2 / 5 ⭐️‘s 

 

"A Case of Madness" by Yvonne Knop 

 

This one wasn't for me. While the book's synopsis promised an intriguing plot with elements of mystery and romance, I found myself struggling to connect with the story due to the heavy reliance on the hallucination of Sherlock Holmes. 

 

As a self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes scholar, Andrew Thomas, the protagonist, is depicted as a complex character with a slew of challenges including being unemployed, battling cancer, and struggling with his sexual orientation. However, when Holmes appears in Andrew's life as a hallucination, claiming to be in love with a man he just met, the story takes a bizarre turn. 

 

The concept of chasing a fictional character through London with his own Watson could have been an interesting twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes narrative, but it didn't resonate with ME. The constant blurring of reality and hallucination left me feeling disconnected from the story, and I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in Andrew's journey. 

 

The book's writing style was well-crafted, and the author's creativity in weaving together elements of mystery and romance was commendable. However, the overarching theme of Andrew's obsession with a hallucinatory version of Sherlock Holmes didn't resonate with my personal reading preferences. 

 

While this may appeal to readers who enjoy unconventional narratives and are fans of the Sherlock Holmes idea, it ultimately wasn't a book that I vibed with. 

 

This ARC audiobook was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.