A Lovely and Deadly Dance

by Claire M. Andrews

Something is stalking the queen of England, and Irene Adler is ready to find whatever monster may lurk behind this new gruesome string of murders—with or without the help of Sherlock Holmes.

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?

Claire M. Andrews pens a riveting sequel to the romantic Victorian mystery A Beautiful and Terrible Murder that will keep every mystery fan guessing until the end.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Audible Audio

Published August 11, 2026

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

[Kierstan]

I AM SO UPSET BY THE ENDING. IF THERE IS NOT A THIRD BOOK TO RESOLVE THIS I AM RIOTING!!!!

[Sophie (Book-Dragon)]

*4.5 stars

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡🥵😡🥵🥵😡☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡
*takes a second*
😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️☠️😡☠️😡😡😡☠️☠️😡☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

Okay! IM ALL GOOD NOW!!!
*not really*
You’re probably wondering, “Why is Sophie using so many angry emojis?” Welp, I’ll tell you why. THE ENDING!
That is all I can say. If there is not another book I will forever be ANGRY! And emojis seemed to be a good way to show that. 😊

This was a second book to “A beautiful and terrible murder” and I must say, it certainly stayed on track and wasn’t a major letdown! YAY! I do find that one of the hardest parts of starting series is if it starts to get worse and worse every book. Which I wouldn’t say is uncommon.

There was no spice this book but definitely more kissing than the last one…. 🙃

Some things to look forward to…

🫆A Murder to Solve
🫆 PlOt TwIsT
🫆 Un peu de romance
🫆 A HOPEFULLY THIRD BOOK ON THE WAY

I would recommend this to people who enjoy a little bit of a mystery to solve.

So if that’s you….
*slides the book across the table*
… you should read it

[Caroline]

This book definitely took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Irene Adler definitely experiences the highs and lows of life. Once it found its groove, the story had me hooked, and I can’t wait for more. Thanks to Little, Brown Books for the arc.

[Saloni Porwal]

This book is the second in a series, and unfortunately, I didn't know this going in. Despite going in without the first book, I was still able to piece things well enough to find the story engaging, but I'd recommend going in the right order to avoid spoilers from the previous book.

Primarily, I found the characters highly riveting and very relatable, but the plot lacking in suspense and a satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the various dynamics between all the characters and the vivid descriptions that bought the settings to life. The story is packed with intense family drama and compelling relationship dynamics that have a long history. I haven't read the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and I was still able to connect with and like Claire Andrews' interpretation of some of the original iconic characters in a different context. Can't speak for accuracies in their portrayal, but I think there is still a lot to appreciate in this book as its own independent work.

If you particularly love seeing independent and strong-minded women from historical fiction or historical romance, this may be the right pick for you. Same goes for young detective stories, or YA packed with emotion. Of course, I have to mention the popular series Enola Holmes which also features some original characters from Doyle's works. Enola's series features Sherlock's much younger sister and her investigative expeditions, and all of the books in my experience were a lot of fun to read. This book is set apart from that in the sense that there is romance and some more challenging themes that don't make it suitable for younger readers. However, if you liked the general vibe of the Enola Holmes books and/or movies, you may find the Irene Adler series is very entertaining. Looking forward to reading more in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley, Claire Andrews, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the complimentary eARC in exchange for honest feedback. All opinions in this review are mine.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

🎧📖 𝐸-𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧

𝒜 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ʙʏ ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ᴍ. ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴡs

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨

ᴀ ɢʟᴀᴍᴏʀᴏᴜs ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪʀᴇɴᴇ ᴀᴅʟᴇʀ ɪs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ sʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏᴜᴛᴡɪᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴇ-ᴀʀᴄ!

𝒜 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ᴡᴀs sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ғᴜɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɪʀᴇɴᴇ ᴀᴅʟᴇʀ sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋ ʜᴏʟᴍᴇs-ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴠɪʙᴇs. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴs, ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ, ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄʟᴀssɪᴄ ᴇɴᴏʟᴀ ʜᴏʟᴍᴇs-sᴛʏʟᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴏᴜs ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ɪʀᴇɴᴇ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ—ᴛʜᴇ sᴇǫᴜᴇʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴs sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🕵🏽‍♀️ ᴀᴍᴀᴛᴇᴜʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ
🎭 ɢʟᴀᴍᴏʀᴏᴜs sᴏᴄɪᴇᴛʏ
🔪 ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ
💕 ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
👑 ʜɪsᴛᴏʀɪᴄᴀʟ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🧩 ᴄʟᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴍᴄ
🖤 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
📖 sʜᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋ ʜᴏʟᴍᴇs-ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇᴅ

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴀ ɢʟᴀᴍᴏʀᴏᴜs ʜɪsᴛᴏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴘᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ, sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ᴄʟᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ. ɪʀᴇɴᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ᴀɴ ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ɢɪᴠᴇs ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ “ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ” ǫᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ. ᴀ ғᴜɴ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ-ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴛᴡɪsᴛ.

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ

[Julie]

This book is a well-written, well-paced Victorian mystery novel.

If that had been all my expectation of it, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Instead, the whole time I was reading it, I was expecting it to be a Sherlock Holmes pastiche and enjoyable for that -- I'd picked it for that -- and... it wasn't. It was obvious at points that the author was either really unknowledgable about "canon" Holmes or else was deliberately nodding to the modern TV show and a section of fandom that isn't consistent with the books. The addition of "William Sherlock Scott Holmes" made me want to throw the book across the room. 🤣 Neither Irene nor Sherlock had much resemblance to Conan Doyle's.

HOWEVER, while I was very disappointed in the characters (much worsened by the fact that this is a sequel, and reading the first book is clearly almost a necessity, but I didn't know it even WAS a sequel until I was well into it), I was also aware at the same time that it was written really well. If the characters had different names I might have really enjoyed it quite a bit. In an age where so many books are boring or AI-written, this one was neither. It was well-paced and well-crafted.

Someone who is less of a real Sherlock fanatic would probably enjoy it even with the Sherlock references. It just was a constant bother and distraction to me!

[Mrs. Beady P]

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read A Lovely and Deadly Dance by Claire M. Andrews as an ARC reviewer.

I went into this one completely blind, and that was probably my first mistake. This is book two in the duology, and there are definitely spoilers for book one, so I would absolutely recommend reading the first book before picking this one up.

That said, I still enjoyed this one. I really liked the Sherlock Holmes retelling from Irene Adlers pov, the mystery, and all the secrets and intrigue woven throughout the story. There's murder, romance, suspicious characters, and enough going on to keep things interesting.

There were some parts that worked better for me than others, and I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven in places. I found myself really invested at certain points, while other sections felt like they dragged a bit.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

[Kelcey | felinebooktrovert ✨️]

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

4.25 stars

Super engaging read with some beloved characters.

This was another great mystery (although the mystery wasn't SO MUCH a mystery). But the investigation and the dynamics between all of the characters was great. It's so great to see Irene with a mind that rivals Holmes and Moriarty. Although Moriarty in this series so far is just a big baby instead of brilliant.

Irene and Sherlock are a great combo; I just wish Sherlock was in this one a little more. He wasn't helping so much with the mystery as he was being brooding from afar. Also great but I want more of his genius here.

So overall very entertaining, but the mystery in this one wasn't so surprising and I want more Sherlock ❤️

[Chloe]

I was so excited to dive back in to this world and this book, and they did not disappoint!

I love the characters in this book; Irene, Sherlock, Watson, Lasho. I love their dynamics. I especially love the tension between Irene and Sherlock.

The action scenes are always great and I love all the drama. The mystery for this one was very good in my opinion as I had literally no guesses as to who did it so the reveal was unexpected.

Also, crying at the ending because I need more! Hope there will be a book three and we will get to see more of Irene and Sherlock together.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books & NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janna Felix]

A Lovely and Deadly Dance delivers a darkly engaging mystery that keeps you invested in uncovering the killer's identity alongside Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes. Andrews crafts an atmospheric London filled with intrigue and danger, where each clue pulls you deeper into a web of secrets held by England's wealthiest families. The dynamic between Irene and Sherlock crackles with tension, and their partnership feels earned rather than forced, making their collaboration feel essential to solving the case. That said, the emotional payoff falters slightly in the final act, the betrayal that's meant to devastate Irene lands with less impact than intended, and the moral quandary she faces could have been explored with greater depth to truly showcase her struggle between personal desire and duty. Still, this is a solid sequel that will satisfy mystery fans looking for gothic atmosphere, clever deduction, and a heroine determined to carve her own path.

[Shaina]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Claire Andrews for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Lovely and Deadly Dance coming out August 11, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a few books by this author. I was excited for the Sherlock Holmes Irene Adler adaptation. I really enjoyed this one and the first book. I’ve read similar stories before, so it wasn’t completely new to me. But the characters were interesting. It was a little on the long side, but I’d read more by this author.

[Stephanie Tyree]

Characters: 3 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Emotional: 3 stars
Enjoyment: 4 stars
Total: 3.5 stars

This follow up story from the perspective of Irene Adler did not hit as well as the first in this Irene Adler series. It was still and interesting story, but I was not captivated the way that I hoped I would be heading into the fall season with a good mystery. I didn't feel like the story or mystery really made a lot of sense, and the characters did not feel true. Overall, I've honestly forgotten most of the story already.

[Tamara]

Title: A Lovely and Deadly Dance
Author: Claire Andrews
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery
Rating: 3.0

I don’t know, this just felt off to me. Kind of erratic, kind of juvenile, kind of dark in spots, but nothing consistent throughout. I finished it, so it kept my attention somewhat, but I was glad to put it down. The story jumped from plot point to plot point, but there wasn’t any transition between events, so it felt clunky and didn’t flow.

(Galley courtesy of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

[Sarah Brake]

This is the 2nd in the series, it takes roughly a year (I believe) after the first book, and it was enjoyable to read! There were a few spots in the middle that seemed to drag a little bit, but overall it was worth the read, I especially liked the twist, even though I knew what it was going to be early on. The action in it was great, as were the relationships!

[Rebecca]

This is an amazing adaptation for any lover of Sherlock Holmes. I was going to add something about 'especially for those who love Irene Adler,' but I don't know anyone who is a fan of the series and isn't. Although, I suppose there must be.

Having read the first book in this series, I was anxiously awaiting the second book and was thrilled to get an advanced copy. It was just as amazing as the first. My only comment to readers is that you need to read them in order. Not that you will be lost, but because the author has decided to put spoilers in the book. Ugh. I hate when mystery authors do that. However, the books are absolutely amazing and would definitely recommend them!

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

[Kylie]

4.5 stars

[Caroline]

I didn’t see the bad guy coming and I feel like I for sure should have but I’m liking the story

[Bethany]

3.5- not as good as the first one, but I still enjoyed it! It’s fun to read from the perspective of Irene!

[Jennifer]

Loved the first book, but very disappointed with this ending. I read somewhere this was duology, but I wish it wasn't. Too much was left unresolved. Ugh.

[Gaia Grazi]

I need the next book like, yesterday.
Please, I must know what happens next right now 😭

[Kylie]

4.5 stars
This was a really great sequel!
After spending time in America, Irene is called back to London to help the queen figure out who is killing her closest allies. She aligns herself with some old friends and must watch out for old enemies.
From my limited knowledge of Irene Adler (basically the movies/shows), her relationship with Sherlock seemed accurate to the source material, but the story really stood on its own. It didn't at all seem like it was a Sherlock Holmes retelling, but rather an Irene Adler story with a little bit of Sherlock. I think doing a retelling from the point of view of a side character is such a clever idea.
There were a lot of characters we go to know better in this sequel. Not only Irene and Sherlock, but Geraldine, James, Watson and more. Irene is such a strong woman, especially at the time this book takes place when women aren't expected to be strong and have their own ideas. I absolutely love her friendship with Geraldine. She is just so loyal to her and they almost seem like sisters. I do wish Sherlock was in this one a little bit more, but I liked the chemistry between him and Irene when they were in the same scenes.
While the middle was a bit of a slower pace, the beginning and ending had me hooked. I was excited to be back in the world and I didn't see the ending coming. The whole plot was entertaining and had a good mix of trying to solve the mystery and other parts of the story. Geraldine's dad wanted Irene to find her a husband, so there was a lot to do with that. We were never reading in the same scene for too long.
Like I said, I didn't see the ending coming and without spoiling anything, it kind of broke my heart. But not in a way that made me like the book any less.
I do believe this is a duology, but I would gladly read any other books set in this world with any of the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!