Book Review: The Locked Room By Holly Hepburn

Please join me in welcoming Holly Hepburn to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her lateset book, The Locked Room.

Join Harriet White in 1930’s London for another glorious Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, for fans of Nita Prose and Janice Hallett.

After a very close call on the Norfolk Fens, Harriet White is about ready to hang up her deerstalker and settle back into her normal life, working in a bank on Baker Street. Until she discovers a letter in The Times newspaper challenging Sherlock Holmes to prove his status as the world’s greatest detective, by solving an impossible mystery. The letter, signed Professor James Moriarty, advises Holmes that the crime will be committed within the following seven days. There will be no further clues – Holmes himself must deduce which crime is the correct one to investigate.

Dismissing the letter as a prank, Harry goes about her business until news breaks of the theft of valuable jewel collection from a safe in an apparently locked room in a Mayfair townhouse.

Intrigued in spite of her misgivings, Harry dons a disguise and investigates. But as she begins to unpick the puzzle, a body is found. And now, a stranger, and far more deadly mystery begins to unfold around her…

*****

Harry White takes her job as Secretary to Sherlock Holmes seriously. However, when a seemingly real challenge set by Holmes’ nemesis, Moriarty is laid down, it’s not long before Harry is pulled into a potentially dangerous game. 

Having read the premise for this book, I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour. I couldn’t wait to get started. 

The story follows Harry White, an independent woman attempting to navigate 1930’s London. I loved her. First, her job as Sherlock Holmes’s assistant and responding to letters sent to him sounds amazing. It’s a job I would love. 

Harry comes from a wealthy family. She’s also trying to forge her own path and I have big respect for that. She’s strong willed and great at puzzles. I can relate to her. I think I’d be drawn into solving them too. 

Oliver is a wonderful character also and he tugged at my heart in this story. He fights between wanting to protect Harry with the need to let her be who she is. Sending hugs, Oliver. Haha. 

Beth is also an intriguing addition to the story and I feel that she, Oliver and Harry work well as a team. I liked that aspect very much. 

It’s going to be quite hard to talk much about the plot. I seriously don’t want to spoil it as I am hoping you will discover it yourself. This is book three in the series. I didn’t have the feeling I had missed anything important so it can be read as a standalone. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be adding the first two to my reading list though. 

The plot is well written and developed. This novel had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. At times though, it had me laughing at things the characters said or did. Seb was a riot. The book caught hold of me and didn’t let go. I devoured this tale. I didn’t want the novel to finish, didn’t see the end coming and I am so pleased that a book four is in the works especially as this novel ends with unanswered questions. Well played, Holly Hepburn. Haha.

The Locked Room is one of the best cosy crime books I’ve ever read. The Holmes’ angle adds a lot to it but the author has done a great job of building a believable world around it and creating a fantastic character in Harry. If you’re a fan of Holmes, puzzles or great detective style fiction, I think you’d love The Locked Room. I know I did. 

About Holly Hepburn –

Holly Hepburn writes escapist, swoonsome fiction that sweeps her readers into idyllic locations, from her native Cornwall to the windswept beauty of Orkney.

She has turned her hand to cosy crime inspired by Sherlock Holmes himself.

Holly lives in leafy Hertfordshire with her adorable partner in crime, Luna the Labrador.

Say hello to Holly on Instagram. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

The Locked Room is book three in The Baker Street Mysteries and is due to be released by Boldwood Books on 20th January 2026. Click to buy on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.