The Case for Jamie Book Review
The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 6-16-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 9.3/10
Book Cover Rating: 4.6/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: The Case for Jamie
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
Pages: 349
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Subplots: Romance
Romance Level: 2/3
Series: Charlotte Holmes #3
Publisher: Kathrine Tegen Books
First Published: 2018
Number of Editions: 20
Awards Won: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction
Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 15,861
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 779
Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Dual, First Person
Pacing: Average
Generally: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson descendants, Moriarty family, mental traumas
Blurb:
It’s been a year since the shocking death of August Moriarty, and Jamie and Charlotte haven’t spoken.
Jamie is going through the motions at Sherringford, trying to finish his senior year without incident, with a nice girlfriend he can’t seem to fall for.
Charlotte is on the run, from Lucien Moriarty and from her own mistakes. No one has seen her since that fateful night on the lawn in Sussex—and Charlotte wants it that way. She knows she isn’t safe to be around. She knows her Watson can’t forgive her.
Holmes and Watson may not be looking to reconcile, but when strange things start happening, it’s clear that someone wants the team back together. Someone who has been quietly observing them both. Making plans. Biding their time.
Someone who wants to see one of them suffer and the other one dead.
My Review
Main Characters:
James Watson- Jamie was Charlotte’s best friend. He is from England, but goes to a boarding school in Connecticut. He is an aspiring writer, and enjoys puzzles. He is, obviously, a descendent of Dr. Watson. His parents are separated. His dad lives a couple hours from his school, and has remarried. His mom and sister live back in England. Jamie is also struggling with trauma and PTSD.
Charlotte Holmes- Holmes was Jamie’s friend. Since birth, she has been raised to be analytical, discerning, emotionless, and a problem solver. However, she feels a ton of pressure, and it can lead her to make mistakes. She is, obviously, a descendent of Sherlock Holmes.
The more I read about Charlotte and Jamie, the more I like them! In the past books their relationships were VERY focused on problems and struggles. While they were in similar tough spots throughout this books, their relationships all felt a little healthier and there was less ‘complaining’, I guess, about their situations. They continue to have more and more development throughout the series, and I’m honestly really loving Charlotte and Jamie.
Character Rating: 9.0/10
Setting:
This book takes place at Sherringford Boarding School, Connecticut (for the most part).
This setting was quite well built and fairly detailed. Many of the places described in this book had already been described in previous books, causing this setting to feel easier to understand and know. The atmosphere was also tense and exciting (similarly to A Study in Charlotte).
Setting Rating: 8.9/10
Plot:
YAY!!! In my opinion, plot was always a weakness in previous Charlotte Holmes books. But this book was such an improvement. The mystery aspects were AMAZING, and everything outside of the direct mystery (which usually STRUGGLES in my opinion), was entertaining and engaging! A large portion of this is likely because at this point of the series, I’m much more devoted to knowing what is happening bigger picture, but that’s totally fine! I’m just thrilled this plot was such an improvement! (I should note: this book was definitely more character driven than plot driven, so the direct mystery solving aspects were fewer and farther between. I didn’t mind this at all, but it’s a good thing to note before assuming this book will feel exactly like previous ones (news flash: it won’t)).
Plot Rating: 9.2/10
Writing:
Brittany Cavallaro really stepped up her writing in this book. I was having to HUNT for the smallest details to critique. Many areas (character likability, smaller moments of the plot, etc…) that her previous books struggled in were written in much stronger, more detailed ways. I was so happy to read this, and am thrilled to see such great writing!
Writing Rating: 9.5/10
Ending:
WOW!! There were certainly a few toxic relationship problems, and I’m really happy that they weren’t just brushed under the carpet. They were addressed, and I was really happy with the outcomes. This ending seemed to wrap up the key topics and problems of this book, but there were still a few loose ends that I’m excited to (hopefully) see wrapped up in book four!
Ending Rating: 10/10
The Overall:
Overall, this was by far my favorite book of the series so far. Charlotte and Jamie’s personalities and characters have undergone so much growth, and have become much more likable to me. Brittany Cavallaro’s writing was also even stronger in this book than previous. All the moments outside of the direct mystery (which have previously struggled in this series in my opinion), were FAR stronger. This was CLEARLY a character driven book, with less direct mystery solving aspects, but I think this choice worked well for the series. The ending was FABULOUS, and there were many issues that I was really happy to see get resolved, or at least given care, rather than just being brushed under the carpet. This book was a massive success in my eyes, and I’m super excited to see how book four will compare!
Overall Book Rating: 9.3/10
I would strongly recommend this book
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ChatGPT’s Opinion: The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro, the third book in the Charlotte Holmes series, offers a compelling mix of mystery and emotional depth through dual perspectives from Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes. Set a year after the previous installment, the story explores their individual struggles with trauma, addiction, and personal growth. Charlotte seeks redemption while Jamie tries to move forward, and their emotional journeys are both poignant and relatable. The alternating viewpoints add complexity and richness to the characters, earning praise for the book’s intricate plotting, strong character development, and thoughtful exploration of themes like PTSD and self-discovery.
About the Author:
Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes novels, including A Study in Charlotte, and the historical fantasy duology Muse (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). With Emily Henry, she is the author of HelloGirls (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). Most recently, she wrote the young adult verse novel Sunrise Nights with Jeff Zentner (HarperCollins/Quill Tree).
Cavallaro is also the author of the poetry collections Girl-King and Unhistorical, both from University of Akron Press. A recipient of a National Endowment in the Arts fellowship, she received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she lives with her husband, cats, and golden retriever.
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A Study in Charlotte
View my Review: A Study in Charlotte
The Last of August
View my Review: The Last of August
A Question of Holmes
Sunrise Nights
Hello Girls
Muse
Manifest
Girl-King
Unhistorical
View Brittany Cavallaro’s books on her website: Brittanycavallaro.com
Or on Amazon: Brittany Cavallaro’s Books
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ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of reviews and small information gathering)
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