger. As always, Lock is by her side, and she finds herself relying on him more, but by doing so, he is also put in danger.

I loved Mori so much! In book 1, she endeared herself to me from the beginning, and this book is no different. She finds herself allowing some weaknesses, as she doesn't have to protect herself and her brothers from her evil father, but once it's clear someone is framing her for murder, and everyone she cares about is in danger, she reverts into a shell, pushing everyone away so they can't be hurt. She's not the typical YA heroine, but her strength is one of her most compelling attributes, and I find myself loving everything she does. I can't wait for the next book to she how she improves and progresses more.

There is some romance in this book, with Lock and Mori now more open with each other and with their feelings. They don't have many 'in your face' romantic times, but what there is, made me smile at every turn. The book rocked the boat a bit, in terms of their relationship, and I reckon there's more angst to come.

All in all, this was an amazing follow up to Lock & Mori, and I would urge everyone to go out and get this book!

So Mori's abusive and murdering father is behind jail so you'd think that he'd be less threatening. Lately she's been receiving notes and it seems like someone is leaving incriminating evidence that make it seem like shes the murderer - not her father - and that she could end up in jail. It can end up one of to ways it seems. One she can end up going to jail with her father or with her father frees. Both options are unacceptable and needs to find out whats really going on.

To be honest I had a hard time putting down this book. I was pretty much all day with the book and loved it. There was so much suspense wondering who is messing with her, wondering if it really is her father behind it all and questioning who can she really trust? I kept wondering what the next note would bring and if the person might actually come for her this time. I loved how caring and selfless Mori was when it came to her brothers, but I gotta question why she kept leaving them so much. When it came down to the ending I was totally surprised and didn't expect that person and what eventually did happen in the end. Overall it was a pretty great book I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see whats in store for the next book.

This one reminded me of a cross between Every Word and I Hunt Killers, though I didn't like it quite as well as either of those. Sherlock and Mori don't have a great deal of depth, though this may be in part becase it's the second in a series, having done the bulk of the development in book one. I found it a little cliched, expected paths and developments and the frustration of an unresolved ending. I wil say that I could jump into this book not having read its predecessor with no real difficulty understanding what was going on.