Jon's Reviews > Every Breath

Seen at Bookish Antics!
Every Breath is easily one of the most buzzed about books in the book blogging community. It seemed that everyone was talking about Mycroft and Watts, so I just had to see what all the hype was about. Ellie Marney’s debut novel is extremely addicting and entertaining, it’s also a well-plotted mystery and romance. This may not be the most original retelling out there, but it is one that I’d highly recommend.

I’m glad I didn’t read the description for this one before starting this book because it reveals way too much. Do yourself a favor and skip it, you’ll thank me later. All you need to know is that this book takes place in Melbourne, Australia and that the duo is investigating the murder of a homeless man. It’s best for you to just discover everything else alongside the characters and it’ll make the big reveal that much better.

I was initially turned off by this book because of Mycroft who is a bit of an antihero. Mycroft is essentially a juvenile delinquent: he smokes, is constantly in trouble at school, resists authority at any given opportunity and doesn’t understand what rules are. After reading about so many bad boys in YA, I was tired of reading about this archetype, but I soon realized that Mycroft is more than a label. Marney manages to make his character complex and troubled without sacrificing emotion and realism for a split-second. Readers will want to understand this enigmatic character and get a peek into his back story to see why he’s like this.

It’s interesting how Watts was the character I liked more at the beginning of this novel, but by the end I was utterly obsessed with Mycroft. Watts is brave, loyal and compassionate; she lets herself be dragged into Mycroft’s investigation not because she has to do it, but because it’s the right thing to do. I have a feeling that readers will love Watts and she’s certainly an interesting take on the classic Sherlock character.

The mystery in this novel is expertly crafted and Marney really channels her inner Arthur Conan Doyle in the writing of this novel. All of the classic mystery elements that are present in Doyle’s novels (and the countless adaptations) are in Every Breath: the red-herrings, the suspense, the deductive reasoning, etc. I do wish that there was a bit more of a connection to the Sherlock Holmes novels aside from the characters’ names and a few references. Though this novel’s plot revolves around the mystery, it’s not really the focus of this novel and it’s overshadowed by the romance, which is both troubling and a plus in my mind.

This is a romance oriented novel and everything takes the backseat to Mycroft and Watt’s relationship. I loved both the friendship and romantic dynamic the two characters have together, but a part of me wanted the mystery to be more prominent. The romance is excellent and the tension between our couple is electrifying, but I love a good mystery and that’s what one expects from a Sherlock-based retelling.

Every Breath wasn’t quite what I expected from a Sherlock retelling, but it was what I needed to read at that given moment in time. EB is a bit on the lighter side, but that doesn’t lessen how much I enjoyed this novel and how ready I am to read the next two books in this series. Those who love BBC’s Sherlock should definitely check out Every Breath while they wait for the next season to arrive!