USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas turns the story of the renowned Sherlock Holmes upside down in the first novel in this Victorian mystery series…. With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society. But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself … outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.
When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her.
But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.
An NPR Best Book of 2016
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I loved this neat little twist on Sherlock being a woman and yet Charlotte is nothing like I imagined, so a great read! Of course a romance reader, I’m also angsting over her and Lord Ingram…sigh!
Sherry Thomas is a awesome author, very articulate and creative. I loved the characters in this book and the following two and there is a fourth coming out later this year. Can’t wait. Try this series for a different look at a fictional icon.
I fell in love with Lady Sherlock! At first I was dubious, thinking it would be a humdrum, predictable “A woman is Sherlock” oh my (snore)—but Sherry Thomas’ creation is beyond original! I have read this first book in the series four times! Then I read the second one four times as well! I’m on a waiting list for the third book, which has just been released. If you enjoy historical mysteries AND Sherlock Holmes, with wit and humor and smart, funny writing, very inrptricate mysteries, danger and romance…..well, get this book and you will love it!
A Study in Scarlet Women is a fun read, and a good read is what it should be. This review is going to be the little different because it is not going to be analyzing only the story in the written word but also the audiobook format. Some novels do not work as well as audiobooks, and this is one of them, unfortunately. As a story it is very cohesive there’s no denying that it has a solid beginning, middle, and end. Moreover, it follows the formula for a Sherlock Holmes stories, developing the mystery as it tells the story while it also capitalizes on those classic tropes that define Holmes. Thomas knows how to channel Holmes and captivate readers by doing so.
However, the way the story moves is quite different from standard Holmes stories. Because Charlotte is living in Victorian England standards, women back then were just supposed to be wives and mothers, maybe even a governess. However, for Charlotte being who she is, it is predictable that she would find an escape route, a loophole that would strip her of her maidenhood and remove her from social standing, letting her be free to live her life the way she wants. However, with her options, limited Charlotte befriends a widow and former actress and starts her investigative service under the pretense that she is Sherlock Holmes sister. So unlike typical Holmes stories that have him visiting the scenes of the crime, Charlotte does not get to, only in rare instances. Instead, she is working off detailed information gathered from everyone else, her intellect and keen perception in order to solve the crimes. So it works enough to keep the story entertaining, to keep it fresh and nonrepetitive. It is an excellent novel; the only issue is the audiobook version of the story.
The audiobook is not as clear as the novel when it comes to POV switches. It is a little confusing and unclear when the narrative switches, almost as if the story is jumping around. Often it is unclear who is talking and where the scene is taking place. The audiobook does not flow as well as the written word which makes it a little deterring.
Despite that this is an excellent novel to read but not to listen to. The story works very well it does flow very well, and it builds up Charlotte as is a compelling female character. It is nice to see if email rendition done on Sherlock Holmes set in the Victorian period versus the modern term. Because it does highlight a lot of feminist equalities does highlight social injustice is in the world through a female narrative from a female perspective.
I love this series. Excellent and engrossing. A real page turner.
I loved this book so much that I’ve gone ahead and bought the next books in the series. I cannot wait to dive further in and experience more adventures with Charlotte Holmes!
This is an excellent book. I had trouble putting it down. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I am glad I stuck with it.
BRILLIANT! I so enjoyed this engaging historical mystery. The idea of a “female” version of Sherlock Holmes is such fun. I was immediately engaged from the beginning. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical mysteries.
I borrowed a copy from the library. I’ve expressed my honest opinion.
I love this series so much!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/I9LVNQ1OKZE
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-a-study-in-scarlet-women-the-lady-sherlock-series-book-1/
I’ve enjoyed the whole series so far. I’ve been a Sherlock Holmes fan since I was a teenager and I like this twist a great deal. Fun read and an engrossing mystery.
Was looking forward to this book and was disappointed. In fact I didn’t finish it nor reach the half way point.
I have been on a bit of a Sherlock Holmes kick lately. I read all the originals and then started reading the updated Holmes stories by other authors. Although I have only read this 1st book in the series, it is my favorite so far. It is not giving anything to say the protagonist (Holmes) is female in this series (It is called the Lady Sherlock series, after all). But, while that is a bit of a twist on the original, it is not what makes this series stand out; there have been other female versions of Holmes before. This character is completely different from all the others. She is not at all convinced of her brilliance–she simply does not think like others think. She is not completely self-sufficient like Holmes, but rather, has other people with skills who compliment hers. I will be reading more of this series.
It was written in the same voice one would expect of a book about Sherlock Holmes. The added plot device of the identity of Sherlock in this book was an added surprise! Very well done. Like eating chocolate.
It took me a bit to really get involved but I did enjoy this. Can’t say what makes it special without truly spoiling it for others.
Imaginative approach to a classic character and though this book takes too long before fully introducing Sherlock and her colleagues I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Great book! Well written and intriguing. There were strong well developed characters with a neat twist on the original Sherlock Holmes. I have read this book and listened to it on Audible several times. Thoroughly enjoyed it..
Strong female character.
Brilliant! I know I’m late to the Sherry Thomas party, but I was excited to see what she would do with the Sherlock Holmes mythology, and her particular spin is memorable and exciting. I adored Charlotte Holmes and her journey. There were a lot of moving parts here, and the author has woven several crimes together with intricacy. Each aspect was written meticulously, and she kept me guessing until the very end. The attention to detail was incredible and I felt completely immersed. I know this one will stay with me for a long time.
I am new to this author and this heroine! I loved the book and her take on “Sherlock Holmes.” I did not read this one first and should have. It explains so much of the next two I did read!
A great twist on the tales of Sherlock Holmes, through the work of a strong detective named Charlotte. She is hired to solve cases throughout the London area, one specifically in which her family are considered suspects. Will Charlotte be able to solve the mystery and clear their names? Throughout the whole story, I was trying to solve the clues of whodunit. I cannot wait to see what other mysteries she will embark on.