Another Fantastic entry in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series! The story is engaging, the mystery is puzzling, and the writing is witty and intelligent.

I really love this latest installment about Sherlock Holmes daughter! The story is well-written and really fast-paced! I found the mystery to be intriguing! Our heroine is strong, clever, assertive, and spunky! I found many Easter eggs in the novel that pays homage to the stories in the original cannon! Thus, this is a cleverly and well-plotted series! This series deserves to be well-loved by fans of Sherry Thomas and Laurie R. King because they are true to the spirit of the original series!

Yet another fantastic installment to the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series!

To be visited by Scotland Yard to consult on a case is not out of the ordinary for the Watsons, but a case involving vandalism of fine art seems a bit low on the docket for them. But as Joanna Watson knows, nothing is really as it seems until you truly observe. As the Watsons visit the crime scenes, it becomes apparent that the vandal isn’t simply vandalizing the paintings, but the manner he is doing it shows that he is looking for something hidden behind the canvas. As they begin to unravel the mystery, more than just art begins to arise, including murders. Will they be able to determine who is behind the vandalism before he finds what he is looking for?

As always, Leonard Goldberg has crafted yet another thrilling tale for readers to devour and try to match wits with Joanna Watson, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler. These books are just good, clean reads and this was no exception. I love that Goldberg has developed a new line of mysteries that readers are able to enjoy and try to see if they can figure out the culprits before Joanna does. And true to form, there is usually an unexpected twist or two at the end that will keep your mind whirling to keep up!

This series gets better with each book. The writing is crisp, the characters are wonderful, and the plot keeps me guessing to the end. It all makes for an enjoyable read.

I wanted to love this one because I’ve loved the previous books in the series by this author. And I love all things Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes retellings. But for some reason this one fell flat for me. And I think it was because I read this one too soon after finishing book three in the series. So I know now for the next ones in the series to space them out. Not read them back to back.

The Christmas season is approaching and Sherlock's daughter Joanna, married to John Watson Jr., is anxious to see her son during in school break from Eton. Scotland Yard is not having such a merry season, chasing an art vandal that is always one step ahead and unpredictable. Lestrade turns to Joanna and the Watsons for help trying to find a pattern in the vandals attacks and maybe a motive.

Joanna realizes there is one thing all the paintings have in common, all have been in the restoration room at Hawke and Evans. When the crimes escalate to assault and murder, it is clear the vandal is getting desperate. Sherlock's daughter has a keen mind like her father and with her husband help they figure out who the vandal is and a possible motive. Now to lay the trap and reveal all.

Fans of The Lady Sherlock series, Victoria Speedwell, and the original Sherlock stories will love this series.

Joanna Watson, her husband, and her father-in-law are being consulted by Scotland Yard. Someone is breaking into art galleries and private homes and vandalizing paintings. Joanna thinks the vandal is looking for something hidden behind the painting.

It is suspected that there must be some common denominator as to which paintings are being attacked. At first it seems that all the paintings have women prominent in the painting and most are from the same relative time period. The reader will in the course of the book learn a lot about art restoration which is a side benefit of Joanna collecting all the facts that may be necessary to solve the case.

Meanwhile, Joanna's son's school has an outbreak of cholera. Joanna insists he come home where, if he gets the disease, he can be treated in a more sterile environment. This is historically accurate and a few interesting facts about cholera, its treatment and symptoms, are also are peppered about the main art mystery.

Like previous books, Joanna gathers facts and seems to remain a few steps ahead of the police in their investigation. However, she's up against someone who is clever, careful, and desperate. The tension ramps up as the vandal moves from simple vandalism with no casualties to being desperate enough to take chances that leave innocent people injured—some severely.

There's a lot of instances where things seem to be red herrings, along with a number of side issues that don't seem to relate to the case. But when the case begins to be wrapped up, some of these seemingly inconsequential facts and events prove to be necessary to catch the criminals.

There's much to hold a reader's interest and the feel of the stories is very similar to Conan Doyle's writing, though with Joanna stepping in to take Sherlock's place as a consulting detective and working with the next generation Dr. Watson, Miss Hudson, Inspector Lestrade, Baker Street Irregulars, and others. The plots are convoluted and twisty enough to satisfy most readers.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Sherlock Holmes’ daughter Joanna is on the trail of a vandal who is slashing Renaissance artwork in London. She is ably assisted by Dr. Watson and his son, who happens to be her husband. She has a son by her first husband and it is obvious the knack for observation and detecting is in the genes.

While the vandal starts out without violence, he becomes increasingly desperate and violent as he literally cuts his way some rare artwork. He is clearly looking for something but first Joanna must determine his identity. She realizes that the obvious “facts” may be false and as improbable as it may seem, the damage is being done by a dead man. Or is he really dead? And if he is, who is in his grave?

It is a complex web of deceit, betrayal and avarice, with clever criminals who stay one step ahead. But never fear. The daughter of Holmes will not be stopped and she will hunt down the villains and bring them to justice, ably walking in the footsteps of her father. It is a cracking good mystery with lots of details that require the brilliance of Joanna to unravel. I enjoyed it greatly.

Five purrs and two paws up.

PS= My one complaint is Edward was not King in 1916

Leonard Goldberg explores the Art of Deception in this Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery. Joanna, daughter of Sherlock and her husband, the son of Dr. Watson, help Lestrade trace the tracks of an art defacer and find a missing masterpiece. High society, art galleries, and theft create an interesting puzzle for Joanna and the reader. Enjoy this intriguing mystery.

The fourth book in this series is just as delightful an d intriguing as the previous
books. Murder, art forgeries and more of Sherlock Holme’s grandson Johnny, a chip off the old block.

It is very hard to take the legend that is Sherlock Holmes and do honor to that legacy. This book manages to do so brilliant and with grace that would make Conan Doyle proud. Characters were very well done, mystery was incredibly well crafted and every page was a delight that will keep readers engaged.

Fourth book in this wonderful series.Another mystery I was drawn in to the characters come alive.A series that continues to be strong book by book.Entertaining mysterious a series to follow.#netgalley#st.mmartins

Below is a direct link to my podcast episode. I found this book to be an awesome addition to the series and I am excited to hear more from this author. I hope there will be more than five titles in the series

Joanna Blalock-Watson is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Alder and she is remarried to John Watson Jr. They have been called to find the vandal who is slashing famous paintings. During their investigation, they realize that the vandal is not really a vandal, but they are actually looking for a secret behind the painting.

This book really feels like you are reading a Sherlock Holmes books and I love it. It did seem a bit weird when I started this book that the characters are pretty much named the same, but I got over it pretty quick. I feel like I should have started with the first book of this series so I didn’t feel so confused at the beginning. However, I was able to get up to speed on what was happening.

My favorite part of this book and Sherlock Holmes books is the method of figuring out what has happened in their investigation. Each clue Joanna is able to channel her inner Sherlock by seeing the clues within the clues.

I definitely plan to start reading book one of this series since it was such a fun twisted mystery.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Received from Net Gallery and thank you so very much! This was a change for me in reading,I don't do very many mysteries,but this one,I couldn't figure it to save my life! I so enjoy the way the story,the plot was laid out for you,not getting facts mixed up where you could figure the crime out the way it was presented to the ones who were to solve this mystery! Wonderful characters in this mystery and you are so right there with them as the story progresses... Colorful characters at that! "The Art of Deception" , by "Leonard Goldberg",new to me as a story teller and writer,he did a awesome job at writing this mystery and the research for back in this time in history! I will be looking for more of his works! Get your "I Spy" hat on and help solve this mystery of what these crooks are really looking for! This is the 4th of a series where you have the famous Sherlock Holmes daughter involved,so you know it's in her blood to get "Her Man"

The puzzle of Joanna Holmes!

Valuable art works being slashed and damaged has Joanna and husband John along with Watson (and young son Johnny) searching for the culprit. The plot becomes complicated, involving art dealers, restorers and art collections reaching into rarified circles.
As fitting, the mystery is multi-layered. Joanna Blalock-Watson is the picture of aloof intellect, removed from others, as her brain makes connections. That is softened a couple of times when Joanna's concern for her family group is evident. Son Johnny and the mention of cholera has her taking charge immediately. Loved the health regimes instituted and the social distancing. It means more at this current time. Still I find Joanna a mostly distant figure. The actual mystery the Holmes/Watsons are involved in didn't lose my interest, but for some reason I found myself dropping in and out of reading this novel. This wasn't a page turner for me. Does Joanna's aloofness play so much into the story that I felt separated and to some extent uninvolved? Perhaps this is it. Joanna's husband John (Watson's son) recounts the story. This means the writing appears once removed from the main character. Maybe that's why I have trouble identifying with Joanna. Her actions are reported through John's eyes. I am more engaged with him as he expresses or reports on Joanne's detection path and her emotional reactions. An interesting mystery, but for me Joanna is the biggest mystery.

A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley

A fun and intriguing read that reminded me of the original Sherlock Holmes tales. The protagonist in this story is Holmes's daughter who now solves the most difficult and impossible mysteries. Lately, in the west end of London, a criminal broke into art galleries and private homes to slash valuable paintings of women. The Scotland Yard contacts Joanna and the Watsons in order to solve these crimes and capture the responsible. Joanna and the Watsons venture to the crime scenes, they discover that although the canvases are slashed, their backings remain intact without any cuts. This criminal is not any delinquent, Joanna thinks the criminal is searching for something concealed behind the portraits. I enjoyed the personality of Joanna, how she observes things that no one does. She is exceptional, I also liked the description of London during this time. It is the classic Sherlock Holmes environment with some twists. I thank NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Deception by Leonard Goldberg is a mystery being solved by Joanna, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler; her husband, John Hudson, Jr; and her father-in-law, John Hudson. It is very Sherlockian with Joanna, especially being every bit as observant and intuitive as her father, with the Hudsons lending their won expertise when necessary. It is about a person who is breaking in and vandalizing great works of at. At first it appears to be simple vandalism, but soon it becomes apparent that the vandal has a purpose beyond destruction. It is up to the trio to determine that purpose and thereby catch the criminal. Of course, they do, with absolutely amazing results.

I am a huge Sherlock fan and have read many series that purport to be continuations of the original, though a wife, or a child. This is one of the better. It is too easy for an author to simply use the name Sherlock Holmes to solve a typical mystery, without those special touches. Goldberg adheres to the things, which made Holmes special, especially his powers of observation and his ability to compile disparate, and seemingly unrelated, clues to solve the mystery. Joanna is not nearly as odd as her father. She has a son, whom she loves, and she has a life, with Hudson, Jr. She lives beyond her ability to solve crimes. She is also an astute reader of personalities beyond the physical things she can observe. The Art of Deception is a wonderful book. Very satisfying. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of The Art of Deception from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theartofdeception

Here we are with the fourth book in this wonderful historical series. It's just days before Christmas 1916 and there is a crime to be solved by the investigating trio of Joanna - daughter of the great man, Sherlock Holmes, a widow now married to John Watson, Jr.with Watson Senior as the third member of the group. They make a formidable team with Joanna taking the lead. Lestrade pays them a visit with a puzzle in need of a solution - uncover the identity of a man who is breaking into upper crust homes and posh art galleries to slash paintings of women. The vandalism is very precise and all of the attacks turn out to have a connection to the gallery of Hawke and Evans. If the villain isn't caught soon the damage to the gallery's bottom line could put them out of business. All Lestrade has is an old worn and smelly scarf as a clue, having been left at the crime scene. Not to worry, Joanna is her father's daughter and the scarf holds more than enough information for the investigating to begin.
From the high end art galleries and talk of Old Masters to the world of Wormwood Scrubs prison and lockpicks, the days before Christmas are busy, indeed for Joanna and the Watsons. Add to the mix, Joanna's son is brought home to London when his school suffers an outbreak of cholera, the disease that killed Joanna's first husband and now threatens her beloved son.
I enjoy historical mysteries and am a fan of Sherlock Holmes so this series was quick to earn its place on my must be read list. The clues to the puzzle are doled out bit by bit, the setting is perfect and the pace fits the period. Joanna is the female version of Sherlock and I love watching the way her mind works. Some might say she's a know it all and arrogant, etc. but then, so was her father. Spending time in 1916 with Joanna and the Watsons is always reading time well spent for this reader. I'm looking forward to reading about their next investigation.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy inn exchange for my honest review.

This 4th installment of the series was quite enjoyably entertaining. Complex crime, and gory details that make the sights and smells all too real. I really like this series that Mr Goldberg has written.