Review: The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

The Story Keeper

by Kelly Rimmer

Release Date: July 21, 2026 (First published July 30, 2025)

2026 MIRA

Ebook ARC; 352 Pages

ISBN: 978-1525805110

ASIN: B0CW1JH195

Audiobook:  ‎ B0D3RPCN1P

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery 

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate she once called home. Intent on restoring it, she discovers the keys to more than just the dilapidated mansion—beneath the crumbling plaster and dust are secrets that have been buried for a generation.

When a curious book, The Midnight Estate, catches her attention in her late uncle’s library, Fiona is plunged into a tale that mirrors her own—a story of love, loss and betrayal. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Fiona must ask herself: Is the true mystery the one hidden within the walls of her ancestral home, or is it within the pages of a book that chose her as much as she chose it?

 

My Thoughts

The Story Keeper definitely had a premise that I have fascinating for over forty years, but this one lost its fizzle and oomph around the forty percent mark and I had to push myself to push through towards the end. It's too bad as it had everything that I like in a story including an old house, a mystery, a story within a story, a strained relationship between mother and daughter, a woman trying to figure out what she wants in life after divorce, and secrets, lots of secrets. And while I didn't mind the predictability of the story as you could see where this was going quite early on in the book, the execution fell flat for me, particularly about half way through.

 

I didn't really know what to think about Fiona as a character as I don't think her character development was particularly strong, one-dimensional at best. She had just come through a divorce, a nasty one from the sounds of it, but I found it difficult to empathize with her situation because the writing style didn't really make me feel like I could empathize with her too much.  Yes, she had a complicated relationship with her mother and it was only at the end of the story that I actually felt a stirring of compassion for the two of them as the 'secret' was revealed and Fiona finally understood a bit about what her mother went through. But still, as I think about her character, I can't really come up with too many adjectives to describe her.  Was she determined? To a certain extent, I guess. However, the best I can come up with is that she is bland. There just wasn't enough detail or context about Fiona to develop an idea about her personality for me to even think I have a handle on her personality.

 

The plot was interesting until perhaps about the forty percent mark even though it was predictable and I could easily sense where it was going.  However, the predictable part was not the problem as I can live with that; it's the fact that the details around the house, the secondary characters, the past, and other important things were noticeably missing as the story progressed and to me, this is more of an execution issue. I didn't have an issue with the story-within-a-story trope as I thought it was interesting and I did think the way the author highlighted the difficulties of spousal abuse in the 1950s was well done and quite accurate, but again, it lacked emotional depth.  

 

Verdict

The Story Keeper is not my favourite book from this author, but it was an okay read. I thought both the plot and the character development were one-dimensional and flat and the pacing was a bit uneven. I did like the descriptions of the house however, and I liked how the author highlighted the themes of generational trauma as well as abuse as they were well done.  Overall, this book had a lot of potential, but the uneven execution and the lack of character development did not really do it for me.  

 

Review: Carnival of Lies by D.V. Bishop

Carnival of Lies (Cesare Aldo, #5)

by D.V. Bishop

Release Date: August 26, 2025

2025 MacMillan UK

Ebook ARC; 400 Pages

ISBN: 978-1035041947

ASIN: B0DH4KR1Z9

Audiobook: B0DH99DVH2

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Venice. Winter, 1539. When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. With his life, if necessary. The deadly attack which follows leads to bodies, bloodshed – and something far more dangerous.

Those behind the plot obtain a journal of the duke’s, containing explosive secrets that – in the wrong hands – could destroy all of Florence. Aldo must hunt down those responsible and reclaim the journal, or face banishment from the city and everyone he loves. 

The trail leads him towards the one place Aldo has sworn to never return, a city of masks and lies where he has no allies and far too many enemies, Venice. The fate of a dynasty rests on his shoulders, if he can make it out alive . . .

 

My Thoughts

Carnival of Lies is the fifth entry in the Cesare Aldo historical mystery series, and while this was a great read, I don't think it was my favourite of the series to this point. It's not that it wasn't good as it definitely was, but that it seemed to lack the tension that existed in the previous books where I didn't know what was going to happen to Aldo and worried about him constantly. In this one, I just felt like he wasn't in the same amount of danger. Maybe it was the way it was written, but for the first time I found the twists and turns to be more predictable than usual and easily figured out what was happening.

 

I must start by saying that this book is somewhat different than the previous four installments in that Aldo was sort of inadvertently caught in the middle of something between Florence and Venice due to some intrigue that happened in the previous book. This intrigue carried into this book and while it was definitely a separate plot and very satisfying on its own, it was not Aldo simply investigating a murder or series of murders. A lot of the political stuff that was building in previous books has now reared its ugly head and Aldo can't escape its claws. There are twists and turns aplenty, a lot of intrigue, a female spy to deal with, and even the return of an old lover in Aldo's life. While there was a murder, it was a very insignificant part of the book while the author focused on the bigger political issues happening during this time period. I did find all of this very intriguing as I love politics and I love history having taught it for thirty plus years, but I did feel that it did diminish the overall tension to the plot as I never really felt like Aldo was in danger and could easily figure out the plot twists. This tension and second-guessing had always been a highlight in previous books however, and I was left feeling like something was missing from this book. Furthermore, I felt like the reason why Aldo went to Venice was a bit slim as I don't think Cosimo de Medici would have done such a thing as what he did in this book as that would have put so many people in danger and he was a careful, careful man. As usual though, the author is brilliant at bringing this time period to life and I really appreciated the descriptions of both Florence and Venice.

 

Just when I thought Aldo's character couldn't be developed anymore however, the author threw a new twist into this book and proved me wrong. I loved the return of one of Aldo's former lovers and the discussions surrounding that little happenstance as it was fascinating. All I will say about that is I'm glad Aldo finally got closure about that part of his life. 

 

Now, the contessa. One of my new favourite characters. Love it when a female character develops beautifully, is empowered, and has quite a character arc. She's charismatic, charming, beautiful, wealthy, connected, but deadly as a snake. And honestly, it's that deadly side that I love. I don't know how the author does it, but to make me feel sympathy and empathy for such a person just goes to show how brilliant the writing is. No, she can't be trusted, but she is a lot of fun to read about. 

 

Verdict

Carnival of Lies was a different entry to this series, but still fun to read. While I did have issues with some of the pacing and the tension in the story, it was still fast-paced with plenty of action and plenty of twists and turns. And the author has a way of transporting you to the time period so you feel like you are there. While not necessary, I do recommend you read the earlier entries in the series to get a better understanding of the recurring characters, some of the continuing storylines, and how they all connect. There were things that happened in this book that you would only have understood having read the earlier books and I think readers who only read this book will miss the nuances because they don't understand them. Highly recommend this series if you are looking for a good historical mystery with great description.  

 

 

 

Review: There Will be Bodies by Lindsey Davis

There Will Be Bodies (Flavia Albia, #13)

by Lindsey Davis

Release Date: July 22, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook ARC; 368 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250906731

ASIN: B0DH4FJ4DJ

Audiobook: B0DSQ71DZ8

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars 

 

Summary

Ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, the surrounding countryside lies buried and barren. But the destroyed cities and luxury villas on the Bay of Naples are not utterly lost.

Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius are tasked with restoring one villa and identifying any surviving remains.

What they unearth is beyond disturbing. When the volcano erupted some people were left to their fate here, unable to escape. They included the previous owner, Publius Primus - laid out carefully and covered by falling ash.

 

 

 

My Thoughts

There Will be Bodies is the next book in the Flavia Albia series, and while I found this one interesting due to the descriptions of the aftereffects of the Vesuvius eruption, I did find the actual mystery to be somewhat less compelling than in previous books and that there really wasn't much to the 'investigation'. 

 

One of the things I truly do like about this series, and the concept does continue in this book, is the very layered discussions around women and their roles within the Roman Empire. A lot of this is done through Flavia's voice and I enjoy her sarcastic inner monologue with regards to what she sees and her interpretation of events compared to how the men are dealing with things. It is always interesting to see how she manipulates those around her to get what she wants; women have certainly developed some skilled negotiation/manipulation techniques over the years and the men don't even know what hit them. I have definitely become more cynical and sarcastic as I've grown older so I empathize with Flavia and the women during this time period who didn't have as much freedom as people would think and had to rely on men to make decisions for them, decisions they didn't necessarily agree with. The author uses Flavia's voice to discuss the problematic nature of women and other people who were struggling and this is definitely a strength to these novels.  

 

While the descriptions of the aftermath of the eruption were wonderful and personally, I don't think I've read too many of those, the investigation itself was fairly predictable, and somewhat mundane. A lot of the actual investigative work got lost within the work Flavia and her husband were doing at the villa and if I hadn't read the previous entries to this series, I wouldn't have realized how shallow the investigation was compared to previous books. There were really no twists and turns and few attempts to try to deter the reader from figuring out the culprit and I was left feeling disappointed in how everything turned out.  

 

Verdict

There Will be Bodies is the first Flavia Albia book to have its setting outside Rome and I am still not sure how I feel about that although I was fascinated with the descriptions of the area around Vesuvius after the eruption. And while I enjoyed the descriptions of what Flavia and her husband were doing to restore the villa, the mystery itself was a disappointment as it was predictable and frankly, this was probably my least favourite of the series so far. If you are a new reader to this series, you could read this as a standalone, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to get a richer experience of the characters and their life. Even better, start with the Marcus Didius Falco series, the series about Flavia's father, to get the full immersive experience.   

 

Review: The House at Devil's Neck by Tom Mead

The House at Devil's Neck (A Spector Locked-Room Mystery, #4)

by Tom Mead

Release Date: July 15, 2025

2025 Mysterious Press

Ebook ARC; 320 Pages

ISBN: 978-1613166505

ASIN: B0DL3N8PFL

Audiobook: B0FFWXJN4C

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

An apparent suicide in a London townhouse uncannily mirrors a similar incident from twenty-five years ago, prompting Scotland Yard's George Flint to delve deep into the past in search of the solution to a long-forgotten mystery.

Meanwhile, Joseph Spector travels with a coach party through the rainy English countryside to visit an allegedly haunted house on a lonely island called Devil’s Neck. The house, first built by a notorious alchemist and occultist, was later used as a field hospital in the First World War before falling into disrepair. The visitors hold a seance to conjure the spirit of a long-dead soldier. But when a storm floods the narrow causeway connecting Devil’s Neck to the mainland, they find themselves stranded in the haunted house. Before long, the guests begin to die one by one, and it seems that the only possible culprit is the phantom soldier.

 

My Thoughts

The House at Devil's Neck naturally caught my attention as it's a locked-room mystery at an atmospheric home with a history of hauntings and other to-dos. We've also go all of the usual things happening with secrets, mysterious connections between characters, seances, haunting, more secrets, locked-room mysteries, bad weather, and a house with atmosphere. What could you not love about it?

 

Well, as it turns out, a plot that becomes too convoluted can actually make you roll your eyes and rethink how much you are enjoying a book. To be fair, I really enjoyed the first half of the book and enjoyed trying to keep up with twists and turns as they occurred. For someone who has read a lot of these things, there were some things that I just expected to happen, and they did, but those things didn't lower my pleasure when the characters discovered these things. It's hard to explain without actually giving away important plot points to the story, so I'll just say that some of the plot points were actually predictable, expected, but didn't remove you from the story. However, when things get too complicated to try to throw off a reader, then you have a problem. And it's too bad as most of the story was interesting. However, when things just start getting too fanciful for me, I start rolling my eyes, and this is what happened. Too many ridiculous explanations for x, y, and z. 

 

Spector is definitely an intriguing character though, and I really enjoyed how he picked apart the theories the others had regarding the murders.  Because the author tries really hard to capture the atmosphere of an Agatha Christie novel, something that is definitely not easy to do, I do have to commend him for reminding me of those novels quite often. And I like the fact the author states that the reader has all the facts they need to solve the puzzle on their own if they can. And I did, even if I didn't quite have all the facts down pat. So that was fun. The other characters were unique in their own ways and I enjoyed their quirks and foibles very much. 

 

Verdict

The House at Devil's Neck was really enjoyable for the first half of the book, but sabotaged itself in the second half by becoming too convoluted with some ridiculous explanations. And I love convoluted story lines. The quirky characters were fun and I enjoyed how they interacted with each other and how they all eventually interconnected. I did think the ending was a bit unsatisfying, but overall I enjoyed this book.  

 

Review: A Fatal Necessity by Marjorie Eccles

A Fatal Necessity (A Herbert Reardon Mystery, #6)

by Marjorie Eccles

Release Date: May 6, 2025

2025 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 287 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448316014

ASIN: B0DB5GDVW6

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

1935, Templewood, Worcestershire. Judge Waring’s glamorous wife Emilie is mysteriously missing and no one knows where she is – until she’s found the morning after a party at neighbouring Falquonroy Park, in a clearing in Templewood’s grounds, strangled yet neatly laid out next to two pieces of matching luggage.

What could possibly have brought Emilie to the site where the family’s new home, The Spinney, was about to be built, equipped for travelling? Was she planning to leave with someone she knew? Who was determined that she should meet such a terrible end? As Detective Chief Inspector Herbert ‘Bert’ Reardon and Sergeant Jago discover more about the enigmatic Emilie, they unravel terrible lies and devastating secrets stretching back years . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Fatal Necessity is the next book in the Herbert Reardon Mystery series, and I enjoyed this descriptive murder-mystery set in the politically tense days of the late 1930s before the world erupted in war. While set in a fairly peaceful part of Britain, events in Germany were still affecting the citizens in subtle ways, and the author blends this exceedingly well into the story.

I thought the story was very well told; the plot lines were subtle and well done. The author did a great job misleading the reader into thinking that Emilie’s disappearance was one thing, only to discover it was something completely different. As someone who taught WWII history for years, I love how the story brings a lot of the elements of the late 1930s into this book. The threat of Hitler and what was happening in Germany was certainly leaving a pall over the lives of everyone in the village, some taking completely polar sides over whom they supported causing a lot of tension and issues, including the rise of the Socialist and Communist Parties, most of which had to be secret, leading to increased tensions within households and police forces trying to tamp down secret meetings and spying.  I found the discussions around these topics fascinating and the author really had a knack for bringing it all to life. The mystery was subtly woven in between all of this tension and conflict.

Because there was so much focus on the political tension, I did feel like there was a lot of repetition and there were times I felt the story dragged. If this was simply a fiction book about this time period, I would have had a different reaction, but this was also a mystery book so I would expect the tension to be a bit higher, and it really wasn’t. And while I liked the ending, there was little to no suspense.  And I had to go back to my notes to remind myself what actually happened as it was not memorable so that says something to me when it comes to tension and excitement.

Reardon and Jago were interesting characters and I really liked how they were developed, especially Jago who was new to this book.  I liked him so much, in fact, that I hope he will appear in future books as I feel like there is so much more to develop with his character. And while the other characters were quirky and each had distinct voices, they were much more one-dimensional in nature and all blended together.

Verdict
A Fatal Necessity had a good story, and I did enjoy it overall. The author has a subtle story-telling method which I appreciate as it is not about throwing in useless red herrings and also allows the reader to discover things as they go. However, I did feel like you can go too far and forget that mystery novels also need to have that suspense and tension in them to make the reader turn the page, and I thought this one was lacking that element, concentrating more on the historical details.  However, there is still a lot to recommend in this book and if you enjoy historical mysteries, this one may be for you.

 

Review: Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris

Who Will Remember (Sebastian St. Cyr, #20)

by C.S. Harris

Release Date: April 15, 2025

2025 Berkley

Ebook ARC; 365 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593639214

ASIN: B0D9J3XYFK

Audiobook: B0DLYXS992

Genre: Fiction / Historical Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

August 1816. England is in the grip of what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. His brutal murder shocks the Palace and panics the already troubled populace.
At first, everyone in the dead man’s orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But as Sebastian delves deeper into his life, he quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies and that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.

 

My Thoughts

Who Will Remember is the latest book in the long-running Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, and one of the reasons I return to this series every year is the detailed research by the author. I am always able to immerse myself in the time period because the descriptions are so vivid and the author manages to really make it come alive in my mind. However, I did think this series has started to feel a bit repetitive and formulaic, and for me at least, it was easy to figure out who were the culprits.

 

I don't really read these for character development at this point although I do feel like the relationship between Sebastian and Hero has gotten a little flat. It's not a negative thing as the fire and brimstone of courtship is often put aside in domestic bliss, but I would think a little more spark should be felt between them there was. By book twenty however, many of the secrets have been revealed and the story focuses more on the secrets of the secondary characters, some of whom I am glad to see returned in this book.  

One of the reasons I return to this series though, are the descriptions of Regency England as they are so well done.  Even with a history background, I love learning tidbits that I didn't know and enjoy following the characters as they go about their day-to-day activities. As I've already mention however, the books are starting to feel the same, and it wasn't hard to figure out the ending. And I read expecting the usual fight scene as it happens to Sebastian as least once per book, and the author did not disappoint.  So, the plot felt similar and repetitive. I did however, enjoy the scenes where Hero interviewed the soldiers even if it didn't really go anywhere, at least yet.

 

Verdict

Who Will Remember had an intriguing mystery and I did enjoy it for the most part. And while the research is impeccable, this one failed to keep up the tension and I was slightly bored as I read so it was difficult to keep going at times. While you don't necessarily have to start at the beginning of the series, there is definitely a lot of character entanglements that will make more sense if you do and the mysteries are quite engaging. I will keep reading this series, but I don't think this was one of the best. 

 

Review: Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles

Silent as the Grave (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #21)

by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles

Release Date: March 11, 2025

2025 Minotaur 

Ebook ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250890818

ASIN: B0D1P9HP38

Audiobook: B0DN8N9C8N

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

With a newborn and two children, Molly Murphy Sullivan is tackling motherhood. Her dear friend and writer, Ryan O’Hara, is shooting a movie, one of the first to involve a real plot and actors. When one of the actresses is fired, Molly’s adopted daughter, Bridie, is called to replace her in the scene. Turns out she’s a natural and is asked to star in the rest of the film. 

The movie industry is still experimenting with ways to get the best shot. But soon, their special effects start to malfunction. After a few mishaps where no one is hurt, the special effects turn deadly. With rumors of a feud between studios, Molly believes these malfunctions are sabotage. 

 

My Thoughts

Silent as the Grave combined factual information on the early movie industry in New York with a mystery, and this worked very well. Fresh off reading the non-ficton book Daughter of Daring, a book about one of the first stuntwomen in Hollywood, I was thrilled to read more about the early movie days, this time on the opposite side of the US. There was a lot of discussion on women’s roles in the industry as well as themes involving money, technology, theft, secrecy, loyalty, and friendship.

Being the 21st book in the series, character development for Molly is not necessarily needed, but I did enjoy reading about her struggles with a daughter who is a bit difficult and demanding. When I say I enjoyed it, I mean I completely sympathized with her as I have a daughter who was like that as an infant so I completely understood when she was frazzled. What I particularly enjoyed was the development of her adopted daughter Bridie as she is now 14 years old and starting to really come into her own.  I love how she changes her mind about things every two minutes as this really reflects the young girl she is, trying to act grown-up one  minute, but behaving immaturely the next. I also loved the inclusion of historical figures Mary Pickford at the beginning of her career and Thomas Edison, who was known to be quite difficult to work with and was one of the reasons why so many directors left NY for Hollywood.

The plot includes a lot of information about the early days of the film industry, something that I enjoyed tremendously, but I did find the overall mystery to be somewhat predictable even if I enjoyed it. The themes of friendship, loyalty, family, and trust as well as the beginnings of a monopoly on a fledgling movie industry added depth to the story. However, the overall pacing to the story was still somewhat slow and did get bogged down in details at times, sometimes to the point where I wondered where the author was going with the information.  

Verdict

Silent as the Grave was an interesting and entertaining entry into this long-running series. While the pacing was a bit slower than usual, the early days of the movie industry and its stars was something a bit different than the usual story and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  There were lots of twists and turns, although if you are familiar with the books you may be able to pick them out, but the author has this way of making scenes emotional so you don’t really care if you figured things out. And while this is a long-running series, you could jump into this book and understand what is happening without having read the previous books.

 

Review: Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson

Rebellious Grace (A King's Fool Mystery, #3)

by Jeri Westerson

Release Date: January 7, 2025

2025 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 224 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448314751

ASIN: B0D9M93LWY

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3. 75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

1536, London. The gruesome murder of a servant in the king's palace, his throat savagely cut, has brought fear to the court of Henry VIII. When the man's body is then dug up from the churchyard and disembowelled two weeks later, Will Somers, the king's jester, is horrified. What terrible mischief is now afoot under the king's roof?

With Henry VIII distracted by The Pilgrimage of Grace, the religious revolt led by Robert Aske in protest at the king turning his back on the Catholic faith, Will becomes reluctant inquisitor once again. As he attempts to unmask a murderous knave, Will uncovers a chilling link between one of Queen Jane Seymour's precious jewels, the rebellion and the dead man. Is a shocking act of treachery behind a grotesque killing?

 

My Thoughts 

Rebellious Grace is the third entry in A King's Fool Mystery series, a mystery series that revolves around the little-known life of the king's fool, Will Somers.  I enjoy how the author fleshes out the character to fit into King Henry VIII's world, and as someone who had entry into the king's personal chambers, gives the reader insight into how the world worked during this tumultuous time period. 

 

Will himself is an interesting character and I enjoy the precariousness of his position as he balances keeping the court entertained with the seriousness of some of his jests, jests thrown to enlighten people as to what is actually happening and to give warnings. The relationship between Will and another member of the court ramps up, and Will struggles between being faithful to his wife and his longings and desires.  I liked the high emphasis on the relationship between Will and his wife, and the difficulties they have trying to navigate court life as well as their personal relationship. Because I am so familiar with the time period, I had no problem distinguishing between real historical figures and imagined ones, and I like how the author incorporates what is known about their lives into the story. It does make for fascinating reading and I was impressed with the historical detail and amount of research that is included in such a short book.

 

The plot itself focused on the Pilgrimage of Grace, led by Robert Aske, an event that took place over Christmas 1536, in the aftermath of Anne Boleyn's execution. With the intention of reconciling the Catholic Church, the members are convinced they are acting in both the king's and God's interests, but King Henry struggles with what to do as to question the Church is to question him.  And while the events of the Pilgrimage played more of a background role, it did have a profound effect on the mystery and who was involved in the actual murder Will was investigating.  Because this was set during the Christmas season, this allowed the author to portray the characters within many festive moments and includes a lot of great descriptions of what court life was like during this time period.  Will's task to solve the murder was made especially difficult as there were so many additional people at court. But he was one of the few people who could enter pretty much any room in the palace, and investigate quietly, putting himself at risk.

 

Verdict

Rebellious Grace had a believable mystery at its core, reflecting the trauma the execution of Anne Boleyn had on the court as well as the Pilgrimage of Grace. Because of these events, members of the court were trying to figure out the new shift in power and new alliances so I really enjoyed the underlying tension that lay beneath the entire book.  The character of Will Somers gives the reader a perspective that is quite fascinating; one as an observer who attends all the events, but will never be allowed to participate, and the other, as an outsider who sees all and knows quite a bit. And although the mystery never plays the central role in the story, it does rear its ugly head through Will's investigations as well as through his relationships with others in the court. 

 

Review: The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson

The Twilight Queen (King's Fool Mystery, Book #2)

by Jeri Westerson

Release Date: January 2, 2024

2024 Severn House

Hardcover Edition; 224 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448310906

ASIN: B0CBBXMTNK

Audiobook: B0D1D1RFKN

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Tudor / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Greenwich, Palace of Placentia, April 1536. Queen Anne is in peril. In the mid of night, court jester Will Somers is summoned to an urgent assignation when she discovers a body in her chamber. The queen wants Will to find out who the man is and how he ended up there. 

Anne has many enemies at court, and to make matters worse, Henry VIII is lining up his next conquest and suspects her of treason. Has the formidable Oliver Cromwell been whispering vile lies in the king's ears, and could Anne be the target of a Catholic conspiracy? As further attacks plague the court, Will is determined to uncover the truth behind the plotting and devilry, but he will need to keep hold of all his wits to do so!

 

My Thoughts

The Twilight Queen is the second book in the King's Fool Mystery series, and I really enjoy this series as it features a prominent person at court about whom we actually know little so the author can take liberties within the historical context. I thought the mystery was clever, but did feel like the ending was rushed; I would have liked to have read more about the fallout that happened afterwards.

 

I really enjoyed Will Somers as a main character as he is complex with many layers, but is absolutely loyal to King and throne. Manoeuvring the complexities of King Henry's court would have been very difficult during this period and I appreciated reading about the relationships of the various characters, most of whom are people who actually lived during this time period. Will himself struggles with his sexuality and while I have seen comments that suggest his wife would not have condoned this during this time period, if you have a history background you know the opposite is actually true as a wife would not have said much about her husband's proclivities considering women didn't have too many rights. The exploration of Henry's The Buggery Act of 1933 was just another facet of this novel and how men needed to be very careful when dealing with the king and his advisors. The struggles Will and his wife faced were raw and honest and I really enjoyed the scenes in which they were together.  

The plot moved along rather quickly, but the mystery was often shuffled to the background when something else occurred. That was fine, but suddenly Will would start doing his investigation again and I did find the shift somewhat jarring as I had to remind myself I was reading a mystery novel and not simply a historical fiction one.  There were a lot of great ideas in this novel, and I have always enjoyed this author's writing style, but I did think they were somewhat rushed.  

Verdict

The Twilight Queen was an entertaining, interesting book focusing on King Henry's fool as a main character.  Will Somers is very much unconventional, in an unconventional relationship, and has an unconventional relationship with the king, something which allowed the author to give a different perspective to what is happening at court.  I definitely appreciated the research that went into this, but did feel the overall mystery was a bit flat.

 

Review: Murder's Snare by Paul Doherty

Murder's Snare (A brother Athelstan Mystery, Book #23)

by Paul Doherty

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 224 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448313105

ASIN: B0D6YYBCHD

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

Normandy, 1358: The Free Company of the 'Via Crucis - the Way of the Cross' sweeps into the peaceful village of Avranches, like the riders from the Apocalypse, leaving nothing but death and hellish destruction in their wake.

London, 1382: Brother Athelstan is summoned to unpick the ugly truth behind a number of killings afflicting the great city. Some carried out like clean, efficient assassinations, all bearing the message 'Justitia Fiat - let there be justice', others inflicting torture and humiliation upon the bodies. But the victims all have one thing in common - they were all once members of Via Crucis.

With every new gruesome discovery, Brother Athelstan, with the help of Coroner Cranston, uncovers more clues which make up a most complicated riddle - but can he put together the last piece before the fate of the whole country is decided?

 

My Thoughts

Murder's Snare is the next book in the long-running Brother Athelstan mystery series and I impressed with the way the author can still come up with a mesmerizing mystery that really embodies the time period.  This is actually a multi-layered story with several solutions to different plots all leading to the main plot at the end of the book, but in which all the plots are interconnected.  Just when you think you have things figured out, the author throws in some twists and turns that make you question your thinking. And even though I did figure out who the culprit was pretty early on, there were times I was questioning my main choice although I did not quite figure out some of the secondary plots. 

Brother Athelstan is the priest of St. Erconwald's, a church located in the more salubrious section of London, and his constituents tend to largely flirt with the law. Brother Athelstan is quite aware of the activities of his flock, but manages to reign in their activities as much as possible and the humour that is exhibited through these tales is quite interesting and the author manages to describe quite a bit of life during this time period through these characters.  Athelstan also works for coroner Sir John Cranston, so when there is a crime to investigate, he is often caught up in those circumstances as well. Because this the twenty-third book of this series, I don't think there is a lot of character development for these characters, so a lot of the attention was on the secondary characters which suited me just fine.  

For a shorter book, the mystery itself was actually quite complex and rather interesting. I had just finished a non-fiction book about this time period, so it was fascinating to follow that book with this one and immerse myself in the time period through the eyes of the characters. To say ti was a brutal time period doesn't go far enough, but there was also warmth and loyalty as well. All the plot threads do interconnect so you have to pay attention to everything that is discussed, and there is even some deeper political intrigue happening below the actual murder mysteries, something I was expecting to happen at some point considering the political climate of the time period.  There is a wide array of characters and the author doesn't waste time reacquainting readers with familiar ones, so I was glad I had read all the previous books in the series.  I did find the mystery itself quite fascinating as I love it when there are consequences for actions that happen in one's past that impact one's present and you can't just brush it off with 'it was war'. 

Verdict

Murder's Snare was a fairly fast-moving mystery that had layers upon layers of mysteries within it.  Part of this could be frustrating, but in a good way, as you had no idea which thread the main characters were following or solving, and the author was great at including twists and turns that made you keep guessing. I loved the descriptions of the time period and often felt like I was walking beside Brother Athelstan as he was walking down the streets and seeing what he was seeing, reminding me of how comfortable we are in this modern world.  I highly recommend this series if you love historical mysteries and want to immerse yourself in world full of strife and political intrigue.

 

Review: A Snake in the Barley by Candace Robb

A Snake in the Barley (Owen Archer, Book #15)

by Candace Robb

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 325 Pages

ISBN: 978-9448315758

ASIN: B0D6YZ1417

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

York, 1377. Owen Archer is determined to find his friend, taverner Tom Merchet, who has been missing for five days. His wife, Bess, is frantic with worry.

Who is the elusive Widow Cobb that Tom was seen visiting? And who is the man spotted following Tom before he vanished? As Owen hunts for clues, Bess decides to visit the widow’s lodgings and makes a terrifying discovery.

Owen digs up past sins and long-buried secrets that answer some of the questions surrounding Tom’s disappearance. But who is the sly and malevolent figure intent on destroying his friend, and why? A shocking confession will rock Owen to his core . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Snake in the Barley is the next entry in the long-running Owen Archer mystery series, and honestly, I don't know how this author manages to come up with engaging mysteries book after book.  This instalment features Tom and Bess from the York tavern, and I was thrilled to get to know them better and have them feature in their very own mystery. 

 

Being book fifteen in this series, it is hard to keep developing Owen and his family as we have gotten to know them pretty well, so I was glad the focus was on developing the characters around Owen. Although Tom and Bess feature in older books, we don't really know a lot about them so it was nice to have their characters in the foreground and learn more about their history.  I thought the author did a great job weaving the past into the present and how that eventually has consequences if you haven't dealt with major things from your past.  Although the concept of PTSD and other mental illnesses did not really exist during this period, the author managed to include that in that book but from the perspective of the time period which we know doesn't really go well for those who suffer.  

The descriptions of the time period are well done, and I like how the author does not romanticize the past. I personally would not want to live during this time period as it was pretty rough and disease ran rampant through people's lives.  Although it was sad to read about those downtrodden people, it was the reality.  In fact, I think it was probably worse than even the descriptions showed in this book.  Hunger, cold, homelessness, starvation, disease, etc.. all all realities of this time, much worse than in today's world. Although it can be bleak however, the author shows a nice balance of what life is like for those who work hard and are comfortable, and the reliance on each other in order to survive.  

Verdict

A Snake in the Barley has a mystery that was quite fascinating and although it was quite a complex case, with a lot of people involved, I was captivated by the concept of how you can't really run away from your past actions.  It can be hard to keep track of all the players, especially if you are not familiar with the books, and there were quite a few secondary themes running through the story.  However, the author managed to pull them all together in the end in a satisfactory way.  This was definitely another entertaining entry to the series, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

 

Review: A Divine Fury by D.V. Bishop

A Divine Fury (Cesare Aldo, Book #4)

by D.V. Bishop

Release Date: September 17, 2024

2024 MacMillan

Ebook ARC: 400 Pages

ISBN: 978-1529096538

ASIN: B0CKXN9W6S

Audiobook: B0CLZ16B72

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

Cesare Aldo was once an officer for the city’s most feared criminal court. Following a period of exile, he is back – but demoted to night patrol, when only the drunk and the dangerous roam the streets.

Chasing a suspect in the rain, Aldo discovers a horrifying scene beneath Michelangelo’s statue of David. Lifeless eyes gaze from the face of a man whose body has been posed as if crucified. It’s clear the killer had religious motives.

When more bodies appear, Aldo believes an unholy murderer is stalking the citizens of Florence. Watching. Hunting. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike again . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Divine Fury is the fourth book in the Cesare Aldo series, and is fast becoming one of my new favourite historical mysteries. The mystery is complex and well-plotted, the descriptions of the time period are detailed and rich, and the character development is top notch. Every book adds a new layer to the complex political system of the 16th century and all the rivalries and intrigues that existed during that time period. This is Florence, just a couple of years after Catherine de Medici left for France to begin her reign, so the aftermath of those political struggles were still affecting Florence.

This one was great at demonstrating the subtle political struggles between the church and state. Cosimo de Medici is firmly establishing his rule, with Aldo caught in the crosshairs of these struggles, finally doing what he is so great at doing, unlocking puzzles. I loved the fine line Aldo had to take while investigating, first to keep himself safe from harm, but most importantly, protecting his comrades from any fallout that might occur. The subtle intrigues going on were fascinating although I couldn’t imagine living my life at the whims of someone else all the time.

Both the character development and the plot were great, and although I did figure out the culprit, it certainly didn’t detract from the tension or the struggles. And there were definitely some surprises along the way. I still think the relationship between Aldo and Strocci remains a highlight of this series, a friendship that is full of struggle, and frustrations, as they navigate the difficult demands of the Otto.  There was also an intriguing subplot in this book that I loved, one that will continue in future books so I don’t want to give anything away, but made me excited for the direction in which future books will go.

Verdict
A Divine Fury was not the strongest book of the series, but still had great character development and I felt the plot was being developed to set up future books for some major changes in Aldo’s fate.  This meant that the plot was somewhat more predictable than usual and I didn’t quite believe in the culprit’s motivations for doing what they did. There was also less tension than usual.  However, the descriptions of the time period were still rich and detailed, and I was happy to submerge myself in Aldo’s world yet again.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book and seeing what happens as Aldo’s path changes yet again.

 

 

Review: Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time, Book #3)

by Kelley Armstrong

Release Date: May 7, 2024

2024 Minotaur Books

Ebook ARC & Audiobook; 337 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250321282

ASIN: B0CG4KDR8C

Audiobook: B0CKM3PQYC

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Victorian Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true friends―and feelings―in this century.

So, understanding the Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern body.

 

My Thoughts

Disturbing the Dead is the third book in this historical mystery series that has a unique twist as the main character is from the modern time, but inhabits a body from the 19th century. Unfortunately, the person in whose body she inhabits didn't always make wise choices, so not everyone is convinced that a knock on the head is the reason for her sudden personality shift or her sudden newfound knowledge. I find this aspect of the novel quite fascinating; how do you inhabit a body from 150 years ago without revealing who you are and what you know? And blend all this in with an interesting murder mystery, and I was hooked from the beginning. However, there were still some things that made me roll my eyes, more than once.

 

Mallory continues to be an intriguing character and I love her daily struggles trying to reign in her knowledge of the future so she doesn't affect the timeline in any way or shape when things were discovered and by whom.  I personally think this would be the greatest obstacle for me as the knowledge comes so naturally that we often say things or do things without realizing we are doing them, and these actions would be so strange to people during this time period.  Having found her place within the household, she now struggles with who to let into her small circle of people who have knowledge of what happened to her. As the circle grows, I am becoming a lot more intrigued with the other characters who surround Mallory as more secrets are revealed. And I just love the housekeeper!! I won't say anything more about her as I can't without revealing any information, but I definitely didn't pick up on that thread at all. 

The plot moves at a consistent pace, spending equal time on story and character development, something I think is important to the series.  There were plenty of twists and turns, some of which caught me off guard. Now, that being said, one of the things I loved in the previous books was the tension between Mallory and Duncan and the stress of trying to survive in Victorian England. Having to come to grips with the expectations on women, class structure, medical inadequacy, etc... put a strain on Mallory and she made a lot of mistakes and misjudgments. In this book, none of that was included and she suddenly seemed able to maneuver her way through a lot more easily which affected the overall tension and fun of the book.  And despite how awful Catriona was portrayed, I expected more from the story than what happened and was so incredibly disappointed by the ending. This sort of went against all the themes about women's rights and redemptive arcs developing in this series.  And don't even get me started on the letter/time business. Nope!!

Verdict

Disturbing the Dead was still an interesting book and I enjoyed the themes that were continuing to be developed in this book about exploitation, women's rights, social class, medicine, poverty, and policing. I do enjoy it more when Mallory struggles during this time period as any one of us modern women would not enjoy the lack of liberties that exist and have major difficulties adjusting as we were just not brought up to manipulate and deal with societal norms in a different manner. Although I think this is the weakest book of the three, there was still enough in this book to keep me invested and I will definitely be continuing the series.

 

 

Review: Ritual of Fire by D.V. Bishop

Ritual of Fire (Cesare Aldo, Book #3)

by D.V. Bishop

Release Date: May 14, 2024 (Hardcover released August 15, 2023)

2024 Pan

Paperback ARC; 432 Pages

ISBN: 978-1529096502

ASIN: B0BD4XRQDW

Audiobook: B0BPD89TNP

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

A night patrol finds a rich merchant hanged and set ablaze in the city’s main piazza. More than mere murder, this killing is intended to put the fear of God into Florence. Forty years earlier on this date, puritanical monk Girolamo Savonarola was executed the same way in the same place. Does this new killing mean Savonarola’s vengeful spirit has risen again?

Or are his fanatical disciples plotting to revive the monk’s regime of holy terror? Cesare Aldo has his suspicions but is hunting thieves and fugitives in the Tuscan countryside, leaving Constable Carlo Strocchi to investigate the ritual killing. When another important merchant is slain even more publicly than the first, those rich enough to escape the summer heat are fleeing to their country estates. But the Tuscan hills can also be dangerous places.

 

My Thoughts

Ritual of Fire is the third book in the Cesare Aldo series, and I thought the author continued to do an excellent job describing the difficulties of the time period.  Because I love historical fiction and also mysteries, it is always great when I find a series that combines the two and does it really well. Very atmospheric, with great character development, the descriptions were definitely the highlight, and while I enjoyed the mystery, I did find this one a bit more predictable than the previous installments, if still highly enjoyable.

 

Cesare Aldo and Carlo Strocchi are the two main characters at the heart of this series. In this book, theie relationship is at the breaking point (for reasons I won't disclose here), but it has caused a huge rift in their friendship and I also feel it has caused Strocchi some pain as he is now realizing there is more to the people he loves than he at first perceives. Unable to cope with his discoveries, he decides to ignore his friendship, but what he knows could be very dangerous for Aldo. Because of this, Aldo works the Tuscan countryside instead of Florence, something I thought was very well done as the mystery in this book takes place in both the countryside as well as Florence.  I really enjoyed the characters, their day-to-day struggles during the early reign of Duke Cosimo, and how they dealt with the ups and downs of living during this time period. Each character had its own unique voice and it was easy to get into their heads and feel empathy for what they were going through. 

 

The author does a great job demonstrating the political situation of the time period, including the turmoil and tension that existed when these murders started happening. I could feel the madness of the crowds, the injustice of the earlier burnings rearing their heads, and the edge of something horrible happening throughout the story. There was so much political corruption during this time period, and I thought the author did a lot of research to show the difficulties of detective work during this period as well as the way they needed to work around Duke Cosimo's faction.  Because Strocchi and Aldo were in two separate areas, the story was told in multiple POV, but this didn't detract from the story line and I waited with anticipation wondering how the dual story lines would eventually connect.  While I did find this one a bit more predictable and easier to figure out, the descriptions were so well done that it didn't matter and I pretty much read it in one sitting.

 

Verdict

Ritual of Fire is another great historical murder mystery that blends political intrigue, murder, mayhen, religious fervour, and historical figures and facts into one excellent plot.  With rich details and excellent character development, I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves historical fiction with an interesting mystery.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, A Divine Fury.

 

Review: The Puzzled Heiress by Lyndsay Consable

The Puzzled Heiress: A Pomona Moriarty Mystery

by Lyndsay Constable

Release Date: December 13, 2023

2023 Lyndsay Constable

Ebook; 263 Pages

ISBN: 979-8988182023

ASIN: B0CNV5MY57

Genre: Fiction / Historical Mystery

Source: Review copy from author

 

5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

 Pomona Moriarty, the artistic, quirky, half-American daughter of the notorious Professor James Moriarty, finds herself on the trail of clues, puzzle pieces, and artwork that taxes her mind and creativity to the limit. Her journey exposes her to danger at every turn throughout Victorian England as old confederates of her father attempt to steal her inheritance. Can Pomona utilize her knowledge of art to unravel the mystery and prevent her father’s last, most dastardly crime being committed from beyond his watery grave? With her faithful lady's maid and the distractingly fascinating Inspector Liam Lestrade to aid her through her worst scrapes, Pomona doggedly pursues each clue to complete the puzzle and prevent her father from executing his final, most vicious deed.

 

My Thoughts

The Puzzled Heiress intrigued me simply because of its ties with Professor Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes, one of my great passions as a kid.  Because I tend to read anything relating to Holmes, I was happy to have this one fall into my lap, and even better, it was a fantastic read.  Pomona was an intriguing character, I loved the puzzles woven into the story, and I enjoyed the intrigue as Pomona raced around Great Britain searching for clues, trying to evade her father's confederates.

 

Pomona was a quirky character, one who actually has a lot of independence for a woman during this time period.  After her father's death, she receives a package of puzzles, and this is where she shines as she tries to figure out the clues to the puzzles and gets into all sorts of scrapes doing so. While one could argue that she enjoys breaking the rules of the time period, I also think there is a limit as to how far she will go as she also puts in an effort to dress and behave appropriately when she has to go out into society.  It's only when she is with those with whom she feels comfortable that she abandons those restrictions and does what she pleases.  Her faithful lady's maid, Agnes, is there to hold her back from doing anything too silly in public and I liked the relationship between the two, one who wants to flaunt the rules, one who tries to hold the other back, and I think there was a nice balance woven between the two, with a healthy dose of respect from both sides.  Again however, a subtle snub at the conventions of the time as one did not really become friends with one's lady maid. 

 

Honestly, I didn't know to think of Pomona at the beginning as we have a woman trying to cry over the death of a father she barely knew, in such a comical way, that I knew I would like her immediately. The plot pretty much picked up from there and had me in its grip right until the end.  Twists and turns galore, some I figured out easily, some completely caught me off guard although the clues were there. I am not a fan of conveniences, and they were used in this story, especially in the case of Inspector Lestrade and his saving the day (and Pomona), but the writing was so engaging, I was actually able to forgive those transgressions, just this once though.  And while the ending was satisfying for this book, not all the threads were complete, so it looks like Pomona will be off on another adventure.  

 

Verdict

The Puzzled Heiress was an enjoyable first book and I had a hard time putting it down. If book 2 was out right now, I would have grabbed it immediately, but alas, I need to wait a few months until its release.  If you love stories about Holmes and Moriarty, especially ones that feature hypothetical progeny, then you will love this entry into their world.