Source: Publisher
Description: As Kate Hamilton and her new husband DI Tom Mallory honeymoon in Devon, a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a blood-stained dress said to belong to a Victorian lacemaker accused of murder. If genuine, the dress and its puzzling connections to a nineteenth-century Romani family who camped on Dartmoor will be the centerpiece of a new historic crimes exhibit—exactly Kate’s kind of mystery. But matters turn deadly when a shot is fired during a fundraising gala, injuring the man who donated the dress.
The injured donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cyber-security expert who lives and dresses as a Victorian gentleman, but everyone believes the real target of the attack to be another attendee—a controversial politician intent on rooting out local corruption. This belief is overturned when Gideon is found dead in a pool of blood. But then the politician receives a death threat.
Who was the real target? Who would want to kill both a man with an obsession for history and a tough-on-crime politician? When asked to assist in the investigation, Kate races to discover the truth as it becomes clear the killer isn’t going to come quietly.
Genre: Mystery
Why I Picked This Book: I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series so of course I had to pick this one up.
My Impression: In this book Tom and Kate are away from their familiar places and in Devon on their honeymoon. The days leading up to their wedding were eventful to say the least and so they plan on having a relaxing time - while investigating the origin of a dress that could be tied to a historic murder. But as they begin to investigate things quickly spiral a bit out of control with a shooting, a death, and all kinds of hidden agendas.
One of the reasons I really enjoy this series is the history that is usually entwined in the plot. I feltthat this book really leaned into the history aspect as Kate's primary investigation is into the history of several items with a focus on the dress. If you aren't interested in the history I feel like the first half especially will feel like the plot has gone into the weeds a bit. While there are several major events that happen in the first half it doesn't feel like things really get moving into the second half of the book. I enjoyed it but it might not be for everyone.
This is a interesting British mystery series with likable main characters who have a lots of interesting life experience and both bring different perspectives to the investigation. Despite a bit of a slower start I enjoyed this one from beginning to end and look forward to reading more by this author.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! This has antiques and mystery together what's not to love?
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy mysteries I very much recommend this series - especially if you enjoy a British mystery with a bit of history.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy mysteries I very much recommend this series - especially if you enjoy a British mystery with a bit of history.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
I wish I were in Devon, it's hot here and I would love to be in England :-) Great review, Katherine.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series yet, but it does sound like a good one.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of this one! Though if I were on my honeymoon, I don't think I'd want to be solving any kind of mystery. ;D
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed it, would be right in your wheelhouse. The dress part sounds really fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard of this British mystery series, but glad you are enjoying it.
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