Lock and Mori

Lock and Mori
By Heather Petty
Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2015. 248 pages. Young Adult

In this teenaged, modern-day twist on Sherlock Holmes, Miss James “Mori” Moriarty is the main character. After her mother’s death from cancer, brilliant Mori and her younger brothers are left to deal with their increasingly despondent and violent father. After a fire alarm at school, Mori meets fellow student Sherlock “Lock” Holmes who is the first person who can match her intelligence and analytical mind. When they learn of a bizarre murder in nearby Regent Park, they decide to investigate. However, as more mysterious murders occur and Mori learns there may be a connection to her mother’s death, she increasingly feels conflicted about Lock’s involvement in the investigation and her life.

It’s hard to find new ground to cover in Sherlock’s world. Making Moriarty the main character is certainly not new, but Petty has created an interesting take on the story. Fans of all things Sherlock Holmes will definitely want to pick this up. Sherlock aside, this also has a fast-paced, intriguing murder mystery though some might guess the killer’s identity a little too early.

AJ