Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Murder In Mistake by Anne Cleeland

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Murder in MistakeBarbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Doyle & Acton Mystery
Publication Date: 2/25/26
Period: Contemporary London
Number of Pages: 202

I always look forward to each new entry in this quirky, well-written, and excellently paced series. The characters are unique, engaging, and simply fun to get to know. Doyle is a by-the-book, working-class member of London’s police establishment who also happens to be just a touch fey. Acton, on the other hand, is an aristocrat with a title who wields authority with confidence—and occasionally takes justice into his own hands. When these two marry… well… Katie bar the door!

In this delightful installment, we are introduced to Mary, the newest addition to their family—and, at last, one of the children seems to have taken after Doyle. I loved that touch!

During her latest pregnancy, one of Doyle’s light-duty assignments is speaking at a school Career Day. One young boy stands out to her, as he asks each speaker the same unsettling question: have they ever killed someone? Intrigued—and more than a little concerned—Doyle decides to follow up with a visit to the child, setting a tangled investigation in motion. With twists, turns, and plenty of red herrings, the mystery keeps you guessing about the who, how, and why. This case proves to have many layers, including corruption, cover-ups, and carefully hidden truths.

I highly recommend this fun and quirky series, which blends satire and humor with a well-paced mystery. As always, there are intriguing hints about future character developments and mysteries yet to come. While the central mystery in this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, readers will get the most out of the humor, relationships, and ongoing story arcs by starting with the earlier books in the series.

Happy reading!

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A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

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A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell, #10)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Veronica Speedwell #10
Publication Date: 3/3/26
Period: Victorian
Number of Pages: 336

Stoker and Veronica find themselves in a rare state of ennui, brought on by a disappointing lack of recent adventure. Veronica, in particular, is wishing for a bit of excitement to come their way—and Inspector Mornaday of Special Branch delivers exactly that. He arrives with a most unusual case: a young aristocrat found dead, his body completely drained of blood, with two small puncture marks along his jugular. Officially, the death has been ruled natural causes, and Mornaday has been expressly forbidden from investigating. Naturally, that doesn’t sit well with anyone involved. What?!

The case takes an intriguing turn when Veronica argues—quite seriously—that vampires may exist, while Stoker firmly insists they do not. Their resulting wager adds a layer of amusement, even as the mystery deepens. There is, after all, a man who presents himself very much like a vampire (without ever quite saying so), accompanied by a self-proclaimed witch. People seem to fall under their influence—but how?

The path to the truth is long and winding, weaving through a wide array of characters: aristocrats, eccentric American millionaires, retired schoolteachers, and struggling newspaper journalists. Each plays a role in unraveling the mystery. But time is running short, and the stakes rise dramatically as it becomes clear that Stoker himself may be the next target.

I love this series, but I have to admit I experienced a bit of my own ennui for much of this book. The pacing felt slow, and the story didn’t fully engage me—though that may have been a matter of my reading mood at the time. That said, things pick up significantly around the 80–85% mark, and from there it’s a rush of nonstop action leading to a truly whiz-bang finale.

One element that particularly frustrated me was the handling of a certain villain, who is not only allowed to escape but whose actions are, to some extent, defended. WHAT?! Considering what nearly happened to Stoker—an unconscious man with a knife poised over his heart—it’s hard to accept that outcome.

While this is my least favorite book in the series and not one I’m likely to revisit, it does offer some interesting development among the supporting characters. I’m curious to see how those threads play out in future installments.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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