Charlotte’s success on the RMS Provence has afforded her a certain measure of time and assurance. Taking advantage of that, she has been busy, plotting to prise the man her sister loves from Moriarty’s iron grip.
Disruption, however, comes from an unexpected quarter. Lord Bancroft Ashburton, disgraced and imprisoned as a result of Charlotte’s prior investigations, nevertheless manages to press Charlotte into service: Underwood, his most loyal henchman, is missing and Lord Bancroft wants Charlotte to find Underwood, dead or alive.
But then Lord Bancroft himself turns up dead and Charlotte, more than anyone else, meets the trifecta criteria of motive, means, and opportunity. Never mind rescuing anyone else, with the law breathing down her neck, can Charlotte save herself from prosecution for murder?
Release Date: Jun 25, 2024
Series:Â Lady Sherlock
Book:Â 8
Heat Level: Sensual
Publisher:Â Penguin Group
Imprint:Â BerkleyÂ
Price: $12.99
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The eight story in the Lady Sherlock series and it’s probably one of my favorites.
Let me be very clear, this is not a standalone. I think in the past, I’ve vaguely hinted in my reviews of this series that you could hop into the mystery, but it’s official with book eight that you can’t just read this and know what’s going on. In fact, if you were to read this before the others, I believe you would be disappointed and confused.
It’s also hard for me as a reader to believe that the events from the first book are only a year from the events of this book. The timeline in this series is so compact, where the time between books is so lengthy that I may make 2025 the year I re-read. But I digress.
This book made me smile; it made my eyebrows furrow and my stomach clench, and I won’t lie. I’m so invested in Charlotte Holmes, Mrs. Watson, Livia Holmes, and Charlotte’s lover, Ash. All the characters have my eager support. I want them to succeed, and at times during this story, I wasn’t sure they would. There were twists and turns, but Thomas again does a great job of Charlotte as our dubious narrator. She’s the master of the puppets, and the rest of us are just playing out her story.
What is the story? Charlotte is accused of murder, and not just any, but one of an old enemy, Lord Bancroft. Fancily enough, our dear Charlotte solves not one, not two, but three crimes during this book, and what’s even better is how nothing is a coincidence, and everything ties back to each other. This is another reason to read the previous books, as there are hints and clues that help pave the way, and if you’ve got a photographic memory like Charlotte, you’ll be able to put everything together.
P.S. For us fans of Sherry Thomas in her historical romance days, this book doesn’t disappoint and also gave me enough to make that romance-loving part of me so very happy. Don’t walk; run to the bookstore. Grab your copy. Settle in for a lovely read. Now, I need book nine.
~ Landra
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