A Beautiful and Terrible Murder

Irene Adler #1

by Claire M. Andrews

In Oxford’s All Souls College, Isaac Holland is pitted against the brightest of Britain’s young elite for a seat amongst the prestigious school’s faculty. The Victorian Era is reaching its apex, and the ancient hallways and corridors of Oxford teem with ghosts and secret societies. Isaac finds the competition increasingly cutthroat and diabolical, but there are more pressing concerns. One, that someone—or something—is murdering Isaac’s fellow students, one by one, in ways more gruesome than the next. And two, that Isaac’s real name is actually Irene Adler.

A retelling of Sherlock Holmes from the perspective of the one woman to ever outwit him, A Beautiful and Terrible Murder follows Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes as they are forced to work together to hunt down a murderer at Oxford who is killing their classmates.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical, Retellings, Thriller, Victorian

432 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Claire was raised in both Alaska and Scotland, but currently lives in Vermont; when not writing, she can usually be found outside swimming, skiing or hiking across the state’s famous green mountains.

If you want to learn more about Claire, you can find her here -
https://www.instagram.com/cmandrewslit/
https://www.twitter.com/cmandrewslit
https://www.pinterest.com/cmandrewslit/
https://www.clairemandrewsbooks.wordp...

Feel free to ask her questions! She would love to hear from you!

Reviews

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Our hearts are not born black. They are made that way."

4.25 stars

An entertaining murder mystery with some beloved characters.

A big fan of Irene getting to be the star of the show and this book delivered that in spades. She's such a great character to follow, though she seemed to be a little muted for my tastes here, but this is the first book of a series so I'm sure she'll blossom even more as we go.

Holmes was also a great character, though I would have liked a little more of him here. He's also not quite the Holmes most of us are used to but again, I think we're gonna have another book or more to watch him grow into it.

Definitely recommend for those who enjoy murder mystery with a splash of romance thrown in. This is also young adult, though it didn't feel overly young and was easy to get through ❤️

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! What a great Sherlock Holmes retelling that focused on Irene Adler. I loved the spin on each of the original characters.

I would definitely continue reading this series (it looks like a series in Goodreads but no second book has been announced yet). I started the author’s DAUGHTER OF SPARTA series but haven’t finished it yet but I must say, I liked this story a lot more.

The one thing that had me deciding between four and five stars was the romance element. I wanted a touch more romance. The slow burn and banter were so good I just wanted a smidge more to happen between Sherlock and Irene.

Lastly, the mystery element was really well done. I didn’t figure out who the killer was until very late into the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

England has yet to see the last of Irene Adler

Pitched as for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper which I have never read but can see the similaritires, I think it's also for fans of Enola Holmes because those are the vibes I got! A quite enjoyable read, if you consider reading about death enjoyable (apparently I do) with plenty of tension and stakes to keep you going. I enjoyed the likeable characters (aka Sherlock and Irene) but that's about it!

Not sure if I like that cover...it is giving AI but who am I to judge 😭 All in all, I enjoyed this and found myself binging through it in two hours! Thank you again to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc!

[Hayley Hoerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win an ARC from the author on an Instagram giveaway! I loved Andrews' Daughter of Sparta series, so as soon as I heard about this one, I knew I needed to read it.

I loved this story so much and can't wait to see where it goes next!😍 One thing about Andrews' writing that I love is that she always has a strong female protagonist. I absolutely adored Irene and her strength and ability. When it came to Sherlock, all I could picture was Benedict Cumberbatch. I'm not mad about it😂.

The vibes for this one were similar to Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco, and I devoured that series.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given how many authors have tread this ground before, it feels somehow mean to say that A Beautiful and Terrible Murder feels like Sherlock Holmes fanfiction. But the way that Holmes, Irene, Watson, and Moriarty are portrayed really invokes that sense, and it certainly doesn't help that there are some distinct and distracting historical inaccuracies. (Hopefully those will be fixed when the book goes to print.)

But the best fanfiction is a lot of fun, and this does mostly fit that bill. The mystery is entertaining and the characters are as well, while the writing is generally polished and very readable. I'm not sure I'll pick up a sequel, but this was a good rainy day read.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun mystery

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and immersive book that imagines new adventures in the Sherlock Holmes universe. Think of it like an alternate universe prequel in which Sherlock is exactly the same and Irene Adler is, um, very different.

Though the solve wasn’t great (to be fair, that’s very much in line with most Conan Doyle stories, in my opinion), it’s the getting there that matters in this one, and I love this as an origin story for the standard Conan Doyle characters. The author cleverly finds a way to make Irene not just a far more important character but a major player in the mystery, and it makes for a great tale.

The use of Oxford here as a setting was surprisingly good. This version of All Souls is fictional, but you always feel like you’re on the Oxford campus, rooting the story in excellent sense of place. I’m really disappointed that given where the story is going at the close of this installment, it’s likely the last we’ll see if the characters in this setting. I hope I’m wrong about that, as this is a less appealing concept if it’s set in London like most Holmes reimaginings and retellings.

In all, this was enjoyable and I loved the tone. Depending on where the author decides to take the ongoing story, I’d definitely read another.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Aislinn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book - I would have loved it in high school and I love it now in my 30s. The writing was excellent and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to read a late-stage draft of this book. I am writing this review of my own volition and without compensation. HUGE thanks to Claire Andrews for the draft to read!

Fresh off of the success of her Daughter of Sparta trilogy, Andrews turns her attention to another much maligned figure in literature; Irene Adler. She's been a long time nemesis and occasional love of Sherlock Holmes, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never provided much of a backstory for Irene. How did she become who she was? What prompted her actions?

Andrews provides us answers and more in this rollicking good time of a murder mystery in, A Beautiful and Terrible Murder.

Taking place during Sherlock Holmes' Oxford days, Andrews weaves a complex and delicious web of intrigue and mystery, all set in the gorgeous backdrop of Victorian era Oxford. Her lush descriptions of both people and place enchant the reader and keep the pages turning. She continues to delight with her characters, and where we fell in love with Daphne, Apollo, Lykou and Hippolyta, in ABaTM, we'll meet Gerry, Edgar, Watson (yes, THAT Watson!) a mysterious Isaac and Irene herself.

I devoured A Beautiful and Terrible Murder and was left satisfied, but always with room for desert. Lucky me it seems like Claire Andrews herself isn't quite finished with Irene Adler either......

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Beautiful and Terrible Murder is a Sherlock Holmes retelling with Irene Adler as the main character.

Irene is a young woman simultaneously taking finishing school-esque classes for young ladies and (in the disguise of a young man named Isaac) taking classes with men at Oxford. She is determined to be the best in her class and beat the boys. Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty are her classmates, and when young men in the class are murdered, she decides to find out who did it.

The story had an intriguing premise and I am always down for a YA mystery, especially one set in a boarding school. However, you're kind of thrown into the story since the first murder happens really early on. The character was barely introduced and he was killed off. The other murders were confusing as well. Since the characters were introduced all at once, it was kind of hard to keep them all straight, especially as they started getting killed off.

I also found it really hard to believe that NO ONE suspected Irene’s secret identity. She's constantly walking between the two campuses, taking her fake moustache on and off and no one can piece it together? There's a decent amount of suspension of disbelief required here, but if you're able to do that, it's a fun and engaging story.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. This was fun and I loved all the tie-ins with the characters and how everyone from Sherlock Holmes was college-aged.

Sherlock and Irene always had the best chemistry and I’m happy to say this was no different. Unfortunately while a good story, and a good twist on the good Sir’s adventures, it was very skimmable. I skipped a lot of the memories and just focused on what was happening with the murders and the banter but I don’t feel like I missed anything.

It doesn’t need to be a series, or even a duology, and it could’ve been about a hundred pages shorter, but if you love these characters I’d recommend it.

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Claire Andrews for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Beautiful and Terrible Murder coming out August 5, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author. I was excited for the Sherlock Holmes Irene Adler adaptation. I really enjoyed it. I’ve read similar stories before, so it wasn’t completely new to me. But the characters were interesting. I’d read more if it’s a series.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Irene Adler is living a double life; she's attending All Souls College in Oxford as Isaac Holland while attending Lady Margaret College as herself. It requires frequent changes of costume, including a fake mustache when she is Isaac. Her courses are similar, but the men's science classes are much more informative and demanding. She is in classes with Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty... who is also her half brother. Their father, a professor at Oxford, was a customer of Irene's mother, a courtesan, and while James doesn't care for Irene, her grandmother Augusta is very supportive. Irene is good friends with Geraldine, but doesn't care much for the popular and snotty Ermyntrude who looks down on people who are not from refined backgrounds. When Irene is the first to discover the body of Bertram, she talks to John Watson, who is on the police force. When Isaac is suspected by the police, it's clear that "he" is being framed, and Irene sets out to investigate, even after the police rule the death a suicide. It's clearly not, since several other young men are killed. She partners with Sherlock over their shared hatred of James, and clues take them to the Bullingdon Club. When several more young men, including Geraldine's brother, are killed, it becomes even more imperative to solve the crimes. Sherlock is framed for one of the murders, and James eventually figures out Irene's alter ego. Will Irene and Sherlock be able to figure out the murderer before they both land in jail?
Strengths: This was an interesting twist on the Sherlock Holmes' stories: the main characters as college students. I had to look up Irene Adler to find out that she was in the story "A Scandal in Bohemia". Her relationship with Moriarty is an interesting one. This read rather like classic Christie or Sayers books, and seeing college life at Oxford in the Victorian era was fun. The murders aren't too bloody, and the real draw of the book is the relationship between the characters. That, and watching Irene going back and forth between being Isaac and being herself.
Weaknesses: This is more of a young adult book; it's on the long side, very descriptive, and mentions a few things like courtesans and brothels. I was a bit unclear how Irene could manage two enrollments at college, but that's kind of a boring detail.
What I really think: This would be an intriguing choice for readers who loved Lane's Young Sherlock Holmes series (starting with Death Cloud) or Lee's The Agency: A Spy in the House, also from 2010.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! 4.75 stars!
This is a historical fiction mystery with our main character Irene Adler. She is going to Oxford as both herself and masquerading as a boy - Isaac Holland. She wants to prove she is better than her brother James Moriarty, but the women's classes are absolutely lame compared to the men's classes. As the school year progresses, someone starts to murder the students in Isaac's All Souls class. Irene must team up with classmate Sherlock Holmes to figure out who the killer is.
I really loved Irene. She was extremely independent despite living in a time where women were not seen as equal to men. She wanted to earn her own accomplishments. I loved her relationship with Sherlock as both Irene and Isaac. Sherlock was a great character as well. He was the typical genius, but had a unique flare in this book. This took place before Sherlock and Watson obviously as they are in school, but Watson is in the book too. The family dynamics for Irene are also very interesting. Her and her brother do not get along, nor do her and her father. Irene was brought over from France against her will as a child so seeing that abuse was heartbreaking and made me root for her all the more.
The plot was so intriguing. I was always curious what was going to happen on the next page and while life got in the way of me really devouring it, I was always excited to pick it up when I had the time. I really love a good murder mystery and this one just hit all the right notes for me. There was a great pool of viable suspects and so many clues that Irene had to put together. Things we thought were true turned out to be wrong and there were so many twists and turns.
The writing style was great. I loved Irene's inner voice and her banter, especially with Sherlock. I was really transported into this historical England through the writing.
I really can't wait for the sequel even though the first book isn't out yet!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Sara Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

First of all I would like to thank NetGally, the publisher, and the author for sending me the ARC for A Beautiful and Terrible Murder. The following is my honest review:

This book was good and entertaining for what it was. I enjoyed this retelling of a Sherlock Holmes story but from Irene Adler's perspective. I don't know a ton of the lore for Sherlock Holmes so if I don't understand something that is obvious to those who know more, I am sorry ahead of time. With that being said the following are my thoughts about the book.




Spoiler Warning*************************




- I did not see the twist coming at the start of the book of Moriarty and Irene being half-siblings. It definitely made the story line more interesting.

- It was also a fun turn of events when they revealed that Sherlock was the roommate of Irene's alter ego

- One fatal flaw when I read is that I tend to get bored with descriptions in books and will skip over paragraphs to get to dialogue, however this book had me rarely skipping paragraphs which is a feat in itself.

- I really did not enjoy Edgar getting killed off, I really liked his character even though he wasn't in the book a whole lot

- Irene did annoy me more and more as the book progressed (mostly the decisions she kept making)

- The romance in this book was definitely slow burn

- I do think the book could have been shorter and still been good. In the later half of the book the story felt like it was dragging

- I was skeptical going into this book and didn't think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did

Overall the book was a decent spin on Sherlock Holmes and I would recommend people try it if the synopsis sounds interesting to them

[Emmy Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are my own.

DNF'd at 65%

From the description alone, 𝘈 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 seemed like the perfect book for me. I just finished the 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 series, and was looking for something similar. 𝘈 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 is a novel about Irene Adler, who disguises herself as a boy (Isaac Holland), in order to attend classes in the All Souls cohort, a group of students at Oxford. It becomes harder for her to keep up her disguise when her classmates begin getting murdered one by one, and someone tries to frame Isaac for the murders. Irene (as Isaac) teams up with her fellow classmate, Sherlock Holmes, to try and solve the mystery.

Plot-wise, there was nothing wrong with this story at all. The concept was thrilling, and the setting of the boarding school made for an interesting closed system. Irene herself was an excellent character, with a strong personality (something that some side characters lacked). I especially enjoyed her struggles to keep up her charade as Isaac, while balancing her classes as Irene, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 solve a murder at the same time!

However, the reason I just couldn't finish this book was because of the writing itself. Despite being over halfway into the story, it still hadn't grabbed my attention. I felt like I was just waiting and waiting for the story to really start, but it just never happened.

If you liked 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 or even 𝘌𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘴, and don't mind slower pacing, chances are you'll enjoy this book as well!

[GiovannaReads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful and Terrible Murder
Inglés
432 páginas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“Make them regret the day they made Irene Adler do anything she didn’t like.”

¿Han viviendo ese momento de absoluta paz cuando tienes altas expectativas de un libro que asusta que no las cumple, pero, termina cumpliéndolas y excediendolas? Bueno, eso me pasó con A Beautiful And Terrible Murder. Yo esperaba que me gustara, porque ¿Cómo podía esperar menos de la autora que me dio una de mis trilogías favoritas de la vida Daughter of Sparta? Y no me decepcionó.

Irene Adler es todo lo que está bien, es una mujer brillante, sarcástica, divertida, con una lengua afilada que no está dispuesta a dejarse de nadie y que va a hacer todo por conseguir lo que quiere, claro que hubieron momentos donde me desesperó, pero esos momentos eran los que más me hacían conectar con ella, porque al final del día es una mujer atrapada en un mundo en el que, literalmente, se tiene que vestir de hombre para poder acceder a estudios de calidad.

Holmes me hizo cantar en mi cabeza Tears de Sabrina, hermanas es que qué hombre 🥵 tan listo, tan brillante, tan deductivo, tan educado, tan todo y la mancuerna que hace con Isaac Holland lo es todo, porque se complementan tan bien 🫶🏻

El libro te tiene enganchado de principio a fin, todos son posibles sospechosos, lo que crees que es puede no serlo y el peligro se siente cada vez más cerca. La ambientación, la investigación, los personajes. Es que este libro me enamoró por completo.

Así que, si pueden acompañen a Irene en su camino de autoconocimiento, crecimiento, aprendizaje e investigación de asesinatos 💁🏻‍♀️ No se van a arrepentir.

“Desperation makes monsters of us all.”

[pdarnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the ebook via NetGalley for review.

I read through this rather quickly for me. I'm usually a slower reader, reading when I get the chance. The story is a fun look at what Sherlock, Irene, Watson and Moriarty might have been like during their college years. I did find it somewhat doubtful as to how long it took Sherlock to figure out the secret behind Isaac Holland or so it seemed until nearly the end of the book. Also, Watson is a policeman at this time in his life, not the doctor we know - yet.
There's a bit too much "heat" flowing from/to "name appendage" and the "dark locks dropping down over his face", but yeah, I can let go of that since this seems to be geared towards the young adult audience. There is no actual sexual acts described, just the warming of body parts. Which I appreciated. The mystery was a good one, it had me guessing all over the place... and honestly I never did guess it until the murderer was revealed. However, holy crap! The one who tried to murder Irene!!! Not at all the one I would have thought.
I look forward to more Irene Adler stories!!! A solid 4 out of 5 stars for me.


Content covering subjects of:
Leading a double life, hiding in plane sight, murder, Sherlock, friendship, school, enquity, Victorian era, and sleuthing among others.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy strikes when members of the All Souls cohort are being vicously murdered and Isaac is being framed for those murders. To get to the bottom of the case, Irene works with Sherlock to search for clues. At the same time, her brother is also looking for clues. Irene must maintain both her identities to solve the case to solve the mystery before she gets caught by the Scotland Yard and her reputation becomes tarnished.

This book is very face-forward when it came to the mystery and who the characters were prior to who they were in the original books. That being said, for how "genius" these characters are, the book moves awfully slow in some areas. There were several times where the same inforamtion felt like it was being repeated over and over again. I wouldn't mind if the mystery part was thought over so much, but the basic facts were the thoughts that were brought up the most (Irene and James's rivalry, Irene despising her dad, and Irene is Isaac).


Overall, this was a solid read with some confusing moments but the overall gothic atmosphere made up for its flaws, earning four out of five stars.

I recommend this book to fans of Sherlock Holmes, mystery fanatics, or Victorian Era lovers. Read my full review here: https://bellaandbooks5.wordpress.com/...

[Ema Asmadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1872, this story takes us to Oxford University, divided into two colleges: All Souls, reserved for the most brilliant men chosen once a decade to compete for Queen Victoria’s favor with Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty among them. And Lady Margaret, where women finally gain a foothold in academia.

At the center is Irene Adler, living a double life as Isaac Holland. The illegitimate daughter of opera singer and courtesan Elena Adler, Irene is unwillingly brought from France by her father into the shadow of the Moriarty name. Despite the suffocating misogyny of the era, she rises as one of Oxford’s sharpest minds.

But brilliance soon gives way to horror. Students begin to die one by one, their deaths increasingly suspicious, rattling Oxford to its core and casting a heavy fog of dread. Someone is framing both Isaac and Holmes, and Irene suddenly finds her every move under scrutiny. Red herrings abound so many that at times I felt overwhelmed, even as the pacing kept me turning the pages. Holmes doesn’t stand out much here, but that’s understandable given the focus.

Overall, A Beautiful and Terrible Murder delivers atmosphere, suspense, and intrigue in abundance. Though the sheer number of red herrings may test your patience, the tension of Irene’s double life and the gothic Oxford setting kept me hooked until the end.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a retelling of Sherlock Holmes from the perspective of Irene Adler. Irene is leading a double life, tired of only taking the womens classes in school, Irene disguises herself as Isaac Holland to take the classes that women are not allowed. As Isaac, Irene intends to finish the top of her class. When her classmates start getting murdered, Irene is determined to solve their murders. Disguised as Isaac, Irene teams up with fellow classmate Sherlock Holmes, but how long can they work together before Sherlock discovers Isaac's true identity.

Irene was a strong resourceful character who seamlessly moves between her two personas. It was fun to see her in both of her identities. Irene is clever as she pieces together the clues to try and find the culprit who is murdering her classmates. It was fun to see her interactions with Sherlock as both Irene and Isaac. You see other characters from the original Sherlock works, such as Watson and Moriarty.

This was a fun read, and I enjoyed trying to piece together all the clues and try to solve the case along with Irene. I look forward to more Irene Adler mysteries.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now if you are a lover of Sherlock Holmes then this is the novel for you! Here we will be taken to the early days of Sherlock through the eyes of the lovely Irene Adler. Here she will learn to manage her busy school life and try to solve a mystery without getting herself killed. Overall this a very good book for anyone of any age to read.
When we meet Irene she is busy leading a double life that involves being a student at a youbg ladies finishing school and the other is posing as a man to take anatomy classes. She actually manages to hide her identities pretty well and nobody suspects a thing. However, things take a turn for the worse when various young male students start disappearing. Immediately Irene jumps in and starts to carefully investigate in order to make sure she doesn't lose her life or worse have to identity exposed!
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irene Adler is the illegitimate daughter of Dean Moriarty. She cannot stand her father or her half-brother, and is masquerading as a man in the illustrious "All Souls" Oxford class in order to prove them both that she is smart and capable, despite being a woman.

But when her classmates start mysteriously dying at a rapid pace, she must juggle keeping her disguise, staying alive, and her growing attraction for the one and only Sherlock Holmes.

I am a sucker for any type of Sherlock Holmes retelling, and I was excited to start this one. But this book felt SO LONG. It never really grabbed or held my attention until the very end, which surely means I'll have to read the next one (sigh).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Jessica Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the book store by me accidentally sold me this book before it was supposed to be sold. Yay me! The only version of Sherlock Holmes I know is the modern BBC one so I was really excited to delve into an older time (original time) version. I love how it’s told my Irene Adler, she’s always been one of my favorite characters from the show and I’ve always loved an ambitious/non conforming woman in old England story line.

I do wish I got a bit more Alder/Sherlock love story as I’m a sucker for a romance, but this isn’t that. Maybe we’ll see them together again in later books.

I can’t wait to read the next book (that I’m assuming will come out)!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

Knowing that this wasn't just a Sherlock Holmes adaptation but that the MC was Irene Adler, I knew I had to read it. Absolutely loved this, showing Irene, Sherlock, and Moriarty at Oxford together. Irene taking some classes as herself but then changing clothes and pretending to be a man, so she can actually learn something.

Definitely would recommend this. Totally clean book, no smut. No graphic descriptions of the murders. Perfect cozy.

Definitely would recommend!

[mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars!
loved this with a capital L! I have been reading the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and this book focuses on Irene Adler- the only women to have ever outsmarted Holmes. so you know this girl is going to be awesome!

I liked how the book was written with a bit fancier wording. not too complex, just enough so you feel like you're really in the late 1800s. and the setting was a dream for autumn: college campus in fall!

Irene is just such a smart woman and I really enjoyed her character! she knew she was good too, so she pretended she wasn't! 🤌🤌🤌

underrated!

[Terri Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I’d love a murder mystery set in the world of Sherlock Holmes but unfortunately the writing was just not great and I was bored with the book the entire time. There was never any real tension, suspense, excitement or really much emotion. Just a fairly flat story set in a cool time and place.

[Maggie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An origin story set at Oxford, Victorian England - featuring college-age Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler, John Watson, and James Moriarty. Very well done - engaging read. (although it's a terrible title)

[Brandi Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads of 2025! I loved the story, loved the take on the traditional characters & I especially love the sass!

A Greek mythology series that was AMAZING & now a Sherlock Holmes retelling? My two obsessive interests? Claire M. Andrews is now a release day must-buy author for me!

[Lillie Lainoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc!