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Lady Sherlock #6

Miss Moriarty, I Presume?

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Charlotte Holmes comes face to face with her enemy when Moriarty turns to her in his hour of need, in the USA Today bestselling series set in Victorian England.

A most unexpected client shows up at Charlotte Holmes's doorstep: Moriarty himself. Moriarty fears that tragedy has befallen his daughter and wants Charlotte to find out the truth.

Charlotte and Mrs. Watson travel to a remote community of occult practitioners where Moriarty's daughter was last seen, a place full of lies and liars. Meanwhile, Charlotte's sister Livia tries to make sense of a mysterious message from her beau Mr. Marbleton. And Charlotte's longtime friend and ally Lord Ingram at last turns his seductive prowess on Charlotte--or is it the other way around?

But the more secrets Charlotte unravels about Miss Moriarty's disappearance, the more she wonders why Moriarty has entrusted this delicate matter to her of all people. Is it merely to test Charlotte's skills as an investigator, or has the man of shadows trapped her in a nest of vipers?

357 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2021

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About the author

Sherry Thomas

37 books7,020 followers
USA 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

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 999 reviews
Profile Image for MarilynW.
1,584 reviews3,842 followers
November 13, 2024
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? (Lady Sherlock #6)
by Sherry Thomas (Author), Kate Reading (Narrator)

To truly enjoy this series, start at the beginning and read the books in order. Each book builds on the next and I'm entrenched in this world, with characters I care about and locations that seem so familiar now. And it's been a delight, watching the relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Lord Ingram move forward. Stodgy, glum Lord Ingram has become a new man as he is shedding the tethers of a miserable marriage and a wife that never loved him. In the few months since they have last seen each other, Charlotte has entertained herself by sending Lord Ingram extremely suggestive and erotic messages and knitted gifts. Who knew that one would need to hide knitted water bottle covers from others!

But it's not all cakes and candy (Charlotte can never put her waistline before enticing dessert) because Moriarty himself has come to her for help. Knowing that Charlotte and those close to her are in his sights and not safe, Charlotte also knows that it's best to play along with Moriarty, when he requests that Charlotte investigate his daughter's welfare in a remote community of occult practitioners. As usual, so much is not as it seems and it's hard to discern how many more enemies might be out to hinder and harm Charlotte and her friends. Never is each book a self contained unit and now I'm looking forward to the next book. Moriarty doesn't rest and will never forget.

Pub Nov 2 2021 by Penguin Audio
Profile Image for K.J. Charles.
Author 63 books10.8k followers
Read
November 8, 2021
As ever, Sherry Thomas writes wonderfully. This is the sixth Lady Sherlock book, in what is becoming an increasingly dense series, in that the books take place very close together and have incredibly complex interwoven overarching plots and characters. This is admirably cleverly done, but I slightly struggled with following the backstory elements of this one because I still have a case of pandemic brain aka memory like a swiss cheese. Don't start here, is what I mean.

Lovely setting and I enjoyed Miss Moriarty herself. The Ash/Charlotte romance is progressing at last, which is highly satisfying.
Profile Image for Julie .
4,184 reviews38.2k followers
February 11, 2022

Miss Moriarty, I Presume by Sherry Thomas is a 2021 Berkley publication.

Holmes has been retained by the most unlikely client of all- Moriarty himself- under the guise of a 'Mr. Baxter'. Why on earth would he approach Holmes for help?

Well, it would appear his daughter has joined a Pagan religious group, but she has not been seen by his spies in some months. Worried that something bad may have happened, Moriarty requests Holmes investigate matters on his behalf.

Charlotte agrees to take the case, though not really sure what Mr. Baxter's true motives might be,traveling with Mrs. Watson to a remote location only to discover that Miss Baxter is perhaps as cunning as her father, and that she, Charlotte, has been snared in Moriarity's well executed trap...

Nearly every time I read a book in this series, it makes me want to dig into the original Sherlock Holmes stories- some of which I’m quite familiar with, and others only vaguely so. This story ‘borrows’, if you will, from one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's more famous stories, but I'm getting ahead of myself..

This is a great addition to the series! I love me some Victorian Cornwall settings! The atmosphere here is off the charts, but there were some rich, erotic, and humorous tones as the romance between Holmes and Lord Ingram heats up.

Olivia is busy looking for a secret message she is sure Mr. Marbleton is trying to send her. Of all the characters in the series, Olivia’s has struggled to find her niche, and is sometimes all over the place, but her star shone especially bright in this episode.

But, back to the 'original problem'- which I'll leave for you decipher-

Thomas has done a fabulous job with the role reversal in this series, and this book is no exception. The feminist spin is exceedingly well done here. Loved it!

4+ stars
Profile Image for Merry .
794 reviews245 followers
December 3, 2021
First let me say I love this series....just not this book. I think I was so excited to actually have Moriarty interact with Holmes that it could not meet my expectations. The book started out great and I enjoyed the way that Moriarty was portrayed. I just didn't enjoy anything about the compound. Not the story or the puzzles. I wanted more of Moriarty's daughter and interaction with the main characters. I think there must be another book as many loose ends are left dangling. I do hope so and look forward to it. I give it 3.5*
Profile Image for Blackjack.
468 reviews181 followers
November 17, 2021
3.5

The sixth edition to the Lady Sherlock canon should have worked much better as a mystery, but the puzzles to sort through fell strangely flat for me. I greatly enjoyed the personal relationships in the book: Charlotte & Ash's romantic developments, Mrs. Watson & Charlotte's friendship, and the overall teamwork among Livia, Charlotte, Ash, and Mrs. Watson all made the story worth reading. Having said that, I do read this series as much for the skillful mystery and puzzles to sort out, and I hate to say it, but I was bored for much of this book. And almost unforgivably, boredom runs concurrent to Moriarty in the starring role. As a longtime Sherlock Holmes reader, I love stories featuring Moriarty. This should have been to my mind among the best book in this series, but I would be surprised if any reader felt it was.

This book is built around the presumption that Moriarty is on to Charlotte, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. She's been surreptitiously foiling his plans for quite a while. Now he's ready to strike back, and so when he requests a meeting, she knows it is going to take her sharpest skills to be a worthy opponent. Maybe their encounter was overly hyped, but I felt disappointed. If I had to pinpoint one reason, it would probably be that Thomas explains to us ad nauseam that Moriarty is menacing, and I wanted to feel it more for myself. In any case, Charlotte feels coerced into setting off to help the fiendish Moriarty find his wayward daughter, who is apparently hiding out with a religious cult of sorts at a compound called the Garden of Hermopolis. The book's setting shifts dramatically to the isolated drizzly, foggy grounds on the coast to find the elusive Miss Moriarty, if she even exists and regardless of whether Moriarty himself even cares to find her. There is a mystery to be solved here, but the tedious details that lead to some answers left me feeling like I was watching paint dry. To make matters worse, there is a side plot involving Stephen Marbleton, who last we saw was forced to return to consort closely with Moriarty, leaving his beloved Livia behind. Marbleton keeps popping up in London though, leaving the most ridiculously elaborate clues everywhere he goes. I think the book is too clever for its own good at times in creating such obscure puzzles to solve, or I'm just really prone to laughing at things I should take more seriously. So yes, I found, alas, the Marbleton scenes laughable more than anything else, except boredom - I was still bored with these scenes too.

Just when I thought that the book was all talk and no action, action galore occurs in the final 25% percent. It was a relief and fun, though over the top and ridiculous too in its own way. And are we supposed to believe that Moriarty was fooled by any of it? It ends on a seemingly straight note with Charlotte convinced she's pulled a fast one, but come on!

Anyway, thankful for the personal relationship developments. They have always been Sherry Thomas's strong suit and they are here as well.
Profile Image for Barbara Rogers.
1,698 reviews198 followers
October 21, 2021
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Sherlock #6
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Victorian Cornwall
Number of Pages: 368

OMGoodness! This was an exciting, suspenseful, page-flipping, breath-holding, nerve-jangling, heart palpating read. Holmes thought she and her cohorts had managed to obscure their involvement in the Chateau Vaudrieu case (The Art of Theft) where Moriarty was dealt a significant blow. However, it seems that isn’t the case because they are now being watched – the watchers have even rented two flats near their home. One flat has a view of the front and the other flat has a view of the rear. While they don’t like the watchers, they can deal with them. But then, Moriarty himself makes an appearance and asks for Charlotte’s help. Heavens, how she’d love to decline! Since she cannot safely decline the request, she’ll just have to accept and then be alert for whatever behind-the-scenes machinations he is performing. Has Moriarty, now known as Mr. Baxter, finally ensnared the brilliant Sherlock Holmes?

Moriarty’s request is that Holmes travel to the Garden of Hermopolis in Cornwall and assure that his daughter is well. Holmes knows there is more to the request than meets the eye, but she, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, and Mr. Mears leave for Cornwall the very next day. There are some strange goings-on at the Garden and Holmes begins to worry that something sinister may have happened to the young woman. Things get stranger and stranger before Holmes is finally allowed to see a pale, wan, but otherwise healthy-looking Miss Baxter. Relieved, Holmes and her crew leave for London and communicate the good news to their employer.

When that news is met with another demand for services, Charlotte knows there is much, much more to the request than it seems. This time, one of Moriarty’s minions hasn’t been heard from in several months and Moriarty wants Holmes to find out what has happened to him. It doesn’t take Holmes very long to figure out what Moriarty is up to, but thwarting him will depend on the cooperation of a number of other people. Can they pull it off? Can they make Moriarty think he’s won – without actually letting him do so? Can they keep both Holmes and Moriarty’s daughter safe?

We haven’t left Olivia, Charlotte’s sister, and Mr. Marbleton out of the story, they just play smaller roles. While the roles may be smaller, they are pivotal to the characters and probably to future books. I had hoped the Moriarty thing would be solved within the first half-dozen or so books, but he’s still there. I’d at least like to see him get a major set-down so the characters who are currently living in fear can breathe a little easier for a while – especially poor Mr. Marbleton.

My advice is to quit reading this review and begin reading the book. Once you do, you won’t be able to put it down, so have everything you’ll need within an arm’s reach. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Wanda Pedersen.
2,136 reviews462 followers
November 29, 2021
I assume that Sherry Thomas has a plan, because the ending of this installment leaves me with oh so many questions.

Although I still really enjoyed this book, I didn't find it as riveting as previous volumes. Partly because I was able to predict some of it. And I never thought I would say this, but we got far too much of Charlotte and Ash's sex life. It distracted from the intrigue with Moriarty. It also illustrates how difficult it is to maintain plot tension when the romantic couple achieve coupledom. Suddenly, one of this reader's major motivators is gone.

The reappearance of some earlier characters was welcome, as was Olivia's oblique encounters with her beau, Mr. Marbleton. Her anxiety was contagious, making my chest and throat tighten in sympathy. I guess the romantic plot tension is transferred now to this couple.

The outcome of all of these musings is that I will be excited to read the next book, although I won't be on the edge of my seat like I was for this one.
Profile Image for nick (the infinite limits of love).
2,120 reviews1,534 followers
November 13, 2021
4.5/5

Book 6 in the Lady Sherlock series and I’m still as much in love with these books as the first book. What Sherry Thomas, who I’ve declared my favorite author ever, has done with this series is nothing short of incredible. The fact that I’m still so keen on this series is a feat in itself. Typically, I have a hard time following and finishing up book series. Suffice it say, I’m a big fan!

Miss Moriarty, I Presume is an edgier installment that brings Charlotte and her allies in face-to-face with the series notorious villain, Moriarty. And phew! It was wicked fun! To Charlotte’s surprise, Moriarty shows up at her doorstep seeking her help in finding his missing daughter. Charlotte and her friends realize that something is off and things are not what they seem. This book was tense and I was pretty much stressed throughout the entire thing. I’m not sure how Sherry Thomas does it, but she gets me so invested in every aspect of her stories. And I thought that this was up there in the cleverest mysteries of the series.

Of course, this series would not be as good as it was without the incredible cast of characters. Charlotte, as always, is a delight. I love that over the course of these books she’s grown but she’s also just quintessentially herself. Her interactions with Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, and Livia delight me. She has great relationships with them and I love seeing them all team-up to solve the case of the day.

I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews of the Lady Sherlock books that I’m absolute trash for the romance in this series. Y’all, my ship is full-on sailing and I may have screeched like a banshee a time or two reading Miss Moriarty, I Presume. What’s brilliant about it is the fact that the romance is very much in the background, but Sherry’s got me HOOKED.

I would d-word for these two and I want Sherry to write me more scenes of them being domestic, and horny with their little erotic love letters. They just bring me so much joy because they are perfect for each other. All the Charlotte and her beau crumbs were simply the best. Though we got to see them all in love and as a blissful couple here, there were remarks made by Mrs. Watson that had me wondering about the future direction their relationship will take. I AM SCARED because I desperately need a HEA for them.

Finally, this book ended with such a big bang. I know we’re in for one epic ride in the next installment and I have no idea where the author is going, but I am for sure excited for it. Moriarty is sure to cause a lot more trouble and I can’t wait to see how Charlotte and co. take him down.

Content notes: some mild violence

Relationship disclosure: Sherry Thomas and I are mutuals on social media
Profile Image for h o l l i s .
2,627 reviews2,246 followers
December 5, 2021
I can't quite explain my reaction or feelings on this one. As always I went in with low expectations and maybe that helped. But also I just felt both underwhelmed by the unfolding of this one and also kind of like Thomas was leaning into some campiness? The way some of this went about felt a little silly, a little OTT, and -- like a friend observed in her review -- are we actually to believe this will be believed and, ultimately, pan out?

Also, for all the impossible to deduce clues, cyphers, and general puzzling out of things, are you seriously telling me no one guessed the real reason for Miss Moriarty's ailment? Really? Bit perplexing, that.

I will say I motored through this installment in a very short period of time. Not because I was enthralled (see aforementioned underwhelmingness) but it was nonetheless easy reading. While along the way I always seem to lose a bit of interest it's always in the endings that Thomas seems to reel me back in. So here I am, once more reeled.
Profile Image for Caz.
3,038 reviews1,122 followers
November 4, 2021
I've given this a B at AAR

The game is – once again – very much afoot in this sixth installment in Sherry Thomas’  Lady Sherlock  series of clever historical mysteries.  As the synopsis indicates, she finally comes face-to-face with her nemesis – but rather than the expected violent confrontation, ‘Mr. Baxter’ instead wants to engage Holmes’ services to investigate the disappearance of his daughter from a Hermetic (possibly occultist) community in a remote corner of Cornwall.  Of course, Charlotte knows not to take anything at face value, but with no other options available, Charlotte, Lord Ingram and Mrs. Watson head for the Garden of Hermopolis to see what they can find out.  In the meantime, Charlotte’s sister, Livia, is following an intriguing trail of breadcrumbs left by Stephen Marbleton that leads to some very intriguing coded messages which could prove vital in the fight against Moriarty.

I reviewed this one jointly with Dabney Grinnan over at All About Romance .
Profile Image for eyes.2c.
2,946 reviews92 followers
November 2, 2021
What a consuming read!

To come face to face with her nemesis Moriarty is not what Charlotte expected. Moriarty, using the pseudonym Mr. Baxter turns up with Mr. Marbleton to engage Miss Holmes. To be asked to rescue Moriarty’s daughter from a group of occultists in Cornwall—Hermatists is quite the shock. Apparently Moriarty had forced her to return to him but that was short lived. She had returned to the commune with certain obligations. It seems Miss Baxter has been leading Moriarty quite the dance. Engaged to six unsuitable men in fifteen months, he gave into her imploring as he didn’t want to be seen as her ‘jailer.’ Moriarty’s solicitor has not been able to see ‘Miss Baxter.’ Needless there are some alarming aspects. So many things afoot! Just what is Charlotte going to discover. Apart from the fact that Moriarty is able to exercise an hypnotic quality. Pertinent in these days of seances. Miss Baxter’s situation is indeed problematic. Moriarty is endeavoring to control his daughter as much as he controls Marbleton. The irony of Mr. Marbleton’s situation is not lost on either Charlotte or Marbleton. And others have suffered as Moriarty extends that power. As we become well aware.
Charlotte’s sister Livia is fearful of Moriarty’s visit and struck anew by her love for Stephen Marbleton, a man in service to Moriarty. Charlotte is convinced Marbleton has left a message for them. She is desperate to find out what. Livia takes on some of this enquiry.
Lord Ingham becomes involved of course and his and Charlotte’s relationship ratchets up a knot or two. I was in stitches over Charlotte’s rather salacious letters to Ingham. And her knitting! Oh my, she’s deliciously wicked!
Livia has always annoyed me but in this instance I was awed by her determination. She’s coming out of her shell.
Chock full off intrigue, double blinds, red herrings, and quadrupled excitement, this Lady Sherlock episode is a grand statement indeed!

A Berkley penguinrandomhouse ARC via NetGalley
Profile Image for PlotTrysts.
960 reviews396 followers
November 1, 2021
This is a soap opera of a Lady Sherlock book, and we absolutely loved it! The previous books in the series often involved Moriarty as the ultimate villain, but only as the mastermind behind the scenes, not the major mover. As the title suggests, though, in this one Moriarty's machinations are the driver of the plot. Moriarty comes to Charlotte-as-Sherlock to ask for help in confirming his daughter's wellbeing. At the same time, Stephen Marbleton is back on the scene, leaving cryptic messages around London that Livia is scrambling to decode.

It's difficult to talk about the plot because, after all, this is a mystery. That said, it's a mystery that has both a defined solution (what happened to Miss Moriarty?) and also an open-ended inquiry (why did Moriarty ask Charlotte to investigate, and what is his ultimate goal?). This entry in the series has a more apprehensive feel than previous novels (except for perhaps The Hollow of Fear), since Charlotte and co. are under threat the entire time. Despite that, there are also more lighthearted moments as Ingram and Charlotte take the next steps in their relationship. If you're a fan of Lady Sherlock, this one will not disappoint!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Profile Image for aarya.
1,516 reviews19 followers
November 28, 2021
2021 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Author You Love

Very little (comparatively speaking to prior books in the series) happened in the first 80% of the novel. Then fucking everything happened in the last 20%. I need a while to recover from that ending. 😅

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jeannine.
845 reviews78 followers
December 22, 2022
If I was just rating the last 100 pages, I'd give this book 4 stars. The slow meandering of the first 250 pages was a bit difficult to get through and drags my rating down. I got so bored that I stopped reading around page 150 and read some other books for five days.

I love these characters. I love the more playful interactions between Charlotte and Ash. I like Olivia doing some sleuthing on her own.

I knew the climatic action towards the end was the result of plotting that happened behind-the-scenes and unknown to the reader. I wasn't even alarmed by parts there probably were supposed to be because I knew there'd be a big reveal afterwards to let us know that everything went according to plan. I wish I could have been surprised.

The basis for the next book has been laid and I'll definitely read it...but I'm not sure I'll be waiting with baited breath.
Profile Image for Antonella.
3,842 reviews535 followers
November 6, 2021
buddy read with my book bestie Andréa thanks for trying to Sherlock Holmes this book with me..yes I am making it a verb..
until next yearly tradition of reading Lady Sherlock series..

Andréa's fantastic review

important things to know:

- can't be read as standalone
- romance storyline takes a backseat this is mostly a mystery-solving book


Almost a five stars read there were some minor things that annoyed me and could be done differently..


Profile Image for Joanna.
67 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2021
3 stars because I love these characters. Rating this on plot alone, I'd give it 1 star. Nothing actually happens in this book except a lot of hand-wringing about the spectre of Moriarty. That's it. The entire suspense hinges on one character or another letting their imagination run away with what-ifs. And is anyone, least of all Moriarty, fooled by the denouement? ARGH. And don't even talk to me about how far-fetched the Mr. Marbleton subplot is.
Profile Image for Barb in Maryland.
2,017 reviews164 followers
November 14, 2021
4.5 stars for this entry in Sherry Thomas's highly entertaining series. I loved it!

A few thoughts:

The author crams in so many story threads that stretch back to the earlier books that I'm not sure that this book could even be intelligible to a new reader. I was glad I had recently re-read the earlier books before jumping into this one.
I liked that Livia Holmes had an important part to play. I am very fond of Charlotte's sister and admired her determination to do whatever she could to help her beloved Mr. Marbleton.
The opening duel of wits between Charlotte and 'Mr. Baxter' was well done, so full of tension for the reader. We all knew that he was lying about something in his story about his daughter, but just which part was false?
I also enjoyed the newest 'Mr. de Lacey'. He was in way over his head, dreading any encounter with his boss, hoping to survive these meetings with his job (and life!) intact.
Finally, I want to thank Ms. Thomas for expanding my vocabulary. Thanks to her frequent use of the word 'remise', I now know it means 'a hired carriage'. (I had to look it up. I knew it was a type of carriage, I just didn't know what type.)

Now comes the wait for the next book, and I do hate waiting. While this book does not end with a cliff-hanger, there are still so many story threads in need of being tied off.
Profile Image for Mlpmom (Book Reviewer).
3,117 reviews398 followers
November 1, 2021
It's not a mystery if you've ever read one of Thomas' book why this series is so beloved by so many. It truly has absolutely everything in it one could want. Great characters, an outstanding plot line, tension filled mysteries, a little slow burning romance, a fabulous setting, just so much packed into one little story that you can't get enough of and the best part of all, is that some how, even though the books were great from the beginning, they just keep getting better and better.

Truly another outstanding addition to the series that I couldn't get enough of. This was so very hard to put down and kept me on my toes the whole way through. I want to pick it back up and read it all over again because I just wasn't ready for it to be over yet.

I can't recommend this series enough!!

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author 5 books378 followers
December 31, 2021
Review:
The series has built to this moment- a face to face between Charlotte Holmes and Moriarity. Charlotte the brain behind the Sherlock Holmes persona has met her match and feels the danger of playing real life chess with such an opponent. Love this series and could not wait to dive into the pages of this tension-wrought latest installment.

Miss Moriarity, I Presume is book six in a must-read-in-order series.

After the dangers of the previous Christmas, Charlotte has relaxed and enjoyed a budding, tentative relationship with Ash and worked on a few satisfying cases with Mrs. Watson. But, then the request for a meeting comes and Charlotte is face to face than her archenemy Moriarity, himself. He presents her with a new case that she can’t refuse and she knows full well there is something about the case that is a trap. There are also elements about the case that puzzle her because they fit in with past ties. Mrs. Watson is terrified and Ash is determined to be part of the investigation no matter the consequences. Meanwhile, Olivia Holmes pursues her own clues to discover what the lost Mr. Marbleton was trying to tell them just before he was sucked into the Moriarity criminal organization. Can he have left them something that will change the game and give them the upper hand of Moriarity?

I don’t know why I am still surprised at just how much each new book in the series sucks me in and leaves me both sated and in need of more. Some aspects are easy to see the solution, but I do love the clever twists and the way seeming innocuous clues end up having great meaning later on. Much of this book was getting the background on the current case regarding Miss Baxter and pursuing what clue Mr. Marbleton was trying to leave them before his departure. It was also the first real skirmish between Charlotte and Moriarity and that was set up and handled so well that I was holding my breath a few times.

There is also a bit of progress on the romantic relationship, but I thought it was interesting that as Mrs. Watson points out, they are not an easy couple and will always have to work at a compromise since they are so very different in needs and outlook.

A danger-frought climax occurred and the denouement set up things for what will come next. It looks like things are going to get more intense than ever and there are new players in the game with higher stakes.

All in all, this was abso-fab historical mystery reading with a brilliant woman detective at the center of it all. Those who haven’t started this series really must.
Profile Image for Bonnie DeMoss.
902 reviews156 followers
November 1, 2021
In this sixth book of the Lady Sherlock series, Charlotte Holmes (aka Sherlock Holmes) gains an unexpected client. Moriarty, calling himself Mr. Baxter, secures her services to find his daughter, Miss Baxter, who seems to be in the clutches of a cult. Charlotte begins to investigate but is also justifiably wondering if she is falling into a trap. Accompanied by the loyal Mrs. Watson, Charlotte travels to the remote cult to try to find Miss Baxter and the truth. This book can be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order is recommended.

This is another installment that will delight the many fans of this well-loved series. The idea of a lady Sherlock Holmes is always intriguing, and now we get to see a female Moriarty as well in the person of his daughter. The battle of wits between Charlotte and Moriarty continues, and through it all Charlotte’s cunning is always on display. She is, of course, backed up by her group of loyal friends and her sister Livia. Charlotte’s forbidden romance with Lord Ingram goes further than ever before. There is a lot of sexual innuendo and implied sexual situations, but nothing too graphic. There is some well-done epistolary work in the form of letters and investigative documents. The mystery is compelling but moves a little slowly at times. That is made up for by a fantastic conclusion that you won’t see coming. Recommended for fans of historical mysteries and Victorian-era romances.
Profile Image for Tea.
66 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2021
ANY WORD OF MARBLETON WOULD BE EXTREMELY SATISFYING!
Profile Image for Melanie.
1,489 reviews359 followers
March 18, 2022
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? was a fantastic read following Charlotte as she finds herself working for the enemy.

Charlotte Holmes has taken on all manner of clients in her work as the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes. But when her newest client appears on her doorstep, Charlotte will have to watch her every move as the client is Moriarty himself. Moriarty is worried something has happened to his daughter who resides in a remote community with ties to the occult. Tasked with gaining entrance to the community and ascertaining Miss Moriarty's well being, Charlotte will have her work cut out for her if she's to complete this job without alerting Moriarty to her past endeavors against his organization.

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? picks up a few months after the events of Murder on Cold Street. The book opens with a series of letters Charlotte has written and received including one where she talks about receiving a request for an appointment from one of Moriarty's men. The tension at the start of the book is very well done as we don't know what Moriarty wants with Charlotte or if he's learned of how she's thwarted him in the past. After Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, and Lord Ingram arrive at the Garden of Hermopolis we quickly learn that not all is as it seems with Miss Moriarty. The investigation goes into several directions I didn't see coming and the presence of Moriarty in the background causes quite a bit of tension for our characters as they work to resolve the case to his satisfaction while not endangering themselves in the process. The ending was a complete surprise and I'm looking forward to seeing the implications of what happened in future books.

Charlotte continues to be a fantastic main character with an incredible ability to puzzle out information. The way she manages to connect all of the small clues we get throughout the book and resolve the case is simply remarkable. Charlotte primarily works with Mrs. Watson and Lord Ingram on this job with her sister Livia working almost parallel in her own investigation into clues left by Mr. Marbleton. At this point in the series the group works together flawlessly and I love how much they trust each other to get the job done. Charlotte clearly has a unique gift but were it not for the help of her friends, she wouldn't be able to use that gift the way she does. Charlotte and Lord Ingram's relationship has continued to develop and I'm loving watching these two enjoy each other.

Overall Miss Moriarty, I Presume? was an excellent addition to the series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Tempest at Sea, when it releases later this year.
Profile Image for Donna.
4,289 reviews129 followers
July 13, 2022
This is book #6 in the Historical Fiction series "Lady Sherlock." I like some of these more than others. I like the MC, Charlotte, and her team when it comes to solving crimes. I also have to mention that I LOVE the narrator of the audios. Phenomenal.

What I liked the most with this one was the story line. It was fun to follow along and see how things would play out. Now with that said, this one at times anyway, seemed to move a little slow.....especially since I was asking myself the questions they should have been asking. Overall, I enjoyed the story line, just not the way the author dragged some of this out with theatrics and a blind eye. So 3 stars.
Profile Image for Eva.
241 reviews788 followers
June 26, 2024
This goes in my top 3 books of the series! The end was unputdownable and the narration SO good as always
Profile Image for Carla.
6,949 reviews165 followers
June 22, 2023
Miss Moriarity, I Presume is the sixth book in the Lady Sherlock series. I do recommend you read this series in order to get the full picture of Charlotte Homes, Mrs. Watson and the other recurring characters in this series. Saying that, each mystery is self contained within the book. Holmes has been retained by the notorious Moriarty, however he is calling himself Mr. Baxter. Charlotte realizes right away who this man is. He is looking for his daughter, who has joined some kind of cult and they don't allow him or his lawyer to meet with her. Moriarty wants Holmes to find his daughter and get her out of this cult, making sure she is alive and safe. Charlotte agrees, but is sure that Moriarty has an ulterior motive. She is also worried about herself and her friends. Once they meet Miss Baxter, they realize that she also has her own reasons for hiding out from her father. It seems Charlotte may be trapped by this father/daughter duo.

This is very much a character based series. I love Charlotte Holmes, and her friends. Her relationship with Lord Ingram continues to develop with each book and he is not longer the staid, prim and proper man we met in the first book. The setting of this book, Victorian Cornwall, adds much to the story and the atmosphere is a bit spicy in this one. Olivia, Charlotte's sister is more involved in this bone, searching for a secret message from Lord Marbleton that help solve the case. Although Moriarty has been lurking in the background of the other books in the series, he was front and center in this one and I have to say it was a bit of a disappointment to me. Although this book has a slow beginning, it picks up and with some humor, some twists and red herrings, the mystery is solved and Charlotte and all her friends survive. Another fun addition to the Charlotte Holmes series. As always, I enjoy the narration of Kate Reading. She gives voice to the various characters and adds just enough expression to give the story the right atmosphere and emotion.
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