Whether you are a longtime Sherlock Holmes aficionado or a fan of Victorian-era mysteries, you will be happy to know that Holmes’s sister, Charlotte, has returned for another adventure. This time, Charlotte, more affectionately known as Lady Sherlock, must prove her longtime friend Inspector Treadles innocent of a double murder in which he was found with the murder weapon inside a locked room with not one, but two, victims.
For those unfamiliar with the female Holmes—Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas marks the fifth in the series—there’s something you should know: In this world, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character and Charlotte is the true detective. She pretends that Sherlock is her bedridden brother and that she is acting on his behalf as his eyes and ears on any cases at hand. It’s the only way for a woman to do a man’s job, particularly if said job involves outwitting and outsmarting men.
It is an arrangement that Treadles isn’t entirely happy to have learned about, though he maintains a close friendship with Charlotte and keeps her secret, since she has previously helped him on several investigations. His arrest makes this case even more personal for her.
But Treadles is less than forthcoming when asked to explain himself. He won’t say where he’s been in the two weeks prior to the murder; he won’t say what he was doing in the murder room; and he won’t defend himself. So, it falls on Lady Sherlock to piece together the clues and determine the truth.
One thing she suspects, however, is that Treadle’s wife, who has turned to Lady Sherlock for help, may be lying. For starters, she knew both victims: Mr. Longstead was a bookkeeper and longtime friend of her father and Mr. Sullivan was a resentful manager at the business she inherited.
In typical Holmesian fashion, Lady Sherlock and her close friends, including Mrs. Watson, pound the pavement for clues, interview witnesses and potential suspects and visit the scene of the crime for clues Scotland Yard is too inept to see.
Thomas, who is a USA Today bestselling author and two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, masterfully handles all the ins and outs of the mystery while layering the story with suspense and intrigue to keep readers guessing. There’s even some of Thomas’ trademark romance in Cold Street, as Holmes and her longtime beau Lord Ingram move closer emotionally.
The game is afoot again. Only the names have changed.
