Death Cloud (2010) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you'll enjoy this book! I devoured it. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“Hopefully kids who read this will start to use their own brains!”

• Rated 2 stars

“Sherlock Homes is now a teen.”

• Rated 3 stars

“I'm going to put this book in the 'not bad, but could have been better' classification. I have my own perceptions about how young Sherlock Holmes would be and this one isn't real close to my ideas. Yeah, I'm not sure I can clarify that right now, so I won't try. I just found the book disappointing in how it did craft young Holmes.

I did like the fact that Holmes has a mentor in an American who brings to mind a cross between Mark Twain and Wyatt Earp/Doc Holiday. Mr. Crow helps to develop Holmes' signature traits, deductive reasoning and a keenly analytical mind. It was interesting seeing how Holmes went from being a 'whatever/why is this important?' kid to the man who has an insatiable curiosity about the world and the burning desire to solve any puzzle that he encounters. I also liked Holmes' sidekick Matty Arnett. I have a feeling he will be accompanying Sherlock on more adventures in this series, and I'm very cool with that. I'd also like to see more of Mr. Crow. His daughter, Virginia, doesn't have quite as concrete a role, other than the horse-mad hoyden, would-be love interest, and perhaps, her tendency to bring out the impulsive adventurer in Sherlock.

What surprised me was how violent this book is. Personally, I would be wary about letting a child younger than thirteen read this. There are some fairly descriptive acts of brutality that I think would be a bit much for a younger reader. I was concerned that the exceedingly villainous bad guys who would torture a kid with a bullwhip in a book for a younger audience. It's a pretty drawn out scene too. Not to mention a nasty fist fight that Sherlock finds himself involved in, along with numerous altercations with the Big Bad's minions who have no qualms about murdering youngsters.

The main bad guy is suitably majestic, and really quite outre' in his madness and character quirks, almost over the top, in fact. I guess that could be fun, but his bombastic speech about wreaking vengeance against the British Empire was a bit tedious. Sometimes I get impatient with the "I am an Evil Overlord" speeches.

A big issue I did have was the pacing. I don't know. It just seemed uneven. I liked the action bits, for the most part, but I wasn't keen on how long it took Sherlock to figure things out. I realize that he's a young kid and he's just in the beginning of his long career as a detective, but I think he could have been a bit brighter in some circumstances. Happily, there is a good progression in his character over the course of the book.

Yeah, I know it, it's a problem of having too high expectations. Why do I do that to myself? That can burst a bubble or two for a reader. Would I recommend this? Hmmm, only if you really want to read about a young Sherlock Holmes, and your expectations aren't too grand. If you happen to be at the library and you can't find another book with a young detective to read, then you could reach for this one and it wouldn't be too much of a waste of your free time to read.

Overall rating: 3.25/5.00 stars.”

• Rated 5 stars

“For people who like reading mysteries, I recommend this for you. This book is really good, about Sherlock Holmes. when he was young. (This is first mystery he solves)”

• Rated 4 stars

“I bought Death Cloud on my way home from Scotland this summer and I read it on the plane. As a Sherlock junkie, I totally loved it. Death Cloud gives you the perfect glimpse of the life of 14-year-old Sherlock Holmes, before he gets all mental. Not only does the book introduce you to the detective, but it shows the reader the beginning of Sherlock’s obsession with bees, and his use of the science of deduction. Disclaimer: I’ve never actually read ir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, but I’ve seen the movie with Robert Downey Jr., and the BBC miniseries Sherlock. Both are fantastic, and this book is great as well. While the cover of Death Cloud did not attract me, I picked it up anyway because I saw the words, “Young Sherlock Holmes”. I’m happy I bought it. I’ll be sharing this one with plenty of friends and family. It’s a great mystery and back story.”

• Rated 3 stars

“ Young Sherlock Holmes
Death cloud
Jason 803
Andrew lane is the author of about twenty previous books.

This adventure and mystery book is about Sherlock as a fourteen-year old boy solving his first murder case. The first volume in this series, death cloud, starts off a bit slowly but soon turns into an intriguing murder mystery.
He decided to take it up in his own hands and start the murder investigation. With a fearless mind and thirst for adventure. Young Sherlock Holmes will need all the encouragement, strength and determination that he could get.
I recommend this book for teenagers and adults who enjoys read these types of books, because, of the hard vocabulary, and prior knowledge needed to read this book.

”

• Rated 5 stars

“AWESOME i loved it and it was totally different. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Excellent mystery with clues abounding. Can't imagine any young adult not loving this book!”

• Rated 4 stars

“Actually reminded me quite a bit of Alex Rider”