Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, is back solving new cases in the Victorian-set mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of The Hollow of Fear.As “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork—or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas. But Mrs. … much-coveted canvas.
But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.
Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia’s admirer Stephen Marbleton—everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake…
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Miss Charlotte Holmes and her supporters have a grand adventure in France. It is a wonderfully crafted historical mystery filled with charming and quirky characters. The narrative is well written and allows the reader to visualize the setting and engage in the story. The characters are complex, with multiple layers complete with strengths and weaknesses. The mystery is complicated, filled with multiple storylines, interesting subtle clues, numerous viable suspects, surprising twists and turns, dangerous situations and suspense, holding your interest until the end. I enjoyed the character interactions, drama, continued character development, and romantic overtures. I can hardly wait until the next book.
“And I fear that hers will, in the end, turn out to be the sort of problem that swallows anyone who dares to approach it.” (quote from the book)
‘A traveler from distant lands’ requests the help of Sherlock Holmes in retrieving an important object and then changes their mind. So begins this book that brings together, not only the young Mr. Marbleton, but Livia, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson and the ever unflappable, Charlotte Holmes.
“Her voice was still soft, as soft as a velvet glove around a hand that had just drawn a sword.”
But just as important as retrieving this object, we are given further insight into Mrs. Watson’s past that has come roaring back, Livia’s mindset, and Lord Ingram (Ash) and Charlotte’s ‘friendship’. I loved it all! The development, planning and incredible tension that had me taking deep breaths and wondering how I went from Chapters 12-16 without even realizing it!
“…he was and would continue to be friends with a girl so far from normality she’d need a sextant and an ocean voyage to find it.” (quote from the book)
This novel delves deeper and reveals more secrets. You know Moriarity’s is involved but how? I do recommend that you start at the beginning of this series in order to fully appreciate each of the characters interactions and actions. The writing is wonderful and the mystery well plotted out.
“At least once in his life, he would like for her to look at him as she would a morsel of fine French pastry.” (quote from the book)
I so enjoy this well-written, fascinating series although I’m always impatient for the next novel as soon as I finish the current one…still, it’s always worth the wait!
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Art of Theft” by Sherry Thomas, Berkley Publishing, Oct. 15,2019.
Sherry Thomas, author of “The Art of Theft” has written a unique and entertaining Victorian Historical Mystery. This is a take on “Sherlock Holmes” with Charlotte Holmes acting in the feminine version, with her sister and her friends, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, and Stephen Marbleton, who seems to be hiding from an enemy.. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex and complicated.
Mrs. Watson has a dignified royal friend who seeks Sherlock Holmes help, not realizing that Charlotte is the one that is very intuitive. Mrs. Watson’s friend needs important certain secret papers back and decides to let Charlotte and friends help her. This involves possibly stealing Art or other items that might be hiding these papers during a reception at a fancy mansion. There are twists and turns, secrets, betrayals, blackmail, and threats of murder. Charlotte and her crew are entering at their own risk and danger. It seems there are other interested parties who want this painting and information as well.
There are other books in this series, and truthfully, I was somewhat confused at the beginning of the book about the relationships involved. I did feel a loss and was a little confused at the beginning of the story. I had no idea when I chose this book to read that it was part of a continuing series. I would say that reading the other books would be beneficial. After finishing the story, I would go back and read the other books. Fortunately, the mystery and suspense do get better, and I enjoyed the conclusion of the story. I would recommend this take on “Sherlock Holmes” for readers who enjoy historical mysteries.
The Art of Theft continues the delightful tale of Charlotte Holmes and her attempt to live her life on her own terms at time when that option wasn’t available to women. As a character, Charlotte is fascinating, determined, and brilliant. The supporting characters are also unique, inventive, and charming. The world of Charlotte Holmes is fleshed out well and you will be enraptured with the story from beginning to end.
The story starts out with more of Olivia and I kind of loved that. Her possible suitor is adorable and I hope Olivia figures her self out! Interestingly, this story contains the first time anyone questions the existence of “Sherlock”. I can’t believe it took 4 books for someone to doubt! We also get more of Lord Ingram in this installment and it’s kind of heartbreaking. Each character in the book has a life full of secrets and lies and pain.
Mrs. Watson, Olivia, Lord Ingram, and the other supporting characters add so much to the story. The depth they help create is invaluable to the world of Lady Sherlock. The mystery is complex, as one expects from this series, and I enjoyed seeing everyone’s involvement. The maharani that they assist brings some very interesting drama to the story (and takes them to Paris). However, I felt this book was somehow missing something. Book 3 was SO dramatic and filled with lots of shocking reveals and that momentum wasn’t continued in The Art of Theft. I still loved every minute of the story, but I felt the absence of something.
Kate Reading continues to do a great job with the narration. She has different ‘voices’ for each character and it really feels like a performance of the story.
The Art of Theft
Lady Sherlock Historical Mysteries Series #4
Sherry Thomas
https://m.facebook.com/AuthorSherryThomas/
Release date 10/15/2019
Publisher Berkley
Blurb :
Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, is back solving new cases in the Victorian-set mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of The Hollow of Fear.
As “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork—or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas.
But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.
Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia’s admirer Stephen Marbleton—everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake…
My review :
When Ocean Eleven meets Agatha Christie and Charlie’s Angels …
This is not my usual read but I have heard so many praises for this series that when this book arc went available, I decided to give it a go, even if I do know beginning a series with recurring heroes through the book 4 is far from being a good idea.
At first I thought it would be as the usual sleuth stories with a narrator telling the story from the hero’s side like I have previously read.
How wrong I was, in fact it is an introspective read from multiple points of view.
My first task was to patch the holes about the different relationships and the personality of the various protagonists. Not an easy job regarding Charlotte.
Outside of the main heroine, I liked all the different characters, each with their own agenda but all quite good people with their personal talent.
Mrs Watson is a fantastic woman, she has lived thousands of life and still is willing to help others.
Livia is a woman I hope will find her true voice in what I suppose will be the last installment in this series.
As a romance reader, I am on edge about a potential future with the young Mr Marbleton and the end left me hanging about his own avenir.
Lord Ingram and Charlotte were the more complex to comprehend for me as I learned their long relationship reached a cap in the previous book and that now they are tiptoeing on eggs wondering about going further or not. He, while willing is holding back his own expectations to Charlotte’s decision. And she is weighting if it is worth the risk. Why my feelings about her are ambivalent as I have not all the pieces of the puzzle she is.
In all, it was a fun read seing them plot and anticipate the inane out of their affair with a lot of interaction between the many protagonists.
I do not know if the previous books were about Charlotte working alone with Mrs Watson’s help, but here, it felt more like Lady Sherlock’s Agency with all the different helps.
4,5 stars
I was granted an advance copy through Edelweiss.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/479721142617062?sfns=mo
Series: Lady Sherlock #4
Publication Date: 10/15/19
Number of Pages: 304
Sherry Thomas has done the impossible as far as I am concerned. I am never a fan of re-worked, re-vamped, reimagined lives of fictional characters – except – this author has created a clever, absorbing, fast-paced, interesting newly imagined Sherlock Holmes and I am in awe. The series maintains the shadowy, misty, shivery mood of the original Sherlock series while imbuing it with a bit of humor and showing how women chafe under the societal strictures of the times. The series is filled with mysteries that are filled with unexpected twists and turns, vile villains and yes, of course, romance.
As with all of the earlier books, there are a lot of people populating this book as well as a lot going on. Several romances at different stages, several mysteries and many people at different stages of life and choices. As always, Moriarty is the overarching villain of the book and the series. For me personally, I hope Moriarty is wrapped up fairly quickly and doesn’t haunt all of the books, characters and romances. Yes, I know he was the original Sherlock Holmes nemesis, but since this is a reimagined Sherlock, why can’t he be resolved within the first five or six books?
Sherlock Holmes received a request for a consultation from “A Traveler From Distant Lands”. However, once the person appears for the consultation and realizes that Sherlock is bedridden, she declines to employ him. Later, we discover that the person was a very close friend from Mrs. Watson’s past and she’s really desperate. The client, the Maharani of Ajmer, is being blackmailed by someone who is holding letters that could cause her and her small kingdom a lot of trouble and embarrassment. The letters are hidden behind a Van Dyck painting in the French chateau, Vaudrieu. It seems that the Maharani needs a cat burglar rather than a mystery solver. However, no matter the risk, Mrs. Watson cannot refuse her old friend.
As Charlotte and company investigate, they learn there is much more to the Chateau Vaudrieu than they originally thought. There are plots within plots and very real danger to Charlotte and her friends. When Lady Ingram shows up, we add yet another layer of intrigue to the mystery – not to mention the nasty Moriarty making an appearance. There are so many twists and turns that your head will spin, but our intrepid Charlotte is, as always, up to the challenge.
When we closed the last book, I thought things with Charlotte and Ash would be moving forward quickly, but in this book, they seem to have regressed and are sort of each in their own little worlds again. We also see the romance between Livia and Stephen grow, but it is going to be a very rocky road for the two of them I’m sure.
The set-up for the next book was well done and leaves you breathlessly waiting for the next episode. Excellently done!
BTW — I would recommend reading the series in its entirety rather than reading this book as a stand-alone. If not the entire series, then at least read the first book in the series prior to this one. Otherwise, you just won’t understand – and probably won’t like — Charlotte.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.