A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is a breath of fresh air in the market of historical romances, where one story tends to blend into another. A phenomenal read, and by the time I reached the end, I wanted more! I can't wait for the next book, which comes out in 2017!

Anyway, my review: I became interested in all things Sherlock due to the BBC show Sherlock. That's why I was intrigued when I read the blurb. I wanted to know if Sherry Thomas, whose historical romances I loved, could pull it off. And she did!

I don't read a lot of mysteries, but I thought the mystery here was well done and logical. There are enough red herrings to keep you guessing, and there are also lots of surprising twists and turns in the story--both in Charlotte's life and in the mystery--that would keep you involved until the very end.

For me, one of the factors of this novel's success is the heroine--Charlotte Holmes. She's a very unusual heroine, strong, very smart, her mind runs on a different plane than ours, and I guess it's reasonable to assume that she's modeled after Sherlock Holmes. However, the way the author presented her, Charlotte is not a sociopath. She's just...different, and her powers of observation are top-notch. She's also empathetic, enough that I was rooting for her until the end.

I read somewhere of the author mentioning that the book has strong romantic elements. And I was super happy to see that indeed there was. Hmmm...not to give anything away, there's a strong reason why Charlotte can't be with the man she's interested in/likes/loves, and I like the role reversal here where Charlotte doesn't feel the need to be constrained by society's rules for ladies. Still, I like the conflict, the tension between them, and I hope to see more scenes of the two of them together. It gives me a lot of hope for book 2, where Charlotte needs to work closely with him. All for the good of the Crown, of course. :) I know the original Sherlock didn't end up with anyone, but I hope that won't be the case for Charlotte!

Another thing I want to comment on is the multiple points of view (POV's) employed in this story. One reason for this could be due to the murder investigation, where Charlotte can't be at, so we needed to know things from the POV of Inspector Treadles, who was conducting the investigation at the request/guidance of Charlotte, whom he knew as Sherlock Holmes. While this is different from the usual books that I read, I was surprised to find that I like it, because it also gives me a more well-rounded view of Charlotte, as seen via different people. In line with this, I was glad to see that the inspector is not a cardboard character here. His character is also following its own arc, and I can't wait to see how his story will develop.

Overall, A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is a strong first book in the Lady Sherlock series! If I could give this 10 stars, I would. A gem of a story, I highly recommend it. A must read, especially for Sherlock Holmes aficionados!

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and netgalley for this ARC.

Best new historical romance mystery series I've read in a long time. This book got me so excited. Unique, Delphic, sexy, and just plain good. Ends too fast so we need the next book now.

A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is the first in a new series, Lady Sherlock, by the redoubtable Sherry Thomas. I love a well-done Sherlock riff, and Thomas tells this tale with great panache. The story has rich prose and beautiful characterization, and the mystery in engrossing.

Charlotte Holmes is an unconventional young lady. Struggling to evade a forced society marriage, Charlotte is cast out of the bosom of her family and has to fend for herself in a suddenly inhospitable London. When Charlotte's beloved older sister is suspected of several recent murders, Charlotte figures out not only how to support herself, but how to defend her family from the unwarranted accusation of harboring a killer. Charlotte, with the help of Mrs. John Watson, masquerades as a male detective with the sobriquet of Sherlock Holmes. What fun!

Thomas manages to instill some feminist themes into the story, unsurprising given Thomas' prior works and given the lively conceit of a female Sherlock Holmes. These feminist themes are never overbearing, though, and I find myself cheering for Charlotte and crowing over her successes. Charlotte is brilliant but socially awkward, and she’s a very endearing character.

I love the interweaving of bits from the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into the story. Holmesian fans will be happy at the repeated tipping of the hat to the great Victorian detective. A Study in Scarlet was the first story where Doyle introduces the reader to detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, and so I love the clever incorporation of this for the title of Thomas' first book of the series.

Sherry Thomas’ A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN has a little something for everyone. Mystery, romance, history, and a lovely retelling of our beloved Sherlock Holmes. This is a wonderful start to what is sure to be fantastic series, and my only difficulty is in having to wait for the next book in the series to be released.

A very clever retelling of the Sherlock Holmes legacy. Definitely a series to watch out for. And what a great title!

This book was phenomenal! It was surprising, delightful, and beautifully written. I had to pace myself from finishing this book at once so that I could savor the words and the story line. I am keenly interested in all things Sherlock Holmes related. This reimagining of the classic tale was inventive and so much better than I expected! This novel combined my love for mystery and the quest of an eccentric, but brilliant woman who defies society and makes a name for herself. The plot was cleverly written and marvelous. There were many unanticipated turns and the way that the details of the original books are woven in is intricate and endearing. It is exquisitely written and has an eye for the nuances of the human soul.

Sherry Thomas is one of those authors I pick up to reread when I’m in the slumps. She, along with a handful of authors out there, is one who can weave a tale of romance with élan and keep me coming back for more. Her name alone sold me on this title and as I dug deeper into this story, I was pleasantly surprised at how she weaved this tale in a wholly new genre of the previous tales that I’ve read from her.

The first thing that hit me was, how refreshing to have gender reversal of the famous Sherlock Holmes! This story was fascinating from the get-go. It captured my imagination from page one and held me glued to it until the very end.

This is one of those stories that is filled with complex and three-dimensional characters who elevate this story into a fascinating mystery . Its characters are endlessly entertaining and intriguing. The twists and turns in the story are many and I dare you to figure it out before the vary end.

If the name of the author doesn’t sell you on this story, I bet the “female” Sherlock Holmes will! LOVED IT!

Melanie for b2b

I absolutely loved this book! Cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed reading it. I'm already a Sherry Thomas fan because her books are so much more than romances. That trend continues here, with a fantastic character patterned after the legendary Sherlock Holmes, a well-thought out mystery, and an intriguing tease of a romance. My only disappointment was in the fact that the romance angle was not completed in this book, but I really look forward to the next. I missed the indication that it was to be part of a trilogy--my mistake!
I appreciate and enjoy Thomas's use of language, and that is fully utilized here. The complexity of the characters, and the plot, made me wish the book had not ended. Fantastic! Superb! Highly recommended!!

This is genuinely one of the best Sherlock Holmes adaptations that I've read in recent years (and I've read quite a few of them). Purists and lovers of pastiche might not fancy it but I'm sold hook, line, and sinker. Charlotte Holmes is a delight (her and her maximum 1.6 chins) and each of the other central characters (Mrs. Watson, Livia Holmes, Lord Ingram, etc) are both well developed and well written. The mystery is pleasing (albeit rather less complex than the resolution I had been imagining while reading) and there's quite a bit of subtle nodding to both Doyle's original texts and other well-established adaptations (although some of these may have been coincidental perhaps, I am thinking specifically of what appears to be inferences to Horowitz' <i>House of Silk</i>). I found the pacing pleasant, the prose engaging, and even found the will they/won't they romance acceptable (this is usually where my level of interest flags entirely). I'm keen to read the next volume in 2017 and hope that Ms. Thomas continues the good work.

I truly enjoyed this book. The author did a wonderful job of creating the character of Charlotte and dropping the reader into her story. This book was fun to read, and I cannot wait for the further adventures of Charlotte and her group of friends, family, and associates.
The author puts the reader right into the story from the beginning, and although it is up to the reader to figure a few things out and make some connections, it never feels as though crucial information is missing or being withheld. The reader is left with a desire to keep on going to uncover the secrets that are being revealed.
The author also does a very good job of describing Charlotte and the personality traits that make her unique without making Charlotte seem wooden or unsympathetic. She was relatable and her actions felt true. She had rooting value. I appreciated that.
At the same time, the author was letting the mystery that Charlotte and others were trying to sole develop and unfold. The pacing was very good, and I enjoyed following along as the characters searched for clues.
This was easily the best Victorian-era mystery I have read in a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The little reveal at the very end of the book really piqued my interest for the next installment in Charlotte's career as Sherlock Holmes. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a different take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, and to anyone looking for a well-written, engaging, and fun-to-read mystery.