Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5
Series: Electra Poole Mysteries #2
Publication Date: 2/17/26
Period: Victorian Oxford
Number of Pages: 259

I’ve long been a fan of this author’s historical romances, so I was delighted to find she has also leaped into historical mysteries. I have just completed the first book in the series and could hardly wait to jump into this second one.

While Electra is becoming more comfortable with her gifts, she is still a bit dismayed by all of the attention she is still getting after helping to solve the murder of Lady Becknell. Therefore, she is happy to receive an invitation from her good friend Lady Alice to visit her in Oxford. Electra sensed a bit of worry when she opened the letter, but she’d figure out what, if anything, was wrong when she arrived. Electra and Lady Alice had become fast friends when they attended finishing school together and had remained friends since. Electra looked forward to seeing Lady Alice and her aunt, Lady Dalrymple, who had adopted Electra as an honorary niece.

Electra sensed high tensions among the guests when she arrived, but she had no idea what was amiss. Everyone seemed cordial enough, but there were currents beneath the surface. Then, she discovers that Lady Alice has scheduled a séance – but thankfully, she doesn’t expect Electra to conduct it. No, even stranger. She wants Electra to sit beside her fiancé at the séance, so she will need to hold his hand and perhaps ‘read’ his real intentions for Lady Alice.

When Lady Alice’s fiancé, Lord Lockhart, is found dead before the séance, the constabulary is called. Electra, however, wishes her friend, Gideon Pierce from Scotland Yard, were there. Luckily, Gideon hears of the murder and rushes to Electra’s side, though he cannot officially help unless he is asked to do so by the locals. Happily, that happens, though the local was perfectly proficient at his task. I’m glad the author didn’t make him seem like a bumbling fool.

Solving the murder isn’t easy when everyone has an alibi, and everyone has a motive. It seems Lord Lockhart wasn’t all he should be, and his enemies were many, though everyone said they liked/loved him. With that many enemies – who murdered him? Was it one? Was it all? Goodness, what a tangled web – and then there was a second murder.

I absolutely loved the storyline. The mystery was compelling, well-paced, and excellently delivered. Throughout, I was sure who the murderer was not, but wasn’t quite sure who it was. You’ll enjoy picking through the threads of evidence and trying to fit them into the correct spots in the puzzle, but it isn’t as easy as it seems it should be.

If you enjoy a well-paced historical mystery filled with relatable characters, you’ll enjoy this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Now, on to the third book in the series. Happy Reading!