Book Review: A Study in Darkness

A Study in Darkness (The Baskerville Affair #2)
Emma Jane Holloway

Release Date: October 29, 2013

Book Description:
When a bomb goes off at 221B Baker Street, Evelina Cooper is thrown into her Uncle Sherlock’s world of mystery and murder. But just when she thought it was safe to return to the ballroom, old, new, and even dead enemies are clamoring for a place on her dance card.

Before Evelina’s even unpacked her gowns for a country house party, an indiscretion puts her in the power of the ruthless Gold King, who recruits her as his spy. He knows her disreputable past and exiles her to the rank alleyways of Whitechapel with orders to unmask his foe.

As danger mounts, Evelina struggles between hiding her illegal magic and succumbing to the darker aspects of her power. One path keeps her secure; the other keeps her alive. For rebellion is brewing, a sorcerer wants her soul, and no one can protect her in the hunting ground of Jack the Ripper.

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Review:
Egalley courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra via NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

As the name would suggest Evelina Cooper’s second turn takes on a much darker tone as mysteries abound and our heroine lends herself into a series of unfortunate events. In an attempt to protect her family, her honor and place in society, as well as one dashing pirate, Evelina signs her freedoms away unto the hands of none other than Gold King himself. Exiled to the dark streets of the Whitechapel Evelina must become a spy for the Gold King in order to unmask his enemy, but what she uncovers might be even more sinister than the brewing war among the steam barons.



A Study in Darkness picks up a few months after the events of the first novel. Evelina has just returned to London, to stay with her Uncle Sherlock in hopes of recruiting him as her aid in convincing Grandmamma Holmes of letting her attend college, but her plans might be cut short. The rebellion is picking up speed, and unknown to Evelina her Uncle is somehow involved. When mysterious gentlemen shows up at Baker Street and sets off a bomb there are a lot of questions to ask, but it is only the beginning.

“[…] the game was afoot – and it almost certainly had evil in mind.” A Study in Darkness (Kindle Location 489).

And there was plenty of evil indeed; from one villain to another it was a galore of evil characters. Evelina, Nick, and Uncle Sherlock had quite a bit of trouble keeping up and I’m not so certain they’ve done the best of it. For that reason I had quite a bit of trouble finishing this book as its overall tone was very dark, depressing and downright desperate. Nonetheless, Ms. Holloway still manages to weave an interesting story that will keep the reader on his/her toes.

There are pirates and rebels, power hungry steam barons, a vicious killer on the loose, dark magic, a dash of romance, and of course a lot more mysteries. If you’ve read the first novel of the series, I’m sure you are eager to discover what comes next, but be forewarned there might be more questions than answers found here and a cliffhanger ending that will have you question whether a happy end will indeed be possible.

The Baskerville Affair Series:
The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual (The Baskerville Affair #0.5)
A Study in Silks (The Baskerville Affair #1)
The Strange and Alarming Courtship of Miss Imogen Roth (The Baskerville Affair #1.5)
A Study in Darkness (The Baskerville Affair #2)
A Study in Ashes (The Baskerville Affair #3)
Expected Publication: December 31, 2013