The Crown Jewel Mystery

Billed as a prequel to the main series of Sherlock Holmes/Lucy James mysteries, this is a pacy and lively novel that sees the two working independently on a case. The two characters come together as they are involved in a bank robbery, a situation creating the tension and pace of the novel.

Lucy is a likeable heroine; she shows bravery and intelligence as she grapples with the situation in which she finds herself. Some of the chapters are told from her perspective, while others are told by Watson who obviously, as with the original Sherlock stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, fills in the Sherlock perspective.

The novel is very short and felt more like a novella establishing the characters. That's not a problem in itself, but is probably better read before the main series as it doesn't really add much to the later books where the relationship between Lucy and Sherlock is established. I enjoyed the full novels from the series more than this one.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read, but the novels within the full series are more engaging and detailed.

In 1895 Lucy James has just arrived in London in the company of Johnny Rockefeller to find out her real identity. This leads them to a bank at the same time that the police with Holmes and Watson arrive in the area.
This prequel to the series is an enjoyable quick read.

I am really enjoying this series. I find it difficult to put down. Lucy is a great character. I need to find the other 2 books in the series, having read this one and Remember, Remember.

Before Lucy James and Sherlock Holmes meet in The Last Moriarty, their paths crossed without either of them even knowing it. When Lucy is caught in a bank robbery that isn't going well, she does everything she can to keep people from dying. On the outside, the great consulting detective is called in to solve the mystery of who wished for the bank to be robbed.

This is a lovely little prequel to the series and does a good job of introducing readers to Lucy and sets up the mystery that is woven through the future books. Lucy and Sherlock do not actually meet in the story. We're given a nice view of Lucy and her resourcefulness in the story.

As far as a Sherlock Holmes story, it seemed a little flat. There weren't a lot of details, but it is a novella length story so there isn't that much room for it.

At any rate, it was an enjoyable read and fans of the series will no doubt enjoy it.

This was a fun light hearted mystery and a great introduction to the characters. I enjoyed it!

Great historical fiction using real details and recognizable characters and historical figures. Strong female.protagonist.

Again, I have been pleasantly surprised by another installment of this series. This is only a short novella—a prequel to the main series—but it is just as thrilling and suspenseful as the full length novels. In fact, I think this is my favorite story so far; it is incredibly captivating and full of surprises that will keep readers on their toes. We are able to go back and take a look at the origins of our characters and what eventually brings them together. It does a wonderful job of further developing backstories and fleshing out many basic aspects of the general series plotline.

In this novella, we primarily follow the perspective of Lucy James, the intelligent, brave, and witty young woman who serves as the main character in the previous novel. Lucy and her friend, Johnny Rockefeller, have just arrived in London in pursuit of the answers that have been hidden from Lucy all her life—who her family is and who has been financially supporting her all through her early years. While following a major lead, the pair suddenly find themselves embroiled in a dangerous con, one with far more twists and turns than anyone can imagine.

I had such a great time reading this story. Though they do not actually meet at this point, it is interesting to see how close Lucy comes to meeting Sherlock. They each play a crucial part in solving this mystery and bringing about justice without even knowing the other’s involvement.

Once again, we get a vivid picture of what an incredibly clever and strong heroine Lucy is. She fits in fairly easily among these other well-known characters, which adds to the plausibility of the narrative when compared against the original stories. Lucy is a very well-developed, multi-dimensional character, who holds her own and makes a solid protagonist for these novels.

Occasionally, Lucy comes across as being just a little too perfect. I always feel that one of the main elements that makes Holmes so incredible is the portrayal of his flaws that remind you he is human. This is an extremely minor complaint though—one that does not negatively affect this novella at all. It is only a point that would add even more dimension to Lucy if used.

Really the main issue that I had is essentially the same one that I had with the previous novel—I still struggle with Lucy’s familial connection to Holmes. This is absolutely nothing that Elliot did wrong; I think she does a fantastic job of making the idea of their relationship realistic and believable. However, I personally am overly picky when it comes to adding elements that really stray far from the original story to a generally faithful retelling. And I admit, the more I read from this series, the more that aspect of the plot grows on me, which is a testament to how well Elliot weaves her characters into the world of these classic tales.

Overall, this novella is a fantastic addition to the Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mysteries series. It is a very fun, fast-paced read that also adds more dimension to the series as a whole. We are able to see what finally brought Lucy into the paths of Holmes and Watson, as well as an early picture of her astounding powers of deduction. Though I still do have a few personal issues reconciling the details of her link to the great detective, she is a skillfully crafted mirror of him, while also retaining those things that make her a unique character in her own right. I am loving this series so far and I cannot wait to continue on with it.