A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes, #1)

by Brittany Cavallaro

[Beth C.]

Holmes and Watson. Two of the most famous names - and personalities - in literature. But what if those names belonged to real people? People who manage, somehow, to always find their Holmes or their Watson, even as successive generations come and go? And what sort of chaos may be following them?

Jamie Watson has just gotten himself shipped off to a school in Connecticut where he is *supposed* to be getting to know his father. The fact that he has no intention of doing so doesn't seem to mean much to those involved in the final decision. To add to the drama, he is aware that Charlotte Holmes also attends that school, but he has been warned that it might be best to keep his distance - even though he has imagined meeting her for years. Unfortunately, boarding schools can be a hotbed of trouble, and when a student that both Jamie and Charlotte had a run-in with is found dead, the two are thrown together in order to attempt to clear their names.

While this is a young adult book, I found it a fun and interesting read. The author does an excellent job of NOT talking down to her audience, even when there is violence involved. A quick warning - there is some talk about a rape, and while there are not a lot of details given, it could be a trigger for some. However, I felt that it was handled quite well, and was appropriate for both the story and the potential ages of future readers.

It does appear (according to the author's website) that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. If the second book is as good as the first, then it will be a rollicking read with mystery, danger, and a touch of romance.