echo

This is a study on how cognitive biases effect everything we do. People like to say that Harry in this book is intelligent and rational but the whole point of the book is that he is an idiot who doesn't think through the consequences of his actions even though he may be extremely “intelligent”

Eliezer Yudkowsky is an AI researcher and it shows. Harry is closer to being an AI than a typical 11 year old. He is an insufferable dickhead with no conception towards other peoples feelings. He focuses on the problem at hand and will throw any solution that works at it no matter the consequences. If you were never a self aggrandizing kid who thought they knew everything then you probably will not like this book. I am, I was, I loved it. Like most self published web novels it needs serious editing.

One thing I loved about this was that any mystery in the book is fully solvable before the reveal. If you keep your eyes open and look for clues and piece them together you can fully put together the ending before it happens.

No doubt this was a masterpiece when it was written and completely revolutionary. When I read it for the first time it was some of the first fiction I had experienced. It shaped my view of the world and how fiction should be written. Looking back I realize how awful it really was. Each story tends to follow a particular pattern. It is not the pattern that is the problem but how it is implemented. Depressed Sherlock has to be convinced into solving a case. He gets excited over some random little detail. We get presented with the facts and Sherlock ponders while taking drugs. He makes an assumption that is wrong and leads him down a rabbit hole where he ends up with nothing. Doyle realizes he has written himself into a corner and Sherlock comes out with some random fact that he found using bullshit means that completely solves the case. Not all of the stories are like this and there are a few fantastic stories. In my opinion good mystery should be solvable by those following along. Set up some good Chekhovs guns in the beginning that an astute reader can pick up on which solve the mystery later when summed with the rest of the clues. Again, some of these stories do just that. Typically though Sherlock solves the mystery by pulling 30 jars of dirt never before mentioned that he collected from around London that he uses to match the dirt on some guys shoe. Deus ex machina defines Sherlock's character which is disappointing cause intelligent people really do exist and don't have to rely on plot contrivances to be clever.

Maybe I am missing the point because most Sherlock spinoffs tend to follow this pattern too. I thought Hound of the Baskervilles was the worst example of this and yet its the most popular Sherlock story.
If you want a mystery story that you have to read multiple times to catch the clues and puzzle out the answer then Sherlock is not your man. These are action adventure novels that star Sherlock as a god tier intellect that just solves the mysteries for you. I really do find it funny that HoB whole point is that logic and reason trumps the supernatural but its Sherlocks supernatural powers of finding exactly the right fact off screen that solves the case. The O.G. Sherlock books are great for people who want to be treated like Watson is treated i.e. like a dumb dumb baby who couldn't possibly solve anything.

TL;DR I like books that are clever and have the solution in the pages. I like rereading books that have the solution in them so I feel clever for putting together the pieces. These books do not leave clues for you to solve Sherlock just does everything for you. This is a collection of passable adventure stories and garbage mystery