Well-loved and highly respected as an author by yours truly, I will of course read anything that Sherry Thomas writes, even if it's a grocery list. Her new stand-alone novel is wildly more addictive and interesting and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt just how amazing and versatile of an author she is. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and have really enjoyed Charlotte's progression and development as a character throughout this delightful series. Highly recommended and can't wait to own this one in print! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher. It was such a treat!

Holmes Sweet (sometimes) Holmes! Sherry Thomas has created a Gordian knot of a plot or cascading series of plots, for Charlotte’s latest outing, which is presented in various timelines and flashbacks. It also covers a decades old dead-end murder, as well as a very recent one, that of imprisoned and disgraced Lord Bancroft Ashburton, which Charlotte is being framed for. To solve it she must pick apart many layers of Ashburton’s enterprises, as well as deal with a kidnapping and a hostile takeover of a place (and persons) that Charlotte holds dear. She also holds Lord Bancroft’s brother, Lord Ingram, very dear and very steamily close and their love scenes provide a lot of propulsion for the book. Yet, the most interesting figure is the enigmatic Moriarty, he spins his stratagems from afar, and never appears in the center stage, so although his threat is always in the background, the menace often is weakened; some of the other characters seem enervated as well. While past and present narrative arcs whoosh by, adding layer upon layer of subterfuge, it often feels that the plot line for Charlotte’s sister, the lonely and besotted Livia, is moving at the pace of a snail crawling through a saucer of crushed Xanax. Livia is a beguiling character, but is forever relegated to hand wringing and pining for the captive Mr. Marbleton who is being held somewhere in France by his father, you know who, I mean Mr. Moriarty. The plots intricately tangle and reform in intriguing detail, though it is easy to lose your footing as a reader, and familiarity with the other books in this series is a must. Still, like one of Charlotte’s coveted pastries, one bite is never enough, especially such an entertaining one. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance reader’s copy.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for my free E-book for review.

"A Ruse of Shadows," the 8th installment in the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas, presents a refreshing and feminine perspective on the iconic sleuth, Sherlock Holmes.

From the very first pages, the novel throws the reader into the intriguing world of Charlotte Holmes, who finds herself under suspicion for the murder of Lord Bancroft. This immediately signals an adventure that I couldn't wait to embark on.

In this novel, Charlotte Holmes reveals more than just her astuteness; she also displays a tender affection for her sister and Lord Ingram. The inclusion of her love story provides a welcome respite from the investigations while also serving as a crucial element in the plot, making her character more relatable and multifaceted.

Moving on to the mysteries at hand, I was captivated by the intricate way Sherry Thomas connected them all. Admittedly, the abundance of characters initially overwhelmed me, requiring a moment to orient myself. Once I grasped who was who, the narrative flowed seamlessly. Witnessing the pieces fall into place, like a complex puzzle, was a delight. I found myself effortlessly following along with Charlotte and Mrs. Watson, reveling in their disguises and deductions. The trail of clues left me pleasantly bewildered, in a manner that only a true mystery can achieve. The conclusion was truly satisfying—a brilliant puzzle masterfully pieced together!

Sherry Thomas proves her genius, again! Not only did the mystery work, Thomas really understands how to move forward the romance in a satisfying way while staying true to the characters.

Another fantastic addition to the Lady Sherlock series! I've gotten in the habit of listening to these in audio so it was a bit of a change for me to read, but I had as much fun with these characters as always. I was occasionally momentarily thrown by mentions of previous events but the character list was very helpful and I appreciated having my memory jogged since it's been a minute since I read the previous books. I also really loved the continued relationship development between Charlotte and Ash here. So lovely!

A Ruse of Shadows by Sherry Thomas is a captivating tale filled with intricate plotlines and compelling secondary characters, both familiar faces and new additions.

Romance novelist turned mystery writer, author Sherry Thomas brings us book 8 in the <i>Lady Sherlock</i> series, A RUSE OF SHADOWS. This series has such a marvelous reimagining of the Sherlockian world! Charlotte Holmes is a most unconventional young lady. Charlotte, with the help of Mrs. John Watson, masquerades as a male detective with the sobriquet of Sherlock Holmes. Struggling to evade a forced society marriage, Charlotte was cast out of the bosom of her family but is now the sole source of support for her two sisters.

In defiance of Victorian mores, Charlotte has also taken her childhood friend Lord Ingram as her lover. Thomas’ works have strong feminist themes, and it is delightful to see women so competently navigating and/or foiling the criminal world. Lord Ingram ably assists Charlotte in solving crimes, as do a large case of other characters. The number of secondary characters has grown dizzyingly large, and the many complex interconnections between them can be tough to remember from book to book. A RUSE OF SHADOWS jumps immediately into the height of the action without much reference or re-fleshing out of the backstory, so readers must be fully conversant with the prior books and their myriad details.

The main mystery plot unwinds in reverse here. Events are presented as a series of flashbacks interposed with the current timeline, where Charlotte is being interrogated by a higher-up in Scotland Yard as a suspect in a murder case. I found the construct of the reserve timeline with the further confusion of interspersed flashbacks to be overly complicated. The unnecessarily intricate timeline, the huge cast of interwoven characters, and the necessity of being fully conversant in the prior books combine to make Thomas’ A RUSE OF SHADOWS fall flat for me.

This is an episode filled with plots and schemes. Charlotte has managed to gain some protection from Lord Remington which has kept Moriarty temporarily at bay. However, Lord Bancroft is still a threat. And when he winds up dead, Charlotte is the prime suspect for his murder.

The story is told in a series of flashbacks since it begins with her under investigation for Lord Bancroft's murder. We see Charlotte and Mrs. Watson investigating a 25-year-old murder for Treadles. We see Livia staking out a house in Aix-en-Provence which might be the house where her Mr. Marbleton is being held by Moriarty. We see Paris where Charlotte and Livia's sister Bernadine is being held prisoner to guarantee that Charlotte does what Lord Bancroft demands.

We also see Charlotte and many other characters investigating the disappearance of Mr. Underwood who is Lord Bancroft's long-time assistant. This investigation sees the return of Mrs. Farr who lost her younger sister in one of Charlotte's earlier cases and who has been looking for revenge ever since.

I enjoyed this twisty tale very much. It was filled with intriguing characters.

Lord Bancroft proposed to Charlotte Holmes twice, but then he committed treason and framed his brother/her lover Lord Ingram for murder, so there is no love lost between them. She's not pleased to be strong-armed into locating his lieutenant Underwood while also solving a cold case for her Scotland Yard ally Inspector Treadles and attempting to rescue her sister's boyfriend from Moriarty. It's exhausting. Naturally, when Bancroft turns up dead Holmes is at the top of the suspect list. The way all the elements slot together so tidily strains credulity, but Holmes is at the top of her form.

This was somewhat entertaining but a bit too slow for my liking. I like Charlotte’s character and her relationship with Lord Ingram. I just wish there was more to see to their relationship, then again I haven’t read the previous books. I was confused by Lord Ingram’s ex wife, whether she’s truly dead or alive and hiding some place. Overall, it was an ok read.

One of the things I love about this series is how complex and interesting it is. I can rarely "guess" what's happening next. That said, there were parts of this one that were a little convoluted and hard to follow. It all resolved in a fascinating way in the end, but definitely more complex than past iterations.

After her success on the RMS Provence, Charlotte Holmes has afforded 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?

Warning: Do not start the series with this book. Read it from the beginning!
The eighth in the Lady Sherlock series continues towards Charlotte's ultimate goal -- defeating Moriarty. This series is so well written. With a story that is told mostly in flashbacks, it's easy to loose track of where you are and what's going on. Not this book. Thomas keeps things moving smoothly and by the end, you realize how brilliant Charlotte really is.
But this series isn't just about the mystery, it's about Charlotte's relationships and her growth. She is still very much Holmes, but she has learned that others need things she doesn't and she is now trying to give them what they need. As the series goes on, the reader starts to understand why she has so many people loyal to her.
Highly recommended.

I’ve only read the first Lady Sherlock book but always meant to go back to it at some point. I was asked to review Ruse of Shadow and I’m so glad I did. I think I never read past book 1 because the will they/won’t they seemed too firmly in the won’t they, so I waited to see what happened with Lord Ingram.

Ruse of Shadows has strong characters and a well-plotted mystery. This really isn’t a standalone and I know I’m missing all the depth behind these character relationships by jumping in now. In think fans of the series will be thrilled and it makes me want to go back and read 2-7.

This is a great series, though I do feel a little lost as it's been a while since I've read the first books. I'm going to have to reread this series when it's over to figure out a lot of what is going on. In this one Ash's shady brother plays a prominent role as he enlists Charlotte's help which lands her as the prime suspect is an unexpected murder. There was less of Livia in this book, which I enjoyed. I find myself not really caring much about her character or her romance with Mr. Marbleton. But Ash and Charlotte? I love their romance and it was on fire in this book, and the ending was just perfect. The mystery was intriguing; the setting is always an A+ and so well described you actually feel like you're living in the time period, and the interactions between Ash and Charlotte were superb. Not quite as good as the last one, imo, but still a very solid four star book. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This series features Charlotte Holmes, who masquerades as Sherlock's brother to solve crimes. Charlotte is an odd duck, very smart and logical but sometimes a bit lacking in tact and social elegance. The ensemble around her includes her love Lord Ingram (Ash), her friend and partner Mrs. Watson, and her two sisters. And of course Moriarty is always lurking in the background.

I enjoy the characters very much. The plots in this series tend to be quite complex and times and a bit hard to follow. If you factor in that both Charlotte and Ash tend to disguise themselves for these cases, you can imagine it's confusing.

Ash's evil brother has taken one of Charlotte's sisters hostage and demanded she find one of his henchman as a condition of turning her loose. Charlotte and crew find him, but he is dead. There is an additional plot harking back to a murder, and one with substituted bodies just to make it interesting. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I adore Sherry Thomas' Lady Sherlock series. This one, A Ruse of Shadows, draws us back into Charlotte's world and I'm so glad to visit again! Charlotte (and all the other returning characters) is an absolute delight to read and enjoy the story unfolding. The only drawback (and it's not one AT ALL) is that this is not a standalone. So if you're new to Lady Sherlock, do yourself a favor and start from the beginning. Another winner by Sherry Thomas!

This series is so well written. so thought out, and just so well done that I think Ms. Thomas would make Sir Conan Doyle proud with her take on Sherlock Holmes. This series truly is unlike any other I have read. From the lovable quirky characters to the completely captivating mysteries that truly are worthy of the classic Sherlock, it is just so entertaining and truly, hard to put down. And I can say with confidence, that after eight books, it is still getting better and better. I can't recommend this series enough.

A Ruse of Shadows by Sherry Thomas is hands down one of the most epic reads I've stumbled upon lately! I mean, seriously, from the moment I cracked open the cover, I was whisked away into this world of intrigue, deception, and pulse-pounding mystery!

Let's talk about Charlotte Holmes for a sec. She's back in action, and let me tell you, she's just as brilliant and captivating as ever. Eight books deep into the series, and she still manages to feel fresh and utterly fascinating. She's like Sherlock Holmes, but with this whole new level of depth and relatability that just draws you in.

And then there's her relationship with Lord Ingram – I love them together so much! I was practically cheering them on from the sidelines as they navigated through all the twists and turns of their romance. Plus, the chemistry between them is amazing!

But of course, it wouldn't be a Lady Sherlock mystery without, well, a mystery! And let me tell you, the one in this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Charlotte and her crew are faced with their most dangerous challenge yet, and watching them piece together the clues and outsmart the bad guys was seriously thrilling.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate Sherry Thomas's talent for historical mystery? The way she brings Victorian London to life is nothing short of magical. I could practically smell the fog and hear the clip-clop of horse hooves on the cobblestones. It's like stepping back in time!

So yeah, if you're a fan of historical mysteries or just love a good story with awesome characters and a plot that'll keep you guessing until the very end, you absolutely have to check out A Ruse of Shadows. Highly recommended!

The eighth book in the Lady Sherlock series begins shortly after Charlotte’s success at finding the child of Miss Moriarty and helping England. Lord Remington, Ash’s oldest brother, and head of England’s spy network has now declared Charlotte under his protection. Moriarity is now hesitant to touch her for fear of Remington’s recriminations. Giving Charlotte and Mrs. Watson some breathing room, they settle down to domestic bliss in Paris with Bernadine, Charlotte’s oldest sister.

Things don’t stay peaceful for long, a letter comes saying Ash has broken his leg. Charlotte goes to England to visit him and seemingly falls into a trap set by the disgraced Lord Bancroft. Setting off ripples of schemes from numerous directions. Can Charlotte see through all the secrets and lies and find the winning plan that lets her come through unscathed? But of course my dear Watson!

A superb mystery and my favorite of this series!

The Lady Sherlock series just keeps getting better and better. I anxiously await each new addition, devour it, and then suffer from the pain of knowing I have to wait a year to get another installment. In the latest adventure, Charlotte herself is questioned in the death of Lord Bankcroft, Ash's older and disgraced brother. The story switches from the present day when Charlotte is being questioned to a few weeks before when Lord Bancroft summoned her to his prison and enlisted her help under threat to her loved ones. The story weaves how Charlotte uncovers the mystery requested by Lord Bancroft, how she gets out of being the prime suspect in his murder, how she also solves a cold case, AND how she makes strides toward freeing her family and friends from the grip of Moriarty. Cannot wait for the next one. Only ten months to go!