It's Mystery/Case File theme week!

Title: Bent
Fandom: Sherlock BBC
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Categories: mystery, case file, first kiss, Arthur Conan Doyle canon
Length: medium (12,101)
Warnings: mention of past OC character death

Author on LJ: lifeonmars
Author Website: lifeonmars

Summary: Sherlock straightens a poker. Something in John's mind snaps.
For all fans of The Speckled Band.

Review:
I love that lifeonmars took the story that Arthur Conan Doyle called his best Holmes work and made it her own. If you've read The Speckled Band, you'll recognize the major plot points, but she's modernized the details enough that it will keep you guessing. It's a well executed mystery, and you're led through all the clues that could conceivably allow you to come up with the answer yourself.

It's not just the mystery that's clever. There's nimble writing, stretching "Bent" to apply not only to the stoker from the famous story, but also to the bending of perception, of relationship, and of sexual orientation. Added bonuses are John and Sherlock wrestling on the floor, John figuring out his more-than-fond feelings, and snappy lines like, "It's had rather an unusual morning for a fireplace implement." Definitely an enjoyable read!

AO3: Bent

LJ: Part 1, Part 2