The Body in Seven Dials

The Lady in Blue Mysteries #1

by H.L. Marsay

Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent. In 1914, the idea of a female police officer is dismissed as absurd, but to a small group of determined women, not impossible. With men departing to fight for king and country, women have new opportunities at home. Dorothy Peto and her fellow suffragettes propose forming the Women’s Police Volunteers to assist police keep order. At first, the suggestion is derided, yet the force is stretched thin. As Dorothy and her friends train and organize to help refugees fleeing the war and guide terrorized Londoners to shelter during the Zeppelin raids, the ‘ladies in blue’ gain a grudging acceptance. During one nightly bombing raid, Dorothy discovers the body of a beautiful Belgian refugee in Seven Dials. Convinced the woman was murdered before the bombs fell, Dorothy’s determined to investigate even though the battle-scarred Scotland Yard Inspector remains skeptical of her ideas and enthusiasm. As the list of suspects grows—a British aristocrat, a Belgian gangster and a wealthy German industrialist—Dorothy must outwit the killer, and even some within the WPV.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Fiction, Historical Mystery, War, Cozy Mystery

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2023

Reviews

[Merry (got new glasses and sigh...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in a new series about suffragettes and how they paused the quest for the rights of woman to vote to support England in WWI. The story is a fictional one based on Dorothy Peto and her work on the Metropolitan Police Force. I enjoyed the police procedural where new techniques were used.
Also, the knowledge specifically from a female viewpoint was helpful to solving the case made for a fun read. Several of the main characters were active in forming the first female police unit. The plot was a bit convoluted, but I enjoyed the way all the ends are tied together and look forward to the next book. Rate this one 3.75*

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fabulous start to a new series, H L Marsay has bought to life the story of Dorothy Peto who was the first female superintendent of The Metropolitan Police in 1914, it is a very informative and interesting story as we learn how the women helped the police in London at the start of World War one.

Dorothy is part of a group of suffragettes and as the men are leaving to fight in the war the police are finding they are very short staffed Dorothy and her friends come up with an idea to start a volunteer group to help the police, it takes a while before the idea is accepted and the Women’s Police Volunteers WVP are started, they are tasked with helping with the refugees arriving from Belgium and moving woman of the night on.

On a night when there is a bombing raid from a Zeppelin, Dorothy finds the body of a woman in Seven Dials, it turns out she was an actress and a refugee from Belgium and she has a young daughter, Dorothy is determined to find the answers as she is sure she has been murdered and it appears that there may be a link to another actress’s death the week before. Dorothy arrives on the door of Scotland Yard and makes herself known to Inspector Derwent and tells him of her findings, they are soon helping each other out with the investigation, will Dorothy find the answers and capture the villain?

This one was such an interesting as well as compelling read, as Dorothy uncover the clues there were so many suspects along the way, Dorothy proved she is such a great investigator and to see how woman were treated in the courts back then was terrible, but it soon became evident that the W{V was a success. Dorothy and the other ladies of the WPV were fabulous characters some quirky but so good and I did really like Inspector Derwent. I highly recommend this one and am very much looking forward to book two.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in London at the start of WWI, The Body In Seven Dials focuses on the city’s Women’s Police Volunteers, an organisation set up by members of the Women’s Freedom League to assist the male constabulary and prove that women can do the work. Central to the story and one of the leading members of the WPV is Dorothy Peto, a well-educated, no-nonsense woman driven to discover the murderer of Belgian actress Elsa Dubois. I loved Dorothy and her friend Nina, both of whom lived by the principle that it’s always better to ask forgiveness after the fact than to ask permission. While the official police investigation is led by Inspector Derwent, I loved Dorothy’s persistence in providing him with clues. Despite their best efforts, these two come up against plenty of brick walls nd red herrings, which kept me guessing to the end of the story.While I thought the pace was a bit slow at the start, it’s been an entertaining and enjoyable read.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of a cozy mystery, yet a historical fiction. And the history is as fascinating as the mystery. The characters Margaret Dawson, Mary Allen, Nina Boyle and Dorothy Peto were real pioneers of women’s rights and women in policing. As in this story they were all integral to the formation of Britain’s Women Police Volunteers (WPV) in London in 1914. This coincided with WWI, and the depletion of male police candidates as men headed off to serve their country in the armed forces.

These women convinced the senior administration of the police that as volunteers they could work with women and children who were either subject to the justice system or in providing guidance to keep them safe and out of the system.

There is a murder, or two, and a mystery, or two, and these characters continually push the limits of both the policing system and the men working within it. As they reveal their skills and value to the cause, they become more welcomed to provide assistance.

The writing is entertaining and sufficiently complex to keep you turning the pages. The characters are developed in varying degrees but again in a manner suitable to their roles in solving the mystery. The plot is adequately elaborate to be believable despite a few areas where I rolled my eyes at the character interaction. (That happens in real life too!)

The historical part of the story is brilliantly written and woven into each scene. There are wonderful descriptions of not only clothing, places, events, and politics, but of research and medical treatments of the day. Like many such novels it’s a grand opportunity to learn some little known history lessons while following these vibrant real life characters through to , in this case, solve a mystery.

All in all, this was an interesting story well worth reading. I may even try to find a few more books in this series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look back in time. Blending fact and fiction the author creates a captivating mystery that takes us on a journey to London at the beginning of the First World War. Dorothy is tenacious, brave, caring, intelligent and a wonderful protagonist. I have to admit I’m not particularly fond of Mary and her pompous, overbearing nature. Perhaps her goals are good but her means are seriously lacking. Nina is an excellent comic foil and tireless although easily distracted causist. Altogether we have a wonderfully diverse group of women working as police volunteers in wartime caught up in a murder investigation. I was simply captivated from start to finish. I definitely recommend this book for fans of mysteries, history and book lovers in general!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was a good story and I liked the historical aspect of the beginnings of women in the UK police force.

The main character, Dorothy was a bit up and down for me. She had moments where she was determined and clever and working to get a foot in with the police. But she also had moments - more than I would have liked - where she was meek and sometimes clueless and basically validated all the views of the men who were determined to believe women ill-suited for any roles beyond wife and mother.

I wanted to like Dorothy more and hope she will develop her spunk and determination in future books. I would read in the series to see where things go.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This almost reminds me of a less descriptive historical mystery than the Maisie Dobbs series. A quick, fun tale with interesting historic bits.

[Jennifer Hevern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the start of new series. I think because of that fact, the beginning moved very slow for me. But once I got through learning about, what I think will be, the main characters going forward, the mystery revealed itself and I found myself fascinated by the history of the WPV. I loved how Dorothy Peto continued to ask questions and not be deterred by the men (and women) around her continually telling her to stop. All in all a good start to this historical mystery series.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much sugar for my taste, perhaps? Also way too convoluted, but somehow it managed to charm me, and that's not a bad start, really.

(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

Set at the outbreak of WW1, this novel is inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent.

Dorothy wants to be a writer and has moved to London to live with her brother Raymond. She is active in the women's rights movement, although she doesn't ascribe to the violent protests of Mrs Pankhurst's group.

When war breaks out many men join the army, this combined with the influx of Belgian refugees, means that the police force is woefully under-resourced so Dorothy and a group of similar minded women offer to create a volunteer force to assist the police. They have no powers to arrest people but can advise refugees on where to get assistance, or encourage prostitutes to move elsewhere etc.

Then Dorothy learns that an actress starring in a West End show has died, mere hours after Dorothy herself saw her backstage. Dorothy finds it hard to believe that a young woman who seemed so happy and vivacious when she signed Dorothy's programme could have committed suicide shortly afterwards.

During a Zeppelin raid on the capital Dorothy finds a little Belgian girl apparently begging on the streets, when she takes her back to her home in Seven Dials, where they find the little girl's mother's body. The circumstances of her death bear a striking similarity to those of the actress and Dorothy is convinced that they are linked, but the police seem to be focusing on Dorothy's brother as a suspect.

I have read one of this author's contemporary romances so this was a different genre for me. While I enjoyed it, I did find some of the logic to be a bit convoluted, and surely there shouldn't what felt like five different suspects.

Overall, historically interesting, and an easy read but I'm ambivalent about reading any more in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher Tule for an honest review.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pleased to offer this review of The Body in Seven Dials, book #1 by H. L. Marsay in her series, The Lady in Blue mysteries. Our main character is Dorothy Peto, a young woman who lives with her brother Raymond in London. It is a hectic time as events in Europe are descending into World War I. Able-bodied Englishmen are enlisting and shipping out. Meanwhile, London is flooded with refugees from the mainland. Dorothy and the other women who have been struggling for equal rights find themselves in the position to assist their adversaries. They form the Women’s Volunteer Force (WVF) and offer their services to augment the local police by helping with crowd control and other non-crime issues.

Dorothy attends a theatre show and is shocked to learn that the lead actress who she met had died later that same night. The next week while on duty at a train station, Dorothy helps a small girl find her way home. They discover the girl’s mother is dead. She was also an actress and there are many similarities in the two deaths. Dorothy has the mind of a chess master. She is always thinking multiple steps ahead. She introduces herself to Inspecter Derwent, lead of both investigations for Scotland Yard. It’s an odd arrangement but he appreciates her mind and tireless effort.

They establish that both women were murdered by similar means, but who did it? Was it the wealthy German industrialist who is attempting to rebrand himself as a respected English lord. Maybe it’s the ex-crime boss and estranged husband of the second actress, and father of the young girl? Could there be another culprit? Will they solve these crimes? Will the young girl be okay? Will Dorothy and the ladies of the WVF proof their worth?

The Body in Seven Dials is a wonderful read. I appreciate the author’s obvious research and distinctive writing style so much. Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot can move aside. The remarkable Dorothy Peto is here! My Rating: 5 STARS!!!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Body in Seven Dials is the first in what is sure to be a new smashing series, The Lady in Blue Mysteries by H L Marsay. I liked this author’s last series, Secrets of Hartwell and loved the first series I read by her, Chief Inspector Shadow Series. Both were contemporary cozy mysteries. Now The Lady in Blue Mysteries are set right at the beginning of WWI. The views of women at that time as not “proper people” comes across loud and clear in this fictional series based on true suffragettes who lived during this time.

H L Marsay is an incredible writer so I knew I would enjoy this story. What I didn’t know was how much I would come to love the characters. Dorothy is the perfect intelligent character who is determined to make a difference yet seems to be able to do so without ruffling many of the male’s feathers. Her insights while serving as a Women’s Police Volunteer is outstanding in solving the investigation.

My new favorite series. I can’t remember when a cozy murder mystery was so much fun to read. I loved it.

An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, romance is typically the genre I prefer to read....but I picked up this book and was hooked! This book was inspired by Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent and a suffragette. I had never heard of Dorothy Peto before this book, and although this did have fictional components to it, I learned about what it was like to create and lead the first women's police force! Dorothy finds a body after a bomb raid, and suspects that the woman was actually murdered. She thinks there might be a connection to a murder of a popular actress, and compiles a list of subjects. I rooted for Dorothy throughout the book, and hoped she would solve the mystery before any man did. I'll admit, I did have hope that a romance might blossom between her and the detective on the case! I loved the cast of characters in this book, from Margaret and Mary/Robert/Sir to her adventurous friend, Nina, and I was actually disappointed when the book came to an end!

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Body in Seven Dials ~ The Lady in Blue Mysteries #1 By H.L.Marsay
New author to me and the first book in a new series, so, what do I think?
Firstly, I don't usually read historical books, but as this is located in central London, not far from where I live, and the characters are based on real people from back in the day, I will give it a try.
Well, I was not disappointed, I found this book to be very written well, H.L. Marsay must have completed a lot of research into the background of the characters she was writing about, to help make this book true to the facts, and I loved it.
This book follows Dorothy Peto, who was the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent. Please read the book, as my words cannot do the justice it deserves, it is a remarkable story, and I highly recommend this to all, and I look forward to the next in the series.
Thank you, H.L.Marsay for this wonderful story.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable (mostly - I found it jarring with occasional errors, such as a man being sent to Holloway, a women's prison). It's a nice idea to spotlight the women who were keen to be able to compete on equal terms with men, and especially the idea of using the background of of the First World War and the opportunities it gave those women who had been pushing for a place outside the domestic scene once conscription started, but like a lot of writers with an agenda, that agenda is too forced and too one sided. It may be that I would feel different if I were myself a woman.

Many things about The Body in Seven Dials are good - the story itself works, the portrayal of the women is very good. There are sympathetic men, too, in a story where it would be too easy to portray all the men as hidebound conservatives who cannot even understand the possibility that women could take on what would have been a man's job.

[Sam Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

H L Marsay has done it again! Created another fantastic series with great characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading as unlike the previous Shadow and Hartwell books this series is set in the past (WW1) and in London (not Yorkshire) but I loved getting to know Dorothy and the other suffragettes who at the beginning of the story are trying to convince the powers that be, that women should be allowed to join the police.
When they are finally given permission to help (as volunteers) Dorothy discovers the body of a woman during a Zeppelin air raid and is convinced her death is linked to an actress who died too. Trying to get Scotland Yard to take her seriously is an uphill struggle but eventually she and her friends track down the killer.
I loved all the historic details and the other quirky characters. Can’t wait to read book two!

[Spooky Mess Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invested in the world building from the very beginning, although I did start to wonder when the murder was going to occur… and I was a little worried that investigation would play out as rushed when the murder took place.

However, the writing is extremely well done. The world building came from a place of research, and crafting backgrounds for fictional aspect, which made for wonderful characters. Dorothy is a wonderful investigator!

The investigation is thorough, complex, and thought provoking. And our leading lady gets the credit that she deserves in a time where that kind of thing didn’t happen. No man took her shine.

I look forward to picking up the second book and reading it very soon!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new series that covers an aspect of WWI that I hadn’t been familiar with. Dorothy is a suffragette who gets involved with a volunteer group of women to help the London police as so many young men have volunteered for the army as the war began. Dorothy begins to sense a mystery as a young actress was murdered and then when she discovers the body of a Belgian immigrant woman. She has to investigate the mystery while dealing with the misogyny from the politicians, judges, and police who don’t believe that women really have any role in a man’s world. I enjoyed learning about this aspect of the homefront during the war and look forward to reading more in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

[Chris Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mysteries and historic fiction so I had been looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint!
I have read lots of WW2 books but not many set in WW1 and didn’t know anything about the Women Police Volunteers or how difficult it was for them to persuade the police and politicians to let them help when war broke out. Dorothy, the main character, and the other suffragettes are all based on real people. Each one is endearing in their own way - especially Margaret and her three dogs!
The murder mystery - or is it murders - Dorothy is investigating is well-plotted and throws up plenty of suspects.
All in all a fascinating read packed full of historical details with a fiendish mystery to solve!

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in the early 1900s was trying for women-no rights, no respect, no vote. Dorothy Peto is a suffragette in London working with a women’s rights group. The horrendous treatment of women by the police and the courts coupled with the onslaught of WW1 caused the group to develop a voluntary police group to work alongside the department. Dorothy is inquisitive, insightful and intelligent and becomes involved in helping the Scotland Yard uncover information on two murders. A very interesting historical novel.
The novel piqued my interest in WW1 England and I learned that the suffragette group in the book was an actual group working to gain women the right to vote.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1914. Suffragette Dorothy Peto & her friends are belittled & ignored when they try to gain more representation in the justice system. When war is declared & the police are short-staffed due to military enlistment, they are permitted to perform some duties as the ladies in blue or WPVs. When Dorothy discovers a body & lost child during an air raid, she investigates despite skepticism from the Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case. Fascinating fictionalized history of the beginnings of women in the Metropolitan Police.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Body in Seven Dials is the first installment of the Lady in Blue mystery series, which is a new novel expertly written by H L Marsay. This is a wonderful start to a new series, H L Marsay has become the story of Dorothy Peto who was the first female superintendent of The Metropolitan Police in 1914. The book was full of a very informative and interesting story as we learn how the women helped the police in London at the start of World War one. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Start, But the Pace Picks Up

I'll say honestly that it took me a bit to get into this book, not because I don't find suffragette and WWI history fascinating, but because I kept waiting for the mystery to really get underway. I know that the author had to set the scene, but I almost wondered if the history portion might not have been better as a prequel. Regardless, despite a slow start, the book was excellent. The history was extremely well-researched; the characters were vivid and three-dimensional, and the clues were twisty and unexpected. I will definitely be reading more in the series.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a new series and book one of @hlmarsay new series The Lady in Blue Mystery series is absolutely fantastic! I love how the history, the suffragettes and the characters bring to life the issues back in the days when women weren’t allowed to vote for one and had very little rights. Dorothy and her cohorts are so lively, brave, intelligent and passionate as they fight for their rights and freedoms as well as doing some murder mystery solving. I’m looking forward to book 2 of this series!

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had both history and mystery. I found the book very intriguing from the very first chapter. I found the book and the story line very interesting. The book told a story but it also but it also showed issue that affected woman back then. I have to say it was an incredible start to this new series and I am really looking forward to the next book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Ms Marsay’s previous books. This is book 1 in the Lady in Blue Mysteries, a new historic series set in the early 1900’s in England. The woman’s suffrage groups were just gettting started and women were a second class citizen. based on the life of Dorothy Peto, the first woman police supervisor in England’s history. A good story and a great cozy.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy reading historical fiction based on real life events. Very interesting how women have to take jobs that normally men have when men are at war. Very interesting female characters to follow along as they find their way in the job that they are accustomed to having. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable novelization featuring Dorothy Pico, whose extraordinary life involved, among many other accomplishments, helping to get women accepted into policing in the U.K. Her sparring with a curmudgeonly detective is a highlight.

[Mrs S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointing

I was hoping for more atmosphere and descriptive writing, and also a more challenging read. The writing style is simple and the story pleasant enough, but not a compelling novel for me.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed, it wasn’t what I was expecting. I found most of it unbelievable. I didn’t get a real feel of it being set during the First World War and it irritated me that although it was about real people, Dorothy Peto and friends, it was complete fiction.