Category Archives: Victorian Mystery Series

January 7, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Portrait of Peril by Laura Joh Rowland

Title: Portrait of Peril by Laura Joh Rowland
Victorian Mystery Series Book Five
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 325 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For fans of C. S. Harris comes Laura Joh Rowland’s fifth Victorian mystery where Sarah must confront her own ghosts–and face her most elusive and deadly adversary yet.

Victorian London is a city gripped by belief in the supernatural–but a grisly murder becomes a matter of flesh and blood for intrepid photographer Sarah Bain.

London, October 1890. Crime scene photographer Sarah Bain is overjoyed to marry her beloved Detective Sergeant Barrett–but the wedding takes a sinister turn when the body of a stabbing victim is discovered in the crypt of the church. Not every newlywed couple begins their marriage with a murder investigation, but Sarah and Barrett, along with their friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly, take the case.

The dead man is Charles Firth, whose profession is “spirit photography”– photographing the ghosts of the deceased. When Sarah develops the photographs he took in the church, she discovers one with a pale, blurred figure attacking the victim. The city’s spiritualist community believes the church is haunted and the figure is a ghost. But Sarah is a skeptic, and she and her friends soon learn that the victim had plenty of enemies in the human world–including a scientist who studies supernatural phenomena, his psychic daughter, and an heiress on a campaign to debunk spiritualism and expose fraudulent mediums.

In the tunnels beneath a demolished jail, a ghost-hunting expedition ends with a new murder, and new suspects. While Sarah searches for the truth about both crimes, she travels a dark, twisted path into her own family’s sordid history. Her long lost father is the prime suspect in a cold-case murder, and her reunion with him proves that even the most determined skeptic can be haunted by ghosts from the past.

Review:

Portrait of Peril by Laura Joh Rowland is a clever historical mystery. Although this newest release is the fifth novel in the Victorian Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone.

Photographer Sarah Bain and Detective Thomas Barrett have just finished exchanging their wedding vows when they become embroiled in another puzzling mystery.  The body of photographer Charles Firth has just been found in the crypt of the church and neither Sarah or Thomas can resist trying to find his killer. Sarah is dismayed to discover that Charles, whom she knew as photography store owner, is now a “spirit” photographer.  The case takes another turn once she meets his wife, Leonara and his book publisher Richard Trevelyan. Sarah, her friends Mick O’Reilly and  Lord Hugh Staunton look for answers within the world of spiritualists and a group lead by Jean Ritchie that tries to expose the charlatans who pose as mediums and spiritualists. When another murder occurs and someone Sarah cares for is arrested for the crime, she and Barrett are under pressure to locate the true killer.

Sarah’s marriage gets off on the wrong foot as her new mother-in-law Mildred continues to express her discontent with her son’s new wife. Thomas is caught between the two women as he tries to keep the peace but Sarah is furious and hurt when she finds out a secret he has been keeping. Throwing herself into the newest case takes her mind off her troubles as she tries to figure out who killed Charles. Could it be the man who has just developed a new machine that will hopefully detect a ghostly presence? Or is it Jean or one of her associates who has had unpleasant experiences with Charles’ wife Leonora?

In between trying to get her marriage on track and solve the latest murder, Sarah and her half-sister Sally Albert continue their efforts to clear their father Benjamin of the years’ old murder he is accused of committing. She also worries that her long time nemesis Inspector Reid will find her father and arrest him before she can find new leads that could exonerate him. Sarah knows the identity of the real killer, but she is continuing her search for evidence that will prove Benjamin’s innocence. But will the information she uncovers cause her to doubt her father’s assertion he is not the killer?

Portrait of Peril is a multi-layered mystery with well-developed characters and an intriguing storyline. Sarah continues to grow and evolve as she enters into matrimony with Thomas. Despite his worries about her safety, she has no intentions of giving up her career. Sarah’s investigation into Charles’ murder leads her down a thrilling and unexpectedly dangerous path. With plenty of twists and turns, Laura Joh Rowland brings this complex mystery to an action-packed conclusion. With an unanticipated turn of events in the final chapter, readers will be impatiently awaiting the next installment in the exciting  Victorian Mystery series.

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Filed under Crooked Lane Books, Historical, Laura Joh Rowland, Mystery, Portrait of Peril, Rated B, Review, Suspense, Victorian Mystery Series

January 5, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland

Title: The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland
A Victorian Mystery Series Book Four
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 314 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the fourth in her critically acclaimed Victorian mysteries where the case of a mutilated “Sleeping Beauty” washes ashore in London.

London, June 1890.

Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World newspaper. After solving a sensational murder, they’re under pressure to deliver another big story. On a foggy summer night, they’re called to the bank of the river Thames. The murder victim is an unidentified woman whose face has been slashed. But as Sarah takes photographs, she discovers that the woman is still alive.

The case of “Sleeping Beauty” becomes a public sensation, and three parties quickly come forward to identify her: a rich, sinister artist who claims she’s his wife; a mother and her two daughters who co-own a nursing home and claim she’s their stepdaughter/sister; and a precocious little girl who claims Sleeping Beauty is her mother. Which party is Sleeping Beauty’s rightful kin? Is someone among them her would-be killer?

Then Sleeping Beauty awakens–with a severe case of amnesia. She’s forgotten her name and everything else about herself. But she recognizes one of the people who’ve claimed her. Sarah is delighted to reunite a family and send Sleeping Beauty home–until one of the claimants is murdered. Suddenly, Sarah, her motley crew of friends, and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Barrett are on the wrong side of the law. Now they must identify the killer before they find themselves headed for the gallows.

Review:

The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland is a compelling historical mystery with an intriguing storyline. This latest addition to the Victorian Mystery series can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the previous installments as well.

Sarah Bain, Lord Hugh Stanton and Mick O’Reilly are called to the scene where a woman has been left naked alongside the Thames River. Sarah is a photographer for the Daily World and she and her friends also investigate crimes for the newspaper. Sarah feels a bit of kinship for the victim and after photographing her, she makes a stunning discovery. Although gravely injured, she is still alive.   Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the World’s owner, Sir Gerald Mariner, Sarah, Hugh and Mick work alongside her fiancé, Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett to figure out Sleeping Beauty’s identity and hopefully catch her attacker.

Sarah and Thomas appear to have worked through their issues but there is discord between them almost from the outset of the investigation. With three different people claiming Sleeping Beauty is part of their family, Sarah and Thomas put aside their differences as they continue working the case. As Sleeping Beauty settles in with the family she says she recognizes, Sarah continues searching for her missing father and Thomas turns his attention to his other cases.

An out of the blue invitation brings Sarah, Hugh and Mick to the estate where Sleeping Beauty is ensconced with her family. Despite her initial certainty about the woman’s identity, Sarah is soon harboring doubts. Little inconsistencies are troubling, but she tries to set aside her misgivings.  When someone turns up dead, the pressure is on Sarah, her friends and Thomas to learn the truth about Sleeping Beauty in order to unmask a killer. Sarah is soon in a race against time to catch the murderer since her nemesis and Barrett’s boss, Inspector Reid, would like nothing better than to arrest her for the murder.

The Woman in the Veil is an engrossing mystery with an intriguing plot and engaging cast of colorful characters. Sarah continues to be an independent, strong woman but she tries to be more careful not to alienate Thomas. Hugh is caught in a painful situation with a loved one that could lead to future heartache.   Thomas is moving up through the ranks but not everyone is happy about his promotion. The investigation surrounding Sleeping Beauty is even paced with Laura Joh Rowland keeping readers guessing right up until the novel’s exciting conclusion.  An excellent addition to the Victorian Mystery series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Crooked Lane Books, Historical, Laura Joh Rowland, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Woman in the Veil, Victorian Mystery Series

January 9, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Hangman’s Secret by Laura Joh Rowland

Title: The Hangman’s Secret by Laura Joh Rowland
Victorian Mystery Series Book Three
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland, a story about the darkness that lurks within and the deadly secrets that beg to be revealed.

Intrepid photographer Sarah Bain and her motley crew of friends are back to hunt criminals in the dark, seedy underbelly of Victorian London, but little do they know, the darkness may lurk closer than they first divined.

Photographer Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and sometime street urchin Mick O’Reilly are private detectives with a new gig—photographing crime scenes for London’s Daily World newspaper. The Daily World is the latest business venture of their sole client, Sir Gerald Mariner, a fabulously wealthy and powerful banker.

One cold, snowy January morning, Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are summoned to the goriest crime scene they’ve ever encountered. A pub owner named Harry Warbrick has been found hanged and decapitated amid evidence of foul play. His murder becomes a sensation because he was England’s top hangman and he’s met the same fate that he inflicted on hundreds of criminals.

Sir Gerald announces that the Daily World—meaning Sarah and her friends—will investigate and solve Harry Warbrick’s murder before the police do. The contest pits Sarah against the man she loves, Police Constable Barrett. She and her friends discover a connection between Harry Warbrick’s murder and the most notorious criminal he ever executed—Amelia Carlisle, the “Baby-Butcher,” who murdered hundreds of infants placed in her care.

Something happened at Amelia’s execution. The Official Secrets Act forbids the seven witnesses present to divulge any information about it. But Harry had a bad habit of leaking tips to the press. Sarah and her friends suspect that one of the other witnesses killed Harry to prevent him from revealing a secret related to the execution. What is the secret, and who hanged the hangman?

Review:

Set in London in 1890, The Hangman’s Secret by Laura Joh Rowland is a spellbinding historical mystery. Although this latest release is the third installment in the Victorian Mystery series it can be read as a standalone.

Photographer Sarah Bain lives and works with her friends, Lord Hugh Staunton and fourteen year old street urchin Mick O’Reilly.  They now work for London’s Daily World, which has been recently purchased by Sir Gerald Mariner.  Working as a crime scene photographer for the paper, Sarah, Hugh and Mick head to the pub where Harry Warbrick recently committed suicide by hanging himself. The scene is grisly and Sarah immediately picks up on things that point toward murder rather than suicide.  Returning to the newspaper to process her photos and report to Sir Mariner, Sarah is dismayed when her boss instructs her and reporter Malcolm Cross to solve Warbrick’s murder before the police.   Can Sarah investigate Warbrick’s murder without ruining her relationship with Police Constable Thomas Barrett? Will Sarah, Hugh and Mick solve the case before the police?

Certain findings at the scene of Warbrick’s death point Sarah in the direction of his most notorious hanging. Thanks to Sir Mariner’s connections, Sarah and Hugh head to Newgate Prison where they question the staff who had contact with murderess Amelia Carlisle.  Although they do not uncover any new evidence, Sarah remains certain Warbrick’s murder is connected to Amelia’s hanging. But will she find the information she needs to solve the case?

In addition to the their investigation, Sarah, Hugh and Mick are also juggling a few personal issues. Young Mick’s crush on actress Catherine Price adds an unexpected complication to their efforts to identify Warbrick’s killer. Hugh’s secret relationship could lead to trouble with Sir Mariner. Sarah continues to be conflicted about her relationship with Barrett.  He is ready to take their romance to the next level, but Sarah’s self-doubts and abandonment issues make her reluctant to make a commitment.  She is also still searching for her father and when she antagonizes her nemesis Inspector Reid, he utilizes the police force to carry out his revenge.

The Hangman’s Secret is a baffling mystery that is full of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well-rounded and easy to root for. The investigation into Warbrick’s death proves to be very dangerous for Sarah and Hugh as they find themselves in very precarious situations.  Laura Joh Rowland brings the novel to a thrilling and dangerous conclusion that will satisfy readers.  Another clever addition to the Victorian Mystery series that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Crooked Lane Books, Historical, Laura Joh Rowland, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Hangman's Secret, Victorian Mystery Series

January 10, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: A Mortal Likeness by Laura Joh Rowland

Title: A Mortal Likeness by Laura Joh Rowland
Victorian Mystery Series Book Two
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A photographer in 1889 London, Miss Sarah Bain runs a private detective agency with her friends, Lord Hugh Staunton and former street urchin Mick O’Reilly. Their sole credential is that they solved the Jack the Ripper case, a secret they can never tell because they did it outside the boundaries of the law. Their new big case arises when a wealthy banker, Sir Gerald Mariner, posts a handsome reward for finding his missing infant. All of London joins in the search. But Sarah has an advantage—a photograph she took during a routine surveillance job, which unexpectedly reveals a clue about the kidnapping.

After Sir Gerald hires Sarah, Hugh, and Mick to find his son, they move into his opulent mansion and discover a photograph of baby Robin. It eerily resembles postmortem photographs taken of deceased children posed to look as if they’re alive. Was the kidnapping real, or a cover-up for a murder? Is the perpetrator a stranger, or someone inside the troubled Mariner family? The case hits close to home for Sarah as it intertwines with her search for her father, who disappeared after he became the prime suspect in a murder twenty-three years ago. She finds herself on the wrong side of the law, which threatens her budding romance with Police Constable Barrett. But Sarah must uncover the truth about Robin’s kidnapping, and her own family, before her past catches up to her in A Mortal Likeness, the gripping follow-up to award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland’s The Ripper’s Shadow.

Review:

A Mortal Likeness by Laura Joh Rowland is a twisty turny historical mystery. This second installment in the Victorian Mystery series easily stands on its own, but I highly recommend book one, The Ripper’s Shadow, as well.

Photographer Sarah Bain and her close friend Lord Hugh Staunton are attempting to get their private inquiry business up and running. Their current case involves suspected adultery and while attempting to obtain photographic proof, Sarah and Hugh inadvertently stumble into the middle of a double homicide and a kidnapping case involving a baby. Sir Gerald Mariner, whose son Robin is missing, suspects the kidnapper is someone close to the family so he hires them to investigate. Will Sarah and Hugh uncover the kidnapper’s identity? Will they find Robin before harm befalls the missing boy? And what will the personal fallout be once Sarah’s Police Constable boyfriend, Thomas Barrett, discovers she has not been completely honest with him about her involvement in the case?

Upon their arrival at Sir Gerald’s estate, Hugh and Sarah must investigate a rather large pool of suspects. Robin’s mother, Lady Alexandra is keeping to herself with only her sister Tabitha Jenkins by her side. They also discover Gerald has a bit of a strained relationship with his children from his previous marriages. Oldest son Tristan is a member of the clergy and he is no longer in line to inherit his father’s vast wealth. Seventeen year old daughter Olivia is rather volatile, impetuous and angry with her father for shipping her off to boarding school. Non family members include bodyguard John Pierce who resents Hugh and Sarah’s presence and their investigation. Sarah is deeply suspicious of medium Raphael DeQuincey but just because she believes he is a charlatan does not necessarily mean he is involved in Robin’s disappearance.

Then there is the matter of baby Robin’s last photograph which was taken about six months before his disappearance. Sarah picks up on a bit of an irregularity in the picture that deeply troubles her.  She and Hugh learn some rather disquieting information from the servants that might support Sarah’s suspicions. However, this theory is just one of many they consider throughout their investigation.

A Mortal Likeness is an intriguing mystery with a very perplexing crime to solve. Sarah and Hugh are extremely close but they find themselves at odds throughout their investigation and their friendship becomes precarious as they search for the truth. Sarah is dismayed when her romance with Thomas is threatened when he discovers her involvement in Robin’s case.  Laura Joh Rowland brilliantly keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a dazzling array of stunning twists and turns.  While the current case is completely wrapped up by the novel’s end, Sarah’s discoveries about her long missing father will leave fans breathlessly awaiting the next installment in the Victorian Mystery series.

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Filed under A Mortal Likeness, Crooked Lane Books, Historical, Laura Joh Rowland, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, Vickie McDonough, Victorian Mystery Series

January 8, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Ripper’s Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland

Title: The Ripper’s Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland
Victorian Mystery Book One
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The year is 1888 and Jack the Ripper begins his reign of terror.

Miss Sarah Bain, a photographer in Whitechapel, is an independent woman with dark secrets. In the privacy of her studio, she supplements her meager income by taking illicit “boudoir photographs” of the town’s local ladies of the night. But when two of her models are found gruesomely murdered within weeks of one another, Sarah begins to suspect it’s more than mere coincidence.

Teamed with a motley crew of friends–including a street urchin, a gay aristocrat, a Jewish butcher and his wife, and a beautiful young actress–Sarah delves into the crime of the century. But just as she starts unlocking the Ripper’s secrets, she catches the attention of the local police, who believe she knows more than she’s revealing, as well as from the Ripper himself, now bent on silencing her and her friends for good.

Caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer, Sarah races through Whitechapel’s darkest alleys to find the truth…until she makes a shocking discovery that challenges everything she thought she knew about the case. Intelligent and utterly engrossing, Laura Joh Rowland’s Victorian mystery The Ripper’s Shadow will keep readers up late into the night.

Review:

The Ripper’s Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland pits an intrepid woman and her diverse group of friends against Jack the Ripper.

Upon learning another one of her racy photographs models has been murdered, photographer Sarah Bain is certain the killer is using her photos to select his victims. Quickly realizing she cannot risk telling the police about her suspicions, Sarah tries to warn the other women they are in danger. None of the “working girls” take her warnings seriously and yet another one of Sarah’s models soon falls victim to the Ripper.  With the help of street smart orphan Mick O’Reilly, Jewish couple Abraham and Rachel Lipsky, actress Catherine Price and aristocrat Hugh Staunton, Sarah is determined to keep her models safe. At the same time, Sarah is working hard to unmask the killer whilst evading the very attractive Police Constable Thomas Barrett and the rest of the police.

Having never recovered from the death of her beloved father, Sarah  is a gifted photographer who supplements her regular photography business with a select number of salacious photos of prostitutes.  With a litany of advice learned from her bitter and unhappy mother constantly running through her mind, Sarah never lets down her guard or lets any of her neighbors or customers get close to her. The first person to sneak past her defenses is Catherine Price, an upcoming and coming actress whom Sarah helped until her frosty demeanor put an end to their budding friendship.  After an inauspicious first meeting with young Mick, she cannot help but take care of the plucky lad who tugs on her heartstrings every time he stops by her studio. Following her somewhat uncomfortable first encounter with Lord Hugh Staunton, Sarah forms an unlikely friendship with the sympathetic nobleman after they confide in one another. Rounding out her list of recently met acquaintances are married couple Rachel and Abraham, whose loyalty and affection are unexpected but surprisingly welcome as Sarah and the rest of her newly formed “family” try to keep the naughty models safe from harm.

Once the police set their sights on Sarah, she has no choice but uncover the identity of the Ripper on her own.  She and Mick quickly track down the customers who purchased her racy photographs but which one of them is killer? At the same time, Sarah and the rest of her crew continue guarding the prostitutes as they go about their nightly business.  With PC Barrett and his boss turning up at somewhat inopportune moments, will Sarah be able to convince them she innocent of any wrongdoing? And can she protect herself from further heartache at the hands of the occasionally unscrupulous Barrett?

With a cast of colorful yet endearing characters, an atmospheric setting and a clever storyline, The Ripper’s Shadow is an absolutely captivating historical mystery. The characters are richly developed with relatable flaws and the descriptive prose brings the setting vibrantly to life. There is no shortage of stunning plot twists, unexpected revelations and  surprising suspects as Sarah and her friends investigate the horrifying murders. Laura Joh Rowland puts an incredibly unique spin on the unsolved Jack the Ripper murders that is guaranteed to capture the imagination of anyone who reads historical mysteries.  An outstanding mystery that is hopefully just the first novel starring amateur sleuth Sarah Cain (and the rest of her friends).

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Filed under Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Laura Joh Rowland, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, The Ripper's Shadow, Victorian Mystery Series