2.5 stars rounded up.

A lot of exposition and weird 4th wall breaks, cringe, and it just didn't keep my attention. I wanted some good chronic illness rep alongside a good story, but it just wasn't it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

It’s rare a book captures my attention right away, but as opening lines in books go, the beginning of “A Study in Black Brew” was a one hell of a start! It immediately drew me into the book and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I still don’t know if the story was short or if it just felt like it was, because I had such an easy and good time. Whatever the case, I enjoyed it immensely and was looking forward to pick up the book whenever my busy schedule allowed it and I had some free time to spare.

Moreover, I have to admit that the idea of a Sherlock Holmes retelling that plays on a foreign planet was just too appealing to stay away from it. I’ve always been a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and I love it when authors give a new spin to stories I’m already familiar with. Well, Marie Howalt certainly succeeded in doing that because Kellieth, our MC, and Raithan – the equivalent of Sherlock Holmes - aren’t just living on a planet named Ganmak, they are also Wendek, the alien species that calls Ganmak their homeworld. I swear, it was so refreshing to see humans through the eyes of aliens that are similar but completely different as well. Apparently Wendek’s have a really good sense of smell and humans with their perfumes, body wash, and all the products we use were kinda challenging for them. Which I found extremely amusing, because it’s so rare to get that special outlook and perspective on us.

For our non-binary MC Kellieth, human odours weren’t that much of a hassle, though because after an accident on another planet they lost their heightened sense of smell. Unfortunately, that accident also led to them having chronic asthma and caused them to be unemployed. In a world full of people whose interactions are solely based on smell, they had a tough time finding their footing again. This however changed as soon as they got to know their new neighbour Raithan.

As someone who suffers from asthma too, I could relate to Kellieth’s struggles and found myself in them whenever they had troubles to breathe after taking a flight of stairs. I personally think the disability rep was done very well in that regard. I can’t speak for the hyposmia rep but I could understand how it would affect a Wendek like Kellieth and the author definitely managed to convey the challenge of living with a condition like theirs.

I also had a lot of fun trying to find out more about the murderer. Raithan’s deduction skills were on point and the way he anticipated certain moves or was able to think ten septs ahead was typical Sherlock Holmes. Both of our MCs were individuals that could stand on their own, though. They might have had similarities to Watson and Sherlock but they were separate and independent characters that could carry the story on their own. Also fair warning: There was some sort of chemistry between our two main characters but nothing happened so if you’re looking for a queer romance this book won’t deliver on that front. I don’t know if the author has planned other books and if this is going to be a series, so there might be the possibility of a romance in the future, for this book I can tell you that there is none, though.

All told, I really enjoyed “A Study in Black Brew” and I hope I’ll be able to read more books written by the author in the future. This story was a fun and entertaining retelling with a new spin and I was a huge fan of the fact that it played on a different planet. If you’re looking for something interesting with a great disability representation and an engaging storyline, well, then this book is for you.

When illness forces Kellieth ReinAraneinth from his chosen profession, he returns to the capital city of Nantheam without a plan for the future. His health will never be what it was and Kellieth finds himself struggling to find a new purpose. Thanks to a chance encounter with an old friend, Kellieth finds affordable housing, even if his new neighbor is a bit unusual. Almost in spite of himself, Kellieth is drawn to the arrogant but brilliant Raithan WeinZalneinth, who all but bursts into his life.

Suddenly, Kellieth is assisting Raithan on a murder investigation that is increasingly complex and dangerous. The pair must unravel a violent tale of revenge and betrayal before the desperate killer strikes again. But if they aren’t careful, they may end up as a murderer’s next target.

A Study in Black Brew is ostensibly a pastiche and based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet. If you’ve read that work or even seen the first episode of BBC’s Sherlock, then you already know the plot to A Study in Black Brew. But pastiches are tricky; because the plot is often already provided or at least outlined, the author must nail the personality of each character and give the reader a compelling reason to remain engaged. A Study in Black Brew does a decent job of engagement, but it stumbles when it comes to characterization.

The overall world in A Study in Black Brew is both fantastical and relatable. There is enough of the unusual and unique to make the world an interesting one, but the people of Nantheam are not so wildly different from you and I. They have the same drives and passions and the author does a good job of offering readers immersion without either overwhelming or boring them with too many info dumps or excessive descriptions. For those familiar with Holmes and Watson, the plot helps ground this story in the comfortable and familiar as well.

Kellieth is no Watson and Raithan is no Holmes. On some level, that is how it should be. Even with a pastiche, no character can really be Holmes, only Holmes-esque, if that makes sense. He’s too unique and complex a character to ever truly be copied. But that said, I’m still not sure I know who Raithan and Kellieth really are. They have more depth than caricatures and are certainly more developed. Yet neither reads as either fully formed or fully developed yet. This may come with time; if the author plans for more for the series that development may occur naturally. But while reading A Study in Black Brew, it was hard to grasp the definition of their relationship as friends and colleagues or as individuals. As a result, I struggled to connect with either of them in a meaningful way, which is pretty important when it comes to my enjoyment level as a reader. This is not to say that I didn’t like parts of a A Study in Black Brew — I certainly did! And I think both of the main characters have a lot of potential, but right now they tended to drift through the story rather than drive or shape it. I think as characters, they needed to fully divorce themselves from the shadow of Holmes and Watson and become unique creations in their own right.

A Study in Black Brew was a decent start to what I hope will be an ongoing series. The author has created an interesting world to play in and it has a lot of room to grow. The characters needs some fleshing out and to evolve into something more independent from the source material. I think once that happens, Raithan and Kellieth could end up being great fun.

TL;DR: A great sci-fi retelling of Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet perfect for those that like a little mystery with their aliens

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Story Elements: 5/5
Grammar: 5/5
Experience: 4/5
Overall: 26/30 or 4.3 stars

I must admit, I’m a sucker for anything Sherlock Holmes. To me, a good Sherlock retelling is worth its weight in gold- and boy does A Study in Black Brew deliver. From a wonderfully established alien world to witty characters, I could wax on about A Study in Black Brews strengths. Plot wise Howalt does a fantastic job of faithfully retelling Doyle’s original A Study in Scarlet while still making the story unique and memorable. I did wonder how Howalt would handle the second half of A Study in Scarlet and was a little disappointed with how fast the end seemed to go, but overall it was a really enjoyable read. The writing style perfectly captured the academic tone of the original story and fit the narrating character’s personality perfectly. I adored Kellieth and Raithan as characters. While both paid homage to the original characters that inspired them, they were unique and had distinct personalities. The banter between them was witty and natural and I often found myself literally laughing out loud at their lines. The side characters weren’t as well developed, but that is understandable considering how short the book is. Overall I would definitely recommend you read this book if you’re looking for a good sci-fi mystery or a brilliant retelling of a classic.

First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and Spaceboy Books for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review

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⚝ Rating ⚝: 2.75 ✩ / 5✩’s, rounded up

⚝ Review ⚝: I wanted to love this book so much! It was such a fun premise. Instead I found myself in a revolving door of 'reel me in, let me down, reel me in, let me down'. A Study in Black Brew is a cozy murder mystery that primarily follows Kellieth, who is dealing with the reality of not having a job due to a chronic medical condition that nearly killed them on their last job. They have just moved into a new home and they are trying to find a sense of normalcy when they meet their new neighbor: Raithan. The two strike up an interesting friendship as the two start to learn about each other -- or at least, as Kellieth tries to learn about Raithan, because Raithan already seems to know everything about Kellieth. It isn't long before Raithan decides to show Kellieth what he does for a living, and in doing so, drags Kellieth, an individual who he *just met*, to a crime scene. A murder scene.

What I liked: All the great representation. Taking place on an alien world where multiple species live together in mostly harmony, the society is extremely queernormative. Kellieth, the main character, is nonbinary, Raithan is queer, many side characters are in queer relationships, etc. All of the relationships are handled just as they should be --as a fact of life and completely normal. On top of that, Kellieth has a chronic illness that affects their day-to-day life, one that I very deeply relate to.
The melting-pot culture in the story, especially for how short it was, was rich and engaging, and in some ways, I would have liked to explore it more.
I also, in general, very much liked the premise of the story: A queer SciFi retelling of Sherlock Homes and Watson taking on a murder mystery.

What I didn't like: The writing style, unfortunately, was not it for me. Lots of purple prose, descriptions/details that felt out of place, dialogue that felt like it didn't quite fit. This alone had me considering DNF'ing at just after the 50% mark.
Then there was Raithan, who was meant to fill the shoes of Sherlock Holmes. At first, I loved him. He was quirky, mysterious, and fun. Gradually, he got more and more...unlikable--and yes, I fully understand that the OG Sherlock Holmes, as well as most of the Sherlock retellings aren't exactly the most likeable characters, but at around 65%, I found Raithan so condescending and superior, that most of my notes were geared towards how much I disliked how he spoke to everyone else. He just got gradually more and more unpleasant. Especially his interactions with Kellieth, which Kellieth did admit at times were less than stellar.

Somebody WILL absolutely love this, and many will very much enjoy Raithan and Kellieth's dynamic. It just wasn't for me at the end of the day.

⚝ Representation ⚝: Queer, Nonbinary, Chronic Illness (respiratory)

⚝ TWs ⚝: Drug abuse, death, murder, blood, poisoning, ableism

My monthly reading breakdown for May will be posted to TikTok, IG, and Threads the first week of June.

A Study in Black Brew is a scifi retelling of the Sherlock Holmes novella, 'A Study in Scarlet' except Holmes and Watson are wendek, a race of aliens. Our Watson is actually a nonbinary disabled Wendek named Kellieth.

I am rather impressed with how Howalt wrote a faithful retelling of A Study in Scarlet while also immersing us in a completely new scifi world. Raithan and Kellieth are reminiscent of Holmes and Watson respectively but are also uniquely their own characters. The mystery does not do anything new but then again, it didn't need to because Raithan and Kellieth are the stars of the story. I loved the representation of asthma in a story and showing that Kellieth can still have a fascinating life regardless of their disability.

The world of Ganmak was presented in an impressive amount of detail for how short this story was. I enjoyed all of the Wendek slang and turns of phrase that Howalt threw in. It just elevated the story that much more and led to a more fun reading experience. And it was done so effortlessly!

I loved the budding relationship between Raithan and Kellieth so I am really looking forward to the next novella which I hope is coming soon.....

Reviews going live on Tiktok, Goodreads, Storygraph and Fable on 5/22.

This book left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it had the warm, cozy atmosphere I was hoping for from a Sherlock Holmes-retelling, especially with the wonderful banter between the main characters. But on the other hand, the heavier focus on the alien elements sometimes pulled me out of the charm and comfort I was expecting.

The names of the characters were quite complex, and as someone with dyslexia, I found them hard to remember. Thankfully, the story mainly centered around just two protagonists, which helped. I also struggled to fully grasp some important worldbuilding elements, like the role of scent, which was supposed to be a crucial sense in this story but felt underexplained.

One highlight was the inclusion of a gender-neutral character but I found the connection between gender identity and scent a bit confusing and wished it had been more clearly developed. Similarly, the relationship between the two main characters had great potential, but with the short length of the book, there wasn’t quite enough room for it to blossom. I’m hoping a future installment might give that more space.

The story also touched on themes of prejudice and racism by using alien-human tensions, which was an interesting choice, though I wasn’t sure how much it truly added to the core narrative.

While I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series, I would definitely be open to reading more from this author, ideally in a longer format where their imaginative ideas have more space to unfold. There’s clearly something special in their storytelling, even if this particular story didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.

This book was a breath of fresh air! Generally, I’m not one for mysteries, but this sci-fi Sherlock Holmes retelling kept me immersed and interested the entire way through.
I loved following Raithan And Kellieth in this unique world. They felt like real people with nuanced personalities, and the chemistry between them was great.
It is a very simple yet comforting story, with queer characters and great disability rep! I honestly hope it becomes a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Spaceboy Books for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I struggled to get into it during the first couple of pages so I did admittedly put it down a few times, but when I gave it a proper chance: WOW. The characters, Kellieth and Raithan, are incredibly endearing and interesting, AND they aren't absolutely perfect people with no flaws - SUCH a fresh take on a Sherlock and Watson concept. I would've loved to see them interact more outside of the investigation, especially since they've become somewhat attached to each other by the end. It feels a bit like I'm being told they bonded while not really seeing a ton of evidence of that happening, y'know?

My biggest criticism is that the book definitely needs to have an editor go through again to fix some grammatical mistakes (like missing quotation marks), and to switch out some words used in odd places. What I mean by that is <spoiler> there was a sentence that said: "Excuse me?" I ejaculated." </spoiler> which absolutely shouldn't have been the term used in this context. Also while reading, I had an inkling that the writing came off as very academic in nature with a lot of "however[s]" used which I figure now might be the result of the author having a Masters in English Studies (correct me if I'm wrong). I think that might have had a little bit too much influence because the writing came off as a bit unnatural at times.

Other than that though, I really enjoyed the book. I read half before I fell asleep yesterday and then woke up to spend the rest of the morning finishing it off. I loved the characters; the story was fun; and I think there's great potential for this world. 4.25 stars rounded down to 4.

Overall a nice and entertaining Story. What bothered me was the really complicated worldbuiling, without any former knowledge it's hard to fully dive into the story when there are so many things happening and words used you don't know without an explanation. (Even more so if English isn't your first language)
So yes, it is a standalone work, but I'd recommend to either read something else set in this world before or for the publisher to insert some kind of glossary for explanation or at least a little introduction to the world or system at the beginning of the book. :)
Otherwise, the story was well written and I pretty much enjoyed the journey of the characters (whose names are also unspeakable to me, do long and complicated xD) amd the case they're working on itself.

As a Sherlock Holmes fan and a lover of sci-fi I was looking forward to this retelling of “A Study in Scarlet” that combines cosy detective mystery with a fantasy alien setting. However, I have to admit it didn’t quite hit the mark for me like I’d hoped.

Pros:
- The world building was great and added some interesting new elements to the original story.
- I liked the inclusion of different, non-human, species and how the Wendek could read emotions through scent.
- The highlight to chronic illnesses was nice and I liked this element of the main characters backstory.
- The queer normative world was refreshing.

Cons:
- I didn’t love Raithan (aka Sherlock) as much as I’d hoped, the character just didn’t feel very fleshed out and even their exceptional deduction skills didn’t seem to stand out that much either.
- Because of this I didn’t really enjoy the Raithan and Kelleith (aka Sherlock and John) dynamic. There was just something missing there for me.
- The story was a very close retelling to the original and made it slightly predictable/ rushed to get to certain plot points. This also meant any “twists” were not that gripping.
- The “cosy” black brew and tea mentions were quite repetitive and didn’t really have the desired effect for me.

Overall, a quick and fun little read but it just wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped it would be.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Marie Howalt presents A Study in Black Brew, a scifi retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet. Readers follow the perspective of Kellieth, a chemist with chronic illness who was retired from the field due to an aggravation of that illness. Kellieth is a wendek, one of several alien species mentioned in the world Howalt develops. When Kellieth moves to accommodate their new level of income, they rapidly finds themself swept up in the antics of their strange new neighbor, Raithan. Raithan, another wendek, is summoned to a murder investigation and Kellieth is along for the journey.

As is likely apparent, Kellieth fills the role of our Watson character and Raithan is our Holmes. This retelling is a pretty beat-by-beat type of retelling under the influence of the scifi world and with the technological advancements as well as various species included as part of that world. That being said, Howalt pays homage to the original story by Doyle while also introducing characters who are charming in their own right.

I really just found this retelling to be fun and would be willing to follow this pair in the future (perhaps on their own adventures?), though Howalt notes A Study in Black Brew as a standalone.

I will absolutely be looking into Howalt's backlist and happily recommend this story to Sherlock fans and murder mystery fans alike.

Space and Johnlock? It must be Christmas! Really, I mean: Watson is a non binary chap with chronic illness and Holmes is an alien. Love that so much! Okay, the worldbuiling is a bit flat but the plot is intriguing enough and the characters are amazing. And I loved every references!
Loved this novel!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

'A Study in Black Brew' is a fun, creative retelling of Conan Doyle's 'A Study in Scarlet', reimagining Holmes and Watson as neighbours on an alien world. When forced to return from the adventure of a lifetime by their chronic illness, Kellieth moves into a new apartment with a mysterious new neighbour. And what better way to bond with a new neighbour than tagging along as they investigate a murder?

This is a fun, faced paced homage to Conan-Doyle's characters in a queer normative world. Good dialogue, creative worldbuilding, and a good amount of chemistry between the leads.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

"A Study in Black Brew" is a sci fi re imagining of Sherlock Holmes (in particular it is based on "a study in scarlet"). Instead of Sherlock and Watson, this story follows 2 Wendeks, Kellieth and Raithan. The story is from Kellieth POV, they are a chemist who due to their chronic illness is unable to complete their current work and has to move back to their home world. Raithan is their new neighbour who mysterious, intelligent and annoyingly vague / un straightforward at times. The two get wrapped up in a murder case involving a human and with this the game is afoot!

This was a very fun read. The (pardon the pun) chemistry between Kellieth and Raithan was entertaining and is certainly something I would love to see more of (I also loved the mini rivalry going on with the 2 officers who were assisting with the case).

Even if you are not familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories, this works very well as a standalone / its own thing. I enjoyed this Sci FI Cosy Mystery and would be keen to read more cases of this duo in the future.

A cross between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who, this sci-fi murder mystery is the most bizarre book I have ever read (and that might be a compliment). If you've read 'A Study in Scarlet' then you already know the plot. However, this retelling is set in space!

Our protagonist, Kellieth, is a non binary alien chemist with a respiratory disability. Not quite Dr Watson but their narrative often feels close to the original; if the original had a YA romance undertone. I could do without the numerous references to how good looking Raithan (the Sherlock equivalent) is. Raithan's character feels slightly off and true Sherlock fans may consider the alien version lacking. Or rather, not lacking. He claims to be lacking in compassion and empathy but his actions are entirely the opposite. He's a perfect gentleman - intriguing, considerate, obliging. This mismatch felt odd, the character didn't seem to have any real flaws other than a lack of boundaries and there wasn't any personal growth.

I should address the sexual tension. While many fans ship Sherlock and Watson, I've never felt there was anything other than friendship between the two. In this version, Kellieth is *thirsty* and occasionally comes across more fanfic than literature. That said, the change in the dynamic makes this book feel like its own thing and aside from the many references, I often forgot it was based on Arthur Conan Doyle.

My main gripe is that the worldbuilding felt so underdone. The pacing is spot on and keeps the book moving forward but there are dozens of races and planets with little snippets about them thrown in haphazardly. This does give the setting a feel of diversity but makes it hard to imagine at the same time.

Speaking of diversity, I'm always a fan of disability and LGBTQ+ representation. The former really hammered the point home in places, perhaps a tiny bit overdone, but the latter was exceptionally well executed. I appreciated both.

Overall, and despite what feels like a lot of critique, I do think Howatt is a gifted writer. The book ends well and feels satisfying. I would happily read the next instalment and any of her other work.

This review will be published by Pending Plays on 19th May 2025.

I enjoyed this short little read quite a lot!!! There were a few errors that I emailed the author about. I hope they don't take offense. I hope they get the errors fixed before release!

As a sci fi and fantasy fan with a chronic illness and multiple disabilities, this book seemed like something I would really enjoy. I heavily look for representation in books and am really excited when hopeful when I find it.

I made it to 9% in before I had to put this one down. It begins with the story of the main character being set up for success and then having an incident that leaves them unable to work in the same capacity. They then return from this mission and have to figure out life again. To me this is very depressing and sad in total honesty. I was really hoping for a lighter read? This could be done with humor added in (dark or not), and I just felt like something was missing?

I need to put this book down as it is not for me. Thank you. For the opportunity to sample this eARC. I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

A Study in Black Brew is a Sherlock Holmes "A Study in Scarlet" retelling with alien protagonists.

The characters and world-building are excellent, but I wish the story hadn't been too close to the original source material.

If you have, so far, only experienced Sherlock Holmes on TV, you'll love this queer story set on a foreign planet with what another reviewer called "space elves". If you've read your fair share of Sir Arthur's original stories, you might wish for more unpredictable twists and turns in the story.

I hope there will be more original stories featuring Kellieth and Raithan in future.

I am a lover of Sherlock Holmes retellings, and I love them even more when they take place in a sci-fi or fantasy setting. I am very lucky that there have been several in recent years. However, this isn't one of my favorites, I'm sad to say. The writing is strong; the author is clearly talented and imaginative. The chronic illness representation is excellent. My struggle with this is that it really is a very, very close retelling of Study in Scarlet, with a dash of BBC Sherlock thrown in at the end - and that means I've read this story before, and I already knew exactly what the expect the entire time. The characters and plot just didn't diverge enough. I liked the worldbuilding, such as it was - but because the story hewed so closely to the original Doyle, it didn't get to really dive into that in any real way.

I think this author has promise, and if this has sequels, those may be enjoyable to explore, but I hope the author allows themselves to take inspiration from Doyle and not pull so closely from the source text. When I want the original Sherlock Holmes, I read the original Sherlock Holmes; I hope for more variety from retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.