You know a book is good when you immediately purchase the next one in the series. I had NO chill after reading A Study in Scarlet Women and found myself on Audible clicking the buy button just a few minutes later. Sherry Thomas is a genius y’all. Also, she seems to be pretty prolific which, let’s just say it’s a good thing because if I have to wait more than a year to read the next book, I might actually die of anticipation.
A Conspiracy in Belgravia picks up quickly, just after the first book ends. I love backstory, but it was nice to already have a baseline with these characters and just get right to the plot. The wife of Hottie McHotterson, Lord Ingram, pays a visit to Baker Street which is awkward for everyone except maybe Charlotte who doesn’t tend to get rattled. You must read the first book to understand the significance of this, but trust me, this is a big. fucking. deal. I won’t reveal Lady Ingram’s full request because that would be spoilery, but suffice it to say, she wants “Sherlock” to find someone. This case ends up dovetailing with Charlotte’s life in a few very interesting ways.
It should be obvious by now, but I effing loved this book just as much as the first. It’s just so nice to spend time with these marvelous characters and to even get a few more in this book. Thomas does a really great job with seamlessly weaving Charlotte’s personal life with her professional. When we spend time with her friends and family, it never feels “other” from the plot. Everything moves the book forward and yet feels natural and real.
I’m especially interested to see where the character of Inspector Treadles goes in this series. He’s a good man by 19th century standards, yet he can’t handle the women surrounding him not behaving as he expects. He’s a quite bit deeper than the Inspector Lestrade character in the originals and it’ll be fascinating to see him develop, for good or for bad.