I enjoyed this historical cosy mystery by Holly Hepburn, here is my review of The Missing Maid inspired by the fact the Abby Bank at Bakers Street hired someone to answer post addressed to Sherlock Holmes!
I received a free copy for a free and unbiased opinion.
This is a charming cosy mystery set in 1932’s London- a time when people still wrote to Sherlock Holmes hoping he would solve their problems. Harry, finds herself banished to the basement to work in the postal office dealing with mountain of post addressed to the fictional detective but then finds herself trying to solve one.
Harry is woman ahead of her times, a woman from a wealthy background who went rebuffing the advances of a man is punished even though everyone seems to suspect what is going on. But Harry, finds a way to help one of the letters- a young desperate to find her missing sister. I enjoyed Harry’s attempts at disguises and her attempts at trying to solve the mystery.
There is a hint of romance between Harry and Oliver, her brother’s friend and a solicitor who finds himself involved in solving the mystery.
Content Warning
References to sexual harassment

Absolutely loved this one! The premise of a bank secretary taking up an interesting case from the letters to Sherlock Holmes is brilliant. The book pays an ode to the great detective and his popularity, while creating a new series.

I loved the way the book was written and the mystery within. The characters are interesting and are fleshed out beyond the mystery. The case of the missing maid too is quite interesting and kept me glued in as the amateur detective tries to figure out her way. The book shows her both taking inspiration from Holmes and paving her own way with a presence of mind. The supporting characters are well created too.

I would love to see a potential book series from this as it has a good scope in terms of characters and storylines. A refreshing change in the mystery genre, absolutely recommend!


Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

I was intrigued, and slightly nervous, when I realised that the latest Holly Hepburn was a change of genre. However, I needn’t have worried as this start of a series was so good I couldn’t put it down (despite on a weekend away with my partner). Harry is a wonderful kick ass ‘secretary’ to Sherlock Holmes , a fantastic determined young woman with a keen sense of justice and a reputation to protect and her sidekick -Oliver- offers many intriguing possibilities. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

What a great premise! The company that currently resides at the famous address of 221B Baker Street gets volumes of correspondence addressed to the fictional Sherlock Holmes. Rather than just trashing it, they have employed someone to politely respond to the letters.

Although this takes place in the 1930s, I can completely see people writing to Sherlock at that address even today! I love the idea of someone responding to those messages and Harriet "Harry" dutifully answers each one. And then one catches her eye for some reason and she decides to try and solve the mystery herself. She keeps Holmes methods in mind as she pursues leads around the city, while also trying to avoid her mother's matchmaking schemes.

This book is a thoroughly entertaining adventure that will captivate fans of Sherlock Holmes and other mystery novels.

In 1932 London, Harriet White is demoted to an unusual role at a bank: that of secretary to the fictional Sherlock Holmes. Despite the detective's nonexistence, Harry diligently replies to each letter until she encounters one about a missing maid from a village near her family estate. Intrigued, she decides to investigate the mysterious disappearance, opening the case of the missing maid herself.

Though I’ve never read anything by this author before, I was intrigued by the blurb. I’m really glad I read this one! “Harry” made an interesting protagonist to follow. She was a believable character and her decisions made sense. I enjoyed how she went about solving the mystery.

There were times when the plot felt a bit slow, but overall was paced well. I felt as though Harry had to work for what she discovered and it took the right amount of time to put the clues together.

Overall, this was a fun cozy mystery and I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

Having read and enjoyed Holly’s previous books I was intrigued to see that there was a change of genre.

I’m pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the character Harry, who finds herself moved after rejecting the advances of her boss. Great premise for a story and I hope that this will develop into a series

I enjoyed the characters interaction. It took me awhile to read because the story seemed to drag out. Also the ending didn’t show if they apprehended the gang. But this may have been a set up for another book.. Keep those stories coming.

When I saw a different genre by Holly Hepburn I thought I have to read this! Cosy Crime isn't something I would usually read but as I love Holly's books I wanted to give it a go. Well I'm so glad I did as I actually really enjoyed this book.

Harry and Oliver are brilliant characters. I've always enjoyed watching Sherlock Holmes so this book was a real treat.

Possibly if you're reading this just based on the fact its written by Holly then you may not enjoy it being a totally different genre. However if you pick up this book based solely on the fact of it being a cosy crime I think you will love it.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this super book.

It’s the 1930’s and Harry works for a bank but is hit on by her boss so dumped into a role answering letters. The letter are addressed to Sherlock Holmes. Which of course is a fictional character. Lots of people write to Holmes to solve their mysteries. Harry answers these letters until one day she comes upon a letter that tugs at her heart and she stars to investigate where is the maid. What happened to her? Who is behind the stealing she is being accused of. And can Harry and her handsome lawyer friend get to the bottom of it? I really loved this book. Harry was for the times very take charge and didn’t let anyone stop her from doing what she wanted to do and that was what she did as she investigated. Loved this period book which to be honest are not usually my favorite.

Overall, this mystery was a very cozy and quick read! It was very reminiscent of the Sherlock Holmes stories, which makes sense. And while the book was fun to read, it really didn't live up to my expectations. Part of me wished there was more to the story! There were so many questions I still has after reading and the ending didn't feel very satisfactory.

Historical Mystery set in London, 1932 in which a woman who answers mail addressed to Baker's Street's fictional resident Sherlock Holmes turns sleuth to find a missing maid.

4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Hepburn's Baker Street Mysteries series, which is a Historical Mystery that takes place in England 1932 and features a woman tasked with answering correspondence addressed to Baker Street’s most famous resident the fictional Sherlock Holmes. After reading a letter about a maid, from a village close to her family estate, who's disappeared in London she turns sleuth to find her and uncover the strange circumstances involved in her case. With plenty of twists and turns, Hepburn has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. This totally has the feel of the classic Golden Ago mysteries of Sir Conan Arthur Doyle and Agatha Christie. Additionally, Hepburn's writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Harry's a joy and I really like her. I especially liked her relationship with brother's old friend Oliver, the lawyer, she wrangles into helping her. I look forward to seeing where that leads in future installments of the series. All in all, this is a nice start to a new series and I look forward to reading Harry's further adventures as “Sherlock Holmes'” secretary/assistant.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

A really enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in the Baker Street Mysteries!

This is a delightful read based around the fictional character of Sherlock Holmes who for some people fixated in their minds that he was a real person.

Harriet (Harry) White comes from a privileged family and all her mother wants is for her to marry, organising social activities and inviting eligible males, prospective husbands. Harry has no interest in getting married, she has a job and is independent. Independence is something she would have to relinquish if she married. Her job as a secretary at the Abbey Road Building Society, however, has brought with it the unwanted attention from her boss who had tried unsuccessfully to seduce her. Rather with an action she took she finds herself transferred to the mail room in the basement occupied by only males. The supervisor is aghast at the prospect of having a young woman working amongst all the men and decides on an action whereby Harry finds herself in a small dark office where she is to answer certain letters that arrive by the sackful. Letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes! Confused, she enquires as to how to answer letters addressed to a nonexistent person. A standard letter is formulated and Harry choosing a nom de plume gets to work. However, one letter that arrives with an address close to her family's estate intrigues her enough to write a different answer and in doing so makes arrangements to meet the family.
The course of this action takes Harry into a world of organised thieving gangs that deliberately set up young innocent women to take the fall for their actions. However she isn't to know this or anything regarding an underworld she has never had to survive in. Her story to the family she has contacted about their missing daughter/sister who had gone to London to seek employment as a maid convinces them that she is acting on behalf of Sherlock Holmes who has retired and is a beekeeper. The household of the family the girl was employed by Harry realises her mother is familiar with. She seeks out the family and starts her investigations. Soon she is way out her depth and the difficulty of being a detective becomes all too apparent.
Oliver, a longtime friend of the family, a solicitor becomes involved. Initially he treats Harry like he always had, as a big brother and castigates her for her actions, however in time when they solve the case of the missing girl, he sees her in a different light.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was completely entertained by Harriet, the granddaughter of a Baron, in this delightful cozy mystery. Despite being pretty and independent, she chooses to live in a small flat in London rather than the grandeur of the baronial estate. Her job at a bank conveniently located on 221 Baker Street adds an element of excitement to her life.
After a uncomfortable encounter with her overly frisky executive boss, Harriet is demoted to the basement where she works in the Post sorting office. But her new boss doesn't know what to do with a lady in his department, so he assigns her to a tiny office to respond to letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes. As a fan of Holmes, Harriet and I have something in common, and I thoroughly enjoyed her adventures in the world of the famous detective.
In addition to her interesting job, Harriet also has a charming love interest in Oliver Fortescue, her former teenage crush who is now a successful barrister. Their relationship does not disappoint. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and charming read. Thank you to the author, #Holly Hepburn, #Netgalley and #Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. It was a pleasure.
carolintallahassee

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, the story was good and I liked the characters, I look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a fun read. Harriett White is very prim and proper and is placed in the uncomfortable position to be the “ secretary” to Sherlock Holmes. Caught up in the spoof she winds up in a true life mystery to solve. Great read. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

I love a cosy mystery so I was really excited to read this one and it did not disappoint at all. I felt immersed in the mystery straight away.

As an avid reader of cozy mysteries, I recently delved into Holly Hepburn's "The Missing Maid" with high hopes, drawn in by the promise of a captivating whodunit set against the backdrop of a quaint English village. While the novel certainly had its moments of charm and intrigue, it ultimately fell short of fully satisfying my expectations.

Let me begin with the positives. Hepburn's writing style is engaging, with descriptive prose that effortlessly transports the reader to the picturesque village of Little Molting. The quaint setting and well-developed characters provided a cozy atmosphere that served as a delightful escape from reality. I found myself particularly drawn to the protagonist's tenacity and wit, which added depth to the narrative.

Furthermore, the central mystery had its fair share of twists and turns, keeping me guessing until the final chapters. The interplay between suspects and red herrings added an element of suspense, and I appreciated the author's efforts to keep the reader guessing.

However, despite these strengths, "The Missing Maid" suffered from several notable flaws. Firstly, the pacing felt uneven, with certain sections dragging on unnecessarily while others seemed rushed. This inconsistency detracted from the overall momentum of the story, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the narrative.

Additionally, some plot points felt contrived and lacking in believability, stretching the bounds of plausibility to the point of distraction. While suspension of disbelief is often par for the course in the cozy mystery genre, certain developments in "The Missing Maid" strained credulity beyond reasonable limits.

In conclusion, while "The Missing Maid" has its moments of enjoyment and offers a pleasant diversion for fans of cozy mysteries, it ultimately fails to deliver a wholly satisfying experience. Despite its charming setting and engaging characters, the novel is hindered by uneven pacing and implausible plot developments. Nevertheless, readers in search of a light-hearted mystery with a quaint English backdrop may still find enjoyment in Holly Hepburn's latest offering, albeit with tempered expectations.

This was a fantastic cozy mystery with written feel of Agatha Christie mixed with Sherlock Homes style.

The granddaughter of a baroness takes on a job at a bank for independence and is later placed in the position of answering letters to The great (fictional ) Sherlock homes and gets caught up in a mystery.


I really enjoyed Harriet (Harry) as a character full of spunk and intelligence. The story really drew me in and the later parts of the book had me on the edge of my seat . I did find some small things seemed a bit too modern in mannerisms or comments but it is easily ignored. I was engaged in the story for the whole book there was also a few red herrings that added to the suspense making this a fun- fast-paced book . Looking forward to future books !

I love Holly's books and although this is a different genre I couldn't wait to read this. Harry is a brilliant main character who I really liked. The story flowed really well and kept me hooked. I hope this is the 1st of many.