Today we are celebrating the upcoming release of THE HOLLOW OF FEAR by Sherry Thomas. I’ve got my audiobook review, plus the publisher is offering a giveaway of the print edition. Read on and celebrate with us!
Audiobook review: The Art of Theft
Author: Sherry Thomas
Narrator: Kate Reading
Audio Speed: 1.5x
Series: Lady Sherlock #4
Genre: Historical Mystery
Source: Penguin Random House Audio
Note: This review contains spoilers from the previous titles in the series.
Beginning a few months after the conclusion of the previous book, The Art of Theft picks up with Mrs. Watson returning from a visit with her niece, Charlotte ending her hiatus from mystery solving as Sherlock Holmes, and Stephen Marbleton wooing Olivia. When Mrs. Watson discovers an old friend from her past needs help, she and Charlotte offer their services to steal a valuable painting from a tightly guarded masquerade ball.
The Art of Theft is another amazing adventure in the Lady Sherlock series. The stories are evolving as Charlotte’s circle grows with each book; this time including both Stephen Marbleton and her sister, Olivia, along side Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, and Lord Ingram (Ash). The adventure takes the group to France, to a potentially sinister Chateaux where it is evident there is more going on than a private art sale. Once again, Charlotte’s uncanny ability to deduce hidden truths allows the group to infiltrate and spy on their targets. I enjoy getting inside her head as Charlotte pulls facts together and executes her plans. There are some jaw-dropping twists and revelations, causing me to hold my breath at times, waiting to find out how everything would be resolved.
While the mystery is top notch, the interactions between the various characters makes The Art of Theft an amazing story. It felt like everything was heightened this time around, including intense action and more powerful emotional scenes. The group dynamics and general camaraderie provided a deeper connection to Charlotte and the outcome of the various plot lines. I absolutely love that Charlotte continues to develop. She’s so unique, and the author does an amazing job of putting Charlotte’s idiosyncrasies onto the page, getting the reader to understand how Charlotte’s brain works. The give and take between Charlotte and Ash continues to be bittersweet, and the pairing of Olivia and Stephen is equally so.
Narration: The story is shared from multiple third-person POVs, both male and female; primarily Charlotte, Livia, Mrs. Watson, and Lord Ingram. This is the fourth book in the series, and the character voices and overall narrative are very familiar to me. I rather enjoy Ms. Reading’s performance. Her narrator has a fairly deep, feminine, accented voice. The dialogue is altered based on who is speaking – enough to identify each character out of a group. Ms. Reading’s male voices are fairly deep and genuine. I just LOVE how the narrator brings to life the various accents of the characters – this time French – speaking words so lovely when I would have just read over them in the book.
While the story is complete, there are a couple bombshells dropped at the end of the story, and now I cannot wait to get my hands on the next Lady Sherlock title!
My Ratings:
Story: A
Narration: A
Jen
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House Audio
About the Book:
Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, is back solving new cases in the Victorian-set mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of The Hollow of Fear.
As “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork–or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas.
But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.
Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia’s admirer Stephen Marbleton–everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake…
Giveaway:
The publisher is generously donating a print copy of The Art of Theft to give to one (1) lucky commenter. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form AND leave a comment at the end of this post letting us know what is your favorite mystery series? The giveaway is open during the time specified on the Rafflecopter form. Winner(s) chosen at random from all eligible entries. This contest is open to U.S. mailing addresses only and where not prohibited by law. Open to participants, 18 years or older, who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the author. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.
If you have problems with the Rafflecopter form, please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com.