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This is book one in the series Lady Sherlock.

What a lovely twist on the Sherlock Holmes character. We have Sherlock, in the form of Charlotte Holmes, a disgraced, eccentric, brilliant young woman. There is also Mrs. Watson, who rescued Charlotte from her exile and helped her on the way to becoming a private detective. And of course, Sherlock Holmes would not be complete without Moriarty, in the form of another disgraced lady seeking revenge on her accusers. Charlotte’s unrequited love, Lord Ingram, his brother, Bancroft, and Inspector Treadle complete the ensemble. The title of this book is also a play on the title of a Sherlock Holmes story. I really enjoyed all these “coincidences”.

The author successfully employs sarcasm and wit to bring us this brilliantly written novel. Charlotte is a complex, fascinating character, and I also really like her sister, Livia. All the characters have so much dimension and contribute greatly to the story. The plot moves along quickly, and held my interest until the end. It was pretty complex, but never confusing.

I can highly recommend this if you like historical fiction, with mystery and suspense thrown in. There isn’t much romance, except for the simmering tension between Charlotte and a very married Lord Ingram.

Was I hooked by this book? Yes, for sure.

Genre: Historical, Suspense