Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe #4
Publication Date: 8/8/23
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 295

How can you not love a book that has mystery, mayhem, madness, magicians, and murder? I found the first book of this series by a new-to-me author as a ‘free’ read through Amazon Prime and I was instantly hooked and have read each subsequent book. Mikaela Forsythe is a very smart, feisty, free-thinking woman who supports herself through writing adventure novels – and many of those novels are based upon her own real-life experiences. Angus Brodie is a straight-laced, dour, over-protective, Scot who was formerly an Inspector with the Metropolitan Police. He left the police under circumstances that have not yet been revealed to us, but I suspect it is a case of Brodie being right about something the mucky mucks wanted him to be wrong about it. The supporting characters are a varied and interesting lot from an actress with a 4-foot iguana to a chemist (pharmacist) with a penchant for dissection and an octogenarian aunt who is indomitable, enlightened, and planning a safari to Africa for herself.

Mikaela’s actress friend, Theodora Templeton, invited her to attend a one-night-only performance by illusionist Jean Luc Betard at the Crystal Palace. Betard was the premier Illusionist of the time and he was unveiling a never-seen-before illusion before leaving on tour to the continent. Pragmatic and practical Mikaela knows it is all trickery – drawing your attention to one place while the action is happening in another. However, this illusion defies logic. How could this beautiful young woman possibly disappear from one box and reappear in another? Magic surely. Until – the body – right on stage – Oh! My!

Chief Inspector Abberline is a total twit and when he declares it a tragic accident, Mikaela sends word to Brodie. Mikaela could plainly see it wasn’t an accident. When Betard hires Brodie and Mikaela to find out what really happened, they are thrown into a world of illusions where nothing and no one is what they seem. As more bodies turn up and threatening notes promise more to come, they know the answers lie in deeply kept secrets. Once they unearth those secrets, they’ll know who the murderer is – and why. But, even with the answers, will they be able to keep the murderer from striking again? You’ll just have to read the book to see.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can definitely recommend it. The mystery is excellently done, the pacing is quick and keeps you flipping from page to page, and there is finally some movement in the relationship between Brodie and Mikaela. My only complaint about the book is that it almost makes Mikaela appear to be an alcoholic as often as she has a drink (morning, noon, and night) of her “aunt’s very fine whisky”. That is the other thing that bugged me – I think that phrase appeared at least once in every chapter – including the epilogue. Those two things are why I rated it at 4.5 stars but rounded it up to 5.

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

View all my reviews

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery #3
Publication Date: 5/23/23
Period: Victorian London – 1890
Number of Pages: 408

I’ve loved every book in this series, and this one is no exception. Lady Mikaela Forsythe’s ex-betrothed has contacted her to look for his missing son. At the same time, Mr. Angus Brodie has been contacted at his inquiry agency to find a missing boy named Kip. Both Mikaela and Brodie know Kip, and they don’t believe he would just run away on his own. However, a bit of the green-eyed monster raises his ugly head when Mikaela tells Brodie of the request to find a missing boy as well. Since the two boys are from entirely different classes, they pursue each case separately. As time passes and neither boy returns – nor are there any clues – everyone begins to fear the very worst for both boys. When evidence of more missing boys turns up, they redouble their efforts. Nothing connects them, so why have they suddenly vanished? Clues are few, but there are some – strange clues, but clues nonetheless. With attempts on Mikaela’s life, a massive fire at Brodie’s office, the death of Mikaela’s ex-betrothed, and a missing boy who turns up beaten nearly to death, none of them may live long enough to solve the case.

I love the growing relationship between Mikaela and Brodie and I can’t wait for them to finally realize they care for each other. I love the step-by-step solving of each mystery with the two of them playing off each other for ideas and respecting the other’s abilities. Mikaela can get a tad TSTL on occasion because she is so very confident of her ability to defend herself, but she does usually try to let Brodie know what she’s doing so she’ll have some backup. The supporting cast is great as well. There is Mikaela’s very eccentric Aunt, the wounded war veteran with no legs, a large ferocious street dog who has taken a liking to Mikaela, and various scientific experts upon whom they call for answers. I’m sure the author is heading toward a romantic relationship between Mikaela and Brodie and I’ll be very interested to see how she manages to make it work in British society. Brodie is a man who grew up on the streets – first in Scotland and then in London – and Mikaela is a Lady. Oh – and did I mention – Brodie is also performing certain services for their Secret Service? Oh! My! Goodness!

I can recommend this book and this series. While you could read this as a standalone without too much head-scratching, I would recommend reading the series in order. The characters and their relationships have changed through the books, with each building on the previous, so you’d want to read each of the books to get a complete picture.

The books are excellently written, well-paced, and include a tad of humor with Brodie’s exasperation with Mikaela’s exploits. You’ll smile, you’ll scratch your head trying to figure out who the villains are, and you’ll laugh at whatever Mikaela’s aunt gets up to. Worth reading!

View all my reviews