What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady Sherlock #7
A Tempest at Sea
Charlotte Holmes’s brilliant mind and deductive skills are pulled into a dangerous investigation at sea in the new mystery in the bestselling Lady Sherlock series.
After feigning her own death in Cornwall to escape from Moriarty’s perilous attention, Charlotte Holmes goes into hiding. But then she receives a tempting offer: Find a dossier the crown is desperately seeking to recover, and she might be able to go back to a normal life.
Her search leads her aboard the RMS Provence, sailing from Southampton for the eastern hemisphere. But on the night Charlotte makes her move to retrieve the dossier, in the midst of a terrifying storm in the Bay of Biscay, a brutal murder also takes place on the ship.
Instead of solving the crime, as she is accustomed to doing, Charlotte must take care not to be embroiled in this investigation, lest it become known to those who harbor ill intentions that Sherlock Holmes is abroad and still very much alive.
After feigning her own death in Cornwall to escape from Moriarty’s perilous attention, Charlotte Holmes goes into hiding. But then she receives a tempting offer: Find a dossier the crown is desperately seeking to recover, and she might be able to go back to a normal life.
Her search leads her aboard the RMS Provence, sailing from Southampton for the eastern hemisphere. But on the night Charlotte makes her move to retrieve the dossier, in the midst of a terrifying storm in the Bay of Biscay, a brutal murder also takes place on the ship.
Instead of solving the crime, as she is accustomed to doing, Charlotte must take care not to be embroiled in this investigation, lest it become known to those who harbor ill intentions that Sherlock Holmes is abroad and still very much alive.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2023
435 people are currently reading
9517 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Thomas
35 books7,302 followersUSA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 758 reviews
April 10, 2023
I enjoyed this latest book in the series as it furthers the relationship between Holmes and Lord Ingram. I found the first 100 pages setting up the mystery good, but the story really kicked into high gear after that. Well drawn cast of characters including family members with growth in the characters personalities. This book focused less on Moriarty and more on the murder (Moriarty still is in the background). Really enjoyed the multiple reveals at the end of the book.
March 17, 2023
Is it really any surprise that we loved this book? We're obsessed with the Lady Sherlock series, and A Tempest at Sea worked to move along the overall arc of the series while also presenting a contained mystery. This was especially exciting for us, since (we have to admit) that Moriarty has been getting a little overbearing. Although the Moriarty influence was not missing entirely from this installment of the book, it was not an integral part of the mystery. You see, Charlotte is aboard the RMS Providence incognito. She's searching for information on Moriarty on behalf of Lord Remington Ashburton, Lord Ingram's older brother, who is an agent of the British government and can guarantee her and her friends a measure of safety from Moriarty. However, in the midst of her search (which has plenty of accomplices and arcane hijinks), another passenger is murdered. Charlotte is obviously the best-placed person to discover the killer, but she has to be careful: any misstep will also reveal her secret mission for the crown.
The sea voyage is a perfect opportunity for a closed circle mystery, since the pool of suspects is necessarily limited to the passengers who are aboard. And this cast of characters is like a "Best Of" reunion tour: in addition to Charlotte, Livia, Ingram, and Mrs. Watson, both Mr. and Mrs. Roger Shrewsbury and Lady Holmes make reappearances, plus a featuring role for Inspector Brighton, who first appeared in Murder on Cold Street. Who knew that Roger Shrewsbury, of all possible characters, could provide so much comic relief without losing an ounce of his privileged oafishness?
Sherry Thomas employs her mastery of her craft, especially her use of the flashback scene, keeping the reader in the dark about the timeline of certain events. But we also never lose the simmering tension between Ingram and Charlotte, even when she's disguised as an elderly lady for the majority of the time. The only problem with the book? We're already ready for the next one to come out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
The sea voyage is a perfect opportunity for a closed circle mystery, since the pool of suspects is necessarily limited to the passengers who are aboard. And this cast of characters is like a "Best Of" reunion tour: in addition to Charlotte, Livia, Ingram, and Mrs. Watson, both Mr. and Mrs. Roger Shrewsbury and Lady Holmes make reappearances, plus a featuring role for Inspector Brighton, who first appeared in Murder on Cold Street. Who knew that Roger Shrewsbury, of all possible characters, could provide so much comic relief without losing an ounce of his privileged oafishness?
Sherry Thomas employs her mastery of her craft, especially her use of the flashback scene, keeping the reader in the dark about the timeline of certain events. But we also never lose the simmering tension between Ingram and Charlotte, even when she's disguised as an elderly lady for the majority of the time. The only problem with the book? We're already ready for the next one to come out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
July 29, 2023
If I wasn’t so busy at work that I’m hardly able to follow a grocery list, let alone a Holmesian murder mystery, I would have devoured this Charlotte Holmes installment in one sitting.
Maybe because Thomas served her readers her take on a closed room (okay, closed boat) murder (not unlike Death on the Nile) without the often complicated layer of Moriarty machinations, I really enjoyed this one.
What she did offer was disguises, friends and foes in unlikely places, and that old biddy, Lady Watson. (Not exactly a spoiler but the ending was divine for our Watson-like Livia). I loved the smaller ship setting and the plethora of red herrings running up and down the ship’s corridors.
I enjoyed this one from start to finish!! Already looking forward to the next one!!
Maybe because Thomas served her readers her take on a closed room (okay, closed boat) murder (not unlike Death on the Nile) without the often complicated layer of Moriarty machinations, I really enjoyed this one.
What she did offer was disguises, friends and foes in unlikely places, and that old biddy, Lady Watson. (Not exactly a spoiler but the ending was divine for our Watson-like Livia). I loved the smaller ship setting and the plethora of red herrings running up and down the ship’s corridors.
I enjoyed this one from start to finish!! Already looking forward to the next one!!
December 23, 2022
An enjoyable addition to the series. With everyone trapped on a boat it has the feel of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile only with the twist of Charlotte Holmes having to stay hidden from the other passengers. It's a tightly woven plot that kept me guessing -- not an easy feat anymore. I very much enjoyed the reunion with familiar characters and introduction to new ones. A great read for those who love historical mysteries with an edge of suspense
June 21, 2023
I usually look forward to Sherry Thomas’ books, but to be frank, this latest episode in the Lady Sherlock series was a bit of a disappointment. It had a few brief moments of its usual greatness, but overall it lacked the explosive and witty repartee between its lead characters, and it lacked action. It amounted to nothing more than three quarters of the story of Lord Ingram listening to multiple and repeated long-winded interrogations by an annoying Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Brighton, who just happen to be aboard ship to investigate the murder. And yes, there is a confusing murder which has more subtext and twist and turns to it than a coiled snake. But missing was Charlotte’s usual cynical and razor-edged sharp tongue haranguing some deserving soul, though she did play a marvelously constructed character in costume as the elderly Mrs. Ramsey. But we didn’t get nearly enough of her, or Livia, or Mrs. Holmes, who were also along, but rarely heard from. The end was satisfactory, but I was disappointed. Hopefully, Ms. Thomas hasn’t run out of ideas for this series and her delightful characters. The beginning and end were worth the read, but the middle not so much and I found myself skipping, hoping and praying for something to jump out at me worthy of attention. After five stars for the rest in the series, only three stars for this one. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
May 15, 2023
I enjoyed the mystery here quite a lot and much more than in the previous couple of books. The closed circle setting of a passenger ship provides a terrific, taut who-done-it that only Sherlock Holmes can unravel. The murder victim is highly unlikable and the suspect list is lengthy with plenty of reveals that shed light on central characters from the series. From start to finish, the book races along to its dramatic conclusion with multiple reveals from suspects.
As with most historical mystery/romance series, I equally anticipate developments in the personal stories of the main characters, especially when there is an entire year between each book. In this now seventh book, we have a smidge of movement from Charlotte in that she is growing more reflective about her future with Ash, and she is becoming more comfortable asserting her desire and love for him. That was all wonderful to see. Sadly, I think that is just about the limits of character progress. Livia is still pining for Stephen Marbleton, wherever he is. Charlotte is still trapped in a life of disguises that, while at first felt innovative and exciting, now feels claustrophobic, and dare I say, unappealing for a young woman in love. In recent books she was a paunchy, ribald man who made everyone cringe from her deliberate social ineptness. Here she is a septuagenarian, free to move about sleuthing as well as hiding from her enemies, but forced to live under heavy, wrinkly makeup, wigs, and elderly clothing. Thomas's narrative insists that Ash overlooks all of this in his unrequited lust for Charlotte. I had my doubts. I'm also not sure if the constant references to the makeup ruining Charlotte's skin and the painful rashes she endured nearly the entire book is meant to invoke heroism, but for me, I pretty much felt uncomfortable and tired of the subterfuge. I want Charlotte to be allowed to be Charlotte.
I will also just say that I'm not entirely persuaded by the Evil of Moriarity. For me, the stories are too much tell rather than show now where he's concerned. I know there's a reason why his minion is on the boat with Charlotte and gang, but I can't remember now why except that Moriarity is everywhere. I want to feel afraid or thrilled but I'm mostly just bored and really hope this series picks up.
As with most historical mystery/romance series, I equally anticipate developments in the personal stories of the main characters, especially when there is an entire year between each book. In this now seventh book, we have a smidge of movement from Charlotte in that she is growing more reflective about her future with Ash, and she is becoming more comfortable asserting her desire and love for him. That was all wonderful to see. Sadly, I think that is just about the limits of character progress. Livia is still pining for Stephen Marbleton, wherever he is. Charlotte is still trapped in a life of disguises that, while at first felt innovative and exciting, now feels claustrophobic, and dare I say, unappealing for a young woman in love. In recent books she was a paunchy, ribald man who made everyone cringe from her deliberate social ineptness. Here she is a septuagenarian, free to move about sleuthing as well as hiding from her enemies, but forced to live under heavy, wrinkly makeup, wigs, and elderly clothing. Thomas's narrative insists that Ash overlooks all of this in his unrequited lust for Charlotte. I had my doubts. I'm also not sure if the constant references to the makeup ruining Charlotte's skin and the painful rashes she endured nearly the entire book is meant to invoke heroism, but for me, I pretty much felt uncomfortable and tired of the subterfuge. I want Charlotte to be allowed to be Charlotte.
I will also just say that I'm not entirely persuaded by the Evil of Moriarity. For me, the stories are too much tell rather than show now where he's concerned. I know there's a reason why his minion is on the boat with Charlotte and gang, but I can't remember now why except that Moriarity is everywhere. I want to feel afraid or thrilled but I'm mostly just bored and really hope this series picks up.
October 26, 2023
Halloween Bingo 2023
I love this series! I bought this newest volume back when it first came out, but kept finding my library books demanding my attention. Easy to let this volume sit, since I knew I owned it. But I finally decided to shove it to the front of the line and I'm glad that I did.
It is not only an homage to Arthur Conan Doyle's creations (Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Moriarty), it is also strongly reminiscent of several of Agatha Christie's works. It reminds me strongly of Murder on the Orient Express, just set on a boat instead of a train. Everyone is contained and they just happen to have a member of Scotland Yard aboard and when murder is discovered, this man is pressed into service and he commandeers Lord Ingram to be his note taker.
Now, Lord Ingram and Charlotte Holmes are on the ship as part of their own investigation and Charlotte is in disguise as she is avoiding the attentions of Moriarty's followers. This complicates things for her, as she follows two lines of inquiry at the same time. Lord Ingram is at once glad to be so close to the official investigation and alarmed that Holmes could be exposed, depending on the enthusiasm of the investigator.
Thomas also looses Charlotte's mother, Lady Holmes, into the mix. Her sudden appearance on the ship discomfits Olivia Holmes, who was finally getting to travel to longed for destinations and enjoy herself a bit. Having their mother show up casts a shadow over Livia's pleasure. Lady Holmes reveals her true colours immediately, and her own stubborn pride and class consciousness lands her in the middle of a murder case.
Thomas writes a very Agatha Christie ending, very cleverly wrought. Hopefully the next book will reveal that Charlotte will acquire Lord Remington's protective aegis and be able to appear in public as herself again. If you have read this far, you will likely be as impatient as I am for a HEA for Olivia Holmes. Thomas gives us a hint that she may get to at least see her beloved in the next installment. Fingers crossed!
I have the Day of the Dead square on my bingo card, but I used my Alice in Wonderland wild card, and abracadabra! I read this book instead.
I love this series! I bought this newest volume back when it first came out, but kept finding my library books demanding my attention. Easy to let this volume sit, since I knew I owned it. But I finally decided to shove it to the front of the line and I'm glad that I did.
It is not only an homage to Arthur Conan Doyle's creations (Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Moriarty), it is also strongly reminiscent of several of Agatha Christie's works. It reminds me strongly of Murder on the Orient Express, just set on a boat instead of a train. Everyone is contained and they just happen to have a member of Scotland Yard aboard and when murder is discovered, this man is pressed into service and he commandeers Lord Ingram to be his note taker.
Now, Lord Ingram and Charlotte Holmes are on the ship as part of their own investigation and Charlotte is in disguise as she is avoiding the attentions of Moriarty's followers. This complicates things for her, as she follows two lines of inquiry at the same time. Lord Ingram is at once glad to be so close to the official investigation and alarmed that Holmes could be exposed, depending on the enthusiasm of the investigator.
Thomas also looses Charlotte's mother, Lady Holmes, into the mix. Her sudden appearance on the ship discomfits Olivia Holmes, who was finally getting to travel to longed for destinations and enjoy herself a bit. Having their mother show up casts a shadow over Livia's pleasure. Lady Holmes reveals her true colours immediately, and her own stubborn pride and class consciousness lands her in the middle of a murder case.
Thomas writes a very Agatha Christie ending, very cleverly wrought. Hopefully the next book will reveal that Charlotte will acquire Lord Remington's protective aegis and be able to appear in public as herself again. If you have read this far, you will likely be as impatient as I am for a HEA for Olivia Holmes. Thomas gives us a hint that she may get to at least see her beloved in the next installment. Fingers crossed!
I have the Day of the Dead square on my bingo card, but I used my Alice in Wonderland wild card, and abracadabra! I read this book instead.
March 21, 2023
4.5 stars The reason it isn't 5 stars is that Charlotte is not on page very often due to plot necessities.
I was so happy to see a new book in this series and it did not disappoint. Charlotte Holmes, Lord Ingram, Olivia Holmes, Mrs Watson are all in fine form in this volume.
Very intricate plot, what with a tricky murder mystery co-existing with a heist. I love that the author found a way to get so many of our continuing characters on the good ship RMS Provence. All of the new characters were equally interesting, from Miss Norbert (maid to Lady Holmes), Mr Gregory (dashing gentleman) to Mr Arkwright(successful Australian), and Mr Russell (troublemaker). Also on board is the ruthless Inspector Brighton, and at least one unidentified minion of Moriarity's.
I'm not going to say much about the plot, as the fun is in watching it unfold.
Another area that brought me great pleasure was watching the evolving emotional depth in Charlotte's feelings for Lord Ingram. Sigh... so romantic!
Now comes the waiting, waiting, waiting, for the next book. I shall probably spend part of that time re-reading the previous books, as I am loathe to say farewell to these characters.
I was so happy to see a new book in this series and it did not disappoint. Charlotte Holmes, Lord Ingram, Olivia Holmes, Mrs Watson are all in fine form in this volume.
Very intricate plot, what with a tricky murder mystery co-existing with a heist. I love that the author found a way to get so many of our continuing characters on the good ship RMS Provence. All of the new characters were equally interesting, from Miss Norbert (maid to Lady Holmes), Mr Gregory (dashing gentleman) to Mr Arkwright(successful Australian), and Mr Russell (troublemaker). Also on board is the ruthless Inspector Brighton, and at least one unidentified minion of Moriarity's.
I'm not going to say much about the plot, as the fun is in watching it unfold.
Another area that brought me great pleasure was watching the evolving emotional depth in Charlotte's feelings for Lord Ingram. Sigh... so romantic!
Now comes the waiting, waiting, waiting, for the next book. I shall probably spend part of that time re-reading the previous books, as I am loathe to say farewell to these characters.
June 22, 2024
2024 reread:
Even knowing this time through who the killer was, I still was on the edge of my seat (and then questioning if I did in fact know!)
10/10. No notes.
Genre: historical mystery
1887, aboard a ship in the Bay of Biscay
A ship may be a means of travel, but it’s also the perfect place for a murder! Charlotte, assumed dead and traveling incognito, is aboard the RMS Provence. Also onboard are her sister Livia, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, and a surprising cast of other characters including Roger Shrewsbury (best known for ruining Charlotte’s reputation) and his wife, a Scotland Yard inspector, Lady Holmes, and almost certainly a suspected Agent of Moriarity. Charlotte is aboard to locate something for Ash’s brother Remington, and she, Ash, and Mrs. Watson have laid out a complex plan involving multiple costume changes and the typical complicated Sherlockian strategy. But then a passenger is murdered and suddenly everyone is a suspect! And since she’s incognito, Charlotte must rely on her friends to help her solve this latest mystery.
I love a murder mystery on a boat, especially one as small as the RMS Provence. There are only so many people aboard, anyone could have committed the murder, and yet everyone seems to have had a reason not to!
A Tempest at Sea does a lot of work as the 7th book in a series. There’s the major mystery (murder!), the minor mystery (what is Charlotte looking for), the what-the-heck-is-Lady-Holmes-doing-on-board mystery, and multiple other moving plot lines, all of which both tie the book to the main story arc with Moriarty and push the series forward into what feels like a next phase. And at the same time, I never once felt like Tempest lacked as a story in and of itself, such is the nature of Sherry Thomas’s character development and storytelling.
Even though tonight is the last night of the #LordIngramAppreciationSociety gatherings of #KissAndLetMeTeleChat), I’m already looking forward to rereading them! Now that I know the solutions to all the mysteries, I’ll be curious to go back and reread and pick up more details!
This whole series is 5 for me. Read them in order, and don’t worry about waiting until the series is finished. Sherry Thomas herself recommends the audiobooks narrated by Kate Reading, and so do I.
Even knowing this time through who the killer was, I still was on the edge of my seat (and then questioning if I did in fact know!)
10/10. No notes.
Genre: historical mystery
1887, aboard a ship in the Bay of Biscay
A ship may be a means of travel, but it’s also the perfect place for a murder! Charlotte, assumed dead and traveling incognito, is aboard the RMS Provence. Also onboard are her sister Livia, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, and a surprising cast of other characters including Roger Shrewsbury (best known for ruining Charlotte’s reputation) and his wife, a Scotland Yard inspector, Lady Holmes, and almost certainly a suspected Agent of Moriarity. Charlotte is aboard to locate something for Ash’s brother Remington, and she, Ash, and Mrs. Watson have laid out a complex plan involving multiple costume changes and the typical complicated Sherlockian strategy. But then a passenger is murdered and suddenly everyone is a suspect! And since she’s incognito, Charlotte must rely on her friends to help her solve this latest mystery.
I love a murder mystery on a boat, especially one as small as the RMS Provence. There are only so many people aboard, anyone could have committed the murder, and yet everyone seems to have had a reason not to!
A Tempest at Sea does a lot of work as the 7th book in a series. There’s the major mystery (murder!), the minor mystery (what is Charlotte looking for), the what-the-heck-is-Lady-Holmes-doing-on-board mystery, and multiple other moving plot lines, all of which both tie the book to the main story arc with Moriarty and push the series forward into what feels like a next phase. And at the same time, I never once felt like Tempest lacked as a story in and of itself, such is the nature of Sherry Thomas’s character development and storytelling.
Even though tonight is the last night of the #LordIngramAppreciationSociety gatherings of #KissAndLetMeTeleChat), I’m already looking forward to rereading them! Now that I know the solutions to all the mysteries, I’ll be curious to go back and reread and pick up more details!
This whole series is 5 for me. Read them in order, and don’t worry about waiting until the series is finished. Sherry Thomas herself recommends the audiobooks narrated by Kate Reading, and so do I.
March 9, 2023
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas is the 7th book in the author’s popular Lady Sherlock series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but reading the series in order will enhance your understanding of the characters.
Story Recap:
Charlotte Holmes is in hiding in order to escape Moriarty’s unwanted attention. Then she gets an assignment to find a dossier for the crown and she boards the RMS Provence to complete the assignment. While on board ship, a brutal murder happens. But, Charlotte is unable to help in the investigation as she’s hiding out and in disguise. She can’t let anyone know that she is still alive and on board the ship.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book. And I’m going to read the entire series and catch up before the next book comes out. The whole Sherlock Holmes is a woman in Victorian England is such a fun take on the traditional stories.
I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout this book as we raced against time to solve the murder. I loved all the twists and turns this story took. Since Charlotte is trapped on the ship, this mystery is similar to a locked room mystery in that everyone on the ship is a suspect and nobody and leave.
The characters are what make this series so special. I love Charlotte, she’s intelligent as well as independent, and her friends are all very special too.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend A Tempest at Sea to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas is the 7th book in the author’s popular Lady Sherlock series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but reading the series in order will enhance your understanding of the characters.
Story Recap:
Charlotte Holmes is in hiding in order to escape Moriarty’s unwanted attention. Then she gets an assignment to find a dossier for the crown and she boards the RMS Provence to complete the assignment. While on board ship, a brutal murder happens. But, Charlotte is unable to help in the investigation as she’s hiding out and in disguise. She can’t let anyone know that she is still alive and on board the ship.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book. And I’m going to read the entire series and catch up before the next book comes out. The whole Sherlock Holmes is a woman in Victorian England is such a fun take on the traditional stories.
I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout this book as we raced against time to solve the murder. I loved all the twists and turns this story took. Since Charlotte is trapped on the ship, this mystery is similar to a locked room mystery in that everyone on the ship is a suspect and nobody and leave.
The characters are what make this series so special. I love Charlotte, she’s intelligent as well as independent, and her friends are all very special too.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend A Tempest at Sea to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Want to read
March 28, 2022I CAN'T WAIT
May 2, 2023
Playing dead, pursuing a political intrigue, relaxing on a voyage at sea, and then a murder has to go and complicate it all. One of my most anticipated books and the latest installment of a highly acclaimed Victorian era mystery series was a smash hit for me.
A Tempest at Sea is the seventh installment of a series that has built to this point with several ongoing threads so that this does not make a good standalone though there is a standalone murder mystery in each book.
Charlotte Holmes is in hiding from the threat of brilliant villain, Moriarty, but she is not idle. She’s building slowly bit by bit a relationship with Lord Ingram, working on a ticklish political espionage case with Ingram’s older brother in exchange for protection against Moriarty, caring for the needs of her dysfunctional family, and trying to keep her love of food from causing her to reach maximum double chins.
Combining business with pleasure, Charlotte and Mrs. Watson are settling sail on the passenger steamer RMS Provence where they will look for a secret German dossier that is hopefully hidden among the goods of a certain German governess aboard while enjoying a holiday trip with Lord Ingram and his party consisting of his children, Charlotte’s sister, Livia, and her companion.
But, their plans get three added complications- Charlotte and Livia’s mother shows up unexpectedly, a temperamental wealthy businessman gets murdered, and Inspector Brighton who knows them from a previous case is there to spot Charlotte even in disguise if she is noticed solving the murder. But, the murder must be solved so the voyage doesn’t draw Moriarty’s notice or Brighton’s suspicions.
I had such a good time with this one. I love murder mysteries set on a ship which heightens the suspense because they all know they are stuck with a murderer. And, I loved that there were lots of moving parts so that more than one mystery is being investigated and Charlotte and the gang have several suspicious characters who have secrets and maybe have something to do with their cases.
But, an added layer of deliciousness is seeing Charlotte and Ash’s relationship progress and the intriguing family complication of Lady Holmes stirring up trouble. Charlotte’s disguise as Mrs. Ramsay was a hoot.
A splendiferous outing with this latest installment and the disappointment of needing to wait another year for the next release in the series. Aside from the delight of a gender-bender Sherlock Holmes set up, historical mystery fans would enjoy a rousing good mystery with each book so I most emphatically recommend these.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy Apr 17th.
A Tempest at Sea is the seventh installment of a series that has built to this point with several ongoing threads so that this does not make a good standalone though there is a standalone murder mystery in each book.
Charlotte Holmes is in hiding from the threat of brilliant villain, Moriarty, but she is not idle. She’s building slowly bit by bit a relationship with Lord Ingram, working on a ticklish political espionage case with Ingram’s older brother in exchange for protection against Moriarty, caring for the needs of her dysfunctional family, and trying to keep her love of food from causing her to reach maximum double chins.
Combining business with pleasure, Charlotte and Mrs. Watson are settling sail on the passenger steamer RMS Provence where they will look for a secret German dossier that is hopefully hidden among the goods of a certain German governess aboard while enjoying a holiday trip with Lord Ingram and his party consisting of his children, Charlotte’s sister, Livia, and her companion.
But, their plans get three added complications- Charlotte and Livia’s mother shows up unexpectedly, a temperamental wealthy businessman gets murdered, and Inspector Brighton who knows them from a previous case is there to spot Charlotte even in disguise if she is noticed solving the murder. But, the murder must be solved so the voyage doesn’t draw Moriarty’s notice or Brighton’s suspicions.
I had such a good time with this one. I love murder mysteries set on a ship which heightens the suspense because they all know they are stuck with a murderer. And, I loved that there were lots of moving parts so that more than one mystery is being investigated and Charlotte and the gang have several suspicious characters who have secrets and maybe have something to do with their cases.
But, an added layer of deliciousness is seeing Charlotte and Ash’s relationship progress and the intriguing family complication of Lady Holmes stirring up trouble. Charlotte’s disguise as Mrs. Ramsay was a hoot.
A splendiferous outing with this latest installment and the disappointment of needing to wait another year for the next release in the series. Aside from the delight of a gender-bender Sherlock Holmes set up, historical mystery fans would enjoy a rousing good mystery with each book so I most emphatically recommend these.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy Apr 17th.
March 16, 2023
Oh, Happy Days!
September 21, 2022
I binge-read the first six books of the Lady Sherlock series after my friend MarilynW caught my attention with her excellent review of the first book, Study in Scarlet Women. After my first delightful romp through Victorian England with the charming and devious Charlotte Holmes, I was hooked. Real mysteries, full of action and suspense, with subtle humor, and just a touch of romance.
A Tempest at Sea finds Charlotte on a mission to find a dossier the crown is desperately seeking. Following her suspect, she disguises herself as an elderly lady and boards a ship along with her partner, Mrs. Watson. To her surprise, almost everyone Charlotte cares for is also on board. When a passenger is found brutally murdered, she has to find the real killer to clear her mother, the most obvious suspect. The fun part is she must do her investigations while keeping her old lady persona so perfect, even her own mother and sister don't recognize her. This is book seven of the series and it won't be available until March 14, 2023. So you have plenty of time to read the first six Lady Sherlock mysteries. Highly recommended!
February 23, 2023
I adore this series and for very good reason, it really does have it all. Great mysteries that keep you guessing, romance, the camaraderie between all the wonderful characters, an amazing historical setting, and for fans of the original Sherlock Holmes series, a wonderful twist of the real mastermind and inner workings of who Holmes is. Truly Sherry Thomas knows what she is doing. With fabulous writing, amazing characters, and always an intriguing storyline, this series keeps improving, and I can't recommend it enough.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
March 15, 2023
Get ready for the latest book in the next book in the exciting Lacy Sherlock series. In the previous title, Miss Moriarty, I Presume, Charlotte Holmes felt she had no choice butbt9 fake her death from her arch-enemy Moriarty. She has found that donning many a costume, she could still move about.
For years, Charlotte has made a name for herself - as Sherlock Holmes, the impressive and intuitive detective. Living in a world that depends on status and appearances, Charlotte has had no choice, but to use deception whenever necessary to soft case after case.
Requested to locate a missing, dossier, Charlotte boards, the RMS Provence. While on board the ship, Charlotte does what she can to find that missing Das year. However, not only is there a terrific storm that could turn the ship on its side, a murder occurs, which proves to be a real distraction.
On the ship as well are the man that has snagged her heart, Lord Remington, Ashburton, as well as his children. Also, her mother and sister Livia are on board. As Charlotte must remain disguised the entire time, her mother is fully unaware of her presence. Now that a murder has taken place, Charlotte and Ash, as well as Mrs. Watson, they have determined to find the killer before they get to port.
While they have no shortage of suspects, one thing is patently clear, the killer is indeed still on the ship. Since Charlotte was requested by the crown to locate that missing dossier, her role in locating the killer is diminished, leaving Ash and an inspector who is also on board to try and locate the killer.
These stories in this series are very engaging, and I have loved getting to know all of the characters. Somehow the talented Sherry Winters has been able to include most of the characters that have appeared in previous books in this series. With skill and talent, she uses flashbacks, as well as current situations, in order to keep the reader fully engaged as the search for the identity of the killer is discovered. We definitely need the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 19, 2023
I think I might be….done with this series. Honestly this book was fine. The mystery was decent, albeit convoluted, but the inexplicable jumping around in timelines was frustrating. Charlotte remains herself and I loved getting Ash’s POV - we got to see some good pining as they figure out the next phase of their relationship. But I truly cannot keep up with 8 books worth of subplots and side characters, all of which are continually brought up and important. Maybe if I binge read the whole series I wouldn’t have issues recalling past events and it wouldn’t bother me, but with a year and a half between books I just really don’t enjoy the new installments anymore.
March 23, 2023
Seven books in and I’m finding it increasingly hard to keep the moriarity story line straight in my head. I’m also wishing the whole moriarity story line would end already or at least pause . This book could have also been 50 pages shorter if Lord Ingrams anxiety over getting caught had not been described every three pages. Other than that it was fine.
March 13, 2023
While each of the novels in this series contains a mystery to solve, it is recommended that you listen/read in the order of their release. This review may contain spoilers to previous books, although I have taken pains to avoid them.
After the events of the previous book, Charlotte needs to slip away from Moriarty’s attention. When she receives a case to find a dossier for the crown, her investigations lead her to the Provence. With the help of her friends and sister, arrangements are made for the voyage.
From the moment they boarded, things go wrong, from previous scandals to Charlotte’s own mother boarding the ship. I of course, was all in. As they make plans to retrieve the dossier, a storm hits in the Bay of Biscay and someone commits murder.
Unlike previous stories, Charlotte cannot be in the investigation’s thick, since she is in hiding. If she isn’t careful, the investigator will uncover the fact that she is on board. Of course, this doesn’t stop her from investigating and carefully reading over the shorthand notes on the case. It was great fun, particularly when Charlotte’s mother seems like the likeliest suspect.
As always, the tale is rich with wonderful characters, lots of red herrings and plenty of mischief. From disguises to stolen kisses, I was swept out to sea.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job of narrating Sherlock Holmes and the rest of the cast. Her pacing and tones enhance the tale, making listening my preferred choice for this series.
Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, slow-burning romances, intriguing historical mystery and brilliant characters. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
After the events of the previous book, Charlotte needs to slip away from Moriarty’s attention. When she receives a case to find a dossier for the crown, her investigations lead her to the Provence. With the help of her friends and sister, arrangements are made for the voyage.
From the moment they boarded, things go wrong, from previous scandals to Charlotte’s own mother boarding the ship. I of course, was all in. As they make plans to retrieve the dossier, a storm hits in the Bay of Biscay and someone commits murder.
Unlike previous stories, Charlotte cannot be in the investigation’s thick, since she is in hiding. If she isn’t careful, the investigator will uncover the fact that she is on board. Of course, this doesn’t stop her from investigating and carefully reading over the shorthand notes on the case. It was great fun, particularly when Charlotte’s mother seems like the likeliest suspect.
As always, the tale is rich with wonderful characters, lots of red herrings and plenty of mischief. From disguises to stolen kisses, I was swept out to sea.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job of narrating Sherlock Holmes and the rest of the cast. Her pacing and tones enhance the tale, making listening my preferred choice for this series.
Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, slow-burning romances, intriguing historical mystery and brilliant characters. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 30, 2023
4.5 stars
Charlotte is on a boat! Disguised as an outrageous old lady (for reasons that are obvious if you've read the previous book in the series, but I don't want to spoil that part). Mrs. Watson and Lord Ingram are also there, obviously. Charlotte and Ash are still bonking (yay!) For reasons of extreme plot contrivance, it seems like a large part of the people who have crossed paths with Charlotte in earlier books are also present on this voyage, including Livia and her mother; whatshisface who deflowered Charlotte and whose wife then made a massive scandal out of it; as well as the police detective who investigated the murder case involving Inspector Treadles.
Surprising no one, there's a murder (during a terrible storm) and Charlotte cannot get directly involved. Lord Ingram has to act as stenographer for the police inspector who takes it upon himself to question everyone, to see if they can solve the murder before reaching land (where they have to let the passengers disembark, and the murderer will have a chance to escape). While there were quite a few early plot contrivances, I'm happy with it, because this book was a lot of fun, and the dreaded Moriarty was mostly entirely absent from the plot. I totally called the identity of plot moppet nr 2 relatively early on, but I'm sure lots of other people did too, this was clearly not supposed to be one of the central mysteries of the story. Charlotte had to solve a murder while having to remain in disguise and only gathering clues indirectly was really interesting. More like this, Ms. Thomas. Moriarty sucks. Fun, clever stories like this instead.
Charlotte is on a boat! Disguised as an outrageous old lady (for reasons that are obvious if you've read the previous book in the series, but I don't want to spoil that part). Mrs. Watson and Lord Ingram are also there, obviously. Charlotte and Ash are still bonking (yay!) For reasons of extreme plot contrivance, it seems like a large part of the people who have crossed paths with Charlotte in earlier books are also present on this voyage, including Livia and her mother; whatshisface who deflowered Charlotte and whose wife then made a massive scandal out of it; as well as the police detective who investigated the murder case involving Inspector Treadles.
Surprising no one, there's a murder (during a terrible storm) and Charlotte cannot get directly involved. Lord Ingram has to act as stenographer for the police inspector who takes it upon himself to question everyone, to see if they can solve the murder before reaching land (where they have to let the passengers disembark, and the murderer will have a chance to escape). While there were quite a few early plot contrivances, I'm happy with it, because this book was a lot of fun, and the dreaded Moriarty was mostly entirely absent from the plot. I totally called the identity of plot moppet nr 2 relatively early on, but I'm sure lots of other people did too, this was clearly not supposed to be one of the central mysteries of the story. Charlotte had to solve a murder while having to remain in disguise and only gathering clues indirectly was really interesting. More like this, Ms. Thomas. Moriarty sucks. Fun, clever stories like this instead.
June 17, 2024
A Tempest at Sea
4 Stars
After accepting an assignment for the Crown, Charlotte Holmes finds herself aboard the RMS Provence on a quest to locate a secret dossier. But Charlotte's plans are curtailed when another passenger is murdered, and she must do the impossible - investigate without revealing to her nemesis that she is very much alive.
Series note: The series has an ongoing story arc and must be read in order.
With this Death on the Nile style shipboard mystery, Lady Sherlock has returned to the tried and true who-dun-it format, which is much more entertaining than the previous book with its convoluted Moriarty machinations.
As Charlotte is traveling incognito, much of the actual investigation is carried out by Lord Ingram, which is an interesting change. Readers are provided a rare glimpse into his thoughts, feelings and concerns about the case and Charlotte.
The traditional mystery format and limited setting make it possible to identify the villain by process of elimination although the motive is more opaque as the necessary details are only revealed toward the end. The secondary plot focusing on the location of the secret dossier is somewhat overshadowed by the murder, but the final twist, i.e., that , is a doozy.
As always, the characters are a delight. Considering the size of the ship, it is interesting that so many familiar faces put in an appearance. Some are to be expected like Mrs. Watson, Miss Olivia and Lord Ingram but others are a surprise. There are also several new and intriguing characters who I believe we will be seeing again.
In sum, the series is back on track with A Tempest at Sea. Hopefully, it will continue in this vein.
4 Stars
After accepting an assignment for the Crown, Charlotte Holmes finds herself aboard the RMS Provence on a quest to locate a secret dossier. But Charlotte's plans are curtailed when another passenger is murdered, and she must do the impossible - investigate without revealing to her nemesis that she is very much alive.
Series note: The series has an ongoing story arc and must be read in order.
With this Death on the Nile style shipboard mystery, Lady Sherlock has returned to the tried and true who-dun-it format, which is much more entertaining than the previous book with its convoluted Moriarty machinations.
As Charlotte is traveling incognito, much of the actual investigation is carried out by Lord Ingram, which is an interesting change. Readers are provided a rare glimpse into his thoughts, feelings and concerns about the case and Charlotte.
The traditional mystery format and limited setting make it possible to identify the villain by process of elimination although the motive is more opaque as the necessary details are only revealed toward the end. The secondary plot focusing on the location of the secret dossier is somewhat overshadowed by the murder, but the final twist, i.e., that , is a doozy.
As always, the characters are a delight. Considering the size of the ship, it is interesting that so many familiar faces put in an appearance. Some are to be expected like Mrs. Watson, Miss Olivia and Lord Ingram but others are a surprise. There are also several new and intriguing characters who I believe we will be seeing again.
In sum, the series is back on track with A Tempest at Sea. Hopefully, it will continue in this vein.
March 14, 2023
Another terrific addition to Thomas's Lady Sherlock series. I like how she's developping Charlotte emotionally and please, more Ash, Lord Ingram! A more detailed review at my blog:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/202...
Please note I receive an e-ARC from Berkley, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review, which does not influence my opinion.
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/202...
Please note I receive an e-ARC from Berkley, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review, which does not influence my opinion.
February 20, 2024
A Tempest at Sea was another fantastic addition to the Lady Sherlock series following Charlotte as she solves a murder at sea.
After faking her own death to escape from Moriarty, Charlotte Holmes is forced into hiding. But Charlotte doesn't enjoy hiding out from the world so when she receives an offer that will get her back to her normal life, she jumps at the chance. Her search for a missing dossier takes her to the RMS Provence where she must go undercover to find the documents before the ship reaches its' destination. But on the night Charlotte plans to retrieve the dossier, a brutal murder takes place on the ship. Now she must take care not to become involved in the investigation before someone learns the great Sherlock Holmes is still very much alive.
A Tempest at Sea picks up a couple of months after the events of Miss Moriarty, I Presume? with Charlotte still in hiding after faking her death. The book opens with Ash telling Charlotte about the crown's offer where if she finds a missing dossier then she will be offered protection from Moriarty. We then jump forward three weeks with the group boarding the RMS Provence as the dossier is rumored to be onboard. I wondered how Charlotte would manage to get onboard as she cannot let anyone know she's alive and I have to say I loved her disguise for this one. The murder on the ship made for an interesting case and with Charlotte not able to become directly involved, I was curious to see how it would play out. Charlotte cannot help herself and doesn't stay fully out of the case but I enjoyed the way she integrated herself into the search for the killer. The ending where the killer was unmasked was fantastically done and I was completely surprised by their identity.
Charlotte continues to be a fascinating character and her ability to uncover information is incredible. The fact she manages to figure out who the killer is while not being directly involved in the case just goes to show you how remarkable she is. Mrs. Watson, Charlotte's ever-present assistant, is once again one of my favorite characters and I enjoyed her scenes in the book. Charlotte's relationship with Ash is still wonderful and I love how perfect these two are for each other. Livia, Charlotte's sister, is also aboard the ship and I've enjoyed how much she's grown over the course of the series. We also see quite a bit of Mrs. Holmes, the girls' mother, in this book and she is a trainwreck. I'm amazed Charlotte and Livia turned out to be functioning people with a mother like her.
Overall A Tempest at Sea was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Ruse of Shadows, when it releases later this year.
After faking her own death to escape from Moriarty, Charlotte Holmes is forced into hiding. But Charlotte doesn't enjoy hiding out from the world so when she receives an offer that will get her back to her normal life, she jumps at the chance. Her search for a missing dossier takes her to the RMS Provence where she must go undercover to find the documents before the ship reaches its' destination. But on the night Charlotte plans to retrieve the dossier, a brutal murder takes place on the ship. Now she must take care not to become involved in the investigation before someone learns the great Sherlock Holmes is still very much alive.
A Tempest at Sea picks up a couple of months after the events of Miss Moriarty, I Presume? with Charlotte still in hiding after faking her death. The book opens with Ash telling Charlotte about the crown's offer where if she finds a missing dossier then she will be offered protection from Moriarty. We then jump forward three weeks with the group boarding the RMS Provence as the dossier is rumored to be onboard. I wondered how Charlotte would manage to get onboard as she cannot let anyone know she's alive and I have to say I loved her disguise for this one. The murder on the ship made for an interesting case and with Charlotte not able to become directly involved, I was curious to see how it would play out. Charlotte cannot help herself and doesn't stay fully out of the case but I enjoyed the way she integrated herself into the search for the killer. The ending where the killer was unmasked was fantastically done and I was completely surprised by their identity.
Charlotte continues to be a fascinating character and her ability to uncover information is incredible. The fact she manages to figure out who the killer is while not being directly involved in the case just goes to show you how remarkable she is. Mrs. Watson, Charlotte's ever-present assistant, is once again one of my favorite characters and I enjoyed her scenes in the book. Charlotte's relationship with Ash is still wonderful and I love how perfect these two are for each other. Livia, Charlotte's sister, is also aboard the ship and I've enjoyed how much she's grown over the course of the series. We also see quite a bit of Mrs. Holmes, the girls' mother, in this book and she is a trainwreck. I'm amazed Charlotte and Livia turned out to be functioning people with a mother like her.
Overall A Tempest at Sea was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Ruse of Shadows, when it releases later this year.
March 12, 2023
Murders at sea are even more claustrophobic and self-contained than the traditional English cozy house murder. When a murder occurs on shipboard, the suspect pool and the detectives, whether any of the above are professionals or mere amateurs of convenience, are all stuck with each other and bereft of outside help, information or escape until the ship reaches port.
(If the idea of a shipboard mystery sounds like fun, try A Restless Truth by Freya Marske. It’s also a fun shipboard historical mystery, but with more than a touch of spells and magic.)
There’s no possibility of scapegoating a mysterious outsider on a ship, once it’s out of range of land, as the RMS Provence certainly is by the time that Jacob Arkwright’s body is found. Charlotte Holmes, AKA Sherlock Holmes, can be certain that his murderer is among the small number of passengers and crew already aboard.
It should be an easy case for her to solve. And it would be, if Charlotte, even if she has to masquerade as Sherlock yet again, was traveling as herself. Or as even as himself.
They’re not, and that’s where all the sticky wickets come in and stick themselves quite firmly to Charlotte’s person, traveling incognito as the redoubtable – and quite real if otherwise occupied – Mrs. Ramsay.
It’s a mask that Charlotte can’t afford to drop – and not just because suddenly revealing her subterfuge will make her the primary suspect in the murder. Even though she and her friends and colleagues aboard ship fear her unmasking at every turn.
Because the detective who just so happens to be aboard the Provence is none other than the intelligent and implacable Inspector Brighton, a Scotland Yard CID investigator that Holmes got the better of – read as exposed that the Inspector’s implacability had sent him barking up the wrong suspect tree – in Murder on Cold Street.
Murder investigations uncover all kinds of secrets that their keepers would prefer to remain secret, whether they have anything at all to do with the case at hand or not. Charlotte’s travel arrangements do not, but the Inspector would very much enjoy exposing her all the same.
An exposure that would have potentially deadly consequences for Charlotte and all she holds dear. So she is forced to work through others to lead the investigation to a truth that will expose the murderer while keeping Charlotte and her purpose for being aboard hidden in the shadows.
It’s not an easy job, but it’s all in a day’s – or at least a voyage’s – work for Sherlock Holmes. With just a little more help than usual from her friends.
Escape Rating B+: After the events of the previous book in the series, Miss Moriarty, I Presume? Charlotte is presumed dead after facing Moriarty in her own personal version of the original Holmes story, The Final Problem. Hence Charlotte’s need to travel incognito.
Charlotte may be hiding from Moriarty aboard the Provence, but she is also in search of a solution to her dilemma. While Moriarty is hunting her, she is hunting him. Or at least, she is hunting his agents and their documents, at the behest of this world’s version of Mycroft. Who is not, in this case, her brother, but rather the brother of her friend and lover, Lord Ingram Ashburton.
Charlotte has made a deal with Lord Remington, AKA Mycroft. If she finds a particular stolen document, he’ll grant her official protection by his office, a protection that is potentially deadly to Moriarty if breached.
That Remington seems to have hampered her investigation at every turn – or at least that his agents have – is probably fodder for the next book. (I sincerely hope!)
Aboard the Provence, the game is very much afoot in a way that Charlotte can’t afford to play as herself for fear of exposure to Moriarty’s agents aboard the ship. Leaving Lord Ingram to serve as her eyes and ears while Charlotte and Mrs. Watson do a bit of surreptitious investigation in the persons of a couple of old biddies and Charlotte’s mother nearly lies her way into a murder charge.
It’s not all fun and games, but it is quite a bit of a lark for the reader as misdirection and mistaken identities abound at every turn. Charlotte is in her element while her friends battle their own nerves on her behalf.
As much as I enjoyed the mystery in this tempest, the way the story was told didn’t quite work as well as it might have – at least for this reader. The mystery is investigated and revealed in two tracks.
The first track is the investigation as it proceeds from day to day as the ship steams from Portsmouth to Gibraltar, with Lord Ingram serving as Inspector Brighton’s amanuensis as he interviews the potential suspects and goes further and further astray.
And then we go back in time a bit and observe Charlotte’s and Ingram’s real discovery of the murder, and their attempts to both cover up that initial discovery, hide Charlotte’s true identity, set up a series of subterfuges AND do a much more thorough and successful investigation of the crime while hiding more or less in plain sight.
The slips between those two tracks weren’t always obvious to me as the reader, although that may be a result of reading the electronic Advance Reading Copy and this will not be an issue for readers holding the final version of the book in their hands or devices.
That niggle aside, the mystery was still fascinating. I loved watching Charlotte work while hiding behind the kind of character masking that the original Holmes did so well – instead of hiding behind Sherlock Holmes himself.
I’m very glad that Charlotte Holmes’ adventures are clearly not over at the conclusion of this case, because this reinterpretation of the Holmes’ canon just gets better and better as the characters become more firmly developed and we get more firmly invested in them.
As Charlotte managed to complete her assignment, in spite of the interference of conducting an undercover murder investigation during her undercover operation, I’m looking forward to what happens next in her continuing story, whenever it may appear.
Originally published at Reading Reality
(If the idea of a shipboard mystery sounds like fun, try A Restless Truth by Freya Marske. It’s also a fun shipboard historical mystery, but with more than a touch of spells and magic.)
There’s no possibility of scapegoating a mysterious outsider on a ship, once it’s out of range of land, as the RMS Provence certainly is by the time that Jacob Arkwright’s body is found. Charlotte Holmes, AKA Sherlock Holmes, can be certain that his murderer is among the small number of passengers and crew already aboard.
It should be an easy case for her to solve. And it would be, if Charlotte, even if she has to masquerade as Sherlock yet again, was traveling as herself. Or as even as himself.
They’re not, and that’s where all the sticky wickets come in and stick themselves quite firmly to Charlotte’s person, traveling incognito as the redoubtable – and quite real if otherwise occupied – Mrs. Ramsay.
It’s a mask that Charlotte can’t afford to drop – and not just because suddenly revealing her subterfuge will make her the primary suspect in the murder. Even though she and her friends and colleagues aboard ship fear her unmasking at every turn.
Because the detective who just so happens to be aboard the Provence is none other than the intelligent and implacable Inspector Brighton, a Scotland Yard CID investigator that Holmes got the better of – read as exposed that the Inspector’s implacability had sent him barking up the wrong suspect tree – in Murder on Cold Street.
Murder investigations uncover all kinds of secrets that their keepers would prefer to remain secret, whether they have anything at all to do with the case at hand or not. Charlotte’s travel arrangements do not, but the Inspector would very much enjoy exposing her all the same.
An exposure that would have potentially deadly consequences for Charlotte and all she holds dear. So she is forced to work through others to lead the investigation to a truth that will expose the murderer while keeping Charlotte and her purpose for being aboard hidden in the shadows.
It’s not an easy job, but it’s all in a day’s – or at least a voyage’s – work for Sherlock Holmes. With just a little more help than usual from her friends.
Escape Rating B+: After the events of the previous book in the series, Miss Moriarty, I Presume? Charlotte is presumed dead after facing Moriarty in her own personal version of the original Holmes story, The Final Problem. Hence Charlotte’s need to travel incognito.
Charlotte may be hiding from Moriarty aboard the Provence, but she is also in search of a solution to her dilemma. While Moriarty is hunting her, she is hunting him. Or at least, she is hunting his agents and their documents, at the behest of this world’s version of Mycroft. Who is not, in this case, her brother, but rather the brother of her friend and lover, Lord Ingram Ashburton.
Charlotte has made a deal with Lord Remington, AKA Mycroft. If she finds a particular stolen document, he’ll grant her official protection by his office, a protection that is potentially deadly to Moriarty if breached.
That Remington seems to have hampered her investigation at every turn – or at least that his agents have – is probably fodder for the next book. (I sincerely hope!)
Aboard the Provence, the game is very much afoot in a way that Charlotte can’t afford to play as herself for fear of exposure to Moriarty’s agents aboard the ship. Leaving Lord Ingram to serve as her eyes and ears while Charlotte and Mrs. Watson do a bit of surreptitious investigation in the persons of a couple of old biddies and Charlotte’s mother nearly lies her way into a murder charge.
It’s not all fun and games, but it is quite a bit of a lark for the reader as misdirection and mistaken identities abound at every turn. Charlotte is in her element while her friends battle their own nerves on her behalf.
As much as I enjoyed the mystery in this tempest, the way the story was told didn’t quite work as well as it might have – at least for this reader. The mystery is investigated and revealed in two tracks.
The first track is the investigation as it proceeds from day to day as the ship steams from Portsmouth to Gibraltar, with Lord Ingram serving as Inspector Brighton’s amanuensis as he interviews the potential suspects and goes further and further astray.
And then we go back in time a bit and observe Charlotte’s and Ingram’s real discovery of the murder, and their attempts to both cover up that initial discovery, hide Charlotte’s true identity, set up a series of subterfuges AND do a much more thorough and successful investigation of the crime while hiding more or less in plain sight.
The slips between those two tracks weren’t always obvious to me as the reader, although that may be a result of reading the electronic Advance Reading Copy and this will not be an issue for readers holding the final version of the book in their hands or devices.
That niggle aside, the mystery was still fascinating. I loved watching Charlotte work while hiding behind the kind of character masking that the original Holmes did so well – instead of hiding behind Sherlock Holmes himself.
I’m very glad that Charlotte Holmes’ adventures are clearly not over at the conclusion of this case, because this reinterpretation of the Holmes’ canon just gets better and better as the characters become more firmly developed and we get more firmly invested in them.
As Charlotte managed to complete her assignment, in spite of the interference of conducting an undercover murder investigation during her undercover operation, I’m looking forward to what happens next in her continuing story, whenever it may appear.
Originally published at Reading Reality
October 23, 2024
Easily my favorite mystery of the whole series. Small scale, limited cast mysteries are my favorite. There’s no better way to do them than by keeping everybody locked in forced proximity on a ship like the RMS Provence while every character simultaneously tries to solve and cover up aspects of a murder on board. It was so clever to include a bunch of old familiar (but not welcome) side characters that happened to be on the voyage as well to get tangled up in everything. I loved all of Charlotte’s disguises and how the story would jump back in time to recontextualize the mystery in the context of the greater schemes of Charlotte and Co. Even if I figured out most of the answers before they were revealed, this was definitely the book that I felt most excited about the big cheesy whodunit reveal at the end.
Now for the arduous wait for the next book, since it’s a new release, it has a 12 week hold waiting list at my library. I know I should be lucky that I was able to make the first seven books all line up well enough to read them together, but I am taking this moment to be grumpy anyway.
Now for the arduous wait for the next book, since it’s a new release, it has a 12 week hold waiting list at my library. I know I should be lucky that I was able to make the first seven books all line up well enough to read them together, but I am taking this moment to be grumpy anyway.
March 16, 2023
I've given this a B at AAR
I did a Pandora's Box (joint) review with Dabney Grinnan on this one; neither of us was wildly enthusiastic about the book, although I enjoyed the mystery more than she did. And while I'm a massive Sherry Thomas fan, this series isn't working for me the way it once did; we're at book seven and I still have no real sense of what the overarching plotline is actually about, and I'm not sure I care all that much about Charlotte and Ash's relationship any more - it's been way too drawn out. The jury's out on whether I'm going to continue with this series.
* * * * * *
Caz: This installment in the Lady Sherlock series is very much like one of those mid-season stand-alones in a long-running TV series, when the story arc is mostly suspended in favour of a single, self-contained episode. As it happens, that self-contained episode is an interesting “closed circle” mystery set aboard ship, combined with some well-observed character interactions and insightful commentary. It’s a welcome change from the previous book (Miss Moriarty, I Presume?) which I described (in our review) as “a culmination of all that has gone before”, a drawing together of all the puzzle pieces so far laid out that made, ultimately, for a pretty dense read. A Tempest at Sea feels lighter in tone. The threat to Charlotte is still very much in existence, but it’s less prominent here and the murder mystery takes centre stage.
Dabney: Um…. no. For me, this was an even less pleasant read than Miss Moriarty, I Presume? It took me months to finish this book. I found it both dull and confusing. As much as it pains me–and, honestly I can barely believe I’m writing this–if this is what Sherry Thomas is writing these days, I’m simply not interested.
Caz: I admit, it takes quite a while to get going and I really struggled through the first forty percent or so until things picked up, and once that happened, I started to enjoy it.
Can we talk about the overarching plot? Although I enjoyed this book a bit more than the last one, I’m finding it hard to remain invested (or interested, really) in the whole Holmes vs. Moriarty thing. I feel like I’m being asked to take it as read that Moriarty is a threat to Charlotte simply because he’s Holmes’ accepted nemesis. He’s pulling strings behind the scenes, but I’m not getting an overall sense of menace because I don’t really know what he wants – other than Charlotte out of the way, of course.
You can read the rest of this review/discussion at All About Romance.
I did a Pandora's Box (joint) review with Dabney Grinnan on this one; neither of us was wildly enthusiastic about the book, although I enjoyed the mystery more than she did. And while I'm a massive Sherry Thomas fan, this series isn't working for me the way it once did; we're at book seven and I still have no real sense of what the overarching plotline is actually about, and I'm not sure I care all that much about Charlotte and Ash's relationship any more - it's been way too drawn out. The jury's out on whether I'm going to continue with this series.
* * * * * *
Caz: This installment in the Lady Sherlock series is very much like one of those mid-season stand-alones in a long-running TV series, when the story arc is mostly suspended in favour of a single, self-contained episode. As it happens, that self-contained episode is an interesting “closed circle” mystery set aboard ship, combined with some well-observed character interactions and insightful commentary. It’s a welcome change from the previous book (Miss Moriarty, I Presume?) which I described (in our review) as “a culmination of all that has gone before”, a drawing together of all the puzzle pieces so far laid out that made, ultimately, for a pretty dense read. A Tempest at Sea feels lighter in tone. The threat to Charlotte is still very much in existence, but it’s less prominent here and the murder mystery takes centre stage.
Dabney: Um…. no. For me, this was an even less pleasant read than Miss Moriarty, I Presume? It took me months to finish this book. I found it both dull and confusing. As much as it pains me–and, honestly I can barely believe I’m writing this–if this is what Sherry Thomas is writing these days, I’m simply not interested.
Caz: I admit, it takes quite a while to get going and I really struggled through the first forty percent or so until things picked up, and once that happened, I started to enjoy it.
Can we talk about the overarching plot? Although I enjoyed this book a bit more than the last one, I’m finding it hard to remain invested (or interested, really) in the whole Holmes vs. Moriarty thing. I feel like I’m being asked to take it as read that Moriarty is a threat to Charlotte simply because he’s Holmes’ accepted nemesis. He’s pulling strings behind the scenes, but I’m not getting an overall sense of menace because I don’t really know what he wants – other than Charlotte out of the way, of course.
You can read the rest of this review/discussion at All About Romance.
March 7, 2023
Welcome aboard the RMS Provence. Get ready for a thrilling sea voyage, full of secrets, mystery, hidden identities, and a splash of swoony romance!
A Tempest at Sea picks up right where the last book ended, with Charlotte has just received a tempting offer from an agent of the crown. The mission is that in exchange for locating a dossier that the crown is searching for, she will receive protection and the chance to return to a normal life. While searching for the dossier, Charlotte ends up on the same sea voyage as her friends and finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation.
Sherry Thomas’s latest installment in the Lady Sherlock series is masterfully crafted. The murder mystery and all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
Since Charlotte can’t risk exposing her identity, she isn't able to conduct an investigation herself and has to work behind the scenes to solve the murder as quickly as possible. As a result, Lord Ingram takes a larger public role in solving this case, and so we get more of his POV. Everyone who follows me on social media probably knows by now that my heart and soul belong completely to Lord Ingram Ashburton.
So it is not surprising how much I loved this book, especially the tender moments that Ash and Charlotte share. I love that they are each growing and changing in subtle ways and understand each other so well. Their romance is progressing very nicely and in a way that makes sense for them and their circumstances. The last line of this book hit me right in the feels.
The entire Lady Sherlock series is phenomenal! With outstanding writing, wonderfully nuanced character development, brilliantly crafted mysteries, and a deliciously slow-burn romance, I highly recommend reading this series. Unfortunately, now there is a magnifying-glass-shaped void in my life. Book eight can’t get here fast enough.
Thank you to Berkley and Net Galley for the eARC.
A Tempest at Sea picks up right where the last book ended, with Charlotte has just received a tempting offer from an agent of the crown. The mission is that in exchange for locating a dossier that the crown is searching for, she will receive protection and the chance to return to a normal life. While searching for the dossier, Charlotte ends up on the same sea voyage as her friends and finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation.
Sherry Thomas’s latest installment in the Lady Sherlock series is masterfully crafted. The murder mystery and all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
Since Charlotte can’t risk exposing her identity, she isn't able to conduct an investigation herself and has to work behind the scenes to solve the murder as quickly as possible. As a result, Lord Ingram takes a larger public role in solving this case, and so we get more of his POV. Everyone who follows me on social media probably knows by now that my heart and soul belong completely to Lord Ingram Ashburton.
So it is not surprising how much I loved this book, especially the tender moments that Ash and Charlotte share. I love that they are each growing and changing in subtle ways and understand each other so well. Their romance is progressing very nicely and in a way that makes sense for them and their circumstances. The last line of this book hit me right in the feels.
The entire Lady Sherlock series is phenomenal! With outstanding writing, wonderfully nuanced character development, brilliantly crafted mysteries, and a deliciously slow-burn romance, I highly recommend reading this series. Unfortunately, now there is a magnifying-glass-shaped void in my life. Book eight can’t get here fast enough.
Thank you to Berkley and Net Galley for the eARC.
March 15, 2023
A Tempest at Sea finds Charlotte Holmes hiding out after her "death"in the previous book. Then she has a chance to regain her life by performing a mission for the government, and ends up on a ship, RMS Provence. Along with almost the entire series cast of characters and some new ones. Charlotte's still in hiding, only a few people know she is still alive, so she has to get creative.
However, a murder shortly after the ship sails means Charlotte has to pivot. In order for her to do her job, the oh-so-inconvenient murder needs to be found. But as she's in hiding, she has to rely more than usual on her friends and associates.
Being confined on a ship gave the mystery a strong locked room feel to the mystery and there were red herrings and twists and turns a-plenty. Thomas kept me guessing on the identity of the killer and I enjoyed the many different perspectives on what happened. I did find that the large cast of characters could get overwhelming and not all of them were really necessary. Also, with so many characters, and a mystery as well as a murder to solve, characters weren't as well fleshed out as previous books. Some of the phrasing was awkward and clunky also.
Still, despite those issues, I enjoyed this book and it kept my attention. I am eager for the next book, and wish we didn't have to wait!
However, a murder shortly after the ship sails means Charlotte has to pivot. In order for her to do her job, the oh-so-inconvenient murder needs to be found. But as she's in hiding, she has to rely more than usual on her friends and associates.
Being confined on a ship gave the mystery a strong locked room feel to the mystery and there were red herrings and twists and turns a-plenty. Thomas kept me guessing on the identity of the killer and I enjoyed the many different perspectives on what happened. I did find that the large cast of characters could get overwhelming and not all of them were really necessary. Also, with so many characters, and a mystery as well as a murder to solve, characters weren't as well fleshed out as previous books. Some of the phrasing was awkward and clunky also.
Still, despite those issues, I enjoyed this book and it kept my attention. I am eager for the next book, and wish we didn't have to wait!
May 26, 2023
Yikes. It's like Thomas got so wrapped up in her locked room mystery that she forget to bring any life to her characters or their relationships. She relied almost totally on the reader's past knowledge of the main characters; nothing much new happened to advance ANY relationship. The mystery was about people I couldn't bring myself to care about. And the ostensible goals of the book for the overarching plot arcs of the series were wrapped up kind of as an afterthought.
This was really not a rewarding read. The plot kept spinning in circles and then could only re-start with a flashback to make anything make sense. I will keep on with the series, but if the next one is not better I might have to stay away until I hear they improve.
This was really not a rewarding read. The plot kept spinning in circles and then could only re-start with a flashback to make anything make sense. I will keep on with the series, but if the next one is not better I might have to stay away until I hear they improve.
May 7, 2023
Ugh! So disappointed the release had been delayed until 3/14/23. I LOOOOVE this series.
So happy the release date hasn’t been moved back on this one, Received this message from Audible, today…
“The next title in Lady Sherlock is coming
March 2023.
Pre-order today. Have it in your library on release day.
A Tempest at Sea
By: Sherry Thomas
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Release date: 03/14/2023
Pre-order now”
So happy the release date hasn’t been moved back on this one, Received this message from Audible, today…
“The next title in Lady Sherlock is coming
March 2023.
Pre-order today. Have it in your library on release day.
A Tempest at Sea
By: Sherry Thomas
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Release date: 03/14/2023
Pre-order now”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 758 reviews