Irina Shapiro

This is a gripping novel. It has a dark and atmospheric tone, with truly horrifying and despicable villains.

The story begins with a shocking early double murder in Victorian London which introduces us to Gemma Tate, a young woman who served as a nurse in the Crimean War, and Inspector Sebastian Bell, a policeman.

As more details emerge about the murdered young woman and the suffering she endured before she died it is clear that the police are hunting seriously evil and depraved individuals.

Both Sebastian and Gemma have endured personal losses, tragedy and grief. Gemma was touched by her experiences as a wartime nurse and Sebastian lost his wife and unborn child in tragic circumstances causing him to turn to opium to numb his pain.

The chance to solve a very high-profile murder and help Gemma with solving the mystery of her brother's death becomes a timely distraction and the beginning of a new friendship.

This is a fast-paced story with twists I didn't see coming and has a satisfying conclusion where justice is meted out.

Gemma and Sebastian's friendship is subtle and low-key with hints of something more towards the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops in the next book which is set to be released in June 2024.

I read this book in a day as it was such a tense and twisty thriller I couldn't put it down.… (més)

It is 1858 in London and Gemma Tate has recently returned to England from Crimea where she trained as a nurse under Florence Nightingale. When ahe learns that her twin brother has fallen under the wheels of an omnibus and has died, she is grief-stricken. The police are convinced it was a tragic accident but, after reading his notebook, she is sure he was murdered. She takes the notebook to Scotland Yard, determined to convince the detective in charge of the investigation and to offer her help.

Detective Sebastian Bell has developed an addiction to opium after a personal tragedy and is just barely holding onto his job. When he is assigned a new case of a gruesome murder in the Highgate Cemetery, he knows that, if he doesn’t solve it and quickly, he’ll be finished at the Yard. When it is discovered that the victim is the daughter of a Viscount, the odds against him grow even higher. When Gemma shows him the notebook, he realizes that the two murders are linked and that her brother has left cryptic clues to the murder’s identity if only he can figure out their meaning. Grudgingly, Sebastian accepts her offer of help and the two form an uneasy alliance to find the killer.

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in a new historical mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it is very compelling but also very dark. I was sucked into the story from the first page. Gemma and Sebastian are both interesting and likeable and I found myself caring about them.

However, it must be noted that this is definitely not a fun easy read. The author does an amazing job of showing attitudes towards women, especially nurses, in Victorian England as well as contrasting the horrors of the slums with the opulences of the upper classes. The murders are gruesome and there is a great deal of extreme violence including gang rape. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the denouement was shocking.

Overall, I found this to be a real pageturner and look forward to reading future books in this series. But I would suggest that people should be aware of how dark parts of it are and consider that before picking it up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review… (més)

Murder most foul!

A murder screams from the newspapers headlines. Not only because it’s bizarre, but it garners even more attention when the victim’s identity is revealed. A young society heiress, the Honorable Miss Adelaide Seaborne, daughter of the Viscount Dalton and granddaughter of the Earl of Caledon. Adelaide did not die easily.
Up until Inspector Sebastian Bell is put on the case the young woman’s been dismissed as a doxy, not worth police time.
Sebastian’s superior tasks him with solving the murder yesterday. He’s beginning to suspect his days with Scotland Yard might be numbered. Sebastian has been taking opium to counter a personal sorrow. Now he’s been given an unsolvable case. He’s toying with the idea of applying to the Pinkerton Agency as an investigator. A move to America is looking more and more attractive.
Gemma Tate was a nurse during Crimea. No stranger to death and more. When she receives the news that her twin brother, a journalist, was killed in an accident, crushed by an omnibus she’s bereft.
However on perusing Victor’s notebook she begins to suspect he was murdered, and that it’s related to the graveyard killing.
These two unlikely characters, Bell and Tate join forces to find the killer.
A dark mystery set in Victorian London. Atmospheric and urgent. The dénouement is shocking.
Rereading parts whilst considering my review I actually upped the stars from 4 to 5
After all who doesn’t love a tragic, occasional opium seeking hero trying to drown his memories in whatever release afforded, as he attempts to solve cases with integrity and diligence.
And by the same token, our heroine has faced unimaginable hours on the war front and given very little in the way of thanks or acknowledgment once home. Finding her brother’s killer gives her purpose.
An excellent pairing of characters. I’m looking forward to more from these two.

A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (més)

I have enjoyed reading this author’s Redmond and Haze Mysteries series, so I was happy to see another series. I do hope that a new series doesn’t mean that Redmond and Haze hasn’t ended.

Gemma Tate is a strong, resilient young woman who served in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale. The horrors she saw there did not prepare her for the news she received on November 1, 1858. Her twin brother, Victor, had fallen and was crushed beneath the wheels of an omnibus. Accident or murder? Gemma is quite sure it was murder, but will the police pay any attention to her?

Inspector Sebastian Bell is walking a very thin line at Scotland Yard and he knows the high-profile case he has just been given could very well be his last. A beautiful young woman was discovered in Highgate Cemetery – hanging on a cross with a heart hanging around her neck. Who is she? Whether a prostitute or a Lady, she is referred to as The Angel. Her death was not an easy one – and Sebastian could only wonder what sort of monster could do such things to another human. He desperately wants to solve this case – not to save his career, but because he wants justice for the victim.

I really liked Gemma and Sebastian and look forward to seeing them work together to solve future cases. Sebastian has many demons and it will be interesting to see Gemma help him cast those demons out. The antagonist in this book was one of the nastiest I’ve read and I was gleeful when they were apprehended – along with the accomplices.

If you enjoy a good mystery, this is an excellent selection and I hope you will try it.

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