An Americanized retelling of the classic Sherlock Holmes story, set in a future with advanced tech, disastrous civil war, and a diverse main cast, A Study in Honor creates a unique drama that twists the original overdone story into something new. With the leading characters transformed by sex and skin color, O’Dell puts a spin on your typical Sherlock and Watson partnership, and pulls you into a world of intrigue.
Dr. Janet Watson is fresh off the front lines of war, with a clumsy mechanical prosthesis that is too big for the delicate surgeon work she does best. With few prospects, and only one friend in D.C., Watson must make the best of a difficult situation. She gets a job, starts therapy, finds a flat and an accompanying flatmate—Sara Holmes, who is secretive, attractive, and, most of all, maddening. Just when everything has seemingly settled, one of Watson’s patients dies suddenly, and then her friend, another doctor on the front lines, dies as well. This sends Watson and Holmes on the path of a secret investigation, a military mission gone horribly wrong, and several more mysterious deaths. But what awaits them on the other end of their investigation could get them both killed if they’re not careful.
O’Dell has a good sense of worldbuilding in what she has created. Everything about Watson’s surroundings in the fictional future America felt natural, dropped into the story in gentle tidbits that didn’t interrupt the greater narrative. There are details crafted to set the place and tone that fit well, but take you out of the classic Sherlock Holmes tale, but put you firmly into the politics of this future. Those political spins served to build up the tension as well—by shoving America into a civil war, O’Dell adds a unique spin to the narrative, something that feels immediate and even unfortunately plausible, given the current political climate. However, it did feel like O’Dell was over-indulging her expected audience with a few of those details.
The major change from current America was that after Trump, a female president was elected, who pushed through gun reform, federal oversight for cops, and LGBTQ+ positive legislation—all of which sounds like a dream, meant to make readers feel better when they’re currently dealing with, well, Trump. Overall, because of the political tone, the work did feel preachy, and it was awkward that even though there was a movement for equality, racism was still a foundational aspect of the work. O’Dell solved other problems very neatly, but she didn’t care to touch that one, which felt like a cop-out.
The novel also starts off really slow. It’s hard to find the path that Watson is supposed to be following, except for dealing with her own PTSD and difficulties with Holmes and her prosthesis. There is barely a hint of the mystery until almost halfway through the book, when Watson’s patients dies. The first third of the novel deals with Watson’s PTSD, her struggle to find her place in D.C., and her encounters and subsequent living situation with Holmes. And while that exposition was a good read, it took too long to get to the core of what Sherlock and Holmes partnership is based on—intrigue and murder.
I’d have also liked a little bit more about the technology of this age, and how it functions. It’s obvious that this story takes place in the near future, so it’s not that far removed. The tech seems similar, but there are bionics and high-tech computers and wearable equipment as well. It is shown that Sherlock has wires implanted in her head that, when combined with other wearables, help her navigate the internet and complex information searches. The technology is not as well-integrated or explained as it could have been.
I did really enjoy the spin that O’Dell put on Watson’s character. A Study in Honor is told from her perspective, with sporadic appearances of her own journal entries between a few of the chapters. The core things are still the same—Watson served as a surgeon on the front lines, was introduced to Sherlock by a mutual friend, has PTSD and a harsh injury, and had a failed relationship with a woman named Angela. But, with Watson transformed into an African American woman and a lesbian, O’Dell takes Watson’s persona and gives it new life. Her portrayal of Watson’s PTSD was one of my favorite things in the book. It’s abrupt and stark, with little warning and detailed physical description. The writing itself helped convey the immediacy and extent of Watson’s reactions as well. But this does come with a warning; if descriptions of panic attacks and trauma are difficult for you, this book will not be an easy read.
O’Dell also changes Watson’s injury, taking away her arm instead of affecting her leg. Janet Watson is an amputee with a mechanical prosthesis that is ill-fitted to her, and she struggles with the device daily. Her unfortunate circumstance adds immediacy to her situation, while the advances in technology means she could still be a surgeon, if she can just get past the bureaucracy and get a new arm. Watson struggles when she’s hired as a mere medical technician, and she cares deeply about patients that she sees herself in even though she’s not a practicing doctor. And the descriptions of Watson’s therapy appointments are emotional and draining to read, and help convey a lot about Watson’s state of mind throughout the work.
Sara Holmes, on the other hand, is a bit of a conundrum. Despite her active presence in Watson’s life, she seems separated from the narrative. Instead of a free agent, Holmes is a secret agent for the federal government, tasked with specific investigations and goings-on. The name felt like a bit of a cop-out, but nevertheless, the Sherlock persona that is Sara Holmes added depth to the narrative, and provided the set-up for the pair’s investigation.
O’Dell plays well with the feelings between Janet and Sara. Both characters are queer-coded, though Watson reads as more open than Holmes. There is a lot of wondering about the impacts of their investigation on their relationship, despite a careful pretense of separation between the two. And while there is never a confirmed relationship, the pair get more comfortable with each other as the investigation winds to a close, and there are hints that they may become more important to each other in the years that follow.
A Study in Honor is a fresh take on Sherlock Holmes that kept me engaged and interested through twists and turns. O’Dell sets the investigation in the backseat to character development, and the dynamic of the Americanized Watson and Holmes is intriguing. If you enjoy near-future crime novels, partner dynamics, and the potential for many more adventures, this one is right up your favorite shadowed alley.
Claire O’Dell
Published July 31, 2018
