4.5
-
3,557 ratings
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
Fans of Andrea Penrose, Deanna Raybourn and Miss Scarlet and the Duke will be hooked on this intricate, compelling mystery set in Victorian London.
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ISBN-10
1805081799
ISBN-13
978-1805081791
Print length
356 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Storm Publishing
Publication date
February 07, 2024
Dimensions
5.06 x 0.89 x 7.81 inches
Item weight
11.2 ounces
ASIN :
B0CP1951XC
File size :
1947 KB
Text-to-speech :
Enabled
Screen reader :
Supported
Enhanced typesetting :
Enabled
X-Ray :
Enabled
Word wise :
Enabled
Review
Readers love The Highgate Cemetery Murder…
“I was hooked, basically. The story is so extremely gripping that it’s hard to put the book down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The characters are so real and likeable. I was absolutely gobsmacked at who the killer was… I really couldn’t put the book down till the end a real page-turner. I can’t wait to get the next book in this series and will add to my must-read series.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“So good I could hardly put the book down… Once you start, you may as well forget everything else.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Grips you from the very beginning and pulls you in… If you’re a fan of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Enola Holmes, then you will love Gemma Tate’s wits and tenacity.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely in love with this book and halfway through I bought another book by this author. Now to read all things Irina Shapiro!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Spellbound!… Shapiro’s writing is sublime, transporting you to the vibrant streets of Victorian London. You'll feel like you're accompanying Gemma and Sebastian as they track down clues and uncover the truth… A must-read… Five stars!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Highly recommend this for anyone interested in historical mystery, particularly set in Victorian England, and for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Andrea Penrose, and Anna Lee Huber.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This was a fantastic read! I absolutely LOVED it! I look forward to seeing more in this series!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“So gripping and twisted I could not put it down… Both Gemma and Sebastian are quite damaged but they can rely on each other. I can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for them!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I immediately fell in love with the complexity of both characters… I honestly cannot wait to see where this series leads as I think this is a stunning beginning for both Bell and Tate.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A highly engaging plot, with a richly atmospheric, almost gothic-like setting, and compelling characters… read this in one sitting. A must-read for historical mystery fans.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Readers love Irina’s historical mysteries…
“I loved, loved, loved this story… I couldn’t put the book down… What better way to spend the day but wrapped in a warm blanket and being transported to an adventure.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I absolutely loved this! The plot twist and storyline left me reeling in the best way possible.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the Author
Although initially known for her time-travel series, Irina was always intrigued by the foggy, gaslit streets, shadowy hansom cabs, and brutal underworld synonymous with Victorian England. These images are the backdrop to her series of gripping mysteries that feature Lord Jason Redmond and Inspector Daniel Haze, a crime-solving duo as complex as the cases they investigate. Through their eyes, readers experience both the opulence of upper-crust society and the gritty reality of those less fortunate, as Redmond and Haze solve mysteries that delve deep into the historical context of the time. Irina is currently working on a new historical mystery series, the Bell and Tate Mysteries, which will introduce Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate, whose personal histories and unique talents make them the perfect, if at times reluctant, partners as they investigate grisly murders in Victorian London.
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Irina Shapiro
Irina Shapiro will be first in line if recreational time travel ever becomes a reality, but for now, she must rely on flights of imagination, traveling through time and space vicariously through her characters. Irina particularly enjoys stories set in the past, where the characters must navigate the volatile political climates of their time while still managing to live, love, and cause mischief.
Irina has always had a particular fascination with the paranormal, and explores some of these themes in her books. She believes that nothing is truly impossible; true love can transcend space and time, and live on forever.
Please visit Irina Shapiro at www.irinashapiroauthor.com to learn more about her titles and upcoming releases.
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Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5
3,557 global ratings
marcy waldenville
5
Intriguing
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
I found this book by accident. What a gem. The characters are well drawn and compelling. The plot wonderfully told. I'm a new fan of Ms. Shapiro and hurrying off to get book 2.
Amazon Customer
5
nicely detailed detective/romantic story, well-written
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
Some Victorianesque novels can be a bit simplistic and boring. Not this one. Great character development and great details. Will be reading the next one in her series.
SeaEmJay
5
Unimaginable.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
A young journalist, Victor Tate, walks to a cemetery to put flowers on his wife's grave. Once there, to his horror, he sees a beautiful young girl hanging, tied to a cross. He's shocked and hysterical but does report the crime to a constable and gives a quick description of the man he saw in the cemetery. Before he makes it to work, he is tragically killed. Was it an accident or murder? Detective Sebastian Bell is assigned the “Hanging Angel” case. Nobody really cared about the girl's extremely brutal and vicious murder until it's discovered that she's not a prostitute, as previously thought, but is the daughter of a rich and powerful man. Sebastian believes that he was assigned the case because his superintendent wants to get rid of him. Ever since the murder of his wife, he's been spiraling out of control…too much opium and alcohol. Gemma Tate has just lost her brother when he's run down in the street. She reads his last entry in his notebook that says since he found the dead woman in the cemetery, he's sure he's being followed. Gemma believes that he was murdered and she begs Sebastian to let her help. Together, they work to dig out clues that will lead to the brutal murders of the Hanging Angel and Victor Tate. They discover that in the past few years, similar crimes had previously been reported, but the victims were scoffed at and shoved aside because the women were either shop workers or prostitutes and they don't matter. All of the brutal attacks took place on All Hallows Eve and seemed to be ritualistic. Nineteenth-century England (or anywhere in the world, for that matter) is an extremely dark place and time for women. If you're born into a well-to-do family, you're sold to the highest bidder in marriage. When you're poor, life is minute-to-minute. If you have a job, it's not secure; you could be out on the streets with no one to turn to. If you don’t have a job, prostitution is a last resort. Ultimately, women are considered some man's property and have few choices in their lives. If you have no man to take care of you, society looks at you like there's something immoral about you. Yet one young prostitute, who was brutally attacked and tried to report the crime without success, was given a coin and a kind smile by a stranger who felt sorry for her. She says that she hasn't lost hope because there's still kindness in the world. Unimaginable. I love the Redmond and Haze mysteries, and I think this will quickly become a favorite, too. It takes place before Redmond and Haze meet, but some names will be familiar to those who've read that series.
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