A BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE MURDER

In 1872, a University of Oxford student must solve the mystery of a string of murders with the help of Sherlock Holmes.

When Irene Adler discovers the body of a classmate, one of the elite All Souls College cohort, she’s quickly drawn into the investigation. The problem? Irene has been disguising herself, using the name Isaac Holland to study at All Souls—which only admits men—as well as at the all-women’s college Lady Margaret. And now Isaac is a prime suspect. Her fellow students include her half brother, the infamous “narcissistic sociopath” James Moriarty, and the brilliant but enigmatic wealthy “upstart” Sherlock Holmes. As more All Souls bodies pile up, Irene, still posing as Isaac, joins forces with Sherlock to uncover the murderer’s identity, all while grappling with her increasingly complicated feelings for him. As the unlikely pair closes in on the truth, they become entangled in a plot that’s far more dangerous than they ever expected—and with higher stakes than they could have imagined. With fast-paced prose and a witty, likable hero, this work is a largely satisfying reimagining of Sherlock Holmes. However, some of Irene’s relationships with other characters feel underdeveloped, occasionally to the detriment of the plot. The Oxford setting is a captivating backdrop, enhancing the story’s intrigue. Most main characters are cued white; Sherlock has “dark, tan” skin, “ebony” eyes, and curly black hair.

A lively, action-packed adventure.