James Moriarty, called Mori (also, she's female 's a family name) is coasting. School isn't challenging enough to interest her, she's distanced herself from friends, and her mother's death from cancer has left Mori and her three younger brothers alone with their father, a policeman whose grief has made him increasingly volatile. But when she meets fellow student Sherlock Holmes and a murder occurs in nearby Regent's Park, things change: after witnessing some shoddy police work, the two set out to solve the murder themselves. Despite not wanting to get involved, Mori is drawn to quiet, brilliant Lock, and soon finds herself entangled in a mystery that may be closer to home than she realized. Set in modern-day London, this adaption still feels vaguely steampunk, and comes with a dark atmosphere and high stakes. Though Lock and Mori, with their tentative romance, aren't yet the famed archenemies of literature, this first in a planned trilogy has opened the door for them to follow that road to its end.

Gr 9 Up-Miss James "Mori" Moriarty's mother has died of cancer, leaving her and her three younger brothers alone with their violent, grieving father. But then she meets Sherlock "Lock" Holmes at school. In this reimagining of Arthur Conan Doyle's world, Lock and Mori pair up to try and solve the very disturbing murders that are occurring in London's Regent's Park. After the father of one of their schoolmates is brutally killed, the duo agree to team up to see who can solve the murder first, and their only rule is that they have to share everything they find. But when Mori finds out that her mother might just be at the center of not only Mr. Patel's murder but three other suspicious murders, she decides that she must investigate on her own to keep her new friend and family secrets safe. Along the way, the teens start falling for each other, which makes Mori all the more determined to keep the whole dangerous mess a secret. This fun, thrilling read will interest not only fans of the Sherlock TV show, but also those who have no prior knowledge of Baker Street and the wonders and mysteries that happen there. Mori is a well-developed, multidimensional protagonist and a lively narrator. Lock is just as intriguing, and it will be fun for fans to see the sleuth as a teenager, trying to make his way to his ultimate destiny. Watson shows up, toohe's the boyfriend of their classmate Lily Patel. The ending will leave readers wanting more from these two mystery mavens. VERDICT A definite purchase where mysteries are loved and Sherlock fandom is celebrated. Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR