A Conspiracy in Belgravia.  Finished 5-23-20, 4/5 stars, historical mystery, pub. 2017

Unabridged audio. 10 hours, 30 minutes.

Book 2 of the Lady Sherlock series (1- A Study in Scarlet Women)

Lady Ingram, wife of Charlotte’s dear friend and benefactor, wants Sherlock Holmes to find her first love, who failed to show up at their annual rendezvous. Matters of loyalty and discretion aside, the case becomes even more personal for Charlotte as the missing man is none other than Myron Finch, her illegitimate half brother.

In the meanwhile, Charlotte wrestles with a surprising proposal of marriage, a mysterious stranger woos her sister Livia, and an unidentified body surfaces where least expected. Charlotte’s investigative prowess is challenged as never before: Can she find her brother in time—or will he, too, end up as a nameless corpse somewhere in the belly of London?    from Goodreads

In the first book of the series, Charlotte was disgraced and in Victorian England this meant society shunned her and her family would try to hide her away.  Charlotte, ever resourceful, found a way to use her smarts to support herself, but not without the aid of Mrs. Watson, a fellow renegade.  Chaorlotte set up shop on Baker Street offering the services of her bedridden brother “Sherlock”.

Sherlock is approached by Lady Ingram to find a lover she had thrown aside to marry a rich man.  That man just happens to be Charlotte’s close friend, Lord Ingram.  Deciding to take the job and keep it from Ash was risky.  Fielding a second marriage proposal from his brother was another tricky thing to maneuver.  He enticed her with dead bodies and secret codes, wooing her for her mind and offering her a chance to enter society once again.  Charlotte managed both with the analytical thinking that had gotten her that far.

I have loved these first two books.  The mysteries have been top notch and the secondary characters well drawn with complex relationships.  I’m looking forward to spending more time with this fine cast of characters.