Blackmail. Costumes. The British Empire. Royalty. Sherry Thomas’ fourth Lady Sherlock mystery, The Art of Theft, has all of those familiar elements plus sexual tension. And, Moriarty is still a villain, threatening everyone’s happiness.
This time, there are two couples indecisive about their chance at happiness together. And, the third mature couple gave up that opportunity. But, now, the Maharani of Ajmer needs help, and she turns to the woman who once loved her, Mrs. Watson.
Charlotte Holmes schemes to bring her sister, Livia, to London for a visit, so she can escape their parents and spend a little time with Stephen Marbleton, the man she’s starting to fall in love with. Lord Ingram, Charlotte’s long-time friend, is willing to help with a forged letter to Livia and Charlotte’s parents. But, Mrs. Watson has a better plan to bring Livia to town. Unfortunately, the timing is terrible. When the Maharani asks “Sherlock Holmes” for help, and then realizes the task is something that he can’t do, she turns to Mrs. Watson. Years earlier, the two women had been in love, and Mrs. Watson feels she rejected her friend for the sake of security. Now, she wants to help her.
The Maharani explains there are missing letters, and someone is blackmailing her. She wants Holmes to steal a painting, a Van Dyck, that’s part of a collection to be sold at a yuletide masquerade ball outside Paris. It’s not a simple assignment, but Charlotte knows how much she herself owes Mrs. Watson. Although it’s not her typical type of job, Charlotte assembles a small team to try to steal a painting.
Charlotte knows there’s more to this job than the retrieval of a small collection of romantic letters. She, Mrs. Watson, Livia, Lord Ingram, Marbleton, and “an ally” of Ingram’s, rendezvous in Paris to put together their plan of attack. But, no matter how much they plan, there will be some explosive surprises.
Sherry Thomas has the pacing of the Sherlock Holmes stories down perfectly. The story is a little slow at times, as she develops the setting and background. So were Doyle’s own stories. These books successfully reverse the sex of the characters with Charlotte Holmes and Mrs. Watson in lead roles. As with Sherlock Holmes, it’s fascinating to watch Charlotte’s mind at work. But, for me, one of the attractions is the sexual tension between Charlotte and Lord Ingram. There are delicate tantalizing moments that end in frustration.
Charlotte’s sister Livia is an insecure, almost spinster who is writing Sherlock Holmes stories. At times, she’s frustrating in her insecurity. At other times, she pushes herself so she doesn’t disappoint Charlotte. This time, she has her own romantic interest, and an equally frustrating experience.
Sherry Thomas excels at tension with the drama of the current plot, and the romantic tension. This time, though, with The Art of Theft, she leaves the reader wanting more. It’s a dramatic, almost cliff-hanger ending to this latest book. Readers will be waiting.
Sherry Thomas’ website is www.sherrythomas.com
The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas. Berkley, 2019. ISBN 9780451492470 (paperback), 294p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
