Month: October 2021

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? (Lady Sherlock, #6)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Sherlock #6
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Victorian Cornwall
Number of Pages: 368

OMGoodness! This was an exciting, suspenseful, page-flipping, breath-holding, nerve-jangling, heart palpating read. Holmes thought she and her cohorts had managed to obscure their involvement in the Chateau Vaudrieu case (The Art of Theft) where Moriarty was dealt a significant blow. However, it seems that isn’t the case because they are now being watched – the watchers have even rented two flats near their home. One flat has a view of the front and the other flat has a view of the rear. While they don’t like the watchers, they can deal with them. But then, Moriarty himself makes an appearance and asks for Charlotte’s help. Heavens, how she’d love to decline! Since she cannot safely decline the request, she’ll just have to accept and then be alert for whatever behind-the-scenes machinations he is performing. Has Moriarty, now known as Mr. Baxter, finally ensnared the brilliant Sherlock Holmes?

Moriarty’s request is that Holmes travel to the Garden of Hermopolis in Cornwall and assure that his daughter is well. Holmes knows there is more to the request than meets the eye, but she, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, and Mr. Mears leave for Cornwall the very next day. There are some strange goings-on at the Garden and Holmes begins to worry that something sinister may have happened to the young woman. Things get stranger and stranger before Holmes is finally allowed to see a pale, wan, but otherwise healthy-looking Miss Baxter. Relieved, Holmes and her crew leave for London and communicate the good news to their employer.

When that news is met with another demand for services, Charlotte knows there is much, much more to the request than it seems. This time, one of Moriarty’s minions hasn’t been heard from in several months and Moriarty wants Holmes to find out what has happened to him. It doesn’t take Holmes very long to figure out what Moriarty is up to, but thwarting him will depend on the cooperation of a number of other people. Can they pull it off? Can they make Moriarty think he’s won – without actually letting him do so? Can they keep both Holmes and Moriarty’s daughter safe?

We haven’t left Olivia, Charlotte’s sister, and Mr. Marbleton out of the story, they just play smaller roles. While the roles may be smaller, they are pivotal to the characters and probably to future books. I had hoped the Moriarty thing would be solved within the first half-dozen or so books, but he’s still there. I’d at least like to see him get a major set-down so the characters who are currently living in fear can breathe a little easier for a while – especially poor Mr. Marbleton.

My advice is to quit reading this review and begin reading the book. Once you do, you won’t be able to put it down, so have everything you’ll need within an arm’s reach. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Once a Laird by Mary Jo Putney

On By TracyIn OtherLeave a comment

Once a Laird (Rogues Redeemed, #6)Once a Laird by Mary Jo Putney

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues Redeemed, #6

Release Date: October 26, 2021

After years of wandering and avoiding his home, Kai Douglas Ramsey is called home from Constantinople to Scotland to assume his responsibilities as Laird of Thorsay, as his grandfather is dying. Ramsey left Thorsay over a decade ago after the death of his one and only love, Gisela Matheson, and has led a life full of adventure, which included being held prisoner and barely escaping death with four other men in Portugal and helping one of those men rescue abducted women from a harem! But now he must put his wandering behind him and return home to fulfill his promises and face his memories. When he arrives he is greeted by Signy Matheson, Gisela’s younger sister, and is happy to learn his grandfather still lives but is surprised by the cold reception from Signy.

Signy has been harboring anger towards Ramsey for years, as she blames him for the death of her sister. But once Ramsey confronts her about her hostile demeanor, she realizes he had no idea how Gisela died and that his grief upon learning the truth is real. They end up comforting each other and true friendship blooms. Sadly, Ramsey’s grandfather dies not long after he arrives, but manages to tell Ramsey to trust Signy and goes a step further and tells him to marry her. An idea that seems ridiculous, until they spend more time together. And soon Ramsey knows that his grandfather was right, Signy is the perfect woman for him, now he just has to convince her!

This was a well-written, nicely-paced, gentle read. The book has a lot going on, secrets, surprising discoveries, treasure, very mild love scenes, cameos from the other “Rogues” and their loves, and a HEA featuring an “It’s a Wonderful Life” type ending. Overall, I liked this book, but I felt the whole Gisela plotline was wrapped up too neatly, and maybe it’s just me, but I felt like there was no way it would have been that easy for anyone to move on that fast. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the relatively angst-free read. This is the final book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problem, but if like me you have been following the series, you will be delighted to catch up with the previous characters. And it is worth noting, this author always has the best author notes and this book is no exception!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*