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A Study in Black Brew
“They say life is a string of chances held together with grit and guided by passion, and who am I to disagree?”
Kellieth ReinAraneinth was headed for a career as a field chemist on a newly settled planet when their dreams and ambitions were crushed by coincidences and chronic illness.
They return broke to the wendek homeworld, Ganmak, where everyone’s basic needs are covered, but import luxuries like Kellieth’s favorite human-made beverage, black brew, is costly.
While piecing together a new life and recovering from their ordeals, Kellieth ends up sharing lodgings with the attractive, enigmatic, and infuriating Raithan WeinZalneinth.
When a human is found dead next to an alarming message on the wall in an empty house, Kellieth gets caught up in a gruesome mystery involving Raithan and the local peace corps.
Who is the human? How did he die? What is Raithan hiding? And when will Kellieth have the time to catch their breath?
Kellieth ReinAraneinth was headed for a career as a field chemist on a newly settled planet when their dreams and ambitions were crushed by coincidences and chronic illness.
They return broke to the wendek homeworld, Ganmak, where everyone’s basic needs are covered, but import luxuries like Kellieth’s favorite human-made beverage, black brew, is costly.
While piecing together a new life and recovering from their ordeals, Kellieth ends up sharing lodgings with the attractive, enigmatic, and infuriating Raithan WeinZalneinth.
When a human is found dead next to an alarming message on the wall in an empty house, Kellieth gets caught up in a gruesome mystery involving Raithan and the local peace corps.
Who is the human? How did he die? What is Raithan hiding? And when will Kellieth have the time to catch their breath?
Paperback
Published May 22, 2025
3 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Marie Howalt
9 books61 followersMarie Howalt was born and raised in a small North European kingdom called Denmark and started writing stories at the age of 11 after sucking the local library dry of science fiction and fantasy.
After graduating from the University of Copenhagen with a master’s degree in English studies and religion, Marie worked as a translator between English and Danish for years before sustaining an injury that caused the condition PCS (Post Concussion Syndrome).
Now Marie writes as much as physically possible. The stories are a lot longer and quite a bit more complex than the childhood scribbles, but they still take place in the far future, fantasy worlds or alternate realities.
When not writing, Marie enjoys being a cat perch, drawing, reading and bribing imaginary people to tell their stories.
After graduating from the University of Copenhagen with a master’s degree in English studies and religion, Marie worked as a translator between English and Danish for years before sustaining an injury that caused the condition PCS (Post Concussion Syndrome).
Now Marie writes as much as physically possible. The stories are a lot longer and quite a bit more complex than the childhood scribbles, but they still take place in the far future, fantasy worlds or alternate realities.
When not writing, Marie enjoys being a cat perch, drawing, reading and bribing imaginary people to tell their stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 1, 2025
I’m on BookTube now! =)
**I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Spaceboy Books! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it! All opinions are my own!**
Trigger warnings:
"They say life is a string of chances held together with grit and guided by passion, and who am I to disagree?"
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.
"Our fellow mammals have a poor sense of smell, which is probably for the best because they generally have strong odors."
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.
"When we first met, I noticed the discoloration of your fingernails indicating a lack of oxygen. You were exhibiting other clear symptoms of a respiratory defect too, but as you were disinclined to accept my help then, I estimated I would have time to take my own things up and make preparations before you were in any danger.”
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.
When you have lived with a chronic illness for as long as I have, you just want to get on with life without dwelling on it more than necessary because it is always there like a demanding passenger riding your shoulders, taking up space whether you want it to or not.”
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.
”So my neighbour was a lot more than the highly intelligent and eccentric fellow I had expected him to be. If memory served me right, a first class independent agent was the highest rank given toa field agent.”
Conclusion:
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.
______________________________
This was such a nice story to return to whenever I was on the train!
I had a lot of fun with Raithan and Kellieth and the murder mystery was interesting!
Full RTC soon and around the release date!
For now all I’ll say is: This was good!
______________________________
I got “A Study in Black Brew” as an ARC from NetGalley and Spaceboy Books!
And I absolutely can’t wait to dive into it! Quite honestly, they already had me at sci-fi retelling of Sherlock Holmes! ;-)
Apparently, we also get a queer normative world with a non-binary MC and a great disability rep.
Well, I dunno about you, but I’m SO here for it!
This is going to be good! =))
Find me on:
My Blog
Instagram
**I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Spaceboy Books! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it! All opinions are my own!**
Trigger warnings:
"They say life is a string of chances held together with grit and guided by passion, and who am I to disagree?"
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.
"Our fellow mammals have a poor sense of smell, which is probably for the best because they generally have strong odors."
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.
"When we first met, I noticed the discoloration of your fingernails indicating a lack of oxygen. You were exhibiting other clear symptoms of a respiratory defect too, but as you were disinclined to accept my help then, I estimated I would have time to take my own things up and make preparations before you were in any danger.”
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.
When you have lived with a chronic illness for as long as I have, you just want to get on with life without dwelling on it more than necessary because it is always there like a demanding passenger riding your shoulders, taking up space whether you want it to or not.”
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.
”So my neighbour was a lot more than the highly intelligent and eccentric fellow I had expected him to be. If memory served me right, a first class independent agent was the highest rank given toa field agent.”
Conclusion:
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.
______________________________
This was such a nice story to return to whenever I was on the train!
I had a lot of fun with Raithan and Kellieth and the murder mystery was interesting!
Full RTC soon and around the release date!
For now all I’ll say is: This was good!
______________________________
I got “A Study in Black Brew” as an ARC from NetGalley and Spaceboy Books!
And I absolutely can’t wait to dive into it! Quite honestly, they already had me at sci-fi retelling of Sherlock Holmes! ;-)
Apparently, we also get a queer normative world with a non-binary MC and a great disability rep.
Well, I dunno about you, but I’m SO here for it!
This is going to be good! =))
Find me on:
My Blog
July 8, 2025
3.5 stars rounding up
I’m missing the word-building, but as I just learned, the author has written a series (Colibri Investigations) that is loosely interconnected and where also one of the main characters is included. So, I’m now official annoyed because something like this should be in the blurb, me thinks … 😠
I was just about to criticize the fact that you don't really learn anything about all the “aliens,” especially the Wendek, and how humans fit into this world, when I leafed through the author's other books and was shocked. I should have done that before waiting for this book to come out.
That's always the crux with waiting too long for a book to come out and your expectations getting too high. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had already been familiar with the world the author had created before. In any case, there's no way to find out now.
If you can overlook this annoying point, then this is a very interesting adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. I am familiar with the case, of course, so there weren't that many exciting surprises. And actually, that was secondary.
What was important and interesting to me was the nature of the interaction between Raithan and Kellieth.
And to get this out of the way so there are no false hopes, no, this is not a romantic story. Although I must say that there is an interesting attraction between the two that gives me some hope for a next installment. Pretty please, dear author?
I think it is very interesting and bold to simply transfer such a cult story to an alien planet and weave the nature of the Wendek into it as if it were completely normal. I didn't consider it easy to read, as there was a lot I didn't understand at first. Nevertheless, it is well written. Even though a few more details would have been helpful, I'm glad that apart from the initial info dump, there wasn't too much of that.
Except for the names... phew, I didn't try to pronounce them in my head and just abbreviated them to their initial letters.
Gosh, I can't seem to get to the point today... I really like Raithan and Kellieth and find their alien nature interesting. I'd like to know more.
He had long, blue hair that suited the warm hue of his dark grey skin very well indeed and eyes nearly the shade of a deep scarlet fathe. 🧐
I saw him breathe in everything about me, my discomfort and fatigue laid bare to his senses along with my gender identity and a hint of the black brew I consumed earlier that day. His feelings were opaque to my nose, of course. At least it saves me from a lot of awkwardness that I am nearly always able to detect the gender markers in other people’s perfumes. 🤔
Embarrassing as it is to admit, it nearly made me whimper with longing.
It was the state-of-the-art lab of any unemployed chemist’s dreams. Clean, metallic surfaces, cupboards containing beakers and sample dishes. Analyzing equipment of every kind, from classic centrifuges to the latest models of subatomic scanners, which I have read about but never even had the chance to touch.
“Do you need a moment?” Raithan whispered in my ear.
“I— No, I’m fine. It’s just beautiful,” I said, knowing how embarrassed I probably smelled. 🫠💗🫠
I’m missing the word-building, but as I just learned, the author has written a series (Colibri Investigations) that is loosely interconnected and where also one of the main characters is included. So, I’m now official annoyed because something like this should be in the blurb, me thinks … 😠
I was just about to criticize the fact that you don't really learn anything about all the “aliens,” especially the Wendek, and how humans fit into this world, when I leafed through the author's other books and was shocked. I should have done that before waiting for this book to come out.
That's always the crux with waiting too long for a book to come out and your expectations getting too high. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had already been familiar with the world the author had created before. In any case, there's no way to find out now.
If you can overlook this annoying point, then this is a very interesting adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. I am familiar with the case, of course, so there weren't that many exciting surprises. And actually, that was secondary.
What was important and interesting to me was the nature of the interaction between Raithan and Kellieth.
And to get this out of the way so there are no false hopes, no, this is not a romantic story. Although I must say that there is an interesting attraction between the two that gives me some hope for a next installment. Pretty please, dear author?
I think it is very interesting and bold to simply transfer such a cult story to an alien planet and weave the nature of the Wendek into it as if it were completely normal. I didn't consider it easy to read, as there was a lot I didn't understand at first. Nevertheless, it is well written. Even though a few more details would have been helpful, I'm glad that apart from the initial info dump, there wasn't too much of that.
Except for the names... phew, I didn't try to pronounce them in my head and just abbreviated them to their initial letters.
Gosh, I can't seem to get to the point today... I really like Raithan and Kellieth and find their alien nature interesting. I'd like to know more.
He had long, blue hair that suited the warm hue of his dark grey skin very well indeed and eyes nearly the shade of a deep scarlet fathe. 🧐
I saw him breathe in everything about me, my discomfort and fatigue laid bare to his senses along with my gender identity and a hint of the black brew I consumed earlier that day. His feelings were opaque to my nose, of course. At least it saves me from a lot of awkwardness that I am nearly always able to detect the gender markers in other people’s perfumes. 🤔
Embarrassing as it is to admit, it nearly made me whimper with longing.
It was the state-of-the-art lab of any unemployed chemist’s dreams. Clean, metallic surfaces, cupboards containing beakers and sample dishes. Analyzing equipment of every kind, from classic centrifuges to the latest models of subatomic scanners, which I have read about but never even had the chance to touch.
“Do you need a moment?” Raithan whispered in my ear.
“I— No, I’m fine. It’s just beautiful,” I said, knowing how embarrassed I probably smelled. 🫠💗🫠
April 17, 2025
This is a brilliant sci-fi retelling of the Sherlock Holmes mystery, ‘A Study in Scarlet’. Disabled, unemployed and miserable, Kellieth needs a new - cheaper - place to live. An injury during their employment as a research chemist has left them with severe asthma, as well as loss of smell, which is devastating for a Wendek, a species who base almost all interactions off of scent.
But a stroke of luck leads Kellieth to rent an adjoining apartment to the mysterious and attractive Raithan. Their fellow Wendek neighbour wastes no time in drawing Kellieth into his life, starting with employing their knowledge of chemistry at a murder. Kellieth finds themselves dragged into a full investigation of a possible serial killer… but how is an unemployed chemist supposed to stop a murderer? And why can they not get the infuriating Raithan out of their mind?
This book (as will all of the author’s work) is set in a queer-normative sci-fi world, with excellent non-binary and disability rep. The characters are very much based on Sherlock and Watson, but have their own individual flair. The mystery, whilst following the original story fairly closely (so if you’re familiar, no surprises here!) was very engaging - always nice to see other’s takes on a classic!
The only reason this lost a star from me was simply because there was a lot of exposition that I felt could have been more woven into the main story (and to be honest, it’s definitely a me thing as I’m a huge Sherlock fan - the exposition was definitely needed to set up Kellieth’s back story, I just personally wanted Raithan to sleuth it rather than Kellieth tell it to me!)
Read a Study in Black Brew for:
✨ Sherlock ‘Study in Scarlet’ retelling
✨ Sci-fi, alien planet with alien MCs
✨ Queer normative world
✨ Non binary MC
✨ Disabled MC (asthma and anosmia)
✨ Immersive storytelling
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book! It’s available on 22nd May 💕
But a stroke of luck leads Kellieth to rent an adjoining apartment to the mysterious and attractive Raithan. Their fellow Wendek neighbour wastes no time in drawing Kellieth into his life, starting with employing their knowledge of chemistry at a murder. Kellieth finds themselves dragged into a full investigation of a possible serial killer… but how is an unemployed chemist supposed to stop a murderer? And why can they not get the infuriating Raithan out of their mind?
This book (as will all of the author’s work) is set in a queer-normative sci-fi world, with excellent non-binary and disability rep. The characters are very much based on Sherlock and Watson, but have their own individual flair. The mystery, whilst following the original story fairly closely (so if you’re familiar, no surprises here!) was very engaging - always nice to see other’s takes on a classic!
The only reason this lost a star from me was simply because there was a lot of exposition that I felt could have been more woven into the main story (and to be honest, it’s definitely a me thing as I’m a huge Sherlock fan - the exposition was definitely needed to set up Kellieth’s back story, I just personally wanted Raithan to sleuth it rather than Kellieth tell it to me!)
Read a Study in Black Brew for:
✨ Sherlock ‘Study in Scarlet’ retelling
✨ Sci-fi, alien planet with alien MCs
✨ Queer normative world
✨ Non binary MC
✨ Disabled MC (asthma and anosmia)
✨ Immersive storytelling
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book! It’s available on 22nd May 💕
May 21, 2025
Kellieth ReinAraneinth is a chemist newly returned to their home planet Ganmak after nearly dying working on another planet. While they recover they meet the mysterious Raithan WeinZalneinth and Kellieth soon finds themselves involved in a murder investigation of a human, together with Raithan.
If you've read Marie Howalt's Colibri series you've already met Kellieth and Raithan. They appear as side characters in "The Wenamak Web" and now they're getting a spinoff series! This is also a retelling of Sherlock Holmes and based on "A Study in Scarlet". A clever detail is that the alien race wendek rely a lot on smells, and Sherlock Holmes was often compared to a bloodhound and to follow his nose. Kellieth has a chronic illness that influences their respiratory organ and it affects their ability to smell. This, in turn, impacts their social capability, as smell is important for wendeks to determine others intentions. I compare it to our ability to read body language and pitch of voice.
Kellieth is our narrator, and since we don't get Raithan's POV his mysterious aura is strengthen. It takes a while before we - and Kellieth - learn what Raithan actually does for a living, and he often avoids Kellieth's questions. I love his deduction ability, although it's merely observation, but one few possesses.
"When we first met, I noticed the discoloration of your fingernails indicating a lack of oxygen. You were exhibiting other clear symptoms of a respiratory defect too, but as you were disinclined to accept my help then, I estimated I would have time to take my own things up and make preparations before you were in any danger.”
As usual Howalt has great diversity in her novellas. Here we get to see how a physical disability can effect your life. We meet different species (albeit that most of them are a figment of the author's imagination!) and different pronouns. There is also a certain attraction between our main characters, even though nothing explicit has happened - yet. This is a delightful bite of cozy sci-fi and I'm looking forward to following Kellieth and Raithan in future books!
*I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
If you've read Marie Howalt's Colibri series you've already met Kellieth and Raithan. They appear as side characters in "The Wenamak Web" and now they're getting a spinoff series! This is also a retelling of Sherlock Holmes and based on "A Study in Scarlet". A clever detail is that the alien race wendek rely a lot on smells, and Sherlock Holmes was often compared to a bloodhound and to follow his nose. Kellieth has a chronic illness that influences their respiratory organ and it affects their ability to smell. This, in turn, impacts their social capability, as smell is important for wendeks to determine others intentions. I compare it to our ability to read body language and pitch of voice.
Kellieth is our narrator, and since we don't get Raithan's POV his mysterious aura is strengthen. It takes a while before we - and Kellieth - learn what Raithan actually does for a living, and he often avoids Kellieth's questions. I love his deduction ability, although it's merely observation, but one few possesses.
"When we first met, I noticed the discoloration of your fingernails indicating a lack of oxygen. You were exhibiting other clear symptoms of a respiratory defect too, but as you were disinclined to accept my help then, I estimated I would have time to take my own things up and make preparations before you were in any danger.”
As usual Howalt has great diversity in her novellas. Here we get to see how a physical disability can effect your life. We meet different species (albeit that most of them are a figment of the author's imagination!) and different pronouns. There is also a certain attraction between our main characters, even though nothing explicit has happened - yet. This is a delightful bite of cozy sci-fi and I'm looking forward to following Kellieth and Raithan in future books!
*I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
May 23, 2025
**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**
CW: references to intoxication, abduction, obstructed breathing, guns/gun violence, minor character death, murder, blood, violence, ableism, speciesist language
--
This novella is a fun mashup retelling of Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet and BBC Sherlock’s episode of the same story set in the universe of Marie Howalt’s Colibri Investigations series with some added cosy sci-fi vibes.
It follows a young chemist called Kellieth with a love for the coffee like beverage Black Brew, who after facing health issues on a job in the field has returned to the city of Nantheam on the Wendek homeworld for a fresh start. Upon finding a more affordable place to stay they cross paths with their eccentric neighbour Raithan, who insists that their skills would provide much assistance in his work and so draws Kellieth into a murder case.
It is a quick read and while the mystery plot itself doesn’t offer any major surprises as it parallels the original quite closely, it is entertaining all the same.
If you’re new to Howalt’s work then you will be introduced to the fascinating multi-species, queer-normative universe that she has imagined through the perspective of the elf-like species who read social cues through scent known as the Wendek. If you’ve already read The Wenamak Web then you’ll be reintroduced to some familiar names and find a story with a nice dose of action that gives an even closer look at the Wendek culture and lifestyle.
Howalt is fantastic at drawing you into her character’s lives and including diverse perspectives in her stories with care. It was great to get to know Kellieth in particular more. They are an easily loveable character and while the narrative was a little exposition heavy, it really allowed us to understand their day to day experiences as someone with respiratory issues.
The single person perspective does mean that we don’t see all of the action first hand but it was wonderful watching the relationship develop between Kellieth and Raithan. They truly embody Watson and Holmes but with their own added flair on top. I would love to read more stories of their adventure together!!
Final Rating 3.5/5 Stars
CW: references to intoxication, abduction, obstructed breathing, guns/gun violence, minor character death, murder, blood, violence, ableism, speciesist language
--
This novella is a fun mashup retelling of Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet and BBC Sherlock’s episode of the same story set in the universe of Marie Howalt’s Colibri Investigations series with some added cosy sci-fi vibes.
It follows a young chemist called Kellieth with a love for the coffee like beverage Black Brew, who after facing health issues on a job in the field has returned to the city of Nantheam on the Wendek homeworld for a fresh start. Upon finding a more affordable place to stay they cross paths with their eccentric neighbour Raithan, who insists that their skills would provide much assistance in his work and so draws Kellieth into a murder case.
It is a quick read and while the mystery plot itself doesn’t offer any major surprises as it parallels the original quite closely, it is entertaining all the same.
If you’re new to Howalt’s work then you will be introduced to the fascinating multi-species, queer-normative universe that she has imagined through the perspective of the elf-like species who read social cues through scent known as the Wendek. If you’ve already read The Wenamak Web then you’ll be reintroduced to some familiar names and find a story with a nice dose of action that gives an even closer look at the Wendek culture and lifestyle.
Howalt is fantastic at drawing you into her character’s lives and including diverse perspectives in her stories with care. It was great to get to know Kellieth in particular more. They are an easily loveable character and while the narrative was a little exposition heavy, it really allowed us to understand their day to day experiences as someone with respiratory issues.
The single person perspective does mean that we don’t see all of the action first hand but it was wonderful watching the relationship develop between Kellieth and Raithan. They truly embody Watson and Holmes but with their own added flair on top. I would love to read more stories of their adventure together!!
Final Rating 3.5/5 Stars
March 22, 2025
This book was a delightful surprise, especially as someone with chronic illnesses—I felt truly seen in the way Kellieth’s struggles were portrayed. The story follows Kellieth, whose chronic illness forces them to leave their job in the field, and their unexpected new neighbor, Raithan, whose razor-sharp deduction skills make him a clear nod to Sherlock Holmes. Their dynamic mirrors the classic Holmes/Watson relationship but with a fresh sci-fi twist.
The first chapter gives a lot of backstory and worldbuilding, introducing the Wendek— space elves —which is a refreshing change from the usual human-centric sci-fi. While the Peace Corps (police) sometimes felt more like a caricature of incompetence and the antagonist leaned into stereotypes, the book was self-aware about its use of familiar tropes, which made them more enjoyable.
As a reimagining of A Study in Scarlet, this story is both fun and engaging, offering a cozy, short detective narrative with great disability representation. It left me wanting to explore more of this universe, and I’d happily read another story set in this world. If you're looking for a light, enjoyable sci-fi mystery with a unique take on the Sherlock/Watson dynamic, this is definitely worth picking up!
The first chapter gives a lot of backstory and worldbuilding, introducing the Wendek— space elves —which is a refreshing change from the usual human-centric sci-fi. While the Peace Corps (police) sometimes felt more like a caricature of incompetence and the antagonist leaned into stereotypes, the book was self-aware about its use of familiar tropes, which made them more enjoyable.
As a reimagining of A Study in Scarlet, this story is both fun and engaging, offering a cozy, short detective narrative with great disability representation. It left me wanting to explore more of this universe, and I’d happily read another story set in this world. If you're looking for a light, enjoyable sci-fi mystery with a unique take on the Sherlock/Watson dynamic, this is definitely worth picking up!
March 12, 2025
5 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) references to intoxication, abduction, obstructed breathing, guns, death mention, blood, violence, ableism
A Study in Black Brew by Marie Howalt is a standalone cozy sci-fi mystery novella in the universe of her series, Colibri Investigations. This was a fun alien take on the Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.
We follow Kellieth, a Wendek with a chronic illness that is no longer able to work in the field, and has moved back to their home world where their basic needs are taken care of. They make a connection with their neighbor Raithan, who peaks their interest with his skills of deduction. When a human is found dead in an empty house, Raithan enlists Kellieth's help to find the killer. Despite the danger, Kellieth finds themselves invigorated by the work, even if they are annoyed by Raithan's smugness and know it all vibe.
This was such a fun read! I love anything Sherlock Holmes, so this was a no brainer for me. I love that we get to know more about the Wendek aliens from Howalt's other books. It's nice to read scifi that isn't centered around humans and it gives a nice bit of world-building.
Raithan is charming if a bit oblivious as to how other people's minds work. I like the Sherlock/Watson dynamic he has with Kellieth. As an MC with a chronic illness, Kellieth really helps to enlighten us about what it is like living with a disability like that. Constantly having people check in on you and your health, making assumptions about, the infantilizing nature of it all, while also being grateful that someone is aware of their limitations. Kellieth's chronic illness is part of the story and part of who they are, but that is not what the story is about.
Honestly, I could read stories with these two forever, so I hope we get more installments from our alien friends!
A Study in Black Brew by Marie Howalt is a standalone cozy sci-fi mystery novella in the universe of her series, Colibri Investigations. This was a fun alien take on the Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.
We follow Kellieth, a Wendek with a chronic illness that is no longer able to work in the field, and has moved back to their home world where their basic needs are taken care of. They make a connection with their neighbor Raithan, who peaks their interest with his skills of deduction. When a human is found dead in an empty house, Raithan enlists Kellieth's help to find the killer. Despite the danger, Kellieth finds themselves invigorated by the work, even if they are annoyed by Raithan's smugness and know it all vibe.
This was such a fun read! I love anything Sherlock Holmes, so this was a no brainer for me. I love that we get to know more about the Wendek aliens from Howalt's other books. It's nice to read scifi that isn't centered around humans and it gives a nice bit of world-building.
Raithan is charming if a bit oblivious as to how other people's minds work. I like the Sherlock/Watson dynamic he has with Kellieth. As an MC with a chronic illness, Kellieth really helps to enlighten us about what it is like living with a disability like that. Constantly having people check in on you and your health, making assumptions about, the infantilizing nature of it all, while also being grateful that someone is aware of their limitations. Kellieth's chronic illness is part of the story and part of who they are, but that is not what the story is about.
Honestly, I could read stories with these two forever, so I hope we get more installments from our alien friends!
May 21, 2025
I'd like to say a huge thank you to Marie Howalt for sending me the ARC!! I was gripped from the very beginning by the writing style!! I've read a few of the Sherlock Holmes books, which inspired this book, and the style is so similar, but more modern and easier to read.
The main character, the Watson equivalent, is Kellieth. A nonbinary wendek (species) with a chronic illness!! I have chronic pain and the way Kellieth spoke about their illness really hit home. Here's a quote I saved...
'When you have lived with a chronic illness for as long as I have, you just want to get on with life without dwelling on it more than necessary because it is always there like a demanding passenger riding your shoulders, taking up space whether you want it to or not.'
Spot on Kellieth!!!
I also loved Raithan, the Sherlock Holmes of the story. He is very analytical, incredibly intelligent, and he treats Kellieth with so much consideration, letting them know how valuable they were. That and his mind made him very attractive. (NGL, I was kind of shipping Raithan and Kellieth but the ending suggests that isn't on the cards... I hope to find out in the many many more stories to come! 🤞🤞)
The book had a similar plot to A Study in Scarlet so in that respect it was predictable... but I didn't mind one bit! There were new things thrown in there that helped to keep me hooked, but honestly, I was there for the characters! I also loved the alien world and learning about that, as well as the wendek species. Their ability to smell how people are feeling is fantastic and fascinating!! I loved how that was woven into the story.
I know I've said 'loved' far too often in this review but I have completely fallen in love with Kellieth and Raithan, so I'm really really hoping there will be more books to come!!
Highly recommend to mystery lovers, scifi lovers and Sherlock lovers too.
The main character, the Watson equivalent, is Kellieth. A nonbinary wendek (species) with a chronic illness!! I have chronic pain and the way Kellieth spoke about their illness really hit home. Here's a quote I saved...
'When you have lived with a chronic illness for as long as I have, you just want to get on with life without dwelling on it more than necessary because it is always there like a demanding passenger riding your shoulders, taking up space whether you want it to or not.'
Spot on Kellieth!!!
I also loved Raithan, the Sherlock Holmes of the story. He is very analytical, incredibly intelligent, and he treats Kellieth with so much consideration, letting them know how valuable they were. That and his mind made him very attractive. (NGL, I was kind of shipping Raithan and Kellieth but the ending suggests that isn't on the cards... I hope to find out in the many many more stories to come! 🤞🤞)
The book had a similar plot to A Study in Scarlet so in that respect it was predictable... but I didn't mind one bit! There were new things thrown in there that helped to keep me hooked, but honestly, I was there for the characters! I also loved the alien world and learning about that, as well as the wendek species. Their ability to smell how people are feeling is fantastic and fascinating!! I loved how that was woven into the story.
I know I've said 'loved' far too often in this review but I have completely fallen in love with Kellieth and Raithan, so I'm really really hoping there will be more books to come!!
Highly recommend to mystery lovers, scifi lovers and Sherlock lovers too.
May 18, 2025
A fun sci-fi Sherlock Holmes retelling! Howalt faithfully adapts the beloved story A Study in Scarlet, but takes things a step further with alien versions of Holmes and Watson. We are first introduced to Kellieth, a non-binary wendek chemist with a chronic respiratory condition that has robbed them of their sense of smell; as their species communicates emotions and needs through scent, this often makes them feel like an outsider in their own community. Kellieth is out of work and in recovery after a recent flare-up when they stumble into a unique housing arrangement with attractive and enigmatic neighbour Raithan, and soon the two get drawn into a murder investigation that becomes more and more dangerous. I enjoyed seeing how the familiar pieces of the puzzle were adapted into this new world, and the characterization of Kellieth and Raithan felt fresh but still recognizable. The sincere and honest representation of Kellieth’s chronic illness worked quite well for a Watson-inspired character, and the worldbuilding expanded on the interesting foundation of the wendek society laid out in Howalt’s previous books. Overall, A Study in Black Brew is a cozy murder mystery which will appeal to both Sherlock and sci-fi fans.
Thanks to Marie Howalt and Spaceboy Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to Marie Howalt and Spaceboy Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2025
Inspired by the original Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, A Study in Black Brew is light hearted, delightfully charismatic and a breath of fresh air.
I loved how effortlessly diverse the characters were, and thought the balance of action and cozy blended together pretty perfectly. Howalt’s ability to build worlds is always unmatched, as is the depth of their characters. As someone who lives with chronic conditions and chronic pain, I felt so seen and empowered by this novella.
If you’re a Sherlock fan, I couldn’t recommend this enough. But if you’re not well versed in those stories, don’t let that deter you! This novel has something for everyone.
@mhowalt, thank you so very much for taking me on this journey with you once again. It is always a pleasure to read and review your novels.
I loved how effortlessly diverse the characters were, and thought the balance of action and cozy blended together pretty perfectly. Howalt’s ability to build worlds is always unmatched, as is the depth of their characters. As someone who lives with chronic conditions and chronic pain, I felt so seen and empowered by this novella.
If you’re a Sherlock fan, I couldn’t recommend this enough. But if you’re not well versed in those stories, don’t let that deter you! This novel has something for everyone.
@mhowalt, thank you so very much for taking me on this journey with you once again. It is always a pleasure to read and review your novels.
April 17, 2025
Received an e-arc of this book and was surprised on how I enjoyed this. A Study in Black Brew is a cozy, clever retelling, and sci-fi version of Sherlock Holmes,set on an alien-ish world. As a huge fan among detective stories, I enjoyed the narrative structure and the certain homage to A Study in Scarlet. For me, the exchange between the characters was also a highlight, and as well as some implicit reference to the original Holmes and Watson dynamic. Kellieth’s point of view was a fun and relevant experience. It made me want to know Raithan more and join them in their adventures.
The plot has light, fast pacing, and it is engaging—just right for all readers in search of a quick mystery that is satisfying. I found some of the worldbuilding a little confusing, for unfamiliar terms made the setting engaging, and left me wanting to learn more of Ganmak and its culture. Overall, this was a fun read featuring great character dynamics, witty dialogue, alongside a solid mystery. I would be happy to read more stories set in this universe. I would read them happily!
The plot has light, fast pacing, and it is engaging—just right for all readers in search of a quick mystery that is satisfying. I found some of the worldbuilding a little confusing, for unfamiliar terms made the setting engaging, and left me wanting to learn more of Ganmak and its culture. Overall, this was a fun read featuring great character dynamics, witty dialogue, alongside a solid mystery. I would be happy to read more stories set in this universe. I would read them happily!
May 22, 2025
This spin-off in the Colibri Investigations universe had me laughing from start to finish.
I have to admit that while this book is a Sherlock Holmes retelling, I'm not really familiar with the original work. I picked this up because I love the universe it's set in, and greatly enjoyed Howalt their books in the past. So if you're someone who knows and likes the original Sherlock Holmes this book might hit different than how I felt reading it.
First thing I really enjoyed in this book is the fact that the main characters aren't human. I loooove learning more about all the other species within this universe and I feel like we got a very unique peek into their lives with this book. The main character is a Wendek which are a very interesting group of species that have really strong smell. This was clear mutliple times in the books together with some other things unique for the species and gave a fun change to what I was used to.
With the Wendeks having a strong sense of smell also comes the fact that the main character is chronically ill and has a lot of their sense of smell. This way the main character was different was interesting and gave me a whole different kind of perspective on how disability might differ if you're not a human. The main character also struggles with fatigue and breathing issues and I liked the way the book handled this. The disability was there, and was actually disabling too. It got in the way and was frustrating to the main character often enough, and that's thoroughly relatable as someone also chronically ill. I felt seen in this book with how sometimes you really want to go outdoors and do things, but just can't. And I think above all I loved it the main character didn't just "push through" and everything was fine, but actually saw consequences of their choices in ignoring their disability a few times.
To talk about the plot itself I want to say I was entertained from start to finish. I had a lot of fun with this book. The way the main character and the investigator Raithan interacted was so full of emotions and hidden agendas it always left me wanting to know what would happen next. I definitely didn't see the twists coming with the way Raithan seems to plot so far ahead, and it made for a great book that left me on the edge of my seat.
Concluding this is a lovely book with great disability rep and fun interactions between main characters.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
I have to admit that while this book is a Sherlock Holmes retelling, I'm not really familiar with the original work. I picked this up because I love the universe it's set in, and greatly enjoyed Howalt their books in the past. So if you're someone who knows and likes the original Sherlock Holmes this book might hit different than how I felt reading it.
First thing I really enjoyed in this book is the fact that the main characters aren't human. I loooove learning more about all the other species within this universe and I feel like we got a very unique peek into their lives with this book. The main character is a Wendek which are a very interesting group of species that have really strong smell. This was clear mutliple times in the books together with some other things unique for the species and gave a fun change to what I was used to.
With the Wendeks having a strong sense of smell also comes the fact that the main character is chronically ill and has a lot of their sense of smell. This way the main character was different was interesting and gave me a whole different kind of perspective on how disability might differ if you're not a human. The main character also struggles with fatigue and breathing issues and I liked the way the book handled this. The disability was there, and was actually disabling too. It got in the way and was frustrating to the main character often enough, and that's thoroughly relatable as someone also chronically ill. I felt seen in this book with how sometimes you really want to go outdoors and do things, but just can't. And I think above all I loved it the main character didn't just "push through" and everything was fine, but actually saw consequences of their choices in ignoring their disability a few times.
To talk about the plot itself I want to say I was entertained from start to finish. I had a lot of fun with this book. The way the main character and the investigator Raithan interacted was so full of emotions and hidden agendas it always left me wanting to know what would happen next. I definitely didn't see the twists coming with the way Raithan seems to plot so far ahead, and it made for a great book that left me on the edge of my seat.
Concluding this is a lovely book with great disability rep and fun interactions between main characters.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
May 1, 2025
*I received “A Study in Black Brew” as an ebook from the author themself as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC)*
“A Study in Black Brew” is an amazing reimagined book based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlett”, and it really shows, but not in a bad way.
Though it is based on a book that takes place in the Victorian era, Howalt has been able to change the plot and setting to a foreign planet with aliens, the Wendek, and it works perfectly great! I’d even debate that this version is better than the original.
Howalt is excellent at writing, and they really know what they’re doing!
Are you looking for a science fiction novella with a great main character and an awesome neighbor, then look no further!
And then there’s the representation!
- A chronically ill main character
- A nonbinary main character
Representation matters, and it is amazing to see in a sci-fi book!
I absolutely love this book, and I will definitely read more of Howalt’s books in the future.
Great work, Marie!
CW: Drugging, abduction, violence, mention of death and dead bodies, ableism, speciesism, mention of drug abuse, mention of overdosing, blood and traumatic events.
“A Study in Black Brew” is an amazing reimagined book based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlett”, and it really shows, but not in a bad way.
Though it is based on a book that takes place in the Victorian era, Howalt has been able to change the plot and setting to a foreign planet with aliens, the Wendek, and it works perfectly great! I’d even debate that this version is better than the original.
Howalt is excellent at writing, and they really know what they’re doing!
Are you looking for a science fiction novella with a great main character and an awesome neighbor, then look no further!
And then there’s the representation!
- A chronically ill main character
- A nonbinary main character
Representation matters, and it is amazing to see in a sci-fi book!
I absolutely love this book, and I will definitely read more of Howalt’s books in the future.
Great work, Marie!
CW: Drugging, abduction, violence, mention of death and dead bodies, ableism, speciesism, mention of drug abuse, mention of overdosing, blood and traumatic events.
March 6, 2025
Gigantic thank you to Marie Howalt and Space Boy Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝘼 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨.
In summary: Marie Howalt does it again with her amazing, compelling, loveable characters. A spin-off of her Colibri Investigations series, A Study In Black Brew is, of course, a retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story A Study In Scarlet. Only on an alien planet. With an alien Holmes and Watson. Or, should I say, Raithan and Kellieth 🖤
The Holmesian vibes are very apparent (it puts me most in mind of the BBC series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, though it's still a very original spin!) and as usual the characters are the star of the show. Our narrator Kellieth is a chronically ill, NB chemist and probably the sweetest Watson I've ever seen. Raithan is neurodivergent, gorgeous, flamboyant, and a much more empathic version of Holmes than we are usually presented with. He also made some jokes that made me genuinely laugh aloud (I really like puns, ok?). I love them both to Ganmak and back and would absolutely read a whole "The Adventures of" collection with them.
You know how I said I was low-key obsessed with the wendek in my review of The Wenamak Web? Well, our two protagonists are both wendek and we get to delve soooo much further into their society and culture, it's awesome.
This is a quick read that I devoured over a single day. Highly recommend if you like Sherlock Holmes retellings and/or inclusive sci-fi.
ASIBB is scheduled for release on 22 May 2025.
𝘼 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨.
In summary: Marie Howalt does it again with her amazing, compelling, loveable characters. A spin-off of her Colibri Investigations series, A Study In Black Brew is, of course, a retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story A Study In Scarlet. Only on an alien planet. With an alien Holmes and Watson. Or, should I say, Raithan and Kellieth 🖤
The Holmesian vibes are very apparent (it puts me most in mind of the BBC series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, though it's still a very original spin!) and as usual the characters are the star of the show. Our narrator Kellieth is a chronically ill, NB chemist and probably the sweetest Watson I've ever seen. Raithan is neurodivergent, gorgeous, flamboyant, and a much more empathic version of Holmes than we are usually presented with. He also made some jokes that made me genuinely laugh aloud (I really like puns, ok?). I love them both to Ganmak and back and would absolutely read a whole "The Adventures of" collection with them.
You know how I said I was low-key obsessed with the wendek in my review of The Wenamak Web? Well, our two protagonists are both wendek and we get to delve soooo much further into their society and culture, it's awesome.
This is a quick read that I devoured over a single day. Highly recommend if you like Sherlock Holmes retellings and/or inclusive sci-fi.
ASIBB is scheduled for release on 22 May 2025.
May 17, 2025
A sci-fi retelling of Sherlock Holmes, this little book is a fast paced mystery to solve a murder, with lots of elements invented for this world with enhanced senses of different species that add some interesting layers to the story.
This story fully drops you into the world, and getting used to the specific language and worldbuilding elements was a bit challenging as this was the first I had read of the author’s work. Even by the end of it, I’m not sure I fully followed all the worldbuilding specifics, but I did overall enjoy it.
The mystery was engaging, and getting all of it through Kellieth’s perspective as they shift from sort of bystander to very involved party was a fun way to see the story unfold. The representation of a chronic illness was quite well done. I did find the first person perspective to be a bit too telling as opposed to showing at some points, though I did appreciate the humor we see in Kellieth’s pov.
I would actually be interested in reading a story from the culprit’s perspective, as I found their narrative to be extremely compelling and I wanted to know more about them.
Thank you to the author for the advance review copy.
This story fully drops you into the world, and getting used to the specific language and worldbuilding elements was a bit challenging as this was the first I had read of the author’s work. Even by the end of it, I’m not sure I fully followed all the worldbuilding specifics, but I did overall enjoy it.
The mystery was engaging, and getting all of it through Kellieth’s perspective as they shift from sort of bystander to very involved party was a fun way to see the story unfold. The representation of a chronic illness was quite well done. I did find the first person perspective to be a bit too telling as opposed to showing at some points, though I did appreciate the humor we see in Kellieth’s pov.
I would actually be interested in reading a story from the culprit’s perspective, as I found their narrative to be extremely compelling and I wanted to know more about them.
Thank you to the author for the advance review copy.
Read
May 26, 2025A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
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.
Read Sue's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
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.
Read Sue's review in its entirety here.
March 19, 2025
A Study in Black Brew is a fun, cozy Sci-Fi mystery that resides in the same realm as the Colibri Investigation series. In book 3 of that series (The Wenamak Web) we are introduced to the two main characters in this story. I love a good spin-off and thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
I love this author's writing. The characters are fun and have great banter. I also like that the mystery is interesting and keeps you reading. As a retelling, the Sherlock Holmes vibes are on point. Definitely one to put on those bookish radars and grab when it releases on May 22, 2025.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
I love this author's writing. The characters are fun and have great banter. I also like that the mystery is interesting and keeps you reading. As a retelling, the Sherlock Holmes vibes are on point. Definitely one to put on those bookish radars and grab when it releases on May 22, 2025.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2025
rtc!
September 2, 2025
Ok I get that the main characters are on a different planet and are a whole different species but the language in this book is very alien. It has a lot of odd descriptions and it’s full of dictionary words
June 23, 2025
Full review coming soon!
March 7, 2025
Who doesn't love a good Sherlock Holmes retelling? Now make it diverse, with wonderful loveable characters, an alien world, a dash of humour, and a lot of cosy vibes. And did I mention the space elves?
Definitely not just for fans of the infamous detective duo, but everyone who enjoys cosy sci-fi and mysteries.
Definitely not just for fans of the infamous detective duo, but everyone who enjoys cosy sci-fi and mysteries.
February 7, 2025
A fun sidestep from the main story of the colibri crew!
A Study In Black Brew does not disappoint if you liked all the “main quest”, and as a big fan of Sherlock Holmes in all its varieties, this hits the spot for me!
It's a cozy short work that'll be perfect with a cup of coffee (or tea if you're like me and dislike the black beans) and a plate of cookies.
The characters, Kellieth and Raithan, whom we've crossed paths with from The Wenamak Web, are our Sherlock and Watson. With a twist. And of course it still has own flavour from the author's universe.
It reads like a Watson dairy, from Kellieths pov, and the pacing is really good for a binge.
There's also some very well written disability rep.
I'm giving this maximum of stars because I just enjoyed the heck out of this and its characters, even though I am well versed in the Sherlock Holmes genre and there was nothing too surprising about the plot, it's just a hecking good read!
Thanks to the author for the eArc!
A Study In Black Brew does not disappoint if you liked all the “main quest”, and as a big fan of Sherlock Holmes in all its varieties, this hits the spot for me!
It's a cozy short work that'll be perfect with a cup of coffee (or tea if you're like me and dislike the black beans) and a plate of cookies.
The characters, Kellieth and Raithan, whom we've crossed paths with from The Wenamak Web, are our Sherlock and Watson. With a twist. And of course it still has own flavour from the author's universe.
It reads like a Watson dairy, from Kellieths pov, and the pacing is really good for a binge.
There's also some very well written disability rep.
I'm giving this maximum of stars because I just enjoyed the heck out of this and its characters, even though I am well versed in the Sherlock Holmes genre and there was nothing too surprising about the plot, it's just a hecking good read!
Thanks to the author for the eArc!
May 23, 2025
Kellieth ReinAraneinth is caught between multiple rocks and abundant hard places, as when the story begins they can barely catch their breath. Literally. They may not be human but their breathing and sense of smell are both compromised by on-the-job chemical exposure resulting in a condition that may not quite BE chronic asthma, but is close enough as to make no difference.
But it does, both in the sense that Kellieth’s health is compromised, and in the sense that they have lost one of their senses. Wendeks like Kellieth rely on their sense of smell every bit as humans rely on sight to gather clues to their environment as well as the ‘people’ they interact with. Except for Kellieth. Even their sense of taste is muted, which is where that ‘black brew’ comes in.
Because, of course, it’s coffee. Or at least as near to coffee as this far-flung, multi-species galaxy can manage for any humans who have settled on the wendek homeworld, Ganmak. Coffee has a strong and distinctive taste AND aroma. So strong, in fact, that even with compromised senses, Kellieth can sense that black brew nearly as well as they used to be able to sense their whole world.
Kellieth has returned to the homeworld to get their health back – if they can. They were part of an expedition to begin settlement of a newly available planet – a job that requires considerably more activity and exertion than Kellieth is currently capable of. At least without passing out.
They have enough to live on if they are frugal, but nothing extra for luxuries, while yet not really capable of going back to work even in the relatively safe laboratory setting that would be the usual jobsite for their work as a chemist.
Which is where their next-door neighbor, Raithan WeinZalneinth, comes in. First by helping them move in and preventing them from passing out on the front step as they did so. But also later, by providing Keillieth with someone to share occasional meals with – and most especially as a focus for their curiosity. Scientific and otherwise.
Raithan reveals his secrets first by hints and clues and, frankly, by showing off more than a bit. But eventually by taking Kellieth with him to view a dead body. This is far from the usual method of telling a friend what you do for a living, but Raithan enjoys little more than he does a dramatic reveal. Or, seemingly, drama of any kind.
That Raithan is an investigator for the Federal Wendek Security Agency, and he is VERY good at his job. Which both explains his propensity for telling people all about themselves upon first meeting, and his secretiveness. Raithan is the investigator who gets called in when the regular ‘peace corps’ (read as police) are stumped.
Raithan needs an assistant. Kellieth needs a job that they can perform with compromised health, AND they have the kind of curious, scientific, logically ordered mind that can do the job he needs and do it well. If they can get past Raithan’s initial, and rather dramatic, test of their abilities, that is.
All Raithan has to do is convince her to come along for what will turn out to be a rather dangerous ride. And make sure that Keillieth survives it – no matter what risks he has to take for himself.
Escape Rating B: The title might seem familiar, like it’s ringing a distant bell that you can’t quite place. Or that it sounds like something you recognize but isn’t quite it.
It might come into focus if you change the ‘Black Brew’ to Scarlet. Or Pink. Or Sherlock. A Study in Scarlet marked the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Countless pastiche writers have been unable to resist the impulse to begin their own Holmesian or Holmes-like series with similar titles, from A Study in Honor by Claire O’Dell to A Study in Sable by Mercedes Lackey to A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas and even A Study in Sherlock, the first in a series of collections of stories inspired by the Holmes canon. TV adaptations of the ‘Great Detective’ are not immune to this tendency as the first episode of the TV series Sherlock in 2010 was “A Study in Pink”.
In other words, A Study in Black Brew is an homage to that iconic detective duo, and I’m such a sucker for Holmes and Holmes-like stories that I couldn’t resist this book at all – and didn’t even try. If you like SF mystery – and I do – it may also remind you of another SFnal detective duo, Inspector Mossa and Scholar Pleiti. If you haven’t read their first outing, The Mimicking of Known Successes, it is an excellent readalike for A Study in Black Brew. And if you’ve already read that, I think you’ll like this and vice versa.
Keillieth and Raithan are not slavish copies of their more famous counterparts, rather the story takes the originals as a stepping off point – and occasionally the opportunity for a bit of an in-joke – to tell a fascinating murder mystery story that owes as much to its futurist time and place as it does to its progenitors.
The murders that these detectives have to solve are as twisty as any their originals might have tackled, but Raithan manages to be both more dramatically inclined and less forthcoming about his deductions than Holmes ever was. However, his tendency to use people for his own – albeit investigative – ends without fully informing them of the danger to themselves – is spot on.
As a reader, as much as I loved the story – and I did, and as much as I got caught up in the investigation – and ditto, I didn’t feel fully grounded in their world or in the fact that these characters were other than human. Also their future seemed a bit too similar to our present. I know we don’t know what we don’t know yet, but the worldbuilding feels like it could use more depth. Howsomever, I didn’t learn until after finishing this book that it is not JUST a Holmes-a-like story but is also a spinoff from the author’s Colibri Investigations series of SF mysteries. Which, OF COURSE, now I need to dive into, beginning with The Stellar Snow Job, as soon as I can manage it.
All of that being said, I still had an absolutely grand time with Kellieth and Raithan, and I’d love to see them in another investigation so that I can learn more about them, the future they live in, and the world they call home.
Originally published at Reading Reality
But it does, both in the sense that Kellieth’s health is compromised, and in the sense that they have lost one of their senses. Wendeks like Kellieth rely on their sense of smell every bit as humans rely on sight to gather clues to their environment as well as the ‘people’ they interact with. Except for Kellieth. Even their sense of taste is muted, which is where that ‘black brew’ comes in.
Because, of course, it’s coffee. Or at least as near to coffee as this far-flung, multi-species galaxy can manage for any humans who have settled on the wendek homeworld, Ganmak. Coffee has a strong and distinctive taste AND aroma. So strong, in fact, that even with compromised senses, Kellieth can sense that black brew nearly as well as they used to be able to sense their whole world.
Kellieth has returned to the homeworld to get their health back – if they can. They were part of an expedition to begin settlement of a newly available planet – a job that requires considerably more activity and exertion than Kellieth is currently capable of. At least without passing out.
They have enough to live on if they are frugal, but nothing extra for luxuries, while yet not really capable of going back to work even in the relatively safe laboratory setting that would be the usual jobsite for their work as a chemist.
Which is where their next-door neighbor, Raithan WeinZalneinth, comes in. First by helping them move in and preventing them from passing out on the front step as they did so. But also later, by providing Keillieth with someone to share occasional meals with – and most especially as a focus for their curiosity. Scientific and otherwise.
Raithan reveals his secrets first by hints and clues and, frankly, by showing off more than a bit. But eventually by taking Kellieth with him to view a dead body. This is far from the usual method of telling a friend what you do for a living, but Raithan enjoys little more than he does a dramatic reveal. Or, seemingly, drama of any kind.
That Raithan is an investigator for the Federal Wendek Security Agency, and he is VERY good at his job. Which both explains his propensity for telling people all about themselves upon first meeting, and his secretiveness. Raithan is the investigator who gets called in when the regular ‘peace corps’ (read as police) are stumped.
Raithan needs an assistant. Kellieth needs a job that they can perform with compromised health, AND they have the kind of curious, scientific, logically ordered mind that can do the job he needs and do it well. If they can get past Raithan’s initial, and rather dramatic, test of their abilities, that is.
All Raithan has to do is convince her to come along for what will turn out to be a rather dangerous ride. And make sure that Keillieth survives it – no matter what risks he has to take for himself.
Escape Rating B: The title might seem familiar, like it’s ringing a distant bell that you can’t quite place. Or that it sounds like something you recognize but isn’t quite it.
It might come into focus if you change the ‘Black Brew’ to Scarlet. Or Pink. Or Sherlock. A Study in Scarlet marked the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Countless pastiche writers have been unable to resist the impulse to begin their own Holmesian or Holmes-like series with similar titles, from A Study in Honor by Claire O’Dell to A Study in Sable by Mercedes Lackey to A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas and even A Study in Sherlock, the first in a series of collections of stories inspired by the Holmes canon. TV adaptations of the ‘Great Detective’ are not immune to this tendency as the first episode of the TV series Sherlock in 2010 was “A Study in Pink”.
In other words, A Study in Black Brew is an homage to that iconic detective duo, and I’m such a sucker for Holmes and Holmes-like stories that I couldn’t resist this book at all – and didn’t even try. If you like SF mystery – and I do – it may also remind you of another SFnal detective duo, Inspector Mossa and Scholar Pleiti. If you haven’t read their first outing, The Mimicking of Known Successes, it is an excellent readalike for A Study in Black Brew. And if you’ve already read that, I think you’ll like this and vice versa.
Keillieth and Raithan are not slavish copies of their more famous counterparts, rather the story takes the originals as a stepping off point – and occasionally the opportunity for a bit of an in-joke – to tell a fascinating murder mystery story that owes as much to its futurist time and place as it does to its progenitors.
The murders that these detectives have to solve are as twisty as any their originals might have tackled, but Raithan manages to be both more dramatically inclined and less forthcoming about his deductions than Holmes ever was. However, his tendency to use people for his own – albeit investigative – ends without fully informing them of the danger to themselves – is spot on.
As a reader, as much as I loved the story – and I did, and as much as I got caught up in the investigation – and ditto, I didn’t feel fully grounded in their world or in the fact that these characters were other than human. Also their future seemed a bit too similar to our present. I know we don’t know what we don’t know yet, but the worldbuilding feels like it could use more depth. Howsomever, I didn’t learn until after finishing this book that it is not JUST a Holmes-a-like story but is also a spinoff from the author’s Colibri Investigations series of SF mysteries. Which, OF COURSE, now I need to dive into, beginning with The Stellar Snow Job, as soon as I can manage it.
All of that being said, I still had an absolutely grand time with Kellieth and Raithan, and I’d love to see them in another investigation so that I can learn more about them, the future they live in, and the world they call home.
Originally published at Reading Reality
May 3, 2025
Transparency note: I was given this as an e-arc.
It has got decorative initials! Of course, this isn't a per se argument for or against a book, but I love initials at chapter beginnings and I have no idea why this isn't the standard anymore. I'm not even asking for medieval all-out fancy, artistic illustrations in letter-form - just enlarge that first letter, and there you go.
Now for the actual content: This isn't the first time I've read A Study in Black Brew. I first read this as a beta reader in autumn 2024, mostly for the Sherlock Holmes references/theme of it. Afterwards I continued to read all the currently-available volumes of The Colibri Investigations by Marie Howalt which is something like the "other parent" of this novel. Which probably already is a hint to what my reading experience was like.
As the title suggests, this is an homage to A Study in Scarlet, the story of the fateful first meeting and consecutive living-arrangements of one John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department, and one Mr Sherlock Holmes. And as was the case there, Howalt also uses this to tell the story of the first encounter of Kellieth ReinAraneinth, late of the Wendek Planetary Development Agency, and Raithan WeinZalneinth - via a living arrangement as well.
The great thing about A Study in Black Brew is that it is something of a re-telling (with an amazing amount of more and less sneaky references and - you could almost say - easter eggs and bits where you could basically hear Doyle's words echo in the background that made me quite giddy as a Sherlockist) without having the characters be mere copies of the famous Victorian duo. In some ways, the relationship and personality of the two main characters resemble Holmes' and Watson's, but in just as many other ways, Kellieth and Raithan are very much their own personages. And this is exactly what makes this homage so interesting.
Besides, of course, getting an even closer look at Wendek life and culture - and, as any good science fiction novel should have, commentary and reflections over real-world-problems and topics. There is the topic of (invisible) disabilities, as Kellieth as to deal not only with respiratory problems, but also with anosmia - which is quite an inconvenience as a member of a species whose communication and social interactions are partly based on olfactory aspects. And then, there also is the topic of racism - or, as it is termed in the novel for obvious reasons, speciecism: The Wendek aren't the good guys who have solved that problem and can now teach the humans not to behave like racist idiots anymore. They themselves have a bit of a problem with that - even Kellieth who thought they were a lot less speciecist than other Wendek has to reflect about their notions about other species, especially humans, during this novel.
I don't think you necessarily have to know either Howalt's Colibri Investigations or A Study in Scarlet to enjoy this novel. But I think there might be another layer of entertainment for you if you do, especially the latter, and can fully appreciate and enjoy what the author has done and where all the easter eggs are hidden (keep an eye out for, for example, order numbers and initials of various peace corps officers).
The novel will come out on May 22nd, 2025 - and I've already placed my preorder, now that I finally could.
It has got decorative initials! Of course, this isn't a per se argument for or against a book, but I love initials at chapter beginnings and I have no idea why this isn't the standard anymore. I'm not even asking for medieval all-out fancy, artistic illustrations in letter-form - just enlarge that first letter, and there you go.
Now for the actual content: This isn't the first time I've read A Study in Black Brew. I first read this as a beta reader in autumn 2024, mostly for the Sherlock Holmes references/theme of it. Afterwards I continued to read all the currently-available volumes of The Colibri Investigations by Marie Howalt which is something like the "other parent" of this novel. Which probably already is a hint to what my reading experience was like.
As the title suggests, this is an homage to A Study in Scarlet, the story of the fateful first meeting and consecutive living-arrangements of one John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department, and one Mr Sherlock Holmes. And as was the case there, Howalt also uses this to tell the story of the first encounter of Kellieth ReinAraneinth, late of the Wendek Planetary Development Agency, and Raithan WeinZalneinth - via a living arrangement as well.
The great thing about A Study in Black Brew is that it is something of a re-telling (with an amazing amount of more and less sneaky references and - you could almost say - easter eggs and bits where you could basically hear Doyle's words echo in the background that made me quite giddy as a Sherlockist) without having the characters be mere copies of the famous Victorian duo. In some ways, the relationship and personality of the two main characters resemble Holmes' and Watson's, but in just as many other ways, Kellieth and Raithan are very much their own personages. And this is exactly what makes this homage so interesting.
Besides, of course, getting an even closer look at Wendek life and culture - and, as any good science fiction novel should have, commentary and reflections over real-world-problems and topics. There is the topic of (invisible) disabilities, as Kellieth as to deal not only with respiratory problems, but also with anosmia - which is quite an inconvenience as a member of a species whose communication and social interactions are partly based on olfactory aspects. And then, there also is the topic of racism - or, as it is termed in the novel for obvious reasons, speciecism: The Wendek aren't the good guys who have solved that problem and can now teach the humans not to behave like racist idiots anymore. They themselves have a bit of a problem with that - even Kellieth who thought they were a lot less speciecist than other Wendek has to reflect about their notions about other species, especially humans, during this novel.
I don't think you necessarily have to know either Howalt's Colibri Investigations or A Study in Scarlet to enjoy this novel. But I think there might be another layer of entertainment for you if you do, especially the latter, and can fully appreciate and enjoy what the author has done and where all the easter eggs are hidden (keep an eye out for, for example, order numbers and initials of various peace corps officers).
The novel will come out on May 22nd, 2025 - and I've already placed my preorder, now that I finally could.
May 21, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and Spaceboy Books for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊
⚝ 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 inmostly 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.
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊
⚝ 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
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.
May 22, 2025
{4.5/5}
CW: speciesism/racism, murder, referenced drug use
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “A Study in Black Brew” is available now!
It’s Sherlock Holmes, but make it sci-fi, and that’s really all you need to know.
Kellieth ReinAraneinth was leaving the dream as a chemistry researcher on a newly settled planet until their chronic illness sidelined them. Now they’re between jobs and fighting to regain their health. A new apartment means a new neighbor, the oddly enigmatic Raithan WeinZalneinth. As Kellieth starts piecing their life back together, Raithan invites them to tag along on a new adventure— a human, murdered in an empty house, with a strange message written on the wall in black brew…
I will never not love Marie Howalt’s books. They’re cozy, they’re sci-fi, they’re delightful mysteries, and this was no exception. If you’ve read Howalt’s “Colibri Investigations” series you’re bound to recognize some locations and species in “A Study in Black Brew.” If you haven’t read the Colibri books, what are you even doing? (I can’t attest to the “Moonless” series’ relevance to this world, as I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, which is a personal failing I seek to remedy as soon as possible.)
As I mentioned, this is Sherlock Holmes as a sci-fi, and in true Sherlock fashion, we’re following the tale via the Dr. Watson character. The narration style is reminiscent of Doyle’s work, especially in the early pages of the story, though it soon settles into its own wonderful blend of both this author and the classics. The tone and delivery meld seamlessly to give a story that is uniquely its own while still pacing tribute to the OG.
Kellieth as a character is somehow the perfect Watson and also a character entirely of their own, and I think that’s kind of the perfect design. The Sherlock of our story, Raithan, is perfect and I will accept no criticism on this opinion. Again, he’s his own blend of what you’d expect and an entirely new thing, but all of it is perfection. For the Sherlock Holmes fans, the character and the story are both full of all the Easter eggs from the books that you could ever hope for, and they made me grin like a fool any time I noticed one. For those of you who maybe haven't read the original stories, don’t worry— you’ll still love the book, and you won’t be missing any of the story.
I could not have asked for a better spin on one of my favorite literary characters. I absolutely loved everything about this book, and I’m so happy I got the chance to read it. It somehow manages to be a warm hug from an old friend of a story while also being something entirely new and unique. I know I’m not even coming close to doing it justice, but I’m going to blame that on the exhaustion since I stayed up way too late just so I could finish the story. This was a complete delight, and if the author was inclined to write more adventures with these characters I would happily forgo sleep indefinitely to read all of them.
CW: speciesism/racism, murder, referenced drug use
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “A Study in Black Brew” is available now!
It’s Sherlock Holmes, but make it sci-fi, and that’s really all you need to know.
Kellieth ReinAraneinth was leaving the dream as a chemistry researcher on a newly settled planet until their chronic illness sidelined them. Now they’re between jobs and fighting to regain their health. A new apartment means a new neighbor, the oddly enigmatic Raithan WeinZalneinth. As Kellieth starts piecing their life back together, Raithan invites them to tag along on a new adventure— a human, murdered in an empty house, with a strange message written on the wall in black brew…
I will never not love Marie Howalt’s books. They’re cozy, they’re sci-fi, they’re delightful mysteries, and this was no exception. If you’ve read Howalt’s “Colibri Investigations” series you’re bound to recognize some locations and species in “A Study in Black Brew.” If you haven’t read the Colibri books, what are you even doing? (I can’t attest to the “Moonless” series’ relevance to this world, as I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, which is a personal failing I seek to remedy as soon as possible.)
As I mentioned, this is Sherlock Holmes as a sci-fi, and in true Sherlock fashion, we’re following the tale via the Dr. Watson character. The narration style is reminiscent of Doyle’s work, especially in the early pages of the story, though it soon settles into its own wonderful blend of both this author and the classics. The tone and delivery meld seamlessly to give a story that is uniquely its own while still pacing tribute to the OG.
Kellieth as a character is somehow the perfect Watson and also a character entirely of their own, and I think that’s kind of the perfect design. The Sherlock of our story, Raithan, is perfect and I will accept no criticism on this opinion. Again, he’s his own blend of what you’d expect and an entirely new thing, but all of it is perfection. For the Sherlock Holmes fans, the character and the story are both full of all the Easter eggs from the books that you could ever hope for, and they made me grin like a fool any time I noticed one. For those of you who maybe haven't read the original stories, don’t worry— you’ll still love the book, and you won’t be missing any of the story.
I could not have asked for a better spin on one of my favorite literary characters. I absolutely loved everything about this book, and I’m so happy I got the chance to read it. It somehow manages to be a warm hug from an old friend of a story while also being something entirely new and unique. I know I’m not even coming close to doing it justice, but I’m going to blame that on the exhaustion since I stayed up way too late just so I could finish the story. This was a complete delight, and if the author was inclined to write more adventures with these characters I would happily forgo sleep indefinitely to read all of them.
May 21, 2025
If you are looking for a retelling to read on Sherlock Holmes Day (May 22), I would recommend Marie Howalt’s A Study in Black Brew. It’s a scifi setting, on a queer-normative world with multiple species. The plot is pretty straightforward as a retelling of A Study in Scarlett (except no dogs, or helpless pets are killed), but Howalt has made choices that make her retelling fresh and interesting.
Kellieth ReinAraneinth is a wendek, a species noted for their sense of smell. They are a chemist who suffered a disabling accident, leaving them with a significantly hindered sense of smell. For their species, it’s a genuine disability. Furthermore, they suffered lung damage when they were caught in a sandstorm while working as the advance team on a planet newly opened for wendek settlement. Like Dr. John Watson, Kellieth ReinAraneinth arrives in the city of Nantheam disabled, ill, with limited funds, and at loose ends. An acquaintance tells them about a less expensive flat, which makes them a flatmate with Raithan WeinZalneinth, Howalt’s Sherlock Holmes. At their first meeting, Raithan’s observational skills save Kellieth’s life, so Kellieth brings him a thank you cake. And a friendship is born.
I’m more familiar with contemporary retellings of Sherlock Holmes than I am the source material, so one of the things that stood out to me was the integrity of the disability representation vs the casual ableism of the BBC’s Sherlock. I also really liked the frisson of flirting between Kellieth and Raithan, which doesn’t feel like queer-baiting. Making Kellieth and Raithan wendek, while the victims and murderer are human, allows for some interesting exploration of othering.
This was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to dive into the author’s backlist.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
Kellieth ReinAraneinth is a wendek, a species noted for their sense of smell. They are a chemist who suffered a disabling accident, leaving them with a significantly hindered sense of smell. For their species, it’s a genuine disability. Furthermore, they suffered lung damage when they were caught in a sandstorm while working as the advance team on a planet newly opened for wendek settlement. Like Dr. John Watson, Kellieth ReinAraneinth arrives in the city of Nantheam disabled, ill, with limited funds, and at loose ends. An acquaintance tells them about a less expensive flat, which makes them a flatmate with Raithan WeinZalneinth, Howalt’s Sherlock Holmes. At their first meeting, Raithan’s observational skills save Kellieth’s life, so Kellieth brings him a thank you cake. And a friendship is born.
I’m more familiar with contemporary retellings of Sherlock Holmes than I am the source material, so one of the things that stood out to me was the integrity of the disability representation vs the casual ableism of the BBC’s Sherlock. I also really liked the frisson of flirting between Kellieth and Raithan, which doesn’t feel like queer-baiting. Making Kellieth and Raithan wendek, while the victims and murderer are human, allows for some interesting exploration of othering.
This was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to dive into the author’s backlist.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
June 9, 2025
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.
A fun, somewhat cozy, and queer Sherlock Holmes adaptation, A Study in Black Brew takes enough from its inspiration to be recognizable but is different enough to feel like its own story.
While I have read a few Sherlock and Watson novels, I haven't read A Study in Scarlet, which this is based on. Yet, I could recognize most of the characteristics of Watson and Sherlock, such as the quick reference to Sherlock’s musical instrument and his penchant for disguises, and they both share similar characteristics of the two men they are based on, despite them both being aliens and one being non-binary.
The book exists in a queer-normative worldbuilding that is both cozy and far from utopian (in that there is speciesism and capitalism). I love stories about aliens where they see humans as weird and/or gross at times, so the moments we get of that were very fun. The way the Wendak are different from humans, yet also similar, was a great balance.
Kellith, the Watson character, is also a person with a debilitating chronic illness, a depiction which I thought was well-done and points out the ways people with similar issues in society are often mistreated, thought less capable, or infantilized but doesn't become didactic.
The way they and Raithan functioned is very much Sherlock and Watson, but with a bit more of a romantic twist - one-sided, of course. Raithan is very much a Sherlock, but that’s not to say he isn't his own character. He has other quirks that make him unique.
The mystery itself wasn’t super intriguing, to be honest, though if you’re a fan of A Study in Scarlet, you will likely really enjoy it, because it keeps to the story enough to be an adaptation, but obviously gender-bends some characters, and some of the characters’ motives are modernized. This book also fits A Study in Scarlet because it’s the origin story of the pair.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. The characters are just lovely, and the story moves at a great pace. I’d love to see this pair do one of the stories I actually remember, such as The Hound of the Baskervilles. :)
A fun, somewhat cozy, and queer Sherlock Holmes adaptation, A Study in Black Brew takes enough from its inspiration to be recognizable but is different enough to feel like its own story.
While I have read a few Sherlock and Watson novels, I haven't read A Study in Scarlet, which this is based on. Yet, I could recognize most of the characteristics of Watson and Sherlock, such as the quick reference to Sherlock’s musical instrument and his penchant for disguises, and they both share similar characteristics of the two men they are based on, despite them both being aliens and one being non-binary.
The book exists in a queer-normative worldbuilding that is both cozy and far from utopian (in that there is speciesism and capitalism). I love stories about aliens where they see humans as weird and/or gross at times, so the moments we get of that were very fun. The way the Wendak are different from humans, yet also similar, was a great balance.
Kellith, the Watson character, is also a person with a debilitating chronic illness, a depiction which I thought was well-done and points out the ways people with similar issues in society are often mistreated, thought less capable, or infantilized but doesn't become didactic.
The way they and Raithan functioned is very much Sherlock and Watson, but with a bit more of a romantic twist - one-sided, of course. Raithan is very much a Sherlock, but that’s not to say he isn't his own character. He has other quirks that make him unique.
The mystery itself wasn’t super intriguing, to be honest, though if you’re a fan of A Study in Scarlet, you will likely really enjoy it, because it keeps to the story enough to be an adaptation, but obviously gender-bends some characters, and some of the characters’ motives are modernized. This book also fits A Study in Scarlet because it’s the origin story of the pair.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. The characters are just lovely, and the story moves at a great pace. I’d love to see this pair do one of the stories I actually remember, such as The Hound of the Baskervilles. :)
March 13, 2025
A Study in Black Brew by Marie Howalt
A big thank you to @mhowalt and @spaceboy_books for the eARC of this novella which will be published on 22nd May 2025.
Set in the same universe as the Wenamak Web and the Colibri Investigations novels this is a standalone diverse science fiction Sherlock Holmes retelling.
Our main characters are from the race of Wendek. Grey skinned humanoids with an incredible sense of smell.
Our narrator is Kellieth, a trained chemist who finds themselves out of work due to chronic illness and forced to move to new lodgings in an unfamiliar city.
On moving in they meet their very unconventional neighbour, the flamboyant and somewhat egotistical Raithan who quickly shows off their ability of deduction.
When Raithan is called in by the Peace Corps to investigate the murder of a human, Kellieth finds themself tagging along and being drawn into the mystery for reasons that become clear during the story.
Before you can say 'the plot thickens' Raithan and Kellieth are involved in a dangerous and intriguing case which Raithan calls A Study in Black Brew after Kellieth's drink of choice. It's going to take a few cups of Black Brew to crack this case and also to discover exactly who Raithan is working for.
Raithan and Kellieth are the queernormative, space alien version of Holmes and Watson.
Raithan has all the arrogance of Sherlock but is tempered with surprising empathy and a wicked sense of humour.
Kellieth fills the Watson role beautifully. A scientist, a writer, and a perfect foil to Raithan's cocky attitude.
At 140 pages this novella is a quick read with a fast moving crime plot that nevertheless provides plenty of entertainment with lots of character growth and development.
I really hope this is just the first of many adventures with these characters because I deduce that you are going to love this.
A big thank you to @mhowalt and @spaceboy_books for the eARC of this novella which will be published on 22nd May 2025.
Set in the same universe as the Wenamak Web and the Colibri Investigations novels this is a standalone diverse science fiction Sherlock Holmes retelling.
Our main characters are from the race of Wendek. Grey skinned humanoids with an incredible sense of smell.
Our narrator is Kellieth, a trained chemist who finds themselves out of work due to chronic illness and forced to move to new lodgings in an unfamiliar city.
On moving in they meet their very unconventional neighbour, the flamboyant and somewhat egotistical Raithan who quickly shows off their ability of deduction.
When Raithan is called in by the Peace Corps to investigate the murder of a human, Kellieth finds themself tagging along and being drawn into the mystery for reasons that become clear during the story.
Before you can say 'the plot thickens' Raithan and Kellieth are involved in a dangerous and intriguing case which Raithan calls A Study in Black Brew after Kellieth's drink of choice. It's going to take a few cups of Black Brew to crack this case and also to discover exactly who Raithan is working for.
Raithan and Kellieth are the queernormative, space alien version of Holmes and Watson.
Raithan has all the arrogance of Sherlock but is tempered with surprising empathy and a wicked sense of humour.
Kellieth fills the Watson role beautifully. A scientist, a writer, and a perfect foil to Raithan's cocky attitude.
At 140 pages this novella is a quick read with a fast moving crime plot that nevertheless provides plenty of entertainment with lots of character growth and development.
I really hope this is just the first of many adventures with these characters because I deduce that you are going to love this.
March 27, 2025
„A Study in Black Brew“ is a masterpiece.
I honestly don‘t know how I could sum up my love for this book in just a short review.
This reminded me of why I loved Sherlock Holmes stories in the first place. But while the Sherlock and Watson dynamic as well as the intriguing cases are already a great base for an interesting story, the way Marie Howalt put a creative spin on it by setting the story on a foreign planet and adding lots of sci-fi elements makes this even better than a classic retelling.
I would have loved to make a creative comparison to this story being like drinking coffee and getting a caffeine rush, with the plot getting faster and more addictive here, but that would simply not do this book enough justice.
Right from the beginning, you are immediately drawn in by an intriguing main character, who‘s balancing the line between being a John Watson reimagining and still being a unique character, to perfection. And then you just never get pulled out of the thrilling adventure that this story is.
There is only one thing about "A Study in Black Brew“ that I was disappointed about. It‘s a standalone. Because how should I cope with the fact that this is all I get of Kellieth and Raithan‘s story?
I fell in love with the characters (a nonbinary, chronically ill chemist and a charismatic, incredibly intelligent agent-what's not to love?) and the planet as well as the writing style head over heels, I was hoping the book would never end. Well, I guess this means I will have to fight my sadness by reading every other book by Marie Howalt.
This story is a true gift to every Sherlock Holmes enjoyer as well as everyone who enjoys science fiction, crime solving, and an outsider perspective on our absurd human behaviors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spaceboy Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
I honestly don‘t know how I could sum up my love for this book in just a short review.
This reminded me of why I loved Sherlock Holmes stories in the first place. But while the Sherlock and Watson dynamic as well as the intriguing cases are already a great base for an interesting story, the way Marie Howalt put a creative spin on it by setting the story on a foreign planet and adding lots of sci-fi elements makes this even better than a classic retelling.
I would have loved to make a creative comparison to this story being like drinking coffee and getting a caffeine rush, with the plot getting faster and more addictive here, but that would simply not do this book enough justice.
Right from the beginning, you are immediately drawn in by an intriguing main character, who‘s balancing the line between being a John Watson reimagining and still being a unique character, to perfection. And then you just never get pulled out of the thrilling adventure that this story is.
There is only one thing about "A Study in Black Brew“ that I was disappointed about. It‘s a standalone. Because how should I cope with the fact that this is all I get of Kellieth and Raithan‘s story?
I fell in love with the characters (a nonbinary, chronically ill chemist and a charismatic, incredibly intelligent agent-what's not to love?) and the planet as well as the writing style head over heels, I was hoping the book would never end. Well, I guess this means I will have to fight my sadness by reading every other book by Marie Howalt.
This story is a true gift to every Sherlock Holmes enjoyer as well as everyone who enjoys science fiction, crime solving, and an outsider perspective on our absurd human behaviors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spaceboy Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
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