To be honest, I grew to admire the author, Sherry Thomas, before I knew about any of her books. I met her at Fresh Fiction’s Readers N’ ritas conference in Dallas so many years ago, I don’t want to say. I was working on an event for authors to interact with readers and she introduced herself. She was outgoing, but soft spoken, eloquent with a wry sense of humor and a gentle smile. She was down to earth and a joy to be around.
AND THEN I BOUGHT HER BOOK, AND MY GIRL CRUSH WAS COMPLETE!
Can I just say, my Charlotte Holmes is not blonde, with a creamy complexion. She doesn’t dress in bright vibrant and wild patterns and her hair isn’t done in an elaborate hair style. My Charlotte is a highly intelligent young woman with dark hair and a natural beauty. I met her while jello shots were being passed around the room. My Charlotte dresses incognito every day in unassuming earth tone dresses with oversized sweaters and comfortable shoes and I look forward to reading her latest adventure every year.
We all have our own vision of who a character should be, and luckily for all readers Ms. Thomas has introduced her cast of characters in The Lady Sherlock Series, book #9, THE VANISHED SISTER in the beginning of the book. I truly appreciate a cheat sheet since it’s been a year and at least two hundred books since I delved into the last escapade involving Miss Charlotte and her band of misfits. A brief little refresher course is always welcome.
THE VANISHED SISTER is different from the rest of the series in that it is mostly Mrs. Watson’s story which has remained a mystery in itself with tidbits dropped along the way. I didn’t even realize the prologue was her story until I reached chapter one. I should have recognized her, but she was so different in her youth that I didn’t—until the world came crashing down upon her.
For years I have been wondering what would make Mrs. Watson have her daughter believe she was her cousin, and I finally have the full tragic answer! The story starts with Charlotte and friends cutting their much needed vacation short due to an invitation to a house party by Mrs. Watson’s sister, Justina. I have to be honest, after the prologue, and finally understanding why Mrs. Watson did what she did, I would have told my sister to take a flying leap! But then we would have missed out on the delicious mystery of the washed up body with ‘soft bits’ missing.
Ms. Thomas’s descriptions paint the scene for her readers in such vivid detail, the reader experiences the horror of the moment without the actual gore. I have always been amazed at her ability to capture violence and tragedy without shocking her readers with the gruesome reality of the crime. Her incomparable approach allows the reader to experience the impact to the character as if you were reading a piece of poetry. You’ll want to go back and read passages over and over to absorb the brilliance of her writing completely.
(Spoiler Alert) The dichotomy of Mrs. Watson’s life to her sister Justine’s has always been a point of self-castigation for Mrs. Watson. She took a scandalous turn in her youth and ended up on the stage with a child out of wedlock while Justine took the proper route and married well. Mrs. Watson believes herself less worthy than her perfect sister, but oh, my the secrets and the manner in which they are literally hidden in closets! It’s ambrosia to the mystery reader’s soul!
In the end, Justine’s pedestal tips and crashes in tragic fashion and Mrs. Watson has to come to terms with the fact that she was the more righteous sibling and not the “twisted Cinderella.”
Try as I might, I will always see is Sherry Thomas dressing the part of Charlotte Holmes. What a fabulous Netflix series that would be! Five Stars for THE VANISHED SISTER and the entire LADY SHERLOCK SERIES. I do wonder if Sherry savors her sweets in the same manner as Charlotte. Guesses anyone?
Until next month, cozy up with a great mystery!
I received an advanced copy of THE VANISHED SISTER through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
THE VANISHED SISTER by Sherry Thomas
Narrator: Kate Reading
Lady Sherlock #9
Charlotte Holmes‑aka Sherlock Holmes‑becomes entangled in a puzzling missing person case that hits close to home for her beloved Mrs. Watson in this Victorian‑set mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of A Ruse of Shadows.
It’s been three years since Charlotte Holmes struck a decisive blow against Moriarty’s operations in Britain, three years of relative calm and benign developments. In a buoyant mood, everyone gathers at Lord Ingram’s seaside cottage in North Devon for what promises to be a perfect summer holiday. Until Mrs. Watson receives an invitation from Mrs. Carstairs, her long‑estranged sister, to attend a house party nearby.
Mrs. Carstairs has married spectacularly well. She is the mistress of a great manor, a doyen of all domestic arts, and still an unforgettable beauty. Now she clamors for a reconciliation with her sister. Mrs. Watson does not trust Mrs. Carstairs’s motives. Yet she cannot help but feel tremors of the old admiration for this once‑beloved sister.
Then Mrs. Carstairs disappears without a trace. The next day a woman is discovered floating on the waves, her build and coloring matching those of Mrs. Carstairs. But her husband insists that the corpse fished out of the Bristol Channel cannot be his wife. So where is the real Mrs. Carstairs? Would she have purposely dragged Mrs. Watson into a murder investigation? Or was it Sherlock Holmes’s involvement that she needed from the very beginning?
Mystery Historical [ Berkley, On Sale: September 29, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780593640470 / eISBN: 9780593640487 ]
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About Sherry Thomas
Sherry Thomas writes both historical romance and young adult fantasy.
On the romance side, she is one of the most acclaimed authors working in the genre today, her books regularly receiving starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.
On the young adult fantasy side, there isn’t much to report yet, her debut book, THE BURNING SKY, book 1 of the Elemental Trilogy, has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and been named to the Autumn ’13 Kids’ Indie Next List.
Sherry writes in her second language. She learned English by reading romance and science fiction—every word Isaac Asimov ever wrote, in fact. She is proud to say that her son is her biggest fanboy—for the YA fantasy, not the romances. At least, not yet…
Lady Sherlock | The Elemental Trilogy | Fitzhughs
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About Kym Roberts
Kym Roberts writes by day and is a pro-surfer in her dreams by night. Her humor is often raunchy, her jokes are often bad, but her hunger for a story keeps the adventures coming fast. Experience the thrill & catch the wave of passion, mystery and suspense with her on her website, on Facebook, and her favorite social media site, Instagram.
Her fourth Scandalous Sisters, THE WICKED BARONESS under the pseudonym Helene Matheson is available now. Watch for her new Bow Street Mysteries coming soon.
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