Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #1
Publication Date: 7/19/22
Period: Victorian London (1889)
Number of Pages: 326

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I can assure you it won’t be the last. I love historical mysteries, and this one was first-rate. How could you go wrong when you have a willful, intelligent, self-reliant, female author and a strong, masculine, stubborn, protective Scot squaring off against each other while also accompanied by a former soldier who has no legs, a strong-minded dog, and an actress who is very eccentric (she has a pet Iguana)? My only complaint about the book is that it has such a very long series title – so, you can tell I really didn’t find anything wrong at all.

Mikaela Forsythe is a strong, intelligent, and very independent woman – who just happens to also write adventure novels loosely based upon her own travels and adventures. As part of those adventures, she’s learned many ways to defend herself with weapons and without. Therefore, when she learns her sister has gone missing, she knows she’s just the one to find her. Being an intelligent woman, she knows she also needs someone who is knowledgeable in the process of investigation. The aunt who raised her highly recommends Angus Brodie, Private Investigator – so – off she goes to obtain his services.

Angus Brodie came up from the streets to become an Inspector with the Metropolitan Police but then parted ways with them under a cloud. He now has offices and living accommodations in an area that isn’t quite the best part of London and seems to spend a lot of his time with wine, women, and song. He’s not inclined to help Mikaela until she tells him her aunt sent her. It would seem Angus Brodie and her aunt have had dealings before and he’s kindly disposed to help her when he can. So, a partnership of sorts is formed – although it might be a bit fraught with disagreements – loud disagreements.

Brodie and Mikaela are often at loggerheads with each other, but they each quickly learn to respect the other’s talents and they’ll quickly need all of the talents each of them possesses. As we move from kidnapping, to murder, to more murders, to civil unrest, and anarchy, our protagonists have to call on every resource they can find. Can they solve the murders? Will they find Mikaela’s missing sister? Who are those shadowy, shady characters who seem to be showing up wherever Mikaela is? Are the Royals involved? OMGoodness! So many questions, so much intrigue, so much action and you’ll just have to read the book to find all of those answers!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was lively, entertaining, and contained just the right amount of wit and humor to lighten those much more serious scenes. I am thoroughly looking forward to the next book in the series – which, by the way, is nicely set up at the end of this one. You’ll come to really like all of the characters as well as the excellent writing style of the author, and the pacing of the story.

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