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Tate and Bell Mystery #1
The Highgate Cemetery Murder
Listening Length: 12 hours and 42 minutes
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published February 29, 2024
3040 people are currently reading
4117 people want to read
About the author
Irina Shapiro
93 books1,164 followersTo 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
April 2, 2024
A Victorian Whodunit!
This was an evocative story exploring the contrasting facets of life in Victorian London, from the homes of the gentry to the slums of the notorious rookeries. A tale of class snobbery, racism, misogyny, delinquent sexual behaviour, opium addiction and ritual murder. The body of a young woman is found, ritually displayed, in Highgate Cemetery and the one witness to the crime is subsequently killed in a road accident. The woman is not, as first thought, a low born prostitute, but the daughter of a leading aristocrat. Not just a murder but a scandal of the highest order and no one wants to talk. This was a compelling story, a real page turner and a damn good read
This was an evocative story exploring the contrasting facets of life in Victorian London, from the homes of the gentry to the slums of the notorious rookeries. A tale of class snobbery, racism, misogyny, delinquent sexual behaviour, opium addiction and ritual murder. The body of a young woman is found, ritually displayed, in Highgate Cemetery and the one witness to the crime is subsequently killed in a road accident. The woman is not, as first thought, a low born prostitute, but the daughter of a leading aristocrat. Not just a murder but a scandal of the highest order and no one wants to talk. This was a compelling story, a real page turner and a damn good read
June 24, 2024
The first book in an historical mystery series set in 1850's London, featuring nurse Gemma Tate and Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell.
Gemma and Sebastian meet after Gemma's twin brother is killed in a nasty accident. Gemma finds details which she believes show her brother was deliberately killed after he witnessed a possible murderer. She convinces Sebastian of her case and together they investigate both deaths.
I really enjoyed this book. The old London setting was perfectly done as was the attitudes of the day towards young women and their place in society. Gemma was a very bright light in all this as an independent young women who had already worked with Florence Nightingale. The mystery was cleverly set up and it was definitely not the author's fault that I guessed the murderer very early on. I just read too much crime.
An excellent book and I will read book two as soon as possible!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Gemma and Sebastian meet after Gemma's twin brother is killed in a nasty accident. Gemma finds details which she believes show her brother was deliberately killed after he witnessed a possible murderer. She convinces Sebastian of her case and together they investigate both deaths.
I really enjoyed this book. The old London setting was perfectly done as was the attitudes of the day towards young women and their place in society. Gemma was a very bright light in all this as an independent young women who had already worked with Florence Nightingale. The mystery was cleverly set up and it was definitely not the author's fault that I guessed the murderer very early on. I just read too much crime.
An excellent book and I will read book two as soon as possible!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 1, 2024
The Highgate Cemetery Murder (Tate and Bell Mystery #1) by Irina Shapiro was a captivating historical fiction duel murder mystery that took place in London during the Victorian era. Surrounding the murder mystery investigation, secrets, danger and and suspense lurked throughout. I was drawn into the mystery immediately and took to both Sabastian Bell and Gemma Tate without any hesitation. Irina Shapiro did an excellent job developing and making these two flawed characters so believable and relatable. The Highgate Cemetery Murder was fast paced and well plotted with a hint of romance to come. Even though it was my first time reading a book by Irina Shapiro it will not be the last.
On the eve of All Hollows, a horrific scene was discovered at the Highgate Cemetery. A young woman of good breeding was purposefully displayed upon a cross with a heart draped around her neck. Journalist Victor Craven had chosen that day and time to be at the cemetery. Victor had been at the cemetery paying his respects to his late wife who had died far too young when he heard a woman scream. When Victor attempted to seek out the source of the scream, he was appalled by what he saw. There was a woman secured to a cross with a heart hanging around her neck. As Victor rushed off to find a constable, he scribbled in his notebook, that he always carried with him, as only a good journalist would, what he had seen. Victor had also seen someone fleeing the scene that was wearing a caped coat. He wrote that he thought he was being followed, something about the Milky Way and something about detecting red streaks. Unfortunately, Victor met his death shortly after he located a constable and alerted him to what he had witnessed. Somehow, Victor was killed when he fell under an omnibus. It was ruled an accidental death. There was no evidence to prove it otherwise.
Victor was survived by his sister, Gemma Tate. The two of them had shared an apartment together. Gemma had recently returned from studying nursing under Florence Nightingale and was privately caring for an elderly woman in the home her patient shared with her grown son. A constable arrived at Gemma’s apartment a little after she had arrived home from work to inform her about her brother’s fate. Gemma was required to go to the morgue to identify Victor’s remains. That was one of the hardest things Gemma had ever been asked to do. After Gemma identified Victor, she was given his personal effects. Among the things that Gemma was given was Victor’s notebook. When Gemma got back to the solitude of her apartment that she had until recently shared with her brother, she began looking through Victor’s notebook. Gemma discovered the hastily written notes that Victor had written just before he had met his death. Gemma began to suspect that her brother had been murdered and not been accidentally killed as she had been told. Gemma went to the police station to report her suspicions but she was not taken seriously. Victor’s death had been deemed accidental and that was how it would stand. The constable in charge was not taking anything that Gemma was relating seriously. She was more than frustrated.
As Gemma was ordered to leave the police station, she met the medical examiner who listened to her suspicions and promised to put her in touch with the constable in charge of the murder that occurred at the cemetery. Detective Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard had been assigned to investigate the murder of the young woman who had been found on the cross at the cemetery. Sebastian Bell had his own demons. He had lost his wife and unborn child in gruesome circumstances. Sebastian was still grieving for his wife and felt it was his fault that she had died the way she did. As a result, Sebastian had come to mask his grief with alcohol and opium. It was the only way he was able to escape his pain and suffering. He was in jeopardy of being fired from his position if he could not find a way to cope without opium and alcohol. Sebastian knew his superior had put him on this case for a reason. If he failed to solve this case, he would most likely be fired. Sebastian knew that he had to solve this case.
When Sebastian arrived at Gemma’s home and heard her suspicions, there was something about Gemma’s version about her brother’s death that piqued Sebastian’s curiosity and interest. Could the death of Gemma’s brother, Victor, been reported and confirmed wrongly? Was it a murder or had he accidentally fallen below the wheels of the omnibus? Could the two murders be linked to the other one? Did one have anything to do with the other?
I really enjoyed how the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian grew throughout the course of the book. It was admirable and bold how Gemma insisted on helping Sebastian with his investigation. At some point, even Sebastian realized that Gemma had proven herself to be a real asset in the investigation. Their developing relationship was something that I was rooting to happen. I appreciated that Gemma had been portrayed as a very determined, strong and insightful woman with good instincts and that she was quite intelligent. She defied the role that was expected of her. The Highgate Cemetery Murder was a really good beginning for this series. I am looking forward to seeing how Gemma’s and Sebastian’s relationship continues to develop and on how the two plan on continuing to collaboratively work together. The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro was quite an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Highgate Cemetery Murder (Tate and Bell Mystery #1) through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
On the eve of All Hollows, a horrific scene was discovered at the Highgate Cemetery. A young woman of good breeding was purposefully displayed upon a cross with a heart draped around her neck. Journalist Victor Craven had chosen that day and time to be at the cemetery. Victor had been at the cemetery paying his respects to his late wife who had died far too young when he heard a woman scream. When Victor attempted to seek out the source of the scream, he was appalled by what he saw. There was a woman secured to a cross with a heart hanging around her neck. As Victor rushed off to find a constable, he scribbled in his notebook, that he always carried with him, as only a good journalist would, what he had seen. Victor had also seen someone fleeing the scene that was wearing a caped coat. He wrote that he thought he was being followed, something about the Milky Way and something about detecting red streaks. Unfortunately, Victor met his death shortly after he located a constable and alerted him to what he had witnessed. Somehow, Victor was killed when he fell under an omnibus. It was ruled an accidental death. There was no evidence to prove it otherwise.
Victor was survived by his sister, Gemma Tate. The two of them had shared an apartment together. Gemma had recently returned from studying nursing under Florence Nightingale and was privately caring for an elderly woman in the home her patient shared with her grown son. A constable arrived at Gemma’s apartment a little after she had arrived home from work to inform her about her brother’s fate. Gemma was required to go to the morgue to identify Victor’s remains. That was one of the hardest things Gemma had ever been asked to do. After Gemma identified Victor, she was given his personal effects. Among the things that Gemma was given was Victor’s notebook. When Gemma got back to the solitude of her apartment that she had until recently shared with her brother, she began looking through Victor’s notebook. Gemma discovered the hastily written notes that Victor had written just before he had met his death. Gemma began to suspect that her brother had been murdered and not been accidentally killed as she had been told. Gemma went to the police station to report her suspicions but she was not taken seriously. Victor’s death had been deemed accidental and that was how it would stand. The constable in charge was not taking anything that Gemma was relating seriously. She was more than frustrated.
As Gemma was ordered to leave the police station, she met the medical examiner who listened to her suspicions and promised to put her in touch with the constable in charge of the murder that occurred at the cemetery. Detective Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard had been assigned to investigate the murder of the young woman who had been found on the cross at the cemetery. Sebastian Bell had his own demons. He had lost his wife and unborn child in gruesome circumstances. Sebastian was still grieving for his wife and felt it was his fault that she had died the way she did. As a result, Sebastian had come to mask his grief with alcohol and opium. It was the only way he was able to escape his pain and suffering. He was in jeopardy of being fired from his position if he could not find a way to cope without opium and alcohol. Sebastian knew his superior had put him on this case for a reason. If he failed to solve this case, he would most likely be fired. Sebastian knew that he had to solve this case.
When Sebastian arrived at Gemma’s home and heard her suspicions, there was something about Gemma’s version about her brother’s death that piqued Sebastian’s curiosity and interest. Could the death of Gemma’s brother, Victor, been reported and confirmed wrongly? Was it a murder or had he accidentally fallen below the wheels of the omnibus? Could the two murders be linked to the other one? Did one have anything to do with the other?
I really enjoyed how the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian grew throughout the course of the book. It was admirable and bold how Gemma insisted on helping Sebastian with his investigation. At some point, even Sebastian realized that Gemma had proven herself to be a real asset in the investigation. Their developing relationship was something that I was rooting to happen. I appreciated that Gemma had been portrayed as a very determined, strong and insightful woman with good instincts and that she was quite intelligent. She defied the role that was expected of her. The Highgate Cemetery Murder was a really good beginning for this series. I am looking forward to seeing how Gemma’s and Sebastian’s relationship continues to develop and on how the two plan on continuing to collaboratively work together. The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro was quite an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Highgate Cemetery Murder (Tate and Bell Mystery #1) through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
February 29, 2024
Happy Publication Day!
A woman’s body is found on the Highgate Cemetery, and the only person who could have seen the killer dies in a traffic accident. Gemma Tate doesn’t believe in coincidences and is determined to find out what exactly happened to her brother. Luckily she finds an ally in the brooding Inspector Sebastian Bell.
I enjoyed the intricately crafted mystery and the way all the pieces of the puzzle came together in the end. There was just the right amount of clues and some red herrings to keep things interesting. The dynamic between Gemma and Sebastian was great too and I hope that their relationship develops in the future installments of the series.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy well written historical mysteries in a dark setting of Victorian London, where crimes remain unsolved, women are always at a disadvantage and The Great Stink is taking its toll.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A woman’s body is found on the Highgate Cemetery, and the only person who could have seen the killer dies in a traffic accident. Gemma Tate doesn’t believe in coincidences and is determined to find out what exactly happened to her brother. Luckily she finds an ally in the brooding Inspector Sebastian Bell.
I enjoyed the intricately crafted mystery and the way all the pieces of the puzzle came together in the end. There was just the right amount of clues and some red herrings to keep things interesting. The dynamic between Gemma and Sebastian was great too and I hope that their relationship develops in the future installments of the series.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy well written historical mysteries in a dark setting of Victorian London, where crimes remain unsolved, women are always at a disadvantage and The Great Stink is taking its toll.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 1, 2024
It is 1858 in London and Gemma Tate has recently returned to England from Crimea where she trained as a nurse under Florence Nightingale. When ahe learns that her twin brother has fallen under the wheels of an omnibus and has died, she is grief-stricken. The police are convinced it was a tragic accident but, after reading his notebook, she is sure he was murdered. She takes the notebook to Scotland Yard, determined to convince the detective in charge of the investigation and to offer her help.
Detective Sebastian Bell has developed an addiction to opium after a personal tragedy and is just barely holding onto his job. When he is assigned a new case of a gruesome murder in the Highgate Cemetery, he knows that, if he doesn’t solve it and quickly, he’ll be finished at the Yard. When it is discovered that the victim is the daughter of a Viscount, the odds against him grow even higher. When Gemma shows him the notebook, he realizes that the two murders are linked and that her brother has left cryptic clues to the murder’s identity if only he can figure out their meaning. Grudgingly, Sebastian accepts her offer of help and the two form an uneasy alliance to find the killer.
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in a new historical mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it is very compelling but also very dark. I was sucked into the story from the first page. Gemma and Sebastian are both interesting and likeable and I found myself caring about them.
However, it must be noted that this is definitely not a fun easy read. The author does an amazing job of showing attitudes towards women, especially nurses, in Victorian England as well as contrasting the horrors of the slums with the opulences of the upper classes. The murders are gruesome and there is a great deal of extreme violence including gang rape. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the denouement was shocking.
Overall, I found this to be a real pageturner and look forward to reading future books in this series. But I would suggest that people should be aware of how dark parts of it are and consider that before picking it up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Detective Sebastian Bell has developed an addiction to opium after a personal tragedy and is just barely holding onto his job. When he is assigned a new case of a gruesome murder in the Highgate Cemetery, he knows that, if he doesn’t solve it and quickly, he’ll be finished at the Yard. When it is discovered that the victim is the daughter of a Viscount, the odds against him grow even higher. When Gemma shows him the notebook, he realizes that the two murders are linked and that her brother has left cryptic clues to the murder’s identity if only he can figure out their meaning. Grudgingly, Sebastian accepts her offer of help and the two form an uneasy alliance to find the killer.
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in a new historical mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it is very compelling but also very dark. I was sucked into the story from the first page. Gemma and Sebastian are both interesting and likeable and I found myself caring about them.
However, it must be noted that this is definitely not a fun easy read. The author does an amazing job of showing attitudes towards women, especially nurses, in Victorian England as well as contrasting the horrors of the slums with the opulences of the upper classes. The murders are gruesome and there is a great deal of extreme violence including gang rape. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the denouement was shocking.
Overall, I found this to be a real pageturner and look forward to reading future books in this series. But I would suggest that people should be aware of how dark parts of it are and consider that before picking it up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review
February 2, 2025
I want to say how much I enjoyed this book. The first in the series and it held my attention from the first few chapters. I enjoy reading about the Victorian era post Crimean War. The book deals with rape and murder and how class affects how you are delt with in society. The main characters are a police detective dealing with his past and drug addiction and a Nightingales Nurse that has returned home now that the war is over. Gemma Tates brother has been murdered, and this seems to tie in with a young woman also murdered. The book relied on police work and questioning as there are no fingerprinting or CSI. There is no romance and the book deals with an era where change is occurring but slowly. I give the book 4.5*
March 24, 2024
In Irina Shapiro's book "The Highgate Cemetery Murder," set in Victorian London, a gripping historical fiction murder mystery unfolds. Secrets, danger, and suspense weave through the investigation, capturing my attention from the start. The characters Sabastian Bell and Gemma Tate are flawed yet relatable creations by Shapiro. The story is fast-paced, and well-crafted, hinting at a budding romance.
On the eve of All Hollows, something terrible happened at Highgate Cemetery. A young lady from a good family was found tied to a cross with a heart around her neck. Victor Craven, a journalist, was there that day to visit his deceased wife's grave when he heard a scream. He saw the shocking sight of the woman on the cross and quickly ran to find help. Before he could get assistance, he noticed a mysterious figure in a cape fleeing the scene. Victor made some notes in his notebook about what he saw and felt like he was being followed. Sadly, after informing a police officer about the incident, Victor tragically died in an accident involving a bus. The authorities ruled it as an unintentional death due to a lack of evidence suggesting otherwise.
Hours later, as Victor’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save, his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
The bond between Gemma and Sebastian blossomed organically as they navigated through the intricacies of the investigation. Gemma's unwavering determination to assist Sebastian was both daring and commendable, earning her respect from him as a valuable ally in solving the mystery. Their evolving connection became a focal point that kept me invested in their journey. Gemma emerged as a resilient, perceptive woman with sharp instincts and intellect, challenging societal expectations placed upon her. "The Highgate Cemetery Murder" marked a compelling start to their partnership, leaving me eager to witness how their collaboration unfolds in future installments. Irina Shapiro's novel was a captivating read that I wholeheartedly endorse for its engaging narrative and well-crafted characters. Recommended.
On the eve of All Hollows, something terrible happened at Highgate Cemetery. A young lady from a good family was found tied to a cross with a heart around her neck. Victor Craven, a journalist, was there that day to visit his deceased wife's grave when he heard a scream. He saw the shocking sight of the woman on the cross and quickly ran to find help. Before he could get assistance, he noticed a mysterious figure in a cape fleeing the scene. Victor made some notes in his notebook about what he saw and felt like he was being followed. Sadly, after informing a police officer about the incident, Victor tragically died in an accident involving a bus. The authorities ruled it as an unintentional death due to a lack of evidence suggesting otherwise.
Hours later, as Victor’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save, his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
The bond between Gemma and Sebastian blossomed organically as they navigated through the intricacies of the investigation. Gemma's unwavering determination to assist Sebastian was both daring and commendable, earning her respect from him as a valuable ally in solving the mystery. Their evolving connection became a focal point that kept me invested in their journey. Gemma emerged as a resilient, perceptive woman with sharp instincts and intellect, challenging societal expectations placed upon her. "The Highgate Cemetery Murder" marked a compelling start to their partnership, leaving me eager to witness how their collaboration unfolds in future installments. Irina Shapiro's novel was a captivating read that I wholeheartedly endorse for its engaging narrative and well-crafted characters. Recommended.
February 20, 2024
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro
Synopsis /
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Irina Shapiro for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 29, 2024.
This was my first read from author, Irina Shapiro, but it will by no means be my last. A prolific author, Shapiro's literary works comprise six series and a collection of standalone novels and novellas. I'm going to have a feast of a time with this back catalogue!!
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first instalment in a brand new historical mystery series which is set in 1858 and features protagonists Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell.
The story opens on All Saints' Day - November 1, 1858, and Gemma Tate is at home reading, waiting for her journalist brother, Victor to return home from work. Gemma Tate set aside her book and peered at the carriage clock on the mantel. Victor was late, and Gemma was trying hard not to worry. But when a knock on the door confirmed her worst fears - Victor had met with an unfortunate accident and died at the scene - she becomes determined to help the police with their investigation.
Inspector Sebastian Bell had a promising career as a Scotland Yard detective. I said 'had', because since the death of his beloved wife he's been consumed with grief and has taken to abusing a range of intoxicating drugs to mute his pain. When one of his colleagues found him at Mr Wu's opium den (a place he frequented often), roused him from his opium induced stupor, and informed him he had a case to investigate, Bell had no idea that his future was to include a pretty, young, courageous and headstrong nurse.
There was so much to enjoy with this story. Let's start with the setting, London 1858 - it wasn't the most picturesque of times. 1850s London was the world's most powerful and wealthiest city. But it was also the world's most crowded city, with growing problems of pollution and poverty that threatened to overwhelm its magnificence. There was also a continuing growing gap between the social classes, and the gap between the nobility and the underclass was chasmal. There is a lot to learn. The author's research into the setting became obvious very early on, and her use of descriptive prose throughout was captivating. Clerks disgorged by their places of business were heading home, their caped coats and black hats making them look like a colony of bats fleeing dark cave.
Here are a few of my favourite words and phrases - omnibus, catafalques, and liminal hour. Then, of course there's - Viscounts, Earls and Lords!
Back to the story and the mystery, or should I say, mysteries - for there are two, and both are entirely intertwined. Solve one and you solve the other. But the road to solving these crimes is hard to navigate and Bell must tread carefully if he is to catch the killer. To fail would not only mean he lets a killer roam free but he's also looking at the possibility of losing his job.
A highly engaging plot, with a richly atmospheric almost gothic like setting and compelling characters, you'll want to read this in one sitting. A must read for historical mystery fans.
Synopsis /
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Irina Shapiro for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 29, 2024.
This was my first read from author, Irina Shapiro, but it will by no means be my last. A prolific author, Shapiro's literary works comprise six series and a collection of standalone novels and novellas. I'm going to have a feast of a time with this back catalogue!!
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first instalment in a brand new historical mystery series which is set in 1858 and features protagonists Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell.
The story opens on All Saints' Day - November 1, 1858, and Gemma Tate is at home reading, waiting for her journalist brother, Victor to return home from work. Gemma Tate set aside her book and peered at the carriage clock on the mantel. Victor was late, and Gemma was trying hard not to worry. But when a knock on the door confirmed her worst fears - Victor had met with an unfortunate accident and died at the scene - she becomes determined to help the police with their investigation.
Inspector Sebastian Bell had a promising career as a Scotland Yard detective. I said 'had', because since the death of his beloved wife he's been consumed with grief and has taken to abusing a range of intoxicating drugs to mute his pain. When one of his colleagues found him at Mr Wu's opium den (a place he frequented often), roused him from his opium induced stupor, and informed him he had a case to investigate, Bell had no idea that his future was to include a pretty, young, courageous and headstrong nurse.
There was so much to enjoy with this story. Let's start with the setting, London 1858 - it wasn't the most picturesque of times. 1850s London was the world's most powerful and wealthiest city. But it was also the world's most crowded city, with growing problems of pollution and poverty that threatened to overwhelm its magnificence. There was also a continuing growing gap between the social classes, and the gap between the nobility and the underclass was chasmal. There is a lot to learn. The author's research into the setting became obvious very early on, and her use of descriptive prose throughout was captivating. Clerks disgorged by their places of business were heading home, their caped coats and black hats making them look like a colony of bats fleeing dark cave.
Here are a few of my favourite words and phrases - omnibus, catafalques, and liminal hour. Then, of course there's - Viscounts, Earls and Lords!
Back to the story and the mystery, or should I say, mysteries - for there are two, and both are entirely intertwined. Solve one and you solve the other. But the road to solving these crimes is hard to navigate and Bell must tread carefully if he is to catch the killer. To fail would not only mean he lets a killer roam free but he's also looking at the possibility of losing his job.
A highly engaging plot, with a richly atmospheric almost gothic like setting and compelling characters, you'll want to read this in one sitting. A must read for historical mystery fans.
February 26, 2024
It was 1858 when journalist Victor Tate visited the grave of his wife at London's Highgate Cemetery. The horrific sight of a young woman hanging on a cross saw him leave at a run, but not before he saw a man near the woman. Writing frantically in his notebook as he rode the omnibus, he was alighting when he fell. Some hours later, his sister, Gemma Tate, was visited by a policeman to advise of Victor's accident and death. Devastated, as it was only the two of them left, she wondered how she'd cope in the future. Gemma had nursed in the Crimea, alongside her mentor, Florence Nightingale, and not a lot shocked her anymore.
Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard was still grieving the death of his wife and to his shame, had taken to alcohol and opium to dull the pain. He knew he needed to pull himself out of it as he would lose his job if he didn't. The case that landed on his desk of the young woman brutally murdered at Highgate Cemetery and the arrival of a young woman - Gemma Tate - who needed help, saw him dig deeply. And when the identity of the young woman became known, Sebastian headed to Park Lane and the home of aristocracy. Would he find the answers there? He had a lot to do to find evidence and proof, but was determined to do it. And Gemma was a link. Could he allow her to assist?
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the 1st in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and I enjoyed it very much. The police were looked down on back in Victorian London, a lower class, and without any of the things that help find convictions in today's time, like DNA, their jobs were much more difficult. But Sebastian had the smarts, and so did Gemma. Both are great characters, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard was still grieving the death of his wife and to his shame, had taken to alcohol and opium to dull the pain. He knew he needed to pull himself out of it as he would lose his job if he didn't. The case that landed on his desk of the young woman brutally murdered at Highgate Cemetery and the arrival of a young woman - Gemma Tate - who needed help, saw him dig deeply. And when the identity of the young woman became known, Sebastian headed to Park Lane and the home of aristocracy. Would he find the answers there? He had a lot to do to find evidence and proof, but was determined to do it. And Gemma was a link. Could he allow her to assist?
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the 1st in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and I enjoyed it very much. The police were looked down on back in Victorian London, a lower class, and without any of the things that help find convictions in today's time, like DNA, their jobs were much more difficult. But Sebastian had the smarts, and so did Gemma. Both are great characters, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2024
"The Highgate Cemetery Murder" by Irina Shapiro is a captivating book in a thrilling new historical mystery series set in Victorian London. From the first page, Shapiro draws readers into a world of intrigue and suspense, where secrets lurk around every corner and danger is never far away.
At the heart of the story are two compelling protagonists: Sebastian Bell, a troubled Scotland Yard detective haunted by the loss of his wife and drowning his sorrows in intoxicants, and Gemma Tate, a resilient nurse fresh from serving alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea, thrust into the midst of a murder investigation after her brother's tragic death.
As Bell and Tate delve deeper into the tangled web of murder and deceit surrounding Highgate Cemetery, they must navigate their own personal demons while uncovering a series of shocking revelations that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Shapiro's writing is masterful, effortlessly weaving together a complex plot filled with twists and turns that will leave you breathless. The dynamic between Bell and Tate crackles with tension and chemistry, as they grapple with their own insecurities and fears while striving to solve the case.
What truly sets this book apart is its attention to detail and authenticity. Shapiro's meticulous research shines through in every page, transporting readers back in time to Victorian London and immersing them in the sights, sounds, and smells of the era.
"The Highgate Cemetery Murder" is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and richly atmospheric setting, it's a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I can't wait to see where Shapiro takes us next in this gripping series.
At the heart of the story are two compelling protagonists: Sebastian Bell, a troubled Scotland Yard detective haunted by the loss of his wife and drowning his sorrows in intoxicants, and Gemma Tate, a resilient nurse fresh from serving alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea, thrust into the midst of a murder investigation after her brother's tragic death.
As Bell and Tate delve deeper into the tangled web of murder and deceit surrounding Highgate Cemetery, they must navigate their own personal demons while uncovering a series of shocking revelations that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Shapiro's writing is masterful, effortlessly weaving together a complex plot filled with twists and turns that will leave you breathless. The dynamic between Bell and Tate crackles with tension and chemistry, as they grapple with their own insecurities and fears while striving to solve the case.
What truly sets this book apart is its attention to detail and authenticity. Shapiro's meticulous research shines through in every page, transporting readers back in time to Victorian London and immersing them in the sights, sounds, and smells of the era.
"The Highgate Cemetery Murder" is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and richly atmospheric setting, it's a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I can't wait to see where Shapiro takes us next in this gripping series.
January 20, 2024
Irina Shapiro's The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the promising first volume in a new historical mystery series set in Victorian London. Sebastian Bell is a Scotland Yard detective who has been abusing a range of intoxicants (laudanum, opium, alcohol) since the death of his wife. Gemma Tate is a nurse, back from working in Crimea with Florence Nightingale, whose brother has just been killed after discovering the body of a murdered woman in Highgate Cemetery.
Bell and Tate wind up investigating this pair of connected murders, though Bell regularly tries to sideline Tate out of fears for her safety. The murder of the young woman in particular was violent (content warning: this killing and others aren't depicted, but their results are). Bell struggles with his demons, continually promising himself "just one more," which, of course, never winds up being just one. The one distraction that sometimes helps him is a challenging case to investigate. Tate's brother was her last surviving relative, so his death has left her utterly alone in a way she hasn't experienced before. She is determined to participate in the investigation because she can't bear her new state of isolation.
Bell and Tate are an interesting pair. I'm looking forward to see how their relationship develops and, frankly, hoping it won't turn into a romance: that's too predictable. We need more stories that make it clear men and women can maintain a respectful friendship without getting all googly-eyed.
If you're looking for a new historical mystery series, this one is worth looking out for. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Bell and Tate wind up investigating this pair of connected murders, though Bell regularly tries to sideline Tate out of fears for her safety. The murder of the young woman in particular was violent (content warning: this killing and others aren't depicted, but their results are). Bell struggles with his demons, continually promising himself "just one more," which, of course, never winds up being just one. The one distraction that sometimes helps him is a challenging case to investigate. Tate's brother was her last surviving relative, so his death has left her utterly alone in a way she hasn't experienced before. She is determined to participate in the investigation because she can't bear her new state of isolation.
Bell and Tate are an interesting pair. I'm looking forward to see how their relationship develops and, frankly, hoping it won't turn into a romance: that's too predictable. We need more stories that make it clear men and women can maintain a respectful friendship without getting all googly-eyed.
If you're looking for a new historical mystery series, this one is worth looking out for. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
February 26, 2024
This was not the best historical mystery I've read, nor was it the worst. I unfortunately didn't connect with the characters and the mystery was a lot more gruesome than I expected. I wish that there was even a spark of brightness here for balance, but it felt like every character was miserable and depressed and/or grieving a devastating loss, which, combined with the grisly details of the murder, made the tone darker than I prefer. I may or may not pick up the second book if I find out there's some kind of light at the end of the tunnel for our main characters, but this was a miss for me.
March 3, 2024
The Highgate Cemetery Murder was such a good read.
George Tate discovers the body of a young girl at the cemetery, he contacts the police, but few hours later he has a fatal accident. Inspector Sebastian Bell is called to solve the mystery, but he will get the unsuspected help of Gemma Tate.
Irina Shapiro made a superb job, her writing reminded me of Jack The Ripper for the atmosphere, the suspense and the rawness of the murder.
I was really caught into Sebastian and Gemma investigations, their emotions, their pain and at times their frustration to not be able to change the world they live in.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy your murder mystery with a historical and gruesome touch.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
March 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the Audiobook Review Copy.
While I love mysteries and historical fiction, I've been in a recent drought for Victorian murder mysteries. This book may be the thing that breaks me out! Though the story took a few chapters to hook me, once I realized the connections that were being made across plotlines, I was sold. Gemma was a likeable main character without straying too far into clichés, and Sebastian was a nicely complex character. Shapiro highlights the struggles that nurses faced coming home from Crimea - those who were once celebrated for their selflessness and bravery were expected to step back into a purely domestic role when they disembarked in England. She also handles the upstairs/downstairs and class distinctions with aplomb.
The narration was delightful, and I look forward to future entries in this series.
While I love mysteries and historical fiction, I've been in a recent drought for Victorian murder mysteries. This book may be the thing that breaks me out! Though the story took a few chapters to hook me, once I realized the connections that were being made across plotlines, I was sold. Gemma was a likeable main character without straying too far into clichés, and Sebastian was a nicely complex character. Shapiro highlights the struggles that nurses faced coming home from Crimea - those who were once celebrated for their selflessness and bravery were expected to step back into a purely domestic role when they disembarked in England. She also handles the upstairs/downstairs and class distinctions with aplomb.
The narration was delightful, and I look forward to future entries in this series.
July 7, 2025
Add Gemma and Sebastian to the list of sleuthing couples I love. The gritty, Victorian vibe permeated this story. It’s dark and the characters have baggage, but I think this is already a “must read” series.
February 28, 2024
Murder most foul!
A murder screams from the newspapers headlines. Not only because it’s bizarre, but it garners even more attention when the victim’s identity is revealed. A young society heiress, the Honorable Miss Adelaide Seaborne, daughter of the Viscount Dalton and granddaughter of the Earl of Caledon. Adelaide did not die easily.
Up until Inspector Sebastian Bell is put on the case the young woman’s been dismissed as a doxy, not worth police time.
Sebastian’s superior tasks him with solving the murder yesterday. He’s beginning to suspect his days with Scotland Yard might be numbered. Sebastian has been taking opium to counter a personal sorrow. Now he’s been given an unsolvable case. He’s toying with the idea of applying to the Pinkerton Agency as an investigator. A move to America is looking more and more attractive.
Gemma Tate was a nurse during Crimea. No stranger to death and more. When she receives the news that her twin brother, a journalist, was killed in an accident, crushed by an omnibus she’s bereft.
However on perusing Victor’s notebook she begins to suspect he was murdered, and that it’s related to the graveyard killing.
These two unlikely characters, Bell and Tate join forces to find the killer.
A dark mystery set in Victorian London. Atmospheric and urgent. The dénouement is shocking.
Rereading parts whilst considering my review I actually upped the stars from 4 to 5
After all who doesn’t love a tragic, occasional opium seeking hero trying to drown his memories in whatever release afforded, as he attempts to solve cases with integrity and diligence.
And by the same token, our heroine has faced unimaginable hours on the war front and given very little in the way of thanks or acknowledgment once home. Finding her brother’s killer gives her purpose.
An excellent pairing of characters. I’m looking forward to more from these two.
A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
A murder screams from the newspapers headlines. Not only because it’s bizarre, but it garners even more attention when the victim’s identity is revealed. A young society heiress, the Honorable Miss Adelaide Seaborne, daughter of the Viscount Dalton and granddaughter of the Earl of Caledon. Adelaide did not die easily.
Up until Inspector Sebastian Bell is put on the case the young woman’s been dismissed as a doxy, not worth police time.
Sebastian’s superior tasks him with solving the murder yesterday. He’s beginning to suspect his days with Scotland Yard might be numbered. Sebastian has been taking opium to counter a personal sorrow. Now he’s been given an unsolvable case. He’s toying with the idea of applying to the Pinkerton Agency as an investigator. A move to America is looking more and more attractive.
Gemma Tate was a nurse during Crimea. No stranger to death and more. When she receives the news that her twin brother, a journalist, was killed in an accident, crushed by an omnibus she’s bereft.
However on perusing Victor’s notebook she begins to suspect he was murdered, and that it’s related to the graveyard killing.
These two unlikely characters, Bell and Tate join forces to find the killer.
A dark mystery set in Victorian London. Atmospheric and urgent. The dénouement is shocking.
Rereading parts whilst considering my review I actually upped the stars from 4 to 5
After all who doesn’t love a tragic, occasional opium seeking hero trying to drown his memories in whatever release afforded, as he attempts to solve cases with integrity and diligence.
And by the same token, our heroine has faced unimaginable hours on the war front and given very little in the way of thanks or acknowledgment once home. Finding her brother’s killer gives her purpose.
An excellent pairing of characters. I’m looking forward to more from these two.
A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
April 16, 2025
Good characterization and pacing. Kind of grisly for my taste. Like watching a really dark episode of special victims unit. The level of detail is less plot-moving than…salacious? Almost. Anyway. I will try the second in the series but this book really came out swinging g with tape, modern and the occult. Kind of a lot.
April 30, 2025
My GRF Tina wrote a review of The Highgate Cemetary Murder that caught my attention last year and I finally sat myself down to read.
Oddly enough, the thing that excited me the most about the review was that Tina wrote she listened to a perfect narration by Imogen Church. I have been enamored of this narrator since listening to all her narrations of books by Ruth Ware. Church is even more brilliant in her narrations of the Tate and Bell mysteries (yes, once I started earlier this month I could not stop reading until I'd read/listened to all four of the books in the series!).
For those of you, like me, who are still mourning the loss of Victoria Thompson (1948-2024) and her brilliant Gaslight Mysteries (Gaslight). The Bell and Tate mysteries take place circa 1850s, or 50 years earlier that Thompson's Gaslights, and might just fill a void. The romantic build-up which took about ten books in Gaslight happens much earlier in this series. By the end of Book One, it is clear that Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell, though continuing to mourn his late wife, is finally ready to make room in his heart for the possibility of a new love. Bell meets Gemma Tate when he is investigating the savage murder of a Viscount’s daughter, whose mutilated, ravaged body is found hanging on a gravestone in the Highgate Cemetery. Tate’s brother Victor is a journalist who just happened to be in the cemetery visiting his late wife’s grave and was the first to witness the gruesome spectacle and what appeared to be a possible suspect fleeing the scene. As he chases what could be the perp, he manages to dash several cryptic sentences into his notebook before being run over by a bus and meeting his demise. Tate, who identifies her brother’s body in the morgue, finds the notebook among his personal belongings and becomes convinced that her brother's death was no accident - it was murder!
Of course, no one in the police station believes Tate when she tries to tell them that her brother might have been murdered and that there may be some connection with the Highgate Cemetery murder. She is treated like a hysterical old maid (all of 28) and thrown out of the police station. Upon meeting Tate, Bell immediately understands that the two deaths could somehow be connected. Tate, one of Florence Nightingale’s Crimean War nurses, is no shrinking violet but rather a strong and independent (now, impecunious) woman with opinions of her own. She is determined to use her own wits and skills to track down clues that will help Bell solve his case and while doing so, prove that her brother was murdered. By the end of the book the two MCs have established a bond based on mutual appreciation and respect.
There are similarities between the Gaslight books and this series and I have thoroughly enjoyed all four books in the Bell and Tate series, to date. Now, what will I do with myself while I wait for Book Five?
If the beginning seems a bit slow, keep on reading, once the pace picks up you won’t want to stop. Book Two goes right into Book Three and Book Three goes right into Book Four. Once you are hooked there are basically no slow parts to come.
Look here for GRF Tina's brilliant review.
I found all four books in audio on Hoopla.
Oddly enough, the thing that excited me the most about the review was that Tina wrote she listened to a perfect narration by Imogen Church. I have been enamored of this narrator since listening to all her narrations of books by Ruth Ware. Church is even more brilliant in her narrations of the Tate and Bell mysteries (yes, once I started earlier this month I could not stop reading until I'd read/listened to all four of the books in the series!).
For those of you, like me, who are still mourning the loss of Victoria Thompson (1948-2024) and her brilliant Gaslight Mysteries (Gaslight). The Bell and Tate mysteries take place circa 1850s, or 50 years earlier that Thompson's Gaslights, and might just fill a void. The romantic build-up which took about ten books in Gaslight happens much earlier in this series. By the end of Book One, it is clear that Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell, though continuing to mourn his late wife, is finally ready to make room in his heart for the possibility of a new love. Bell meets Gemma Tate when he is investigating the savage murder of a Viscount’s daughter, whose mutilated, ravaged body is found hanging on a gravestone in the Highgate Cemetery. Tate’s brother Victor is a journalist who just happened to be in the cemetery visiting his late wife’s grave and was the first to witness the gruesome spectacle and what appeared to be a possible suspect fleeing the scene. As he chases what could be the perp, he manages to dash several cryptic sentences into his notebook before being run over by a bus and meeting his demise. Tate, who identifies her brother’s body in the morgue, finds the notebook among his personal belongings and becomes convinced that her brother's death was no accident - it was murder!
Of course, no one in the police station believes Tate when she tries to tell them that her brother might have been murdered and that there may be some connection with the Highgate Cemetery murder. She is treated like a hysterical old maid (all of 28) and thrown out of the police station. Upon meeting Tate, Bell immediately understands that the two deaths could somehow be connected. Tate, one of Florence Nightingale’s Crimean War nurses, is no shrinking violet but rather a strong and independent (now, impecunious) woman with opinions of her own. She is determined to use her own wits and skills to track down clues that will help Bell solve his case and while doing so, prove that her brother was murdered. By the end of the book the two MCs have established a bond based on mutual appreciation and respect.
There are similarities between the Gaslight books and this series and I have thoroughly enjoyed all four books in the Bell and Tate series, to date. Now, what will I do with myself while I wait for Book Five?
If the beginning seems a bit slow, keep on reading, once the pace picks up you won’t want to stop. Book Two goes right into Book Three and Book Three goes right into Book Four. Once you are hooked there are basically no slow parts to come.
Look here for GRF Tina's brilliant review.
I found all four books in audio on Hoopla.
June 21, 2024
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Russian-born British author, Irina Shapiro. The audio version is narrated by Imogen Church. It’s the discovery of a particularly brutal murder victim in Highgate Cemetery that brings Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate together. A young woman, the victim of a vicious and sustained personal attack, is found, tied to a graveyard cross, dressed only in a chemise, and adorned with a bloody heart.
Visiting the grave of his wife, Gemma’s twin, Victor stumbles upon this horrific sight and spots a hatted, cloaked man fleeing the scene. As any good journalist would, he scribbles down some notes, then summons a constable, but dies under the wheels of an omnibus soon after. When Gemma sees, among other cryptic notes jotted down just before his death “I’m being followed”, she becomes convinced her brother was murdered, most likely for what, or whom, he saw.
Persuading the police to take her seriously proves impossible, until she encounters pathologist, Dr Colin Ramsey, who assures her that his friend, Inspector Bell, will listen. Initially busy getting the first responder’s take on the scene and the victim, and Dr Ramsey’s post mortem opinion, Bell then has to break the awful news to a Viscount and his distressed family, all while battling withdrawal from the opium he resorts to in his grief over his wife’s loss.
When he calls on Miss Tate, he agrees with her conclusion, but begs her to allow him to do his job. Not one to be deterred, Gemma makes subtle enquiries under the (easily-adopted) guise of a grieving sister, while Bell tries to eliminate the Viscount’s family and staff from his investigation. He considers suitors, and others who might hold a grudge against the young woman or her family, but makes little progress.
With Gemma’s contributions, they come to understand that the young heiress’s ordeal is not an isolated incident, and that the perpetrators are not common ruffians, but so-called gentlemen who believe themselves immune to prosecution. But they’ve crossed paths with a very determined detective.
Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, her characters are appealing for all their very human flaws, and there’s some exceptional detective work done in the lead up to an exciting climax that reveals a shocking twist. There’s also a small cameo by a character from another Shapiro series. Fans can look forward to more of this cast in the follow-up, Murder At Traitors’ Gate. This is excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
Visiting the grave of his wife, Gemma’s twin, Victor stumbles upon this horrific sight and spots a hatted, cloaked man fleeing the scene. As any good journalist would, he scribbles down some notes, then summons a constable, but dies under the wheels of an omnibus soon after. When Gemma sees, among other cryptic notes jotted down just before his death “I’m being followed”, she becomes convinced her brother was murdered, most likely for what, or whom, he saw.
Persuading the police to take her seriously proves impossible, until she encounters pathologist, Dr Colin Ramsey, who assures her that his friend, Inspector Bell, will listen. Initially busy getting the first responder’s take on the scene and the victim, and Dr Ramsey’s post mortem opinion, Bell then has to break the awful news to a Viscount and his distressed family, all while battling withdrawal from the opium he resorts to in his grief over his wife’s loss.
When he calls on Miss Tate, he agrees with her conclusion, but begs her to allow him to do his job. Not one to be deterred, Gemma makes subtle enquiries under the (easily-adopted) guise of a grieving sister, while Bell tries to eliminate the Viscount’s family and staff from his investigation. He considers suitors, and others who might hold a grudge against the young woman or her family, but makes little progress.
With Gemma’s contributions, they come to understand that the young heiress’s ordeal is not an isolated incident, and that the perpetrators are not common ruffians, but so-called gentlemen who believe themselves immune to prosecution. But they’ve crossed paths with a very determined detective.
Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, her characters are appealing for all their very human flaws, and there’s some exceptional detective work done in the lead up to an exciting climax that reveals a shocking twist. There’s also a small cameo by a character from another Shapiro series. Fans can look forward to more of this cast in the follow-up, Murder At Traitors’ Gate. This is excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
September 13, 2024
The first in a new mystery series from prolific author Irina Shapiro.
The setting is London, early November, 1858. Our heroine, Gemma Tate, is a private duty nurse who had served in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale. She currently lives with her brother Victor, a newspaper reporter. Our hero is Sebastian Bell, Scotland Yard detective, who has some deep personal problems.
From the blurb: His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant."
I really appreciated the fact that Gemma is not pushy, nor will she let herself be pushed around. I liked Sebastian, who has been given a thankless task--his immediate superior has set him up to fail. After which Sebastian can be dismissed. Sebastian is determined to solve the case and save his job, if only to spite his superior.
The mystery has a number of twists and turns; however, the murderer's identity was not a total surprise to me. But that did not stop me from enjoying the book.
This is a somewhat melancholy book. Sebastian is mourning his wife, who died several years earlier. Vincent likewise was mourning his wife, who had died from consumption. Gemma, in turn, is mourning for Victor, whose death not only strikes her emotionally, but leaves her facing a bleak future.
Are there brighter days ahead for Gemma and Sebastian? I sure hope so! I'll find out once I get my hands on the second book, Murder at Traitors' Gate.
The setting is London, early November, 1858. Our heroine, Gemma Tate, is a private duty nurse who had served in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale. She currently lives with her brother Victor, a newspaper reporter. Our hero is Sebastian Bell, Scotland Yard detective, who has some deep personal problems.
From the blurb: His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant."
I really appreciated the fact that Gemma is not pushy, nor will she let herself be pushed around. I liked Sebastian, who has been given a thankless task--his immediate superior has set him up to fail. After which Sebastian can be dismissed. Sebastian is determined to solve the case and save his job, if only to spite his superior.
The mystery has a number of twists and turns; however, the murderer's identity was not a total surprise to me. But that did not stop me from enjoying the book.
This is a somewhat melancholy book. Sebastian is mourning his wife, who died several years earlier. Vincent likewise was mourning his wife, who had died from consumption. Gemma, in turn, is mourning for Victor, whose death not only strikes her emotionally, but leaves her facing a bleak future.
Are there brighter days ahead for Gemma and Sebastian? I sure hope so! I'll find out once I get my hands on the second book, Murder at Traitors' Gate.
March 5, 2024
Delightful, old-school, police procedural novel set in the 1800’s England. The main characters are well thought out and described. There are murders, investigations, mayhem and lies, and this thriller is done in a way that I would imagine a novel had been written in the turn of the century.
There are surprises both good and bad, and many horrific things that happen to a certain kind of women in England during this time period. Pretty horrendous details of how men treated women of ill dispute and servants and relatives.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author Shapiro, the publisher, and Imogen Cooke who is an incredible narrator, for this ARC copy of the audiobook. I am forever grateful for the ability to find new audiobooks.
There are surprises both good and bad, and many horrific things that happen to a certain kind of women in England during this time period. Pretty horrendous details of how men treated women of ill dispute and servants and relatives.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author Shapiro, the publisher, and Imogen Cooke who is an incredible narrator, for this ARC copy of the audiobook. I am forever grateful for the ability to find new audiobooks.
October 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Murder mystery + late Victorian setting + a dash of a romance subplot = a good freaking time!
February 3, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery set in 1858 London with two engaging main characters.
The body of a young woman is found in Highgate Cemetary by widower journalist Victor Tate, who is later killed after being run over by an omnibus. His twin sister Gemma finds evidence in his belongings that he was being followed and is determined to help police detective Sebastian Bell investigate both murders.
The mystery was compelling, with all the interesting turns that had me glued. While its mostly Sebastian doing the bulk of the detecting, I am hoping future books we see more of Gemma taking the lead on finding key evidence.
What makes this book strong is the well-rounded main characters and their rapport. Sebastian is deeply troubled, blaming himself for his wife's murder and obliterating himself with opium. Gemma, a nurse, served in the Crimean War under Florence Nightingale, is resourceful and smart, but battles sexism and the perception that nurses are akin to sex workers (i.e. lowly). Both of them recognise each other's loneliness and pain, but complement each other.
Irina Shapiro also weaves in class and race in a subtle way, particularly Gemma and Sebastian being considered beneath because of their vocations and station in life.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series progresses and where Bell and Tate's partnership goes. More please!
Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.
The body of a young woman is found in Highgate Cemetary by widower journalist Victor Tate, who is later killed after being run over by an omnibus. His twin sister Gemma finds evidence in his belongings that he was being followed and is determined to help police detective Sebastian Bell investigate both murders.
The mystery was compelling, with all the interesting turns that had me glued. While its mostly Sebastian doing the bulk of the detecting, I am hoping future books we see more of Gemma taking the lead on finding key evidence.
What makes this book strong is the well-rounded main characters and their rapport. Sebastian is deeply troubled, blaming himself for his wife's murder and obliterating himself with opium. Gemma, a nurse, served in the Crimean War under Florence Nightingale, is resourceful and smart, but battles sexism and the perception that nurses are akin to sex workers (i.e. lowly). Both of them recognise each other's loneliness and pain, but complement each other.
Irina Shapiro also weaves in class and race in a subtle way, particularly Gemma and Sebastian being considered beneath because of their vocations and station in life.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series progresses and where Bell and Tate's partnership goes. More please!
Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 7, 2024
The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first instalment in a new historical mystery series that is set in 1858, in Victorian London, featuring Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell. We embark into a world full of intrigues and suspense with danger and secrets that are being uncover in every corner.
The writing is simply amazing, and the plot is so full of twists and turns making it so interesting and impossible to put down. Tate and Bell are unlikely companions, navigating their own demons while they join forces, and I must say we could feel the tension between them. I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops.
Overall, this is an amazing book, especially for those who enjoys a historical mystery. We have amazing characters with such an intricate plot that can make you feel the atmosphere of it and keep you on the edge until it’s over. It is a dark story and can be a bit too much for sensible readers but it’s so good at the crime solving.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
The writing is simply amazing, and the plot is so full of twists and turns making it so interesting and impossible to put down. Tate and Bell are unlikely companions, navigating their own demons while they join forces, and I must say we could feel the tension between them. I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops.
Overall, this is an amazing book, especially for those who enjoys a historical mystery. We have amazing characters with such an intricate plot that can make you feel the atmosphere of it and keep you on the edge until it’s over. It is a dark story and can be a bit too much for sensible readers but it’s so good at the crime solving.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
February 1, 2024
Thank you to Storm Publishing for an Netgalley ARC in an exchange for an independent and honest review.
Irina Shapiro did not disappoint with her first installment of the Tate & Bell Mystery series. Winding back to Victorian London, 1858, Shaprio leads you on a journey through the crimes and cover ups of high class London society through the eyes of her two main characters, Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. Bell, a Scotland Yard detective, is battling a range of personal struggles and substance abuse issues after the devastating death of his wife. Meanwhile, Gemma Tate, a nurse who practiced under Florence Nightingale in Crimea, has motives of her own for assisting Bell in tracking down the murderer responsible for not only the death of a young woman on display in the Highgate Cemetary, but potentially also her brother, who has just been killed after stumbling upon the murder scene at Highgate.
I immediately fell in love with the complexity of both characters and how they seem to compliment each other so well as they learn to navigate through life independently after each suffering the loss of their loved one. Each bring their own angle and cunning measure as they work their way through a string of connected associations and murders, all the while learning to hold themselves and each other up as they work toward a "new normal" way of life.
I honestly cannot wait to see where this series leads as I think this is a stunning beginning for both Bell and Tate and the possibility of a rather iconic working or even romantic relationship. They play off each other very well, and Tate's intelligence is not to be undermined, which I love for a woman in Victorian London. A wonderful read for those interested in mystery wrapped up in history.
Irina Shapiro did not disappoint with her first installment of the Tate & Bell Mystery series. Winding back to Victorian London, 1858, Shaprio leads you on a journey through the crimes and cover ups of high class London society through the eyes of her two main characters, Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. Bell, a Scotland Yard detective, is battling a range of personal struggles and substance abuse issues after the devastating death of his wife. Meanwhile, Gemma Tate, a nurse who practiced under Florence Nightingale in Crimea, has motives of her own for assisting Bell in tracking down the murderer responsible for not only the death of a young woman on display in the Highgate Cemetary, but potentially also her brother, who has just been killed after stumbling upon the murder scene at Highgate.
I immediately fell in love with the complexity of both characters and how they seem to compliment each other so well as they learn to navigate through life independently after each suffering the loss of their loved one. Each bring their own angle and cunning measure as they work their way through a string of connected associations and murders, all the while learning to hold themselves and each other up as they work toward a "new normal" way of life.
I honestly cannot wait to see where this series leads as I think this is a stunning beginning for both Bell and Tate and the possibility of a rather iconic working or even romantic relationship. They play off each other very well, and Tate's intelligence is not to be undermined, which I love for a woman in Victorian London. A wonderful read for those interested in mystery wrapped up in history.
August 15, 2024
Isn't there a saying along the lines of 'not judging a book by its' cover'?
Well, I was attracted to this book because of its cover. I've had a reading excursion of late from historical fiction, to gothic fiction, to historical mysteries...and The Highgate Cemetery Murder falls into the later category.
This is a book that does what it says on the tin (the tin being the cover and the title) It's a comfortable sofa of a book, a holiday read, which is engaging enough to want to read on but without being hugely challenging.
We are introduced to the two main characters - Gemma Tate - a nurse recently returned from the Crimean war, and Sebastian Bell - a police inspector recovering from a recent tragic bereavement. Both characters were interesting and felt like 'modern-thinking' individuals in a 19th century world - but it worked to highlight the challenges they faced such as bigotry, misogyny, and other words that are difficult to spell.
The story had an interesting turn of events at the end (I won't call it a twist as it wasn't sudden enough for that). A standalone story, it had certain elements of feeling like a setup for series. I guess the acid test of how successful this was, is if I will read book two straight away.
The answer is - I have downloaded it ...but I'm going to read something else first.
Well, I was attracted to this book because of its cover. I've had a reading excursion of late from historical fiction, to gothic fiction, to historical mysteries...and The Highgate Cemetery Murder falls into the later category.
This is a book that does what it says on the tin (the tin being the cover and the title) It's a comfortable sofa of a book, a holiday read, which is engaging enough to want to read on but without being hugely challenging.
We are introduced to the two main characters - Gemma Tate - a nurse recently returned from the Crimean war, and Sebastian Bell - a police inspector recovering from a recent tragic bereavement. Both characters were interesting and felt like 'modern-thinking' individuals in a 19th century world - but it worked to highlight the challenges they faced such as bigotry, misogyny, and other words that are difficult to spell.
The story had an interesting turn of events at the end (I won't call it a twist as it wasn't sudden enough for that). A standalone story, it had certain elements of feeling like a setup for series. I guess the acid test of how successful this was, is if I will read book two straight away.
The answer is - I have downloaded it ...but I'm going to read something else first.
August 18, 2024
Set in the gritty streets of 1850s London, this historical crime novel had all the right ingredients—a moody atmosphere, a twisty murder plot, and two intriguing leads, Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell. But sadly, it missed the mark.
Gemma, a nurse scarred by the horrors of the Crimean War, should be a celebrated war hero, right? Nope. Instead, she’s met with scepticism from the old boys’ club of the medical world and ends up stuck in a nursing job for an elderly patient. Her talent is wasted by the rigid conformity of the early Victorian era. Then there’s Inspector Bell, drowning his sorrows in opium after losing his wife. You’d think these two tortured souls would team up and spark some serious chemistry. But nope again—they only meet only several times in the whole book! I was hoping for some romance between the main characters, especially given the series name Tate and Bell Mystery, but it’s practically non-existent.
Sure, the crime-solving is clever, and the twists are decent, but the lack of connection between Gemma and Sebastian leaves the story feeling unbalanced. It’s a decent read, but it could’ve been a lot more engaging if the leads had just clicked a bit more. That said, the book does a good job of portraying a dark London, the early days of Scotland Yard, and the struggles of nurses returning from the Crimean War in a society that undervalues them.
Gemma, a nurse scarred by the horrors of the Crimean War, should be a celebrated war hero, right? Nope. Instead, she’s met with scepticism from the old boys’ club of the medical world and ends up stuck in a nursing job for an elderly patient. Her talent is wasted by the rigid conformity of the early Victorian era. Then there’s Inspector Bell, drowning his sorrows in opium after losing his wife. You’d think these two tortured souls would team up and spark some serious chemistry. But nope again—they only meet only several times in the whole book! I was hoping for some romance between the main characters, especially given the series name Tate and Bell Mystery, but it’s practically non-existent.
Sure, the crime-solving is clever, and the twists are decent, but the lack of connection between Gemma and Sebastian leaves the story feeling unbalanced. It’s a decent read, but it could’ve been a lot more engaging if the leads had just clicked a bit more. That said, the book does a good job of portraying a dark London, the early days of Scotland Yard, and the struggles of nurses returning from the Crimean War in a society that undervalues them.
April 17, 2024
Clearly, I’m in the minority here. I thought this book was just dreadful. It was dark and gruesome, with no redeeming qualities. Ultimately, the reveal was nothing new and the plot line has been done many times. I usually really enjoy historical mysteries, but this was just too depressing and trying for shock value. Not for me at all…I only finished it to find closure, but even that fell flat.
November 3, 2024
4 stars.
Low stakes murder mystery set in Victorian London. Very true crime with descriptive autopsy and detailed recounts of murder circumstances. If you like Sherlock homes or Downton Abbey add this to your TBR
Content: no spice, sparse strong language, murder, discussion of rape, pagan rituals, prostitution
Low stakes murder mystery set in Victorian London. Very true crime with descriptive autopsy and detailed recounts of murder circumstances. If you like Sherlock homes or Downton Abbey add this to your TBR
Content: no spice, sparse strong language, murder, discussion of rape, pagan rituals, prostitution
October 24, 2024
Good plot idea. Not good execution. And the characters dialogue was poorly done. I skimmed the majority of the book cuz it was so awkward. Won’t be reading the next book
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