Just brilliant.

I’m a sucker for Sherlock Holmes tellings and retellings and this was stunning.

The plot was compelling, the characters endearing (especially Moriarty!!), the writing style was witty, and the overall book was a true gem and had me hooked from the very first on page meeting between Dr. Watson and James Moriarty.

I had an inkling about the mystery of the plot and I’m happy to have been proven right, because what else are books like this but a chance to test your own mystery-solving abilities?

The story-writing was interesting and it just kept me hooked with the style, and the way the author was splitting the chapters. I really enjoyed this and I’m really looking forward to more books in this world.

I’m so glad I was sent this book as an ARC (although this has now been released), and I’d like to thank Sterling&Stone, Gavin Collinson, and NetGalley for giving me access to an e-copy of Moriarty!

This was a strong start to the Moriarty series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel in the Sherlock Holmes world. I was invested in what was happening and thought the overall feel worked in this universe. The characters worked well in this universe and the story that was being told. It was a strong opening chapter and I enjoyed the overall concept. Gavin Collinson does a great job in bringing this concept to life and am excited for more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for an ARC of this novel to read and review.

Arthur Conan Doyle only ever wrote 4 full length novels about his immortal (figuratively-speaking) Baker Street sleuth yet the number of books the character and his circle have spawned in the past century and a half is far beyond my count. Not including films, radio programs, and TV series. I can’t say I know them all, but I rarely turn away from an opportunity to read another entry in the Sherlockian universe.

This is not the first Holmes spin-off, either, to move the setting to contemporary times, as did the extremely popular recent TV series. Nor is it the first to centre on his nemesis, the crafty and thoroughly evil Professor James Moriarty. There is much of Holmes here, but he is dead, as Moriarty is supposed to be, after their fight to the finish at Reichenbach Falls.

The author has nonetheless brought him back to life, literally, and also subjected him to an interesting remodelling. At least to a degree. Still narcissistic and sociopathic, the new Moriarty is intent on using both his manipulative and deductive powers, which he reminds everyone, often, are far superior to the those of the late lamented Holmes, to stop a far more powerful and dangerous evil than he himself once was. That takes some convincing, but the story moves along quickly, and the writing is clear and lively.

There is also as much of Dr John Watson here as there is of Moriarty. The author shows us a man still wrapped in grief and anger over the loss of his dear friend. But there’s humor too, in the exchanges between Watson, striving to preserve Holmes’ legacy in not-very-successful podcasts, and Moriarty, as well as the now female Lestrade. There are a number of places where I found myself wanting better explanations for claims and actions, but there is a follow-up planned and it will be interesting to see how they are answered.

Requested this off the title alone and I was not disappointed. Moriarty is a story about what happens to Sherlock Holmes is gone and his nemesis, Moriarty is still left in the world with no one to attach himself to. Enter old pal Watson. Moriarty enters this new world of being on the side of "good" perhaps. Watson and Moriarty team up for adventures and twists, I will definitely be recommending this as well as rereading it. These iconic characters continue to jump off the page and keep you entertained.

Loved reading the book and the transition of Moriarty, the ultimate villain to becoming the ultimate hero.. I have always loved the character of Dr Watson. This book and the way the author has treated this character has made me fall in love with the character all over again.

If you love Sherlock, you will love this book as well.

I love Sherlock Holmes adaptations. I really do. They have so much potential.
Especially with classics that are set in a modern context, there is a lot of room for new ideas that take the original into account, as well as relying on a well-known story as a foundation.
However, this potential sadly wasn‘t fully achieved with "Moriarty".

On the positive side, the amount of spotlight John Watson got was a really pleasant surprise, since he is usually regarded as just a sidekick. Furthermore, I liked getting some insight into his character, as well as the grief he dealt with after losing Sherlock.
It also had some really fascinating takes on Sherlock's adventures and pointed out some interesting flaws in his reasonings.

Sadly, this story wasn't free of those either, so there were some really intransparent motives (I know that there was manipulation involved, but I would have loved more insight into what exactly the words that pushed a character to murdering someone were, especially in such a terrifying fashion as the teardrop killers').
In addition, I had some problems with the character Zenisha Lestarade. At times it seemed like the only reason why she was written as a female character was to open up the possibility of her being a love interest to John, which had no real purpose in the grand scheme of the story.
What really dropped my rating, though, was Moriarty. He kept on insisting that he was better than Sherlock when in reality he was guilty of exactly the same actions, especially with the secrecy he so condemned when talking to John.

Some of my feelings towards the way this book shook out could also be chalked up to the fact that I didn‘t really get a great insight into what kind of story I would be getting myself into before starting it, since the blurb was the only information I could find online regarding this book.

To sum up, this book has a few problems. However, if you can look past them and want to read a story about a modern and sometimes quite funny take on Moriarty, give this a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling&Stone for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

TL/DR: Did you read the synopsis? Great! Get the book! Anyone can enjoy the twists and turns of this adventure.

Now, for my full review. Gavin Collinson takes the familiar world of Sherlock Holmes and brings it through a Time Machine into the present day. I’m not going to lie. I did start the book over once I found my footing. While I was enjoying the storyline, I was thrown off. I felt like I had stepped into an alternate universe via a certain phone booth (this is a nod to the author).

Once I accepted this new reality, this mythos where Moriarty is not only alive, but working for good, “like a spider in the center of its web,” seeing not only what is in front of him but how it is all connected, I was all in. The difference is, this time, the web he is forming is not to cause chaos but to help prevent it.

There is so much going on in this book that I am sure it will become a re-read for me. Now, there is Dr. Watson, and Mary. Moriarty of course and Lestrade, but to tell you much more would not be a spoiler, so much as not letting you experience this world first. It really is a crazy ride.

I was so excited to learn that this is the first book in a series, and also astonished at how much of this world we were introduced to in the first book. Instead of Moriarty being the villain (don’t worry, he’s not all sunshine and good deeds either), we have a greater threat. Not just in London, but across the globe.

I feel like anything I tell you about that’s in the book would be a spoiler, and I try really hard to stay away from those. I can say the words paint pictures in your mind and the twists and turns will make your head spin.

Do yourself a favor and just get the book. Fans of Holmes will enjoy this new world and those who have never read Holmes will be caught up in this amazing heart pounding adventure. I loved it!

I would like to thank the author, Gavin Collinson, the publisher, Sterling and Stone and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

This was a pretty quick and fun read. Decent plot with a solid mystery and interesting (well-known) characters. The dialogue was unexpectedly hilarious at times (if a bit cringy) and the story was well paced and kept me engaged throughout. The cornerstone of the book is clearly the relationship between Watson and Moriarty and the best parts were anytime their history with Sherlock was explored. We didn't really get answers to much, but the main mystery of the book was wrapped up well enough to leave the reader decently if not fully satisfied. The motive of the culprit did leave a little to be desired and I felt like should have been a bit more than what it was (but, hey, maybe they were just really and truly a dramatic king and had to crash out so hugely over small things)
I didn't really have much complaints about the book. Plot elements that have me unsatisfied (one such being I felt that the history of Moriarty and a character from his past could have been better explained) are sure to be addressed in the future. The writing was a little cringey at times and I recall spotting a spelling error or two but nothing to make me clutch my pearls.
Overall, a short but entertaining read!