Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: New Scotland Yard/Doyle and Acton #10
Publication Date: 9/10/19
Number of Pages: 219

I always look forward to each new release in this series. It has captured me even though it is totally different than anything else I prefer to read. Once I get a new book, I can’t put it down until I am done. Acton is a dark force with which to be reckoned. He is a peer of the realm, and a high ranking member of Scotland Yard – he’s also not above manipulation and a bit of lawbreaking himself when it comes to seeing his version of justice done. Meaning, he’s a bit of a vigilante. He’s incredibly smart and very, very cunning. So, it is always a delight when the ‘dull’ but ‘fey’ Doyle thwarts his best-laid plans. There are usually a couple of ‘mysteries’ going on in each book – one a police case and one involving some machination that Acton has cooked up. Sometimes the two are related and sometimes they are not.

The fallout from the last case is still impacting the Metropolitan Police Force. They are grossly short-handed because of all of the corrupt members of the force that have been removed and everyone is carrying a double workload. So, imagine the surprise of Williams and Doyle when Acton shows up at the scene of a murder they’ve been assigned to investigate. Then, Acton interviews the witnesses/suspects and he’s – gasp – polite and subservient to them.

As the investigation continues and they learn more and more about the case, they determine that the murder is connected to a series of vengeance murders stemming from the last big case. Somebody is pulling the strings, but it cannot be the one that it so obviously appears to be. So, if not him – who – and more importantly – why! The case takes many twists and turns before all is finally revealed and the real mastermind is identified and the reason revealed.

At the same time, Doyle has become more and more convinced that Acton has something else going on and she has to figure out what it is – and stop it – before something worse happens. This time it is a doozie – and Acton is actually relieved to have Doyle discover his plot so he doesn’t have to carry it out – but it was a near thing.

As I said above, I love this series, but I will suggest that you not read this book as a standalone. At least read the first book or the first couple of books to learn about Doyle and her ‘gift’, Acton’s obsession and protectiveness, and their relationship. Understanding those things will really help you appreciate how far they have come – and will help you understand some of the nuances in this book.

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

Murder in Just Cause: A Doyle & Acton Mystery by Anne Cleeland

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Doyle and Acton Mysteries #9
Publication Date: 2/24/19
Number of Pages: 251

I am always excited when a new addition to the Doyle and Acton Mysteries series is released. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It is well written, well plotted and the characters are complex and interesting. You can read this as a stand-alone book, but to get the real flavor for the characters, you really need to read at least the first couple of books – but why not read them all, they are all good, fun and quirky.

Scotland Yard has been through scandal after scandal over the last several books and many – if not most – of the higher-ups are either jailed or removed from their jobs. They are working short-handed, but hopefully, all of the bad actors and the scandals are behind them so they can concentrate on protecting the citizens and providing justice.

It is Doyle’s first day back from maternity leave and the powers-that-be have decided to ease her back into the routine by having her assist DS Munoz on her cases. They are almost immediately dispatched out to the scene of a dead body that they assume is an overdose. It is in the slum area that is riddled with drugs, so the assumption is a reasonable one. However, when they arrive, they discover that it is not self-induced – not accidentally nor purposefully. They have a murder on their hands.

Acton quickly arrives on the scene because he’s not happy that Doyle has been sent into that neighborhood. To say that Acton is a determinedly protective husband would be putting it very mildly. Not long after he arrives, he realizes that there is more to this scene than meets the eye. He quickly comes to understand that it was a set-up as a way to ambush DS Munoz and the only reason it didn’t go as planned was that Doyle was there also.

We soon learn that the last of the corruption isn’t yet out of Scotland Yard and that if things aren’t handled with finesse, there will be yet another scandal. As usual – Acton is behind the scenes manipulating things to work out the way he wants – and he keeps poor Doyle in the dark. Doesn’t matter, she always figures him out and calls him out on it.

This is a lovely, fun, quirky, and interesting read