Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Berkley Books (2016), 323 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML: USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas turns the story of the renowned Sherlock Holmes upside down. 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 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, 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..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mktoronto
This book took a while to get going but once it did, it moved like a train. I did not see the end coming at all but what a way to bring together so many of the themes of the book. We are introduced to some wonderful women who don't fit into society and try to find their way within it. We are
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treated to a very strong mystery and a wonderful cast of characters. It's amazing the world Sherry Thomas has built - something that tweaks our understanding of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories yet makes the Sherlock we know completely familiar. Just a fantastic book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
So, it turns out Sherlock Holmes is actually the invented alter ego of a woman named Charlotte Holmes. And Charlotte's in a bit of trouble right now because she engineered a sex scandal for herself so her parents couldn't force her to marry, and it ended up being a little too scandalous. If only
It's kind of a fun concept, but it took me a while to get into this one at all. Based on the titles in the "also by this author" list at the front of the book, Sherry Thomas is primarily a romance writer, and boy did the early chapters read a lot like the (admittedly very few) romances I've read. Which, no shade on romance readers, but they're very much not my sort of thing. Fortunately for me, after a few chapters, once we properly get into the mystery plot that's at the heart of the story, I found things a great deal more appealing. Unfortunately, the mystery, while it was definitely interesting, wraps up in ways that I didn't find entirely satisfying. Maybe to some extent it's just me being dumb and not following all the threads carefully enough, but I don't think that's entirely it. I think there are some pretty big not-terribly-succesful leaps here in how things connect.
Also, the way the "Charlotte is Sherlock" conceit is handled is just odd. For about half the book, it's just flat-out not acknowledged in this weirdly coy way, to the extent that the writing completely (and once or twice quite awkwardly) avoids using any pronouns for Sherlock. We've got Charlotte doing her things in one thread of the narrative and Sherlock writing letters to people in another, but frustratingly there's no explanation until quite a long way through about how Charlotte developed this pseudonym and what she's using it for, or anything. And yet, it doesn't seem like it's supposed to be some kind of shocking revelation. Even if it weren't spelled on the back cover blurb, it still wouldn't be the slightest bit surprising.
I will say, I did actually end up enjoying this considerably more than I thought I would in the beginning. But not as much at the end as I thought I would in the middle. Ultimately, it was at least mildly diverting, but I'm almost certainly not going to bother with the next book in the series.
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she could make her own way in the world by solving mysteries...It's kind of a fun concept, but it took me a while to get into this one at all. Based on the titles in the "also by this author" list at the front of the book, Sherry Thomas is primarily a romance writer, and boy did the early chapters read a lot like the (admittedly very few) romances I've read. Which, no shade on romance readers, but they're very much not my sort of thing. Fortunately for me, after a few chapters, once we properly get into the mystery plot that's at the heart of the story, I found things a great deal more appealing. Unfortunately, the mystery, while it was definitely interesting, wraps up in ways that I didn't find entirely satisfying. Maybe to some extent it's just me being dumb and not following all the threads carefully enough, but I don't think that's entirely it. I think there are some pretty big not-terribly-succesful leaps here in how things connect.
Also, the way the "Charlotte is Sherlock" conceit is handled is just odd. For about half the book, it's just flat-out not acknowledged in this weirdly coy way, to the extent that the writing completely (and once or twice quite awkwardly) avoids using any pronouns for Sherlock. We've got Charlotte doing her things in one thread of the narrative and Sherlock writing letters to people in another, but frustratingly there's no explanation until quite a long way through about how Charlotte developed this pseudonym and what she's using it for, or anything. And yet, it doesn't seem like it's supposed to be some kind of shocking revelation. Even if it weren't spelled on the back cover blurb, it still wouldn't be the slightest bit surprising.
I will say, I did actually end up enjoying this considerably more than I thought I would in the beginning. But not as much at the end as I thought I would in the middle. Ultimately, it was at least mildly diverting, but I'm almost certainly not going to bother with the next book in the series.
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LibraryThing member jarichardsonsmyth
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! What a delight! Go read this book, you will not regret it.
In all seriousness. I have been reading suspense and thrillers and was really in the mood for a good police procedural. I was not disappointed. Good detective-ing of a good clean mystery - no sensationalism or goriness -
Happy reading :)
In all seriousness. I have been reading suspense and thrillers and was really in the mood for a good police procedural. I was not disappointed. Good detective-ing of a good clean mystery - no sensationalism or goriness -
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kept me reading way past 10. Thomas's take on Holmes and Watson is wonderfully refreshing. The pace moves quickly, the characters are fun (and thankfully not terribly complex) and the ending let me wanting more - the library copy I have has an exert of the next instalment and I can see I will not be disappointed. I am reserving it now! Happy reading :)
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is a vastly re-imagined version of Sherlock Holmes. In this case, Sherlock is actually Charlotte Holmes, the youngest daughter of a gentleman and his wife. She is something of a favorite of her father in that he is amused by her eccentricities but not enough of a favorite
Previously, to relieve some of her boredom and to exercise her talents and high intelligence, Charlotte had worked through a friend to offer the police insights on certain crimes. Her friend is Lord Ingram Ashburton who happens to be the only man she has ever kissed. Unfortunately, he has entered into a society marriage and is the father of two young children. Even though he and his wife are living a sham of a marriage, his morals don't allow for him to take Charlotte as his mistress which she would like. They have developed a strong friendship though. When she runs away to London, he keeps an eye on her and engineers a meeting with a former member of the demimonde, actress and widow Mrs. John Watson. Mrs. Watson takes Charlotte in as a companion and encourages her to set herself up as a consulting detective.
There are three interconnected crimes that she is working on. The first is the suspicious death of a man who lived a reclusive life but who was connected to society, the second is of another young woman who was also a member of society, and the third was the death of the mother of the young married man who compromised Charlotte. The cases are nicely tricky and provide quite a challenge for Charlotte.
There are many parallels to the original Sherlock Holmes stories with Charlotte as Sherlock, Mrs. Watson playing Dr. Watson as a companion and sounding board. There is even a Mycroft Holmes equivalent in Lord Ingram's older brother Lord Bancroft. The police contact is Inspector Robert Treadles of the Metropolitan Police. What I found particularly interesting was the way the author managed to infuse each of the characters with beliefs of the day and make them each - with the exception of the shadowy Lord Bancroft - well-rounded and fully developed people. This story is firmly set in Victorian England and the characters really act as Victorians.
This was a page turner of a mystery for me. I wanted to know who committed the crimes and why. I also wanted to know that Charlotte would finally find a place for herself that let her use her talents to the fullest. I hope that Charlotte has many further adventures.
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that he feels obligated to keep his word to her. Having expressed her desire to never marry, he agreed to send her to school and finance her quest to become a school mistress when she turned 25. However, when that date came, he reneged and left Charlotte to do something outrageous to take herself off the marriage market. She is caught in flagrante delicto with a married man which ruins her reputation and would have caused her parents to send her away to their country home if she hadn't decided to run away first.Previously, to relieve some of her boredom and to exercise her talents and high intelligence, Charlotte had worked through a friend to offer the police insights on certain crimes. Her friend is Lord Ingram Ashburton who happens to be the only man she has ever kissed. Unfortunately, he has entered into a society marriage and is the father of two young children. Even though he and his wife are living a sham of a marriage, his morals don't allow for him to take Charlotte as his mistress which she would like. They have developed a strong friendship though. When she runs away to London, he keeps an eye on her and engineers a meeting with a former member of the demimonde, actress and widow Mrs. John Watson. Mrs. Watson takes Charlotte in as a companion and encourages her to set herself up as a consulting detective.
There are three interconnected crimes that she is working on. The first is the suspicious death of a man who lived a reclusive life but who was connected to society, the second is of another young woman who was also a member of society, and the third was the death of the mother of the young married man who compromised Charlotte. The cases are nicely tricky and provide quite a challenge for Charlotte.
There are many parallels to the original Sherlock Holmes stories with Charlotte as Sherlock, Mrs. Watson playing Dr. Watson as a companion and sounding board. There is even a Mycroft Holmes equivalent in Lord Ingram's older brother Lord Bancroft. The police contact is Inspector Robert Treadles of the Metropolitan Police. What I found particularly interesting was the way the author managed to infuse each of the characters with beliefs of the day and make them each - with the exception of the shadowy Lord Bancroft - well-rounded and fully developed people. This story is firmly set in Victorian England and the characters really act as Victorians.
This was a page turner of a mystery for me. I wanted to know who committed the crimes and why. I also wanted to know that Charlotte would finally find a place for herself that let her use her talents to the fullest. I hope that Charlotte has many further adventures.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself
Charlotte Holmes refuses to mold herself to society's expectations of who a lady should be. Forced to fend for herself, she becomes entangled in the
Sherlock Holmes is my all-time favorite literary character, and I am always intrigued by twists on the canon. I really enjoyed the nods Thomas gave to canon stories and characters, especially in the last chapter.
I also love strong female protagonists, and Charlotte is very much her own woman. And while she is strong and brilliant, she is also human, allowing her to be easy to relate to as well.
There were way too many characters for me to keep track of. I got confused, especially towards the end, with who was who, and how they were connected. This affected my enjoyment of the solution of the mystery, because I wasn't sure I understood it all.
I had really high expectations for this book, given the positive reviews and accolades I had seen it getting, as well as the subject material. And it just didn't live up to them for me. It's by no means a bad book, but the mystery gets lost among the multitudes of characters and double (and even triple) identities.
I don't plan to be in a rush to pick up the rest of the series, though someday I might return to it in hopes that the author has tightened up the story lines and characters.
Charlotte Holmes refuses to mold herself to society's expectations of who a lady should be. Forced to fend for herself, she becomes entangled in the
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mysteries society tries to hide from the light of day.Sherlock Holmes is my all-time favorite literary character, and I am always intrigued by twists on the canon. I really enjoyed the nods Thomas gave to canon stories and characters, especially in the last chapter.
I also love strong female protagonists, and Charlotte is very much her own woman. And while she is strong and brilliant, she is also human, allowing her to be easy to relate to as well.
There were way too many characters for me to keep track of. I got confused, especially towards the end, with who was who, and how they were connected. This affected my enjoyment of the solution of the mystery, because I wasn't sure I understood it all.
I had really high expectations for this book, given the positive reviews and accolades I had seen it getting, as well as the subject material. And it just didn't live up to them for me. It's by no means a bad book, but the mystery gets lost among the multitudes of characters and double (and even triple) identities.
I don't plan to be in a rush to pick up the rest of the series, though someday I might return to it in hopes that the author has tightened up the story lines and characters.
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LibraryThing member PardaMustang
**This book was reviewed for the Manhattan and Seattle Book Reviews**
Thomas’ A Study in Scarlet Women is a unique reimagining of the tales of the Great Detective. Charlotte Holmes is a young lady born to aristocratic Victorian Age parents. As such, she is expected to find a suitable marriage
A failed promise on her father's part has Charlotte taking matters into her own hands, and soon estranged by choice from her family. She takes up with a former actress, a Mrs Watson, who soon finds use for Charlotte's quick mind. Under the assumed name of ‘Sherlock’ (close enough to Charlotte, and not the masculine equivalent), she begins to take cases from clients, using her skills to help them. Charlotte has already had some success in aiding Scotland Yard, via letters from 'Sherlock’, in making headway into a very public profile case.
I found this book somewhat scattered until the point Mrs Watson finds Charlotte. Other than vague hints that make not much sense unless you happened to read the book blurb, no connection is made between Charlotte and Sherlock at first, which just seems odd given that *we already know*. That’s not a big reveal. It's just confusing if, for some reason, you haven't read the back of the cover. Or even if you have… I kept second-guessing if I had read correctly and finally went back and reread the back cover. Another sticky point for me is the method of retaliation Charlotte chose. She's very intelligent. I found it somewhat difficult to believe she wouldn't have worked through all the consequences of these actions, and just chosen to leave the family without all that. Part, I get, is revenge against her parents. Part I can chalk up to sheltered youth. These things almost netted 3*, but the factors below redeemed it.
That being said, I did love it once Charlotte met Mrs Watson. The pace picked up considerably, and the threads drew together. I loved the title’s play on the original A Study in Scarlet, and how that theme kept showing up. I enjoyed matching characters to their Canon compatriots, and seeing how these new relationships worked. I won't give any away here. That was half the fun, for me anyway. I felt this underlying story, though still one of revenge, was so much harsher than Doyle's original, dealing with a crime so dastardly that even hardened criminals, hardened killers, will reap vengeance upon one convicted of such, if thrust into their midst.
🎻🎻🎻🎻 Recommended, especially if you enjoy Holmesian variant stories. I eagerly await the next book!
Thomas’ A Study in Scarlet Women is a unique reimagining of the tales of the Great Detective. Charlotte Holmes is a young lady born to aristocratic Victorian Age parents. As such, she is expected to find a suitable marriage
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match before too many Seasons have run course, else she be doomed to spinsterhood. Charlotte, though, has other plans. For one, the person she truly loves is unattainable. Second, she is highly intelligent, with a quick, inquisitive mind, things seen as undesirable in a wife. A failed promise on her father's part has Charlotte taking matters into her own hands, and soon estranged by choice from her family. She takes up with a former actress, a Mrs Watson, who soon finds use for Charlotte's quick mind. Under the assumed name of ‘Sherlock’ (close enough to Charlotte, and not the masculine equivalent), she begins to take cases from clients, using her skills to help them. Charlotte has already had some success in aiding Scotland Yard, via letters from 'Sherlock’, in making headway into a very public profile case.
I found this book somewhat scattered until the point Mrs Watson finds Charlotte. Other than vague hints that make not much sense unless you happened to read the book blurb, no connection is made between Charlotte and Sherlock at first, which just seems odd given that *we already know*. That’s not a big reveal. It's just confusing if, for some reason, you haven't read the back of the cover. Or even if you have… I kept second-guessing if I had read correctly and finally went back and reread the back cover. Another sticky point for me is the method of retaliation Charlotte chose. She's very intelligent. I found it somewhat difficult to believe she wouldn't have worked through all the consequences of these actions, and just chosen to leave the family without all that. Part, I get, is revenge against her parents. Part I can chalk up to sheltered youth. These things almost netted 3*, but the factors below redeemed it.
That being said, I did love it once Charlotte met Mrs Watson. The pace picked up considerably, and the threads drew together. I loved the title’s play on the original A Study in Scarlet, and how that theme kept showing up. I enjoyed matching characters to their Canon compatriots, and seeing how these new relationships worked. I won't give any away here. That was half the fun, for me anyway. I felt this underlying story, though still one of revenge, was so much harsher than Doyle's original, dealing with a crime so dastardly that even hardened criminals, hardened killers, will reap vengeance upon one convicted of such, if thrust into their midst.
🎻🎻🎻🎻 Recommended, especially if you enjoy Holmesian variant stories. I eagerly await the next book!
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LibraryThing member bookworm2bookworm
Sherry Thomas is one of those authors I pick up to reread when I'm in the slumps. She, along with a handful of authors out there, is one who can weave a tale of romance with élan and keep me coming back for more. Her name alone sold me on this title and as I dug deeper into this story, I was
The first thing that hit me was, how refreshing to have gender reversal of the famous Sherlock Holmes! This story was fascinating from the get-go. It captured my imagination from page one and held me glued to it until the very end.
This is one of those stories that is filled with complex and three-dimensional characters who elevate this story into a fascinating mystery . Its characters are endlessly entertaining and intriguing. The twists and turns in the story are many and I dare you to figure it out before the vary end.
If the name of the author doesn't sell you on this story, I bet the "female" Sherlock Holmes will! LOVED IT!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
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pleasantly surprised at how she weaved this tale in a wholly new genre of the previous tales that I've read from her.The first thing that hit me was, how refreshing to have gender reversal of the famous Sherlock Holmes! This story was fascinating from the get-go. It captured my imagination from page one and held me glued to it until the very end.
This is one of those stories that is filled with complex and three-dimensional characters who elevate this story into a fascinating mystery . Its characters are endlessly entertaining and intriguing. The twists and turns in the story are many and I dare you to figure it out before the vary end.
If the name of the author doesn't sell you on this story, I bet the "female" Sherlock Holmes will! LOVED IT!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
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LibraryThing member Stewartry
Sherlock Holmes is kind of like a chocolate chip cookie. There's a basic recipe which has been around forever and which everyone loves. (Well, I don't love the original, but work with me here.) And people can never, ever resist taking that basic original recipe and playing with it – there are
Here, though, Sherry Thomas takes the basic recipe, pulls it apart, and puts it back together again (with some new additions) so that I don't even know what to do with the metaphor: Sherlock Holmes is actually Charlotte Holmes, disgraced noblewoman.
The book didn't start well. Charlotte's disgrace comes about because she is tired of the nuisance of her parents' constant attempts to push her into the marriage market. Uninterested, wishing to spend her time as she likes, she makes herself ineligible for a good marriage via a plan which is coolly and logically thought out – and which made my jaw drop with its sheer stupidity.
'Course, it might not have been so dumb if things had gone to plan. She is taken by surprise, and in such a way that her life could never be what it was – which was a bit ironic, since one of her motivations in taking a step to avoid marriage was to continue on much as she had. But with a violent father and a reputation in tatters, she was forced to strike off on her own. Unfortunately, she had no saleable skills, little money, and that soiled reputation, and she floundered, until she had an encounter with a woman who would change her life.
One drawback, for me at least, to this kind of retelling is that I keep looking for all the landmarks of the original tale. The description of Charlotte as resembling "a foreigner who found native customs baffling and, on occasion, patently ridiculous" rang true. Oh, look – Baker Street. Ah, Watson. "My niece… moved to Paris to study medicine" – hmmm … Doctor Watson? I find it detracts from the story I'm actually reading when I can't stop tracking it against others.
I made a note in the middle somewhere that Charlotte's crutch is food, rather than the cocaine Holmes relies upon. And I'm trying to decide whether that works or not. Doyle foresaw the same sort of problem rock stars have faced since touring became a thing – once the high of performance, the constant work and activity, instant feedback, cheering crowds, noise and energy is ended for the time being, it leaves a craving, and without more work on hand the only recourse seems to be drugs. Holmes injects a seven-percent solution to compensate – and Charlotte sits down to tea. "The butter disappeared into the soft, spongy interior of the warm roll. Such a sight had always comforted Charlotte before—and turned her mind blissfully empty when she bit into it." (I'll give you a moment to cool off from such explicit food porn. Fan yourself. Go get a roll of your own if you have to. Or a chocolate chip cookie.) Was it this kind of oblivion that Holmes looked for in the ampoule? But sugar and cholesterol are not very beneficial to thought processes …
The writing was not entirely reliable. There were a few moments I stopped to look at a word used in a way I did not expect (example: "You will regret it relentlessly" just doesn't seem correct). The main annoyance I found, though, was an odd recurrence of "and how". This is a phrase I associate with kids of the fifties and sixties – think Opie Taylor. Yet here is the tale of a young lady of late 1800's London, and … "Charlotte never thought she'd salivate over a cup of tea—and how." (According to Merriam Webster the first known use was 1865; another website says 1924 and calls it an Americanism. Not to disparage Merriam Webster, but I'm with phrases.org on this one.)
So … I don't know. It was an entertaining take on the Holmes legend, but it was jarring in some ways to try to fit the two together. I enjoyed it, mostly … but I'm not rushing out to get the rest of the series. We'll see.
And in case you're wondering, as I did, the Wheatstone machine was an early telegraph. Which was kind of obvious in context.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
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hundreds of variations. Some add ingredients – here's Sherlock Homes vs. Jack the Ripper. Some swap out one kind of chip for another – Watson's a woman! Some go gluten-free or dairy-free or sugar-free – Holmes in the 21st century. And some change the focus to one flavor or another – Mrs. Hudson is the main character, or Irene Adler. (Some add nuts – "I'm a high-functioning sociopath"…) Here, though, Sherry Thomas takes the basic recipe, pulls it apart, and puts it back together again (with some new additions) so that I don't even know what to do with the metaphor: Sherlock Holmes is actually Charlotte Holmes, disgraced noblewoman.
The book didn't start well. Charlotte's disgrace comes about because she is tired of the nuisance of her parents' constant attempts to push her into the marriage market. Uninterested, wishing to spend her time as she likes, she makes herself ineligible for a good marriage via a plan which is coolly and logically thought out – and which made my jaw drop with its sheer stupidity.
'Course, it might not have been so dumb if things had gone to plan. She is taken by surprise, and in such a way that her life could never be what it was – which was a bit ironic, since one of her motivations in taking a step to avoid marriage was to continue on much as she had. But with a violent father and a reputation in tatters, she was forced to strike off on her own. Unfortunately, she had no saleable skills, little money, and that soiled reputation, and she floundered, until she had an encounter with a woman who would change her life.
One drawback, for me at least, to this kind of retelling is that I keep looking for all the landmarks of the original tale. The description of Charlotte as resembling "a foreigner who found native customs baffling and, on occasion, patently ridiculous" rang true. Oh, look – Baker Street. Ah, Watson. "My niece… moved to Paris to study medicine" – hmmm … Doctor Watson? I find it detracts from the story I'm actually reading when I can't stop tracking it against others.
I made a note in the middle somewhere that Charlotte's crutch is food, rather than the cocaine Holmes relies upon. And I'm trying to decide whether that works or not. Doyle foresaw the same sort of problem rock stars have faced since touring became a thing – once the high of performance, the constant work and activity, instant feedback, cheering crowds, noise and energy is ended for the time being, it leaves a craving, and without more work on hand the only recourse seems to be drugs. Holmes injects a seven-percent solution to compensate – and Charlotte sits down to tea. "The butter disappeared into the soft, spongy interior of the warm roll. Such a sight had always comforted Charlotte before—and turned her mind blissfully empty when she bit into it." (I'll give you a moment to cool off from such explicit food porn. Fan yourself. Go get a roll of your own if you have to. Or a chocolate chip cookie.) Was it this kind of oblivion that Holmes looked for in the ampoule? But sugar and cholesterol are not very beneficial to thought processes …
The writing was not entirely reliable. There were a few moments I stopped to look at a word used in a way I did not expect (example: "You will regret it relentlessly" just doesn't seem correct). The main annoyance I found, though, was an odd recurrence of "and how". This is a phrase I associate with kids of the fifties and sixties – think Opie Taylor. Yet here is the tale of a young lady of late 1800's London, and … "Charlotte never thought she'd salivate over a cup of tea—and how." (According to Merriam Webster the first known use was 1865; another website says 1924 and calls it an Americanism. Not to disparage Merriam Webster, but I'm with phrases.org on this one.)
So … I don't know. It was an entertaining take on the Holmes legend, but it was jarring in some ways to try to fit the two together. I enjoyed it, mostly … but I'm not rushing out to get the rest of the series. We'll see.
And in case you're wondering, as I did, the Wheatstone machine was an early telegraph. Which was kind of obvious in context.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
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LibraryThing member musichick52
This author gives us the first volume of a gender-switcheroo on the Sherlock Holmes legend. Holmes is a young woman, who fell from society's grace as a teenager, is an embarrassment to her family and is shunned by the locals. In her twenties, she teams up with Watson, an older woman of even
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sketchier reputation and a Scotland Yard Inspector, Treadles (a anagram of Lestrade), to solve a mystery involving the poisoning of three seemingly unrelated individuals. At the end of the tale, the name Moriarty is mentioned in passing, leaving us with a new character for the next installment. The concept is fun and I thank the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member dorie.craig
I really enjoyed this take on the Sherlock stories. Looking forward to the next book.
LibraryThing member mnm123
A wonderful new take on Sherlock Holmes. The characters are fun and exciting. The story is intriguing and keeps you guessing. This is the first book in a new series and I am eager to read more.
LibraryThing member ethel55
After a bit of a slow beginning, I wound up really enjoying this look at Sherlock Holmes as a woman during the Victorian age in England. I consider myself a nominal fan of the actual Sherlock Holmes, but have become somewhat addicted to checking out these re-workings of the actual stories.
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Charlotte's eccentricities growing up are barely tolerated by her mother and somewhat fondly looked upon by her father, but he still plays to social norms and won't release Charlotte to the world as you would a young man. Thomas seems to excel in bits of historical detail--obviously a woman masquerading as a sort of detective can't be seen out in public doing much investigating. Enter Inspector Treadles for the legwork and her childhood friend Lord Ingram for introduction to that upper class world. The three separate deaths are painstakingly researched by police and the book moves more quickly toward the end, as everything reaches a final conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
Charlotte is a woman ahead of her times. She has a talent for observation and discernment, but cannot fully utilize her abilities due to the unfortunate fact that she is woman. However, being the exceptional woman that she is, she does not let that stop her from seeking that which she desires. What
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she does not desire is a husband. She makes a bargain with her father that he will pay for her schooling when she reaches the age of 25, if she has not yet found a husband after making an effort to do so. When he reneges on his promise, she devises “The Plan” which does not have the results she expected. Thus begins an adventure comparable to that of the original Holmes series. A refreshing turn on the male-oriented Holmes saga, this novel, masterfully written with delightful characters, is wonderfully entertaining. While tying in aspects of Doyle’s series, it is nevertheless an inventive and new creation in its own right. A great start to what surely will be a captivating mystery series. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgknighton
Strong entry to the series. What do you do if your female in Victorian London, have a brain or talent, and nowhere to use it? You could create a male alter ego to let you go where you otherwise couldn't. Even if that was never your intent.
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in the lady Sherlock series and I had been wanting to read it for some time. This was an okay book but a bit uneven. Some parts of the story I enjoyed, others were overly long and boring.
I listened to this on audiobook and Kate Reading always does an amazing job with
The story jumps between Charlotte Holmes and the Inspector she occasionally sends clues to. I liked the mystery and the setting and some of the characters were interesting. The transitions between characters were fairly abrupt, I was listening to this on audiobook and would sometimes miss that we had switched POV. It got a bit confusing at points.
The story could have used better pacing as well. Some of the parts with the Inspector questioning people got very long and I would have liked to spend more time with Charlotte. There are also a ton of names thrown at the reader rather quickly which lead to some additional confusion for me.
Overall this was an okay read. I did like the idea behind the story but the execution was just a bit too uneven and inconsistent for me. I don't plan on continuing the series.
I listened to this on audiobook and Kate Reading always does an amazing job with
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narration. If you enjoy audiobooks I would definitely recommend picking this up on audiobook.The story jumps between Charlotte Holmes and the Inspector she occasionally sends clues to. I liked the mystery and the setting and some of the characters were interesting. The transitions between characters were fairly abrupt, I was listening to this on audiobook and would sometimes miss that we had switched POV. It got a bit confusing at points.
The story could have used better pacing as well. Some of the parts with the Inspector questioning people got very long and I would have liked to spend more time with Charlotte. There are also a ton of names thrown at the reader rather quickly which lead to some additional confusion for me.
Overall this was an okay read. I did like the idea behind the story but the execution was just a bit too uneven and inconsistent for me. I don't plan on continuing the series.
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LibraryThing member BarbaraRogers
What an idiot I am! I am not normally a fan of ‘take off’ books, so I had totally skipped reading this series until a friend whose opinion I value, highly recommended it. I am totally, and completely blown away! This isn’t a ‘take off’ of Sherlock Holmes – this is a total reimagining
Charlotte Holmes is the youngest of four daughters. Her parents are of the aristocratic poor variety. Her older sister is married and the next older one will never be able to care for herself because of mental impairments. That just leaves Charlotte and her older sister Livia living at home. The whole family is very eccentric, but Charlotte is definitely the most eccentric of the lot. She didn’t speak until she was four because she didn’t have anything important to say and her first words were to solve a puzzle the rest of her family was looking at and trying to figure out. Everyone was astonished and when asked why she hadn’t spoken before, she told them that she hadn’t had anything important to say before then. Charlotte isn’t a fan of touching, hugging or talking, so she’s a bit hard to deal with, but to Livia, she is wonderful.
Charlotte is also her father’s pet and he spoils her rotten. He was vastly amused by her combination of great intelligence, great oddity, and great silence. On the other hand, her mother was overbearing, imperious, and cold. Neither parent really loves their children as they should – it is all about what those children can do to benefit the parents. Charlotte's mother despairs of her ever becoming a proper young lady who is acceptable to society.
I’ll not tell you all about Charlotte because this review would get much too long – and – besides – you need to read the book to find out all of the details about her – especially when she was a young child. This book takes a fair and appropriate amount of time to show you who Charlotte is and her development from a mute 4-year-old to being renowned as one of the best minds of a generation.
While Charlotte is extremely brilliant, her judgment isn’t necessarily always brilliant. She is a very young woman with no world experience at all. She’s made it plain to her family – all of her life – that she has no intentions of marrying. So, her father makes a pact with her – learn to be a young lady, participate in the Season and if, by the age of twenty-five she still hasn’t found someone she wishes to marry, he’ll send her to school to prepare her for her chosen field. Livia has told her all along that her father will not honor that promise – and Charlotte knows that is a probability – but when the actuality of it presents itself, Charlotte makes a grievous error. Then she is ruined – and she is on the street and on her own.
As Charlotte searches for lodging and employment, she learns some real truths about living on her own. It doesn’t deter her, but she gets smarter about things. Then she meets Mrs. Watson who offers Charlotte employment as her paid companion, Charlotte immediately accepts. Mrs. Watson is a wonderful character and is so much fun to read. Together, she and Charlotte come up with a way that Charlotte can earn money by helping to solve ‘mysteries’ for people without them realizing it is a female doing it.
While all of that is going on, the mother of the man who ruined Charlotte is found dead. Just before that death, the woman her father had once proposed to also dies – but they seem like natural deaths. When Charlotte notices the third death in the paper, her encyclopedic memory cycles through all of the connections of the ton and realizes that the three are probably not natural and are all related. She writes a letter (as Sherlock Holmes) to the coroner of the latest death connecting the three and asking them not to declare it a natural death.
Inspector Treadles from Scotland Yard is dispatched to begin the investigation. The investigation is slow going and the deadline for providing the evidence is looming. Can Treadles put it all together? He hates to continue to consult with Sherlock (in writing), but he needs Sherlock’s unique insights.
I haven’t mentioned Lord Ingram yet. He and Charlotte have been friends since they were children and they have a really unique relationship. They love each other and probably have since they were children – but they came to know that too late. Lord Ingram is married – unhappily, but married none-the-less. He is very, very proper and would never act on his love for Charlotte (even though she tries to seduce him), but he will do his very best to protect her. ** I just know that in some future book, the wife will be gone and Charlotte and Lord Ingram will be together **
There is a lot more happening during this investigation and lots of wonderful supporting characters are either introduced or mentioned. I’ve mentioned Livia and Mrs. Watson, but we also get Lord Bancroft (a play on Mycroft?) who is Lord Ingram’s brother and also the head of the spy agency for England. We hear mention of Moriarty, but don’t see him and we meet the Marbletons.
This is a wonderful book. The characters are unique, likable, and engaging. The mystery is well done, the pacing is excellent and I love the ‘nods’ to the original Sherlock. For instance, I wonder how long it took her to rearrange the letters in LeStrade to get Treadles. Then there is the Bancroft/Mycroft thing, etc.
I highly recommend this series!
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– flip it on its head and make it the author’s own book. I haven’t ever read anything by this author, but that is quickly changing – I have already bought all of the published books in this series and plan to read them in rapid order and then wait, impatiently, for each new release.Charlotte Holmes is the youngest of four daughters. Her parents are of the aristocratic poor variety. Her older sister is married and the next older one will never be able to care for herself because of mental impairments. That just leaves Charlotte and her older sister Livia living at home. The whole family is very eccentric, but Charlotte is definitely the most eccentric of the lot. She didn’t speak until she was four because she didn’t have anything important to say and her first words were to solve a puzzle the rest of her family was looking at and trying to figure out. Everyone was astonished and when asked why she hadn’t spoken before, she told them that she hadn’t had anything important to say before then. Charlotte isn’t a fan of touching, hugging or talking, so she’s a bit hard to deal with, but to Livia, she is wonderful.
Charlotte is also her father’s pet and he spoils her rotten. He was vastly amused by her combination of great intelligence, great oddity, and great silence. On the other hand, her mother was overbearing, imperious, and cold. Neither parent really loves their children as they should – it is all about what those children can do to benefit the parents. Charlotte's mother despairs of her ever becoming a proper young lady who is acceptable to society.
I’ll not tell you all about Charlotte because this review would get much too long – and – besides – you need to read the book to find out all of the details about her – especially when she was a young child. This book takes a fair and appropriate amount of time to show you who Charlotte is and her development from a mute 4-year-old to being renowned as one of the best minds of a generation.
While Charlotte is extremely brilliant, her judgment isn’t necessarily always brilliant. She is a very young woman with no world experience at all. She’s made it plain to her family – all of her life – that she has no intentions of marrying. So, her father makes a pact with her – learn to be a young lady, participate in the Season and if, by the age of twenty-five she still hasn’t found someone she wishes to marry, he’ll send her to school to prepare her for her chosen field. Livia has told her all along that her father will not honor that promise – and Charlotte knows that is a probability – but when the actuality of it presents itself, Charlotte makes a grievous error. Then she is ruined – and she is on the street and on her own.
As Charlotte searches for lodging and employment, she learns some real truths about living on her own. It doesn’t deter her, but she gets smarter about things. Then she meets Mrs. Watson who offers Charlotte employment as her paid companion, Charlotte immediately accepts. Mrs. Watson is a wonderful character and is so much fun to read. Together, she and Charlotte come up with a way that Charlotte can earn money by helping to solve ‘mysteries’ for people without them realizing it is a female doing it.
While all of that is going on, the mother of the man who ruined Charlotte is found dead. Just before that death, the woman her father had once proposed to also dies – but they seem like natural deaths. When Charlotte notices the third death in the paper, her encyclopedic memory cycles through all of the connections of the ton and realizes that the three are probably not natural and are all related. She writes a letter (as Sherlock Holmes) to the coroner of the latest death connecting the three and asking them not to declare it a natural death.
Inspector Treadles from Scotland Yard is dispatched to begin the investigation. The investigation is slow going and the deadline for providing the evidence is looming. Can Treadles put it all together? He hates to continue to consult with Sherlock (in writing), but he needs Sherlock’s unique insights.
I haven’t mentioned Lord Ingram yet. He and Charlotte have been friends since they were children and they have a really unique relationship. They love each other and probably have since they were children – but they came to know that too late. Lord Ingram is married – unhappily, but married none-the-less. He is very, very proper and would never act on his love for Charlotte (even though she tries to seduce him), but he will do his very best to protect her. ** I just know that in some future book, the wife will be gone and Charlotte and Lord Ingram will be together **
There is a lot more happening during this investigation and lots of wonderful supporting characters are either introduced or mentioned. I’ve mentioned Livia and Mrs. Watson, but we also get Lord Bancroft (a play on Mycroft?) who is Lord Ingram’s brother and also the head of the spy agency for England. We hear mention of Moriarty, but don’t see him and we meet the Marbletons.
This is a wonderful book. The characters are unique, likable, and engaging. The mystery is well done, the pacing is excellent and I love the ‘nods’ to the original Sherlock. For instance, I wonder how long it took her to rearrange the letters in LeStrade to get Treadles. Then there is the Bancroft/Mycroft thing, etc.
I highly recommend this series!
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LibraryThing member Kathl33n
DNF @ 101 pages. I was excited to read this and had it on my To Read list for quite some time. Unfortunately the read was just too discombobulated for me to enjoy. It was shifting time periods and POVs very awkwardly - it felt a bit schizophrenic. And ultimately I wasn't able to discern any kind of
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plot. I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member ivydtruitt
A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is the promising start to a clever twist on the Sherlock Holmes character.
As a staunch Holmes fan, there are places I simply can’t go with Holmes inspired books, movies, and TV shows. The new PBS Sherlock works for me because it’s been updated, placing Holmes in modern
Ms. Thomas’ take on Holmes keeps the essential elements that make Sherlock such an enduring and compelling character, while adding her own thoughtful and well played gender twist on both Holmes and Watson.
Charlotte Holmes’ looks belie the brain behind them. The effort she has to make to be socially acceptable with her family and society at large add depth and authenticity to her character. While her brain is superlative, some of her actions and conclusions reveal her naivete. This is where the Mrs. Watson’s character comes into play. As a member of the demimonde she possesses the worldly knowledge Charlotte lacks as well as moving on the fringes of the same social circles without being as stifled by the societal strictures of the time.
Granted, there were a few issues typical to first books in a series, but they were minor and not enough to putt me off. The biggest question I have is, “how long will they be able to pull off the charade?”
A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN struck me as inventive and fresh feeling; truly enjoyable, entertaining, and fun. I’m sincerely looking forward to the follow-up.
Reviewed for Miss Ivy’s Book Nook and Novels Alive TV
As a staunch Holmes fan, there are places I simply can’t go with Holmes inspired books, movies, and TV shows. The new PBS Sherlock works for me because it’s been updated, placing Holmes in modern
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settings and doesn’t attempt to compete with what I consider the quintessential Holmes portrayal by Jeremy Brett. The books work when they don’t, per say, focus on Holmes or make him something he wasn’t meant to be. Michael Kurland’s “Moriarty” series and Quinn Fawcett’s “Mycroft Holmes” series springs to mind. Two excellent Holmes inspired series.Ms. Thomas’ take on Holmes keeps the essential elements that make Sherlock such an enduring and compelling character, while adding her own thoughtful and well played gender twist on both Holmes and Watson.
Charlotte Holmes’ looks belie the brain behind them. The effort she has to make to be socially acceptable with her family and society at large add depth and authenticity to her character. While her brain is superlative, some of her actions and conclusions reveal her naivete. This is where the Mrs. Watson’s character comes into play. As a member of the demimonde she possesses the worldly knowledge Charlotte lacks as well as moving on the fringes of the same social circles without being as stifled by the societal strictures of the time.
Granted, there were a few issues typical to first books in a series, but they were minor and not enough to putt me off. The biggest question I have is, “how long will they be able to pull off the charade?”
A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN struck me as inventive and fresh feeling; truly enjoyable, entertaining, and fun. I’m sincerely looking forward to the follow-up.
Reviewed for Miss Ivy’s Book Nook and Novels Alive TV
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LibraryThing member witchyrichy
A driving trip as well as a warning from Audible about losing a credit sent me browsing the book selection. I found A Study in Scarlet Women, the first in a new series by Sherry Thomas, in which Sherlock Holmes is the alias of Charlotte Holmes. The latter, in an effort to blackmail her father into
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The narrator was clear and entertaining and it was fun to see the thread of Conan Doyle brought together in a new way. Watson shows up in an innovative way and by the end, there are plans for writing the Holmes' stories.
Not sure I'll stick with this series but the first book was an ingenious take on the original mysteries.
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supporting her education, takes a drastic step only to find herself shamed and penniless. Charlotte eventually finds her niche as Mr. Holmes and in the midst of helping people with minor mysteries, solves a larger one related to several deaths. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The narrator was clear and entertaining and it was fun to see the thread of Conan Doyle brought together in a new way. Watson shows up in an innovative way and by the end, there are plans for writing the Holmes' stories.
Not sure I'll stick with this series but the first book was an ingenious take on the original mysteries.
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LibraryThing member MM_Jones
The plot is a bit thin, but overall an amusing read. Historical mystery, first book in the planned Lady Sherlock series. Too much of a romance novel to please true Conan Doyle fans.
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
A Study in Scarlet Women
5 Stars
Ostracized from society, Charlotte Holmes is forced to fend for herself on the street of London, but is still able to make use of her formidable mind by aiding the police, under the guise of Sherlock Holmes, in the investigation of three seemingly unrelated
Charlotte is an intriguing and endearing heroine, and the murder mystery is compelling with lots of surprising revelations. While it is possible to follow the clues along with Charlotte and figure out some of the aspects of the crime, some of the smaller details still escaped me, which only added to my enjoyment of the story.
The secondary characters are exceedingly well developed. Whether it be the victims, the suspects, the investigators or the members of her Charlotte's family, each individual plays an important role in contributing to the evolution of the plot.
In terms of the romance, while the possibility of one exists (Charlotte and her potential love interest certainly have a great deal of chemistry), it is still very remote at this point and it will be interesting to see where Thomas takes it.
Figuring out the numerous allusions to the original tales and characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is an additional highlight, but it is the unique twist that Thomas employs with them that make the story all the more engaging.
In sum, a fantastic beginning to this historical mystery series and I look forward to continuing with it.
5 Stars
Ostracized from society, Charlotte Holmes is forced to fend for herself on the street of London, but is still able to make use of her formidable mind by aiding the police, under the guise of Sherlock Holmes, in the investigation of three seemingly unrelated
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deaths.Charlotte is an intriguing and endearing heroine, and the murder mystery is compelling with lots of surprising revelations. While it is possible to follow the clues along with Charlotte and figure out some of the aspects of the crime, some of the smaller details still escaped me, which only added to my enjoyment of the story.
The secondary characters are exceedingly well developed. Whether it be the victims, the suspects, the investigators or the members of her Charlotte's family, each individual plays an important role in contributing to the evolution of the plot.
In terms of the romance, while the possibility of one exists (Charlotte and her potential love interest certainly have a great deal of chemistry), it is still very remote at this point and it will be interesting to see where Thomas takes it.
Figuring out the numerous allusions to the original tales and characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is an additional highlight, but it is the unique twist that Thomas employs with them that make the story all the more engaging.
In sum, a fantastic beginning to this historical mystery series and I look forward to continuing with it.
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LibraryThing member hopeevey
holy carp, I NEED the rest of this series! This is the best non-Doyle Holmes story I have ever read.
LibraryThing member karenvg3
It’s a really good thing I have commute reads on audio because my actual reading is nonexistent at the moment. I liked this one but was a bit confused for a majority of the story about who was who. So many names to keep separate. I think actually seeing them in print might have helped. I did like
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how the book progressed and I loved Charlotte ❤️. 🕵🏻♀️🕵🏻♀️🕵🏻♀️🕵🏻♀️ 4 spy ladies for this one! Show Less
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
This first book in the Lady Sherlock series establishes the premise of the series, showing how a young woman named Charlotte Holmes comes to set herself up as a kind of consulting detective under the guise of one "Sherlock" Holmes. As we see how all that is coming about, Charlotte also solves a
I enjoyed the story a good deal, especially the ways it follows various "ruined" or otherwise ostracized women in the late 19th century and explores their options and the strictures under which they lived. The characterization was also good, and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and her sister and between Charlotte andMrs Watson . The callbacks to the Sherlock cannon were fun, and I suspect, being mostly familiar with Holmes through adaptations and not the original source material, that I missed quite a few. The mystery itself was also satisfying, and Thomas has a deft hand at misdirection. If I had any real disappointments in the book, it was that I didn't see much commentary on the Holmes stories within this telling, and that is one of the joys of retellings for me. It also took me a while to figure out that Thomas was telling her own version of a Sherlock-like character and that the "real" Sherlock known to readers of Conan Doyle was never going to show up. The book is really a twist on the idea of Sherlock, not so much on the stories themselves (at least so far), despite the nods to cannon. That was mostly my own idiosyncratic bugaboo (though I did think the story took a little while to get going.) I expect I will carry on with the series at some point.
***For Book Clu
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fairly twisty little mystery. I enjoyed the story a good deal, especially the ways it follows various "ruined" or otherwise ostracized women in the late 19th century and explores their options and the strictures under which they lived. The characterization was also good, and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and her sister and between Charlotte and
***For Book Clu
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Another neat twist in the Holmes Canon with the introduction of Charlotte as an all-knowing deductive agent. Escaping from the thrall of a Victorian mother with a very socially unacceptable action; she is cast out and must make her way in this staid and misanthropic society. We meet some of the
All in all a good start to what promises to be an interesting series.
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usual Holmesian names; Watson, Hudson, and Moriarity as well a familiar venue in Baker Street.All in all a good start to what promises to be an interesting series.
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Awards
NPR: Books We Love (2016)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2016)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-10-18
Physical description
323 p.; 5.45 inches
ISBN
042528140X / 9780425281406
Local notes
With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society. 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.