Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, investigates a puzzling new murder case that implicates Scotland Yard inspector Robert Treadles in the USA Today bestselling series set in Victorian England. Inspector Treadles, Charlotte Holmes’s friend and collaborator, has been found locked in a room with two dead men, both of whom worked with his wife at the great manufacturing enterprise she has recently … enterprise she has recently inherited.
Rumors fly. Had Inspector Treadles killed the men because they had opposed his wife’s initiatives at every turn? Had he killed in a fit of jealous rage, because he suspected Mrs. Treadles of harboring deeper feelings for one of the men? To make matters worse, he refuses to speak on his own behalf, despite the overwhelming evidence against him.
Charlotte finds herself in a case strewn with lies and secrets. But which lies are to cover up small sins, and which secrets would flay open a past better left forgotten? Not to mention, how can she concentrate on these murders, when Lord Ingram, her oldest friend and sometime lover, at last dangles before her the one thing she has always wanted?
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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 have 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 that 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 at 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.
Quite the Character Solves Quite the Mystery
If you’re new to the Lady Sherlock books, as I was, a sentence on their premise is appropriate. In the series, Sherlock Holmes is the invention of Charlotte Holmes and Mrs. Watson so that the former can practice her trade as a private investigator in a time and place (Victorian England) when a woman would have been ignored. If that sounds like a promising foundation for historical fiction, let me say that author Sherry Thomas in Murder on Cold Street delivers on it fully.
I particularly liked our hero, Charlotte. She’s not constrained by the strict social mores of the time, often being the aggressor in her budding relationship with Lord Ingram Ashburton … although Ash is starting to catch up. She’s adept at reading the emotions of others, even if her own are stunted in most areas except those involving Ash or cake. And her fashion sense is truly outlandish. “Had his retinas not been seared by the Christmas tree dress, her dinner gown would have been the most outlandish thing he witnessed today.” And while that specific sentence may not make it through the final edit of the book, which is set for release on October 6, Charlotte’s audacious look will.
But plot drives mysteries for me, and this one has everything an intelligent whodunit should. At the outset, Inspector Treadles is apprehended in a locked room with two dead men. He’s covered in blood and armed with his service revolver, the apparent murder weapon. And yet, he won’t defend himself. A probable villain soon appears and the primary focus of the mystery shifts to piecing together a timeline and finding motivations. A crime scene that initially seems well contained—an empty house on Cold Street—ends up seeming as busy a subway station at rush hour. But by the end, Holmes, Watson, and their compatriots put it all together. There is even some well-turned commentary on Victorian race relations and a woman’s place in business, all of which resonant well with current times.
My concerns about the book were few and minor. In one case, it seemed that our investigators assumed the importance of a piece of evidence that, in real life, would have probably turned out to be irrelevant. Holmes shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions. As another example, the explanation of how and why two had died in the house felt a bit strained, like a one-in-a-million shot. But overall, the complexity of the situation and the way the pieces came together at the end more than offset these minor issues. Murder on Cold Street is an outstanding read, ready to keep you guessing till the very end.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author (Sherry Thomas), and the publisher (Berkley Publishing Group) for providing a copy of this book. I opted to write this candid review.
I love this series, and how each book within the series is a stand alone, and fascinating, mystery. Sherry Thomas is so good that I sometimes get anxious about the ending, worried that the story won’t end the way I want. But of course Sherry never fails to please. 5 stars!
Another winner by Sherry Thomas. Murder on Cold Street features Inspector Treadles, incarcerated for a double homicide, when he is found in a locked room with two dead bodies, covered in blood. Charlotte Holmes takes us on a convoluted path to the truth with the faithful Mrs. Watson, Miss Redmayne, and of course, our stalwart and handsome hero, Lord Ingram, who has come to a decision about the direction of his life. Miss Holmes continues to cherish cake and solving mysteries, but also begins to recognize her own heart. What a great story!
Murder on Cold Street (Lady Sherlock #5) by Sherry Thomas set in Victorian England is all about murder, intrigue, danger, lies, suspicion and romance. This book in the series plods along as clues are gathered to flesh out what really happened. Delightful characters, the societal aspects of women at the time, an interesting plot, and descriptive writing combine together an entertaining read.
I love this entire series!
Maybe I’m just a sucker for a genius woman making her way in the world despite the obstacles put in her path by her family and society.
Sherry Thomas writes a witty, believable, and fun Charlotte Holmes with Mrs. Watson as a wise sidekick who complements Charlotte’s abilities.
I’ve listened to the audiobooks and the narrator is also wonderful.
The least entertaining of the five books in the Lady Sherlock series.
Well done, all around.
Clever mystery.
Interesting characters.
Various entanglements.
Makes the time, place, and people come alive (unless, of course, they are dead!).
#5 Murder on Cold Street, Lady Sherlock series, by Sherry Thomas.
I love this series– but advise one to start at the beginning to get the full effect of the characters as they evolve. Charlotte’s friend , Inspector Treadle , is imprisoned under suspicion of murdering two men in a locked room. She, Watson, Lord Ingram, and the rest of the cast race to prove his innocence. A terrific read made even better by the narrator!
The Lady Sherlock series continues to satisfy, and author Sherry Thomas has found a winning formula with her mysteries involving Charlotte Holmes, supposedly standing in for her brother Sherlock, who’s bedridden and can’t meet personally with clients. Which is a convenient fiction since there is no Sherlock, just Charlotte, who solves mysteries with the aid of her close friend Mrs. Watson and a slew of helpful (and sometimes not so helpful) friends and relatives.
New readers will want to start with the first book in the series because the characters grow and develop as the stories unfold, but anyone who likes a good mystery and strong, capable women who don’t let the restrictions of Victorian mores hold them back will appreciate these stories.
Love love love LOVE this series, and the latest one is no exception! Daring and brilliant women, sinister men, handsome men at the beck and call of brilliant women…what’s not to love?? I admit, I was a bit worried throughout most of the last half, but I should have had faith in Charlotte Holmes, she is the queen upon the chessboard!!
“Please, Miss Holmes, I don’t know who else to turn to.” (quote from the book)
I slowly savoured this delicious fifth novel in the Lady Sherlock Mystery series…until half way through. I didn’t want to rush it, as I knew I would have to wait a while for the next one. But I was so caught up in it last night, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Thank goodness, I had that extra hour from the clocks turning back!
“Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get worse, you immediately find that yes, indeed, they can. Far, far worse.” (quote from the book)
I strongly recommend starting this series from the beginning with ‘A Study in Scarlet Women’ as each are tightly connected (character development and story threads). It is in this first book we meet Inspector Treadles.
“But the truth had a vicious way of upsetting everything else on its way to the surface.” (quote from the book)
Inspector Treadles has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Locked in a room with two dead bodies and holding a gun certainly would lead one to believe he is the murderer. His wife, Alice, appeals to Miss Holmes for help, not fully disclosing everything. I love Miss Holmes’ ability to observe the nuances and actions of the individuals she is questioning as she slowly unravels the secrets hidden beneath. With the help of Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, and Miss Redmayne, this mystery has many threads that lead them all on a race against the clock. And what an intricate web of lies, secrets and deception that is slowly uncovered, but are they all related and where does it all lead?
“It was more difficult to gauge how much cruelty a man could wield, when that man happened to be charming.” (quote from the book)
However, all is not dark and dreary like the weather. Oh my, there is one scene between Lord Ingram and Miss Holmes that was incendiary! Yes, these two are playing with fire and it was swoon-worthy and enlightening. Bring on the desserts and the fashion Miss Holmes just loves, as she fights to maintain maximum tolerable chins! And I completely understand her falling in love with the ‘tea gown’! Had to look them up to see what lovely confections they were. I love the visuals Ms. Thomas conveys in her writing.
So was there anything I didn’t like? No, not really. I would have enjoyed a scene of Inspector Brighton getting his comeuppance, but I have a feeling we shall be seeing more of him, for I smell a rat. Then again, I may be wrong. I would have loved seeing more of Olivia Holmes, but she had some of her own issues to work out.
I look forward with great anticipation to the next book in this series.
Sherry Thomas writes the most intricate plots, allowing the reader to follow the clues just as they were uncovered by the characters. In this, book five of the Lady Sherlock series, Charlotte’s friend Inspector Treadles is found in a room locked from the inside, holding a gun, with two dead bodies beside him. He’s arrested for murder and his wife solicits the help of Holmes to restore his innocence.
There is a question. Why didn’t the inspector more vigorously proclaim his innocence, laying out everything he knew? Murder was a hanging offence. The author provides a reason, but in my view, it was a weakness in a story which over-all was very enjoyable.
I will read more Lady Sherlocks and I recommend this one.
Another hit Lady Sherlock novel from Sherry Thomas. She never disappoints.
This is book 5 in the Lady Sherlock series and while the author does a great job of bringing you up to speed, I highly recommend you start with book 1 and met all these fabulous characters from the beginning. I can assure you will be glad you did.
Inspector Treadles, Charlotte Holmes’s friend and collaborator, has been found locked in a room with two dead men, both of whom worked with his wife at the great manufacturing enterprise she has recently inherited.
Rumors fly. Had Inspector Treadles killed the men because they had opposed his wife’s initiatives at every turn? Had he killed in a fit of jealous rage, because he suspected Mrs. Treadles of harboring deeper feelings for one of the men? To make matters worse, he refuses to speak on his own behalf, despite the overwhelming evidence against him.
Charlotte finds herself in a case strewn with lies and secrets. But which lies are to cover up small sins, and which secrets would flay open a past better left forgotten? Not to mention, how can she concentrate on these murders, when Lord Ingram, her oldest friend and sometime lover, at last dangles before her the one thing she has always wanted?
This is a must read for fans of great historical mysteries.
The characters are well crafted and engaging with distinctive personalities complete with strengths and foibles. The mysteries complex, with subtle intriguing clues, numerous viable suspects, danger, and suspense, keeping you engaged throughout. The addition of romance, family drama add greatly to the fullness of the story. The setting comes alive with the great narrative. I can hardly wait for the next book in this wonderful series.
I have lots of authors and books that I will often refer to as my “favorites.” I won’t say Sherry Thomas is my favorite author (although she is amazing and gifted) or that any of these books individually is my particular favorite (although I would maim the person who tried to take them from my shelf without permission). But each book and, especially, the series as a whole, is an absolute marvel in a way that put them in a category all alone. This could be my favorite book series. I don’t even quite know what it is, but it’s just brilliant.
Obviously, the characters are always key to any good book and, particularly, to a series. You have to want to revisit them again and again. Charlotte Holmes is a fascinating version of Sherlock filled with surprises. She has all of the traditional Sherlock characteristics – keenly intelligent and observant, but aloof and morally flexible – with a few interesting juxtapositions – a desperate love for cake; frills, bows, and lace; her sister; and Lord Ingram (not necessarily in that order or consistently in any order). In what is now the fifth book in the series, there has been significant growth in her as an individual that has been fascinating to watch. This book in particular revealed saw not just changes in her from beginning to end, but her acknowledgement of those changes and enjoyment of them. This was fueled mostly by her growing relationship with Lord Ingram who has, perhaps, changed the most during the series. Her supporting cast of characters from Mrs. Watson and Miss Redmayne (the doctor of the series) are key to this story as her other usual partner in crime solving, Inspector Treadles is in jail, the subject of the book’s mystery.
Typical of any Sherlock Holmes series, the mysteries are convoluted and filled with misdirection so that it is nearly impossible to piece together any of the solution until the very end. As a reader, all you can do is enjoy the journey. Murder on Cold Street is, in this way, classic Sherlock Holmes as Charlotte herself had few theories until all of the pieces fell into place. Fortunately, we did get a full and accurate retelling from Inspector Treadles of what happened so there are no loose ends.
The only disappointment is that there is no sequel to pick up immediately afterwards for the next installment of Charlotte Holmes and her friends.
Another fun installment of the Lady Sherlock series. I felt like this mystery was a little more “typical murder mystery” than the last couple of books, with less direct physical danger to the main characters during the story and a slightly more straightforward resolution. There was also more progress on the romantic arc (yay!), though much still remains for future installments. This was a satisfying read that left me smiling, and I will await the 6th book as eagerly as I awaited this one.
This was a good book in the vein of Sherlock Holmes. This is the first book by this author I have read and I thought it was very well written. i really liked that it was a female Sherlock Holmes and I loved how she solved the mystery. This book kept me guessing until the end about who did it. I thought this was a great mystery and I will definitely be checking out other books in this series.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.