I really liked this take on the Holmes / Watson stories. 
 The idea that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson were real and now Charlotte Holmes and James Watson, their descendants, are taking over the mystery solving was cleverly done. 
 I thought it was interesting how the mythos of the original Holmes and Watson follows this new generation. 
 As the story unfolds (of course told to readers by Watson's observations), we see Charlotte and James have yet to meet (although their meeting is inevitable), but they both have ended up going to the same private school in Connecticut. 
 Once their paths do cross (due to a very hopeful and determined Watson), things escalate pretty quickly and they find themselves embroiled in solving a murder. And not only for the fact that both Holmes and Watson are considered suspects in said murder. 
 Of course I loved the mystery, but A Study in Charlotte is really an introduction to these characters. For all that it seems their paths are set in stone, I liked the idea underlining it all in that these are two young adults who don't necessarily want the stipulations placed upon them by the works of their ancestors, but they also don't really have a set path yet for themselves. There's kind of a contradiction between the things they want to do and the things they actually do based on the history of their ancestors. 
 For all that Charlotte is definitely a Holmes (complete with the more addictive side of their natures) we see more vulnerability and loneliness for her situation. When the other half of the duo is complete with James Watson, they both feel like a void has been filled. 
 At this point their characters are almost blurred together with that of their more famous predecessors, I think it will be very interesting to see in future books how James and Charlotte break away from the mold, if they even do break away. 
 Overall, I think A Study in Charlotte was a wonderful debut. I am certainly looking forward to seeing what comes next for Charlotte and James. I think it's safe to say that if you're going to have a Holmes and a Watson, there's no way you can leave out the Moriarty too. 
 *Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.