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Irene Adler #7
Femme Fatale
Irene Adler is the only woman ever to have outwitted Sherlock Holmes... and the one who has come closest to stealing his heart.
She has competed (and sometimes cooperated) with the famous fictional detective over six popular and acclaimed novels, featuring her daring investigations across the Continent. All along, the beautiful and brilliant American diva-turned-detective has managed to conceal her background and history, even from her dashing barrister husband, Godfrey Norton, and her devoted companion and biographer, English spinster Nell Huxleigh.
But she has had some help along the way to do this, from such unlikely sources as the Baron de Rothschild, Sarah Bernhardt, and Bram Stoker, as well as the soon-to-be-infamous Nellie Bly, a daring American journalist who helped Irene hunt Jack the Ripper. Now Nellie has wired Irene some astounding news, news that will shake her Irene's mother is the target of an assassin.
Irene’s past is shrouded in secrecy, and at first she is unwilling to divulge anything that would link her to America. But a series of bizarre killings in New York City draws her reluctantly back to her native country, where she must race with a murderer to find her mother, a woman of mystery who may turn out to be the most notorious woman of the nineteenth century.
As Irene forges a trail into her own hidden past, Nellie Bly draws another ace investigator across the Atlantic to join in the hunt for a serial killer, the last man on earth Irene Adler wants to discover anything about her shocking past... Sherlock Holmes.
She has competed (and sometimes cooperated) with the famous fictional detective over six popular and acclaimed novels, featuring her daring investigations across the Continent. All along, the beautiful and brilliant American diva-turned-detective has managed to conceal her background and history, even from her dashing barrister husband, Godfrey Norton, and her devoted companion and biographer, English spinster Nell Huxleigh.
But she has had some help along the way to do this, from such unlikely sources as the Baron de Rothschild, Sarah Bernhardt, and Bram Stoker, as well as the soon-to-be-infamous Nellie Bly, a daring American journalist who helped Irene hunt Jack the Ripper. Now Nellie has wired Irene some astounding news, news that will shake her Irene's mother is the target of an assassin.
Irene’s past is shrouded in secrecy, and at first she is unwilling to divulge anything that would link her to America. But a series of bizarre killings in New York City draws her reluctantly back to her native country, where she must race with a murderer to find her mother, a woman of mystery who may turn out to be the most notorious woman of the nineteenth century.
As Irene forges a trail into her own hidden past, Nellie Bly draws another ace investigator across the Atlantic to join in the hunt for a serial killer, the last man on earth Irene Adler wants to discover anything about her shocking past... Sherlock Holmes.
554 pages, Hardcover
First published November 24, 2003
7 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Carole Nelson Douglas
167 books567 followersCarole Nelson Douglas is the author of sixty-four award-winning novels in contemporary and historical mystery/suspense and romance, high and urban fantasy and science fiction genres. She is best known for two popular mystery series, the Irene Adler Sherlockian historical suspense series (she was the first woman to spin-off a series from the Holmes stories) and the multi-award-winning alphabetically titled Midnight Louie contemporary mystery series. From Cat in an Alphabet Soup #1 to Cat in an Alphabet Endgame #28.
Delilah Street, PI (Paranormal Investigator), headlines Carole's noir Urban Fantasy series: Dancing With Werewolves, Brimstone Kiss, Vampire Sunrise, Silver Zombie, and Virtual Virgin. Now Delilah has moved from her paranormal Vegas to Midnight Louie, feline PI's "Slightly surreal" Vegas to solve crimes in the first book of the new Cafe Noir series, Absinthe Without Leave. Next in 2020, Brandi Alexander on the Rocks.
Once Upon a Midnight Noir is out in eBook and trade paperback versions. This author-designed and illustrated collection of three mystery stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance features two award-winning stories featuring Midnight Louie, feline PI and Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator in a supernatural-run Las Vegas. A third story completes the last unfinished story fragment of Edgar Allan Poe, as a Midnight Louie Past Life adventure set in 1790 Norland on a isolated island lighthouse. Louie is a soldier of fortune, a la Puss in Boots.
Next out are Midnight Louie's Cat in an Alphabet Endgame in hardcover, trade paperback and eBook Aug. 23, 2016.
All the Irene Adler novels, the first to feature a woman from the Sherlock Holmes Canon as a crime solver, are now available in eBook.
Carole was a college theater and English literature major. She was accepted for grad school in Theater at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University, and could have worked as an editorial assistant at Vogue magazine (a la The Devil Wears Prada) but wanted a job closer to home. She worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight Louey to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the cat's point of view. The cat found a country home, but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough." Midnight Louie has now had 32 novelistic lives and features in several short stories as well.
Hollywood and Broadway director, playwright, screenwriter and novelist Garson Kanin took Carole's first novel to his publisher on the basis of an interview/article she'd done with him five years earlier. "My friend Phil Silvers," he wrote, "would say he'd never won an interview yet, but he had never had the luck of you."
Carole is a "literary chameleon" who's had novels published in many genres, and often mixes such genre elements as mystery and suspense, fantasy and science fiction, romance with mainstream issues, especially the roles of women.
Delilah Street, PI (Paranormal Investigator), headlines Carole's noir Urban Fantasy series: Dancing With Werewolves, Brimstone Kiss, Vampire Sunrise, Silver Zombie, and Virtual Virgin. Now Delilah has moved from her paranormal Vegas to Midnight Louie, feline PI's "Slightly surreal" Vegas to solve crimes in the first book of the new Cafe Noir series, Absinthe Without Leave. Next in 2020, Brandi Alexander on the Rocks.
Once Upon a Midnight Noir is out in eBook and trade paperback versions. This author-designed and illustrated collection of three mystery stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance features two award-winning stories featuring Midnight Louie, feline PI and Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator in a supernatural-run Las Vegas. A third story completes the last unfinished story fragment of Edgar Allan Poe, as a Midnight Louie Past Life adventure set in 1790 Norland on a isolated island lighthouse. Louie is a soldier of fortune, a la Puss in Boots.
Next out are Midnight Louie's Cat in an Alphabet Endgame in hardcover, trade paperback and eBook Aug. 23, 2016.
All the Irene Adler novels, the first to feature a woman from the Sherlock Holmes Canon as a crime solver, are now available in eBook.
Carole was a college theater and English literature major. She was accepted for grad school in Theater at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University, and could have worked as an editorial assistant at Vogue magazine (a la The Devil Wears Prada) but wanted a job closer to home. She worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight Louey to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the cat's point of view. The cat found a country home, but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough." Midnight Louie has now had 32 novelistic lives and features in several short stories as well.
Hollywood and Broadway director, playwright, screenwriter and novelist Garson Kanin took Carole's first novel to his publisher on the basis of an interview/article she'd done with him five years earlier. "My friend Phil Silvers," he wrote, "would say he'd never won an interview yet, but he had never had the luck of you."
Carole is a "literary chameleon" who's had novels published in many genres, and often mixes such genre elements as mystery and suspense, fantasy and science fiction, romance with mainstream issues, especially the roles of women.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 23, 2014
This is the third book by this author with Irene Adler as the protagonist. I really enjoyed the first two books, but this one lost a bit of momentum for me.
In this installment, Irene is enticed to New York from France by a message from Nellie Bly [who interacted with Adler in one of the earlier books]suggesting that information about Irene's mother [whom Irene has no memory of and has never thought of at all] might be found in New York, and that she go there to look at the information Nellie has because said mother may the target of an assassin.
Irene is ambivalent, but curious, and so heads for a boat with her faithful sidekick Nell in tow, and crosses to NYC.
Irene begins to look into her past and discovers that a number of her past associates from when she was a child vaudeville performer are being murdered and others may be in danger.
Although I like the Irene Adler character, and the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes as a connection to Irene is an interesting story, this book felt a bit too much like a tell-all or self-help book than a murder mystery as the first two books of Irene were. The family drama is not as interesting to me as following Irene as she solves mysteries/crimes.
I particularly was annoyed by Nell in this book, as she was even more up-tight and self-righteous than in the earlier books and I mostly wanted to tell her to shut up and take a pill.
Still the story of the murders and the performers and the shared past between them and Irene was interesting. However, I felt this book was longer than it needed to be to solve the mystery, and the extra pages were extraneous to me - I didn't care about it and think the book would have been better without it.
This was okay, but I am not likely to continue with other books in this series after this one was so underwhelming.
In this installment, Irene is enticed to New York from France by a message from Nellie Bly [who interacted with Adler in one of the earlier books]suggesting that information about Irene's mother [whom Irene has no memory of and has never thought of at all] might be found in New York, and that she go there to look at the information Nellie has because said mother may the target of an assassin.
Irene is ambivalent, but curious, and so heads for a boat with her faithful sidekick Nell in tow, and crosses to NYC.
Irene begins to look into her past and discovers that a number of her past associates from when she was a child vaudeville performer are being murdered and others may be in danger.
Although I like the Irene Adler character, and the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes as a connection to Irene is an interesting story, this book felt a bit too much like a tell-all or self-help book than a murder mystery as the first two books of Irene were. The family drama is not as interesting to me as following Irene as she solves mysteries/crimes.
I particularly was annoyed by Nell in this book, as she was even more up-tight and self-righteous than in the earlier books and I mostly wanted to tell her to shut up and take a pill.
Still the story of the murders and the performers and the shared past between them and Irene was interesting. However, I felt this book was longer than it needed to be to solve the mystery, and the extra pages were extraneous to me - I didn't care about it and think the book would have been better without it.
This was okay, but I am not likely to continue with other books in this series after this one was so underwhelming.
July 16, 2022
Well, here we are. I FINALLY finished this novel I started in February. It was my commute/downtime work book. I came to like the characters and the banter between Irene and Nell. I loved all the run-ins with Sherlock Holmes, but I kinda wish he didn't basically solve the whole mystery for us? during IRENE'S book? Irene and Nell sorta get the upperhand in the end but still. I think what made this read slow for me was Nell's narration. She's a bit of a prude/snob about EVERYTHING which gets kinda annoying. But it's also endearing. The world building is great but the descriptors are so long it made it hard to get through this book. But i did and it features a slightly problematic abortion provider?!?! love it. I probably won't read another one but this book did give me some nice nostalgia to the tv show Sherlock.
November 24, 2022
Drawn to America by Nellie Bly, Irene Adler and Nell Huxleigh investigate a mystery connected to Adler's past, much of which she has repressed. Unhappy with their results, Bly also gets Sherlock Holmes to cross the Atlantic. Many fun vaudevillian characters from Adler's past are introduced as suspects and victims. Yes, Carole Nelson Douglas often uses 15 words when 5 may do, but if you've come this far in the series you should know what to expect. If Goodreads did half stars I'd give this 3.5. Love the characters of Irene and Nell and I love mysteries when there are lots of suspects. If you enjoyed the other books in the series, you'll enjoy this one.
May 8, 2021
Perhaps one of her best!
I had trouble with the previous volume where Pink figured so heavily in the dialog and plot. She is a very unlikable character. But here, Pink is almost peripheral to the plot -- most welcome!
The many interesting characters are well-developed and memorable. Many plot twists, none lost in the story, which happens occasionally in earlier volumes.
This may be my favorite. And great developments in Nell's stumbling romance.
Highly recommended!
I had trouble with the previous volume where Pink figured so heavily in the dialog and plot. She is a very unlikable character. But here, Pink is almost peripheral to the plot -- most welcome!
The many interesting characters are well-developed and memorable. Many plot twists, none lost in the story, which happens occasionally in earlier volumes.
This may be my favorite. And great developments in Nell's stumbling romance.
Highly recommended!
August 13, 2017
4.5 stars
June 5, 2015
Review title: More focused, but Holmes is barely there in this American adventure
OK, so my previous review was of Carole Nelson Douglas Castle Rouge, and I was a bit harsh in my review, but having the followup novel with me on my two-weelk stay in Beijing, I decided to give it a spin, and found I liked it a little better. The main reason was that this time around it was more focused, sticking mostly with Irene Adler and her female Waston Nell Huxleigh as they journey to America on a mysterious search for the mother Adler never knew. This is at the behest of Nellie Bly, the historical pioneering female journalist in the muckraker tradition who is in search of a front-page story.
It turns out that all three women have to face their uncertain pasts, and of course Holmes gets involved even though he is barely there in the novel--yet he gets the prime place of revealing the mystery in the end. Because Douglas hasn't followed Holmes at all through the story and all of his solution has been off screen, this final reveal turns into an overlong and too-talky 32-page chapter that drags down what could have been an exciting ending.
Oh, and the promised Oscar Wilde sighting? He has a very small role early in the novel before the scene shifts to New York, which was probably a wise choice by Douglas. Attempting to make up witty dialogue and put it in the mouth of the sharpest phraseologist in English literature usually does not go well for lesser writers--which Douglas most assuredly is, but then compared to Wilde, most are. I am certain that she has a devoted fan base in the female-focused Sherlock Holmes continuation genre (don't laugh--see Laurie R. King's Bee series such as The Language of Bees), and this book will go over easy with that fan base.
OK, so my previous review was of Carole Nelson Douglas Castle Rouge, and I was a bit harsh in my review, but having the followup novel with me on my two-weelk stay in Beijing, I decided to give it a spin, and found I liked it a little better. The main reason was that this time around it was more focused, sticking mostly with Irene Adler and her female Waston Nell Huxleigh as they journey to America on a mysterious search for the mother Adler never knew. This is at the behest of Nellie Bly, the historical pioneering female journalist in the muckraker tradition who is in search of a front-page story.
It turns out that all three women have to face their uncertain pasts, and of course Holmes gets involved even though he is barely there in the novel--yet he gets the prime place of revealing the mystery in the end. Because Douglas hasn't followed Holmes at all through the story and all of his solution has been off screen, this final reveal turns into an overlong and too-talky 32-page chapter that drags down what could have been an exciting ending.
Oh, and the promised Oscar Wilde sighting? He has a very small role early in the novel before the scene shifts to New York, which was probably a wise choice by Douglas. Attempting to make up witty dialogue and put it in the mouth of the sharpest phraseologist in English literature usually does not go well for lesser writers--which Douglas most assuredly is, but then compared to Wilde, most are. I am certain that she has a devoted fan base in the female-focused Sherlock Holmes continuation genre (don't laugh--see Laurie R. King's Bee series such as The Language of Bees), and this book will go over easy with that fan base.
July 4, 2019
Intrepid girl reporter, Nellie Bly lures Irene Adler Norton and Nell Huxleigh from Paris to New York City by stating that Irene's mother is in danger. With her early childhood memories more than fuzzy, Irene returns to her home country and chases a murderer through the back stages of the vaudeville theater.
After the dark tale pursued in the previous two books, I found this one to be a much easier read. Not to say there are not horrible murders. There are. This delves into Irene's past and we learn a lot about how she became the woman of music and mystery that I love.
Nell is still recovering from everything she endured before. And we have Nellie Bly who annoyed me before and does nothing to redeem herself now. She is out for her story and doesn't care who is hurt along the way.
The details of the vaudeville theater were enjoyable. As always, the writing was good and the plot well-paced. Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance and assists with the case.
There is one more book in the series. Part of me is eager to see what other adventure Irene and Nell have in America, but I'm also sad to have reached the end.
After the dark tale pursued in the previous two books, I found this one to be a much easier read. Not to say there are not horrible murders. There are. This delves into Irene's past and we learn a lot about how she became the woman of music and mystery that I love.
Nell is still recovering from everything she endured before. And we have Nellie Bly who annoyed me before and does nothing to redeem herself now. She is out for her story and doesn't care who is hurt along the way.
The details of the vaudeville theater were enjoyable. As always, the writing was good and the plot well-paced. Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance and assists with the case.
There is one more book in the series. Part of me is eager to see what other adventure Irene and Nell have in America, but I'm also sad to have reached the end.
December 27, 2015
Wherein we find Irene and her faithful Nell, off to the New World, to explore the mystery of her background. In which they are joined by The Man himself (alas, once again sans Watson) and the ever-interfering Nelly Bly.
A breezier read than the last pair, the boisterous sprawling New York scene does them both good, and the theatrical vaudevillian mileau is a perfect setting. And fortunately, since the fundamental mystery is yet unsolved at the end, I am able to immediately order up the next volume. The glory that is the Los Angeles County Public Library system comes through once again.
A breezier read than the last pair, the boisterous sprawling New York scene does them both good, and the theatrical vaudevillian mileau is a perfect setting. And fortunately, since the fundamental mystery is yet unsolved at the end, I am able to immediately order up the next volume. The glory that is the Los Angeles County Public Library system comes through once again.
January 17, 2009
This book in the Irene Adler series moves across the Atlantic to New York. Nellie Bly is a minor character (thankfully) and Sherlock Holmes plays a satisfying supporting role. The best subplot development was the relationship of Nell and Quentin Stanhope. Their day together on Coney Island was very well written.
This book ends with a 'challenge' from Holmes to Irene that probably means the next book will at least begin in New York and will continue Irene's search to discover the identity of her mother.
This book ends with a 'challenge' from Holmes to Irene that probably means the next book will at least begin in New York and will continue Irene's search to discover the identity of her mother.
January 29, 2014
Like book #6 in this series, I have mixed feelings here. I preferred it to #6 in terms of believability - but it was nowhere near as clever as book #6. Additionally, the plot wanders around a good bit, and the original mystery that summoned the characters to New York was left to be solved in the next book! Not bad (and I have already moved on to book #8), although a far cry from the original books in the series.
September 24, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much. Thankfully, It was much less dark than the previous two. The look into Irene's past was a sometimes delightful depiction of the early days of American "theater" for the poor, as well as an opportunity to see how a "disability of birth" could be turned into a "talent" to earn a living when the usual means were denied one.
November 24, 2015
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
unread-favauthors
January 6, 20167th in the series.
April 14, 2009
fun, light-hearted mystery.. quick-read..
Read
October 31, 2012Now I remember why I stopped reading the Adler series many years ago. Too much review and too much diagloge that does not advance the plot of chararters.
April 28, 2016
hhhhmmmmm.... i'm really enjoying this series, so sad this is the second to last book for now. nell in america is wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews