Category: Victorian Era (1837-1901)

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe.
Preceded by: Regency era
Followed by: Edwardian era
Monarch: Victoria

Murder On Platform Four by Irina Shapiro

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

Murder on Platform Four (Tate and Bell Mystery #5)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #5
Publication Date: 7/30/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 324

This excellently crafted story caught my attention from the first page and didn’t let go until long after I’d finished the last page. The author does an excellent job of presenting both the victim and the perpetrator as both sympathetic and immoral – not that we’re ever led to think murder is moral. With a plethora of suspects, Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell will have to pull at every thread to uncover the true villain.

While I’m aware this is a mystery, I am also a romantic and am growing tired of the continuous obstacles to Gemma and Sebastian being together. This book continues with those obstacles, and it is the fifth book in the series. Should that continue with the sixth book, I will likely discontinue reading the series because I want BOTH the mystery and the romance.

I was delighted to see Gemma showing the gumption to perform her own inspection of the victim without Colin’s consent, but I was very disappointed in Colin’s reaction to it. It also saddened me that Sebastian spent so little time with his estranged brother, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing what develops in that relationship.

If you love a well-thought-out mystery with relatable characters, this book is for you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

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

View all my reviews

The Rookery Killer by Lana Williams

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

The Rookery Killer (Field & Greystone, #4)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Field and Greystone #4
Publication Date: 7/25/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 335

OMGoodness! In this exciting installment, we get to solve three murders, recover missing evidence, root out corruption in Scotland Yard, and watch the slow-burn relationship between Henry and Amelia take another step forward. Over the course of the series, I’ve really come to enjoy both Henry and Amelia, as well as the supporting cast. Each book offers a self-contained mystery and can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting from the beginning to fully appreciate the character development.

In the previous book, Inspector Henry Field finally closed the cold case that had haunted him for nearly two years. Matthew Greystone had been brutally stabbed, and for a long time, his killer remained at large—until Henry caught him. Henry could finally breathe easier… until the murderer escaped. Now, Henry must hunt him down again. As time passes and the fugitive remains missing, Henry’s reputation begins to suffer—especially as more bodies turn up. It becomes clear that someone isn’t just committing murders—they’re actively working to make Henry look guilty.

Amelia doesn’t play a major role in solving the crimes this time, but she remains a strong presence in the story. Hopefully, we’ll see her more involved in the investigation in the next book.

The story grabs you from page one and keeps you guessing right up to the end. The author does an excellent job of throwing in red herrings while keeping the real culprit hidden. Just when you think you’ve figured it out—surprise! And when you combine that with progress in Henry and Amelia’s romance, it makes for a winning read.

I highly recommend this book, this series, and this author.

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

View all my reviews