The Nightingale Affair

Inspector Charles Field #2

by Timothy Mason

In this twisty new Victorian detective thriller from the author of The Darwin Affair , Inspector Charles Field hunts a serial killer with a sinister signature targeting Florence Nightingale’s nurses in Crimea and women in London.

Who is stalking Florence Nightingale and her nurses? Is it the legendary Beast of the Crimean, or someone closer to home? In 1855, Britain and France are fighting to keep the Russians from snatching the Crimean Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire, and Nightingale, a wealthy young society woman, has made it her mission to improve the wretched conditions in the British military hospitals in Turkey—despite fierce objections from the male doctors around her. When young women start turning up dead, their mouths sewn shut with embroidered fabric roses, Inspector Charles Field (the real-life inspiration for Charles Dickens’s Inspector Bucket in Bleak House) is sent from England to find the killer among the doctors, military men, journalists, and others swarming Turkey’s famous Barrack Hospital. Here Field meets both the famous Nightingale as well as Nurse Jane Rolly, the woman who will become his wife, and as he races to protect them, the prime suspect takes his own life.

Case closed. Or is it?

Twelve years later, back in London, amid the turmoil surrounding the expansion of voting rights, women again start turning up dead, their mouths covered by that telltale embroidered rose. Did Field suspect the wrong man before, or is he dealing with a deviant copycat? Either way, he must race against time to stop the killer before more bodies are discovered, and before his own family gets pulled into danger. Populated by real figures of the day, from Benjamin Disraeli to novelist Wilkie Collins to, of course, Florence Nightingale herself, and steeped in historical details of 1860s London, The Nightingale Affair plays out against a backdrop of a rapidly changing society. Most of all, it is a pure reading delight, offering shocks, unforgettably vivid scenes, and surprising twists.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Historical Mystery

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2023

About the author

Tim Mason is a playwright whose work has been produced in New York City, throughout the United States, and around the world. Among the awards he has received are a Kennedy Center Award, the Hollywood Drama-Logue Award, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Rockefeller Foundation grant. In addition to his dramatic plays, he wrote the book for Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, which had two seasons on Broadway and tours nationally every year. He is the author of the young adult novel The Last Synapsid. The Darwin Affair was his first adult novel.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Mai H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do I give up yet another genre? Historical mysteries just aren't feeding me the same way. I found Inspector Charles Field (a misnomer—he no longer works for the police force) drab and unfeeling. His wife brought nothing to the plot. Neither did his various fans and followers.

I find Florence Nightingale a truly fascinating political figure at a turning point in women's rights. The author somehow made her boring. If you read about this time period, you will recognize a cast of characters that exists in history. While it usually excites me to pick a name out of a crowd, it does not do so here.

By the time we make it to the killer, who we follow from the Crimean Peninsula to modern-day London, it is too little, too late. I found myself skimming the majority of this book, which is a shame, as I used to enjoy this genre very much.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few weeks ago, I picked up a used copy of Tim Mason's The Darwin Affair, which I enjoyed immensely. Subsequently, I was delighted to see that I had the follow-up to this title, The Nightingale Affair, waiting to be read and reviewed.

Both of these novels have a definite darkness to them. They're unsettling, not cozy, but also not soaked in gore (just sort of dampened in gore). As the titles suggest, they're set during the reign of Queen Victoria and are firmly planted in the politics and social values of the time.

The Nightingale Affair explores two related series of murders—the first in Crimea during the war with Russia, the second a number of years after the war's end. The central character, former Detective Inspector Charles Field, thought he had solved the case the first time around, but clearly he hadn't, so he's investigating again. His relationship with the police force he used to be a part of is difficult. One officer who served under him still sees him as an ally; the head of the force sees him as an interloper with a history of problematic behavior.

The family life of Inspector Field is a bit complicated. The reader can definitely work out the relationships among characters while reading this title, but I would recommend beginning with The Darwin Affair, so one can approach The Nightingale Affair fully informed.

The political context of the novel is also complicated. A move is underway to open the vote to men beyond landowners (currently the only ones who have the franchise) as is the fight for women's suffrage. Conservatives see expanding the male franchise as a first step toward (egad!) allowing women to vote. Liberals see expanding the male franchise as far too small a step toward expanding British political participation. Nightingale and her nurses figure in because the Crimea murders were clearly based in the struggle to improve military medicine and empower women nurses as qualified practitioners, rather than as immoral camp followers. The more recent murders have involved a greater variety of victims, but the motivation seems to remain the same.

If you enjoy historical mysteries that include real-world characters, you'll find The Nightingale Affair a pleasure to read—and I expect you'll join me in hoping for more Charles Field cases to come. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a really intriguing historical mystery. It combines both real and fictional characters in a purely fictional story.

The novel chronicles a series of murders centered around the nurses working with Florence Nightengale during the Crimean War and then a second series of murders a couple of decades later surrounding the famous war nurse.

Though the story is completely fictional, some characters are based on real, historical figures and they do act in historically accurate ways. I didn't know much more about Florence Nightengale than my elementary school textbooks included, so I enjoyed getting a glimpse into her motivations and personality. The story prompted me to do a little more research into her and I do feel like her portrayal was very accurate. Though she was never actually in the circumstances the fictional character found herself in, I could see her responding as the author wrote her.

Overall, I found it to be a quick, fun read with a little bit of history thrown in in an interesting way. I highly recommend this novel.

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting historical mystery involving Florence Nightingale and the Crimea!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I typically love historical mysteries (especially those set in the Victorian Era), but I was surprisingly bored by this one.

Some of this is a preference issue (I find serial killers to be dull antagonists), but a lot of it came down to a sluggish plot with a competent but uninteresting solve, and a story centered around a detective who just isn’t an interesting protagonist.

Field is certainly a good guy and good at his job, but he’s about as one-dimensional and boring as they come. He has little personality, and the idea that he was the inspiration for Dickens’ Bucket feels…inaccurate bordering on presumptuous.

But the biggest problem is that the book has almost no atmosphere or sense of place, and the mystery itself isn’t good enough to override that, especially in a genre where setting is generally one of the best components of the book.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Amy Imogene Reads]

I'm intrigued!

Thank you to Algonquin Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason is about private Inspector Daily, he at one time worked for Scotland Yard but due to things beyond his control he no longer does. When he is task with following in MP‘s wife due to an extra marital affair on his third time spying on the young wife and her lover he isn’t prepared for her to enter moments before her lover and watch him quickly run out soon after. Being curious inspector daily goes to investigate and finds the adulterous dead with a peculiar cloth in her mouth. It is something he seen years ago during the Crimean war when someone was after the Nightingale nurses but he find it highly coincidental that while on this case he should see it again. My only regret with this book is that I didn’t read the first one not that you have to but the author has such a simple but elegant writing style the book is well researched and daily his wife and their adopted children are really great characters there’s so much in the sport I couldn’t do it justice by giving a brief summary just now it’s his adopted son Tommy’s first day as a policeman and they’re having riots the timeline is linear in the story is awesome we even get it see Florence nightingale as a scared shut in and in her youth fighting for cleanliness for her soldiers. There was a lot of goodness to the book and I absolutely loved it and I will not miss the next one should there be another. If you love historical fiction that is well researched and historically accurate you will definitely love the nightingale affair by Tim Mason I certainly did. I want to thank Algonquin Books for my free ARC copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Ashley Baez Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this twisty Victorian detective thriller from the author of The Darwin Affair, Inspector Charles Field hunts a serial killer with a sinister signature targeting Florence Nightingale’s nurses in Crimea and women in London.

I struggled to get into this one. I was intrigued by the historical fiction aspect of the story, but I found myself having a difficult time connecting with the characters and the story. I do normally enjoy historical fiction, but perhaps, not set in this time. I do recommend this to readers that enjoy historical fiction reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Algonquin Books for this ARC of #TheNightingaleAffair in exchange for my honest review. This novel is also available on Kindle Unlimited!

[Kenia Sedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Mr. Mason,

Please write another Inspector Charles Field novel! Perhaps 'The Dickens Affair"?
Please Please, Pretty Please.

Yours Sincerely,
Kenia

[Dawn (noladawnreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason
🥀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: Digital
Length: 400pgs
Pub date: May 9, 2023
Publisher: Algonquin
Genre: Historical fiction/Mystery
🥀
I love a historical fiction book. Step that up by it being a mystery and then giving actual historical events or people with known facts and I’m sold.
I do wish I had read the first book in series (even though I know they can be read as standalones) because I may have gotten more insight into Inspector Field.
One thing I didn’t love was the treatment of women; however, I do understand that it is representative of how women were treated at the time and even more so by a serial killer. That was not a major sticking point for me though.
I enjoyed this one and I hope to go back and read the first one soon.
🥀
Thank you to Algonquin for my gifted early review copy issued through NetGalley.

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb depicting The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason as a “Victorian detective thriller” is what influenced me the most, as I was in the mood to read a classic mystery after a few of the modern domestic thrillers I had been through recently. I was delighted by the moody puzzle of this book; the atmosphere, characterization and plotting all worked together beautifully, resulting in the perfect riddle that kept me engaged throughout its (almost) 400 pages. I wasn’t familiar with the protagonist Inspector Charles Field, who also stars in Mason’s last book, The Darwin Affair, but this lively detective is one I’m sure to follow into his next few books!

Plot Summary

It’s 1855 and the famous Florence Nightingale, nurse to the downtrodden, has traveled to Crimea to tend to the wounded soldiers there, mobilizing other British women to do the same. The existing male doctors there have not taken kindly to their female presence, and there is a general sense of discontent having these women around in ‘men’s business’. A rash of murders occurs, where women are found dead with a red poppy sewn against their lips. The perpetrator is supposedly found, but then 12 years later back in London, women are once again targeted by a madman and begin to show up dead with this strange calling card on their lips. Nightingale is terrorized by this strange re-appearance, and Inspector Charles Field begins to investigate. There are a few things working against Field, the most obvious being the fact that he is no longer a police officer, instead he is a hired private investigator, owing to a fall out that is referred to, (and likely mapped out) by the previous book in this series. Florence’s nurses are once again targets as the question of women getting the vote is raised by some lobbying the current government. The political backdrop of this book is just as exciting as the murder mystery playing at the forefront of its plot, so there’s lots to keep the reader interested.

My Thoughts

The blending of fact and fiction is very well done in this novel; I was able to learn a bit more about Florence Nightingale, her no-nonsense approach to things, her wealthy background and how people reacted to her at the time, but Mason really brought her to life as well. She never felt like a caricature of a famous person, and her involvement didn’t feel forced in this particular murder mystery because its not unbelievable that an independent woman of her stature would rankle men around her. Her determination to help others despite the obstacles she had to face is admirable, and from my perspective, deserves all the praise that’s heaped upon her, even nowadays.

From what I understand, Field is a fictional character, but he has other famous real-life friends in this book, including Charles Dickens, who apparently fashioned a character after Field which other characters in this book acknowledge when they meet Field for the first time. There’s also a brief appearance by mystery author Wilkie Collins, another mystery writer who I enjoyed reading back in university, also a friend of Field, which is a fun addition to a book for mystery readers. These factual figures don’t necessarily add anything to the plot, they’re just an entertaining stop along the way.

The pacing of the plot and slow reveal of clues is also well done. There is a general sense of darkness and unease throughout the book, as we hop from diseased and war-torn hospital sites to foggy London streets that aren’t safe after dark. When the strange murders start up again, women are told to stay indoors (of course they are!), but as it becomes clearer that women are often being manipulated by their male counterparts in this era, one begins to see the alternative benefits to these men when they know their wives are afraid to leave the house. It’s difficult to stage political protests when you’re afraid for your life, sitting at home in your parlour. Politics aside, although we find out who the killer is, the confrontation doesn’t happen until the very end, and when it does, its explosively dramatic, and a dangerous affair for those closest to Field.

I can’t find anything to complain about with this one – it was purely entertaining, and I learned a lot about a famous historical figure along the way, so an ideal read for many reasons. Lovers of classic detective fiction will no doubt agree, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

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[Joe Mahoney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The nightingale affair is an interesting and ambitious premise. The nurses of Florence nightingales camp are being attacked by a serial killer. Inspector field thinks he has narrowed in on a culprit but the suspect turns up dead. Flash forward, and copycat killings are beginning-did the suspect really die? Is there a copycat on the loose? And what does this have to do with social changes that are going on in Victorian England at this time?
While this is certainly an interesting and entertaining premise, the plot is almost too crowded and the characters seem under developed and the plot never quite connects. The book is uneven, but the prose is well-written and it is a creative premise.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc provided by the publisher.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 stars! The premise of this book sounded so interesting and I was really looking forward to reading it. I'm always interested in serial killer stories where there's a break in murders. I want to understand the 'why' behind it and the killer's motivations and drives. The issue is that the author leaned a little too far into being historically accurate in the treatment of women in this book. It felt kind of intense and mean and gave me the ick. But the storyline itself was decent and with that exception, I think a lot of writers would likely enjoy it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published: 05/09/23

Not my style. Don't be out off by the 2.5 stars rounding up to 3. I saw Florence Nightingale and an amazing cover, skimmed the synopsis and should have moved on, but I didn't.

This is set in Victorian times, and the author uses known people such as Florence Nightingale to weave a story. If the setting is one you enjoy, the author will be pleased. I would have enjoyed this with imaginary people.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Books for accepting my request to read and review The Nightingale Affair.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightingale Affair is a historical fiction book set in 1860s London based on both real and fictional characters. Its a quick and fun read with some interesting history added in! It was interesting to learn about Charles Field and the other characters! The balance of fiction and nonfiction was done well and it was really fun learning more about Florence Nightingale; she is definitely a person to admire! I'm looking forward to reading more about Charles Fields and it will be interesting to see where the next book takes us and the new characters to come!

[Bookshire Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I listen to the first part of this series so I could listen to this one narrated by Cornell Collins? Perhaps…
I enjoyed The Nightingale Affair thanks to the presence of Florence Nightingale and I also felt I knew the main characters better here. It can be read as a standalone although there are references made to The Darwin Affair here.

[Charles Radway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have fooled me. I thought this historical fiction was written in the 1800’s. To my surprise, it was set in the 1800’s but was written in the very recent past.

I really felt the author captured the style of the times.

I liked the story and enjoyed the historical elements. Who would not want to learn something about the amazing Florence Nightengale, true or not.

[Julia]

Didn't finish-- nothing wrong with the book itself, but I wasn't interested

[Kirsten Semler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical fiction book with a thrilling murder mystery attached. I enjoyed learning a bit about Florence Nightingale's work in the Crimean War.

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shomeret · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was initially a mystery element to this novel, but the perpetrator was revealed early. After that, the only suspense was about when this perp would be caught. So I thought it was a good read, but not a stand out book.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this story dull and uninteresting. The timeline is confusing, poorly organized, and there’s little rhyme or reason to how its navigated. Dates are stated at the beginning of sections but those are not the year that is adhered to in the section! I was halfway through the book before anything of significance happened and by then I’d invested too much time not to finish and see if I was correct about who the villain was. It’s mostly a story about how Inspector Field is terrible at his job. Normally I enjoy historical fiction but I felt like this had very little in the way of interesting history and was mostly boring rambling that didn’t hold my attention.

[... Lost Bookland... · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Nightingale Affair" by Tim Mason is a captivating historical mystery set in Victorian London. The story revolves around a series of murders that wrongly implicate Florence Nightingale and her nurses. As Inspector Charles Field investigates, it becomes clear that they are the intended targets. The narrative weaves together historical elements such as the Crimean War and women's suffrage, adding depth and authenticity to the story. Field's personal connection to Nightingale and his relentless pursuit of justice make him a compelling protagonist. Despite some flaws in character development and the lack of a compelling motive, the novel's meticulous historical details and suspenseful plot make it an engaging read for fans of historical mysteries.

Mason skillfully incorporates real historical details into the fabric of the story, immersing readers in the atmospheric setting of Victorian London. The vivid portrayal of the time period enhances the authenticity of the narrative and adds to the sense of danger that permeates the story. The inclusion of historical figures such as Prime Minister Disraeli and author Wilkie Collins further enriches the reading experience, appealing to readers familiar with these references. Mason's attention to historical accuracy and his meticulous research shine through, elevating the overall quality of the book.

Inspector Charles Field emerges as a standout character, driven by a strong sense of justice and determination. His interactions with Florence Nightingale add an intriguing dimension to the story, highlighting the intersection of crime and medicine during the era. Field's pursuit of the truth and the suspenseful nature of the plot keep readers engaged from start to finish. Mason skillfully crafts twists and turns that leave readers guessing, ensuring that the book maintains its grip until the final page.

While the book suffers from underdeveloped characters and a lack of exploration of the underlying motives, it still manages to deliver a gripping and suspenseful read. The flaws in character development and the unsatisfactory explanation for the murders hinder the full immersion of readers in the story. However, Inspector Charles Field's strong presence and the meticulous historical details make "The Nightingale Affair" a recommended read for fans of historical mysteries. Despite its shortcomings, the book successfully combines historical accuracy with a thrilling murder mystery, leaving readers eagerly turning the pages.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: The Nightingale Affair
Author: Tim Mason
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Books, for sending me an ARC.

In this one, we are taken back to Victorian times. There is a bunch of murders going on in London and people are trying to figure out what is going on. All of them are traced back to Florence Nightingale and her nurses. However, they are the ones who are accused of being the killers, but rather they are the targets. No one knows why and knows who is going to be next. There is a war going on, so could this be the reason behind it? Is the enemy trying to kill off those who are helping keep British soldiers alive? An arrest is made and that is the end of it. However, twelve years later it starts again.

This set-up is something that should have had me hooked right from the start. We have a very historical setting with murders in the backdrop. We don’t know who did and we have a cast of characters with a reason for murder. The setting is known and there is this sense of the unknown. I should have been pulled in and I was. However, I did find myself being pulled out. It wasn’t so much the storytelling and the plot itself.

If am being honest, I will say that it was the characters. As I have said, we have been given this large cast of characters. All of them have a reason to be the killers. Yet, it was very difficult to remember who was who and what their role was supposed to be. This lack of development made it very hard to become involved in the characters. I could not tell you who have of the people was and whom they were supposed to be tied into the plot. This is sad because there could have been so many strong character moments and characters.

Along with the characters not being developed as well as they should have been, the why behind the plot is also lacking. We never get a true sense as to why people are being targeted. We are told that they are almost chosen for this. I would have liked to have seen the why for it. It just needed a little bit more to convince me as to why I should become involved and why these events unfolded as they did.

Overall, I think the lack of development is what made it very hard for me to become involved in the story. I needed something a little bit more.

This book comes out on May 9, 2023.

[Paul Sutter]

For those who enjoy historical fiction, you definitely will be intrigued by THE NIGHTINGALE AFFAIR. This is Tim Mason’s follow-up book to THE DARWIN AFFAIR, in which we were introduced to Inspector Charles Field. In the first book, he was a member of the Metropolitan Police, but he no longer holds that position.
How the mighty may have fallen, as he is now a private detective, whose cases included reporting on a cheating spouse. A Member of Parliament wants Field to get the goods on his wife, who seems to have strayed from their marital bed. What he does discover is the body of the wife, some type of red fabric that has a rose on it, stuffed inside her mouth. This is not the first time he has seen this fabric, remembering that years before in Crimea, he was sent to investigate the deaths of women in a similar manner.
They had all been working for Florence Nightingale. Since slightly more than a decade had passed since those deaths, how is it possible that the deaths have started again, because the presumed killer himself was dead. Is this a copycat killer, Field ponders as more deaths take place, making Field revisit the past, as it relates to the newest menace. It also may be connected to women who have ties not necessarily to the nursing profession, but to the women’s suffrage movement. It makes for a most interesting parallel, as you ponder why this is motivation for murder and how does it relate the murders from 1855 that Field investigated?
By adding historical fact with historical fiction, it makes for an excellent blending of the two. As well there is an appearance from British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and talk of Charles Dickens, another even more realism to the plot. Field is relentless in his pursuit of the killer, and the exact motives for the murders, as additional women became targets. There are even males who are murdered too.
We do have a variety of suspects in the book, providing the reader with their own ideas and reasoning behind the killings. Mason's use of Nightingale in her younger years and later years and the advancement of medicine at the time, give the reader a great history lesson as well. Tim Mason has certainly offered a most realistic look at the past, through the eyes of factual people making the book a murder mystery and nostalgic trip over 150 years into the past.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Victorian Age novels. And The Nightingale Affair is filled with personalities and history from the age, and reads more Victorian than contemporary.

Inspector Charles Field was known as the inspiration for Charles Dicken’s character Inspector Bucket. Everyone understands the connection, and fame is a tiresome burden. During the Crimean War, he was sent to the Crimea to investigate a serial killer who left a calling card of an embroidered red rose. Florence Nightingale and her nurses were in danger. Now, Field is now a private investigator asked to aid with the investigation into a new series of murders with all the hallmarks of the Beast of the Crimea. The man accused of the murders in the Crimea is dead–Field saw his death. Either he had the wrong man then, or there is a copy cat killer in London.

The London murderer has chosen his victims with a purpose: they are bluestocking ladies and men who support women’s suffrage. Florence Nightingale may be a well-off society lady, now retired from the world, but as a nurse she stood up to the male dominated medical profession to promote practices that forever changed how the ill and wounded were cared for, concerned with cleanliness and healthy food and palliative care for the dying. Field married one of Nightingale’s nurses and they have two adopted children. They are, like Nightingale, all at risk. The threat becomes very personal.

The novel takes us back to the Crimea for the back story, then forward to Field’s new investigation. It is a complicated, serpentine path to the truth.

I enjoyed this mystery for it’s atmosphere and how it is peopled with characters including Prime Minister Disraeli, philosopher and member of Parliament John Stuart Mill, and Wilkie Collins, Dicken’s friend and author of The Moonstone and Woman in White. Those in the know will love references such as Field getting his start as Mr. Fielding’s Bow Street Runners, a group began by Henry Fielding, author of The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, and his brother John. The Bow Street Runners are known as the first professional police force.

I found it fairly quick reading and an enjoyable, atmospheric mystery.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for a free book.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ The Nightingale Affair” was a pleasure to read.
It is a well conceived and written historical mystery set in the mid 19th. Century with a cast of real and fictional characters. Florence Nightingale is a historical personage, of course, and Benjamin Disraeli makes an appearance. The hero of this book is the same Charles Field who was the hero of “ The Darwin Affair” the first book in this series of Victorian murder mysteries by this author.
The first third of the story takes place in the Crimea, during a past war which was a bloody mess, of course in which thousands of British soldiers died from wounds from wounds and sickness that was sorely lacking. It was largely through the attentions of Florence Nightingale’s small corps of young women nurses that many were saved. Of course, the establishment despised her and her corps of women for getting a love themselves and actually doing a better job than they cared to do. So why was someone trying to kill them. Someone who left a strange symbol sewed to the corpses’s lips. Despite Charles Field’s best efforts the killer was never found.
Then, more than ten years later , in London, the killer strike again - a young woman active in woman’s suffrage affairs. This time, Field is determined to fine the killer. It is an interesting tale with a twisted demon of a killer who seems as elusive as a shadow, a detective who struggles once again against official stupidity and a brave heroine.
The author fills the book with wonderful backgrounds of the times, using them to immerse the reader in the story. There is a bit of patience required at the beginning of the book where the author introduces a character who seemed to me a bit out of phase with the rest of the book , though it does eventually make sense. From then on the novel is a very good and completely interesting mystery with a well - done and satisfying conclusion.
Content warnings: It is a murder mystery and people get killed. A bit of off-screen dallying by minor characters in houses of Ill- repute ( not described).




Years later another young activist woman is found dead by the same method.

[Tom Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1867. Seven years after the events of The Darwin Affair and Charles Field is no longer a member of the Metropolitan Police Force. Now he is making a living as a private investigator. Little does he know that his current case is going bring back memories of an earlier case that would define his career.


Field has been hired by a man who suspects his wife of having an affair. While following her, Field discovers she has been murdered. But more alarming is a clue left at the crime scene: an embroidered rose stitched to the victim's mouth. Twelve years earlier, Field was in the Crimea hunting a serial killer terrorizing Florence Nightingale and her nurses tending to British wounded. While he ultimately caught the culprit, the recurrence of this clue gives him pause.


Once again, Timothy Mason transports the reader back to Victorian England. The novel opens in 1867 with the discovery of the murder victim and then goes back 1855 and documents Field's investigation of the Nightingale case. Though occurring twelve years apart, the two cases are closely connected. 


Mason has again made an ingenious choice of making his protagonist an actual historical figure. The novel is also rich in historical detail that gives the reader a strong sense of place.


I read The Nightingale Affair right after reading The Darwin Affair and likely the Nightingale Affair a little better. This novel gave us the opportunity to discover who Charles Field was a little better and helped my understanding of who he was as a person. I thought both books were very well written. You don't necessarily need to read The Darwin Affair to enjoy this book but I would certainly recommend both.


Thanks to Novel Suspects for providing this book for this review. No other consideration was received in exchange for this review. 

[Ronald Roseborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who haven’t read Tim Mason’s previous novel, The Darwin Affair welcome to his latest novel, The Nightingale Affair. For those who have enjoyed the first book, as The Bard wrote, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more”. As Mason transports us to the mid nineteenth century, you will rub elbows with some of the outstanding personalities of Victorian England. Florence Nightingale, “the Lady with the Lamp”, brightness these pages, along with the likes of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, authors Charles Dickens, and Wilkie Collins and a host of others all tied together by association with Detective Charles Fields, late Inspector for the London Metropolitan Police. Charles Fields met his wife Jane in the Crimea were she served as one of a number of volunteer nurses for Ms Nightingale. Ms. Nightingale had learned about the atrocious treatment the wounded from the battlefields were receiving at the hands of the British forces. She answered the call and carried the fight for sanitation and humane care to the hospitals receiving the thousands of wounded from the battlefields. Poor sanitation and disease were not the only enemy encountered in the hospitals. Women nurses were being targeted by a killer who stalked the halls and environs of the hospitals. The killer struck silently dispatching the women by strangulation, leaving a calling card of an embroidered red rose. Twelve years later as new murders are uncovered in London with a similar modus operandi, Detective Fields is haunted by the thought that the man he once thought had committed the crime was not the true murderer. I was a little disappointed by the ending. Very absorbing read. This book was provided for review by Algonquin Books.

[Victoria Colotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE NIGHTINGALE AFFAIR is a darkly compelling historical mystery centering around Florence Nightingale and women in the mid-1800s. In this follow-up to the first Inspector Charles Field novel, Mason expertly sets the stage for a murderer who wreaks havoc in Crimea and London.

Within the pages of this book, there is a darkness lurking and hovering just out of reach. This tension and the careful unraveling of the investigation are constructed in a way to pull the reader in as well as have all the moving parts begin to work together for the final reveal. What was particularly effective was the way the author divided the book into parts. Through these divisions, the story can travel back to the original killings surrounding Florence Nightingale and her nurses in Crimea. This background truly shed light on what Inspector Field was dealing with in the current timeline.

From the opening chapters, this reader knew this book was going to show the grit and reality of the time period. The scene and mood were set. However, it was the characters and the insertion of the struggles of women to be taken seriously that made this book so good. All I can say is I hope to hear from Inspector Charles Field again.

Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕

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