A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Mystery
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about? Book one of the Lady Sherlock Series takes the idea of the Sherlock Holmes character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and twists the narrative imagining that Sherlock was actually a fictitious identity created by a woman, Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte is an independent-minded woman with feminist tendencies. Her intellectual acuity is not something that she reveals to everyone. When she hears about some deaths in the area, she writes a letter that is read at the coroner’s inquest suggesting that these seemingly unrelated deaths are actually connected… a letter signed by “Sherlock Holmes.” Throughout the slow roll-out of the facts and intrigues of the case, Charlotte develops the persona and mystique of Sherlock Holmes and teams up with another independent woman, Mrs. John Watson, to make her abilities available to the world.
My Review: I listened to the audiobook version on Hoopla. The eBook version is also available on the Overdrive and Libby apps. I liked the idea of a woman being behind the notorious Sherlock Holmes persona. I think the author could have officially told the reader that Sherlock was Charlotte a lot earlier, though. I’ll chalk it up to being a “book one” in a series. I liked the scenes where Charlotte displayed her discerning intellect. Following the main inspector and discovering the details of the case was engaging and kept me guessing about “whodunit” and the connection between the deaths. I wasn’t able to guess all the intricacies of the case, but I kind of expected that with a “Sherlock Holmes” type of mystery. I’m interested to find out what else Charlotte/Sherlock will be able to deduce in other adventures.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Feminist, Intriguing, Convoluted
Give This a Try if You Like… The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss (Overdrive/Libby), A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (Axis 360), The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber (Overdrive/Libby)
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
