Murder Among the Dead

Redmond and Haze Mysteries #12

by Irina Shapiro

When Charlotte Haze’s nurse, Rebecca Grainger, is discovered murdered at a disused burial ground and her young charge is nowhere to be found, Daniel and Jason must race against the clock to solve the crime in order to save the little girl.

Will their personal connection to the victim and their desperation to save Charlotte cloud their judgment and prevent them from solving the most important case of their partnership?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2023

About the author

To write a novel was a dream of mine since I was a child. Life, my practical nature, and self-doubt got in the way, so it was decades later that an opportunity to write finally presented itself. I honestly didn't think I had what it takes to write a full-length novel, but once I faced the blank screen and my fingers touched the keyboard, everything disappeared except my characters and their surroundings, and suddenly I knew that this was what I was born to do.

Since then, I've written many books and have enjoyed some positive reviews, but sometimes, when I stop to reflect, I'm still amazed that I'm living my dream.

Follow me on BookBub for discount deals and new release alerts.

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/irina...

Reviews

[Connie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I have been waiting for.

Rebecca, little Charlotte Haze's governess/caretaker, is found strangled to death, and Charlotte is missing. With Daniel in deep despair, Jason is made temporary Inspector and is assigned the case. Jason is willing to follow any lead, no matter how obscure, to solve Rebecca's murder and, ultimately, find Charlotte. He knows that if he doesn't find Daniel's child, it will be the end of Daniel. As usual, we are taken on a "tour" of posh London and poor London. The monster who kills and dismembers his victims is never brought to trial because his family is well placed and well to do. The poor are hanged or locked away in prisons that cruelly expedite the prisoner's death in order to make room for more prisoners. The poor women alone in the world who have to turn to prostitution to survive. They face disease, hunger, abuse, unwanted pregnancy, and death. When one of them dies or is murdered, society says they got what they deserved. Jason sees all of that and more when he's tracking down any possible leads in his search to find Charlotte. I started this book this morning, and I had a hard time putting it down until I finished it. This time, it gave us a chance to see what Lord Redmond can do on his own and that he's never just been "tagging along" with Inspector Haze. He might use different methods of detection sometimes than Daniel would even consider using, but he gets results. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Redmond and Haze mystery, and I will be waiting for the next book to come out.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1869. Rebecca Grainger is nurse to three year old Charlotte, daughter of Inspector Daniel Haze. But she is soon to leave and marry. But now she has been discovered murdered, and Charlotte missing. It is up to Jason Redmond to investigate.
An entertaining historical mystery. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.

[Kaaren Scanio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good

I love Irene Shapiro’sbooks but this one was not up to her usual standards. It depended on “devises” rather than good detective work to solve the crime.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

A missing child!

[ML Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invested

I love this series and have been waiting for book number 12 to come out so we could find out what happened to Daniel's daughter. I love how this author wove such a tale, brought back characters from other books who were relevant to the storyline, set up the next several books with some foreshadowing, and kept the suspense in this book until almost the end. I am so emotionally invested in these characters now. I really appreciate her gift for telling a story. I also like that she brought in Edward Marsh -who was an actual suspect for Jack the Ripper in 1880s London. I found that very interesting and it sent me on a little deep dive after I finished reading. I look forward to the next book in this series, and I also started one of her other series - starting with The Hanging Tree - and it is also excellent. So glad that I found this author!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn't my favorite. It was slow without much happening except at the beginning and the end, the middle being a slog. Rebecca, Daniel's nanny, is found dead after she told him that she was leaving to marry another man. For a period of time, it seemed that Daniel and Rebecca were becoming close, but that all ended once Daniel was injured in a case from a couple of books back. As if her death wasn't bad enough, she was out with Charlotte at the time and the little girl is now missing. Jason is appointed to lead the investigation in Daniel's place and this is where the book slows to a crawl. They investigate Rebecca's background and learn that she lied to Daniel when she applied for the job. She had to hide the fact that her father was a criminal who died violently, as did her former fiancé. It was only after her fiancé was arrested and drown when his ship heading to Australia sank that Rebecca returned to her estranged grandfather's home. And even then it was only so that she could abort her lover's baby. The current fiancé, a former associate of her father's was a suspect for a time but then he ended up murdered too. They are at a dead end until Jason consults a medium who they met a few books ago who gave him a clue as to the truth. Rebecca's old fiancé had a twin brother who she took up with after her fiancé's arrest and it was his baby that she aborted. He saw her out with Charlotte and assumed that Charlotte was his daughter so he killed Rebecca when she refused to go with him and kidnapped Charlotte. Charlotte was found unharmed and returned to Daniel. It was a fine solution but it took too long to get there. In other news, Micha is back home on break and the medium says that his sister, Mary, and her son, Liam, are in trouble. At the end of the book Jason learns that they were on a ship bound for London and it seems that the next book might involve finding them.

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and secrets

I loved this installment of the historical whodunit series staring Captain Jason Redmond and Inspector Daniel Haze. This one got closer to home and felt much more tense and emotional than the previous books. Like the other books in the series, it had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, surprising plot twists, and suspense. I was equally desperate to read it all at once to solve the mystery and also to savor it and make it last. Jason and Daniel are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Captain Jason Redmond is an American surgeon who inherited his British grandfather’s estate and title. He is living with his wife and infant daughter in London while he teaches, volunteers at the hospital and performs autopsies for the police. Daniel Haze is a detective inspector for Scotland Yard. He is widowed and lives with his young daughter. They are good friends and their different approaches often complement each other while solving cases together. Jason is put in charge of the investigation when Daniel’s governess, Rebecca, is found strangled and his daughter, Charlotte, is missing. The investigation into the death and the search for Charlotte leads Daniel and Jason to unlikely places, dead ends, plot twists, secrets, and surprising revelations. As always, there are smaller side personal story arcs and social commentary which enrich the main plot line and give the characters greater dimension. I am so happy there are many more books to read in this series.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This one had several emotional rollercoasters in it! I was not a fan at all of one scene that spoke of other influence from beyond the grace for an answer but I digress!
Inspector Haze is told Rebecca who was his daughter Charlotte’s nanny was brutally murdered and his beloved daughter is missing!
He only recently learned that Rebecca was marrying another and leaving for Argentina!
He is in no shape mentally or emotionally to fully assist in the investigation!
He is told to take leave and Lord Jason Redmond is giving a temporary warrant card and is in charge!
This is a senseless murder with no definitive answers except no one really knew Rebecca!
She was nothing like the person Daniel thought he had fallen in love with!
When another person is murdered and their genitals removed it seems less and less they will be able to find Charlotte alive!
There is also an escaped murder from an insane asylum! Can these cases be related but how?
When Jason calls upon a spirit medium I was appalled and really not sure if this case was solvable!
This seance (junk) to me was a really weak link and made more questions than answers!
Time is running out! Can they find Charlotte alive and solve the murders!? Read on…

[Mullen Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series I really did not liked. First of all, Daniels wife in the past trying to poison the killer of their son, then she kills herself, and now in this story, his nanny for their daughter gets killed and the child kidnaped. That was already to much for my taste.
But Jason asking for a seance to find the killer made this story completely ridiculous, that was the frosting on the cake. Absolute fail. Not to mention that the first thing I knew is that the killer must be the ex lover of her that " died " or someone close to him.
This story was an absolute fail for me. If I would have known, I would have skipped this book.
I mean it is normal, in a series , one book might be better than the other. But this one was a waste of time and money for me. I did not enjoyed any of it.
If it would not be in a series and I would have not known the backstory I would have given it a 3.5. But that seance stuff was just no good. If that is what you need to find a killer ,. asking ghosts... no thanks you.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I basically gave this one 5 stars because it was an emotional roller-coaster. Daniel's daughter goes missing while out with her nanny Rebecca. Rebecca is found murdered and laid out upon a grave in the church cemetery and there is no sign of baby Charlotte. Jason is made lead investigator because Daniel is an emotional wreck. As each day goes by, the chances of Charlotte being found alive grows slimmer. As the investigation progresses, it is clear that Rebecca had secrets. There are other sub-plots in the background that render more dead bodies, but no clues as to baby Charlotte's whereabouts. This was a twisting, and thrilling read for me.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I have enjoyed this series, I am sorry to report that Irina Shapiro has delved into the supernatural introducing the idea that spirits appear at seances and dreams may be real. I am going to continue to read the next in the series to see if she continues the series in this manner. To me this turn indicates that the author has run out of ideas, but, unfortunately, it undermines the man character in the series, Dr. Redman, who has always been a logical person, an unbeliever in fantasy or supernatural. I found this book to be disappointing and unlike the 11 books in the series that I have read.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all 12 current books in this series, usually rewarding 3 stars but this is 2.5 stars rather than 3 as a means to tell myself not to pick up another book in this series. There were a number of things I disliked. The general plot was ok with regard to the challenge of finding Daniel's daughter who was taken. I don't want to spoil the plot for others who may find it interesting, but be warned. A boatload of unpleasantness and extremes in plotting.

Kindle Unlimited

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all the books in the Redmond and Haze series, and they always entertain. Both Jason and Daniel are interesting characters who play well off each other. Their contrasting personalities and backgrounds make for interesting plots.

When Rebecca, governess to little Charlotte Haze, is found murdered and young Charlotte missing, Daniel is devastated. Officially removed from the investigation, Daniel works with Jason to find Charlotte.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Well, it looks like Daniel didn't do much of a background check on his daughter's nurse Rebecca when he hired her! Not a good look for a police inspector. And he discovered what a complicated history she had only after her death.

The disappearance of his daughter Charlotte gave this instalment a sense of urgency not found in the other books. This is one that kept me on the edge until the very end.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Daniel Haze is shocked to learn his daughter's nursemaid, Rebecca, has been found murdered in an abandoned graveyard. His three-year-old daughter, Charlotte, is nowhere to be found, and he finds himself spinning into anxiety and terror. Lord Jason Redmond leads the investigation, which runs into a dead end time after time. Every connection must be examined, no matter how far-fetched, as time runs out to find Charlotte alive and save Daniel's sanity.

[Philip R Feltham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latest Redmond and Haze

I love thus series, and this installment was the best! They just keep getting better and better. I could hardly put it down! Anyone who likes historic mysteries should read this series . I have already preordered the next book, and can hardly wait for it to arrive!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avid Reader

I had no idea that Daniel's nurse maid for his daughter Charlotte had such an interesting life. Her father was a fence, and she fell in love with a fence, but refused to marry a decent man. She was killed by a surprise suspect who thought Charlotte was his daughter. How Jason figured it out was amazing!

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Daniel has been put through a lot in the last couple of books but the continuing drama and growth (or not growth) of the characters add a lot to my enjoyment of these books. There is depth to these characters and the reader can see how the attitudes of the times impact the mindset of these characters. Oh, and the mysteries are good too.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

These period mysteries are always well plotted, often with a twist or two. The real draw is the friendship between an English police inspector and an American doctor. Deep and respectful as brothers but without the sibling rivalry. The quirk of this series is to start the next mystery at the end of each book, even if it’s not been written yet.

[Angie Winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does the author have something against Haze? Why is it only he that suffers all the heartaches? I suffer alongside him but I cannot deny that Irina Shapiro can really weave an excellent story! I hope Redmond & Haze continue their adventures for years to come! I love the overarching character stories and development as well as the mystery plots. This book series is pure genius and I am obsessed!

[Bryngel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What long, laborious work this unfortunately was (or else known as a slog of a book). I am very fast getting tired of Shapiro's stories and miss the good earlier ones. I cannot give up on her though, she might get back to her old writing self and I can't miss that, so I'll keep on for yet a while longer.


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

[Margaret Ridings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery

Mystery to the very end. Always enjoy the Shapiro novels. Always anxiously await the next installment of Redmond and Haze especially. Plots well developed and historical details interesting to me. Thoroughly enjoy well written historical fiction.

[Cherylbestlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series…

I love this series! The bond friendship between Redmond and Haze grows stronger with each installment. This was one of the better mysteries in the series. I felt for Daniel. I look forward to finding out more about Mary and Liam.

[Leanne Pazik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more than 5 stars

Oh this book was sooooo good!! I did not want it to end, I cannot wait for number 13. This author has you on pins and needles from the first page to the last!!!

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this

I have read all of the REDMOND AND HAZE series. The characters grow with each passing book.

The mysteries are very good and the characters interesting.

Don't want to give too much away, just start at the beginning.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating how much information is determined from a corpse in this long ago era. Redmond and Haze make a good team. Do wish Daniel could catch a break in his personal life but the plots and complications keep us reading.

[Shellye Dade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Series

If you like Victorian old mysteries, this is the series for you. So far, I've been able to figure out the motive of murder and the possible murderer. I still misidentified the actual murderer. Will try again in the next book.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story

Oh my gosh, this author is so good. Love the characters and the story line is so well crafted. I feel like this author begins the story lines up the players and the story writes itself. Wonderful storycrafter.

[Nancy E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irina Shapiro never disappoints! This installment of the Redmond and Haze series is no exception. The characters are so well written that I really care about them. The mysteries are intriguing with twists that surprise the reader. I highly recommend it.

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional story

Jason heads up a murder case that hits very close to home. Daniel is in no fix state to help and Jason must turn to an old acquaintance for help. An edge of your seat reading experience.