Lock and Key: The Initiation

Lock and Key #1

by Ridley Pearson

Bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and the Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson reimagines the origins of the epic rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. Set in modern times and focusing on Moriarty's bone-chilling beginnings, this middle grade mystery-adventure series will upend everything you thought you ever knew about Sherlock Holmes—and the true nature of evil.

In the pantheon of literature’s more impressive villains, Sherlock Holmes’s greatest nemesis, James Moriarty, stands alone. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle describes him in the classic tale “The Final Solution,” Moriarty is a genius, a philosopher, and a spider in the center of his web. He is the Napolean of crime—and now, for the first-time ever, New York Times bestselling novelist Ridley Pearson explores the origins of his evil ways.

Our story begins when James and his younger sister, Moria, are unceremoniously sent off to boarding school at Baskerville Academy. It is not a fate either want or welcome—but generations of Moriarty men have graduated from Baskerville’s hallowed halls. And now so too must James. It’s at Baskerville where James is first paired with a rather unexpected roommate—Sherlock Holmes. The two don’t get along almost instantly, but when the school’s heirloom Bible goes missing and cryptic notes with disconcerting clues start finding their way into James’s hands, the two boys decide that they must work together to solve a mystery so fraught with peril, it will change both their lives forever!

It’s another seat-of-your-pants mystery from the bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and The Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Retellings, Audiobook, Adventure

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Ridley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.

Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.

Reviews

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS!


"The Da Vinci Code meets Elementary."

I was really looking forward to this one after seeing it on Goodreads a few months ago. I was interested in reading a retelling of Sherlock Holmes that had Sherlock and his arch-nemesis Moriarty both attending the same boarding school as young teens. After getting a hold of a copy, I had hyped myself up for this book and I really wish I hadn't. Don't get me wrong, it was a really fun and adventurous story but what made it not as exciting to me was the introduction of romance between our main protagonist and the ever-fantastic Sherlock Holmes. It was not necessary for the story AT ALL and for me damaged my full enjoyment of the book. Personally I don't see a place for romance in Middle-Grade books, it's best for YA in my opinion. Romance in Middle-Grade to me does nothing but water down a story.

I tried my best not to let it ruin the rest of the book for me and I'm happy to say it didn't ruin it entirely. This was a fun, quick, and thrilling read but it was a tad too soft for me. I will explain that more in my Book Thoughts video for this but you all know I love me some DARK Middle-Grade books and this lacked in darkness quite a bit. But I still enjoyed the story and will be reading further installments for Sherlock Holmes's character in this book. He saved the book for me.

Would I recommend it? of course, it's not a waste of time at all. It was definitely a good time read. But I do have to say it's not a MUST-READ. Looking forward to book 2 to see what this story has in store and to see how these unsolved mysteries in the first book are put to rest. :) - Richard

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ...

Delicious! A bloody brilliant and original "contemporary prequel" to the Sherlock Holmes/James Moriarty tale.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first Ridley Pearson book, and I'm not too impressed. Perhaps it's because he chose to write about such celebrated literary characters; the writing seemed too stunted and the characters were more like caricatures. Frankly, I have no idea how the whiny brat of a teenager Pearson has Moriarty portrayed as could end being the mastermind who Sherlock a run for his money. I was continuously told how smart James was but rarely did I see that intelligence put to use. More often than not I saw him acting sullen and pouty, which made it all the harder to believe that older boys were willing to follow his orders.

It's a bit of an insult to Moriarty and Sherlock both. James is a sniveling child and Sherlock is a dunderhead who keeps trying to force his friendship (for unfathomable reasons) onto this boy who clearly does not want or deserve it. Moria was the only one I liked and I know that had to do with her not being stubbornly idiotic like James or stubbornly forceful like Sherlock.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - if I was being generous, I'd up it to 3 stars, but I had two problems:

1) Why make it contemporary if the children were still going to talk like formal Victorians? Maybe that's what rich white American kids normally sound like, but it sounded forced and not at all 21st century. Of course, Pearson tried to modernize it by dropping references to Snapchat (how many middle grade readers use Snapchat/what are they using it for??) and books like Harry Potter or The Da Vinci Code (so random and oddly dated?), but it probably would have been better to keep it in the past.

2) Why did it have to be from Moria's POV (side note: Moria Moriarty?? It's like he didn't even try to come up with a girl's name)? I get that she became an important character, but having her tell the story meant I often felt like I was a step removed from the action, especially in the James and/or Sherlock scenes. It was a "clever" plot device, but it didn't feel efficient - I ended up not caring about any of the characters because I couldn't get into their heads.

[Jillian (Peapod Historical Bookery)]

Moria Moriarty?

[Ken W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The only thing I found odd was that it was set in the USA. Sherlock was British but I’m not sure why he’s going to private school in Connecticut. Anyway, I didn’t stress out over that too much. I loved the story. The teen years of Sherlock and Moriarty were never really talked about in the old books so this was wide open territory for storytelling. Sherlock’s personality was spot on. This was a fun book and I can’t wait to dive into the next one in the series! 5 stars!

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this to be uneven. I enjoyed the setting and the subsequent mystery at Baskerville Academy with Holmes and the two Moriarty children but some of the talking about stuff, their knowledge or lack thereof or how they feel about certain things or how to proceed with solving the mystery lagged the book for me in places.

I also found that any scene without Holmes to be slightly less interesting than those with him. However, this probably will not keep me from reading the next book to see how Moriarty turns to the dark side.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Moriarty and his younger sister, Moria, are sent to an exclusive East Coast boarding school, where they meet Sherlock Holmes.

Only these characters are, apparently, descendants of the originals; it's the present day, and they're all teenagers.

James is the focus of a great deal of attention at the school, as the Moriarty family Bible, on loan to o the academy, has disappeared. And it seems that there's more to the school than meets the eye. It's up to Moria and Sherlock to figure out what's going on.

This book's intended audience is new to young adults, and it's kind of a cute whodunnit. It does, however, end on a cliffhanger; you need to get into the second book (at least) to find out more about the happenings at Baskerville Academy.

[Emily(Marauders version)🎧⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowwowowowowowowow
This was the best mystery series I have ever read! I saw NONE of the twists coming, and I am obsessed with Sherlock Holmes so I usually call every plot twist in every book I read! I screamed out loud at some parts during the 2nd and 3rd books, and the characters were just amazing as well


Moria
I liked her, she was really cool and she was really likeable as well, and GENIUS!! she was definitely worthy of the Moriarty name!


James.
Meh, he wasn’t really a great guy. I mean, he was kinda made out as dumb and a bully. But I’ll say he does get AWESOME in the last book, like, Andrew Scott awesome. But no spoilers!!! 🤐


Sherlock
Ha. I could see this character as Sherlock, but I do think if we had a Sherlock POV that would make the book cooler.


All in all, the books are amazing and definitely recommended, it took me about 10 hours to finish the whole series, so not a hard read, especially if you are quick.

~Edit~
I NEED to go back to the library or the bookstore to get these books again because I’m literally dying without them.

[Jacqueline Ogburn · Rating 1 out of 5]

A terrific idea, to explore what made James Moriarty into a criminal mastermind, but the execution fell flat. Told in an awkward combination of 1st person POV of little sister Moria Moriaty and third person, teenage James and his sister are sent to boarding school. James's roommate is Sherlock Holmes. She keeps telling us James is brilliant, but the only brilliance we see is Sherlock's. The character of James is never really revealed, and Sherlock outshines him, in analytic ability, arrogance, and kindness.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pearson modernizes Sherlock Holmes by shifting perspective
to James Moriarty.
The plot relies too heavily upon other sources, which Pearson
actually mentions within the story.
The characters are all flat and lack development.
Pearson does not use the setting well(Boston), nor does
he explain the change in location.
The actual mystery is weak and cliche.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

DNF @30%
2016; HarperCollins

I have read a Ridley Pearson's novel for adults so I thought I would try this one. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't capture my attention. I think there is a movie/show based on this book.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss/NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Scottsdale Public Library]

As a middle grade reader, I loved Sherlock Holmes stories but often tired of the old-time settings. It was just the type of reader I was; I loved mysteries and puzzles, but tended more towards modern stories. The Initiation provides all the elements I love about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works and places them in the current era. Not completely, I must admit. There are some flowery passages that I would have skipped over in this book as a child, but the tale, its clues, and characters would have grabbed me. As an adult reader, I was entertained and hooked, unable to set the book aside for long. Ridley Pearson tells a great tale regardless of what audience he contemplates. The characters here are 7th and 9th graders. They still cry when separated from their parents. They have trouble making friends. There is a parental death, but with so much warning that it is anticipated. This is an excellent book for fans of Sherlock Holmes and mysteries. -Suzanne R.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this book, I felt it paled in comparison to Peter and the Starcatchers, and I honestly don't find myself likely to finish this series any time soon. It's cute, but not terribly memorable. I found the pace to be a bit slow, and overall this was just not a huge stunner for me.

[MaryEllen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not feeling this one. The beginning was okay, but the more I read the more I disliked all the characters. The story wasn't strong enough for me to continue once this happened so I decided to DNF the book half way through - made it to page 205.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for younger readers but I really enjoyed it. Also, I enjoyed getting to see the development of Moriarty.

[Hidekisohma · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I saw this book and i thought it looked pretty interesting. Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty being teenagers in the current time being roommates at a sleepaway school. The twist is that the story is being told from a 1st person perspective (most of the time) of Moriarty's sister. This seemed interesting enough as there was a big mystery about a book that the three of them had to solve. It started out okay....but about halfway though started to implode upon itself.
First of all, the twist with the bible at the end....was actually very lame. In fact, it seemed that about halfway though the book really fell apart. A character dies and everything really goes downhill from there.
However, the biggest issue that i have is that none of the characters are really likable. She tries to act like James is a great brother and a good person, but all we ever see him as is a jerk. He has anger fits at the drop of a hat and hates Sherlock right off the bat. He wasn't likable and you don't feel bad for him. Sherlock is a pompous jerk and while this is usual for him, he just got very irritating and i can see why James didn't like him.
The sister on the other hand is meant to be the audience's mouthpiece. Kind of the character we're supposed to identify with. But she's a girl. So what does the author then decide to do? That's right. Drop not-so-subtle hints that in the future books there's probably going to be romance between her and Sherlock. And it was painfully awkward implicated romance that wasn't appealing or even remotely fun. I kind of hoped the author wouldn't be so lame as to do that, butttt unfortunately he did. Lame.
In general the ending was terrible and the story itself read well enough, but I wasn't rooting for anyone. The only thing I cared about was the resolution of the mystery and that turned out to be a big fat nothing. Overall....am I going to read the second book when it comes out? (shrugs) maybe. But I won't be rushing out to buy it on release day I'll tell you that. Honestly, it was a big fat meh.
2.5/5 rounded up to a 3.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Moria, and I've written this book about my troubled brother, James Moriarty. Our father has sent us to Baskerville Academy where we're fourth-generation legacies, descendants of the school's founder. Our family Bible is critically important to the school, and it's been stolen from its display. James has received clues regarding it, but he's become frustrated by the cryptic messages. However, his roommate Sherlock Holmes seems to have all the answers and has enlisted my help. Lock's superior air annoys my brother, but he thinks it's imperative that James pass this test. Before coming here, my father seemed worried and gave me directions in case he disappeared. Now, I'm wondering if James is in the same danger. I know it has something to do with the Moriarty family Bible, but who's behind it all?

I must admit I started this book awhile back and didn't finish it, but the synopsis still interested me. It will probably most appeal to mature middle grade readers. The book doesn't really fit the supernatural theme of my blog, but it has that kind of feeling. The Bible has a mystical power that is the center of generational rituals. Sherlock's logical and analytical manner of speaking may turn off many readers, just as it irked the characters in the book. The story is told as a young version of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel with Moria's voice being the narrator. The setting is in modern-day America, whereas the original stories took place in old England. Young readers will probably miss the many references to the classic series. Make no mistake, this book will make you think; it's a mystery. Sherlock is unable to ignore clues, so he's constantly analyzing situations and evidence. You'll do the same and find yourself challenged to figure out what's going on before he reveals the truth. As you can tell, this book will not be enjoyed by all, but most lovers of mysteries will like it. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, but the secrets revealed during the resolution have intrigued me. We'll see.

[Kelly RAley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t realize that this was a modernized take on Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. The premise sounded interesting, however the book was not. The dialogue was forced. Then there were relationships where no good reason had been established for why a character was behaving as they were. If this was supposed to show Moriarty’s journey into darkness, it failed. In the originals, he is brilliant. In this sketch, he was not and even kind of bumbling. This author should have read some psychology texts on the growing up life of a sociopath before writing this. There were also some silly details that I found annoying. For instance, after the characters had been at school for approximately two days, Sherlock says how smart he knows James is from the papers he has written, etc. No one has done multiple papers by day three of class. I just didn’t care for this style, the characters, the timeline or modernization.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lock and Key: The Initiation by Ridley Pearson was a great read and kept my interest throughout the whole thing with its unexpected twists. The book centers around the notorious James Moriarty, his little sister named Moria Moriarty, and Sherlock Holmes, who all attend the same school, Baskerville Academy. Lock and Key shows how James became the evil character that he is known as today. I would give this book five stars because it not only held my interest, but it kept me guessing as to what was coming next.
The book held my interest by using a lot of literary elements. The excerpt "I had the stars without the phosphorescence, an impression of the sky without the annoying illumination keeping me awake," uses imagery to allow the reader to picture what Moria is trying to describe, the stars on the ceiling in her room that have lost their glow. Ridley Pearson also did a very good job of using descriptive words to convey the point that Moria is trying to make. Through the adjective "annoying" you can tell that Moria most likely does not like the night sky's brightness, but she finds the patterns that the stars make comforting enough to fall asleep to. This is only one example of the fantastic writing and use of imagery that Pearson uses in this novel.
Another factor of the book that makes a person want to keep reading is the plot twists and the fact that you can’t guess what is coming next. Even from the start, the reader is surprised when they discover that James Moriarty was a decent person before he attends the school his father forced him to. James and Sherlock were roommates and natural enemies, as different as night and day. James, who was a playful boy who liked to prank people and have fun clashed personalities with Sherlock, who had a school-centered life and took everything very seriously. Soon after the two meet, they are thrown together by a mystery that they both want to solve. Finally, the last mild surprise that happens throughout the story is that Moria and Sherlock have a slight romantic connection despite James' hatred of Holmes. There are many more twists throughout the book that captivates the reader and makes them never want to put the book down.
I enjoyed reading this book mostly because of how it added to Sherlock Holmes' story as a character. It was interesting to see how the backstories added to their overall character arcs, but I have some questions about where Moria plays into the future of the characters since she is not seen in any stories of the adult characters. I am very excited to read the sequels of Lock and Key and to see how Pearson explains the backstory of the characters fitting into the stories we know today.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a middle grade reader, I loved Sherlock Holmes stories but often tired of the old time settings. It was just the type of reader I was; I loved mysteries and puzzles but tended more towards modern stories. The Initiation provides all the elements I loved about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works and places them in the current era. Not completely, I must admit. There are some flowery passages that I would have skipped over in this book but the tale and its clues and characters would have grabbed me. As an adult reader, I was entertained and hooked, unable to set the book aside for long. Ridley Pearson tells a great tale regardless of what audience he contemplates. The characters here are 7th and 9th graders. They still cry when separated from their parents. They have trouble making friends. There is a parental death but with so much warning that it is anticipated. This is a good book for fans of Sherlock Holmes and mysteries.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting perspective on the ties that bind Sherlock and Moriarty. The narrator, James's sister, is spunky, smart, and loyal to her brother. Other reviewers stated that it was predictable and it was, BUT I am a 40 year old woman who read it, not the middle schooler it was intended for. I enjoyed getting to see a Sherlock who was not yet so aloof that human contact was almost beneath him, and a James that was confused and hurt and dealing with feelings of betrayal, but hadn't yet crossed totally into the dark side.

As a side note- I home school my children and have been discouraged by the quality of books coming out these days. I appreciate that this author kept the tone suspenseful without morbidity, and interesting without the macabre. Also the vocabulary was not "dumbed down" as if kids are incapable of inference and using context clues.

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Urbandale Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun, fast paced, and fantastically witty. I really can't wait to read the next book in the series! This story was told by Moriarty's younger sister, Moria Moriarty (which sounds a little redundant), and is a really fun way of showing the origins of both James M. and Sherlock H. in a modern day setting!

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

Sherlock Holmes is a well-loved detective character that has been featured in countless books, television shows, movies, and many other forms of entertainment. James Moriarty is the prolific criminal mastermind and nemesis of Holmes, and his role has been increased in many subsequent works of fiction based off of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original.

Lock and Key brings the classic feud of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty to the present day, where the two attend Baskerville Academy and are placed together as roommates. The two do not hit it off, and James takes an immediate dislike to Sherlock's observant and somewhat arrogant nature. The story kicks off when the headmaster of the school announces that a valuable Bible has been stolen, and not long after this announcement James begins to receive mysterious red envelopes with difficult riddles that he must attempt to solve.

The story, however, is not narrated by James, - as one might expect - but is instead narrated by his younger sister, Moria. I found this to be quite a clever idea, and it worked well for a majority of the novel, though it did become a bit confusing in certain narrative events and seemed to be forgotten about sometimes. I also would have liked to read this story from James' perspective, considering the book is essentially centered around him and his own journey from a loyal companion to his sister at their home to a harsh, troubled boy at their new boarding school. Despite this, reading from Moria's perspective gives the reader some unique perspectives on various events that occur, and also shows us how both James and Moria change over the course of their stay at Baskerville, though in two very different directions. It makes me wonder if it would have been possible for James to not become as hateful as he did, or if this was just in his nature.

Pearson excellently captures Sherlock's sharp, impossibly intelligent mind and also greatly enhances his arrogance - in fact, Sherlock is not the most likable character in many instances. But then there is also the rather unlikable James Moriarty as well, who acts as both a contrast and a similar character to Sherlock. Both boys are stubborn and fairly sure of themselves, and neither one likes to show any form of weakness, which in fact seems to be a weakness in itself.

My main problem with Lock and Key was how long-winded it became. I appreciate the fact that Pearson put so much effort into creating an extremely intricate story with many details, but it just became too confusing as the book progressed past the promising beginning. I found myself somewhat bored in many various periods of tediously long explanations and dialogues. This is marketed as a children's book, but I can see younger readers becoming a bit bored with this one, despite the initial hook and strong beginning.

For mystery fans, Lock and Key is filled with a perfect combination of ingredients: anonymous clues in the form of riddles, a secret society, enigmatic characters, and a slew of difficult problems to solve. Overall, I am giving Lock and Key three stars; while it was enjoyable, the confusing parts in the latter half of the novel and extensive explanation hindered my enjoyment a bit too much for me to give it more stars.

[Sunny the Sassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I hate when I reread a book and it's not as good as I remember.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second re-imagining of the Holmes/Moriarty duo set in modern times that I have read in the past year. In this one, we meed James Moriarty and his sister Moria who get sent to Baskerville Academy for high school. James's roommate is Sherlock Holmes from London who is there on scholarship. James get messages with hidden clues and begins to follow them not realizing there may be danger ahead.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did think it is a good middle grade level mystery. There are some clever puzzles to solve amid the pages that give it a mysterious air. It was very much a first book in a series as it lays the groundwork for the characters and the world. I liked Sherlock and his willingness to make friends with James. His character was very true to form as he is very intelligent and speaks his mind. I also enjoyed Moria's character, She is definitely the smarter of the two siblings. I also enjoyed her friendship with Sherlock.

What I didn't really care for was James. He was whiny. ungrateful and plain rude. It wasn't hard to see why he would become an evil mastermind in his later years. Frankly, as a teen, I found him annoying. The story ends with a lot of unanswered questions that I hope will be answered in the next book.

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by far the strangest Sherlock Holmes retelling I've ever read. (And I've read a ton.) Just looking at that cover I thought it was going to be fantasy when I picked it up, but then the blurb was going on about Sherlock and Moriarty, so no. I had several problems with it-

• It was contemporary. Which isn't a bad thing, as shows like Sherlock or books like Charlotte Holmes and Lock and Mori have shown us. But in this one I couldn't tell from the blurb or barely the first chapter that it was supposed to be that. So it didn't work for me.
• It took place in Boston? Because the first place I always think to place a story about Sherlock Holmes is a private boarding school outside Boston. It kind of worked, but I feel like it could have been better somewhere else.
• The narrative style was odd. It was told by James's younger sister, Moria, who was a good character, but I don't feel like it worked very well because she wasn't around for most of it. You should pick a narrator that's more involved in the story rather than a glorified bystander.
• None of the characters had a lot of depth. I'm basically here for Sherlock and he didn't seem to have a lot of personality, so that was disappointing.

There were a few good things. But overall, it didn't work for me. I've read better retellings and there was nothing special about this one to make it stand out. If you want a good modern version, try one of the ones I previously mentioned. If you want to see Sherlock in his more formative years, try the Young Sherlock Holmes series.

[Jordan Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets 4 stars from me. Before I get into the meat and potatoes of Lock and Key, I feel obligated to highlight the strengths and weaknesses that trilogies tend to have. Usually a trilogy contains so much content that the author has decided that it cannot fit into only one book. However, if not thought out correctly, the result can be a lot of filler, and if you just read one book by itself, you will not feel the same power that absorbing the entire series at once would give you. Each entry has to hold back some of it's drive to make you want to keep reading. This being said, as the first in a trilogy, it does not end with all the loose ends tied up. Does this make it bad? Certainly not. I now have an interest in reading the other books in the series because this first entry hooked me so much. Before you even purchase the book, you can of course take a sneak peek of what is to come on the back cover. What stuck out to me most was that the Author almost seemed to be including spoilers. I was confused, but then I realized the genius of it. Lock of course stands for Sherlock Holmes. This is a mystery novel. Sherlock Holmes is such a well loved character, that it's not any surprise or spoiler anymore that James Keynes isn't a good dude. This book's aim is not to hit you with a big twist that James isn't the hero of the story, it's to show you WHY he's not the hero of the story. This is an origin story. It's a prequel, except set in modern day. So the events of Sherlock Holmes that we all know and love have actually occourred before this prequel story occourred. It's like history repeating itself. A sequel prequel. A retelling. A reboot for the modern audiences. I love that Ridley Pearson isn't afraid to take on the adapting of these characters despite the possible backlash he could receive. There's creativity oozing through this book and I know he didn't hold back. He brings up values like trust, coming of age, gender roles, and acceptance of others.

We are told the story through the eyes of James' sister, Moria. Her relationship with her older brother is well written, and realistic. James is a teenager who is growing older and more rebellious, and as a result he isn't the nicest to his sister. He isn't evil at first, he's just experiencing the normal teenage angst. James and Moria may end up in entirely different situations, and its made very clear that it will get worse from here. In the short time that we have though, James is a redeemable and sometimes likeable character who talks back to adults and makes snarky comments. James is stuck in the situation of having to follow his father's footsteps, and his role in society is almost predetermined. He wants to be free of what he was born into, the Moriarty family legacy. He is forced to attend a prestigious school. His sister tags along. I know why this was done. It's actually only done so we as the readers can reasonably see what is going on with James, but the author writes this crucial element into the story so naturally it doesn't feel forced. In the first week, life is already rough. He meets his roommate, none other than Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is a know it all who can figure out just about everything in a way that feels kind of unrealistic to begin with. However, this does not drag him down. He's not a perfect individual. Sometimes he is a bit conceited or self centered, comparing his knowledge to others. This annoys both James and Moria, but James much more so as James is going to have to live with him for an entire semester. James bullies him for being a nerd, but Sherlock stays entirely calm, and constantly comes back from his insults with pure flames. I was in shock and awe with each and every funny and unexpected comeback. It didn't take long for Sherlock to grow on me as a character, and this was also the case with our storyteller, Moria. The mystery of a stolen family heirloom bring Sherlock and Moria closer together as they work to uncover the clues that are being left throughout the school. These appear like a test of some sort to James. As a male member of the Moriarty family, he is expected to be the one to solve this mystery but he always finds some reckless way to solve problems that puts himself in danger. Sherlock offers more reasonable and safe alternatives, which are met with criticism. More often than not, Sherlock is usually right. Over the course of the book James constantly tells Moria how much of a little kid she is being, but he's acting more immature himself. James feels the need to show off to other kids, and is almost embarrassed to be seen with his sister. Moria pours out her feelings to James on multiple occasions, trying to connect like they used to, but it's to no avail. James is growing up, and changing, and there is nothing Moria can do about it. She has to learn to accept the loss of the brother she once knew. He isn't dead, but his old personality is gone. He's like a new person in the same body. James sheds many of his morals. When something goes wrong, he blames it on someone else. James thinks so highly of himself, and he's part of a greater destiny than Moria, but greater has a negative connotation. He is so greedy for cursed knowledge and recognition that he puts everyone's lives in danger, even his own sister. There is a big shock in this book towards the middle that changes everyone's lives from that point. The characters manage to adapt after a few chapters and the main plot picks back up. I think this shock was really an effective build up and foreshadowing for some of the consequences that can occur if James continues down the road he is going. This is a point where James can reconsider his actions, and make a choice. He has a little time left before all is lost, but destiny is a struggle to change. The book ends on a note that Moria has trooped through all of her struggles and has grown as a character. She has changed for the better, and has truly earned it. With James, he's truly not learned a thing. His stubbornness and arrogance have lead his fantasy of being some great man into a dumpster fire. I recommend this book if you want to experience a nice and relatable mystery with twists and turns, natural relationships, funny moments in between the darkness, and at the end of it all, heart. There are some parts of this book that made me very happy and satisfied to read despite other more unfortunate circumstances. It's a balanced read. Should you pick it up? Elementary!