A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is the first in a new series, Lady Sherlock by the redoubtable Sherry Thomas. I love a well-done Sherlock riff, and Thomas tells this tale with great panache. The story has rich prose and beautiful characterization, and the mystery in engrossing.

Charlotte Holmes is an unconventional young lady. Struggling to evade a forced society marriage, Charlotte is cast out of the bosom of her family and has to fend for herself in a suddenly inhospitable London. When Charlotte's beloved older sister is suspected of several recent murders, Charlotte figures out not only how to support herself, but how to defend her family from the unwarranted accusation of harboring a killer. Charlotte, with the help of Mrs. John Watson, masquerades as a male detective with the sobriquet of Sherlock Holmes. What fun!

Thomas manages to instill some feminist themes into the story, unsurprising given Thomas' prior works and given the lively conceit of a female Sherlock Holmes. These feminist themes are never overbearing, though, and I find myself cheering for Charlotte and crowing over her successes. Charlotte is brilliant but socially awkward, and she's a very endearing character.

I love the interweaving of bits from the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into the story. Holmesian fans will be happy at the repeated tipping of the hat to the great Victorian detective. A STUDY IN SCARLET was the first story where Doyle introduces the reader to detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, and so I love the clever incorporation of this for the title of Thomas' first book of the series.

Sherry Thomas' A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN has a little something for everyone. Mystery, romance, history, and a lovely retelling of our beloved Sherlock Holmes. This is a wonderful start to what is sure to be fantastic series, and my only difficulty is in having to wait for the next book in the series to be released.