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.

I absolutely love the images that are attached to each chapter! I wish all historical fiction novels had this. The combination of the images and MacBird’s descriptive writing make it easier for a reader to be in Victorian London.

MacBird stays true to the personalities of Holmes and Watson but adds her own touch with young Heffie. I enjoyed the fact that Heffie is streetwise but working with the police. She clearly outwits them over and over again, but is using her powers, like Holmes, for good.

I quickly realized who the villain was, but I couldn’t figure out why or how. The ending results came as a revelation. I could see how others had done the deed and why, but I also knew them to be too easy. I was pleased to see that there were moments that Watson showed the tutelage of Holmes, but that he was still “Victorian” in his views. I sometimes wonder if some authors who write of Watson make him too prejudice. MacBird displays a balance in Watson’s personality, as well as Holmes’ eccentricity and vibration.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Serpent Under - Treachery, Twists and Terror in Baker Street" by Bonnie MacBird takes readers into the atmospheric setting of the fog-laden streets of Victorian London, masterfully recreated with rich descriptions and intricate detail. I felt as though I was at the movies!

MacBird's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is both authentic and fresh, breathing new life into these classic characters while staying true to Doyle's original portrayals, while new characters add depth and intrigue. One of my favorites is Heffie, a young, super-intelligent girl off the streets who assists Holmes and Watson by going undercover and fading into society's background, collecting information to assist their case. They continually correct her broken English, and their relationship is a bonus to the storyline.

The plot centers around the torture and murder of a young, high-society woman who is soon to be married. Her body is found in the Queen's castle and made to appear as a horrific suicide. The mystery and investigation that unfolds lead to the discovery of several additional murders. It is a thrilling rollercoaster ride filled with unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the very end - just when you think you know who did it, you find out you're wrong! The intricate web of treachery and deceit surrounding the central murder mystery is expertly woven, with each revelation bringing new layers to the story. MacBird's sharp writing and ability to create tension make it impossible to put the book down.

What truly impressed me was the balance of suspense and historical context, with well-researched references that enhance the narrative without feeling forced. The dialogue sparkles with wit, and the pacing is impeccable. I felt like I just rolled through this story. "The Serpent Under" is a must-read for fans of classic mysteries and new readers alike. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating page-turner that honors the genius of Sherlock Holmes!

Thank you, #NetGalley, #BonnieMacBird, and #Harper360, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheSerpentUnder.

The Serpent Under finds Sherlock Holmes, and his colleague, Dr. Watson, following a serpentine path of crimes and clues from Windsor Castle to a dangerous gathering of suffragettes. As the body count begins to grow, Holmes must use his renowned logic to identify the perpetrator before he and Watson become victims as well.

I've read most, if not all, of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories, so I wasn't sure what to expect from author Bonnie MacBird. Often, attempts to write stories in the style of an original author fall disappointingly short. Not so with The Serpent Under! The two main characters are true to the original, and the twists and turns of the plot rival those of Doyle. This is a thoroughly satisfying mystery, and I hope to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love Sherlock Holmes, and I love a good Sherlock pastiche, so I was very happy to come across this book. This was my first Bonnie MacBird novel, and it won’t be the last.

MacBird writes Sherlock’s quirky personality pretty well. While I wouldn’t say she captures Doyle’s writing style perfectly, the book was still very entertaining and I really felt like they were the same Sherlock and Watson from Doyle’s books.

This was a pretty good mystery, and there was some good action in it. A good addition to the Sherlock collection. Now to go back and read the other books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an advanced copy of this book.

This book is richly detailed with well-developed characters. The mystery was cleverly done, and it was fun to sleuth along with the characters. This author does a wonderful job of staying true to the voices of the original characters, Holmes and Watson. For fans of mysteries, especially historical ones, this is one to check out, as there is a nice blend of historical details and suspense. The pacing keeps the reader actively engaged.

Another excellent addition to the Sherlock Holmes Adventures series. I really appreciate Bonnie MacBird's writing style; she captures the spirit of the original Sherlock Holmes novels beautifully. Her writing is detailed and imaginative, allowing me to easily visualize each scene. The plot is well-crafted and engaging from the very first page. I love every single installment in this series and hope she continues to write more. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

This was an entertaining Sherlock Holmes pastiche. There are several interwoven plots and murders involved as Holmes and Watson chase around tracking down clues. The main murder that leads to all the other murders is particularly gruesome. Let’s just say that the choice of “serpent” in the title isn’t a random choice. The author captures the spirit of a Sherlock Holmes mystery as well as depicting the late Victorian era. She takes the reader from Windsor Castle to the poorest areas of London to a gypsy encampment to several other unique locations. If you enjoy a Holmesian mystery, you’ll enjoy this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I thought this was another good book in this series.
It was well thought out and had a good mystery.
I was a little surprised by who the bad person was.
I could have done without the snakes. I’m not a snake lover. If you’re a big Sherlock Holmes fan definitely check this series out.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bonnie MacBird for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Serpent Under out January 7, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I’m really obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. This was a really fun story. I definitely need to go back and read the other books. I loved the characters. The setting at Windsor Castle was fun. I thought the mystery and writing was awesome. I would definitely read more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes stories!

Holmes and Watson tackle three interwoven mysteries involving murder, treachery, and deceit. From Windsor Castle to London’s docklands, they investigate a boy’s drowning, palace intrigue, and a suspected traitor within a women’s rights organization. As danger looms even at 221B Baker Street, the duo races to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

This author does a fantastic job of mimicking Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing, though she does have a habit of throwing them into danger where they almost die. I love the friendship between Holmes and Watson and how they work together.

The plot of this book was interesting and kept me turning the page. I had my suspicions from the start, but I enjoyed Holmes working out the details of the cases and how they connected. The clues were woven into the narrative perfectly and the cast of characters were entertaining.

Readers who enjoy a good Holmes pastiche will no doubt enjoy this one. I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

Bonnie MacBird's Sherlock & Watson are so well written, you'll keep checking the cover to make sure it's not an Arthur Conan Doyle original. The characters are authentic to the original stories with the added characters meshing into the era's atmosphere of inquiry. Three seperate inquiries weave through THE SERPENT UNDER to come to asingle solution. The journey to the solve is engrossing, you'll feel as if you're on the page with them. Definitely 5 easy stars.

Thanks to Bonnie MacBird, Harper 360, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sixth Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Bonnie MacBird and it does not disappoint. The author’s portrayal of Holmes and Watson is spot on and the adventure is written well enough to keep you guessing right up until the end.

The plot involves a murder at Windsor Castle and spreads out in an intricate web from there. I especially liked Heffie, one of Holmes’s street urchins and think she could be a character worth her own set of adventures. Recommended.

I guess we need to look at The Serpent Under in a few different ways. First, Victorian London. MacBird does a fabulous job of bringing the foggy, damp, crowded city to life. We see the people, issues, and prejudices of the time.

Second, our main characters. Holmes and Watson feel like the originals, if that makes sense. They have the mannerisms and partnership they always have. Yes, Holmes’ attitudes towards women, Roma, etc. are more modern, but he was never conventional. And here it particularly works well since it doesn’t allow him to just go along with the easy solution. We only get brief glances of Lestrade and Mycroft, which is appropriate. Heffie, a former irregular who now works with the police, is a good addition. She’s tough and reliable and very good at working undercover. The dead woman’s family and friends are all a bit odd and she seems to have been the only truly likeable one of the bunch.

Plot – We have three different mysteries that are clearly all going to be connected, that’s how MacBird’s stories often work. We have several twists and turns and the palace is almost working against Holmes, even though they called him in. The clues were woven in well and the plot moved along at a good pace. There were several suspects – or at least people acting suspiciously. The reveal was nicely dramatic.

The title is appropriate. We have a lot of snakes in this book – painted, tattooed, and live. My husband would probably not like it for that reason alone.