She Reincarnate
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Siciliano drew his inspiration for this, his tenth novel in the series, from Rider Haggard's sensationally popular 1887 novel, She. Has the famed character "She-who-must-be-obeyed" been reincarnated as a beautiful young woman in Victorian London? A popular "nerve doctor" seems to think so, but Holmes and his cousin Henry Vernier must investigate this and discover the truth about an obsession. Also, a mania for ancient Egypt has captivated London, and recently, the mummy of one of Ramses II's royal queens has been stolen from the British Museum. The secretive, magical and hermetic society known as the Temple of Thoth may play a part in these intrigues. Perhaps, too, the ancient dead have thrust themselves into the present through some dark influence and the power of reincarnation. Holmes must unravel the mysteries before a fateful ceremony upon the night of the full moon and the autumnal equinox.
From the reviews:
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"Like earlier entries inspired by The Lair of the White Worm and The Phantom of the Opera, this tenth title in Siciliano's delightful pastiche series featuring Sherlock Holmes and his cousin, Dr. Henry Vernier, pushes the great sleuth into the worlds of other storied novels—in this case H. Rider Haggard’s proto-pulp Gothic adventure She. A phenomenon in 1887, Haggard’s book mixed some Victorian spiciness with the English preoccupation with all things Egyptian and the tantalizing prospects of lost kingdoms and secret societies. All this, plus some capital deduction, comes together in Siciliano's fresh take involving a beautiful young lady, a plain but loving suitor, and the mystical doctor who insists that she is the all-powerful queen Ayesha, or as in “she who must be obeyed.”
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It’s up to Holmes, Vernier, and Vernier's brilliant wife Michelle, also a physician, to get to the bottom of the Vespere Sidus society’s connection to thefts of mummies and Egyptian artifacts from the British Museum, as well as its designs on the lovely Jane Brooke, who has been moody, sleepless, and closed off from her would-be fiancé ever since she began seeing a “nerve” doctor and hypnotist, Dr. Beauloup. He tells her of her past lives and the dazzling future she could have. Disguises, covert meetings, and the ol’ elementary approach to investigation lead to a shocking finale that exposes more than one secret among the crowd.
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This sparkling read moves briskly, honors the authors who inspired it, and both rewards and upends reader expectations. (Familiarity with Haggard will enhance appreciation of Siciliano’s witty appropriations but is not required to enjoy the yarn itself.) The trio of investigators are a pleasure to spend time with, and the wide-eyed heroine, while naïve, proves especially intelligent and determined to move past her mother’s odd fascinations into a life of her own. Readers of old-school detective adventures and playful literary mashups will relish this.
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Takeaway: Marvelously entertaining Sherlock Holmes yarn in the vein of H. Rider Haggard."
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—Booklife/ Publishers Weekly, March 2026
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"As the intrigue grows, the story delves into Egyptian artifacts, mummy preservation techniques, bloody ancient ceremonies, undercover operations, and mystical unions…. The women of Victorian times prove as strong as the male characters in She Reincarnate, flushing out the action and making the story especially appealing to female readers…"
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—D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
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"This is a fun read and gives aficionados of Sherlock Holmes a new mystery to enjoy. I am sure Conan Doyle would approve. I highly recommend it."
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—Grant Leishman, Readers’ Favorite
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"Sam Siciliano has incorporated Sherlock Holmes, Rider Haggard, and ancient Egyptian mythology into an adventure story… Readers who enjoy Conan Doyle’s books, plus those by Rider Haggard, with a touch of the supernatural thrown in, will love this book."
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—Lucinda E. Clarke, Readers’ Favorite
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"A fantastically written book that will keep you on the edge of your seat… a page‑turner filled with artefacts beautifully described. I was impressed from start to finish."
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—Bryone Peters, Readers’ Favorite