The Serpent Under

This is a gripping and well-written full-length mystery for fans of Sherlock Holmes. The book is rich with detail and well-developed characters (I especially enjoyed Heffie). Without being graphically violent, the plot is so exciting, I did not want to put the book down! The mystery was clever, engaging, and not overly easy to solve. Additionally, written in first-person as Dr. Watson, the style does well at emulating Doyle’s. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others who enjoy Sherlock who aren’t canon-only purists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. It is also on Goodreads, and will be posted on Amazon and Instagram upon publication.

Bonnie MacBird does it again in the Sherlock Holmes world, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that twists and turns that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot overall. The characters felt like they belonged in this series and from the world. I enjoyed how good Bonnie MacBird wrote this and can’t wait for more.

For fans of: Sherrie Thomas, Laurie R. King
Genre: 🔎 Historical Mystery
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🚫
TW: suicide, drowning, snakes

Synopsis: MacBride’s Sherlock Holmes’ series is ideal for lovers of the great detective & his faithful biographer, continuing where Conan Doyle leaves off. The Serpent Under, 6th in the series, finds Holmes & Watson enlisted by the queen to solve the murder of a royal insider. Before long, they’re embroiled in a child’s drowning & a traitor within a women’s movement, which both seem inexplicably linked to the palace death.

Thoughts: For close readers of the original canon, MacBride does an excellent job capturing the voice of both Holmes & Watson. And for those who simply enjoy a good historic mystery, the author creates stories lush with period details & twisty puzzles of which even ACD would be proud. This tale even has a cameo from brother Mycroft & a plucky Baker Street Irregular who I hope to see make future appearances. Given Holmes’s complicated relationship with women, it’s enjoyable to see him engage with an Emily Pankhurst-type activist & weigh in on women’s suffrage in a nuanced way that feels faithful to his character. I also appreciate the sensitive, yet period-appropriate, treatment of Roma. The mystery is appealingly complex with a satisfying resolution. While I had my suspicions about the culprit, MacBride casts doubt wide enough to stump even the best armchair detectives.