The Strangest Forms

The Adventures of Holloway Holmes, Book 1

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Greg Tremblay

Watson is dead. Holmes is alone. And Jack is desperate.

Sixteen-year-old Jack Moreno is managing to hold his life together. Barely. After a terrible car accident leaves his father unable to work, Jack makes ends meet by dropping out of school and covering his dad’s custodial shifts at a school for troubled teens, high in the Wasatch Mountains. Everything is going all right until the night Jack finds Sarah Watson—yes, descendant of that Watson—dead.

When the icy but intriguing Holloway Holmes—yes, descendant of that Holmes—learns of Watson’s death, he is determined to discover the killer on his own. But Jack and his father are the prime suspects in the official investigation, and Jack refuses to sit by and wait.

In an uneasy alliance with Holmes, Jack must hurry to learn what really happened to Sarah Watson, which means facing down a Moriarty, unearthing secrets and blackmail, and trying to solve the other murder at the Walker School, one that happened more than 20 years before. Working together is the only way Jack and Holmes might find the killer before he catches up with them, but both boys are keeping secrets of their own—secrets that threaten the fragile trust they’ve managed to build between them.

©2023 Gregory Ashe (P)2023 Gregory Ashe

Nice to meet you fellas!

Talented is an author who can create so many characters with completely different personalities. You would think that now that Mr. Ashe has written several series, the characters would blend like members of the same family. But no. The seemingly robotic façade of Holloway Holmes has become my new favorite iteration of the mystery-solver. As always, I was able to fall into the mystery with ease. I look forward to continuing down the sleuth-y path with these young fellas and, dare I hope, a new romance?

I’ve listened to this narrator many times in the past and he’s a solid listen every time.

I'm loving Jack and Holmes

Really enjoyed this first book of a new series by Greg Ashe, and Greg Tremblay is a fantastic narrator. His narration brings the characters to life.

Excellent new YA series

This is the first book of a wonderful new YA series. This is the adventures of Holloway Holmes (yes a descendent) and Jack. It begins with the murder of “a Watson” discovered by Jack and launches these two 16 year old boys into an intriguing who dunnit. But this is so much more than that. Both boys come from dramatically different backgrounds, and both have been traumatized by past events. Around that is this legacy history of the Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty descendants that have apparently decided to uphold each respectively legacy in mysterious ways. Not doubt that will be explored in future books.

The relationship between Holloway and Jack is a slow burn. Jack is bi-sexual and has a girlfriend. Holloway is still figuring out his sexuality and is burdened with his family’s legacy complete with a dysfunctional family life. There is obvious chemistry between the boys, but as this is a YA book, no explicit on page sex. The mystery, as is GA’s style, is full of twists and turns and red herrings. Solved in the end with a “twist.” All and all I loved it and can’t wait for more.

This is a HFN but satisfying end and an eagerness for more adventures with this couple. Greg Trembly is one of the best voice actors in the business and he delivers a masterful performance. A++++ Highly recommended.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Another winner from Greg Ashe

I gave this book a four-star review and am waffling between four and five here. (Bear in mind that I'm stingy with five-star ratings.) I'm basically delighted by this Sherlock Holmes–related series and even more delighted that the main characters bear striking resemblances to my all-time favorite Greg Ashe characters, Jem and Tean (though they're definitely not the same people, not at all). YA/NA isn't my favorite genre, because I'm easily frustrated by the foolish choices made by teens, but the opportunities for growth (obviously) and character development are certainly rewarding.

The narration was very good, though I don't think British accents are one of Greg Tremblay's strong points.

I'm mildly side-eyeing the "Holmeses, Watsons, and Moriartys are fated to interact across the generations" concept, but that's a quibble. Overall, I was engrossed and will be eagerly awaiting the audio version of book two. Bring it on!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Good story

I'm enjoying this series in print, but I didn't love this narrator for this book. I thought he sounded too old when voicing Jack (a 16-year-old) and too high-pitched when voicing Holmes. Didn't work for me.

*** Another Great Story ***

Mr Ashe does it again. Good Story. sweet funny suspenseful exciting. The performance brought everything together nicely.

Perfect Teen Detective Mystery, Humor, Heart, Characters

“It’s classic Holmesbot prime directive. Be awkward as hell”
——————
“In seventh grade art, Ms. Prinze told us some Japanese artists included deliberate imperfections in their work. The Navajos, too. So the soul didn’t get trapped in perfection.
Sure, I thought, looking at him. I get it.”
——————
June 2023. Book 1 of 3 in a mystery adventure centering a queer romance about teen amateur detectives in a modern version of reality in which Sherlock Holmes and company were real and their descendants are around.

Our main character is Jack Moreno, the janitor’s son at a school for wealthy troubled teens, where the descendants of Watson and Holmes go. When Jack stumbles on Watson’s body and finds himself and dad suspects for the murder, he and teen Holmes’ separate attempts at investigation eventually result in them begrudgingly working together to solve the mystery.

This is a blast, a touch lighter than some of Ashe’s other work though it still handles some difficult topics like poverty, loss of a parent, classism, bad parenting, living under the shadow of a legacy, etc. with compassion, insight, and sometimes humor.
Loved Jack and the first person narration, he is hilarious and determined and often foolhardy, and serves as a great foil to the reserved and withdrawn intellectual Holloway Holmes.

Highly recommend. Great intro point for Greg’s work since it’s a short series, a trilogy, and does some clever and unique things with the idea of a world where Holmes, Watson, etc. were real but maybe the version from the books and movies was more heroic than the real thing. It also has less physical intimacy than some of his other works since they are minors, which may be more appealing for some.
Note: like the Hollow Folk series, this is not YA though the leads are teens.

I got the first two on audible and will definitely get the third once it’s on audible, Greg Tremblay does a fantastic job, but I got the third on ebook for now since it just came out this last weekend and I simply could not wait.

“The Strangest Forms” by Gregory Ashe. Book 1 of 3 of the series The Adventures of Holloway Holmes.

My favorite Gregory Ashe so far

The characters are likeable, the setting unique, and the twists and turns fun to follow. He does a great job building up the mystery and the conflict between the leads. They have great chemistry and some of their banter was a joy to read. I also really like how which characters are LGBTQ isn't fraught with self hatred or conflict.

Loved 🥰

Greg’s performance is fantastic. He really brought each character to life making them all unique. I absolutely loved Gregory’s story and can’t wait to listen to the next book in this series.

Another smash

This book was amazing. I freaking loved it. Don't let the category fool you, while the characters are teenagers (high school) this isn't exactly a book for teens. There is no on the page sexy times happen between main characters. There is some off the page MF sexy times. The mystery is great. It did leave you guessing. The characters were lovable and I just want more of it now. I do have to say the only part that I didn't like was the narration. I don't think it was the right fit for teenagers. It would have been better with someone younger sounding.