A Conspiracy in Belgravia: The Lady Sherlock Series, Book 2

This is an outstanding, excellently written, well plotted, well-paced mystery populated with equally outstanding characters. This author has taken Sherlock Holmes and turned him inside out and made him her own. I want to tell you everything – because everything is so good – but I also don’t want to spoil the mystery for you. My advice – skip this review, go out and buy it right now and read it immediately – you won’t be sorry. One thing I will suggest though – read the first book first because it explains exactly who Charlotte Holmes is – her history, her family and her beginnings as Sherlock.This book begins the day after the first book, A Study In Scarlet Women, ends. In that book, Charlotte, along with Lord Ingram Ashburton and Inspector Treadles solved a triple murder. Inspector Treadles of the Criminal Investigation Division of Scotland yard is having a very, very hard time dealing with the fact that Sherlock Holmes, a male, is actually Charlotte Holmes, a female. Turns out Treadles may not be as accepting as he thought himself to be. He’s also learned that his wife has aspirations in addition to just being his wife. He’s begun to separate himself from his wife and has no desire to consult with Sherlock any longer. He’s also being cool toward his esteemed friend Lord Ingram. I have a feeling that Inspector Treadles has a grand epiphany coming up in a future book.Mrs. John Watson and Charlotte have devised a way for Charlotte to act as Sherlock Holmes, consult with clients and actually make a living from it. It works out wonderfully well and they are off to a really good start with a profitable business. Mrs. Watson has a unique set of household employees and we meet them in this book. We also meet Mrs. Watson’s niece, Penelope Redmayne, and you will love that young lady. I hope she becomes a regular, recurring character.Charlotte is astonished when she receives an envelope addressed to Sherlock Holmes – and it has been typed on Lord Ingram’s typewriter. Charlotte knows it can’t be from Lord Ingram because he has no reason to request an appointment – he could just come to see her. So, Charlotte deduces that it has to be from Lady Ingram. Uh-Oh. Should Charlotte refuse to see her? Well, to Charlotte’s logical mind, she thinks she should see her and help if she can.These stories are all fast-paced, exciting and they have a lot going on – so – settle in, put your seatbelt on and prepare for the ride! We learned in the last book that Lord and Lady Ingram share nothing except the same address. In this book, we learn so very much more – and we learn what a perfidious woman Lady Ingram is.Lady Ingram has a case for Sherlock and it is a doozie. When she was younger, she was desperately in love with a young man her family deemed unsuitable. She was then forced to marry the wealthy lord who had proposed to her. Her parents knew that he loved her so they couldn’t understand what her problem was. She and her young man made a pact that they would never, ever have contact again after she married, but once a year, at an appointed time, they would each walk past the Albert Memorial, just so they could each assure that the other was well. This year, he didn’t show up and she’s frantic with worry for him. Did he lose interest after all these years? Is he hurt or sick? Has he died? She just has to know. The name of this long ago love? Myron Finch. That is also the name of Charlotte’s illegitimate half-brother. – the plot thickens.Charlotte and Mrs. Watson set about their investigation of the lost love and at the same time, Charlotte is dealing with the second proposal of marriage from Lord Bancroft. He had proposed before and she’d turned him down. This time though, she’ll give it some thought. She’s afraid that she won’t have enough to do to keep her mind occupied if she marries. Bancroft has a solution for that – he starts giving her some very, very difficult ciphers to solve – and some of those lead to even bigger mysteries – such as an address where a murder has just occurred and she encounters a very aloof Inspector Treadles. Is the victim the missing Myron Finch? Then – who is the Moriarty that even Bancroft seems to be wary of? Is either of them – or both – related to the murder victim? Well – you’ll just have to read the book to see.The end – the wrap-up – of this very creative and exciting book will not only surprise you – it will shock you. I usually have the whole thing figured out very early on, but I sure didn’t see that one coming. Well done Ms. Thomas!There is a budding romance for Livia and I’m excited to see where that goes. What happens so far is really sweet. There isn’t any ‘advancement’ of the romance between Lord Ingram and Charlotte because – well – he’s married and Lord Ingram is much too honorable to do anything outside the bounds of his vows. We do learn more about him and the relationship that he and Charlotte have. He even encourages her about Bancroft’s proposal – not happily, but he does encourage her.I love historical mysteries, but, for me, they have to have a wonderful love story included. So, I’ll be interested to see if this author delivers that. If she does, it will be interesting to see how she has non-sentimental, touch-averse, logical Charlotte handle it. We are well aware that Charlotte loves Lord Ingram and that he loves her – the interesting part will be how Charlotte handles anything that happens. If it doesn’t work out for them, I’ll probably soon lose interest in the series no matter how interesting the mysteries are.This is a very busy book. I believe that is probably a hallmark of this author and her writing style and I really like that about the books. You definitely won’t get bored and start skimming pages because if you do, you’ll miss something really important.I very highly recommend this book because it is excellently done. I do, however, recommend reading the first book in the series before you read this one.

I am really getting into this series. The first book laid a lot of groundwork for the world and this one did a great job expanding on it. Also, this was slightly less dark than the first one which I really appreciated. Highly recommend.

Well written and very intriguing story. I’ll start looking for more Lady Sherlock books to read. Thank you Sherry Thomas.

This is such a good series. No one will be able to duplicate Author Doyle’s Sherlock. Yet we still hunger for a good Sherlockian novel. Sherry Thomas does an amazing thing and give us our beloved Sherlock characters, but with a new twist which keeps it fresh. This is the second novel in the Lady Sherlock series. Understanding this story is not predicated upon reading the first one, but the first does add deeper understanding.Charlotte Holmes is a round woman with two chins. She is an intelligent, progressive woman who finds eating a necessarity to keep her two chins and to jump start her thinking. I pictured her is a slender woman with very prim manners. I mean she has Bancroft and Ingram, brothers, smitten with her. Her prim manners are to make her Madeline cookies last longer. LOLChanging the sex of Sherlock adds the societal sexist norms to the story. Even the most progressive men can appreciate an intelligent woman. But FEW really want that kind of woman as their wife. Re-casting allows for the challenges and perils facing women at that time to increase the tension on top of the murder.After detective Treadles discovers that Sherlock is female, he feels she has emasculate him, wherein he labels her as a woman of ill repute. He is haunted throughout the novel by the fear of looking less than when compared to a woman. His distress in compounded when he sees the qualities of intelligence and organization in his wife. At one time, she desired to work in the family business but having a brother made that a moot point.Respectability for women is equated with being a wife and mother- even for the most progressive man.Charlotte is an enigma. She has never been concern about what others think about her. This has been liberating and allows her to do Charlotte. Remember, in book one, she orchestrated a scandal, a sexual tryst with a married man, to remove her marriageability null and void.Livia, Charlotte’s older sister, is an emotional mess. She is unmarried, does not have confidence in social situations, and worried what her future life will be because her parents are squandering their funds. Her frustrations point to the societal constraints on women. Kate Reading narration of Livia mortification of her actions is heart wrenching.Livia says to herself, “Dear God what a disaster. And she was so stupid. So stupid. When would she learn? When will she at least get it into her thick moronic head that nothing good would ever happen to her?”Doyle’s Bancroft and Sherlock are brothers who work in secret service. Thomas’ Bancroft and Ingram are the brothers who work together They are unmatched in their machinations and keeping the queen and country safe and their admiration and affection for Holmes. Bancroft courts Sherlock not with flowers, but mysteries. His gifts are the major contingency to their marriage.But it is Ingram, married and with two children who knows Holmes. When discussing her possible marriage he shocks Holmes saying, “No one who asks you to marry them will be successful. When you’re ready to marry, you’ll tap the fellow on the shoulder and make the request yourself.”Of course, what would a Holmes novel be without Moriarty. Yes, he is now a character in Thomas’s Sherlock. Thomas deftly integrated Moriarty from the shadows. His henchmen are killing on the streets and his name in being whispered at high levels of the government. Oh that includes Sherlock at a high level.My prediction is that it will take at least two more books before Moriarty will make an appearance e. There was an abrupt end to a story line that I hope will be wrapped up in the next novel. in an interview by Thomas, she stated there will be a long love arc in the novel. I predict the arc will be started before Moriarty makes an appearance. Moriarty has to threaten Holmes who will be save by the one who loves her.With the prelude and then the story starting, the names became mixed up in my head and I could not recall were the story ended in book one. I was doing things as I was listening and had to listen to the first two chapter a couple of times.Bring on the next book, I am ready!

I mean, what can I say, if you haven't read any Sherry Thomas books, go fix that now. She has covered most genres.I particularly love her historical romances, but this books of Lady Sherlock are completely glorious, and I'm surprised I'm enjoying the simmering slow burn romance here.Go, read any of her books.

A fascinating mystery, with traditional Sherlockian twists and turns, and equally fascinating characters and interpersonal relationships. Charlotte and Lydia's relationship in particular is so lovely, and shows so much about who they are as people. I love the way they try to protect each other, and the way they both think they are the sensible one.

Ms Thomas has contrived the most infuriatingly clever series . A Conspiracy y is almost as good Asher first Sherlock tale. It it was sometimes so contrived and introverted I HAD to put it down. But well worth reading and completing.

Love this series. Can’t wait for the next one. But I would love ST to pen some more historical romances as well as some of hers are on my keeper shelf eg private arrangements.

Love the complex historical plot and the numerous strong female characters. Takes a while to get the gist of who all is a main player, but is worth the perseverance. Have already purchased the rest of the series.