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’m not a fan of fan fiction, but this book intrigued me on it’s own merits so I read it. And I loved every bit of it. I loved it both as it’s own story and as a spin on Sherlock Holmes. I can’t wait to read more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I started reading with no idea of what to expect. I thought “Sherlock” was guessing when she started tying three unrelated murders to one murderer. Couldn’t be .
The idea was fantastic, I enjoyed the complete discrepancy between the typical idea of what Sherlock Holmes is like, and the ‘reality’ (in this book) that he’s actually Charlotte Holmes, a most fluffy, feminine, young lady. I wasn’t particularly blown away by the execution of the book itself, as far as mysteries went, but worth the read for the concept 🙂
A great take on the Sherlock Holmes theme. I can’t wait for the next one.
Didn’t care for this one, even though I desperately wanted to, being a huge Holmes fan. There were just too many characters and shifting stories to try to follow that I had to stop before it even got to “the good part. I rarely put a book down, but regretfully, this one just didn’t capture my attention enough to be patient with the back-story at they start.
It took me a while to start enjoying this book, in part because of the author’s decision to begin at a moment of crisis, then double-back. Eventually, though, I was glad I’d persisted. This is a surprisingly well-realized, inventive adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
A fun read, with an original twist.
I do get slightly uncomfortable with the anachronistic new trend of beautiful feminist heroines circa 1900.
I really enjoyed this book. What a different take on Sherlock Holmes! Lots of fun trying to figure out what would come next.
Interesting addition to the Holmes cannon. Might read another to see where it goes. Recommend to Holmes fans and fans of period piece lit. with interesting female protagonists.
A different take on the Sherlock Holmes myth.
predictable – needed more interaction between characters
I can’t wait for the second in the series!!!
Loved the premise of this book! Great read!!
As a fan of the character, Sherlock Holmes, I’m always looking for a new take on his stories, and this one is both clever and smartly done. The author covers all the necessary details needed to be convincing in this alternative narrative.
Started out interesting but to much back and forth between key characters I got bored.
I think this is a very poor excuse for a Sherlock Holmes tale. Way too much emphasis on emotions and sex.
Really great twist on the Sherlock Holmes genre.
Disappointed overall. Book offered interesting concept about identities of several Holmes chararacters but a muddled plot. It was difficult to keep characters straight as they waddled through the narrative. And the language was bad attempt at capturing the formality of the times and the Holmesian sound. I found myself thinking “so who cares” or “let’s get on with it” as I plodded through. As always, I wanted know the end so I finished the book. I also finished a historical account of the War of the Roses and a Patricia Cornwell before reaching the last page.(Now the Plantagenets, there is a family that is better than fiction.)
boring
Great period piece with wonderful characters and fine writing.