A Case of Madness by Yvonne Knop

Andrew Thomas just got sacked. He's permanently drunk. He's got cancer. Is inescapably gay. Was hit by a bus. And he's fallen in love with a stranger whose life he saved. As a newly-unemployed Sherlock Holmes scholar, Andrew knows only Holmes can help him untangle the madness his life has become, but Holmes isn't real. Except he absolutely appeared in Andrew's house, told him he's in love with a man he just met…and then in a fit of pique Andrew sent him away. Sure Holmes is probably a hallucination or a specter or a ghost, but now Andrew desperately needs his help. So to find the answer to his case and the man of his dreams, Andrew takes to chasing a fictional character through London with his very own Watson.

Adult • Contemporary Fiction • Romance • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+/Own Voices • Diversity Representation/Neurodiversity/Own Voices • Diversity Representation/Mental Health/Own Voices

Content Warning: Graphic: Cancer Homophobia Hate crime Suicidal thoughts Alcoholism Mental illness Violence Suicide attempt Moderate: Homophobia Violence Suicide attempt Addiction Panic attacks/disorders Suicidal thoughts Suicide Terminal illness (Cancer) Minor: Vomit Fatphobia Toxic relationship Car accident Alcohol

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yuricon

A very unique perspective on how Sherlock Holmes can affect people far outside his original oeuvre, and a touching look at breaking out of cycles of self-hatred.

Menendezbe

The story has an interesting premise to explore the character development of the main character. At the start, the tone of the book was somewhat confusing, and at times it read more like a script than a novel. The best parts were the revelations of feelings, which seemed genuine.