Category: Historical Mystery

Book Blitz – Murder In The East End by Jennifer Ashley

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Murder in the East End (Kat Holloway Mysteries #4)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Kat Holloway Mysteries #4
Publication Date: 8/4/20
Number of Pages:320

The ONLY problem with devouring this book in one sitting – as I did – is that I now have to wait a year for the next one. I always have great intentions – of reading the books in this series slowly and savoring each word – but I’m weak and can never put them down once I start reading. The writing is excellent, the plot is tight and perfectly paced, and the characters are full and interesting. I love that we learn more and more about Kat and Daniel in each new book – and their relationship deepens. Daniel is one of the most enigmatic characters I’ve ever read and I can hardly wait to learn his full story. Then, of course, there are the returning secondary characters that we already love, but get to know better with each new book. Definitely, a wonderful ensemble cast within a compelling and exciting mystery.

Kat Holloway is a gifted cook in an aristocratic home – and she also has a soft, giving heart and a penchant for solving mysteries. When Kat learns that it is suspected that children are missing from London’s Foundling Hospital, she determines to get to the bottom of the mystery. Are the children missing, or aren’t they? If they aren’t missing, then, where are they? If they are missing, then, where are they and how did they end up missing? Kat’s greatest fear is that they’ve somehow ended up in the clutches of flesh peddlers and she’ll stop at nothing to rescue them from that fate.

Kat knows she cannot do it alone and asks for help from Daniel McAdam. Daniel has been her friend for several years and yet she still doesn’t know his full story. She knows she admires him; she knows he has some loose connection to Scotland Yard, but she knows very little of his early history. She’ll learn more in this book and even meet his ‘brother’. (It will be interesting to see in that brother has any roles in upcoming books.)

The search intensifies when a lovely nurse from the foundling home disappears. What could have happened to young Nurse Betts? Several days later, Daniel discovers that her body is in the morgue at Scotland Yard. She was literally beaten to death and Daniel’s brother, Errol Fielding, a vicar, is incensed because he had a tendresse for the young woman.

Kat and Daniel definitely have their hands full trying to keep Fielding in check and still uncover the fate of the children as well as the murderer of Nurse Betts. They’ll need all of their friends to help them – James, Bessie, Tess, Lady Cynthia, Mr. Elgin Thanos, Bobby – and new friend Miss Townsend. Of course – all of the investigating and crime-solving have to be worked around so Mrs. Bywater, Kat’s employer, is unaware of what is happening below stairs in her home.

This was an exciting, unputdownable read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You certainly cannot go wrong when you have such engaging characters solving such intriguing mysteries. I did like that there was move movement on the romantic front between Kat and Daniel, but it is definitely moving too slowly to suit me. I can hardly believe that I now have to wait a year for the next installment!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939)Leave a comment

The Last Mrs. Summers (Her Royal Spyness, #14)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Royal Spyness #14
Publication Date: 8/4/20
Number of Pages: 304

I always look forward to Georgie’s next adventure because you never know what she’ll get herself into. While I enjoyed this read, it was my least favorite so far – not sure why. Maybe there was too little Darcy or maybe it just didn’t seem to ‘ring true’ to the series – I’m not sure, but I am pretty sure the problem was mine and not the book.

Georgie and Darcy are home from their African honeymoon and Darcy is headed back to work for the Crown. At Georgie’s urging, he turned down a desk job and is headed back to the field. Georgie encouraged it because she knew he loved his work and wouldn’t be happy with a desk job. However, she is now presented with the fact that he has to leave on an assignment and he cannot tell her where he is going nor how long he’ll be gone. She’s at loose ends and has no idea what to do with herself, so she heads to London to meet up with her friend and to see her grandfather. Bummer – the friends aren’t in town and her grandfather has new tasks to see to as well. So – now what is she to do. Well, hang on to your hats because she’s off on a most unexpected adventure.

As she is returning home, having walked from the train station, she is almost run down by a speeding, very sporty, shiny new, red, Aston Martin Le Mans – named Brutus. Brutus is being driven by Georgie’s good friend Belinda who has just returned from Paris where she had studied clothing design with none other than Chanel. Belinda is excited because her grandmother’s will has finally been settled and she is now a very rich lady. Belinda also inherited a small cottage in Cornwall and she wants Georgie to go with her to check it out. She fondly remembers one property her grandmother owned there, but her grandmother sold it years ago, and she has absolutely no clue about the small cottage called White Sails.

And … the adventure begins. When the cottage turns out to be all but uninhabitable, they are at a loss because in this part of the country, finding a place to stay is near impossible. Then – their fortunes change when an old ‘friend’ recognizes Belinda and asks them to stay with her and her new husband for a few days. Belinda and Georgie are very hesitant – especially once Belinda learns the husband’s name – but it is almost impossible to refuse the invitation.

There is, of course, a murder, and then another, and hints of one from years ago. The house is forbidding even though the host and hostess are not. Something is definitely amiss in the household, tensions are thick, but nothing obvious – at first.

Given that the book-blurb likens the book to a Daphne du Marier murder, you immediately know who the villain is. What you don’t know is why or how. You especially don’t know why that villain might want to harm Belinda by causing her to be arrested for murder. You’ll find the answers to all of that as you move through the story to its exciting end.

I was so afraid the author was going to commit one of my cardinal sins – making me really like a character before killing them off. Luckily, it didn’t happen, because I have a really hard time liking a book after that happens. I didn’t dislike the victim but wasn’t in love with them either.

I really enjoyed the read and hope you will as well!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.