Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas Narrator: Kate Reading
Series: Lady Sherlock #7
Published by Berkley, Penguin Audio on March 14, 2023
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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 to recover, and she might be able to go back to a normal life.
Her search leads her aboard the RMS Provence, sailing from Southampton for the eastern hemisphere. 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 also 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.
Everything at this point is a spoiler for earlier books in the Lady Sherlock series. I would read this series in order because the complexity of the characters and relationships which are just as important as the particular cases. In Miss Moriarty, I Presume? Charlotte ends up faking her death to throw Moriarty off her trail. She has been hiding. She has a chance to be protected by the government but has to locate some information for them.
Somehow everyone and anyone ends up on a sea voyage. Charlotte and Mrs. Watson have their costumes and makeup to be other people, and they are expecting Lord Ingram and his children to be on board, as well as their information targets. But then Charlotte’s mother, Mrs. Holmes, and sister, Livia arrive to complicate things, and Roger Shrewsbury and his wife. A wealthy man from Australia, and his sister, the Arkwrights are traveling back to Australia. The Inspector Brighton who was a adversary of Charlotte in the past turns up on board.
Shrewsbury in his usual incompetence, casts aspersions on Miss Arkwright’s reputation. Mrs. Holmes also has a tiff with the Arkwrights while boarding. A Mr. Pratt is on board because he keeps wanting to marry Miss Arkwright, although she and her brother are against him. Then there is Mr. Russell who is a business competitor of sorts to Mr. Arkwright. Of course, Mr. Arkwright ends up dead and Inspector Brighton starts investigating.
The investigation is a danger to Ash and Charlotte as it might expose their investigation. So Charlotte must figure out who murdered Mr. Arkwright in addition to her government work. They don’t want Brighton messing up either one. Ash takes on the role as assistant to Brighton, taking notes. This allows him to share the details with Charlotte and keep track of Brighton’s work. It’s a tense and anxious situation for him though.
Charlotte’s work and gathering the details are as brilliant as always. I took in the details and was lost until the end when the truth was revealed. The possibilities, motives, plots and lies were intricate. I can’t begin to express how well it was detailed and how delightful and horrible the characters were. I love this series and can’t recommend it any more highly!
Narration:
I love Kate Reading as the narrator for this series. The voices of different characters are distinct to me. I enjoy her voices for Ash and Charlotte. Both male and female voices seem appropriate, including their accents. I’m not an expert on regional accents so they may not be accurate. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Kate Reading
Kate Reading is an Audie Award–winning narrator with hundreds of titles in many genres. She has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, as well as being named Narrator of the Year, and Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Her narration has been recognized as Reader of the Year by Publishers Weekly, and by Booklist’s 2019 Top of the List, for the American Library Association. She and her husband, narrator Michael Kramer, record at their home studio in Maryland, Madison Productions.
About Sherry Thomas
Sherry Thomas writes both historical romance and young adult fantasy.
On the romance side, she is one of the most acclaimed authors working in the genre today, her books regularly receiving starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.
On the young adult fantasy side, there isn’t much to report yet, her debut book, THE BURNING SKY, book 1 of the Elemental Trilogy, has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and been named to the Autumn ’13 Kids’ Indie Next List.
Sherry writes in her second language. She learned English by reading romance and science fiction–every word Isaac Asimov ever wrote, in fact. She is proud to say that her son is her biggest fanboy–for the YA fantasy, not the romances. At least, not yet..
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Red River Road by Anna Downes @whatannawrote @MaddyWithington @MinotaurBooks @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks - October 3, 2024
- A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara @MaxieDara @jaimebee @BerkleyPub @PRHAudio @sophiarose1816 #LoveAudiobooks - October 2, 2024
- 🎧 Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne @KevinHearne @luckylukeekul @DelReyBooks @PRHAudio#LoveAudiobooks - October 1, 2024
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’ll have to catch up with this series seeing how much you love it. I like the sound of a mystery on a cruise ship.
Seriously Rachel, there is almost nothing I dislike about it except maybe how women are treated in this period of time, and well other periods of time also. But I love how clever the plots are, and how the love story slowly progresses.
ooh you have given me some really great reasons to start this series Anne thanks
I really hope you love it as much as I do, Debbie.
I haven’t read this series but this does sound fun.
These books are just amazing. The mysteries are so clever, The characters are well developed. The romance is a slow burn that is delicious.
Completely skipped the review! LOL… I’m starting this one tomorrow!! Can’t wait after how the last book ended.
This series is just amazing. Enjoy!
I’m on chapter 2 right now so I’ll have to come back to look at your review.
Enjoy!
This series is on my tbr and I hope to get to it soonish. I am so glad to see that you enjoyed this one as much as you did.
This series is just awesome. I am a Sherlock Holmes fan so I love the clever mystery part, the woman doing her own thing in a historical setting, the well developed characters, and the endearing romance.
I just read this one too and loved it! You wrote such a wonderful review!!
Thank you Wendy. It’s tough to write a review that says something without spoiling or repeating the blurb. It’s even more difficult somehow when you love the book so much.
Now I know I need to start this series. Just need to find the time.
I hope you do get to read it as it’s on that top tier IMO. I have so many I want to get to read so I get it. This series is just a treat. I’m tickled with IDC so far also, reading Hexed now.
I’m about 3/4 of the way done with this and so far and am really enjoying and more than a bit lost! I’m glad to see you were too and now I’m excited to get to the reveal!
Katherine, I mostly just go along for the ride and don’t even try to keep up with a Holmes in the clever deductions!
Wonderful review Anne. I loved the setting.
yes this series is so clever in so many ways.
Someday I’ll catch up! I read book 1 and 2. Both good.
I hope you are able to go on with the series as they just keep getting better, Carole.
I’ve enjoyed this series and I agree, you have to read them in order. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
They just tickle me with the cleverness and the comfort of their relationships.