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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
When the body of a young woman is found on a cross in the local cemetery, Sebastian Bell begins his investigation for Scotland Yard. At the same time, a young man is killed, when he is crushed by the wheels of an omnibus, leading his sister to suspect there was more going on than what first met the eye. When she begins reading through the little notebook that he always carried with him, she is sure that he was murdered. But who is going to believe her?
Soon enough, Gemma Tate links up with Sebastian, who takes her claims seriously. But as he delves deeper into the case, he realizes there is more to it than a simple murder.
Other young girls have been attacked, and one other was killed. But why is someone preying on young girls, and what are they after?
This was a fantastic read! I absolutely LOVED it! I look forward to seeing more in this series!
Soon enough, Gemma Tate links up with Sebastian, who takes her claims seriously. But as he delves deeper into the case, he realizes there is more to it than a simple murder.
Other young girls have been attacked, and one other was killed. But why is someone preying on young girls, and what are they after?
This was a fantastic read! I absolutely LOVED it! I look forward to seeing more in this series!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm just going to say it, it is possible to have a book that is amazing and has no spice and you won't miss it.
I found myself completely immersed in this story of love and loss, grief and growth. Gemma and Sebastian have both seen their share of heartbreak and both long to find peace, what they find is a murder that Gemma's brother may have been a witness to and the only clues after his untimely and gruesome death are the scribblings in his notebook.
I will say trying to figure out the clues as scattered and scarce as they were was one of my favorite parts of this book. The other was listening to the wonderful Imogen Church, her voice is melodic and truly transported me into the story.
If you're looking for a good example of a historical mystery that is completely based on the story then this is the audiobook for you.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for providing a copy of this audio book, I have voluntarily listened to it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found myself completely immersed in this story of love and loss, grief and growth. Gemma and Sebastian have both seen their share of heartbreak and both long to find peace, what they find is a murder that Gemma's brother may have been a witness to and the only clues after his untimely and gruesome death are the scribblings in his notebook.
I will say trying to figure out the clues as scattered and scarce as they were was one of my favorite parts of this book. The other was listening to the wonderful Imogen Church, her voice is melodic and truly transported me into the story.
If you're looking for a good example of a historical mystery that is completely based on the story then this is the audiobook for you.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for providing a copy of this audio book, I have voluntarily listened to it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was ready to enter the atmospheric gloom of Victorian London with THE HIGHGATE CEMETERY MURDER by Irina Shapiro and expertly read by Imogen Church.
I was expecting a cozy mystery with a fearless heroine who saves the case.
This is quite a bit darker and grittier of a murder mystery, which did include a fearless heroine in Gemma Tate who helps police inspector Sebastian Bell in the murder of her brother. Despite his protestations, she keeps following the clues even as it connects with another very public and gruesome murder of a wealthy girl put on display in Highgate Cemetery. What they uncover begins to seem unreal, and they must keep their heads lest they become targeted.
I was pleasantly surprised by the tone that this took. I do enjoy my Scarlett and the Duke on PBS, but this story felt more seedy and sinister. In the best way!
I also will listen to just about anything Imogen Church narrates. I love how she can transform her voice to the many characters and I can easily hear the change. Plus I just think she is the coolest.
Thank you @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for sharing this ALC with me! This is out now, so if you are looking for a grittier Victorian era mystery, be sure to grab this one!
I was expecting a cozy mystery with a fearless heroine who saves the case.
This is quite a bit darker and grittier of a murder mystery, which did include a fearless heroine in Gemma Tate who helps police inspector Sebastian Bell in the murder of her brother. Despite his protestations, she keeps following the clues even as it connects with another very public and gruesome murder of a wealthy girl put on display in Highgate Cemetery. What they uncover begins to seem unreal, and they must keep their heads lest they become targeted.
I was pleasantly surprised by the tone that this took. I do enjoy my Scarlett and the Duke on PBS, but this story felt more seedy and sinister. In the best way!
I also will listen to just about anything Imogen Church narrates. I love how she can transform her voice to the many characters and I can easily hear the change. Plus I just think she is the coolest.
Thank you @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for sharing this ALC with me! This is out now, so if you are looking for a grittier Victorian era mystery, be sure to grab this one!
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I already love this series and this is only book 1! I am sucker for a good historical fiction mystery thriller with a little bit of love thrown in! I can't wait to see where life takes Sebastian and Gemma! Please write fast, I can't wait! This was my 1st book by Irina Shapiro but will not be my last!
#TheHighgateCemeteryMurder
#NetGalle
#TheHighgateCemeteryMurder
#NetGalle
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was spellbinding and kept me on my toes as the case unfolded! If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes then this is for you! The picture of the late 1860s London was so well described that it felt like I was really there! The book does start off a little slow but once Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell started to team up things really picked up.
I am looking forward to more stories about these two and how their relationship will develop.
I listened to this audiobook and Imogen Church is by far one the most talented audiobook narrators! Her performance truly made this book come to life and kept me listening to the end!
I am looking forward to more stories about these two and how their relationship will develop.
I listened to this audiobook and Imogen Church is by far one the most talented audiobook narrators! Her performance truly made this book come to life and kept me listening to the end!
Gemma Tate’s brother dies only hours after witnessing a murderer discard a body, and she’s determined the two are linked. Inspector Sebastian Bell is the man assigned the case of the Highgate Angel: the women murdered and displayed in a cemetery on All Hallows Eve. When Gemma approaches Inspector Bell about the link between her brother’s death and the body found in the cemetery, they start to work together toward a common goal: catching a murderer.
This book definitely has you putting puzzle pieces together once the investigation starts, and it came to a very satisfying conclusion. It felt like Shapiro was spoon feeding the readers a bit along the way. If a character is nervous during an interview, shifting in his seat or not making eye contact, leave it up to the audience to interpret what that means. There was a tendency for both characters, Gemma and Sebastian, to over explain every clue to make sure the reader picked up on it. This is also a book that had a lot of “gut instincts”, whether it was that a witness was telling the truth or where to look for a clue, it felt a bit much, and I would’ve liked a little bit more deduction from the detective. I usually like to end mysteries by looking back at the clues I missed, but I didn’t have with this one.
I didn’t know going into this book that there would be such explicit detail about sexual assault cases, so here is a warning to future readers incase that is something you would like to avoid.
I don’t know if I felt the connection between Gemma and Sebastian like I was supposed to, but can appreciate a slow burn and look forward to what Sharpiro has in stall for the next book.
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
This book definitely has you putting puzzle pieces together once the investigation starts, and it came to a very satisfying conclusion. It felt like Shapiro was spoon feeding the readers a bit along the way. If a character is nervous during an interview, shifting in his seat or not making eye contact, leave it up to the audience to interpret what that means. There was a tendency for both characters, Gemma and Sebastian, to over explain every clue to make sure the reader picked up on it. This is also a book that had a lot of “gut instincts”, whether it was that a witness was telling the truth or where to look for a clue, it felt a bit much, and I would’ve liked a little bit more deduction from the detective. I usually like to end mysteries by looking back at the clues I missed, but I didn’t have with this one.
I didn’t know going into this book that there would be such explicit detail about sexual assault cases, so here is a warning to future readers incase that is something you would like to avoid.
I don’t know if I felt the connection between Gemma and Sebastian like I was supposed to, but can appreciate a slow burn and look forward to what Sharpiro has in stall for the next book.
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!