I am an absolute sucker for Sherlock Holmes pastiches, so I’ve been reading the Lady Sherlock series as each book comes out, beginning with A Study in Scarlet Women three years ago.

The twist in the Lady Sherlock series is, on the one hand, the change that is made obvious by the series title. In this series, Sherlock Holmes is the fictitious, invalid brother used by Charlotte Holmes to mask the fact that she is the deductive genius who finds missing objects and solves crimes – as well as, in the case of this story – committing them.

But Holmes isn’t the only gender-swapped character in the series. There is no Dr. Watson. Instead, there is the former actress Mrs. Watson. Her husband was the military doctor who served in the Afghan War, as the Dr. Watson of the original canon did.

Mrs. Watson is not, however, the chronicler of “Sherlock” Holmes’ adventures. That duty has been left to Olivia Holmes. Charlotte’s younger sister.

One of the things that makes this series stand out from many other variations on the Holmes theme is not just that many of the roles have been gender-swapped, but that the series does not ignore the many ways that life as a middle or upper-class woman in Victorian England was restricted.

Charlotte’s ruse about her bedridden brother is part and parcel of those restrictions, as is her choice to become a “scarlet woman” in the first book so as to get herself disowned and out from under her parents’ disapproving thumb. A thumb that has all the force of law to hem her life into a tiny straight-jacket of propriety and misery.

Mrs. Watson, as a former actress, was already a scarlet woman when this series began. The case that Holmes and Watson take up in this entry in the series has its roots in her past. Once upon a time, when she was younger and perhaps a bit more foolish, Mrs. Watson fell in love with another woman. A woman who is now the Dowager Maharani of Ajmer. A woman who comes to London to engage Sherlock Holmes’ services in order to thwart her blackmailer – only to discover that there is no Sherlock, only her former lover and a woman who may be a towering genius of deduction but has no experience in breaking and entering.

Because that’s what the job seems to require. Breaking into an invitation-only house party and art auction, with the sole purpose of stealing a valuable painting and the explosive secrets that are concealed within its frame.

But nothing about this case is as it seems. As Charlotte and her team of friends and confidants investigate the mess that the Maharani has gotten herself into, the more that Charlotte realizes that very little about this case is what it seems.

There is much more going on than meets the eye – whether the eye is quicker than the hand or not. This case contains plenty of misdirection – and more than a few magic tricks – on every side. But at its heart there’s danger that none of them ever expected to face – at least not again.

Escape Rating B+: Like the previous entries in this series, I have mixed feelings about The Art of Theft. I’m almost feeling as if there are two books combined into one slightly uneasy combination.

The first part of this one is wrapped up in all of the restrictions faced by genteel women in Victorian England. Even though Charlotte and her sister Olivia are both in their late 20s, both definitely adults, legally they are the property of their father until they marry and become the property of their husbands.

That Charlotte was bloody-minded enough to find a way out of the trap does not mean that she is not affected by the solution she chose – as is Olivia. Their parents have forbidden the sisters to see each other, and while Charlotte is out from under their thumb, Olivia is not. She has no way of making a living for herself, and no freedom except through subterfuge.

It is ironic that Charlotte, Olivia and Mrs. Watson do read as women of their time, but their very necessity of kowtowing to the restrictions of being a woman in their time makes this reader grit her teeth and want the story to just get on with it.

Once they have the bit of the case between their teeth, in spite of all of the insanity that is wrapped around that particular endeavor, the story moves much more quickly, to the point where the reader can’t turn pages fast enough because there’s so much going on. And so much of it seems like “out of the frying pan and into the fire”.

It’s also that once the case gets going, Charlotte’s constant worry about “Maximum Tolerable Chins” gives way to her cold-blooded analytical ability to take what few facts they have and wrestle those facts into a theory that allows them to proceed – and succeed – in their endeavor.

(It seems in this series that the original Sherlock’s drug addiction has been converted to Charlotte’s addiction to rich pastries. It is notable that Sherlock never worried one-tenth as much about his seven-percent solution as Charlotte does her cream buns.)

Back to the case. There were plenty of examples of cases solved by the original Holmes where it takes Holmes’ uncanny ability to pull together disparate and obscure facts with painstaking observations to learn that the case the detective was hired for is not the game that is actually afoot.

And so it proves here. The way that Charlotte Holmes puts together the bits and pieces of what they are hired to do in order to discover what actually needs to be done is what keeps this reader glued to this series in spite of my frustrations with the maneuvering that Charlotte and company often have to do in order to get to the point.

In the end, this case is nothing like it appeared to be. Their client covered up their truths, and the blackmailer used the entire thing as a way to misdirect every single person at the auction.

That Moriarty emerges from the shadows at the end is more than enough to make me anticipate the next story in this series. There will be a solution to The Final Problem that is Moriarty. But hopefully not yet.

Since Sherlock Holmes is always indisposed, his sister Charlotte fills in for him – much to prospective clients’ chagrin. Soon they find the confidence to hire Charlotte to solve their problems. This novel takes Charlotte and her ‘team’ of friends to France in search of a painting and other assorted items that pose a threat to an important client. Sherry Thomas uses subtle humor and great pacing to advance the plot culminating in an exciting event that placed me in the middle of the scene. I loved that! The epilogue foreshadows the next book which made me happy and anticipating where Charlotte and her friends’ next task will take them. Recommended to fans of Sherry Thomas, historical mysteries, and a good story.

I recently discovered Sherry Thomas and her Lady Sherlock series. I was so excited to be able to read the fourth book in the series. Unfortunately, at no fault of the author, the downloaded copy was so faint that it was extremely hard to read. I managed to push through it and once again be blown away by the detail and the characters that Thomas creates. Another winner in this series!

4.5/5 stars

This is the fourth installment in an imaginative, witty, and suspenseful series that Sherry Thomas has created. Part re-imagined, gender-bent Sherlock Holmes, and part its own absolutely unique and delightful story, if you like historical fiction, witty and self-deprecating characters, and a bit of mystery and suspense, then this is totally the book for you. I’d definitely start at the beginning of the series because the character and plot development builds from one to the next, even though there is a new adventure/mystery to be solved in each book.

In this one, the crew is off to France, where they are trying to recover some stolen letters for a friend of Mrs. Watson. There is a whole lot more action and actual danger than there has been in past books, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed getting to know Stephen Marbleton better, and the addition of a new character–cousin and fellow “spy” for the crown, Leighton Atwood, was welcome.

The romantic tension between Charlotte and Lord Ingram continues as well, and is just as frustrating as ever, but I won’t say more because I want to keep this spoiler-free. If you have read the others and enjoyed their relationship, then suffice it to say, this installment may not leave you completely satisfied but you’ll enjoy their continued banter and tension, and in fact, I’d say in this book they finally work together a whole lot more, and it’s great to see how each brings out the best in the other. I just love this relationship so much. I want a friend like Lord Ingram! Who doesn’t?

In summary, this book totally kicks butt, and I’m so glad I got to read it. My only complaint is that I’ll probably have to wait a while for the next one. Maybe I’ll go back and reread the four books that are out while I wait…

Have I mentioned how much I love Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series? Because I loooooove this series. And book #4 was just another amazing addition.

Warning: The following review may contain spoilers for books #1-3.

"The Art of Theft" picks up shortly after the events in book #3, "The Hollow of Fear". (You don't have to have read any of the previous books in the series, but it definitely helps.) Charlotte and Lord Ingram are circling each other once again, now that their liaison, prompted by the events of Charlotte's last case, has ended; feelings are further complicated now that Lord Ingram has initiated divorce proceedings now that Lady Ingram has run away after turning traitor against both The Crown and Moriarty. Then Mrs. Watson gets her share of The Feels when one of her old flames, a Maharani from India, comes seeking the help of Sherlock Holmes after she's been blackmailed. Now Mrs. Watson, Charlotte, Livia (Charlotte's sister), Mr. Marbleton, and Lord Ingram are headed to France to con their way into an exclusive ball and art auction to try to steal back the blackmail materials. Things become extra complicated when it turns out the Maharani hasn't been entirely truthful about her blackmail situation, and then Lady Ingram shows back up and threatens to blow their cover.


This books was an absolute thrill ride from beginning to end. Although it didn't shock me quite as much as the ending plot twist of "Hollow of Fear", I still enjoyed it thoroughly; it was everything I've come to expect from the excellence that is Sherry Thomas. Not only is Charlotte Holmes delightful in her roll as the famous Consulting Detective (I absolutely love how her brain works, and her ability to discomfit other characters with her insights is a source of neverending amusement), I love that I haven't once been able to figure out an ending to any of the books in this series (this is not usually the case with mysteries I read). But I have to say my absolute favorite bit is reading the interactions between Lord Ingram and Charlotte Holmes. Sherry Thomas is a master at crafting tension between these two characters and watching their relationship develop over the series has been an absolute delight.


Overall, I say this is definitely my favorite new release of the year, and I highly recommend this title, as well as the other books in the series if you haven't picked them up already.

Let me start by saying that Sherry Thomas is a magician with novels – especially with historical fiction, and this latest installment in the Lady Sherlock series does not disappoint. The Art of the Theft is the 4th book in the series and can maybe be read as a standalone (if you MUST) but I highly, highly recommend that you start from the beginning of the series. There is a lot of background to all of the characters that you would not understand by reading this as a one-off as well as inferences to past cases and characters from the other novels.

Charlotte Holmes has put her methodological mind and deductive skills as London’s consulting detective to those who have money for a private investigator and for those who cannot find help from Scotland Yard. Of course it being Victorian England, there is no way that Charlotte herself can be seen to be doing this type of work, and so she operates under the alias of Sherlock Holmes and pretends to be the doting sister to her reclusive and ailing brother. With the help of Mrs. Watson and a few good friends and her sister, she manages to pull off the charade. While still on a sabbatical of sorts after the whirlwind of events in the 3rd installment, Charlotte is visited by a friend of Mrs. Watson’s who is desperate for help in recovering some letters from a piece of famous art work currently housed in an exclusive French mansion. Charlotte and her close friends all agree to take on the task as it is important to Mrs. Watson to help out her old friend. As the team get deeper and deeper into the task they realize it is not as simple as they had once imagined but they now must see it through.

It is difficult to write a review without giving away the mystery and also without giving away spoilers to the other 3 installments in the series. But rest assured that you will not be disappointed with this book and with this series in general. It is a great take on the story of Sherlock Holmes and it is accurate to the time period it is based in. Women for the most part were meant to be seen and not heard, especially those of the upper class whose value was determined by who they married. I really liked how Sherry Thomas recognizes all of the restrictions on women in that time period, and still created a story that worked within those restraints in a unique way.

While there is an undercurrent of romance in all of the books, it is not the main topic but it is always present. There has been a slow build to the romance over the last 4 books and I am very excited to see how this will play out in the books to come.

I highly recommend this series.

~ Harshita

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 does get better, and I enjoyed the conclusion of the story. I would recommend this take on "Sherlock Holmes" for readers who enjoy historical mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange for a review. I wish I could give this more stars. I really loved the first 3 in the series. There's something different about this one. There seems to be less focus on Charlotte's point of view (besides the whole Tolerable Chins thing) and the crime was a bit meh. The character's behavior in the series tends toward anachronism (which is part of its charm), but this book seemed more unbelievable than the others. I still love Lady Sherlock and will immediately read the next one when it comes out, but I think Art of Theft will be my least favorite in the series.

A Re-imagined Sherlock Holmes as a Lady Detective

Charlotte Holmes as Lady Sherlock solves crimes with the aid of her friend Mrs. Watson. She has invented Sherlock the detective as her ailing brother, but she and Mrs. Watson are the brains behind the detective work. In this case, a woman comes for a consultation. She listens to Charlotte’s explanation that her brother is listening in the next room, but leaves without engaging her services.

It transpires that the client, the Maharani of Ajmer, is an old friend of Mrs. Watson. She’s in need of help to retrieve letters that could cause much embarrassment which are hidden behind a Van Dyck painting in Vaudrieu, a French chateau. Stealing paintings is not really Charlotte’s line, but she with her friends Lord Ingram, Livia, her sister, and Mr. Marbleton, Livia’s beau, agrees to help and plans to infiltrate the house during a ball, presenting challenge and danger to the friends.

This series is a clever take-off on the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Although I found it amusing, it was hard to get into at first. This in not the first book in the series, so if you’re reading the series for the first time, it takes some thought to untangle the characters and background. Charlotte is an interesting character. She reflects on her life and friends and how she got to this place. I was hoping to see more of a romance with Lord Ingram, but they have both pulled back and seem to be evaluating where they want to go with their relationship.

The Victorian background is well done. It highlights the restrictions placed on women trying to pursue a career. If you enjoy historical mysteries with a strong female protagonist, this is a good book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

With each new installment in this series, I have come to highly anticipate the clever cases, the Victorian Era ambience, and most of all, the characters peopling these books. This author’s Lady Sherlock isn’t just a wink and a nod at the venerable detective, but a classy tribute that Sherlockians cannot help but approve.
Review

The Art of Theft is fourth in the Lady Sherlock series and is part of a series with not just a few series arcs though each mystery is new, making it a series that is best appreciated in order.

The Yuletide approaches and Sherlock Holmes gets a visit from a dignified Maharini no less. And, shock of all, she keeps her problem to herself and chooses to dismiss the great detective or his clever ‘sister’.
But soon, Mrs. Watson gets a visit from her past and she learns her former lover, the older Indian Queen who went to Sherlock, is in trouble. For her feelings and her guilt over saying no years ago, she accepts the case with Charlotte’s approval even though it is likely to tax them to the limits.
Charlotte doesn’t hesitate to round up Ash, Livie, and Mr. Marbleton to round out their team headed to France. They must break into a nearly impregnable chateau and steal back what was taken from the Maharini. Naturally, things get complicated even further and it will take all of their brains and abilities to get through this unscathed.

Like the rest of the series, this one pulls in narration from all the key players and it starts rolling slowly as the intro to the case and their earlier planning and work transpires. It never felt sluggish or unnecessary because there are the personal interactions and complicated relationships that kept it interesting beyond the moments of great action and suspense. There are a few twists and turns particularly in the latter half that had me flipping pages rapidly. Did we get some good moments with Lord Ingram and Charlotte? You bet! Are there hints of further dastardly deeds from Moriarity? Oh man, are there… We must wait until the next installment for developments.

The series is for anyone who adores a good historical mystery series, but fans of Sherlock will not feel insulted to give this series a go.

The Lady Sherlock series has been a loved series from the very beginning. In fact, I would even go as far as to say it is one of my most, if not my most, favorite series in the genre. It is just so much fun, always entertaining, so well written and I love the growth and mystery of all the characters.

The mystery is always center stage but the relationships and love interest are a close second and I love that, especially after book three were we get just a little bit more of it all.

And with the way book three went, I was honestly expecting this one to run along the same lines relationship wise and sadly, it just didn't. It seemed for every step forward the characters made with each other there was always two steps back that lead them even further away from one another, which was disheartening and honestly, made the story seem less some how. I was really looking forward to the romance becoming more and in almost all cases, it didn't.

However, the mystery and characters themselves were outstanding and once again Thomas' writing is enchanting and you can't help but get sucked right into the story and left wanting more.

I can only hope with that ending, that we will get more of that little extra something so many of us are rooting and hoping for in book five.

Fascinating Holmesian mystery!

Such a complex and rewarding story that explores the Holmsian genre and all it's accoutrements in a brilliant fashion.
Charlotte Holmes is an usual person, focused, brilliant, capable of ingenious guile, a freethinker with a much vaunted love of sweet things. The descriptions of her measures in the face of the dreaded approach of Maximum Tolerable Chins, the sensuality with which she regards deserts just serve to enhance her quirkiness.
Charlotte, Lady Sherlock is asked by fabulous Mrs. Watson to help solve a problem for an old friend. That request opens memory doors for Mrs. Watson, and danger and intrigue for all.
Their quest takes Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, and Lord Ingham, along with her sister Livia and Stephen Marbleton to Paris and beyond. A famous private annual Art auction and a glittering ball held at a heavily guarded chateau is where their attention is centered.
What they find goes way beyond what any of them expect, except perhaps Charlotte. Devastating discoveries are made, some impacting the now and some stretching into the future. Every minute reading was tantalizing.
This grand Victorian mystery not only beckons but delivers!

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley

Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series just keeps getting better and better. I'm absolutely thrilled that I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley and luckily it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingham, and all the rest again. I honestly couldn't put it down and sped right through it. It's a real race to solve this complex mystery. There is so much more I need to know and I can't wait to read more from this author. Plus, I *need* book five in this series after that ending!

FINAL DECISION: This book leans towards adventure more than cerebral mystery, but it works very well. I especially enjoyed those surrounding Sherlock Holmes joining together as a group to investigate. Grounded nicely in character and emotion, I enjoyed the progression of the various characters stories.

THE STORY: Following the intensely personal events of THE HOLLOW OF FEAR, this book turns to the supporting characters in the series who have bigger roles here and their history and relationships are explored more. It is Mrs. Watson who desperately needs the help of Sherlock Holmes and the cast of characters to help an old friend. The group end up traveling to France to steal a piece of art.

OPINION: After the intensity of the prior book being focused on Charlotte and Lord Ingram, this book primarily focuses on others in Sherlock's orbit. There is much progression here character wise. (We do also get some of the emotional aftermath between Charlotte and Ash).

This book goes in a new direction with more of a heist book than a thoughtful mystery. I enjoyed both the mystery and the character moments in this book. As with all the books in this series, this feels original and interesting. Charlotte is a singular character -- my favorite adaption of the Sherlock Holmes character.

Every moment feels fresh and interesting. I love the characters and I want to know how they are going to solve the mystery that comes before Charlotte. This book is very much a collaborate effort between the various characters and while Charlotte is definitely the lead, this one feels more like a group effort. There are more characters who rise to importance and their stories are intriguing as more secrets are revealed.

With plenty of exciting adventures, this one kept me turning pages until the end. (And what an ending...now I have to wait a year for the next in the series, oh no!)

WORTH MENTIONING: As with other books in this series, the main story here is completed, but the book ends on a cliffhanger for the next in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE ART OF THEFT is the fourth book in the Lady Sherlock series. While the mystery here is self-contained, the characters and the overarching stories make this deeply connected with the other books in the series. I believe a reader should start at the beginning, otherwise, there is much to the mystery that will be unanswerable.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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.

Love, love, love this series so much and continue to with this latest book. The Art of Theft has a touch of madcap caper to it as Charlotte and crew head to France for a retrieval mission. I felt that this story allowed relationships between the characters to deepen and grow, as well as still telling an excellent story. While Charlotte Holmes is still the primary character in this one, it felt that the other characters were given a lot of room in this one as well to develop alongside her. Here's to more books to come in this series! This series should be read in order for maximum comprehension and enjoyment.

Sherry Thomas does it again! This series is currently my favorite modern take on Sherlock Holmes. I love how she maintains the mysterious nature of the stories while also infusing humor throughout. There are plots within plots (Moriarty is the overarching villain), but I never felt lost. Everything ties together so well, all I can say is that I love it!

Sherry Thomas' Lady Sherlock series is one of the most intricately plotted series that I'm aware of. I often reread the previous book in the series, just to make sure that I'm fully caught up on where all the players are, and which characters' activities/fates were unrevealed. That's not a criticism at all -- I like the fact that Thomas has complex threads and motivations for all of the different characters. Sometimes they disappear from the narrative for a while, but that doesn't mean that they're gone -- they're just waiting their turn.

This entry in the series gives new perspective and history on Mrs. Watson, in particular (a welcome deep-dive into her history), as well as new challenges and opportunities for Lydia. And of course, there's the relationship between Ash and Charlotte, which continues as a slow-burn, forcing both of them to think through the developments in the previous volume, and really consider what their romance might mean to them.

I'm thoroughly satisfied, and looking forward to rereading.

This is the fourth installment in the Lady Sherlock series and I think it might be my favorite. These books are very character driven, not to say the plot is bad. But I often find myself caring less about the mystery of the book and more about what’s going on between the characters, especially Charlotte and Lord Ingram. Theirs is the most infuriating slow burn romance that existed.

As I said, the plot is wonderful, and it certainly takes a turn that I was not expecting. The mysteries in this series are great, but in typical Holmes fashion, probably not something you would be able to figure out on your own, but that isn’t the point really.

Charlotte has grown so much since the first book, and I love seeing her and the other characters evolve. I cannot wait for the next book in this series, which is setup quite nicely at the end of this book.

This is a highly readable, entertaining romp through the world of Charlotte Holmes. Sherry Thomas has an exquisite imagination and has created a delightful version of Holmes and Watson. I would not hesitate to read all of the books in this series and any future books that are published.