The Art of Theft - (Lady Sherlock) by Sherry Thomas (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Charlotte Holmes would never plan an elaborate art heist. But she might as Sherlock Holmes in this absorbing Victorian mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of A Study in Scarlet Women.

As "Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective," Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork--or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas.

But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.

Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia's admirer Stephen Marbleton--everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake...

Review Quotes

"I AM RIVETED. The Lady Sherlock series is so smart and clever and witty."-Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

"These books, which recast Sherlock Holmes as Charlotte Holmes, are perfect for those who adore layered stories. Unignorable questions of gender, expectation and privilege lurk beneath complex mysteries and a slowly scorching romance." - The Washington Post

"Thomas's use of language, the way she uses gender reversal to conceal revelations, and the intricacies of her plotting mean that I will rediscover more things to relish in A Study in Scarlet Women each time I reread it." --NPR

"Thoughtful yet brief remarks critique patriarchy, heteronormativity, and colonialism, fitting organically into an absorbing whodunwhat arc. An exciting addition to the mystery series; Holmes meets Oceans 11 meets A Vindication of the Rights of Woman." - Kirkus Reviews (Starred)

"Quick-witted and swashbuckling, Thomas's novel is a feminist Victorian delight. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Elizabeth Peters or C.S. Harris, The Art of Theft is an excellent entry in a wonderful historical series. Its deft pacing, quirky heroine and intriguing cast of characters make it a mysterious tour de force." - Shelf Awareness

"The mystery at the novel's heart is compelling...but it's once again the author's incisive and compassionate glimpses at how women survive the strictures of misogyny that place the book a cut above the rest."--The Austin Chronicle

"This spell-binding tale is the third in the Lady Sherlock Historical Mysteries and is even better (if possible) than the last. For those who have yet to experience this new "take" on the beloved Sherlock Holmes and the Victorian realm that never disappoints, this is a series you must start reading right now!"--Suspense Magazine

"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

"Clever and absorbing. Thomas's gorgeous prose and expert characterizations shine in this new incarnation of Sherlock Holmes. Readers will wait with bated breath to discover how Thomas will skillfully weave in each aspect of the Sherlockian canon, and devour the pages to learn how the mystery unfolds."--Anna Lee Huber, national bestselling author

About the Author