Art in the Blood

Not cozy. I know it's Sherlock Holmes and therefore you might not think “cozy” in the first place, but a lot of my friends are cozy readers, so I just wanted to be clear. ;)

As a pastiche–a new Sherlock novel written like it's a long-lost old one–it is very careful and clearly thoughtfully-crafted. I must admit personally it wasn't my favorite pastiche, but it does treat the characters with a lot of sympathetic depth!

The mystery itself was more suspense than puzzle; much of the actual information-gathering happens behind the scenes, in part because Mycroft is involved. There are serious elements that heighten the tension, including child endangerment, abuse, torture, and lawlessness/”the bad guys have bought the law” situations. Oh, and a French associate with dubious motives. He was frustrating at first, but was soon the least of Holmes' and Watson's problems!

I am a soft heart and I prefer my cozies these days, though I have an enduring love for Sherlock and will inevitably read any pastiche I come across. If you're like me, you'll probably be interested by the author's twists and additions, and appreciate this very human presentation of both Watson and Holmes. Just know you may be skimming several pages near the end!