“A Study in Scarlet Women” - Sherry Thomas

🔎 Considering I never much cared for Sherlock Holmes stories, I am happily surprised at how much I enjoyed Thomas’ first novel in her Lady Sherlock series. The plot is clever, and full of twists and turns, and her characters are well developed. In fact, there was something downright Austenian in her characterization of the Holmes sisters and their home life among the lower rungs of Victorian-era aristocracy. 

🔎 Charlotte Holmes is feisty and astute, drawing favorable comparisons to one Elizabeth Bennet. Hoping to stake out some level of financial independence, Miss Holmes hatches a daring scheme to avoid marriage. In the process of evading suitors, Holmes suddenly finds herself privy to information concerning three deaths, unrelated but for the social acquaintanceship of the deceased parties. Can Miss Holmes deduce whether these sudden deaths were connected in some way, and will she successfully escape a stifling marriage?

🔎 If you enjoy Victorian era mysteries, novels fronted by strong female protagonists, and enjoy the social commentary of Jane Austen novels, this series is for you!