A Study in Charlotte

Transplanted from England to attend a college prep school in Connecticut, Jamie Watson is most looking forward to meeting someone he’s heard about his whole life, Charlotte Holmes. Yes, that Holmes and that Watson. He’s fantasized about cracking crimes with her since he was a young boy, but he isn’t quite prepared for the reality of Charlotte. She’s a seemingly emotionless drug addict with an incredible knack for analyzing every detail of a person or situation. When one of their fellow students is murdered, they become the prime suspects. How will this new generation of Holmes and Watson solve the case?

While the premise is fascinating, the delivery, sadly, is not. The friendship between Holmes and Watson feels very contrived, as the first time they met Holmes coldly brushes him off. The next time she sees him, they’re basically BFFs.

There was so much potential for intrigue and fun, but the plot didn’t grab me at all. The characters were interesting, but didn’t click. The action didn’t move quickly for a murder mystery and Holmes’ casual use of hard drugs didn’t mesh with her character, although Sherlock Holmes was also a drug user.

I was hoping for an exciting teen mystery. I didn’t find it here.