Tag: Carla Simpson

A Deadly Scandal by Carla Simpson

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

A Deadly Scandal (Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 9)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe #9
Publication Date: 8/20/24
Period: Victorian – 1891 — London, Paris, Germany
Number of Pages: 259

The cliffhanger at the end of book #8 left us wondering what would happen to Brodie and Mikaela after their huge blow-up. Would they overcome their monumental differences and continue their lives together – both working and private – or was the author headed off in some new direction? Of course, logic says the differences will resolve and the series will continue. This book resolves that cliffhanger – and then leaves us with another. I do not like cliffhangers and have deducted a star in the ratings for that. I hope that isn’t to be a ‘ploy’ often used by this author as I enjoy her writing and this series.

To save Brodie’s life in the previous book, Mikaela agreed to undertake a future mission for Sir Avery Stanton and the Special Services Agency. Now that she’s returned from her safari, Sir Avery holds her to that agreement and has a mission for her. It isn’t just any old mission, it is at the request of Prince Edward Albert and involves the disappearance of Sir Anthony Collingwood. Collingwood is a personal friend to Prince Albert, an important member of the Queen’s privy council, a retired soldier who served with distinction, and a holder of many state secrets, and he has disappeared into thin air.

Neither Mikaela nor Brodie knew the other had been called in on this mission and tried their best to dissuade Sir Avery from using both of them. That strategy didn’t work as Prince Albert himself was at the meeting, putting both of them on the task. With no choice, they set about learning what happened to Sir Anthony, but that part of the mission didn’t take long. However, what they found led them on a chase across Europe from Paris to Frankfurt. With danger lurking in every corner, they had to learn to work together or perish. They must rely on and trust each other to survive and return to England from these foreign shores. Can they do that?

This was an excellently researched and well-written story with compelling characters, dire situations, and bad actors from all over the globe. Mikaela and Brodie seem to have come to an understanding, so I hope things progress well from there because I am not a fan of continual strife between the main characters. As I mentioned earlier, I am not a fan of cliffhangers and this story ended in one – or at least sort of one because I don’t believe it will have much impact on their next case. But who knows? At any rate, I deducted a star for it.

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

Deadly Betrayal by Carla Simpson

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

Deadly Betrayal (Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 8)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe #8
Publication Date: 6/4/24
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 290

Non-stop action, a compelling mystery, bargains with the devil, emotional betrayal, and eye-opening relationships make this one of the best books of the series. You will probably figure out who is behind the murders early on, but that identity is less important to the story as a whole. Working through the who, how, and why is a journey that will nearly end both Mikaela and Brodie. Not only are their lives at risk but their personal relationship as well. Oh! Goodness – what a cliffhanger.

Angus Brodie left the Met under a cloud – we’ve read all about that in the previous books. In this book, that final case comes back to haunt him – big time. In that previous case, a young man was murdered. There was only one witness to that murder, and she quickly disappeared. Inspector Aberline blamed Brodie for her disappearance and threatened to bring charges against him – so Brodie resigned. Ten years later, the young woman has reappeared – and has been murdered. Are the cases related? Surely not if they are ten years apart.

Aberline has had a vendetta against Brodie for all those years, and now is his chance to get his revenge. He quickly declares Brodie as the young woman’s murderer and sets out to arrest him. Brodie quickly goes underground and Mikaela knows that the only way to save Brodie is to find the actual murderer. Brodie doesn’t want her anywhere near the case for many personal reasons aside from trying to protect her. However, when Brodie is arrested and nearly beaten to death, Mikaela makes a deal with the devil to save him. Brodie doesn’t appreciate that in the least and becomes even more surly – and when Mikaela’s life is endangered, it all comes to a head.

We had a lovely time with several supporting characters – especially Mikaela’s aunt. You will adore her – I wish I had an aunt like that! What I didn’t see – and sorely wished for – was some punishment or accountability for Aberline. However, it was totally silent in that regard. Is the Met going to let him do the things he did and get away with them? I mean – the way he conducted his visit to Mikaela’s aunt would normally be enough to see him drummed out of the Met. Apparently, unless there is something in the next book, Aberline will escape any punishment.

Normally, I am a big fan of Brodie, but I didn’t like him – at all – in this book. He is normally a big, broody, very protective Scot and I can understand and appreciate that. If you love someone, you want to protect them and keep them safe even though they are perfectly capable of protecting themselves. In this book, he isn’t protective, he is secretive, condescending, and downright mean and hateful. I understand what the author was going for, I didn’t like it, but I understood it. It is just that acting as he did in this book just didn’t seem to mesh with the Brodie I’d seen in the previous 7 books. I assume book 9 will bring resolution to the cliffhanger we are left with at the end of this book. I won’t mind seeing a contrite Brodie, but if he becomes one of those doormat heroes I see in so many tales lately, I won’t like him very well at all. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

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