Tag: Sherry Thomas

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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Murder On Cold Street by Sherry Thomas

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Murder on Cold Street (Lady Sherlock, #5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lady Sherlock #5
Publication Date: 10/6/20
Number of Pages: 304

I love this series and this book is a wonderful addition to it. I’d like to start by saying that it is my opinion that you need to read this entire series, in order, from beginning to end because Charlotte is a very complex character and her relationships are just as complex – if you don’t read from the beginning you won’t understand her or what drives her. If you start in the middle, you’ll definitely have a different view of her than you would had you begun at the beginning. I believe I have read somewhere that this is to be a ten-book series and this is book five, so we are right in the middle. Each book has an individual mystery which is solved within that book, but there is an overarching mystery with Moriarty – I can’t wait to see that solution, but then the series will be over and I’ll be very sad about that.

Inspector Robert Treadles is definitely a man of his time and place – Victorian England. He firmly believes that it is the role of the male to be the breadwinner, the one in charge – and it is the woman’s role to care for the home and to follow the male’s lead. Those beliefs have been sorely challenged since his association with Charlotte Holmes and his wife’s inheritance of a large manufacturing company. Even in the beginning of their relationship, he was never comfortable with his wife’s higher social standing and wealth – but when she inherited the company – and then decided to actively manage it – well, he wasn’t exactly as supportive as he could have been. Then, several months ago, he started trying to be more supportive. What happened to change his mind and attitude?

This fast-paced, well-written, and exciting mystery begins with Mrs. Treadles paying a visit to the home of Mrs. Watson to speak with Charlotte Holmes – sister to the famed detective Sherlock Holmes. Mrs. Treadles needs Sherlock’s assistance to prove her husband’s innocence because he’s been found in a locked room with two murdered men – and his service revolver. Inspector Treadles won’t explain what happened, not even to his wife. She’s sure he’s innocent – but the evidence is overwhelming. Can Holmes find the evidence to prove him innocent? Or – is he guilty?

The investigation involves the entire cast of recurring characters and unearths things from the past that will haunt Mrs. Treadles, Inspector Treadles and the families of the victims for a very long time. Then, there is Moriarty. Did he have a hand in what happened? Is Holmes any closer to unmasking him?

I loved the growth in the relationship between Charlotte and Lord Ingram. It seems that they are both finally coming to grips with it. I also loved that Charlotte is becoming more caring – more human, rather than totally dispassionate. I can’t wait to see where she goes in the remaining books of the series. What bothered me with the book was the end was just there – suddenly – out of the blue – WHAM – and that solution was so totally improbable. It didn’t keep me from enjoying the book, it just seemed a bit convoluted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you will as well.

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