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Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery #3
An Independent Woman
Summoned to Edinburgh by the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, Tabitha and Wolf reluctantly board a train and head north.
The dowager's granddaughter Lily refuses to participate in the preparations for her first season unless Tabitha and Wolf investigate the disappearance of her friend, Peter. Initially sceptical of even the need to investigate, Tabitha and Wolf quickly realise that the idealistic Peter may have stumbled upon dark secrets. How far would someone go to cover their tracks, and is Peter even still alive?
Tabitha is drawn into Edinburgh's seedy underbelly as she and Wolf try to solve the case while attempting to keep the dowager in the dark about Peter's true identity.
The dowager's granddaughter Lily refuses to participate in the preparations for her first season unless Tabitha and Wolf investigate the disappearance of her friend, Peter. Initially sceptical of even the need to investigate, Tabitha and Wolf quickly realise that the idealistic Peter may have stumbled upon dark secrets. How far would someone go to cover their tracks, and is Peter even still alive?
Tabitha is drawn into Edinburgh's seedy underbelly as she and Wolf try to solve the case while attempting to keep the dowager in the dark about Peter's true identity.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2023
676 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 7, 2023
Stupid app closed on me after a hefty litany of complaints. I’ll keep it short. A promising premier with potentially great leads that keeps falling flat. Where are the SPARKS?? Also, if the Dowager keeps showing up in every scene I am going to murder her myself. Or murder the next character that doesn’t give her a good telling off. Lastly “historical” mystery? What the heck does that mean? Just because the novel is set I. The 1800s doesn’t automatically make it “historical.” I’m giving this Aries one more try, but if the author devolves into endless recaps, repeats verbatim character development from previous books, or doesn’t give us a single steamy kiss, then I’m out.
September 16, 2023
Friend, Foe and Fiend
I love the Dowager . She is one formidible lady. This is great story of family trying to find out what happened to a friend of a young cousin. There is little information to pursue ,but Wolf, Tabitha, and Bear take on the task of finding the missing youn man. The investigation gets all wrapped in workers rights in the Scottidh coal mines.
I love the Dowager . She is one formidible lady. This is great story of family trying to find out what happened to a friend of a young cousin. There is little information to pursue ,but Wolf, Tabitha, and Bear take on the task of finding the missing youn man. The investigation gets all wrapped in workers rights in the Scottidh coal mines.
December 9, 2023
Great read but mind the typos!
In this third installment, we see Tabitha and Wolf off to Scotland to help find a missing person. While the writing was again well done and the storyline entertaining, the typos were a bit distracting. It almost feels like we were reading a draft of the book at times. Overlooking that, the story flowed well. The dowager was more hilarious than before. Tabitha expanded her horizons and continues to blossom. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment , though hopeful the editing will be better!
In this third installment, we see Tabitha and Wolf off to Scotland to help find a missing person. While the writing was again well done and the storyline entertaining, the typos were a bit distracting. It almost feels like we were reading a draft of the book at times. Overlooking that, the story flowed well. The dowager was more hilarious than before. Tabitha expanded her horizons and continues to blossom. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment , though hopeful the editing will be better!
August 4, 2025
An Independent Woman
I enjoyed reading this book. I especially enjoyed reading about all the characters from previous books along with some new. The dowager countess certainly keeps everyone else on their toes! I found Hamish' uncle funny and liked the way he Flirted flirted with dowager.
I enjoyed reading this book. I especially enjoyed reading about all the characters from previous books along with some new. The dowager countess certainly keeps everyone else on their toes! I found Hamish' uncle funny and liked the way he Flirted flirted with dowager.
April 1, 2024
This is a great series for anyone who is equally into the mystery and the romance. So far the romance is clean and while it moves along; it is doing so at a sedate pace. I enjoy the characters, but often skip the review of previous action from earlier books in the series, although this means that readers can start anywhere in the series and understand where the story is and why. The ever expanding investigative group is getting large. I am interested to see if participants continue to be added and if so, how long before they open an agency.
September 11, 2023
ugh… the dowager!
I enjoy most of these books, but I have great difficulty with the dowager. She is so rude and obnoxious that I can hardly read these books any more. Why doesn’t someone slap the crap out of her??? Ugh. Don’t think I can read any more.
I enjoy most of these books, but I have great difficulty with the dowager. She is so rude and obnoxious that I can hardly read these books any more. Why doesn’t someone slap the crap out of her??? Ugh. Don’t think I can read any more.
September 29, 2024
BRILLIANT, ENTERTAINING, 5 STARS
Sarah F Noel has reached a high place in my personal reading world where I now have added her name to my Top Authors & possible reread list. I might like some authors and will read some stuff they write but never will re-read any of it. Sarah's characters have depth & texture which I'm sure some of you are wondering about how on that comment, & they fall on the likeable scale where yes or no, you might or just might not like them. Even when characters are on the so called good side, we can still have an overall dislike for them. Her stories are fast paced and filled on the side with minor details or one of the characters' thoughts.
In Book 3 Sarah F Noel gets 5 STARS for her entertaining storyline in the wonderful Series: Tabitha and Wolf Historical Mystery plus provides a BLURB. In my opinion this author has shown brilliance on the writing in this creative Series so far. Indeed, the Dowerger being in Scotland to tutor her granddaughter for the upcoming London Season has sent a Telegram requiring Wolf's expertise in Scotland.
So Wolf, Tabitha, & Bear leave for Scotland & find they are to look for Lily's friend who is attending the University to be a physician. He is also into Women's Suffrage Movement, The Workers Party, & reform for any & all child workers. They began & end up being followed.
It's not long they get a Telegram that the Earl of Langley (Spy for England, Home Secretary Assistant) is on his way with Tabitha's young ward, Melly & her brother, Rat, plus Dodo & of course her nurse & his servant. If you have not read any of the books, Melly(4 yrs old) is sister to Rat(10 or 11 yrs old, name Matt) their parents had died off a little over a year ago so they were street urchins in Whitechapel or the slums of London. Wolf had used the very bright boy as a runner for his messages & to follow/watch people & he changed his name to Rat so he could match with Wolf, Bear & Rat That just made sense to the little guy. He was taking good care of his younger sister Melly 4 yrs old, too. Now with the gang all here in a way they went on to try to finish up the inquiry.
Fast paced, keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. This isn't one guessed the ending by half of book.
RECOMMEND
Sarah F Noel has reached a high place in my personal reading world where I now have added her name to my Top Authors & possible reread list. I might like some authors and will read some stuff they write but never will re-read any of it. Sarah's characters have depth & texture which I'm sure some of you are wondering about how on that comment, & they fall on the likeable scale where yes or no, you might or just might not like them. Even when characters are on the so called good side, we can still have an overall dislike for them. Her stories are fast paced and filled on the side with minor details or one of the characters' thoughts.
In Book 3 Sarah F Noel gets 5 STARS for her entertaining storyline in the wonderful Series: Tabitha and Wolf Historical Mystery plus provides a BLURB. In my opinion this author has shown brilliance on the writing in this creative Series so far. Indeed, the Dowerger being in Scotland to tutor her granddaughter for the upcoming London Season has sent a Telegram requiring Wolf's expertise in Scotland.
So Wolf, Tabitha, & Bear leave for Scotland & find they are to look for Lily's friend who is attending the University to be a physician. He is also into Women's Suffrage Movement, The Workers Party, & reform for any & all child workers. They began & end up being followed.
It's not long they get a Telegram that the Earl of Langley (Spy for England, Home Secretary Assistant) is on his way with Tabitha's young ward, Melly & her brother, Rat, plus Dodo & of course her nurse & his servant. If you have not read any of the books, Melly(4 yrs old) is sister to Rat(10 or 11 yrs old, name Matt) their parents had died off a little over a year ago so they were street urchins in Whitechapel or the slums of London. Wolf had used the very bright boy as a runner for his messages & to follow/watch people & he changed his name to Rat so he could match with Wolf, Bear & Rat That just made sense to the little guy. He was taking good care of his younger sister Melly 4 yrs old, too. Now with the gang all here in a way they went on to try to finish up the inquiry.
Fast paced, keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. This isn't one guessed the ending by half of book.
RECOMMEND
July 31, 2025
2.5 stars AGAIN. Rounded down since (IMHO generously) I rounded up last time.
In other words, this book was neither better nor worse than the previous 2. We continue on with our slightly bland but not unlikable cast of characters, including Tabitha, Wolf, Bear, Rat, the Dowager Countess (DC), the Earl of Langley (still my favorite character, not gonna lie),Mary Sue Melody the ridiculously precocious 4-year-old, and various servants. This book introduces a few new characters, including:
- Jane (the DC's long-suffering milquetoast daughter)
- Lily (the DC's granddaughter, who is 18, about to be presented in society, and wants to be a botanist rather than getting married)
- Hamish (Jane's rich Scottish laird husband)
- Uncle somethingorother (forgot his name but he is a Scottish golfer and Hamish's uncle, and he keeps hitting on the DC and not being at all put off by her intense bitchery, which is amusing)
How was the book? About the same as the others: the time period seems to be mostly so we can have titled peers running around in carriages and such. Every inconvenience of the time period is glossed over unless it's useful for the story (for example, most people's inability to communicate long distances quickly). Modern detective techniques are constantly "invented" by Tabitha, such as having Bear (who turns out to be a superlative artist because why not) draw a sketch of the missing guy so they can show it to people. There's a lot of discussion about the rights of workers and poor people. Naturally, our cast (excepting the DC) are extremely egalitarian and sympathetic to the plight of the poors.
THE PLOT, FOR MY MEMORY WHEN I READ THE NEXT BOOK:
In other words, this book was neither better nor worse than the previous 2. We continue on with our slightly bland but not unlikable cast of characters, including Tabitha, Wolf, Bear, Rat, the Dowager Countess (DC), the Earl of Langley (still my favorite character, not gonna lie),
- Jane (the DC's long-suffering milquetoast daughter)
- Lily (the DC's granddaughter, who is 18, about to be presented in society, and wants to be a botanist rather than getting married)
- Hamish (Jane's rich Scottish laird husband)
- Uncle somethingorother (forgot his name but he is a Scottish golfer and Hamish's uncle, and he keeps hitting on the DC and not being at all put off by her intense bitchery, which is amusing)
How was the book? About the same as the others: the time period seems to be mostly so we can have titled peers running around in carriages and such. Every inconvenience of the time period is glossed over unless it's useful for the story (for example, most people's inability to communicate long distances quickly). Modern detective techniques are constantly "invented" by Tabitha, such as having Bear (who turns out to be a superlative artist because why not) draw a sketch of the missing guy so they can show it to people. There's a lot of discussion about the rights of workers and poor people. Naturally, our cast (excepting the DC) are extremely egalitarian and sympathetic to the plight of the poors.
THE PLOT, FOR MY MEMORY WHEN I READ THE NEXT BOOK:
April 13, 2025
The Dowager
She makes me want to scream and pull my hair out! I picture her as Dame Judi Dench as she portrayed Lady Catherine de Berg in Pride and Prejudice (2005). However, this character makes Lady de Berg look like a sweet and simpering pushover in comparison, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Her logic can be hard to follow, and she is quite irrational and overly condescending at the best of times. She bemoans the severity of her task yet demands she be 100% involved in the investigation, and becomes indignantly incensed when left out. However, the similarities between herself and Tabitha are obvious in this regard, including forcefully inveigling herself into investigations. She is becoming more and more insufferable.
She makes me want to scream and pull my hair out! I picture her as Dame Judi Dench as she portrayed Lady Catherine de Berg in Pride and Prejudice (2005). However, this character makes Lady de Berg look like a sweet and simpering pushover in comparison, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Her logic can be hard to follow, and she is quite irrational and overly condescending at the best of times. She bemoans the severity of her task yet demands she be 100% involved in the investigation, and becomes indignantly incensed when left out. However, the similarities between herself and Tabitha are obvious in this regard, including forcefully inveigling herself into investigations. She is becoming more and more insufferable.
June 6, 2025
In this episode, the Dowager Countess P, is mostly irritating. So too was Countess P - but I was imposing my Elizabethan mindset on her! (I’ve been an Elizabethan longer than a Charlie).
This story centred around domestic life in Edinburgh, which enabled more character development interest than plot points, so in my opinion, the introductory story is still the best thus far. Brighton is next, so hopefully the next outing will pick up.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. The narration is, as ever, sublime.
This story centred around domestic life in Edinburgh, which enabled more character development interest than plot points, so in my opinion, the introductory story is still the best thus far. Brighton is next, so hopefully the next outing will pick up.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. The narration is, as ever, sublime.
February 7, 2024
This is the third installment of a five book series and the stories just keep getting better. I am quite fond of the female protagonist and quite fond of her and her forbearance with her battleaxe of a mother in law. The plot is easily followed, and the premise of finding the man they were sent to find, and stopping another man from endangering so many of his employees was accomplished. I definitely recommend this book.
September 20, 2023
Fascinating
This is the third book in this series. As always the author, Sarah F. Noel has done it again! With her characters, mystery and humor has written another Wolfe Historical Mystery! I will recommend this book to family and friends. I cannot wait for the next in this series!
Read and enjoy!
This is the third book in this series. As always the author, Sarah F. Noel has done it again! With her characters, mystery and humor has written another Wolfe Historical Mystery! I will recommend this book to family and friends. I cannot wait for the next in this series!
Read and enjoy!
October 14, 2023
Tabitha, widowed Countess of Pembroke and Wolf, new inheritor of her dead husband's title, have formed an alliance and are busily solving crimes in turn of the century London. This time out they are called to Edinburgh to help Wolf's cousin's family find a missing friend. The action revolves around the Scottish Labor Party, a young cousin who wants to be a botanist instead of a debutante, a missing medical student and a host of snarky relatives.
January 5, 2024
Superb mystery
The humor within this increasingly large members of investigators is as compelling as the twists and turns of the mystery itself. The small criticism is that the author tries to summarize the complicated past stories in the current tale when a page of detail for introduction would work better.
The humor within this increasingly large members of investigators is as compelling as the twists and turns of the mystery itself. The small criticism is that the author tries to summarize the complicated past stories in the current tale when a page of detail for introduction would work better.
March 28, 2024
Mean Dowager Ruins it for Me
The dowager, mother-in-law to the widowed Tabitha, ruins it for me. I didn't finish because I got tired of skipping all the parts with her in them. I did look at the ending in hopes of seeing that the nasty old crone had died but spoiler alert, she had not. As this is a Kindle Unlimited series, I don't feel out of pocket.
The dowager, mother-in-law to the widowed Tabitha, ruins it for me. I didn't finish because I got tired of skipping all the parts with her in them. I did look at the ending in hopes of seeing that the nasty old crone had died but spoiler alert, she had not. As this is a Kindle Unlimited series, I don't feel out of pocket.
July 14, 2024
Another great read!!!
Wolf and Tabitha are great characters to learn about plus all the other cast. My only criticism is the dowager. I know there were people like her but enough already. Why can’t someone put her in her place. The rest of the story is fantastic but could do without the dowager.
Wolf and Tabitha are great characters to learn about plus all the other cast. My only criticism is the dowager. I know there were people like her but enough already. Why can’t someone put her in her place. The rest of the story is fantastic but could do without the dowager.
June 4, 2025
Spoiler alert!!!!
I had very much hoped for a last minute reprieve for Peter--perhaps the 2 villains conspiring together to make him disappear into a mine, but I know that just really wouldn't work. dangit. That said, I was glad things for Rat have started to be resolved and am frankly curious to see what Langley will get up to next.
I had very much hoped for a last minute reprieve for Peter--perhaps the 2 villains conspiring together to make him disappear into a mine, but I know that just really wouldn't work. dangit. That said, I was glad things for Rat have started to be resolved and am frankly curious to see what Langley will get up to next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
Book 3
Too much of the hateful dowager in this one. She is not funny or cute. I will read one more and if someone doesn't tell her to shut her mouth and start showing respect I will not read anymore of this series. The mystery is good, Tabitha and Wolfe are wonderful! Dowager is ruining this series for me.
Too much of the hateful dowager in this one. She is not funny or cute. I will read one more and if someone doesn't tell her to shut her mouth and start showing respect I will not read anymore of this series. The mystery is good, Tabitha and Wolfe are wonderful! Dowager is ruining this series for me.
October 20, 2023
This series continues
to entertain and surprise! With many twists and turns Sara Noel leads us, with humor and confusion, through subplots and nefarious charters to " who done it"! Applause for another intriguing Tabitha & Wolf mystery.
to entertain and surprise! With many twists and turns Sara Noel leads us, with humor and confusion, through subplots and nefarious charters to " who done it"! Applause for another intriguing Tabitha & Wolf mystery.
March 6, 2024
Great, believable plots.
This author has successfully carried out sequential plots with appealing characters full of surprises, yet sincere. Even the red herrings are hard to spot. I really enjoy this author’s works.
This author has successfully carried out sequential plots with appealing characters full of surprises, yet sincere. Even the red herrings are hard to spot. I really enjoy this author’s works.
May 9, 2024
An Investigation in Scotland/Family
On being summoned to Scotland to help in an investigation of a missing person there are all kinds of complications-day by day clues fall into place. Then unexpected guests arrive which puts everyone in a great mood.
On being summoned to Scotland to help in an investigation of a missing person there are all kinds of complications-day by day clues fall into place. Then unexpected guests arrive which puts everyone in a great mood.
November 23, 2024
The Lost Friend was
Book three was amazing and well-written. Another mystery solved with a very interesting ending. I enjoyed reading this story very much. The characters were well selected.
Book three was amazing and well-written. Another mystery solved with a very interesting ending. I enjoyed reading this story very much. The characters were well selected.
June 17, 2025
Interesting
Whilst I find the “attraction” between Tabitha and Wolf to be missing any real spark, strange when Noel draws her characters so well, the mysteries are interesting. Not a real puzzle, but interesting in how they play out.
Whilst I find the “attraction” between Tabitha and Wolf to be missing any real spark, strange when Noel draws her characters so well, the mysteries are interesting. Not a real puzzle, but interesting in how they play out.
August 29, 2025
Enjoyable characters
Interesting investigation among the .any characters including new relatives. Another look into the horrible ways the masses are treated while performing jobs that make their bosses rich.
Interesting investigation among the .any characters including new relatives. Another look into the horrible ways the masses are treated while performing jobs that make their bosses rich.
December 29, 2025
This is like a cozy mystery. This is the first one of the series that I have read. They are stand alone, but set up the next book. The older character, spews insults constantly. Gets old after awhile. Quick light reading.
September 17, 2023
Love this series!
November 23, 2023
3.5 stars
January 21, 2024
Fine Read
Nice progression of the series. A little repetitive on information from prior books. Liked the new characters. Needs a twist or peril !!
Nice progression of the series. A little repetitive on information from prior books. Liked the new characters. Needs a twist or peril !!
February 8, 2024
Good story but RADAR was not coined until 1940 so should not have been used twice in this book especially by the countess.
February 15, 2024
A bit different circumstances/characters than typical. I found the writer to be competent as well. Quite enjoyable mystery series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews