ARC Review: The Initiation by Ridley Pearson

The Initiation
Author: Ridley Pearson
Series: Lock & Key (Book 1)
Publication: HarperCollins (September 20, 2016)

Description: The New York Times bestselling author of the Peter and the Starcatchers and Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson, brings us the riveting first tale of the Lock and Key trilogy about the origins of the rivalry between literature’s most famous enemies—Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty, told from the perspective of James’s observant little sister, Moria.

Before James grew up to be a ruthless, remorseless villain, he was a curious boy from Boston, with a penchant for trouble and an acid tongue. Thrown into a boarding school against his wishes, James winds up rooming with a most unlikely companion: a lanky British know-it-all named Sherlock Holmes (“Lock” to his friends). An heirloom Bible, donated by the Moriarty family more than a hundred years ago, has gone missing, and it doesn’t take long for the two to find themselves embroiled in the school-wide scandal.

The school is on lockdown until it’s found, strange clues keep finding their way to James, and a secret society lurks behind it all. It’s a brave new reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes series as only master of suspense Ridley Pearson could envision. As Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, says, “This tale will change the way you see Sherlock Holmes and leave you dying to know more.”

My Thoughts: This story moves Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty to high school in the present day. This story is told by James's younger sister Moria who seems just as smart and sneaky as James but with, perhaps, a stronger sense of morals and ethics.

James and Moria find themselves sent off to boarding school at Baskerville Academy but their somewhat remote father. James really doesn't want to go but his father insists as it is family tradition to attend. Moria wants to go anywhere where she can stay with her brother and best friend.

The first thing that happens is that James meets his new roommate, a quirky young man named Sherlock Holmes. The two do not get along. James is an angry young man and Sherlock's personality is particularly grating for him. The second thing that happens is the change in his relationship with his sister. James distances himself from her which encourages Moria to spy on him.

James finds himself on a treasure hunt when a red envelope with a clue is left for him. James wants to search alone but Sherlock and Moria are determined to help him whether he wants their help or not. Things become even more complicated when the Moriarty family Bible is stolen from the school's chapel and when James and Moria's father dies in an "accident."

This story has mysterious clues, a secret society, lots of problems to solve and interesting characters to solve them. I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy too.

Favorite Quote:

I wondered why Sherlock's opinion of me mattered so much, but it did. I wanted him to like me as much as I like him, and that was without knowing why I liked him in the first place. He was a stuffed shirt, an arrogant boy with an inflamed sense of his own importance. But he was also brilliant, quirky, and gun to be with. Worst of all, he had kind eyes.

I got this eARC from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.