A Ruse of Shadows is the eighth entry in the delightfully feminist Lady Sherlock historical mystery series by Sherry Thomas (A Study in Scarlet Women; A Tempest at Sea). Because a female detective would not be tolerated by Victorian society, the brilliant Charlotte Holmes must hide her intellect behind the screen of her fictional sibling, "Sherlock."
Lord Bancroft Ashburton, the disgraced older brother of Charlotte's lover, Lord Ingram "Ash" Ashburton, knows the truth about Sherlock and blackmails Charlotte into investigating the disappearance of his henchman, Underwood. Charlotte digs deeper into Underwood's seedy background with help from Ash, and finds sinister connections to both Bancroft's underhanded dealings and her nemesis, Moriarty. But when Bancroft turns up dead, Charlotte--as Bancroft's current blackmail victim--seems the most likely perpetrator. The indomitable Charlotte takes being a murder suspect in stride, however, responding to Scotland Yard "with a calm detachment, as if she were fielding slightly intrusive questions at a tea party, rather than inquiries stemming from a murder investigation."
Witty, rapidly paced, and with perfectly nuanced Victorian vibes, A Ruse of Shadows is sure to appeal to fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Deanna Raybourn. Charlotte is clever, ruthless, and entirely feminine: able to viciously battle her enemies, outwit the police's best efforts, and consume large quantities of tea cakes with decorum. This novel could be read as a standalone if desired, but Charlotte is so irresistible that surely readers will prefer to read the whole series in order. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer