I am lost for words.
Picking up a random loose thread from a Holmes story and building up your own backstory to that reference was a good idea.Using this particular reference was a very original one.Adding a flavour of the Holmes-Watson dynamic in the early days to your story was excellent.Using your story to cover loopholes in canon and give reasons for some of Holmes' abilities and peculiarites(acting ability,dislike of women) was amazing.Doing all this in just over 3,500 words was just BRILLIANT!Keep writing.And writing. And writing.:)

That was a damned good story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the line about Watson making a good barometer!

Oh my god, I love you. Marry me now. :)

This was so good. So good!

Q: Would you ever be interested in doing some illustrations for me?

Keep writing!

-Mona

I love you very, very, very, very, very much.

That was really wonderful. You can see his development from being completely hostile to everyone to opening up a little bit. This is a wonderful het romance, and that's coming from a hardcore slasher. It's tragic and lovely and completely in character. Beautiful job.

Also, the Macbeth references were perfect, especially the Lady Macduff one. And pubescent Holmes is just perfect. (We were all young once.) The snark was great as well.

I've often wondered myself about 'the most winning woman' the Holmes ever knew. I love how you have crafted a story from it. I like this one a lot.

Interesting... I like the idea of having Holmes as a performer in Macbeth: oddly enough I saw a play on Friday which had the exact same idea. I'm getting deja vu now!

Intriguing piece - Holmes' thoughts on Watson reflect what their friendship will one day become. I did like seeing the two in a fresh light - when Holmes wasn;t particularly fond of Watson, and perhaps vice versa.

HoVis

I can see you've been doing your homework. Very clever of you using Holmes' quote, " The most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three small children for thier insurance money." And turning it into a story. Very Holmesian sounding. Probably the most so I've heard in a long time. Congrats. Allow me to repeat another quote from Holmes' own book, "Pray Continue!"

Another well written story - very interesting to read and well thought out. :)

Your story is brilliant, completely and utterly brilliant! Young, mistrustful Holmes, patient Watson, brilliant!

This story was absorbing and interesting all the way through, offering a believable glimpse in Holmes's thoughts and attitude toward his roommate Watson before they knew each other better.

that was brilliant!
Very clever explanations for all the little anomalies in a Study in Scarlet. There was another story I read about the 'winning woman', il try to find the link later and leave it on here
keep writing,
Hannah

Excellently done, brilliant premise and plot, works on all levels, a very well thought out application from the original text. 100% enjoyable. My thanks and congratulations.

Loved this and the Skeleton. A very verbose but humane Holmes, and one can see why Watson remains loyal.

*picks her jaw up off the floor* You certainly picked a great mention of a character to base a story on. I love how you do Watson. He's not a dolt, as most people unfortunately characterize him, and you've got his mannerisms and speech down pat.

I really liked your addition to a Study in Scarlet! When Conan Doyle narrates with Holmes, I usually can't tell the difference between his narration and Watson's, but yours was very original, yet it was completely in line with my impression of Holmes from all the tales.