Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery) by Samantha Larsen #Review #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @samanthahastingsauthor

Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
by Samantha Larsen

About Holmes Away From Home

Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – London, 1911
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
Hardcover Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2026
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448322405
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448322404
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448322381
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HHHP29BG

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?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Althea Adler has spent years as the reluctant partner-in-crime of her mother, Irene—an opera star and infamous thief. When Althea receives a postcard bearing the words “Holmes away from home,” she assumes Irene wants her to break into his safe and steal something valuable. Instead, what she finds inside raises far more questions than it answers. Hoping to uncover the truth, she accepts an invitation to a weekend party at Lord Slough’s home, Twickenham Towers.

By the morning after her arrival, Althea has had enough and is ready to leave. Unfortunately, a murder during the night keeps everyone at Twickenham Towers—including fellow guest William, the Marquess of Sheffield—from going anywhere. Unbeknownst to Althea and the others, William is on assignment for the British government. The two soon join forces to uncover the killer, even as neither is quite sure how much to trust the other.

This book was inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes short story A Scandal in Bohemia, first published in 1891. In that story, Irene Adler famously bests Holmes in a battle of wits. It had been years since I read it, but Irene’s name and reputation came back to me almost immediately when I read the synopsis for Holmes Away from Home.

Ms. Larsen has created a wonderful cast of main characters for this series. Althea has led an extraordinary—and often difficult—life under her mother’s influence. Irene tested her constantly, and failure could mean being left at a boarding school for months or even years. Althea also spent time in a nunnery when she was only thirteen, all while living to please her mother. Now attending a ladies’ college, she crosses paths with Rosie Watson and Lady Sarah Gouge. They are hardly friends, but Althea needs information, and she has learned plenty from her mother about how to get it. She has sharp instincts, keen powers of observation, and a special talent of her own—all qualities that make the Holmes connection especially satisfying.

William, Lord Sheffield, is highly educated and works in British intelligence after attending Eton and Oxford. While on assignment, he discovers that Althea may also be under government investigation. Complicating matters, she is beginning to like him far more than she intended, and the feeling may be mutual. Althea’s previous romantic attachments have never ended well, and William’s employer may have its own ideas about any possible relationship. I especially enjoyed watching these two develop over the course of the book. Both have real depth and an undercurrent of intrigue that made me want to know more. They each have a private agenda, yet they still manage to find common ground.

The mystery itself is fascinating and carries just the right touch of classic Holmes. The author introduces a wide range of suspects, several of whom are hiding compelling secrets. Each twist reveals something new, while the clever misdirections keep the solution from feeling obvious. I loved the banter between William and Althea as they tried to make sense of everything unfolding around them; Chapter 10 is an especially good example. Althea is essential to solving the case, but she still needs one final piece, and a well-timed opportunity gives her exactly what she needs. I really appreciated the classic way the solution came together.

This is a layered novel, with themes of addiction, sexual assault, and the political realities of the period. Ms. Larsen balances those serious elements with humor in a thoughtful, respectful way. Although the central murder mystery is solved, plenty of larger mysteries and unanswered questions remain. Holmes Away From Home launches Samantha Larsen’s new series on a brilliant note. This was an easy five-star read for me, and I am eager to see what Ms. Larsen has planned for Althea and William next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.

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About Samantha Larsen

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

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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.

Great Escapes Praise for Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
by Samantha Larsen

Holmes Away from Home is a novel that will delight any fan who enjoys a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. If the book title doesn’t pique your interest, then the series name should.
~Storybook Lady

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!
~Cozy Up With Kathy

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.
~Baroness’ Book Trove

If you are looking for a fun Holmes adjacent book, you’ll be glad you picked up Holmes Away from Home.
~Carstairs Considers

5 stars!
Not wanting to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Althea follows in the footsteps of her mother! I recommend HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME to historical cozy mystery readers, especially those with a tendre from Sherlock Holmes pastiches.
~Boys’ Mom Reads!

Holmes Away From Home – A rich blend of mystery, deduction, and slow‑burn romance. This is a strong start to a trilogy, one that left me eager to see where Althea’s search for identity and her relationship with William will lead.
~Book HookUp

5-STAR
Whether a Sherlock Holmes lover or not, the mystery and characters are solid and make for a very entertaining read in Holmes Away From Home.
~Novels Alive

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 16 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 16 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
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September 17 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW 
September 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 
September 18 – Baseball, Books, and Banter Podcast/YouTube – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 21 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW 
September 21 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 22 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
September 22 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
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September 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
September 29 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.