A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked up this book after a friend writer recommended it but I wasn’t quite sure if I’d like it. Even though I love the Sherlock stories and the shows that stemmed from them, I’m a mood reader and reading something about an eccentric man who seems to be totally out of touch with feelings and shows very little empathy for others was not in my top list of things to get lost in.
But Sherri Thomas won me over. This female version of Sherlock is awesome. Yes, the main character is still someone not quite in touch with her feelings, not always empathetic, someone who lives in her own world but Thomas makes it work for me.
The mystery is amazing (I hate to admit it that I never saw it coming) and intricate, the subtle commentary on women’s life back in Sherlock’s times and their lack of even the most basic rights is excellent, and the other characters in the story (her sister, Inspector Treadles, Mrs. Watson, and her love interest, Lord Ingram) are well-developed and interesting. And the writing is fabulous.
What I was not expecting was the romance. No, there’s no “spice”, but man it’s hot!!! The sexual tension between Charlotte (Sherlock) and Lord Ingram is off the charts (especially toward the end of the book) even if never really acted on in this first book in the series.
Highly recommend it and I will be buying the second in the series right away.
Author Natalina Reis 