A Study in Scarlet Women

4.5 star read

Most of the credit is due to the writing and execution (which includes the full cast of characters, the plot that encompassed the crime-solving mystery was brilliantly laid out and flawless, wonderfully pieced together and unraveled for the reader). I'm the biggest Sherlock fan but my favorite form of media to enjoy the many adaptations is TV shows. I'm hesitant when it comes to reading Sherlock adaptations because mystery itself is not a genre I frequent at all. However, I very much enjoy watching them and any detective/lawyer series.

There was no doubt that the author knew how to construct the atmosphere, the fully formed characters and the over-arching mystery, while also introducing the main cast of characters and their backgrounds to lay a strong foundation for future works in the series. The skill and evident quality with which she was able to accomplish all of this in her first novel of the series, reminded me of another Sherlock adaptation series featuring Mary Russell by Laurie R. King. Sherry Thomas's writing, however, portrays a fuller picture of the narrative because she seamlessly works in the the perspectives of those working on the ground of the mystery (Inspector Treables), Sherlock Holmes's brilliant deductions, and those that surround him. All of this is worked in with a thoughtful writing style that doesn't rush the plot and provides the reader with a greater appreciation for all of the characters involved. There was no sense of predictability in the mystery but there was also a level of surprise to personal details about the main characters that was thrilling to discover. The author dropped them in as if we (the reader) were merely watching everything unfold as a third party until such time that we were allowed to know more about it (particularly when we were in whichever character's third-person perspective and only then would the morsel lead to further context and revelations).

My favorite parts were definitely the nod at including little bits of the original Holmes (Baker Street, paraphrasing his well-known philosophy of discovering truths, Watson, etc.) and the inclusion of feminism and power of women. Both of these were by no means cliche or preachy but wonderfully incorporated and greatly appreciated.

Highly recommend to all the Sherlock lovers out there.

The only reason I didn't rate this 5 stars is because I wish more had been included about Lord Ingram and Charlotte's past. Only a glimpse of their history was offered that did not satisfy my curiosity at all, which I can be fairly certain was the author's intention. What troubled me was that even when some of their history was revealed, it didn't really draw me into the “forbidden” attraction that the author was attempting to pull off. I can see that this is going to be something further developed (and possibly more prominent) in future books so I hope it is organically fleshed out as it is the only thing holding the series back.