ARC Review: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

A Tempest at Sea
Author: Sherry Thomas
Series: Lady Sherlock (Book 7)
Publication: Berkley (March 14, 2023)

Description: Charlotte Holmes’s brilliant mind and deductive skills are pulled into a dangerous investigation at sea in the new mystery in the bestselling Lady Sherlock series.

After feigning her own death in Cornwall to escape from Moriarty’s perilous attention, Charlotte Holmes goes into hiding. But then she receives a tempting offer: Find a dossier the crown is desperately seeking, and she might be able to go back to a normal life.

Her search leads her aboard the RMS Provence. But on the night Charlotte makes her move to retrieve the dossier, in the midst of a terrifying storm in the Bay of Biscay, a brutal murder takes place on the ship.

Instead of solving the crime, as she is accustomed to doing, Charlotte must take care not to be embroiled in this investigation, lest it become known to those who harbor ill intentions that Sherlock Holmes is abroad and still very much alive.

My Thoughts: This engaging episode of the Lady Sherlock mystery series takes place on the RMS Provence as it sails from England. 

Charlotte Holmes has been in hiding since she drew the attention of crime lord Moriarty but has an opportunity that might let her go back to her usual life if she finds some documents that are probably aboard. So, she and Mrs. Watson embark--both heavily disguised--and attempt to find the documents.

Also aboard are her sister Livia and her friend Mrs. Newell and Lord Ingram along with his children and his children's nurse. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Shrewsbury are also aboard and so is Inspector Brighton of the Metropolitan Police. Worst of all, Lady Holmes and her maid are last minute additions to the passenger list. 

Also aboard are Mr. Arkwright, a wealthy Australian, and his sister Miss Arkwright who has had a troubled past. Governess Frau Schmidt and two charges are also aboard. Charlotte suspects that the documents she's searching for are in Fray Schmidt's possession.

Charlotte also needs to be concerned that Moriarty has agents aboard and there are like agents from Lord Remington too. 

Evading all the various unknown agents would be difficult enough but then Mr. Arkwright is murdered and Inspector Brighton is asked by the captain to conduct an investigation. Charlotte has one more person to evade while searching and she also feels compelled to discover who murdered Mr. Arkwright. 

This was a great story with lots of twists and turns and lots and lots of secrets. I like the way the relationship is developing between Charlotte and Lord Ingram. 

Favorite Quote:

Inspector Brighton's hand left the globe, but his tone was outright harsh--he must have realized that it was pointless to practice subtle intimidation on a fool. "I don't suppose it at all crossed your mine, Mr. Shrewsbury, that the revolver might have been used in a crime and therefore needed to be preserved as evidence?"

"My goodness, no! Who would think of such a thing?"

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.