Category: Historical Mystery

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

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

A Murderous Relation (Veronica Speedwell, #5)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Veronica Speedwell #5
Publication Date: 3/10/20
Number of Pages: 336

I am enjoying this fun, thrilling, intense, and even romantic series so very much. The writing is intelligent, the plots are excellently done, and the romantic tension between the two main characters will leave you panting for breath. I have to admit, I couldn’t put the book down and inhaled it from beginning to end – in one sitting. I mean – honestly – when the first line in a book is “What in the name of flaming Hades do you mean his lordship wants me to officiate at the wedding of a tortoise?” – you just know you are going to love it! BTW – you’ll absolutely giggle every time Stoker curses – he is so very inventive – luckily, he curses often. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading at least the first book of the series, A Curious Beginning, so you become familiar with the characters and their backgrounds, how they meet, etc. – you’ll love the book and it will give you a good foundation for the rest of the series.

Victorian London is in an uproar because of a series of grisly, horrific murders in the Whitechapel area. News sheets are calling for those in power to resign because they cannot apprehend the perpetrator. Those same news sheets are sensationalizing the murders. One lone reporter, J. J. Butterworth, is featuring the actual victims in her column – humanizing them, telling their stories rather than just calling them prostitutes. You’ll love J. J. as a recurring character.

Stoker and Veronica are called to see the formidable Lady Wellingtonia (Wellie) Beauclerk (a recurring character). They are asked to see about retrieving an expensive and inappropriate gift that Prince Albert Edward has given to a very exclusive courtesan. That gift is readily traceable back to the prince and should it become known; it would cause a scandal that could bring the monarchy down – especially in these times with a horrendous murderer about. When they refuse to do Wellie’s bidding, she has a heart seizure and they quickly come to realize that there is more to the story than they originally thought.

The mystery is filled with many twists and turns and not everyone is who they appear to be – and some returning from the dead. With murders, kidnappings, rescues, plots, and plots-within-plots, you’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout the entire read. I certainly recommend the read and hope you will love it as much as I did.

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

A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939)2 Comments

A Divided Loyalty - Inspector Ian Rutledge -Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge #22
Publication Date: 2/4/2020
Number of Pages: 336

Betrayal, shock, dismay, regret, and sadness are all felt by Ian Rutledge as he solves his latest case. As always, the story is well-written and excellently plotted with twists and turns throughout. While this is the twenty-second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone – but since it is a great series, I’m sure you’ll want to run right out and get some of the earlier books. Ian is one of those characters that you really come to like and wish the best for him – all the while knowing how he suffers from the war. Not all wounds can be seen on the outside.

It is February of 1921 and Ian Rutledge, along with most of England, is still trying to put the war behind him. Although the war ended in November of 1918, Ian is still suffering greatly from shell shock. Balancing his duties as a Scotland Yard inspector and managing his symptoms is definitely not for the faint of heart. After his last big case, The Black Ascot, he is still in disfavor with his superiors and he knows he has to walk on eggshells for a while. After all, the Chief Superintendent still has his letter of resignation in his desk drawer and has let Ian know that he’ll pull it out and accept it at the slightest misstep.

After wrapping up a case in Shropshire, Ian was called into Chief Superintendent Markham’s office. Ian’s new assignment was to take a second look at a case that Chief Inspector Brian Leslie hadn’t been able to solve. Leslie was an excellent investigator as well as a friend and colleague, so Ian was sure that nothing had been missed in the investigation and was a little resentful to have been given the assignment. However, it was his assignment now so he’d best be off to Avebury.

Avebury is a bit of an eerie place as it is built in the center of an ancient stone circle. The body of the murdered woman was found at the foot of one of those stones. Ian retraces the steps taken by Leslie and discovers he is finding the same things as Leslie did. However, Ian is like a dog with a bone – he just doesn’t turn loose. As he stretches his imagination to picture how the murder could occur, how the murderer got the victim to where she was murdered without being seen and a myriad of other things – the clues just don’t add up. He slowly begins to suspect the unthinkable – yet there is no way to prove any of it.

Ian is drawn to the lovely young woman who was murdered. It pains him, and the rest of Avebury, to know that this young woman doesn’t even have a name on her gravestone because they can’t identify her. Ian is determined to identify her, to learn her story and to find justice for her.

In this taut, gripping tale you’ll cry for this young woman and root for Ian to identify her and bring her murderer to justice. Then, just when you think you have it all figured out, the author plagues you with doubt. You can’t be sure of what happened until the very end.

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