Book Review: Jewel of the Thames by Angela Misri

Jewel of the Thames
Author: Angela Misri
Series: A Portia Adams Adventure (Book 1)
Publication: Amazon Digital Services, March 13, 2017

Description: Set against the background of 1930s England, Jewel of the Thames introduces Portia Adams, a budding detective with an interesting - and somewhat mysterious - heritage.

Nineteen-year-old Portia Adams has always been inquisitive. But when her mother dies, Portia can't figure out why she was left in the care of the extravagant Mrs. Jones. She doesn't have long to dwell on it before she is promptly whisked from Toronto to London by her new guardian. Once there Portia discovers that she has inherited 221 Baker Street - the former offices of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Portia settles into her new home and finds herself entangled in three cases, the first involving stolen jewelry, the second a sick judge and the final case revolving around a missing child. But the greatest mystery of all is her own. How did she come to inherit this townhouse? And why did her mother keep her heritage from her? Portia has a feeling Mrs. Jones knows more than she's letting on. In fact, she thinks her new guardian may be the biggest clue of all.

My Thoughts: Nineteen-year-old Portia Adams meets her new guardian at her mother's funeral. Thinking herself without family or friends, Portia is something at a loss for her next steps. The mysterious Mrs. Jones, who knew her grandmother and her mother, quickly steps in to be her new family.

Portia finds herself whisked from Toronto to London where she learns that she has inherited 221 Baker Street from her grandfather - Dr. John Watson. She never knew who her grandfather was. Her grandmother divorced him and moved to the United States.

Portia herself seems more like her grandfather's friend and partner Sherlock Holmes. She is studying law but using her talents for observation and deduction to assist Scotland Yard with some investigations. It is helpful that her tenants include a man who has just become a constable.

This book includes three cases. The first involves stolen jewelry and a unique way to stash the loot. The second tells of a plot to kill a man and inherit his property and the way Portia's confidence is shaken by the murderer. The third case involves a kidnapping on a moving train. All three stories were well plotted. I liked that Portia inherited her grandfather's case files and studied them to find out how Sherlock Holmes solved his cases.

I liked the startling revelations that ended this story and am eager to read more of Portia's adventures.

Favorite Quote:

She snorted at the end of this sentence, and then, catching my eye, added, "Oh, not that I am laughing at the dead, my dear, but your grandparents were just so earnest about right and wrong. You really must correct that in yourself if it turns out to be an inherited trait. Most unappealing."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.