Holmes Away From Home

Althea Adler Mystery

by Samantha Larsen, Samantha Hastings

Introducing Althea Adler, accomplished thief and daring heroine with a mysterious link to Sherlock Holmes.

A heart-racing game of wits, murder and romance is about to commence . . .

London, 1911. Althea Adler receives a mysterious postcard with just four words, 'Holmes away from home.' Surely her mother, notorious thief and opera star Irene Adler, is instructing her to break into Sherlock Holmes's safe? But when she does, Althea makes a shocking discovery . . .

Still reeling from events at 221b Baker Street, Althea accepts an invitation to a party at Twickenham Towers, the ancestral home of Lord Slough, where a murder throws her into further turmoil--as does handsome fellow guest William, the Marquess of Sheffield, who has been tasked with staking out Slough by the British Government.

Althea and William form an unlikely alliance as they set about catching a killer. But can they trust each other when they both have something to hide?

An addictive new cozy mystery trilogy featuring a super smart, lively heroine, a dashing lord and a fiendishly good whodunnit, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes's classic mysteries, Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, and Netflix's The Residence.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance, Suspense

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2026

About the author

(Also writes as https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)
Samantha writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen and historical romances under Samantha Hastings. She met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She’s the author of: The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter, A Royal Christmas Quandary, The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Jane Austen Trivia, The Duchess Contract, Secret of the Sonnets, The Marquess and the Runaway Lady, and A Novel Disguise. Learn more at: www.SamanthaHastings.com

Reviews

[Mark Baker]

Althea Adler has a complicated relationship with her mother, Irene, but when she gets a postcard from Irene, she thinks it is asking her to break into Sherlock Holmes’s safe. What she finds there sends her on a quest that lands her at a weekend party in an English estate. That first night, the earl is murdered. With the help of William, one of the other guests, can Althea figure out what happened?

This book sets up some storylines I’m sure we will follow over the course of the series while focusing on the murdered earl. That story includes plenty of twists on the way to the logical climax. Althea and William share viewpoint character duties, and I really do love them both, even if the chemistry between them was a bit much a couple of times. The suspects are also well drawn and really kept me guessing as I read. I’m already anxious to find out what happens to Althea and William next.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[shriya]

about the book
✧˖°. cozy murder mystery
✧˖°. dual pov
✧˖°. set in 1900s england
✧˖°. first book of a series
✧˖°. vibes similar to sherlock holmes, enola holmes and the residence

murder mysteries are not my usual genre, but this was marked as cozy and the blurb piqued my interest. an fmc who may be sherlock holmes's daughter? a mmc who matches her on an intellectual level? them working together to solve a mystery and slowly falling for each other? i'm sat.

other than althea and william, this book had a looot of characters that were a bit hard to keep track of in the beginning, but i got used to it later on. the plot was consistently paced, and although the big reveals weren't mindblowing, i didn't see them coming either and they were pretty entertaining. i especially loved the last plot twist, and i'm curious as to how it'll affect althea and william's story in the next book!

also can we talk about how william was absolutely whipped for althea? the guy was wrapped around her finger the whole book and it was so fun watching him get nervous around her. men in women dominated fields for real. in the beginning, william's attraction seemed to be only on a physical level but as the story progressed, i love how he gradually started admiring & respecting her for her intellect.

i absolutely loved the chess scene!! getting to know each other and revealing parts of their past with every move? chef's kiss. he also fights for her btw. i love when men fight for their women. also i am choosing to ignore the fact that william has a moustache (what who said that no he doesn't)

my only complaint would be that (minor spoiler ahead) we didn't get the answer to the question that mainly made me pick this book up. in the blurb, we're told that althea wants to find out if sherlock holmes is her father and william wants to investigate some political thing, but aside for those being their motives in the beginning, the rest of the story focuses only on the murder mystery. i do understand it's a series and those aspects are left for later, but i wish we'd gotten a little more on them.

thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie Ditton]

Holmes Away from Homes is a novel that will delight any fan who enjoys a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. If the book title doesn't pique your interest, than the series name should. Sherlock fans will know that only one foe ever bested Holmes, Irene Adler. Althea Adler is Irene's daughter. And she is just as brilliant, beautiful and charming as her mother.

Samantha Larson has created a fun cozy mystery using the framework of Sir Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, but with new characters and a story that you will love. When Althea receives a postcard with the cryptic message "Holmes away from home", she assumes that her mother has sent her to Baker Street on a mission to steal something valuable. What she finds instead is information that has her suspecting a shocking possibility- one that an astute reader will have already suspected. Her search for more information means looking at John Watson's journal, so she must seek out her schoolmate, his daughter Rosie and that eventually leads her to a weekend party at a country manor. Also in attendance is a handsome government with a mission of his own. In true Victorian mystery novel fashion, the party ends up in murder. Althea and William must put aside their own missions and team up to solve the murder. This fast paced novel is full of twists and turns, witty banter, a hint of romantic tension and some great new characters. Sherlock Holmes does not make an appearance in this novel, but Larsen does pepper the novel with cameo appearances from some other familiar characters.

Irene Adler actually only appears in one Sherlock Homes short story, "A Scandal in Bohemia" and afterwards Holmes only refers to her as "the woman" and merely admires her craftiness. But the character is a fan favorite and Adler, or in this case, her child appears in many Holmsian novels Despite the lack of any mention of romance in the original canon, Larsen is not the first author to suggest that Irene and Holmes may have had a child.

I have read several Holmes series and this one promises to be another must-read. I you like the Enola Holmes or the Mary Russell series and other Holmes stories than you will definitely want to take home "Holmes Away From Home".

GIVEAWAY ALERT

This review also appears on storybooklady.net here:
Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery) by Samantha Larsen
Enter the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win
a copy of Holmes Away from Home

[Katie (hiding in the pages)]

“Althea had to admit that murder at a weekend party was more thrilling than an opera.”

It’s official: I’ve found a new complicated heroine to love. Althea Adler is not only a thief, but has a mysterious connection to the famed Sherlock Holmes. Witty and cunning, she made this story a delight and her combined forces with William, a fellow house party guest and employee of the British Government, intrigued me.

Set in 1911, times are changing, but there are plenty of twists and turns in this whodunit that left me guessing until the very end. I loved Althea’s ingenuity and surprising insights and although William seems half a step behind her, he’s clever and sharp. The two of them together is a dangerous alliance for any villain to combat.

A thrilling mystery, sprinkles of attraction and romance, along with a plethora of interesting characters and messy ties, delivered a captivating story. I hope there’s more to come in this series!

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Laramee]

The first installment in a new mystery series. This story is full of wit, murder and a bit of romance! Excited to see what comes next!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Mara]

I love a good cozy mystery, and Holmes Away From Home was such a fun read! Set in England in 1911, this story combines murder, secrets, romance, and a house full of suspicious characters. Althea was such an interesting heroine. The way she notices the little details and pieces things together reminded me so much of Miss Scarlet from the PBS mystery series—even though, unlike Althea, Miss Scarlet isn't a thief! And Althea's relationship with Lord Sheffield definitely gave me Miss Scarlet and the Duke vibes. Their banter and growing partnership were so much fun to watch develop.

The house party setting worked so well for the mystery. With a storm keeping everyone at Twickenham Towers and preventing the police from arriving, no one could leave, which made for a wonderful isolated mystery. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but some are more important to the story than others.

I also loved getting dual POV, especially Lord Sheffield's perspective. Knowing he was undercover for the Secret Service added an extra layer of intrigue to his side of the story. I wasn't sure about Rosie Watson at first, but I was very happy to see her and Althea become friends. That friendship was a lovely surprise.

The murder may be solved, but there's still one BIG mystery left unanswered—the reason Althea was sent to Sherlock Holmes's home in the first place. So the game is still afoot! I had so much fun with this one, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what comes next for Althea and William.

I received a digital copy from the author but also bought a copy from Amazon. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Melissa]

Victorian setting where there is a murder at a party? Strong female character investigating? Yes please.

I enjoyed the connection to Sherlock Holmes novels, and of course there is a mystery to solve.

I think this had a lot of heart. William and Althea are both smart, alone in many ways, and have a need to impress those they admire. They have their own agendas, but they both gain something during the investigation (more than just a motor car!).

I'm glad this seems like the start of a series as I definitely need more of both of them.

A game is afoot indeed!

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

[Karen Siddall]

Despite not wanting to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Althea follows in the footsteps of her mother!

Holmes Away From Home is the first book in the fun, new Sherlockian Althea Adler Mystery series by author Samantha Larsen, featuring the daughter of Irene Adler, Holmes’s only adversary to get the better of him. In this charming debut, Althea, called upon by her mother to break into a safe in Holmes’s study but with no idea of what she is to retrieve, ends up at a weekend country house party, building relationships and looking for clues. But among the other guests is a troublesome young nobleman, Lord Sheffield, who has his own secret agenda for being there and a knack for getting in her way.

The story is delightful, and the main characters, Althea and William, are so engaging that I was easily and completely drawn in from the start. Larsen tells a compelling tale, and I would have loved to binge the book if I could have! While William is hiding his true nature and motives for wanting entrée to Lord Slough’s orbit, Althea gets dragged along, really only wanting to curry favor with Slough’s sister, Lady Sarah, and her best friend, Rosie Watson, the daughter of Holmes’s Watson, whose personal journals may hold the key to Althea’s past: the identity of her father.

I recommend HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME to historical cozy mystery readers, especially those with a tendre for Sherlock Holmes pastiches.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove)]

Holmes Away From Home by Samantha Larsen is a wonderful take on the "what if" that Miss Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes had a child.

Will Althea find her father?

Althea Adler
Althea Adler is the daughter of Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes. The latter is one that she has no clue that she is...yet. Althea is very much just like both sets of her parents. Her mom raised her well in the art of thievery and conning people; unlike her mom, though, Althea likes to solve mysteries. This latest bit is a recent discovery, though. I like following Althea throughout this story and how she solves the case. Althea is also like Sherlock by being smart and noticing things that not many people do.

I wouldn't mind being friends with Althea.

The Mystery
Althea has at least three mysteries to solve, but this mystery only solves one. The first is why her mom sent her to Sherlock's home in the first place; the second is who would kill Lord Slough; and the third is who her father is. Only the second one is being solved in this one, which is fine. Althea gets to use skills she'd never used to solve a mystery before, even if, as a woman, she won't get credit for it. I honestly didn't guess who did it, and I am still in shock over who did it. The person wasn't on my radar at all. Well done, Ms. Larsen.

Five Stars
My rating for Holmes Away From Home by Samantha Larsen is five stars. Ms. Hastings did an awesome job of keeping me engaged with her second generation of Holmes and Watson and how everything works for this group. I can't wait to see what other mysteries Ms. Larsen brings into Althea's world.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Holmes Away From Home by Samantha Larsen.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

[Sonja Charters]

You might already know, but I absolutely love anything Sherlock and so when I spotted this title, I already knew that I needed to have this book on my shelves.

 

The cover is also just so stunning - I loved the colouring and style and even better, to see that this is the start of a brand new series - the first in the Althea Adler Mysteries.

 

So, we all know the stories surrounding Irene Adler - both about her notorious life and also seen stories written from her pov too - so to find this series which sees Althea, Irene's daughter, in the spotlight, brought something fresh to the mix.

 

We begin this journey in a 1911 London and instantly I was drawn back into this wonderful era with all the vibes of a classic Sherlock mystery.

 

What looks like a personal mission, one to discover the identity of her own father,  soon takes us to a delightful society weekend away - only a murdered Earl and a striking Marquess drag Althea into her own little mystery and a chance to outwit a killer.

 

I was instantly drawn into this read from the outset.

The setting and atmosphere felt like stepping back in time and I found it so easy to immerse myself.

Although there were obvious links to the great Sherlock novels, these were definitely on the periphery as we start to get to know Althea and her determination to step out on her own.

 

The case was an intriguing one and very reminiscent of the great Holmes mysteries, whilst also being standalone too.

I obviously made my own theories along with the characters, but I liked that although I saw some of the twists coming, others still managed to catch me off guard.

 

This was a brilliant first read and I'm already hooked and in need of more.

I'm interested to know how Althea's search for her father goes, but moreso, I'd just love to see her again in another mystery of her own.

[Jeannine]

An interesting start to a series. I wasn’t totally sold during the main investigation, but the final few chapters, which set up the second book, have me thinking I’ll pick up the second book.

The writing is simple and these are a fast read.

[Marlene]

Sherlock Holmes stories are my catnip. I can’t resist diving into one wherever I find it. Which is precisely what led me to pick this up. Even though the title led me to expect that I wouldn’t actually see Holmes within its pages – no matter how much I might wish to.

Which does not mean that his influence – as well as that of his older brother Mycroft – isn’t looming all over this story. Well, Mycroft certainly looms. Sherlock, on the other hand, attempts to move the chess pieces from at least a couple of moves away – and is a bit caught out when he fails to predict the movements he believes he has set in motion.

Then again, it’s not his story. It’s hers. Not the ‘her’, not ‘The Woman’ who bested him long ago. But her daughter. And possibly his.

Althea Adler is all too aware that she is the daughter – and protegee – of Irene Adler, the woman who literally got away from the ‘Great Detective’ by using his own methods and his own tricks against him, in the case of A Scandal in Bohemia.

Althea, now 22, has never known who her natural father might have been. But she is aware that her mother and Sherlock Holmes crossed paths sometime before she was born. That whatever relationship they had, or still have, is complicated. And, of course, the entire world knows about the exploits of the ‘Great Detective’ thanks to the literary endeavors of his friend and chronicler, Dr. John H. Watson.

So when it seems as if her mother has set her yet another test via a puzzling postcard with only the words “Holmes away from home” written on it, Althea Adler, with long experience of such puzzles, inveigles herself in Holmes’ rooms in search of further clues to either her mother’s whereabouts OR whatever treasure or information her mother expects her to steal from Sherlock Holmes.

Instead, she finds a picture of her mother, carefully preserved in Holmes’ hidden safe, from more than twenty years earlier. Before Althea herself was born. Whether or not this was the clue her mother intended her to find, Althea realizes that it IS a clue. A clue to her own origins. A possibility she never even imagined.

One that might offer her a way out from under her mother’s dubious care and criminal entanglements, and allow her the chance to make her own future. If she can seize it. One way or another.

Escape Rating B: You’d think the mystery in this would be Althea’s search for her origins. Not that that isn’t part of the mystery, but it’s not the main mystery in this story. It’s probably a good idea that it’s not, because there’s a lot of interesting potential in making Althea work for that bit of information.

Instead, the mystery in this story is the one that Althea stumbles upon in her attempt to research her own origins in Dr. Watson’s diaries for the year 1888, the year that included the events of A Scandal in Bohemia as well as her own birth. Not that she actually manages to do so.

That search needs to go through her own school frenemy, Rosie Watson, an invitation to a country house party, a meeting with one of Mycroft’s secret operatives, and a murder. Not that the victim didn’t have it coming. (The murder reminds me a bit of The Murder at World’s End in that it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fellow.)

But the biggest part of the story – and the mystery – is basically a pre-World War I country house party among the supposedly rich and privileged class. Althea – along with Mycroft’s intelligent and intriguing aristocratic operative William, the recently elevated Lord Sheffield – make a temporary alliance of opportunity and attraction to investigate the murder as the police detective is not remotely capable of the job and no one can leave the house until the murderer is caught.

Their investigations don’t remotely align. William is investigating political terrorism on the part of members of the House of Lords who want to retain their “traditional rights” in the face of a world that is leaving them behind. Those lords seem to be under the impression that their traditional privileges include the right to bomb the residences of government officials who oppose them – something that Mycroft is duty bound to stop. Althea is rightfully worried that her checkered past will put her in the police crosshairs AND she needs to return to London to rifle through Dr. Watson’s journals.

The house party with all of its personal, romantic and familial tensions – along with the murder investigation – is interesting BUT it has been done before. This part certainly had its fascinating – and convoluted – points, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. Still, it showcased Althea’s intelligence and ability to get what she wants and developed the relationship between William and herself that is going to be the thing to watch in future volumes. (It’s clear that eventually they WILL, but they don’t trust each other nearly enough – YET.)

Howsomever, I picked this book up for the Sherlock Holmes angle, and I got a bit teased this time around. I say this time around because there have been several series that reach back to A Scandal in Bohemia and posit the possibility of a child resulting from that affair. So far, at least, the Althea Adler series takes an entirely different tack from Leonard Goldberg’s Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, in that Althea doesn’t know and needs to find out, where in Goldberg’s series Joanna not only does know but has more than a few habits and predilections that descend directly from her famous father – even though she never actually met the man. That series also carries several of Sherlock Holmes’ friends and enemies into a next generation alongside her, notably Dr. Watson’s son, Dr. Watson the Younger, as well as Inspector Lestrade’s son following in his father’s footsteps. Unfortunately for Joanna, but fortunately for the reader, the son of one of her father’s great enemies, Sebastian Moran, has also followed his father’s path.

Then there’s Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, where Holmes has always known that Irene Adler had his child, in this case a son, Damien Adler. Damien and HIS family have become part of Russell’s and Holmes’ life after a case (of course because of a case) and it’s fascinating seeing that version of Holmes as a grandfather.

But I was expecting a bit more Holmes in this story. I did get more of Mycroft. Then again, there simply IS more of Mycroft. I’m intrigued enough to continue and see how this goes, but I wish I’d gotten a few more hints. OTOH, I’m sure Althea does too!

In the end, neither the reader NOR Althea learn whether or not Sherlock Holmes is her biological father. However, based on Sherlock Holmes’ own actions at that end, or at least the report of them that the reader receives through Mycroft Holmes, one Holmes brother or the other certainly intends for us to bet that way. Whether it’s the truth or yet more manipulation is something we’ll all get to discover later books in the series. I’m definitely curious enough to want to find out!

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Lisa Ahlstedt]

Althea Adler has a complicated relationship with her mother, Irene. Although Sherlock Holmes himself expressed his admiration for Irene, Althea can’t help but be relieved that it’s been a while since she last heard from her. Althea has never felt any love from her mother, rather she has only ever felt used by her mother as an accomplice in various criminal activities. Althea herself, although only 22, has already served several prison sentences and has active warrants out for her arrest in a few other countries. Still, Althea maintains a loyalty towards her mother that sees her willing to drop everything if she thinks her mother is in danger – or if she thinks her mother will finally reveal the identity of Althea’s father. It’s 1911 and Althea is on break from the lady’s college she’s been attending in London. Her fellow schoolmate, Rosie Watson, is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’s friend Dr. Watson. Althea is convinced that Dr. Watson, who keeps copious notes about his friend Sherlock’s adventures, must have written something about her mother in his journals. She is determined to get an invitation to Rosie’s house in order to snoop. This might prove tricky, since Rosie is decidedly frosty toward Althea, a young woman of questionable parentage. When Althea’s plan to visit Rosie is interrupted by a proposal that both young ladies visit a weekend party at a stately home, she decides to try to worm her way into Rosie’s affections during the weekend away. During the weekend, the obnoxious old lord who owns the property is found dead, with a knife in his back. No one is allowed to leave while the murder is being investigated, so Althea and the charming William (Lord Sheffield) must work together to solve the crime and perhaps act on their mutual attraction. William is at the home of his former bullying schoolmate, the old lord’s son Saul, in order to investigate Saul’s possible involvement in a terrorist group. William has been secretly working for the government in diplomatic and investigative roles since being recruited from Cambridge. He, like Sherlock Holmes, is also intrigued by an Adler woman who seems to be his match in intelligence and secretive skills.

I enjoyed the resourceful and independent Althea and the way she was always five steps ahead of most of the men she encountered. She is able to use her beauty and experience to manipulate everyone to get the information she needs. She and William are well-matched in their skills and difficult family pasts. I hope this will be the first of many books about their adventures!

I received an advanced reader's copy from Joffe Books.

[Katreader]

HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME by Samantha Larsen
The First Althea Adler Mystery

Althea Adler is a thief wanted in several countries who would like nothing better than to quit the family business and lead a respectable life in London. Unfortunately, she can never say no to her mother, the infamous Irene Adler. Never one to receive heartfelt letters from her mother, Althea receives the usual postcard with a clue and location of her next task. Instead of a location the most recent postcard features a picture of a cozy study with the phrase "Holmes away from home". Althea manages to infiltrate the great detective's home, but only has more questions when the only thing in his safe is a picture of her mother from years past. The hunt for answers leads Althea to a house party at Twickenham Towers. But before Althea makes any progress with her own mission the horrible Lord of the Manor is murdered. Althea teams up with the too handsome Marquess of Sheffield who is there for his own government mission. With despicable characters above stairs and very few servants downstairs will the pair solve the murder in time to complete their original tasks?

The game's afoot in this Sherlock Holmes adjacent mystery. Although neither he nor Irene Adler make an appearance both are intrinsic characters who are key to the story. Let me also say that I absolutely love Althea Adler, even more than Holmes or her mother! Highly intelligent, cheeky, and kind underneath that polished exterior she's a delightful protagonist. I also really like William and chuckle as Althea gives him a run for his money!

Aside from a well written fun historical story HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME is an intricately plotted mystery that also delves into addiction, sexual assault, and 1911 political themes, most notably Irish home rule. These serious themes are treated with respect and definitely add gravitas to a story that's also quite humorous.

Deft plotting, compelling themes, and delightful characters make HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME a thoroughly captivating mystery and an outstanding start to a new series. I absolutely loved it!

[Bianca]

If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Enola Holmes, "Holmes away from home" is a fun and cozy mystery that is sure to appeal to you.
This novel feels like a fresh spin on the world of Sherlock Holmes, bringing in plenty of familiar characters and references from the famous detective stories while shifting the focus to a new generation. I really enjoyed the way the author blended the familiar Holmes universe with new characters and mysteries of her own.
The characters are vivid and interesting and the historical setting is nicely described, making it easy to get swept up in the atmosphere. The mystery itself kept me entertained with plenty of twists and some cleverly placed clues scattered throughout the story.
My favorite character was definitely Althea. She is witty, bold, resourceful and impressively independent for a woman of her time. I particularly enjoyed the banter between her and William, it added a lot of fun and charm to the story and made their interactions some of my favorite parts of the book.
There was one thing that left me a little disappointed though. The author doesn't reveal whether Sherlock Holmes is actually Althea's father. Since this appears to be the first book in a new mystery series, I'm assuming this is something that would be explored in the future. I'm definitely curious to see how that mystery unfolds, as well as how Althea and William's story develops in the next books.
Overall, it's a fun, cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters, an atmospheric historical setting and plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

If you love Sherlock Holmes, Enola Holmes, historical mysteries and witty banter, I think you'll really enjoy this one.


*** This was an ARC received from NetGalley

[Marina Longo]

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books/Severn House for the ARC! All opinions are my own. Now let’s get into it.

I immediately requested this book because I love a good Sherlock Holmes mention/vibe/etc. I love a good murder mystery and this one was cozy feeling. This is a great book going into fall! My favorite setting in books is 1900’s England and that’s exactly where we start off.


We are introduced to Althea Adler, daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis, Irene Adler - the opera singer and thief. But wait, is Sherlock Holmes Althea’s FATHER? That’s what we’re going to find out. Ms. Adler is currently saying in Sherlock’s home, trying to steal something for her mother (who is apparently, dead according to the world). Ms. Adler realizes she needs to go to Dr. Watson’s home to search next, forcing her to speak with her school nemesis - Rosie Watson. Without going too crazy, I’ll just say that the two ladies + William + a wonderful cast of characters end up on a weekend trip and the Lord of the home ends up murdered.

I personally loved Althea and William and I’m looking forward to more of these characters. You can see their characters progress through the story which was a plus for me. I very much dislike books where the character growth is lacking. Despite the mystery being somewhat easy to figure out, I had fun reading this book and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

[Phil Rogers]

Sherlock Holmes is given a new life in this novel set in Edwardian London

Althea Adler is the daughter of Master crook and opera Diva, Irene Adler. Irene has raised 
Althea in the art of thieving and burglary, she can crack a safe with her eyes closed, enter 
buildings silently and undetected and is fearless. She also wants to go straight but cannot 
deny her absent mother’s wishes. 
Althea receives a mysterious postcard, presumably from her mother, she assumes it is her 
latest challenge. It has the simple message “Holmes away from home” Althea assumes 
that it means that Sherlock Holmes is away and that she must enter his house, find and 
raid his safe. Simple!
She does just that but has a shock when she finds in the safe an old photograph of her 
mother and a hint that the great detective maybe her Father!
Althea is drawn into Edwardian High society dinners and rubs shoulders with London’s 
elite. She soon gets embroiled in the inevitable murder and intrigue and finds she is falling 
for the handsome Marquis of Sheffield, William.
William is also on a secret mission for the government to spy on the murder victims son. 
Together they must uncover the dastardly killer in true Sherlock Holmes fashion.
This is a witty and cosy mystery with a clever plot. It’s the first in a series and I’m hoping for 
more as good as this

[Mary]

Holmes Away From Home is the first in a new mystery series by Samantha Larsen. It includes characters from the Sherlock Holmes universe and seems to be concentrating on the next generation of Holmes characters including Dr. Watson’s daughter and Irene Adler’s daughter, who might also be Sherlock Holmes’ daughter. Some of the original characters also appear and I imagine more will appear in subsequent books. I’ve read lots of books centered around the Sherlock Holmes pastiche and this was certainly one of the most enjoyable. The characters are really interesting and developed more and more as the book went on. These are not one dimensional characters and I really appreciated that. The mystery, although not the hardest to figure out, was fun and was a great set up to show off characters skills and strengths. I really enjoyed watching them solve the mystery and expose the many dastardly deeds in this book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and get to know Althea and William even better. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes, historical mysteries and fantastic female characters.

Thank you to Joffe Books/Severn House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Pree&Vi]

This book is the first mystery in the Althea Adler series, featuring the smart and sassy heroine Althea, daughter of Irene Adler. Adler is the most intriguing character for me from the original Sherlock Holmes, and I've always wished Conan Doyle had written more stories of her.

So I'm glad we now have a whole trilogy based on her daughter. Althea receives a mysterious postcard from Irene, and visits 221B Bakery Street, hoping to crack the clue, and maybe discover who her father is.

Her quest leads her to Twickenham Towers, where she

unexpected ends up in the middle of a murder investigation. It's a classic whodunnit in a big manor with some interesting character, including the handsome Lord Sheffield, who works for a familiar character in the British Government

I loved all the scenes with William and Althea, and loved how they worked together despite not trusting each other.

The solution to the mystery was really good. There were many red herrings to keep us guessing, and I didn't guess who the killer was till the end.

The book gave me Enola Holmes vibes (I've not read the books but I adore the movies!) and I'll be reading more from this series!

[Martin Mostek]

actually 3,5 stars
I am in two minds about this new series starring Althea Adler by Samatha Larsen. It present as an intriguing new holmesiana, starts almost as an Edwardian political thriller and with dash or hint of romance develops as manor house mystery.
When provided with advance reading copy I was curious about Holmesian angle which apparently this first book just build-up to inevitable cliffhanger.
I was even more intrigued by emerging political thriller but in the end manor house mystery took over and it seems that in this particular house there was more writings on the wall that it seemed. Probably all twist and turns of this genre probably occurs during investigation of murder of an old earl in his study, but it is still and engaging and enjoyable read.
In the end it seems that Althea in search of her parents and her young aristocratic counterpart William, Marquess of Sheffield are set to future exploits and to explore mutual relations. I for one although being in two minds about first book remain curious what this series will bring next.

[Mo Chapter]

A Clever Mystery Told in True Sherlock Style 🔎

I absolutely loved this clever historical mystery. As someone who already loves the world of Sherlock Holmes, Holmes Away From Home immediately drew me in, but Althea Adler quickly became the reason I wanted to keep reading.

The mystery was brilliantly constructed, with clues scattered throughout the story that were there for us to spot, if only we knew which details mattered and how they fitted together. Some of the twists were great fun, while others were genuinely jaw-dropping.

I particularly loved how completely the story felt part of the Sherlock Holmes world without needing Sherlock himself to carry it. It wasn't simply the familiar names and places, the mystery itself felt as though it was being told in a Sherlock manner.

Althea is clever, resourceful and wonderfully entertaining, and I became far more interested in who she might become than whether Sherlock Holmes really could be her father.

A fantastic start to the Althea Adler Mystery series. There is absolutely no mystery about whether I'll be reading the next one!

👩🏻‍💻 MoMoBookDiary (2026)

[Lisa Hall]

If you love re-entering the world of Sherlock Holmes, John Watson and Irene Adler, then this is the book for you!

Althea Adler has had quite the unusual upbringing, thanks to her mother Irene Adler. A postcard arrives with the words "Holmes Away From Home", which she assume can only be a challenge from her enigmatic mother to infiltrate 221B Baker Street to uncover whatever secrets are to be found there.

The trail leads to a weekend houseparty at a country house, with John Watson's daughter and the disturbingly handsome and clever William, Marquess of Sheffield. A murder inevitably follows, and Althea and William find themselves inextricably drawn to each other - but is it just to solve the murder?

Along the way, Althea finds out puzzling information about her unknown father, and William meets with his secretive employer - what is HIS interest in Althea?

A cracking series starter, which Conan Doyle would be proud of.

[Barney]

I loved this book. I got an ARC copy from Joffe books but would gladly buy it. Holmes is indeed away from home when Althea Adler appears to be invited to stay. She has papers from her mother Irene Adler which lead her to believe Sherlock is her father, bufirst she is invited to a society weekend where the Earl of Tipton is found murdered. Then she meeets the rather enigmatic William, unaware of who and what he is, she quickly forms a bond with him and they investigate together. Nothing is straightforward in this book and no- one is one dimensional. We doubt everything- even perhaps if her mother, Irene, is actually dead. After all she was the one woman who could outwit Sherlock. And why/ how has Dr Watson produced a rather lumpish daughter? Read this, it’s great!

[Leann Arave]

I was pulled into this intriguing story right away. First the mystery of where Athena came from, where her mother is, and who is her father, captured my attention. But then on top of that you add her unique upbringing, and the talents that she has honed from her profession keep you reading. And this is just the beginning of the story. There is so much more mystery and suspense throughout the story. Plus you get some charming romance chemistry going on between Athena and William, who works for the British government. This book has so much to offer and so much entertainment to have. I easily read it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. It definitely set up some curiosity for a book 2. It was a great story with wonderful characters and sweet romance.

[Faith | The Wholesome Shelf]

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 2.75 ⭐️

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I really wanted to enjoy this one because the premise sounded so interesting, but unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged. After the first few pages, I found myself getting a little bored, and the story never quite managed to pull me back in.

The mystery was okay, and I thought the characters had potential, but neither the mystery nor the chemistry between the characters really grabbed me. I kept hoping that things would pick up as I got further into the story, but it just didn't happen for me.

I genuinely wanted to like this one, especially because the premise had so much potential, but unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit for me. I'm sure other readers may connect with it differently.

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥:
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: None
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: None

[Alison]

This is an interesting story based on the supposed daughter of the character Irene Adler in Conan Doyle’s books featuring Sherlock Holmes.

In this novel, the glamorous and unusually skilled Althea Adler investigates an unnatural death in a country house to which she has gained an invitation for a weekend stay, in hopes of progressing her efforts to establish who her father was - guided by a postcard appearing to be from her mother.

It is a complex plot with twists and turns and sub plots and is interwoven with a government search for a subversive network.

Althea and the agent for the latter work together to solve the mystery.

[Helen]

I think I've found a new must read mystery series. I adored the characters in this book, the acceptance and communication between the two main characters was excellent.

In this story Althea Adler, the daughter of Sherlocks arch enemy Irene, is looking for her mother and stumbles into a closed circle murder in a manor house where she works alongside William, Marquess of Sheffield to solve the case.

It’s a heartbreaking story of loneliness and friendship in the 1900s impacted by class and money. I really enjoyed the way all the characters interacted and how friendships emerged, changed and ended. It also has a fabulous women's rights thread running throughout.

Book received free via NetGalley.

[Roslyn Stillman]

This is book one in a new series, and I am already loving it. It kept me guessing and on edge from page one. Although Sherlock Holmes is not in the book, his character, along with Dr Watson, helps bring the new mystery alive for the new series. In this story, Althea, our new heroine, must help work out a mysterious murder. The characters were wonderfully written, and the mystery kept me guessing till the end. This book is written to be an easy, cozy, very enjoyable read, and I look forward to the continuing mystery. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

[Andrea Wenger]

London, 1911. Althea Adler finds clues hinting that Sherlock Holmes is her father. When a murder strikes at a society weekend, she partners with the dashing Marquess of Sheffield—a secret spy—to solve the case. Can they catch the killer before falling for each other?

This is a great idea for a series, and the novel lives up to its promise. The mystery is tense and fast-paced, keeping me guessing. I love the characters and look forward to more in the series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Daria]

A good entry into the Holmes-related canon. Althea Adler is a forceful and clever character as she tries to solve multiple mysteries - her parentage, her mother's wishes for her, a murder, and finding a traitor. The relationships are well-developed, especially with her fellow investigator William, Lord Sheffield. The various plot threads didn't quite come together for me, but overall it was an enjoyable debut, and I will definitely read the next in the series (assuming there are more to come). Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.