Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide
4.25/5⭐️
I enjoyed this mystery series starter.
Set in Victorian London, Gemma Tate, who lives with her journalist brother (her only living relative) is a nurse working for the son of an invalid woman that she takes care of. When her brother is killed in a horrific accident she begins to wonder if it was a more sinister act when she reads a cryptic message from his notebook.
Meanwhile Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is busy trying to save his job by solving the vicious rape and murder of a young heiress who was left “crucified” on a cemetery tombstone with a mysterious heart hung around her neck.
When Gemma shares her clue, the two warily work toward the same end as they come to believe the two deaths are connected.
NOTE: This story is disturbing, and its villain(s) are very dark, so reader beware.
I liked the dynamic between Tate and Bell and thought they worked well together, and I am happily adding this to my ever-growing favorite series list.
I enjoyed this mystery series starter.
Set in Victorian London, Gemma Tate, who lives with her journalist brother (her only living relative) is a nurse working for the son of an invalid woman that she takes care of. When her brother is killed in a horrific accident she begins to wonder if it was a more sinister act when she reads a cryptic message from his notebook.
Meanwhile Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is busy trying to save his job by solving the vicious rape and murder of a young heiress who was left “crucified” on a cemetery tombstone with a mysterious heart hung around her neck.
When Gemma shares her clue, the two warily work toward the same end as they come to believe the two deaths are connected.
NOTE: This story is disturbing, and its villain(s) are very dark, so reader beware.
I liked the dynamic between Tate and Bell and thought they worked well together, and I am happily adding this to my ever-growing favorite series list.
I really enjoyed this. Murder mystery + late Victorian setting + a dash of a romance subplot = a good freaking time!
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a solid mystery story with imperfect characters that I still really liked! I enjoyed the writing style, and I’m excited to continue these books to see what other adventures our MCs embark on and how their friendship grows. I appreciate the respect that Gemma & Sebastian clearly have for each other, and feel that Shapiro did a good job of showing two people in different stages of grief.
The mystery itself was quite dark and a little graphic at times but nothing a little skimming can’t solve :) I think the pacing as we receive more bits of the truth was well done. Overall, I would definitely recommend if you’re in the market for a good Victorian London murder mystery!
The mystery itself was quite dark and a little graphic at times but nothing a little skimming can’t solve :) I think the pacing as we receive more bits of the truth was well done. Overall, I would definitely recommend if you’re in the market for a good Victorian London murder mystery!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Irina Shapiro has started a ripping good series with The Highgate Cemetery Murder, featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate, a nurse and veteran of Florence Nightingale’s nursing service in the Crimean War. When Gemma’s twin brother witnesses the displaying of a body in Highgate Cemetery and is then mysteriously killed in an accident, Gemma is certain he was murdered. She turns to Inspector Bell, who is charged with investigating the murder of the young woman left draped on a cross in Highgate. Together they navigate the complex world of poverty and privilege that is mid-19th-century London. I enjoyed this book so much that I am binge reading the next books in the series. Gemma and Sebastian are fascinating characters, and I enjoy their company. This book does come very close to my gruesome factor threshold, and it is often quite dark; however, the world Shapiro is creating is compelling and realistic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Medical content, Dementia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Two grieving people work together to investigate a two murders, and the connection to All Saints' Day.
Gemma Tate, a no-nonsense young woman and nurse is notified that her beloved brother, and reporter, Victor is dead. He had been at Highgate cemetery mourning his wife, when he saw a young woman hung on a cross. Fleeing in horror, he was soon after run over by an omnibus.
Gemma, though deeply grieving, does not believe her husband died of an accident, particularly as the notes he took upon seeing the dead woman hint at his being chased from the cemetery by the possible culprit.
Though it's been three years the murder of his wife, Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell is still drowning his grief in alcohol and opium. He's told by Superintendent Lovell that he must find who killed the young woman on the cross speedily. Once Bell determines the woman's identity, the case takes on a whole different level of urgency, as the young woman is the daughter of a very wealthy gentleman. The woman's family, despite their deep upset, are eager to keep things quiet, and the family and servants are dismissive and snobbish when Sebastian questions them.
Gemma and Sebastian finally meet through the coroner, Colin Ramsay, who urges Sebastian to speak with Gemma as her brother was a possible witness in Highgate.
Though Bell tells Gemma to sit tight and wait for information from him, as Lovell would boot him from the Yard if he discovered her activities, she decides to ask questions of people who would have been overlooked or dismissed usually by the police, and actually finds useful and critical evidence leading to the awful people who killed not only the young woman at the start of the novel, but grievously harmed several others.
This book was entertaining and engaging. I appreciated how Author Irina Shapiro used a terrible crime to comment on mores of the time, such as the expectations placed on women of different classes and the discrimination they endured, the lack of concern for the terrible conditions the poor lived in, racism directed at non-whites, as well as the complete disconnect in attitude, safety and finances between the bulk of London's populace and its wealthy.
Shapiro also carefully and sensitively built the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian in such a way that it made sense that they would develop a respect for each other. Though brought together by pain, they find a way through it and I am eager to see where they go next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing this ARC in exchange for my review.
Gemma Tate, a no-nonsense young woman and nurse is notified that her beloved brother, and reporter, Victor is dead. He had been at Highgate cemetery mourning his wife, when he saw a young woman hung on a cross. Fleeing in horror, he was soon after run over by an omnibus.
Gemma, though deeply grieving, does not believe her husband died of an accident, particularly as the notes he took upon seeing the dead woman hint at his being chased from the cemetery by the possible culprit.
Though it's been three years the murder of his wife, Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell is still drowning his grief in alcohol and opium. He's told by Superintendent Lovell that he must find who killed the young woman on the cross speedily. Once Bell determines the woman's identity, the case takes on a whole different level of urgency, as the young woman is the daughter of a very wealthy gentleman. The woman's family, despite their deep upset, are eager to keep things quiet, and the family and servants are dismissive and snobbish when Sebastian questions them.
Gemma and Sebastian finally meet through the coroner, Colin Ramsay, who urges Sebastian to speak with Gemma as her brother was a possible witness in Highgate.
Though Bell tells Gemma to sit tight and wait for information from him, as Lovell would boot him from the Yard if he discovered her activities, she decides to ask questions of people who would have been overlooked or dismissed usually by the police, and actually finds useful and critical evidence leading to the awful people who killed not only the young woman at the start of the novel, but grievously harmed several others.
This book was entertaining and engaging. I appreciated how Author Irina Shapiro used a terrible crime to comment on mores of the time, such as the expectations placed on women of different classes and the discrimination they endured, the lack of concern for the terrible conditions the poor lived in, racism directed at non-whites, as well as the complete disconnect in attitude, safety and finances between the bulk of London's populace and its wealthy.
Shapiro also carefully and sensitively built the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian in such a way that it made sense that they would develop a respect for each other. Though brought together by pain, they find a way through it and I am eager to see where they go next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing this ARC in exchange for my review.
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
I'm glad I just decided to try this on audiobook. Even though it's different, it reminded me of how much I'm missing Miss Scarlet and the Duke. I can't wait for the upcoming season.