Where All Paths Meet

The Adventures of Holloway Holmes #3

by Gregory Ashe

Holmeses. Moriartys. Adlers. What’s a Watson to do? When Jack Moreno receives an anonymous invitation to the Zodiac anniversary gala, he’s inclined to ignore it. His best friend (and more), Holloway Holmes, vanished from his life five months ago, and Jack has no desire to bump into Holloway’s terrifying father, Blackfriar. But included with the invitation is an offer Jack can’t refuse: the promise that he’ll learn what really happened to his mother. At the gala, an anonymous text sends Jack on a collision course with an amateur thief and, more importantly, with Holmes. Together, they must race to recover what the thief has stolen—information not only about Jack’s mom, but about the Holmes family. Information that could bring down Blackfriar’s empire. By the time they reach the thief, though, she’s dead, and the stolen information is missing. To recover it, Jack and Holmes will have to learn who killed her. But other people, powerful people, are searching for the information too, and someone has already tried to kill Jack once. He’ll need luck and quick thinking to stay alive. And, of course, he needs Holloway Holmes.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Young Adult, Crime

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2023

About the author

I'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.

While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!

My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 5 out of 5]

✰ 5 stars ✰

“But he was so much more. Sherlock Holmes was a brilliant detective, Jack. He would have been that regardless of other circumstances. But he was a good man—he was a happy man—because of John Watson.”



Did I rush home from work, so I could start reading Where All Paths Meet? Was I so distracted that I don't even recall what I had for dinner? Did I stay awake till 1 am, because I just had to know what future awaited these precious bois? Was it the most enjoyable and entertaining 3 and half hours of my day?

Yes. A thousand times yes, to all of the above.

For Jack, it may have been five months of agony of not knowing Holloway's whereabouts, but the few days of their unexpected and ill-timed reunion made for the most agonizingly frustrating, emotional read that I have experienced in quite awhile. And I say this with the utmost respect and gratitude to Gregory Ashe - his writing style, for me, is 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼. It was the most beautiful and perfect conclusion to a series that had me counting down the days to the sequel release date - that had my heart in it's clutches at literally every moment of this book.

I kid you not - for every reprieve granted to our heroes - there was another hint of danger lurking in the corner. It was brilliant - it was emotional - it was everything I was not expecting and more. Jack and Holloway's story - the chemistry between a Watson and a Holmes did not fade away with the originals - it lives on with them. 💟💟

And you know, what was so great - that all the while that the mystery is unfolding, the clues are unraveling, the tension is heightening, we get to see this beautiful love growing between two young boys, who, in the process of protecting the other, somehow, hurting each other, because of how much they love each other. Since their first meeting, they had been 'inseparable, with the quantum reality of a Holmes and Watson finding each other'. 🥹🥹

I loved that we are always reminded that they are very much teenagers - that there is still so much that is not in their control. Yet, despite that, they always find their way to each other - through their playful banter, the reassuring glances, the frustrations at each other's stubbornness, the silent but deadly 'touch him and you'll die' vibes - it's what makes them 'always fit together. Always. From the beginning.'

“What do you say to that, I wanted to know. What am I supposed to say? What do you want me to say? But what I was really asking was, How am I supposed to do this again?

I barely survived the first time; what am I supposed to do when you leave me again?”

Jack is an amazing protagonist; being in his head, that incredible balance between doing what is right, and having that humorous levity to his choice of words is wonderful to rad. Because for all his strengths and weaknesses - for all that he is brave in his actions, for all that he is vulnerable to his emotions, for all the pains he feels at his helplessness, for all the strength he displays in the face of danger and discoveries about his family past - he is kind - so very kind - he shines with the kindness that makes my heart ache for him and how much he cares so much for so much.🥺🥺 Even when he says that he hates H (which, let's be honest, he never could), he still covers him with affection, tends to his wounds without hesitation, voices his anger and despair at the thought of losing him again, bears the brunt of his distrust, and still tries his hardest to keep pace with his detective skills. 💘💘

“Whether you forgive me or not is irrelevant, Jack. I will do it, if it becomes necessary, because you are the most important person in the world to me, and because I love you.”

For every metaphorical and literal blanket Jack wrapped around H, for every comforting hand, for every reassuring hug, for every hurtful comment that was laced with love, for every tender touch, I wanted to give Holmes a thousand times more of that. This boy - this beautiful boy who deserves all the happiness - a life free of burden - a moment of peace - a feeling of just being happy as he is. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 He was no longer a Holmes bot, but just a boy who wanted to make right the wrong. I wanted to take him away from all the hurt and pain he had to endured all his life, a life without feeling safe and protected and loved. And all the little reveals into his past and his future - all the torture that I could not keep him safe from - all the tears Jack shed for him and his inability to protect him - broke me every time. 💔💔 They both needed so many hugs from each other and from me for all the trials they were going through.

“I reached out, and he found my hand again instantly in the dark. Always. He would always find me, I thought. Even in the dark. “I’m sorry too.”



And still, Holloway surprised me. He showed so much growth in this part - that he willingly opened himself up to Jack - that he let down his walls for him - that scene when he smiled that dorky smile - okay, scratch that. That whole chapter - leading up to that smile - that entire chapter WRECKED ME - in the best possible way. 🫠🫠🫠 There weren't any overly intimate scenes, which I didn't really mind, but, God, in just a span of a few days of their reunion, their yearning for each other - that palpable want with the light-hearted yet flirty teasing was electric - I was screaming into my fist at both of them that 'hurry up and do something' and when something FINALLY did happen... 🤍🤍🤍

Well, you'll just have to read it. 🥰🥰

And if I have learned anything about myself these past few weeks is that what I look for the most in a book is the writing. If the writing doesn't connect with me - regardless of character dynamics or story-line - I will not find myself enjoying it. But, this - this was - like water - water that flowed so naturally and smoothly - without bump - without any hindrance. 💜💜 It was definitely a lot darker, a lot more sinister, a lot more murder and mayhem in this finale, but I enjoyed every minute of it - the mystery kept me going, I didn't know what to expect, how they would react, who would be the next victim. Every scene, every detail, every interaction, every twist, every reveal, every clutch to my heartstrings - purely purposeful, intensely intentional. I could wax praise for it for a lot longer, but let's just leave it at that. 😊

Special shout-out to Rivera - this man deserves his own spin-off series or a short interlude into his mind on what he really thinks about Jack and Holloway. I've loved his character since the first book and just thinking about how much he's had to endure from their craziness and sheer number of white hairs their antics must have given him by now make him a winner in my heart - a true champion. 👍🏻👍🏻

Gregory Ashe has an impressive, if not extremely daunting, list of books under his name. And it makes me so happy, so very relieved, that my first foray into his works was such a successful one. Maybe it was his style of writing that just connected with me. Maybe it was the ingenious way in which he incorporated the Holmes lore into such an intriguing young-adult mystery. Maybe it just ticked all the boxes that make a story the best it can be for me - having the perfect ingredients - the right dosage of everything that makes a book shine in my eyes - and in my heart, forever. 🥹🥹🥹

“You are my soul, Jack Moreno. I do not know why John Watson wrote his stories that way, why he wrote himself so small, when he was so much more.

I do not think I will ever understand. But I do not want to know what I would be without you.”

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Jack and Holloway: a definition - ❝I'll take care of you // It's rotten work // Not to me, not if it's you.❞ — Anne Carson

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - 5 stars Eargasm Galore

Story - 4 stars

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

not gonna lie, book two left me conflicted on how to feel about Jack and Holloway together bc there were certain things that happened/were revealed that made me doubt their romance for a bit (especially after loving them so much in book one? i was STRESSED bc of book two lol but i'm just picky with specific things so it's me, not the book)? as much as i loved their dynamic and banter, i also need to feel like they're the only one for each other or i'm gonna side eye them the whole time rather than actually enjoying their interactions but, thankfully, i do think book three redeemed itself on my doubts with some things being cleared up and resolved. also, finally getting Holloway's full backstory had me sobbing for him. he just needs all the hugs fr. 😭 i didn't really like Paxton in the previous book, but i'm surprised at how this book was able to make me feel for him and i was even rooting for his happiness. there were things that happened i was frustrated by, but it was never a bad frustration the way i felt for book two so i consider it a win and, hey, i'm team Jack and Holloway again by the end. 🤣🥹

***
The Adventures of Holloway Holmes series:
#1 The Strangest Forms — 4.5 stars
#2 The Old Wheel — no rating
#3 Where All Paths Meet — 4 stars

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Dec 4, 2023: brb jogging off to listen to this epic conclusion on audiobook 🏃🏻‍♀️💨
————
happy release day!! go go go 🥳🥳

also, the first chapter of The Face in the Water is the featured sneak peek at the end of the book. if you read those, be sure to head there first - you won’t regret it! i may or may not be squealing still 🫣 (my dms are open!!)
————
me in the aftermath of this book:

i'm a mess in distress but we're still [grooving while demanding more, because our hunger's insatiable]

**note: i've tried my best to sidestep as many spoilers as possible, previous books included. please let me know if this review still manages to make any sense or if it's a jumble of nonsense, thanks 🤣

[4.4~4.5] with the closing of the curtains, so marks the end of an era: the first arc with our beloved Jackoway, who have effortlessly burrowed their way into our hearts and taken up permanent residence. as Jack pursues the truth behind the boggling revelations dropped on us at the end of the last adventure, this grand finale brings us to the climax of the twisting, traitorous, three-ring circus that defines the dynamic binding these powerful families, who see each other as nothing more than playthings to manipulate and outmaneuver, together.

the mystery is enrapturing but particularly in its layered manipulations, different from what we've seen thus far. the whodunnits prevail while simultaneously tackling the mutual exclusivity of perfection and being human.

but what happens to the united front when Jack and Holloway disagree on the fundamental keystone that makes or breaks the direction of their investigation? with every piece of evidence coated in a biased glaze applied with single-minded ferocity, their ability to pick apart truth from fiction is compromised, and they butt heads at every corner.

"Sit and watch. And then tell me, Jack, that human is better."

Holloway's journey through the eyes of Jack is a heartbreaking one. accepting nothing short of perfection and the epitome of self-flagellation, H never ceases to beat himself up against his own ill-defined standards. the root of desperation lies in Jack's frenetic attempts to peel the scales from H's eyes with his own two hands, but the brainwashing and abuse endured since he can remember leaves H partial to his father's old tricks. no amount of chipping away at the unwavering belief that Blackfriar can do no wrong is enough to make even a scratch. at times i even saw some echoes of the Hazard we witness in Transactional Dynamics, who refuses to see himself as a victim of abuse.

this examination of how to begin deconstructing threadbare excuses that have been built up in the mind as titanium chains, of how to reconcile the monster behind the mask of a presumed god, of how to take down a monolith when the self is confined within the shadow of incompetence - marked by every error in judgment, every wrong move, every failure - but from an outsider's helpless perspective is another example of GA’s masterful grip on the human condition.

honed in on the human element, the story pulls you apart slice by slice in its realism. there is no greater helplessness than having your outstretched hand refused by a loved one who doesn’t wish to be saved. you wonder if truths can become too insurmountable to accept as reality, and sometimes it’s as if the only choice is to brace for eventual impact in a blazing crash of smoke and fire.

but above all, GA is kind. kind in the plight of a child only wanting to be loved, accepted, understood. kind in depicting a future where family is not solely defined by blood. kind in the retaking of power stolen from their innocent grasp.

in some ways we are left with more questions than answers, but this book couldn't have ended any other way.

---- (possible low-key spoilers ahead)
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.
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ok let's move on from the artsy-fartsy so i can share my more lighthearted request in hopes of manifesting it in the not-so-distant future 😆 i'd give anything to read H's pov of Jacked Jack's glow up - kicking butt and taking names, whose innovative use of socks reaches new heights, and whose worst enemy has somehow become gravity itself (a foe even more powerful than any of the Holmeses, if i dare say so myself).

Jack’s default setting of blended anger and concern around H was so endearing. even with smoke coming out of his ears, he still goes the extra mile to make sure H understands what he means in no uncertain terms - not without plenty of teasing, of course.

Papa Moreno, may you rest easy in the space between this and the next arc (because there *will* come a day when we return to this universe so steel your heart for more of your son's shenanigans!); tsundere Rivera, may your blood pressure remain within normal parameters as you settle into this rad uncle role that you’ve somehow adopted; Jack’s friend circle, may every single one of them continue to be as amazing as they are and by Jack's side during the lows and highs!

Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book - this is my honest review :)

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. I have been so blown away by just how much enjoyment I’ve gotten from them. This book I found the storyline to be my least favourite I think, but I still loved it it’s probably a 4.5 for me but I’m rounding up for the story as a whole and how much fun I’ve had. Jack Moreno will go down as one of my favourite MCs as I have a soft spot for messy, sassy bi-disasters with hearts of gold.

I did enjoy this book being focused more on the background of the families and did not expect it to go the way it did at all!

At the end of book 2 I really wanted some good and satisfying grovelling from Holloway and while I don’t think we really got that as such, I’m actually happy with how they reconciled and the emotions were very true given who Holloway and Jack are. Feelings and love are messy and complicated and things are rarely clear cut and I think that this book does a great job highlighting that. I really love the two of them together and I want them to be happy forever.

One of the things that I’ve enjoyed about this series too is that it actually shows completely rational emotional responses to things. Something shocking or upsetting happens and the characters cry and have emotions about it. At the end of the day these characters are teenagers being forced to act beyond their age and so often in these sorts of books they just stoically carry on which is wildly unrealistic.

I never read ahead on the synopsis of series cause I don’t want the spoilers. So don’t be like me and think that there’s 4 books out cause there’s actually 3 books and a short story collection. I barreled through the end of this not realising I was up to date and was so distressed I was looking on Reddit AMA boards with the author at midnight trying to work out if more books are planned. Good news is that it sounds like there are and there are definitely enough storylines available to explore still.

I feel like fair warning, if you read this series have some spare time planned cause once I started they literally became all I could think about and I binged read them so hard

The Adventures of Holloway Holmes
The Strangest Forms 5⭐️
The Old Wheel 5⭐️

[yaishin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was expecting betrayal and abuse at some point because this is Gregory Ashe we're talking about here but it still caught me so off guard.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blubbering because: sad/ gorgeous/ relieved/ happy, but also blubbering because: there's no more!!

(Yes, there is more teased in the stories. But GA has so many series going on that I won't believe it until I see it.)

This was relentless on both the crime and relationship stuff. It went hard, and it mostly succeeded. GA does love his daddy issues, and -- while Jack definitely had some friction and a reverse-care relationship with his dad (moreso in books 1 and 2) -- this was very much Holmes and Blackfriar's book. The fact that we were one step removed (getting Jack's POV of H's relationship with his father) made it way more effective than the sort of daddy issues we usually get in the Hazardverse, where we're in the heads of the ones rage-spiraling (Emery, North) or spiral-spiraling (J-H) or overcompensating (Shaw, Tean, Auggie to some degree). Jack is able to see what Holmes, for all his clear-eyed logic, cannot: the manipulation, abuse, and cruelty at the heart of Blackfriar's "training" and control. And balancing out this horror is some of the most emotional, vulnerable, and evocative prose I can remember reading from GA, as Jack works through his pain and fear and anger and finally has to give way to the love underneath it all. It was so good that I felt like I should slow down to really wallow in it, but that's what re-reads are for.

It feels weird to rank Jack and Holmes against the Hazardverse couples, because these two are teenagers and only at the very beginning of things where we leave them: it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. I wouldn't class this as YA, but there's no getting around that they are high schoolers, not adults; and while Jack is pretty forthright about his desires, this is (appropriately, in my opinion) fade to black. But if I were to rank them, they would be up with Jem and Tean at the very top. What is it with these Utah boys?

My main gripe is the lack of breathing room at the end; I could have done with more of these two happy and not in mortal peril, enjoying being boyfriends after a long build-up followed by months of separation and trauma. I enjoy the companion stories, but I do wish we got more of an epilogue or emotional closure in the book itself. That said, there are so many threads to pull here that there could easily be another arc or two (please please please please please): besides the teaser in the last companion story, there is a lot to unravel with Holmes's family, and Paxton, and Tom, and whatever other Watsons might jump out of the woodwork, and of course, the Big Bad, who I doubt is taken entirely off the board.

(And Rivera and Yazzie! Thinking back to book 1 -- what an arc those two got! More Rivera and Yazzie! Can they beat up Ammon?)

So I will live in hope of another HH arc. But in the meantime: an excellent standalone series that takes a premise that could have been ridiculous and turns it into a moving, gripping story. And while this is on a smaller scale than some of GA's other work -- primarily concerned with the corruption of a few exceptional, and exceptionally wealthy, families, mostly sidestepping the broader critique of political and police corruption that runs through much of the Hazardverse stuff -- it works with the insular boarding school setting, the tight Jack-Holloway focus, and the fact that these are, again, teenagers. Jack, my beloved. May you find your platonic soulmate, Jem, one day.

Can't wait to re-read.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where All Paths Meet, the final instalment of The Adventures of Holloway Holmes , is a cracking read, a clever and engrossing mystery in which Gregory Ashe skilfully pulls together all the plot threads seeded through the previous books to bring the story arc to an exhilarating and satisfying close. Where All Paths Meet picks up around five months after the events of The Old Wheel, and you really need to have read that (and The Strangest Forms) before this one, or you’ll be completely lost. This is a same-couple series with an overarching plotline, and there will be spoilers for the previous books in this review.

The author delivered a real gut-punch at the end of The Old Wheel, when Jack discovered that Holloway had been keeping a huge secret from him – that Jack is actually a Watson (on his mother’s side) – which ended with a massive row and Holloway completely disappearing from Jack’s life, his room at Walker emptied and his phone number disconnected. Five months later, Jack is still a mess of emotions; angry at Holloway for keeping secrets, angry at himself for falling for it – and for him – hurt and upset at the way Holloway just cut him out of his life so easily, and miserable without him.

Then Jack receives an invitation to an event at Zodiac (a multinational tech corporation in which Blackfriar Holmes is the major shareholder and CEO, and Maggie Moriarty is the chief of AI) together with an anonymous note: “Come if you want to know the truth about your mother.” Of course, there’s no way Jack is going to pass up the chance to find out the truth about his mother’s death and what he now realises were several attempts on his own life over the last few months.

He arrives to find the party in full swing, and after a strange confrontation with the Holmeses – Blackfriar, his icily beautiful wife and H’s sister, Noneley – Jack receives an anonymous text telling him to go to Maggie Moriarty’s office straight away. Deciding it’s unlikely she’ll actually be there, and still hoping to glean some information about his mother, Jack takes the bait. Just as he steps out of the elevator, the power goes out and as he’s making his way cautiously along the corridor in the dim emergency lighting, he sees a young woman running towards him wearing an ID badge and carrying something small in one hand. Jack watches her crash through the fire exit door, then continues along his way and enters Maggie’s office to see a figure standing on her desk and then, the open wall safe behind them. The thief runs; Jack gives chase and corners them, but in the tussle that ensues finds himself caught in a very painful – and very familiar – wrist lock.

Jack and H don’t have time to savour their reunion; shouts from above are followed by bullets and the blare of alarms, and it’s only after they’ve evaded pursuit that Jack finally has the opportunity to let out his months of pent-up frustration and have a good yell at Holloway for leaving. He isn’t going to let H off the hook easily – he’s got a lot of explaining to do – but Jack recognises that can’t be their priority right now. H confesses he’d been looking for the portable safe that had belonged to Sarah Watson and which he believes may contain information about Jack’s mother, and Jack realises that’s what the woman who almost bumped into him must have been carrying. They head to her apartment to see if they can retrieve the safe only to discover the safe missing and the woman dead - murdered, but staged to look like a suicide.

Once again, Jack and Holloway Holmes have got themselves tangled up in something dark and dangerous, going up against poweful people who will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding and revealing the truth. Chief amongst them is Blackfriar Holmes, Holloway’s terrifying father – and with H’s loyalties divided, it seems as though Jack might have to go it alone, risking everything to find out the truth about his mother’s death… and, possibly, about the boy he’s come to love.

Holloway’s disappearance without a word devastated Jack, and even five months later, he’s not over it. When they meet again he’s angry and relieved – mostly angry – but even then, he can’t help himself from caring; even when he’s tearing him off a strip, Jack doesn’t forget that Holloway doesn’t read social cues as easily as most people and still makes sure he understands what he means:

“Get out,” I said. “You want to do this on your own so bad? Get the fuck out of my truck.” He reached for the door handle, and I grabbed him and shouted, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” he said—ok, he was shouting a little too. “You told me to get out!”

“Because I’m mad, you jackass! Not because I want you to go!”

Jack wants to stay angry at Holloway but it’s hard, especially when he keeps doing brave, stupid things to try to protect him. And Holloway so clearly wanting to earn Jack’s forgiveness but not knowing how, is so ridiculously endearing that it’s no wonder Jack can’t stay mad at him for too long. But although they’re back together again and appear to fall back into their established patterns fairly quickly – Jack teases and talks shit, H blushes and takes things too literally – there’s a new tension to their relationship here, the reason for which can be summed up in a word – Blackfriar. Jack knows he was responsible for the murder of Sarah Watson, and suspects him of having been behind many more deaths, including his mother’s. Jack has seen what Blackfriar has done to his son, how his insistence on perfection and remaining in control at all times has turned Holloway into a ruthlessly efficient, emotionless shell which, without Jack’s humanising influence, he would probably have continued to be. But when Jack voices his suspicions, Holloway refuses to believe him; he insists that everything his father has done has been to help him to eliminate his weaknesses and is for his own good - and he won’t hear a word against him. It’s incredibly hard to read, especially when it puts Jack and H at odds; Holloway – perhaps understandably – is unable or unwilling to see himself as a victim of abuse, and it’s heartbreaking to see Jack so desperately wanting to help him and Holloway stubbornly refusing to be helped – especially as we know that Holloway must know the truth (he’s too intelligent not to) but is clinging to his beliefs, because to believe otherwise would hurt too much.

Yet though the most serious of disagreements, through terrible betrayals and heart-wrenching revelations, the love and emotional connection between these two remains so strong as to be palpable. One of the themes running through this book is how Holmeses and Watsons are better together, and the role the Watsons have played in humanising and loving Holmses over the decades. Well, there’s no question that this Holmes and his Watson are better together, Jack’s humour, honesty and big heart providing the perfect foil for Holloway’s logical mind and tight control.

I’m not a big Sherlock Holmes fan, and I confess that when I learned Gregory Ashe was writing a Holmes-ian series featuring characters in their teens, I was a bit on the fence about it. But I should have known better; I was hooked long before I finished The Strangest Forms and have been eagerly awaiting each subsequent instalment in the series. Eagle-eyed readers will no doubt have picked up on a couple of hints that this may not be the last we’re going to hear of Jack Moreno and Holloway Holmes, and I definitely hope that’s the case.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun series. I want more!!

[Cyndi (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fought hard against every distraction imaginable to read this book and I'm happy to report that it was worth it! I hope to find the right words to review it in full soon, but for now I'll just say that Jack makes me want to call my parents and apologize for all the times I kept them up late at night, worrying about my whereabouts.

Read this series! You won't regret it!

[NikNak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to finish off this arc (I’m very optimistically saying arc instead of series , because I am really hoping that there’s more for these 2!)

I couldn’t believe that cliffhanger at the end of book 2! For someone who has 0 chill and absolutely no patience it was torturous to wait until I could get my hands on the next one.

I really missed these 2 not being together from the beginning of the book as they have such a fun dynamic .
In this book I did however particular enjoy seeing Holloways softer side. Jack on the other hand is every parents worst nightmare 🤣 maybe it’s time for dad to try some reversed psychology ? ..’Jack, you should definitely sneak out ..and you should 100% not tell me where you are going …and don’t even think about responding to any of my 25636 alarming text messages!”

All round ,another great book from Greg. I expected no less. Loveable , quirky main characters and loathsome baddies.

I did also enjoy how nicely the overall story of Watson and Sherlock was reimagined through Jack and Holloway and that whilst the title of this series sort of implies that it’s all about Holloway…it is in fact Jack who really brings the story and holloway to life.
My little Sherlock Holmes loving heart was pretty happy with these books!

Bring on M.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really took me on a rollercoaster of emotions! I adore Jack and seeing him hurt was so hard, especially when it came from betrayal!

I hated Holloway for a lot of this book, but by the end I really liked him again 😂

I need more stories about these two!

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! What an amazing conclusion!!

The first book drew me in.
The second book left me scratching my head a bit.
This third one SOLD me on this crazy intertwined connection between the Holmes, Watsons, & Mortiartys!

First, thanks to the author for a copy of the audiobook. Second, thanks to me for buying the print book.

Third, here’s how it went:

No Holmes
Just Jack & Dad
Surprise invitation to a party
“What are you doing here???”
Snoop snoop snoop
Murder
Set-up
Who is really killing all these Watsons?
Denial
Denial
Love love
Fade to black sexy times!
More dead people
More denial
More false leads
“Jack, where the f@$k are you?
Did Holmes really do that?
Big big reveal (and I’m not talking about murders here)
Heartbreak ❤️‍🩹
All’s well that ends well
HFN

I hope I get to see these two in action in the future, but if I don’t, this was a very satisfying finish to this trilogy!

Amazing narration by Greg Tremblay!!!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Jack.”

I found him. I kissed him. His mouth was soft, and he tasted the way I remembered, and his hand found my nape. I could feel the knobby knuckle of that hand, the one I was obsessed with. The kiss said, I’m yours. And it said, You’re mine. And it said what I didn’t know how to put into words, something like, You’re safe, and something like, Let go. Maybe it came close to the feeling I had when the sun hit him right and gave his eyelashes a golden nimbus: a prism of light flowering in my chest.

Can't believe we're at the end of the road with these two precious babies -- yes I know that Greg confirmed in a million ways and on thousand platforms that we'll likely get a second arc for them, let me be emotional for a second -- I don't wanna say goodbye to them yet 😭😭

Beginning to end I loved both Jack and Holloway so much and this last entry confirmed their place in my heart as the most precious GA couple. There is just something so new and innocent about the way they care about each other and what I mean by innocent is not faultless or flawless or sexless (we have a lot of teenage hormones dumbassery here). It's just that every heartache and smile and touch and bruise is so new to them, it's like watching a pair of birds hatch out of their eggs. But they both also carry lifetime's worth of trauma and pain inflicted by other people which is always what I come to GA for but also find the most trouble reading when your characters are only sixteen.

The feelings are made all the harder by the contrast of how... wacky the premise it. Probably Greg's wackiest out of the ones I've read: you have the Holmeses, the Moriartys, the Adlers, and the Watsons all in one place - which in a hilarious way is Utah - and you have their money, power, genius, and then weird quirks, ridiculous-to-a-normal-person dialogues, and Baritsu... (which is apparently a bastardized and anglicized version of the real life martial art Bartitsu).

But GA manages to fit in the crevices of this suspension-of-disbelief-required set-up an incredibly profound coming-of-age story about who are we in regard to our families, the interplay between power and worth and abuse and love, and what makes a relationship between two people - fate, cosmic bonds, choices?

tldr: These past few months, in so many ways, this series has been my comfort read and I can't wait to have them back next year or the year after that or the year after that. Whenever Jack and Holloway finds their way in Greg's schedule again. Especially with so many doors left open with the twisty and turny reveals in this last (for now!) book.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A+ for narration and an A for content at AudioGals.

Where All Paths Meet is the exciting finale to The Adventures of Holloway Holmes – an intricate, gripping mystery entwined with a heartfelt and endearingly sweet romance – which sees our heroes up to their necks in trouble again as the author pulls together all the plotlines he’s threaded through the series so far – so you need to have listened to the previous books before tackling this one –

At the end of  The Old Wheel , Jack discovered that he’s actually a Watson (on his mother’s side) and that Holloway had been keeping it a secret from him, which led to a huge row and to Holloway completely disappearing from Jack’s life. Time hasn’t healed any wounds and five months later, Jack is still a mess of emotions; angry at Holloway for keeping secrets, angry at himself for falling for it – and for him – hurt and upset at the way Holloway just cut him out of his life so easily, and miserable without him.

Then, completely out of the blue, Jack receives an invitation to an event at Zodiac (a multinational tech corporation in which Blackfriar Holmes is the major shareholder and CEO, and Maggie Moriarty is the chief of AI), which encloses a note saying: “Come if you want to know the truth about your mother.” No way is Jack going to pass up the opportunity to find out the truth about his mother’s death or about what he now realises were several attempts on his own life over the past few months. After he arrives, he quickly finds himself confronted by the Holmeses – Blackfriar, his icily beautiful and enigmatic wife and Holloway’s sister, Noneley – and as they drift away, he receives an anonymous text telling him to go to Maggie Moriarty’s office straight away. Still hoping to receive the information he’s been offered, he’s just exited the elevator when the power goes out. As he’s making his way cautiously along the corridor in the dim emergency lighting, a young woman carrying something small in one hand hurries past him and crashes through the fire exit door; after she disappears, Jack enters Maggie’s office to see a figure standing on her desk and then notices the open wall safe. The thief runs; Jack gives chase and corners them, but in the tussle that ensues finds himself caught in a very painful – and very familiar – wrist lock.

There’s no time to savour their reunion or for Jack to let out all his months of pent-up frustration by having a good yell at Holloway because shouts from above are followed by bullets and the shriek of alarms. It’s not until they’ve managed to evade their pursuers and are once again on the road in Jack’s beat-up old truck that he unleashes his anger and demands an explanation. And, at last – and in bits and pieces – Holmes tells Jack the truth. That before Sarah Watson was killed, she’d left something important (Holmes doesn’t know what) in a portable safe with instructions that Jack should open it; that he’d hidden the safe in Jack’s room from where it had been stolen; that he was at Zodiac that night to steal it back… and Jack realises what the woman who’d passed him in the corridor earlier must have been carrying. They head to her apartment to see if they can retrieve the safe only to discover it missing and the woman dead – murdered, but staged to look like a suicide.

Once again, Jack and Holloway have got themselves tangled up in something dark and dangerous, going up against powerful people who will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding and revealing the truth. The mystery contains all the author’s trademarks; it’s clever and twisty and gut-wrenching, but the beating heart of these stories is the relationship between Jack and Holloway, the depth of the affection and love between them leaping from every page. But even though they fall back into their established patterns fairly quickly – Jack teases and talks shit, Holloway blushes and takes things too literally – there’s a new tension to their relationship, the cause of which can be summed up in one word – Blackfriar. Jack knows he’s responsible for Sarah Watson’s murder and suspects he’s responsible for many others, including that of his mother; he’s seen what Blackfriar has done to his son, how his insistence on perfection and control has forced Holloway to become a ruthlessly efficient, emotionless shell which, without Jack’s humanising influence, he would probably have continued to be. But whenever Jack voices his suspicions, Holloway shuts him down; he believes that his father has his best interests at heart and has been so hard on him to help him to eliminate his weaknesses. It’s tough to hear, especially when it puts them at odds; Holloway – perhaps understandably – is unable or unwilling to see himself as a victim of abuse, and it’s heartbreaking to see Jack so desperately wanting to help him and Holloway stubbornly refusing to be helped – especially as we know that Holloway is too intelligent not to see the truth and is clinging to his beliefs because to believe otherwise would hurt too much.

Jack and Holloway are fascinating, loveable characters, Jack’s humour, honesty and big heart providing the perfect foil for Holloway’s logical mind and tight control. They’re smart and funny and kind and screwed-up, but although they’ve been through things that have forced them to grow up quickly, the author juxtaposes that early maturity with typically teenaged antics (on Jack’s part) or innocence (on Holloway’s) that reminds us they’re still in that weird space between adolescence and adulthood. And even after serious disagreements and heartbreaking betrayals, there’s no question that they’re devoted to each other or that they make each other better – just as every Holmes and Watson have done for each other over the decades.

Greg Tremblay is always good, but it seems to me that this series has afforded him the opportunity to really exercise his acting chops – not only because of the large number of characters and the different accents involved, but because so much of the heavy lifting in these stories is done by the emotions. Jack’s rage and anguish over Holmes’ abandonment are visceral and the vulnerability he works so hard to hide is closer to the surface than ever and very present in his voice; Holmes’ speech – which was stilted and almost robotic when we first met him – is more frequently infused with emotion and frustration, and Mr. Tremblay does a magnificent job with his portrayal of Jack’s dad later in the book – a terrified father desperate to keep his son safe but furious with him at the same time. The performance is perfectly paced, superbly acted and absolutely spot on in every single respect.

I admit that I wasn’t convinced this series would be for me before I started it. YA isn’t a genre I usually enjoy and I’ve never been a big Sherlock fan, but I am a Gregory Ashe fan and he hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Where All Paths Meet is an exhilarating and compelling finale to The Adventures of Holloway Holmes – and keen-eared listeners will no doubt have picked on a couple of hints that there may be more stories to come for this Holmes and his Watson. I’ll definitely be here for them.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals .

[Crystal D. Budy · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I felt, again, what it was like to be with him, to touch the edge of something bigger than myself.

So comes the conclusion of the Holloway Holmes series (or should I say, this arc? Because I'm not above begging for more), and it was fantastic. The mystery was twisty and had me second-guessing myself, and the thrilling bits were thrilling (and often horrifying) enough they had me on the edge of my seat.

I've loved everything about these books and immediately fell in love with Holloway and Jack. There's always something so wholesome and innocent about teen love because it's so precious and new. Both of these characters are older than their ages due to numerous traumatic life experiences, yet they're both so deeply teenagers, particularly Jack. The way we feel how big Jack feels his emotions is such a hallmark of the age. I do enjoy the way GA writes first-person POV because he does an excellent job of pulling us into the character's head and allowing us to experience their emotions and thoughts along with them.

With the cliffhanger we were left with at the end of The Old Wheel, I was eagerly awaiting finding out how that particular storyline would be resolved. GA handled it brilliantly, and it launched our well-meaning but sometimes bumbling characters into an even bigger pickle. The whole concept of the history of these families always somehow ending up entangled together should be wildly insane and ridiculous, but GA manages to make it work in the best ways possible.

Jack made me occasionally want to strangle him, as he usually does. If I were his dad, I'd probably just lock him up in his room and feed him three times a day. I mean, my god. So stress inducing. I'm not an advocate for hitting your kids, but like...I get it, man. I get it.

And H. My poor baby. There were so many difficult moments that involved him, and it was handled with grace and so painfully realistically that it made my heart ache. Should there be another arc (again: willing to beg), I hope life will be a bit more kind to him.

I look forward to reading the short story collection that comes out June 23rd to see what possible future GA is setting up for these two. Because three books is not enough, and while the ending was absolutely perfection, I need more, please and thank you.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series as a whole, I loved Ashe doing a 1st person POV (so important for a story that is, technically, about teenagers- even if many a not-teenage thing happens), I love the characters & their development, I love the relationship between Jack & his dad (finally, a good Ashe dad!), & I loved the little nods to/tweaks of the Sherlock Holmes lore. This third book, though, beyond one absolute heartbreaking banger of a scene, kind of fell a little flat for me because I felt SO much was left unresolved. Not just plot points, that happens all the time in a series-concluding Ashe book, I'm used to those teases (even if I'm afraid we'll never get an answer in many cases). I don't think there was a lot of emotional resolution in this book though, and that almost always happens at the end of an Ashe series. Sure, Jack & Holmes are solidly together, for now at least, but so many emotional threads dangle, and I don't think there was really enough explanation for the center of the mystery in this one: why Jack's mom matters so much. She's mentioned but never really drawn out by Jack, or his dad, or anyone else who knew her, and that part felt so unsatisfying to me, and unlike Ashe, who otherwise has hit some heights in his writing style in this series, I think. This one was too rushed, too convoluted, too many bits, and not as emotionally resonant or devastating as book 2. However, I still rabidly would like Ashe to write more of these guys, bc I love them!!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conclusion of The Adventures of Holloway Holmes, I went straight into this after book two (+ the relevant interstitial from “The Case-Book”).

The series overall is really fun, an interesting take on the Holmes thing, with a great pair of lead characters. It’s a bit hard to classify though. There’s a sort of m/m relationship plotline with the two leads, and while that’s a very important component, it certainly doesn’t read like a romance, and it seems unlikely to appeal to romance first readers. There’s a mystery element, and a distinct one in each book, though the second and third absolutely don’t stand on their own, but the frenetic pacing and busyness of the plot is honestly a bit exhausting. It’s more thriller than mystery, in a way that I don’t mean as entirely complimentary. It honestly could have stood to calm the fuck down a little bit. And finally is it YA? The protagonists are 16~17, but it doesn’t really feel YA to me. YA’s a very fuzzy moving target that I don’t read all that much of, so I’m probably not best to judge, but the mix of elements we get here leaves me kind of skeptical of such a label. Like we don’t get on page sex with the MCs, but that’s not to say there’s not sexual content. And lots of drug use. It doesn’t feel as introspective as so much of the YA I have read does. Often the closest we get is a kind of vague sense of awareness on the part of the MC when he’s calling out some other character for something he’s been doing the whole time himself.

I quite liked it though, even if it did wear me out.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am exhausted, yet satisfied! I'm not sure if the "family issue" tag I have on goodreads quite covers what happens in this series, but hooboy it's a lot! I love Jack and H so much. They've really been put through the wringer (Jack's dad, too, good lord) but the conclusion to this arc tied almost everything together really nicely. I still have *questions* but I trust Mr. Ashe to give us more answers in the next arc.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)


I’m almost crushing my fingers because I’m squeezing them so hard and I hope this isn’t the last book Q_Q
Of course, somehow an arc has come to an end, but there’s definitely potential for more?
Holloway’s story and the thing with Maggie Moriarty and Holloway’s mum. Goddamn, I need MORE Jack and Holloway Q_Q Pls?
(And can the Holloway and his dad thing be worked out please? So ... Holloway needsto come too terms with his past and his relationship with his father and I want to read about it!)

So volume three was really great - I got my heart broken a lot (a LOT) again, just so it could be glued back together and broken and glued back together again. It was HELL! I loved it.
Reading the series is even more different than listening to it. I don’t know, Ashe just has such a great writing style in first person perspective that I totally enjoyed it. I’m still blown away by the way he writes Jack.

I think it’s great that the two of them have to redo their school year and that it’s addressed with the fact that the dudes are NEVER in school because of the cases. Oh yes :‘D
I also think the portrayal of Jack’s dad is very well done, but I think if I read the story as a 16-year-old, I’d hate him. xD So I just hate that Jack doesn’t communicate with him, but hey, the Dude is 16 :‘D

The rest was very freaky again (which is okay though) and I love Tom xD
Such a fanatical Dude, holy heck.

Much love for this series.



(DEUTSCH)


Ich zerquetsche mir fast die Daumen, weil ich sie so fest drücke und hoffe, dass das nicht das letzte Buch gewesen ist Q_Q
Natürlich, irgendwie ist ein Arc zu Ende gegangen, aber da ist ja definitiv potenzial für mehr?
Holloways Geschichte und die Sache mit Maggie Moriarty und Holloways Mom. Goddamn, ich brauche MEHR Jack und Holloway Q_Q Pls?
(Und kann das mit Holloway und seinem Dad bitte aufgearbeitet werden? Also ... Holloway braucht Aufarbeitung und ich möchte davon lesen!)

Band drei war also wirklich toll – mir wurde wieder oft (sehr oft) das Herz gebrochen, nur damit es dann wieder zusammengeklebt und gebrochen und geklebt werden konnte. Es war die HÖLLE! Ich habs geliebt.
Die Reihe zu lesen, ist noch einmal ganz anders, als sie zu hören. Ich weiß auch nicht, Ashe hat einfach einen so tollen Schreibstil in der Ich-Perspektive, dass ich das total genossen habe. Ich bin immer noch begeistert, wie er Jack schreibt.

Toll finde ich, dass die zwei ihr Schuljahr wiederholen müssen und das damit angesprochen wird, dass die Dudes halt durch die Fälle, NIE in der Schule sind. Hach ja :’D
Auch finde ich, dass die Darstellung von Jacks Dad sehr gelungen ist, aber ich glaube, würde ich die Story als 16-jährige Lesen, würde ich ihn hassen. xD So hasse ich es nur, dass Jack nicht mit ihm kommuniziert, aber hey, der Dude ist halt 16 :’D

Der Rest war wieder sehr abgedreht (was aber okay ist) und ich liebe Tom xD
So ein fanatischer Dude, holy heck.

Ganz große Liebe für diese Reihe.

[Blaise Kyrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ahhhhhhhh I just want more cause it was so good" I said this outloud just now and thought it was a pretty good review. I might buy these, I like them so much.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

•spoilers•

Jack receives an anonymous invitation to the Zodiac anniversary gala with a mysterious promise for more information about his mom. Unable to resist, Jack attends the event and stumbles further into the blackmail plot, and into Holmes who he hasn't seen since he disappeared months ago. Having to work together to find the stolen information, Jack and Holmes not only are dodging danger and navigating perilous plots but have to face their own feelings as well as they finally solve who's been behind everything from the start.

This was probably my favorite out of all of three books. Jack is figuring out life without Holloway but he's missing his other half, the person that makes him feel like more than himself. Holloway really did a number on him but when they reunite all the feelings are still there. Jack is still so angry at Holloway and does call him out, but I do think Jack folded way too easily but ya know, love and all that. Plus Holloway is absolutely enamored with Jack, even if he doesn't always make the right decisions with regard to him, so it helps. I love how Jack stood up for what he deserved - honesty and to be treated equally. Holmes has been alone for so long that it's a hard adjustment to let someone in, but he does try for Jack.

Together they are what every couple should be, making each other better with unconditional love and support. They are very young and so there are still moments where they act irrational, do dumb things, but it just endears them to me even more. I said it before but Jack is such a great narrator. He's funny, self aware, and has a rare vulnerability. His genuine kindness is perfect for Holmes who hasn't had much of it in his life. We finally get more of Holloway's history and it's just as tragic as expected and makes Jack's compassion all the more special. I truly can't think of a better partner for Holloway and know he will always shower Jack with the adoration and love he deserves.

The plot and mystery were explained the best in this book. I struggled a bit with it in book 2, but everything was laid out really well here and it actually helped me realize what was happening before better too. I kinda love how Jack was right the entire time and he stood firm in what he knew. Holloway didn't want to believe what was happening, but Jack was there for him when reality hit. All the characters are so much more complex than how they initially appear which made everything that much more interesting. There were complicated secrets, mysterious pasts, and touch of needing to suspend reality (like why are all these British people in Utah?), but the plot kept me on my toes throughout the whole series.

The series felt like an immersive reading experience. How Ashe writes about the Utah landscape just sucks you in and I felt like I was right there with Jack and Holloway. This is a series I would definitely read again, it would be so fun now knowing how everything plays out to see all the little hints and clues earlier in the books. As much as I love the Hazardverse, it was interesting to read something from Gregory Ashe outside of that universe, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his backlist.

Read if you like:
• friends to lovers
• romantic suspense
• hurt/comfort

•••••••••••••••••••••

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, this was hard! As you'll remember, by the end of 'The Old Wheel' Holmes is gone and Jack is convinced that his mom has been killed. (If you haven't read the first two books in this series, go and read them first, otherwise, this won't make any sense) And we all agree that Blackfriar Holmes is the creepiest creep on Earth y zones of influence.

Now, we find Jack getting an invitation to a Zodiac party and a taunting note baiting him with knowledge about his mom's death. And he can't resist the bait. And so, the mayhem begins.

Lured to Maggie's office by an anonymous text he bumps into H after (literally) bumping into someone rushing off from Maggie Moriarty's office. In the dark. Because, of course, the lights have gone off.

Both need to escape and do it quickly because Zodiac's security is after them. And from then on, they'll need to keep running.

But things are hard between these two. Jack was really hurt by H abandonment and he wants to keep mad at him., which is harder than he expected. Particularly when H keeps doing the most stupid and bravest things for him. But boy! does he try!

H... well, he's out of his depth, he got used to depending on Jack for social cues and now Jack is less than helpful. But he tries and you can see his struggle to find a way to win Jack's forgiveness.

H reappearance, though, brings back all the old issues between Jack and his dad. And Mr Moreno is at the breaking point. I can't help to understand him, though. He's terrified for Jack and has been worried sick, wondering if his son is alive and safe. When he confines Jack to his room and confiscates his phone and money you know that he would lock him and throw the key if that is what would take to keep his son secure. His fury is just a cover for the terrible fear he's feeling. And oh, man! he's also SO angry when finally Jack comes clean and tells him everything! Yes, I understand him really well.

There is a lot going on here, and I don't want to spoil the story. But let me tell you this: there is murder, (lots and lots of murders, old and new), blackmail, betrayal, so much emotional pain that you'll need to fortify yourself with big amounts of chocolate and alcohol, unexpected revelations and an overdose of Holmesses. Oh, and you'll find yourself wishing the most awful, slow and painful death to Blackfriar Holmes, Believe me, I became terribly creative in that regard. Didn't know I had that in me, tbh.

But in the end, as always, all is worth it because this book is great. The present mystery, of course, is fantastic; the arc that has going on from the beginning is more than satisfactorily resolved and your emotional involvement is lushly rewarded by the end. And the best? There are some loose threads that let me hope that this is NOT the last that we'll ever see of these characters.

I'll let you with this quote, because, for me at least, it completely evokes the feeling of these stories:
I reached out, and he found my hand again instantly in the dark. Always. He would always find me, I thought. Even in the dark.

Believe me, you want to read these stories.

[Antara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen, this spring, jacaranda blossoms so pale they were almost blue, trembling with the breath of the mountains. I had seen, when I'd been twelve, a foil of goldfinches flocking against the crushed dusk. I had seen a shooting star once, thinning across the sky like combed silver. And I had seen Holloway Holmes smile.

I will never tire of Jack waxing poetic about Holloway's smile and I need another arc if only to get more paragraphs like this.

The conclusion to this series (well, almost - we still have one short story left) surprised me in a lot of ways. Just when I'd think the relationship angst was over, we'd get hit with another heavy dose of it (not that I'm complaining; I loved every second of it). At its core, this story is about Holloway not recognizing that he's been abused by his father, and how that affects not only him but his relationship with Jack.

This story also deals with the weight of family expectations and inherited conflicts. I'll admit I was a bit dubious (and found it unnecessary when I'd only read the first book) about the intertwined destinies of the Holmes, Watson, Moriarty, and Adler families as an explanation for why so many of the descendants have ended up in Utah of all places. But as usual, Gregory Ashe took this storyline into surprising directions and subverted expectations. This wacky premise has become believable and feels very real.

I'll keep this vague but I'm entering spoiler territory now - I love that a reveal at the end of this book mirrors a reveal at the end of book 2. So much of our identity is based on who we believe we are, on where we (think) we come from. What happens when we find out otherwise? There's still a lot left to explore and I can't wait until Jack & Holloway return.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

In what world do boys
talk, think, act, love, ache like men?
Great book, bad high school.

[Tate Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregory has done it again.
Surprised me.
Ripped my heart out and repaired it.
And delivered two characters that feel incredibly real to me.

[ClaiBokish · Rating 5 out of 5]

(′ꈍᴗꈍ‵) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Yo con estos libros, personajes, autor (っ˘³(•́ ᵕ •̀?) 🏆


.
.
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ARRIBA HOLLOWAY Y JACK LES VOY A HACER RELIGION A MIS BABIES 😭✋🏻✅✅✅✅

[Mimi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, but my least favorite series by Ashe so far. All the angst in a YA setting was too much for me. And the Holmes theme was fun, but also severely restricted suspect pools and possibilities.

[StayCalm81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I’ve calm down, reread certain parts and vent to some friends I think I’m going to change my rating to 4 stars. I’m still mad but I understand H behavior a little better.

I was loving the series until the moment H did something so wrong that it took my breath away. It was a big betrayal and I guess he must have had his reasons but and that’s the worst part we didn’t get a proper explanation in the end…yes an apology but that wasn’t enough and it broke my heart…Jack deserved better… He drugged him and just left him there to deal with the mess…how could you H? I’m so pissed…and heartbroken…
I suppose he reacted the only way he knew how…I’m hoping for more insight on his character in a future arc. The shorts after and the Christmas special made a little better…

I love Jack with all my heart though ❤️

[Bryoney McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this book was everything I hoped it would be. I have a lot of love for Gregory Ashe’s work and I have a lot of love for this series in particular. I have dug this series so hard, and my hopes were high high high for this book. And let me tell you, Ashe delivered. Does it have a good mystery? Check. Did it give you enough that you could make some guesses and feel very pleased with yourself for being right while still also having twists and reveals you didn’t guess so it keeps you surprised? Check. Did it have moments of trademark Ashe humour and banter? Did it make your heart break over and over? And did it have gorgeous characters full of flaws, contradictions, humour, love, pain, and tenderness? Check, check, CHECK.

I loved this book. I loved every page of it. I swear, has there ever been a character that has needed to be loved more than Holloway Holmes? Honestly, I have never wanted to hug a fictional character more in my life. He is so earnest and tender and lost. And sure, a deadly genius, but in many ways that’s the least compelling thing about him. It’s the hook, but his vulnerability is what makes you stay. And Jack? Please. My boy of emotion and passion and reckless urgency? If I could give someone to Holloway, it would always be Jack with his humour, his open expression, and his big thumping heart. This pairing is just so moving for me. The book talks frequently about the role of Watsons in loving and humanizing Holmeses and how Watsons and Holmeses are better together and just, yes. Yes, yes, yes.

The book opens with three quotes from the original Holmes mysteries and let me tell you, they set the tone. They promise you a ride and the book delivers said ride. Holloway comes back on page pretty quickly, which is a relief as I would have been annoyed otherwise. And Jack? Well, Jack has feelings about Holloway’s return. There’s no time for sorting out feelings, though, because our boys are up to their necks in it almost immediately. The game is afoot and bodies are popping up all over the place. And if it’s not a body behind the door, it’s a Holmes, as Holloway’s family figures prominently. We get to meet his mom and his sister and, of course, Blackfriar is back. And every single Holmes has an opinion about Jack. And you’d better believe Jack has opinions about them, too.

One of the central explorations in this book is Holloway as an abuse survivor. Jack sees Blackfriar as a horrifying abuser (as do we, the readers), but Holloway will not – or maybe cannot – see himself through this lens. He clings tight to the belief that Blackfriar’s cruelty has been for his own good, that it is his own innate weakness and insufficiency that bring on the “corrections” and “trainings.” He is both our ultimate mystery-solving truth-seeker and completely blind to the truth, masterfully skilled at not allowing himself to know what he knows because it would hurt too much to bear. Holloway is chasing after love, acceptance, and approval, and it is painful to watch. Painful for Jack and painful for us. And equally painful to watch Jack try again and again to convince Holloway it is okay to be human, that he doesn’t have to accept this life, only to be rebuffed every time.

I love the dynamic and contrasts between Jack and Holloway. I love how Holloway aims to be so tightly controlled – and is, in many ways - but his emotion and need bleed through his every action. Meanwhile Jack, who is all impulse and letting his emotions sweep him up, is also Holloway’s steady ground. Obviously, not completely – I know Jack is a teenager with lots of baggage and he hurts Holloway and freaks out and makes poor choices, etc. But he is the place Holloway can come back to again and again. And after a bit of shouting (see above re: letting his emotions sweep him up), Jack always forgives and welcomes him in. I love that Holloway resorts to his mind to solve problems, whereas Jack leads with his empathy and his humanness. And every moment of Holloway trying to feel his way around his connection with Jack, trying to figure out how to be in emotional and relational contact with someone, well, it just kills me. Oh Holloway, you tender little bear.

The book has a very satisfying ending and leaves you wanting MORE MORE MORE, but, I mean, it’s an Ashe book, so what do you expect? I hope there is so much more of this pairing and this world ahead of us. I am so enamored with Holloway. I just want to read about him forever. And hug him. And wrap him in a soft blanket and give him hot chocolate with all the marshmallows. ALL THE MARSHMALLOWS.

Anyway, another fabulous Ashe series. Loved it!

Note: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.