I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes were both sent away from Oxford’s All Souls class after uncovering a murderous plot on campus. But now Irene’s deductive skills have called her back to England. Someone is killing off the queen’s closest allies and leaving mysterious messages at every crime scene.

The people of London are frightened—and growing angry. Could the murders be Queen Victoria’s fault, or is she the one in the most danger? With Sherlock’s help once more, Irene will follow leads that bring her deep into the secrets held by England’s richest families. The spark between the pair ignites and burns ever hotter all the while.

But the closer Irene gets to finding the killer’s identity, it becomes clear that it’s not a truth she wants to face. To prove herself an Adler, not a Moriarty, Irene will need to overcome the worst betrayal of her life. Can she endure true heartbreak if it’s for the greater good?

Short and Sweet Review

Irene Adler is called back to London after a string of murders targeting some of Queen Victoria’s closest allies. With mysterious messages being left behind at each crime scene, Irene has to figure out who is behind the killings and whether the queen herself might be the real target. Of course, Sherlock Holmes is there to help, and the two of them have plenty of history and unresolved feelings between them. As Irene gets closer to the truth, she finds herself uncovering secrets involving some of England’s wealthiest families and is forced to confront a betrayal that hits much closer to home than she expected.

I enjoyed being back in Irene’s world! I think one of my favorite things about this series is getting to see Sherlock Holmes and some of the other familiar characters from Irene’s perspective. Irene is such a strong, independent character, especially considering the time period she’s living in, and I love that she doesn’t let the expectations placed on women dictate what she can or can’t do. Her friendship with Geraldine was also one of my favorite parts. Their relationship feels so genuine, and I loved seeing how loyal they are to each other. The mystery itself was interesting, although I did think the pacing dragged a little in the middle. There were quite a few characters and relationships to keep track of, and at times I was more invested in the character drama than I was in figuring out who was behind the murders. That being said, the beginning pulled me in quickly and the ending definitely made up for some of the slower moments. I didn’t see the final reveal coming, and the emotional fallout from it honestly hurt a little. I liked seeing Irene and Sherlock’s relationship. There’s definitely a spark between them, and I liked that their relationship isn’t the only thing driving the story. I did wish Sherlock had been around a little more, but whenever he and Irene were together, I loved their chemistry.

Overall, A Lovely and Deadly Dance was another fun addition to the series. I enjoyed the historical setting, the mystery, the family drama, and especially getting to spend more time with Irene and the other characters. The mystery wasn’t quite as gripping as I hoped it would be, but the characters and unexpected ending kept me invested. I’m definitely interested in seeing what comes next for this world!