Category: Historical Mystery

The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden

On By TracyIn Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Queen and the Knave (The Dread Penny Society, #5)The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Dread Penny Society, #5

Release Date: September 5, 2023

Picking up where the previous book ended, Moirin Donnelly, the Dread Master, is frantic to save her members from the Tempest and to stop the woman’s reign of terror. But unfortunately for Moirin, it seems like the Tempest is always one step of her and when her members begin to disappear, is clear that she is going to need help. She trusts Constable Fitz Parkington, to an extent, but Moirin has secrets that could destroy her and by association Fitz, so despite the attraction she feels for him, the risk to both of them is too great. But before she can even worry about that, she needs to stop the Tempest before she kills any of her “dreads.

Fitzgerald “Fitz” Parkington, has finally been promoted to the Detective Division of Scotland Yard and hopes that the promotion will enable him to finally find out what happened to his grandfather twenty years ago, who disappeared without a trace and left nine-year-old Fitz all alone and homeless. But before he can even start looking into that matter, he finds himself pulled into the troubles of the DPS and the Tempest. For years he has been helping the members, but recently Moirin has been holding his attention, he knows she is keeping secrets, but he isn’t sure he cares. And if they survive the coming storm, he plans to prove it to her.

This installment of The Dread Penny Society is the climax of the story that has been building since the first book. Personally, I wouldn’t classify this book as a Historical Romance, it is more mystery and historical fiction, with just a hint of a romantic connection between Moirin and Fitz, but that hint is potent, and while the book has a happy ending, I wouldn’t call it a “happily ever after” at least not for Moirin and Fitz as a couple. As with the previous books, there are two Penny Dreadful novellas interwoven into the book and as with the previous books, I skipped over them while reading the story and read them after I finished the book. For me, reading them as they are placed is distracting and breaks the flow of the actual story – but they are delightful additions and are not to be missed! This is the fifth book in the series and I strongly suggest reading the books in order, because they are definitely not standalone titles.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Flora Flowerdew and the Mystery of the Purloined Papers by Amanda McCabe

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

Flora Flowerdew and the Mystery of the Purloined PapersBarbara’s rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Series: Flora Flowerdew #2
Publication Date: 9/12/23
Period: 1889 – Victorian
Number of Pages: 102

I picked up the first book in the series because it was a historical mystery and because with a name like Flora Flowerdew, it just had to be amusing. I was hoping for the same in this book, but it fell a bit short of meeting that goal. I still enjoyed both the main and supporting characters, but the story itself was a tad bland – not bad, just bland.

Flora’s business as a medium has really been busy since she helped Benedict, the Duke of Everton, solve the mystery of his family’s missing diamonds. However, she’s also grown a bit bored with the whole medium thing since that case as well. She’s just lamenting about that very fact to her maid/friend Mary when there is a knock on their door. It is after midnight – who could it be? It was the duke, of course, with his aunt Imogen in tow. It seems she’s had some very intimate letters stolen and she wants Flora to help her find them – at a country house party.

Since the duchy is in serious need of an influx of cash, Imogene will also be trying to pair the Duke with the daughter-of-the-house, Marianne. This is the strangest house party. You had to wonder why their host, Lord Windermere, would invite a group filled with so much animosity toward each other. Then, they were all having affairs with each other as well.

I really wanted to love this book so much, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t dislike it – I was more – meh. It wasn’t as exciting, suspenseful, or mysterious as I would hope for in a mystery. There were several places where there could have been some hold-your-breath scenes, but they just weren’t fleshed out. Perhaps that was due to the short length of the book. Then, there is the quasi-romance, between Flora and the Duke. There are hints that a romance is developing, but even that seems a bit tame.

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

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