Another fun installment of the Lady Sherlock series. I felt like this mystery was a little more "typical murder mystery" than the last couple of books, with less direct physical danger to the main characters during the story and a slightly more straightforward resolution. There was also more progress on the romantic arc (yay!), though much still remains for future installments. This was a satisfying read that left me smiling, and I will await the 6th book as eagerly as I awaited this one.

Inspector Treadles, Charlotte Holmes’s police collaborator, has been found locked in a room with two dead men, both of whom worked with his wife at the manufacturing enterprise she has recently inherited.

Rumors fly. Had Inspector Treadles killed the men because they had opposed his wife’s initiatives at every turn? Had he killed in a fit of jealous rage, because he suspected Mrs. Treadles of harboring deeper feelings for one of the men? To make matters worse, he refuses to speak on his own behalf, despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

Charlotte finds herself in a case strewn with lies and secrets. But which lies are to cover up small sins, and which secrets would flay open a past better left forgotten? Not to mention, how can she concentrate on these murders, when Lord Ingram, her oldest friend and sometime lover, at last dangles before her the one thing she has always wanted?

The fifth in the Lady Sherlock series picks up where the last book left off. DO NOT read these books out of order. They build on each other and, without the previous books, the secondary plot featuring Olivia Holmes and Charlotte's relationship with Lord Ingram would make little sense.
I enjoy this series quite a lot. It's interesting (and frustrating) to see how a female is forced to maneuver in this time period and this entry also brings in how race also plays into it. Watson has always been my favorite character in the Holmes canon and Joan is fantastic.
Looking forward to the sixth entry in the series.

This was a good book in the vein of Sherlock Holmes. This is the first book by this author I have read and I thought it was very well written. i really liked that it was a female Sherlock Holmes and I loved how she solved the mystery. This book kept me guessing until the end about who did it. I thought this was a great mystery and I will definitely be checking out other books in this series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This series continues to impress. I am so excited every time I see a new book come out! I've recommended it to so many people, and everyone's loved it. This book focuses on Inspector Treadles, and whether he could possibly be guilty of the crime he's been accused of. There's a lot of secrets, of course, but it all pays off in the end. Highly recommended for all. You could start here with the series, but I do heartily recommend reading the others.

I think this is the 5th book in this series and the stories get better and more complicated with each new book.

In Sherry Thomas' latest Lady Sherlock book, Charlotte is called to aid Alice Treadles -- whose husband, Inspector Treadles, has been accused and arrested for the murder of two men -- both of whom were closely involved in the business that Alice inherited and has been running. Has Inspector Treadles done the unthinkable? And will he accept Charlotte's help, despite his misgivings about her approach? Meanwhile, Charlotte and Lord Ingram continue to navigate the questions around their own relationship, and its power dynamics: since their relationship shifted in "The Valley of Fear," where are they headed? And when each of them wants the other, does that make them vulnerable?

This has been my favorite volume of Sherry Thomas' series in a long while -- not that I've found any of them to drag. But it was especially satisfying to see Charlotte and Lord Ingram working so closely in tandem to help Alice Treadles, and navigating their own questions about each other in the process. If the main mystery is tangled up in the ambitions of one woman to run a business, then the romantic arc delicately (and satisfyingly!) is about their ambitions towards each other.

Ambition serves as a thematic foundation throughout the novel -- and the characters who appear as Charlotte, Lord Ingram, and Mrs. Watson work towards a solution present many different types of ambitions: positive, negative, and bewildering. I hope that some of the side characters (especially Mrs. Sullivan and Miss Longstead) prove to be set-ups for future plots -- it certainly seems plausible that they could be.

Though I think this novel *could* be a starting point to the series if it had to, readers will be rewarded by starting at the beginning and working towards it, so that the character development pays off.

Murder on Cold Street, the fifth book in Sherry Thomas’ acclaimed Lady Sherlock series picks up immediately where the previous book (The Art of Theft) left off, so if you haven’t read it yet, then you might want to wait to read this review until you have.  In fact, there will probably be spoilers for other titles in the series here, and while in some respects these novels are standalone mysteries, the character relationships and some plot arcs are ongoing and you’ll get more out of the later books if you’ve read at least some of the earlier ones.

Right at the end of The Art of Theft, after Charlotte, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson and Livia had returned from their latest escapades in France, a buoyant Lord Ingram, finally resolved on putting himself out there as regards his feelings for Charlotte, was diverted from his purpose by the news that his friend, Inspector Robert Treadles, had been arrested on suspicion of murder.  While it’s true that Lord Ingram’s friendship with the inspector had cooled a little in recent months on account of the policeman’s disapproval of Charlotte’s being the brains behind the formidable Sherlock Holmes, she and Lord Ingram are no less determined to do everything they can to discover the truth and prove the Inspector’s innocence.

This is going to be rather difficult however, as comes to light when Mrs. Treadles arrives in Baker Street to engage Sherlock to work on her husband’s behalf.  She explains that he was found covered in blood,  gun in hand, in a locked room with two men who had been shot to death, and that as far as Inspector Brighton – who is in charge of the investigation -  is concerned, Treadles is guilty and it isn’t going to take much to convict him.

At this initial meeting, it’s obvious to both Charlotte and Lord Ingram that Mrs. Treadles is holding something back from them, and any pressure they try to exert causes Mrs. Treadles to insist ever more steadfastly that there’s nothing else they need to be aware of.  They tacitly agree not to pursue this further (for now), but know they have to get to the bottom of whatever secret she’s keeping if they’re to gain a proper understanding as to what might have happened on the night of the murders.

Murder in Cold Street is a clever locked-room mystery, and the author keeps us on our toes as we follow Charlotte and Lord Ingram unearthing clues and suspects as they work tirelessly to prove Treadles’ innocence.  We learned in an earlier book in the series that while Mr. and Mrs. Treadles were a devoted couple, things had become a little strained between them of late, ever since she inherited the family business, Cousins Manufacturing, on the recent death of her brother.  Alice – Mrs. Treadles – an intelligent, educated woman, was keen to take up the reins of the business, but her husband wasn’t pleased at her moving beyond the “domestic sphere”.  The two dead men were related to Cousins in some way – one was an employee, the other a former business partner who had also been a mentor to Mrs. Treadles – and when Charlotte suggests that perhaps the deaths are tied to Cousins somehow, a closer look into the company business reveals things that may well have been worth killing over.

As always, the mystery is clever and well-executed, and I really enjoyed watching ‘the gang’ – Charlotte, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson and Penelope – all working together and playing off one another.  Even better is the amount of time that Charlotte and Lord Ingram spend together;  I know, I know, these are mainly historical mysteries, but Ms. Thomas injected so much delicious sexual tension and palpable longing between the couple right from the first book that I – along with many fans, I’m sure –have been eagerly lapping up even the tiniest signs of romantic attachment between them!  I won’t say too much, but there are significant progressions here; Charlotte, always so unperturbable and not at all romantic is displaying some vulnerability when it comes to Lord Ingram, and there’s a greater realisation on her part of his reasons for holding back from her for so long. As for Lord Ingram, well, he’s always been completely swoonworthy, but Ms. Thomas somehow makes him even more dreamy; we’re in his head a fair bit in this book and his thoughts and reflections about his past and his relationship with Charlotte are interesting and insightful. When it comes to their working relationship, they’re so in sync that that they almost don’t need to talk at all, and I loved that. He’s every bit as shrewd and observant as Charlotte is, he’s her intellectual equal as well as a man in love who is ready to accept her, foibles, eccentricities and all, in whatever way she will accept him.  And it’s fairly clear Charlotte is coming to realise something along the same lines.  She prides herself on logic and clear-headed calculation… but Lord Ingram is occupying her thoughts more and more frequently, in a way she’s so far reserved for the finest madeira or plum cake (!)

Throughout the story, Sherry Thomas deftly makes some very pertinent points about societal injustice in the Victorian era without resorting to lengthy polemics or info-dumps.  Mrs. Treadles’ difficulties in assuming control of Cousins Manufacturing due to the misogyny displayed by the all-male management team made me want to spit, and the obliviousness of an otherwise kind and decent man to the fact that his mixed-race niece was frequently made deliberately uncomfortable was both subtle and hard-hitting at the same time.

So, why the A- and not a flat-out A, especially considering I enjoyed so many things about Murder on Cold Street?  Well, I have to admit that I’m getting a little bit frustrated with the Moriarty plotline in the sense that after five books, I still have very little idea what he’s up to in the way of a Master Plan.  He’s this nebulous baddie pulling strings somewhere in the wings, and okay, so he’s a master criminal with his finger in many dastardly pies, but even though, at the end of this book, Lord Ingram warns Charlotte that Moriarty must consider her an enemy now, he’s not inspiring the same sense of dread in me that he obviously is in the characters.  Again, perhaps that’s my fault and I’ve missed (or forgotten) something important.  Even so, Murder on Cold Street is a readable, clever and compelling addition to the series and should definitely be on any historical mystery fan’s Wish List.

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Sherry Thomas has created a series that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would love. Charlotte Holmes a young woman has created a fictional brother, Sherlock, because it isn't the done thing for a female to solve crimes. It is acceptable for a young woman to assist her invalid brother though. The series is delightful and engaging and wonderfully intricate mystery series.

Murder on Cold Street is book five in the Lady Sherlock series. In this latest installment, Charlotte's former friend, Inspector Treadles, is in trouble. Once Inspector Treadles discovered Charlotte was tainted by scandal and the true Sherlock, he distanced himself from her. Now the inspector has been arrested for the murder of two men associated with the business his wife inherited. He was found in a locked room, covered in blood with two dead mean holding the gun that killed them. Only Sherlock, I mean Charlotte Holmes can help the poor man now.

The circuitous route leads every closer to a dangerous villain that could mean the end of Charlotte's world. I look forward to book six in the series very anxiously as I wonder if Charlotte will take the fight to the dastardly fiend!

4.5 stars!
I can’t wait for the next book!
I love the development of the relationship between Charlotte and Lord Ingram!
Great characters, wonderful setting, and a complex mystery.
LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

When Inspector Treadles is found in a locked room, with two stabbed, dead men and with a bloody knife in his hand, he is immediately arrested, and the murders look clear cut. This brings an upset Mrs. Treadles to Charlotte Holmes' (the sister of Sherlock, she has people believe) door, begging her to investigate and get her husband freed. Charlotte, with the help of her assistant, Mrs. Watson, her sister Livia, and her friend Lord Ingram begin to try to unravel a complex web of secrets in time for the Inspector to be spared the gallows, but there are many secrets, and many characters with great stakes in hiding them. Not all writers succeed in continuing the work of great authors (Jane Austen, Ian Fleming, others), but Sherry Thomas brilliantly captures the tone and color of Victorian England with the style and intelligence of Conan Doyle in this hard-to-put-down mystery, Book 5 in her popular "Lady Sherlock Series."

This series continues to delight! I love the premise and am so glad that Sherry Thomas continues to develop the characters as the various mysteries unfold. In this title, I especially appreciated the introduction of Mrs. Treadles, and hope we get to see more of her in future installments. The mystery was interesting and as usual, Charlotte, Mrs. Watson et al solved it with aplomb. I look forward to continuing to recommend this series to library patrons and to reading the next installment myself.

In the fifth installment of the Lady Sherlock series, Charlotte and her companions must work to find the truth when Inspector Treadles is arrested for murder with seemingly overwhelming evidence pointing to his guilt. With humor, romance, and intricate mysteries, this series never disappoints! Murder on Cold Street tantalizes fans with increasing intimacy between Charlotte and Lord Ingram, and expands on earlier books by further developing the Treadles characters. A page-turner that series fans will devour in no time!

Here’s an interesting take on a Victorian murder mystery—Sherlock Holmes is a “she.” Charlotte Holmes is the sister of the infamous “Sherlock” and only a few are aware of her true identity and unique abilities to solve mysteries in his name. As many women were forced to do, Charlotte has adopted a non-assuming identity all the while serving as the true legend behind the lore. Read More..... http://booksuplift.com/murder-on-cold-street/

Lady Sherlock is shocked to hear Inspector Treadle is in jail. He was found in a room with two dead men, covered with blood, and waving his gun at the police officers. The worst part is that he won't speak in his defense. He says nothing except that he's sorry. His wife comes to visit and asks if Sherlock Holmes will help. Lady Sherlock checks and says yes.

Berkley Publishing and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 8th.

Lord Ingram is around. He's getting a divorce and is in love with Lady Sherlock. She's not sure if what she feels for him is love, but she does care for him. He helps her with her investigation.

This is a series and I've enjoyed reading the others and couldn't miss this one. It's also a very good mystery that Lady Sherlock figures out but then has to figure out how to prove it.

The more people she talks to, the more confusing it gets. Then they look st the books for the company they worked at. There is missing money.

Mrs Treadle worked with both men. She was now the owner and operator of the company. Sullivan gave the impression they were close when she didn't like him at all. Now there are rumors they were lovers and that's why her husband killed him.

When they find out where the missing money went, that the inspector's gun had been stolen before the deaths, and who had been in and out of the vacant house, it casts a very different look at the murders.

It was an unusual murder driven by greed. Moriarty is involved which makes it dangerous but Lady Sherlock doesn't give up.

I'm anxious to see how this romance works out. I'll be reading the next book in this series.

Quite the Character Solves Quite the Mystery

If you’re new to the Lady Sherlock books, as I was, a sentence on their premise is appropriate. In the series, Sherlock Holmes is the invention of Charlotte Holmes and Mrs. Watson so that the former can practice her trade as a private investigator in a time and place (Victorian England) when a woman would have been ignored. If that sounds like a promising foundation for historical fiction, let me say that author Sherry Thomas in Murder on Cold Street delivers on it fully. I particularly liked our hero, Charlotte. She’s not constrained by the strict social mores of the time, often being the aggressor in her budding relationship with Lord Ingram Ashburton … although Ash is starting to catch up. She’s adept at reading the emotions of others, even if her own are stunted in most areas except those involving Ash or cake. And her fashion sense is truly outlandish. "Had his retinas not been seared by the Christmas tree dress, her dinner gown would have been the most outlandish thing he witnessed today.” And while that specific sentence may not make it through the final edit of the book, which is set for release on October 6, Charlotte’s audacious look will.

But plot drives mysteries for me, and this one has everything an intelligent whodunit should. At the outset, Inspector Treadles is apprehended in a locked room with two dead men. He’s covered in blood and armed with his service revolver, the apparent murder weapon. And yet, he won’t defend himself. A probable villain soon appears and the primary focus of the mystery shifts to piecing together a timeline and finding motivations. A crime scene that initially seems well contained—an empty house on Cold Street—ends up seeming as busy a subway station at rush hour. But by the end, Holmes, Watson, and their compatriots put it all together. There is even some well-turned commentary on Victorian race relations and a woman’s place in business, all of which resonant well with current times.

My concerns about the book were few and minor. In one case, it seemed that our investigators assumed the importance of a piece of evidence that, in real life, would have probably turned out to be irrelevant. Holmes shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions. As another example, the explanation of how and why two had died in the house felt a bit strained, like a one-in-a-million shot. But overall, the complexity of the situation and the way the pieces came together at the end more than offset these minor issues. Murder on Cold Street is an outstanding read, ready to keep you guessing till the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author (Sherry Thomas), and the publisher (Berkley Publishing Group) for providing a copy of this book. I opted to write this candid review.

I thoroughly enjoy the entire cast of characters in this series. Charlotte's acceptance and embracing of her differences from the accepted "norm" of the time is a great deal of fun, but I always have a little chuckle over her rule about "maximum acceptable chins." Very happy to see her relationship with Lord Ingram progressing, I look forward to further titles in this series!

Sherry Thomas never disappoints! I've been following the Lady Sherlock series for a while (although I don't think you need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one) and I was very excited to get this ARC. The premise of this series is that Charlotte Holmes, a Victorian lady of the ton, does not wish to follow the prescribed path of marrying a dull and controlling husband. Instead she manages to leave home and start a new life using her startling intelligence and deductive skills. She meets and moves in with a widow named Mrs. Watson and the two of them create a fictional Sherlock Holmes, the brother of Charlotte. The most relevant key here is that Sherlock is male and therefore trusted in Victorian society, whereas Charlotte's intelligence is often ignored because of her gender. Throughout this gender bending series Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, and their friends solve some incredible crimes, usually linking back to Moriarty.

In this book specifically, a Scotland Yard inspector that Charlotte has previously worked with is accused of murder, but that makes no sense to anyone who knows the Inspector. Charlotte and her friends keep uncovering clues that point toward the inspector. Meanwhile Charlotte is involved in a touch of romance, even though Charlotte is the most pragmatic person possible. It is a delightful book with a number of twists and surprises, a decent amount of action, and a bit of romance. In addition, this book touches on both the roles of women in business in the Victorian era and the Victorian notions about race.

One of the many things that I truly adore about all the Lady Sherlock books is that they always surprise me. I usually figure out the ending of a novel somewhere close to the beginning. Rarely do I find the ending of a mystery novel unexpected, but Sherry Thomas is utterly brilliant and ALWAYS manages to leave me guessing.

Inspector Treadles has been accused of MURDER and Sherlock Holmes, or rather Charlotte Holmes, is on the case. Charlotte has to unravel a locked room murder mystery to clear Inspector Treadles of murder. Everyone has something to hide and it's up to Charlotte to determine which secrets will help point to the guilty party. Lord Ingram plays a larger role in this book and we finally see some more progress with his romantic relationship with Charlotte. As with anything written by Sherry Thomas, I highly recommend.

The fifth instalment of this series doesn’t disappoint. After the Parisian heist adventure, evil strikes very close to home, putting in jeopardy close friends and allies. Both the plot and the characters’ journeys are moved along in directions I expected and some I didn’t, much to my delight.

Sherry Thomas waves an excellent tale of deceit, bravery, cunning minds, old and new friendships. I am so looking forward the next book because this one set up exciting new plots to come.

The latest entry in the Lady Sherlock series sees another main character accused of murder...this time, it is Inspector Treadles, who has so recently become reconciled with his wife's work outside the home, but now seems unable to tell her (or anyone else) anything that will help explain what he was doing locked in a room with two murdered men. The mystery is convoluted, and once again Charlotte Holmes marshals her forces to hunt down clues in many directions, but the nicest moments are the character growth, particularly for Mrs. Treadles and Lord Ashburton. Sherry Thomas has a deft touch at making the societal injustices of the period apparent and notable, without having her characters issue wooden lectures about anything. It is a refreshing approach to dealing with social justice issues in historical fiction.