Official Review: Sherlock Mars by Jackie Kingon

[Shelle]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sherlock Mars" by Jackie Kingon.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Android police inspectors, a wedding in outer space, and a heroine who loves to eat are all featured in Sherlock Mars, a murder mystery novel by Jackie Kingon. I rated this book 3 out of 4 stars. The book is well-written and the characters and situations are innovative and fresh, but the story drags in places and the multiple uses of puns and word-play gets tiresome.

Sherlock Mars takes readers centuries into the future, to a time where travel between the planets in the solar system is common practice and humans live on a variety of different planets. The story’s main character, Molly Marbles, is a bistro owner on Mars. When a virtual restaurant opens nearby, Molly at first is worried about the competition, but when her business increases as a direct result of her new neighbor, she and the owner of the new virtual restaurant team up for an out-of-this-world dining event. Unfortunately, the night ends with a murder and a restaurant full of suspects. Molly is an amateur sleuth and with the help of an entertaining and quick-witted Mars Yard police force, she cracks the case.

While Sherlock Mars may seem like a typical whodunit murder mystery, the flair author Jackie Kingon includes adds much depth, humor, and heart to the story. One of Molly’s daughters is planning a wedding, and much like weddings on Earth, weddings on other planets can become a force all their own. There are squabbles with in-laws, friendship issues, body-image doubts, and prejudices, just like on Earth today. Of course, these issues come complete with space elevators, collapsible androids, and all-you-can-eat buffets in a reduced-gravity dining room.

I liked the heart in Sherlock Mars. The characters really were genuine and caring, and I even developed a soft spot for the murderer. Molly’s love and adoration for her husband and daughters is evident throughout, even when they squabble about skyrocketing wedding costs. The author obviously loves her characters and enjoys writing about them. However, I thought the story dragged on unnecessarily toward the latter third of the book. I had already figured out the mystery aspect and thought the tension seemed forced. The puns and word-plays that were humorous in the beginning on the book were tired toward the end. (For example, one character’s name was Burton Ernie, and a poison was made by combining the two products named Contam and Inate.)

Sherlock Mars is the second book in the Molly Marbles series and I would expect there to be more as these characters likely have more to do and say. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a light-hearted mystery and over-the-top science fiction. Although a murder is central to the book’s plot, there is no violence that would prevent me from recommending it to younger readers.

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Sherlock Mars
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Like Shelle's review? Post a comment saying so!

[lane_vespertine]

I was going to comment on how your review is totally upside-down from the typical review on this site. But you know what? It works. Good review!
Also, I really enjoy a mindless closed room mystery. I may actually pick this one up.
Also, I love puns.

[kimmyschemy06]

Sounds like an enjoyable read. I like mystery books and the setting being in another planet makes it even more interesting. Great job on the review.

[bookowlie]

I enjoyed reading your review, particularly because I considered selecting this book for review a few months ago. Although I am not a big fan of science fiction, I do like light mysteries! I am going to take a second look at this one.

[Shelle]

I was going to comment on how your review is totally upside-down from the typical review on this site. But you know what? It works. Good review!
Also, I really enjoy a mindless closed room mystery. I may actually pick this one up.
Also, I love puns.

Based on your likes, I would absolutely recommend this book to you!

-- 12 Oct 2016, 07:20 --

Sounds like an enjoyable read. I like mystery books and the setting being in another planet makes it even more interesting. Great job on the review.

Thanks! The out-of-this-world aspect adds some flair and uniqueness, but doesn't necessarily detract from the story.

-- 12 Oct 2016, 07:21 --

I enjoyed reading your review, particularly because I considered selecting this book for review a few months ago. Although I am not a big fan of science fiction, I do like light mysteries! I am going to take a second look at this one.

Thanks! It is a good light mystery.

[AA1495]

Sounds interesting. Glad you enjoyed reading it. Thank You for the great review!

[braver]

I also almost reviewed this book. I think the puns would have been a bit too much for me! Thanks for the review!