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Tate and Bell Mystery #2
Murder at Traitors' Gate
The chill of winter has descended on London. But for Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate, there will be little cheer this season…
Gemma Tate has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past—her memories of nursing in the Crimean war—behind her. But when Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…
As dark betrayals come tumbling out, Gemma and Sebastian are on a dangerous race to uncover the truth. But in her determination to solve the case, could one rash act by Gemma place her next in the killer’s sights…?
The second addictive and atmospheric Tate and Bell mystery is perfect for fans of Andrea Penrose, the Lady Sherlock mysteries, and Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
Gemma Tate has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past—her memories of nursing in the Crimean war—behind her. But when Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…
As dark betrayals come tumbling out, Gemma and Sebastian are on a dangerous race to uncover the truth. But in her determination to solve the case, could one rash act by Gemma place her next in the killer’s sights…?
The second addictive and atmospheric Tate and Bell mystery is perfect for fans of Andrea Penrose, the Lady Sherlock mysteries, and Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
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First published June 24, 2024
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About the author
Irina Shapiro
84 books1,137 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 258 reviews
August 5, 2025
A highly entertaining Victorian whodunit!
On a cold winters morning a controversial newspaper reporter is found dead, with his tongue cut out and his body hanging from Traitors' Gate, outside the Tower of London. The murdered man was a former officer, who had served in the British army during the Crimean War. He had (supposedly) written numerous articles from the front line, lambasting his contemporaries for their callous disregard for the lives of ordinary soldiers. After he left the army he secured a prestigious job, as a journalist on the renowned "Daily Telegraph" newspaper. There he continued to court controversy as he exposed the shenanigans of London's elite. No shortage of suspects then?
Police Inspector, Sebastian Bell, is assigned to the case and with his trusty friend, Nurse Gemma Tate at his side, they investigate the murder. This investigation sees the duo entering the highly dangerous and politically murky world of Victorian London.
This was an atmospheric story that managed to capture a sense of how brittle life could be for both high and low born Londoners. You may be a member of the city's elite but misfortune and disgrace are only a hair's breath away. Blackmail, murder and revenge abound in this dark gothic story. I really enjoyed it!
On a cold winters morning a controversial newspaper reporter is found dead, with his tongue cut out and his body hanging from Traitors' Gate, outside the Tower of London. The murdered man was a former officer, who had served in the British army during the Crimean War. He had (supposedly) written numerous articles from the front line, lambasting his contemporaries for their callous disregard for the lives of ordinary soldiers. After he left the army he secured a prestigious job, as a journalist on the renowned "Daily Telegraph" newspaper. There he continued to court controversy as he exposed the shenanigans of London's elite. No shortage of suspects then?
Police Inspector, Sebastian Bell, is assigned to the case and with his trusty friend, Nurse Gemma Tate at his side, they investigate the murder. This investigation sees the duo entering the highly dangerous and politically murky world of Victorian London.
This was an atmospheric story that managed to capture a sense of how brittle life could be for both high and low born Londoners. You may be a member of the city's elite but misfortune and disgrace are only a hair's breath away. Blackmail, murder and revenge abound in this dark gothic story. I really enjoyed it!
May 14, 2024
Murder at Traitor's Gate (Tate and Bell Mystery, #2) by Irina Shapiro
Synopsis /
The chill of winter has descended on London. But for Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate, there will be little cheer this season…
Gemma Tate has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past – her memories of nursing in the Crimean war – behind her. Until Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, and Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…
As dark betrayals come tumbling out, Gemma and Sebastian are on a dangerous race to uncover the truth. In her determination to solve the case, could one rash act by Gemma place her next in the killer’s sights?
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 June 24, 2024.
One of the many enjoyable things about reading is that you can travel through space and time without ever leaving the comfort of your armchair. Prior to picking up this read, I was on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, when the D-Day operation had just begun. In Murder at Traitor's Gate, I'm even further back in time, in 1850's London. And after this, my next read will bounce me forward into the Spring of 1925 in Somerset, England. Fun Fact: Did you know that reading lights up your entire brain? A 2013 study out of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, measured readers MRI scans as they read a book and found that the deeper readers went into a story, the more areas of their brain were actively engaged.
This second book in Shapiro's addictive and atmospheric Tate and Bell mystery series is just as good as the first, so I'm already champing at the bit to read the third instalment.
Tuesday, December 14, 1858, and the story opens with a body found hanging from Traitor's Gate. The dead man was found suspended from the Gate by a large, sturdy meat hook which was wrapped around the victim's neck. But that wasn't the worst of the man's injuries. Someone had removed the victim's tongue. The perpetrator was sending a message.
Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard has been given the unenviable task of not only identifying the victim but has been ordered to find the malefactor responsible for this crime. Now remember, this is 1858, there's no such thing as DNA or fingerprint evidence. In fact, it wasn't until 1911 in People v. Jennings that a criminal trial used fingerprints evidence. Bell has to rely on his own intuition and his ability to read people's reactions to questioning.
Bell was able to ascertain that the victim's name was Jacob Harrow. It's here where the author makes clever case connections to both Harrow and Gemma Tate. The victim, Jacob Harrow was the journalist who reported on the Highgate Angel case (in book #1). And Gemma Tate? Well, after successfully solving the murder of her brother, Victor Tate in the previous book, Bell and Gemma have formed a friendship. He becomes concerned for Gemma's safety when he learns of her connection to Harrow through her time as a nurse in the Crimean War. As Bell continues his investigations, he uncovers secrets that others want to remain buried. When Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house it's now a dangerous race for Bell to uncover the truth, solve the case, and more importantly, keep Gemma safe.
Shapiro's writing is rich and full of descriptive text. The mystery threads are creatively plotted. As a reader, I had wondered how the author was going to incorporate Gemma Tate into further stories, but it seems as though my reservations were entirely unjustified.
Book 3 in the series is not due out until October 2024, so you have plenty of time to catch up!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Synopsis /
The chill of winter has descended on London. But for Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate, there will be little cheer this season…
Gemma Tate has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past – her memories of nursing in the Crimean war – behind her. Until Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, and Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…
As dark betrayals come tumbling out, Gemma and Sebastian are on a dangerous race to uncover the truth. In her determination to solve the case, could one rash act by Gemma place her next in the killer’s sights?
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 June 24, 2024.
One of the many enjoyable things about reading is that you can travel through space and time without ever leaving the comfort of your armchair. Prior to picking up this read, I was on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, when the D-Day operation had just begun. In Murder at Traitor's Gate, I'm even further back in time, in 1850's London. And after this, my next read will bounce me forward into the Spring of 1925 in Somerset, England. Fun Fact: Did you know that reading lights up your entire brain? A 2013 study out of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, measured readers MRI scans as they read a book and found that the deeper readers went into a story, the more areas of their brain were actively engaged.
This second book in Shapiro's addictive and atmospheric Tate and Bell mystery series is just as good as the first, so I'm already champing at the bit to read the third instalment.
Tuesday, December 14, 1858, and the story opens with a body found hanging from Traitor's Gate. The dead man was found suspended from the Gate by a large, sturdy meat hook which was wrapped around the victim's neck. But that wasn't the worst of the man's injuries. Someone had removed the victim's tongue. The perpetrator was sending a message.
Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard has been given the unenviable task of not only identifying the victim but has been ordered to find the malefactor responsible for this crime. Now remember, this is 1858, there's no such thing as DNA or fingerprint evidence. In fact, it wasn't until 1911 in People v. Jennings that a criminal trial used fingerprints evidence. Bell has to rely on his own intuition and his ability to read people's reactions to questioning.
Bell was able to ascertain that the victim's name was Jacob Harrow. It's here where the author makes clever case connections to both Harrow and Gemma Tate. The victim, Jacob Harrow was the journalist who reported on the Highgate Angel case (in book #1). And Gemma Tate? Well, after successfully solving the murder of her brother, Victor Tate in the previous book, Bell and Gemma have formed a friendship. He becomes concerned for Gemma's safety when he learns of her connection to Harrow through her time as a nurse in the Crimean War. As Bell continues his investigations, he uncovers secrets that others want to remain buried. When Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house it's now a dangerous race for Bell to uncover the truth, solve the case, and more importantly, keep Gemma safe.
Shapiro's writing is rich and full of descriptive text. The mystery threads are creatively plotted. As a reader, I had wondered how the author was going to incorporate Gemma Tate into further stories, but it seems as though my reservations were entirely unjustified.
Book 3 in the series is not due out until October 2024, so you have plenty of time to catch up!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 25, 2024
4 stars
One Liner: Better than the previous book!
Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is back on a new case. Someone had hung a dead body with a meat hook outside the Traitor’s Gate. The victim turns out to be a journalist Bell encountered in the previous case. Moreover, he was a war veteran. Bell realizes Gemma might help him find more information.
After her brother’s death, Gemma Tate moved into a boarding house and got a new job. She is more than happy to leave the dark past of the war behind. But when Bell asks for help, Gemma knows she cannot refuse.
Soon, they realize there’s a lot more than what’s known. Can Bell and Tate solve the case before it is too late?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Sebastian and Gemma.
My Thoughts:
So, I went into this book with a better understanding and it worked well. Despite the series title, this will be Bell and Tate’s investigation, with Sebastian getting more chapters. Gemma’s contribution is limited.
The case and the setting are dark like the previous book. It deftly uses the local weather and living conditions to create a sense of discomfort and danger.
This is a dark mystery but not too gruesome. It has a few graphic details, only to the necessary extent. I appreciate this since it keeps the focus on the plot. Not much humor, though. Don’t expect light-hearted stuff from this one.
The pacing feels better this time. Though the page count is the same, the narration and action are steady. This keeps the plot moving even when there is little to no progress in the investigation.
The mystery is solid with enough suspects. There aren’t many red herrings but it does take a while to guess the killer. I got it right based on certain clues, so the reveal aligns with the details provided.
However, there are quite a few characters to track. Not all of them are major, so it is easy to ignore the ones that simply move the plot forward.
Yet again, I’m not convinced by the chemistry between the lead couple but it is better than before. Hopefully, I can feel it more in book #3 or #4. There’s already a lead for the third book, so I am curious to see where it’ll go.
To summarize, Murder at Traitors' Gate is an engaging mystery that’ll keep you wanting to read more. The main characters, especially Bell, make this a worthy read. While the book works as a standalone, starting with the first might be a better idea.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderatTraitorsGate
One Liner: Better than the previous book!
Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is back on a new case. Someone had hung a dead body with a meat hook outside the Traitor’s Gate. The victim turns out to be a journalist Bell encountered in the previous case. Moreover, he was a war veteran. Bell realizes Gemma might help him find more information.
After her brother’s death, Gemma Tate moved into a boarding house and got a new job. She is more than happy to leave the dark past of the war behind. But when Bell asks for help, Gemma knows she cannot refuse.
Soon, they realize there’s a lot more than what’s known. Can Bell and Tate solve the case before it is too late?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Sebastian and Gemma.
My Thoughts:
So, I went into this book with a better understanding and it worked well. Despite the series title, this will be Bell and Tate’s investigation, with Sebastian getting more chapters. Gemma’s contribution is limited.
The case and the setting are dark like the previous book. It deftly uses the local weather and living conditions to create a sense of discomfort and danger.
This is a dark mystery but not too gruesome. It has a few graphic details, only to the necessary extent. I appreciate this since it keeps the focus on the plot. Not much humor, though. Don’t expect light-hearted stuff from this one.
The pacing feels better this time. Though the page count is the same, the narration and action are steady. This keeps the plot moving even when there is little to no progress in the investigation.
The mystery is solid with enough suspects. There aren’t many red herrings but it does take a while to guess the killer. I got it right based on certain clues, so the reveal aligns with the details provided.
However, there are quite a few characters to track. Not all of them are major, so it is easy to ignore the ones that simply move the plot forward.
Yet again, I’m not convinced by the chemistry between the lead couple but it is better than before. Hopefully, I can feel it more in book #3 or #4. There’s already a lead for the third book, so I am curious to see where it’ll go.
To summarize, Murder at Traitors' Gate is an engaging mystery that’ll keep you wanting to read more. The main characters, especially Bell, make this a worthy read. While the book works as a standalone, starting with the first might be a better idea.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderatTraitorsGate
April 28, 2025
I read the first book in the series and gave it a 5* rating and was excited to read this one. It was a police procedural that takes place in the late 1850's London. Interesting questioning suspects and witnesses but it was missing the tension between Gemma and Detective Bell. They have limited interaction till about 40% of the book. I found the pacing slower and little suspense that I usually associate with a murder mystery. The blackmailed characters readily gave up their secrets to the inspector (if I was paying good money to keep them secret, I am not going to blab them the first time I am asked). The last half picked up the pace and I enjoyed the murder being solved. The last chapter at Christmas was a treat. Will continue the series.
June 24, 2024
Happy Publication Day!
This was even better than the first one, I couldn’t put it down!
Sebastian is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow, a journalist and an acquaintance of the late Victor Tate. His reasons to speak to Gemma about the case are flimsy at first (he just wants to see her🤭) but it quickly turns out that she really can help.
Maybe it’s because I knew what to expect in terms of the dark setting or maybe the slow-burn romance balanced out the heavy details, but this book seemed somewhat lighter than the previous one. It still was dark, but there was also a touch of hope.
The mystery was exquisite, the story flew seamlessly and was easy to follow despite its complexity. Trying to put together the clues and solve the puzzle was a lot of fun and it was incredibly satisfying that I actually got it right. 🎉
As in the first book the working class of the Victorian London and the city itself were depicted in a very realistic way. It provided a captivating historical background which didn’t overshadow the story and this is what I love about historical fiction.
I can’t wait for the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date Jun 24 2024
This was even better than the first one, I couldn’t put it down!
Sebastian is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow, a journalist and an acquaintance of the late Victor Tate. His reasons to speak to Gemma about the case are flimsy at first (he just wants to see her🤭) but it quickly turns out that she really can help.
Maybe it’s because I knew what to expect in terms of the dark setting or maybe the slow-burn romance balanced out the heavy details, but this book seemed somewhat lighter than the previous one. It still was dark, but there was also a touch of hope.
The mystery was exquisite, the story flew seamlessly and was easy to follow despite its complexity. Trying to put together the clues and solve the puzzle was a lot of fun and it was incredibly satisfying that I actually got it right. 🎉
As in the first book the working class of the Victorian London and the city itself were depicted in a very realistic way. It provided a captivating historical background which didn’t overshadow the story and this is what I love about historical fiction.
I can’t wait for the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date Jun 24 2024
June 14, 2024
Inspector Sebastian Bell was called to Traitor's Gate on the edge of the river, where a body was hanging by a meat hook from the gate, brutally murdered. When the identity of the man became known - Jacob Harrow, journalist and disliked by many - Sebastian immediately directed his investigation to the man's place of work. Sebastian had been injured in his previous case, and was still recovering. But he was determined to find the killer, although he wasn't having any luck with the investigation. Everything pointed to the war in Crimea, where Harrow had served, along with Sebastian's friend Gemma Tate (nurse) and other persons of interest. When another nurse friend of Gemma's was murdered in her bed, Sebastian was worried Gemma would be next.
As Gemma helped the Inspector unravel the mystery, he was getting pressure from his superiors to make an arrest. But he didn't want to arrest an innocent man, even though there was one who fitted the bill. Was his gut feeling wrong?
Set in London, 1858, Murder at Traitors' Gate is the 2nd in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and I enjoyed it very much. The only issue I had was the amount of characters, and the similar names. But aside from that, it was a fast paced, gritty historical mystery which entertained me from start to finish. I'm finding both Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate to be exceptional characters, and I'm looking forward to #3. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As Gemma helped the Inspector unravel the mystery, he was getting pressure from his superiors to make an arrest. But he didn't want to arrest an innocent man, even though there was one who fitted the bill. Was his gut feeling wrong?
Set in London, 1858, Murder at Traitors' Gate is the 2nd in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and I enjoyed it very much. The only issue I had was the amount of characters, and the similar names. But aside from that, it was a fast paced, gritty historical mystery which entertained me from start to finish. I'm finding both Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate to be exceptional characters, and I'm looking forward to #3. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2024
Murder at Traitors’ Gate (A Tate and Bell Mystery #2) was the anticipated second book in this captivating and atmospheric series that I had the pleasure of reading. After reading the first book, The Highgate Cemetery Murder, in this series, I was hoping that it would not be long before the second book was written and published. Irina Shapiro was once again able to write another dark yet engaging historical fiction mystery that drew me in right from the very beginning. The setting for Murder at Traitors’ Gate was London during the 1850’s. I enjoyed all the details of the Victorian era that were nuanced throughout the book. It was paced perfectly and kept me engaged throughout.
After burying her twin brother, Gemma had moved out of the apartment she had shared with Victor. Gemma Tate had moved into an all women’s boarding house on Bikenhead Street. She had also secured a position as a nurse at The Foundling Hospital which was a fancy name for an orphanage. Gemma continued to grieve for her twin brother and also had a hard time trying to put the horrors she witnessed as a nurse during the Crimean War behind her. She hadn’t seen Police Inspector Sebastian Bell in quite a while but that was all about to change.
In the early morning hours on a cold Tuesday on December 14, 1858, a horrific crime was discovered and reported. A man had been hoisted onto Traitors’ Gate and secured with a meat hook around his neck. Whoever had taken the time to stage this crime scene had thought it through and wanted it to be noticed. Police Inspector Sebastian Bell was assigned to investigate this case. As soon as Police Inspector Bell arrived on the scene, he was quick to identify the victim. The body of Jacob Harrow hung unnaturally above Traitors’ Gate. Jacob Harrow had been a journalist and had been in Crimea at the same time as Gemma Tate was serving as a nurse in the Crimean War. Gemma’s late twin brother, Victor, had also been an acquaintance of Jacob Harrow. As Police Inspector Sebastian Bell observed the body of Jacob Harrow, he discovered that his tongue had been cut off. With that observation, Sebastian Bell began to suspect that whoever had placed Jacob Harrow here was sending a clear and very convincing message to those that found him.
Sebastian had persuaded Colin Ramsey to perform the autopsy. Not long after Sebastian had gotten confirmation from Colin Ramsey, the preferred police surgeon of Sebastian Bell, that Jacob Harrow had indeed been murdered and he began his investigation. Then another victim was found murdered in much the same manner as Jacob Harrow had been. The second victim had also been in Crimea during the Crimean War. Sebastian paid a call to his friend, Gemma Tate. Gemma had known both victims so perhaps she would be able to help Sebastian shed some light on this investigation. After all, Gemma was a great help to Sebastian in the Highgate Murder. As much as Sebastian wanted and needed Gemma’s help, he was also concerned about her safety. He was starting to care a lot about Gemma. Would Sebastian and Gemma be able to figure out who the murderer was and why the murderer had killed both of these victims in the same way? What was the message the murderer was trying to convey?
Murder at Traitors’ Gate was full of twists, turns, lots of suspects, action and danger. It was another dark mystery that led Sebastian and Gemma down dangerous and confusing paths. Every time I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, a new clue popped up and sent me back to re-examine the suspects and the facts. I enjoyed the hint of romance between Gemma and Sebastian that had started in the first book and continued to grow in this one. Originally, I had been worried that Irina Shapiro might have had difficulty writing a second book in this series that came close to the intensity that I felt when I read The Highgate Murder Mystery. Well, I shouldn’t have worried. Murder at Traitors’ Gate was just as intense and gripping as the first book in this series if not more. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series now. I highly recommend Murder at Traitors’ Gate by Irina Shapiro if you enjoy historical fiction mysteries.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Murder at Traitors’ Gate (A Tate and Bell Mystery #2) by Irina Shapiro through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
After burying her twin brother, Gemma had moved out of the apartment she had shared with Victor. Gemma Tate had moved into an all women’s boarding house on Bikenhead Street. She had also secured a position as a nurse at The Foundling Hospital which was a fancy name for an orphanage. Gemma continued to grieve for her twin brother and also had a hard time trying to put the horrors she witnessed as a nurse during the Crimean War behind her. She hadn’t seen Police Inspector Sebastian Bell in quite a while but that was all about to change.
In the early morning hours on a cold Tuesday on December 14, 1858, a horrific crime was discovered and reported. A man had been hoisted onto Traitors’ Gate and secured with a meat hook around his neck. Whoever had taken the time to stage this crime scene had thought it through and wanted it to be noticed. Police Inspector Sebastian Bell was assigned to investigate this case. As soon as Police Inspector Bell arrived on the scene, he was quick to identify the victim. The body of Jacob Harrow hung unnaturally above Traitors’ Gate. Jacob Harrow had been a journalist and had been in Crimea at the same time as Gemma Tate was serving as a nurse in the Crimean War. Gemma’s late twin brother, Victor, had also been an acquaintance of Jacob Harrow. As Police Inspector Sebastian Bell observed the body of Jacob Harrow, he discovered that his tongue had been cut off. With that observation, Sebastian Bell began to suspect that whoever had placed Jacob Harrow here was sending a clear and very convincing message to those that found him.
Sebastian had persuaded Colin Ramsey to perform the autopsy. Not long after Sebastian had gotten confirmation from Colin Ramsey, the preferred police surgeon of Sebastian Bell, that Jacob Harrow had indeed been murdered and he began his investigation. Then another victim was found murdered in much the same manner as Jacob Harrow had been. The second victim had also been in Crimea during the Crimean War. Sebastian paid a call to his friend, Gemma Tate. Gemma had known both victims so perhaps she would be able to help Sebastian shed some light on this investigation. After all, Gemma was a great help to Sebastian in the Highgate Murder. As much as Sebastian wanted and needed Gemma’s help, he was also concerned about her safety. He was starting to care a lot about Gemma. Would Sebastian and Gemma be able to figure out who the murderer was and why the murderer had killed both of these victims in the same way? What was the message the murderer was trying to convey?
Murder at Traitors’ Gate was full of twists, turns, lots of suspects, action and danger. It was another dark mystery that led Sebastian and Gemma down dangerous and confusing paths. Every time I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, a new clue popped up and sent me back to re-examine the suspects and the facts. I enjoyed the hint of romance between Gemma and Sebastian that had started in the first book and continued to grow in this one. Originally, I had been worried that Irina Shapiro might have had difficulty writing a second book in this series that came close to the intensity that I felt when I read The Highgate Murder Mystery. Well, I shouldn’t have worried. Murder at Traitors’ Gate was just as intense and gripping as the first book in this series if not more. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series now. I highly recommend Murder at Traitors’ Gate by Irina Shapiro if you enjoy historical fiction mysteries.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Murder at Traitors’ Gate (A Tate and Bell Mystery #2) by Irina Shapiro through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 17, 2024
You know that feeling of anticipation, excitement and giddiness when you begin reading a book that is right up your alley? Well this was THAT book!
I love a well-written historical mystery set in other countries- especially England. And Ms. Shapiro delivered exactly what I was hoping for! It is the year 1858 in London. Inspector Bell is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow- a veteran of the Crimean War and now a journalist who is gruesomely murdered and left to hang by a meat hook on the gates of The Tower of London. Through his investigation, Bell discovers that all connections and clues lead to people that were acquainted with Harrow during his time in Crimea.
There were so many things I liked about this book! I loved the realistic descriptions of London at the time. This is not the romanticized, picture perfect London we see in many regency novels. It is a dark and honest portrayal where the author weaves vivid images depicting everyday life at this time- for people of all economic levels. We see what it was truly like in the city, at the hospitals, at boarding houses. I felt like I was walking with the characters as the story unfolded. And the descriptions of London were strewn throughout the story, making the city itself a major character.
The characters! Inspector Bell, Gemma Tate (his friend who is a nurse and helps with investigation), Colin Ramsey, and the others involved in the case. Each of the characters (especially the main 3) are coping with despair/loneliness. Yet the author also shows how they have hope in their circumstances through their developing friendships with each other.
The investigation. I am always fascinated to read historical mysteries. You have to approach this type of story by first getting rid of your 21st century perspective. The persistence and determination to discover, hunt down and connect all the information and people is a puzzle. There are no computers, google searches, etc. The tension is racked up when one of the characters is in danger- but they cannot just call someone for help! And keeping it all straight- well at first I had to jot a few notes, but as the story continued, there was an ebb and flow that made sense!
The conclusion was well done. I figured out the culprit at about 85%. But boy did I have the motive wrong! And yet, it was even better than what I thought!
I highly recommend this if you liked Caleb Carr's The Alienist, Sarah Pinborough's Mayhem, Louis Bayard's The Pale Blue Eye, the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris, Lyndsay Faye's The Gods of Gotham series.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I love a well-written historical mystery set in other countries- especially England. And Ms. Shapiro delivered exactly what I was hoping for! It is the year 1858 in London. Inspector Bell is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow- a veteran of the Crimean War and now a journalist who is gruesomely murdered and left to hang by a meat hook on the gates of The Tower of London. Through his investigation, Bell discovers that all connections and clues lead to people that were acquainted with Harrow during his time in Crimea.
There were so many things I liked about this book! I loved the realistic descriptions of London at the time. This is not the romanticized, picture perfect London we see in many regency novels. It is a dark and honest portrayal where the author weaves vivid images depicting everyday life at this time- for people of all economic levels. We see what it was truly like in the city, at the hospitals, at boarding houses. I felt like I was walking with the characters as the story unfolded. And the descriptions of London were strewn throughout the story, making the city itself a major character.
The characters! Inspector Bell, Gemma Tate (his friend who is a nurse and helps with investigation), Colin Ramsey, and the others involved in the case. Each of the characters (especially the main 3) are coping with despair/loneliness. Yet the author also shows how they have hope in their circumstances through their developing friendships with each other.
The investigation. I am always fascinated to read historical mysteries. You have to approach this type of story by first getting rid of your 21st century perspective. The persistence and determination to discover, hunt down and connect all the information and people is a puzzle. There are no computers, google searches, etc. The tension is racked up when one of the characters is in danger- but they cannot just call someone for help! And keeping it all straight- well at first I had to jot a few notes, but as the story continued, there was an ebb and flow that made sense!
The conclusion was well done. I figured out the culprit at about 85%. But boy did I have the motive wrong! And yet, it was even better than what I thought!
I highly recommend this if you liked Caleb Carr's The Alienist, Sarah Pinborough's Mayhem, Louis Bayard's The Pale Blue Eye, the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris, Lyndsay Faye's The Gods of Gotham series.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 1, 2024
Murder At Traitors’ Gate is the second book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Russian-born British author, Irina Shapiro. Inspector Sebastian Bell takes along his friend, Dr Colin Ramsey to see the victim’s body in situ, hanging by butcher’s hook from Traitors’ Gate, because they both know him: Jacob Harrow, the Daily Telegraph journalist who reported on the Highgate Angel case. The grisly public display must be a message of some sort, but to whom?
Colin’s autopsy shows that Harrow was stabbed with a curved knife, after his tongue was cut out. His valuables were still on his person, as well as a nazar, an evil eye charm. At Harrow’s surprisingly richly-appointed home, Bell learns that Harrow’s valet was recently dismissed for theft, thus might bear a grudge, that his locked study has been ransacked, an Ottoman dagger is missing, and evidence of certain financial transactions removed.
Further investigation reveals that this war correspondent who wrote such impassioned reports about the conditions soldiers suffered in Crimea was, since his return, likely blackmailing at least four people with some association to the Crimean War. His editor mentions a whistleblower whose story was rejected by Harrow, whom Bell concludes may have been disgruntled.
And the younger brother of a Crimean War Captain who suicided after failing to get Harrow convicted for defamation might have reason to exact revenge. All in all, a number of people with motives for murder need to be followed up. And because of the Crimean link, Bell decides to talk to Gemma Tate to explore what she might know about any of them. Also, he values her analytical mind and her way of making connections most people missed.
Now living in a women’s boarding house and nursing at the Foundling Hospital, Gemma tells Sebastian what she can remember, then goes to see the nurse who has stayed in touch with many of her colleagues after their service in Scutari ended, Lydia Morton. But Lydia hurries off without telling her anything. The next day, Bell discovers she, too, has been murdered.
The manner of her death, the fact that she nursed in Crimea and knew Harrow indicates their murders are connected. Gemma observes “To a dying man or a demoralized surgeon, a nurse is no different than a priest. There’s a desperate need to unburden oneself, and who better to confide in than a woman who has shown endless kindness and understanding?” Bell worries that her association with Lydia Morton may make Gemma a target.
With pressure from the Police Commissioner on his Superintendent, Bell is given a deadline for making an arrest, but he intuitively feels that the most likely suspect isn’t guilty of these crimes. He needs to find who is. Before that happens, he himself comes under attack and Gustav, the cat he reluctantly inherited, earns his soft bed and treats when he contributes to saving Sebastian’s life.
Once again, Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, gives the reader some clever detective work with a few red herrings and a twist at the reveal. The third book in this excellent historical crime fiction series, Murder at the Foundling Hospital will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
Colin’s autopsy shows that Harrow was stabbed with a curved knife, after his tongue was cut out. His valuables were still on his person, as well as a nazar, an evil eye charm. At Harrow’s surprisingly richly-appointed home, Bell learns that Harrow’s valet was recently dismissed for theft, thus might bear a grudge, that his locked study has been ransacked, an Ottoman dagger is missing, and evidence of certain financial transactions removed.
Further investigation reveals that this war correspondent who wrote such impassioned reports about the conditions soldiers suffered in Crimea was, since his return, likely blackmailing at least four people with some association to the Crimean War. His editor mentions a whistleblower whose story was rejected by Harrow, whom Bell concludes may have been disgruntled.
And the younger brother of a Crimean War Captain who suicided after failing to get Harrow convicted for defamation might have reason to exact revenge. All in all, a number of people with motives for murder need to be followed up. And because of the Crimean link, Bell decides to talk to Gemma Tate to explore what she might know about any of them. Also, he values her analytical mind and her way of making connections most people missed.
Now living in a women’s boarding house and nursing at the Foundling Hospital, Gemma tells Sebastian what she can remember, then goes to see the nurse who has stayed in touch with many of her colleagues after their service in Scutari ended, Lydia Morton. But Lydia hurries off without telling her anything. The next day, Bell discovers she, too, has been murdered.
The manner of her death, the fact that she nursed in Crimea and knew Harrow indicates their murders are connected. Gemma observes “To a dying man or a demoralized surgeon, a nurse is no different than a priest. There’s a desperate need to unburden oneself, and who better to confide in than a woman who has shown endless kindness and understanding?” Bell worries that her association with Lydia Morton may make Gemma a target.
With pressure from the Police Commissioner on his Superintendent, Bell is given a deadline for making an arrest, but he intuitively feels that the most likely suspect isn’t guilty of these crimes. He needs to find who is. Before that happens, he himself comes under attack and Gustav, the cat he reluctantly inherited, earns his soft bed and treats when he contributes to saving Sebastian’s life.
Once again, Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, gives the reader some clever detective work with a few red herrings and a twist at the reveal. The third book in this excellent historical crime fiction series, Murder at the Foundling Hospital will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
July 30, 2024
A dead body was found hanging at the Traitor’s Gate and Inspector Bell is called to investigate a new, muddled case. When the evidences hark back to the Crimean war he has to ask for nurse Gemma Tate help again.
In this second installment the dynamics between Sebastian and Gemma are different, they know each other better, they trust each other intuitions, they care for each other more, and they are considerate and protective. I've also liked how Sebastian see Gemma true worth, and during Victorian era it's not a given.
Irina Shapiro created a murder mystery with so many credible suspects that I wasn't able to guess the culprit until the very end. The gloomy atmosphere, the morally grey characters and their strong sense of hopelessness add up to the beauty of this novel.
I highly recommend Murder at Traitors' Gate. Get ready to be transported to the Victorian grimy and vicious London, and enjoy the journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
July 8, 2025
Another gritty mystery for Sebastian Bell.
Gemma has moved into a boarding house and works at a foundling hospital. She’s supposed to be in mourning, but there’s a great observation that proper mourning is for the wealthy - Gemma has to work.
Sebastian is tracking a murderer who is picking off people who were serving in Crimea at the same time as Gemma. Her only friend is one of the victims.
I thought the twist was evident from about halfway through, but that didn’t diminish the fun of reading this one.
Sebastian and Gemma are getting closer. Sebastian’s superior is thinking better of him. Sebastian’s cat plays a small, but significant role. This was a great ride!
Gemma has moved into a boarding house and works at a foundling hospital. She’s supposed to be in mourning, but there’s a great observation that proper mourning is for the wealthy - Gemma has to work.
Sebastian is tracking a murderer who is picking off people who were serving in Crimea at the same time as Gemma. Her only friend is one of the victims.
I thought the twist was evident from about halfway through, but that didn’t diminish the fun of reading this one.
Sebastian and Gemma are getting closer. Sebastian’s superior is thinking better of him. Sebastian’s cat plays a small, but significant role. This was a great ride!
June 24, 2024
Engaging!
The plot was intriguing. A journalist, Jacob Harrow, has been brutally killed and hung up by a meat hook at Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London.
Inspector Sebastian Bell is once again involved.
As it turns out, the journalist had been in the Crimean War. Naturally Bell consults with Nurse Gemma Tate. Gemma had nursed at Scutari hospital. It had been in Gemma’s words, “hell on earth.”From here things become quite convoluted.
Bell is concerned for Gemma’s safety. As he should be because Gemma is making enquires that might be dangerous for her.
I find it interesting that society’s regard for the nurses who went to the Crimea. These women braved unspeakable conditions, forged on whilst struggling to survive themselves, and dedicated themselves to their patients. Yet when they return from the war they are greeted with harshness and judgment, regarded as little more than prostitutes. (Other writers have also posited this attitude.
This second in the series was engaging but to my mind not quite as sharp as the first. I’m looking forward to the next title, particularly to seeing how Sebastian and Gemma’s relationship might develop.
A Storm invite ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
The plot was intriguing. A journalist, Jacob Harrow, has been brutally killed and hung up by a meat hook at Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London.
Inspector Sebastian Bell is once again involved.
As it turns out, the journalist had been in the Crimean War. Naturally Bell consults with Nurse Gemma Tate. Gemma had nursed at Scutari hospital. It had been in Gemma’s words, “hell on earth.”From here things become quite convoluted.
Bell is concerned for Gemma’s safety. As he should be because Gemma is making enquires that might be dangerous for her.
I find it interesting that society’s regard for the nurses who went to the Crimea. These women braved unspeakable conditions, forged on whilst struggling to survive themselves, and dedicated themselves to their patients. Yet when they return from the war they are greeted with harshness and judgment, regarded as little more than prostitutes. (Other writers have also posited this attitude.
This second in the series was engaging but to my mind not quite as sharp as the first. I’m looking forward to the next title, particularly to seeing how Sebastian and Gemma’s relationship might develop.
A Storm invite ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
September 24, 2024
A strong second entry in this series. This one takes place about 6 weeks after the events of The Highgate Cemetery Murder.
London, December 1858. Gemma Tate has moved into a boarding house (ladies only, of course, no men allowed!) and started a new job at the Foundling Hospital (which is not a real hospital, but rather an orphanage). Sebastian Bell is still with Scotland Yard, his job momentarily secure after solving the previous murder case. This new case looks to be just as tricky.
From the blurb:
"Gemma Tate> has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past – her memories of nursing in the Crimean war – behind her. Until Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, and Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…"
Sebastian soon discovers that Jacob Farrow was earning a goodly sum as a blackmailer. A little more digging reveals the names of his victims. But which one of them was angry enough to commit the crime of murder?
I had a good time with this one. Besides catching up with favorite characters from the first book, the mystery really had me going for a while. The big reveal at the end led to a few surprises. I also liked where the relationship between our two leads is headed.
The author has a deft hand with her characters. Sebastian and Gemma are fully realized as people. Even the minor characters seem real, not cardboard. And she does a great job with her setting. I could almost feel the damp and cold.
The third book, Murder at the Foundling Hospital, will soon be available. I am eager to get my hands on it.
London, December 1858. Gemma Tate has moved into a boarding house (ladies only, of course, no men allowed!) and started a new job at the Foundling Hospital (which is not a real hospital, but rather an orphanage). Sebastian Bell is still with Scotland Yard, his job momentarily secure after solving the previous murder case. This new case looks to be just as tricky.
From the blurb:
"Gemma Tate> has a new job and a new address. She is putting her past – her memories of nursing in the Crimean war – behind her. Until Jacob Harrow, a journalist with ties to Crimea, is found brutally killed, and Gemma is pulled into the investigation.
Police inspector Sebastian Bell works alone. But when all signs point towards a dark secret Harrow brought back from the war, he realizes he needs Gemma’s help to untangle the mystery. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house…"
Sebastian soon discovers that Jacob Farrow was earning a goodly sum as a blackmailer. A little more digging reveals the names of his victims. But which one of them was angry enough to commit the crime of murder?
I had a good time with this one. Besides catching up with favorite characters from the first book, the mystery really had me going for a while. The big reveal at the end led to a few surprises. I also liked where the relationship between our two leads is headed.
The author has a deft hand with her characters. Sebastian and Gemma are fully realized as people. Even the minor characters seem real, not cardboard. And she does a great job with her setting. I could almost feel the damp and cold.
The third book, Murder at the Foundling Hospital, will soon be available. I am eager to get my hands on it.
May 24, 2024
Irina Shapiro's Murder at Traitor's Gate is the second volume in the Tate and Bell historical mystery series, which are definitely past "cozy," but not thrillers in terms of the blood and the psychological horror.
Tate is Gemma Tate, forced to settle in to a new life after the death of her brother with whom she lived. She's now renting a room in a strict and none-too-inviting boarding house. She's also begun work at an orphanage where she is not too get too close to the children because they shouldn't get used affection because there will probably be very little of it in their lives. Emma is uncomfortably wavering between remaining distant and offering the children the kind of affection they're desperate for. Geem is recently back from Scutari, where she worked as one of Florence Nightingale's nurses, so she has seen far more suffering and lives lost for no purpose than most women of her time.
Bell is Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard. His pregnant wife was killed in an incident connected to a prior case, and Sebastian's sense of justice and his depth of despair are both in evidence. At the Yard, his direct supervisor runs hot and cold, more concerned in public appearance than in taking the necessary investigative steps to find the perp, wherever, wherever those steps may lead. Sometimes he's the golden boy (man, really) other times he fears losing his job—and perhaps being forced to return to the U.S. to join his estranged brother on the family farm.
Sebastian and Gemma crossed paths in the first volume in this series, and she helped him solve an important case. Now there's a new case that appears to involve a number of people who served Scutari during the Crimean War, so once again he's turning to Gemma.
The case begins with the murder of a newspaperman and branches out from there with a growing cast of villains and victims. The situation, as it does in such novels, is growing more and more dangerous for Gemma and Sebastian by the day. And there seems to be a bit of a romance developing between the two, though neither is fully honest about their feelings.
This is one of those books that gets more involving as it approaches the end, and I found myself doing the "just one more chapter" thing far later into the night than I should have. If you're looking for a good summer read that is more-than-cozy, you'll want to check out Murder at Traitor's Gate.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Tate is Gemma Tate, forced to settle in to a new life after the death of her brother with whom she lived. She's now renting a room in a strict and none-too-inviting boarding house. She's also begun work at an orphanage where she is not too get too close to the children because they shouldn't get used affection because there will probably be very little of it in their lives. Emma is uncomfortably wavering between remaining distant and offering the children the kind of affection they're desperate for. Geem is recently back from Scutari, where she worked as one of Florence Nightingale's nurses, so she has seen far more suffering and lives lost for no purpose than most women of her time.
Bell is Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard. His pregnant wife was killed in an incident connected to a prior case, and Sebastian's sense of justice and his depth of despair are both in evidence. At the Yard, his direct supervisor runs hot and cold, more concerned in public appearance than in taking the necessary investigative steps to find the perp, wherever, wherever those steps may lead. Sometimes he's the golden boy (man, really) other times he fears losing his job—and perhaps being forced to return to the U.S. to join his estranged brother on the family farm.
Sebastian and Gemma crossed paths in the first volume in this series, and she helped him solve an important case. Now there's a new case that appears to involve a number of people who served Scutari during the Crimean War, so once again he's turning to Gemma.
The case begins with the murder of a newspaperman and branches out from there with a growing cast of villains and victims. The situation, as it does in such novels, is growing more and more dangerous for Gemma and Sebastian by the day. And there seems to be a bit of a romance developing between the two, though neither is fully honest about their feelings.
This is one of those books that gets more involving as it approaches the end, and I found myself doing the "just one more chapter" thing far later into the night than I should have. If you're looking for a good summer read that is more-than-cozy, you'll want to check out Murder at Traitor's Gate.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
July 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the first book in the series but this one was even better. I like Gemma and Sebastian a lot. I thought their budding romance is being developed very well and realistically. I was very pleased with their conversation on Christmas Day and look forward to more developments in the next book.
The mystery was excellent with a twist I didn’t figure out until the end.
Shapiro has almost totally corrected her previous reliance on modern terms and phrasing. Although I found one glaring example when a character says ‘…that just doesn’t compute.’ I mean, nobody in 19th century England would say that! But all in all Shapiro has really cleaned up her act in this series.
I like Colin and his mother and Mabel. They add a little bit to the book as Sebastian’s friends.
I will definitely preorder book 3, due out in a few months.
The mystery was excellent with a twist I didn’t figure out until the end.
Shapiro has almost totally corrected her previous reliance on modern terms and phrasing. Although I found one glaring example when a character says ‘…that just doesn’t compute.’ I mean, nobody in 19th century England would say that! But all in all Shapiro has really cleaned up her act in this series.
I like Colin and his mother and Mabel. They add a little bit to the book as Sebastian’s friends.
I will definitely preorder book 3, due out in a few months.
December 17, 2025
This wasn't a bad book at all, but it didn't quite live up to the immense enjoyment I experienced with the first installment. I felt the storyline was somewhat sluggish at times, dragging a little more than I had hoped, which affected my overall engagement.
Additionally, I didn't enjoy the development of the relationship between Tate and Bell as much as in the previous book; it seemed to me that their connection didn't progress quickly enough, leaving some scenes feeling somewhat stagnant.
On a positive note, the mystery surrounding the whodunnit was still very intriguing and managed to keep me guessing throughout. However, despite these strengths, the book didn't deliver the same level of surprise or 'wow' factor that made the first one so memorable.
Additionally, I didn't enjoy the development of the relationship between Tate and Bell as much as in the previous book; it seemed to me that their connection didn't progress quickly enough, leaving some scenes feeling somewhat stagnant.
On a positive note, the mystery surrounding the whodunnit was still very intriguing and managed to keep me guessing throughout. However, despite these strengths, the book didn't deliver the same level of surprise or 'wow' factor that made the first one so memorable.
August 16, 2025
Another solid book in the series. I love the setting - gloomy, grimy Victorian London. Sebastian is an investigator who works with his dear friend, Gemma. I enjoy the slow burn of their relationship and I love their characters separately. The mystery was great as well! It was engaging and kept you guessing. Solid 4.25⭐️
October 25, 2024
Detective Sebastian Bell has a new investigation, and he’s mostly recovered from the events of book one. A man was hung from traitor’s gate at London Bridge, and Bell has to first identify the man, and then find his murderer, while under pressure to swiftly close the case.
Soon, Bell discovers that the dead man is Jacob Harrow (former colleague to Gemma Tate’s deceased brother). Harrow made his fame with an initially anonymous series of articles about the terrible conditions during the Crimean war, which he then claimed were his after leaving the army. Now the man is dead, and Bell begins to build a picture of the man’s professional and personal lives.
The Crimean War naturally brings Gemma Tate to Bell’s mind; she is working at a foundling hospital and living in a women’s boarding house. Bell asks her for help when it seems Harrow’s wartime activities have a bearing on the case, and she interviews a couple of fellow, former nurses.
Soon, there are more brutalized bodies, and Bell and Tate are getting ever closer to unmasking the motive and identity of the killer.
Both Gemma and Bell shine in this second entry. He’s still craving the release of dark thoughts through opium, but working hard to get past it, while she’s trying to find a purpose taking care of the orphans. Both are still dealing with grief, but are beginning to acknowledge how they keep turning to the other, and finding some comfort together, despite the potentially dangerous inquiries they both make.
The pair bring complementary skills to an investigation, and I love the respect each has for the other. I enjoyed this book a lot, and look forward to reading their next case together.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Soon, Bell discovers that the dead man is Jacob Harrow (former colleague to Gemma Tate’s deceased brother). Harrow made his fame with an initially anonymous series of articles about the terrible conditions during the Crimean war, which he then claimed were his after leaving the army. Now the man is dead, and Bell begins to build a picture of the man’s professional and personal lives.
The Crimean War naturally brings Gemma Tate to Bell’s mind; she is working at a foundling hospital and living in a women’s boarding house. Bell asks her for help when it seems Harrow’s wartime activities have a bearing on the case, and she interviews a couple of fellow, former nurses.
Soon, there are more brutalized bodies, and Bell and Tate are getting ever closer to unmasking the motive and identity of the killer.
Both Gemma and Bell shine in this second entry. He’s still craving the release of dark thoughts through opium, but working hard to get past it, while she’s trying to find a purpose taking care of the orphans. Both are still dealing with grief, but are beginning to acknowledge how they keep turning to the other, and finding some comfort together, despite the potentially dangerous inquiries they both make.
The pair bring complementary skills to an investigation, and I love the respect each has for the other. I enjoyed this book a lot, and look forward to reading their next case together.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 24, 2024
Loving these mysteries! Sebastian and Gemma tag team again on a double murder case and once again this is personal to Gemma and could put her a risk. Lots of investigating, clues and a hint of romance in the air.
May 13, 2025
This book could have been so good. The mystery was really interesting, there are a lot of likable side characters, and the atmosphere was really well done. Unfortunately, there was a lot that I hated about this:
1) This series is called the Tate AND Bell mysteries, but Gemma (Tate) is barely even a character in this. There was really no reason for her to be in this book. She didn't do much and didn't even appear in the story until almost a quarter into the book. I can suspend disbelief for having women intricately involved in solving crimes (something that definitely didn't happen very often in Victorian England), so the author should have come up with a better way to have Gemma involved in the story.
2) The romance in this SUCKED. I already barely cared about Gemma and Bell, so I definitely didn't care about their romantic relationship. I feel zero chemistry between them. I thought maybe it was gonna be a super slow-burn relationship, but they're basically together by the end of this book (and I feel like that came out of nowhere since they barely interacted in this book! I swear, they're only into each other because they both have baby fever.)
3) While most of the mystery was great, I hated the ending. I don't dislike the concept, but the execution felt extremely insensitive. While this is historical fiction and conservative views are period-accurate, this is a modern book written by a modern author for modern audiences. I was extremely disappointed with how the author treated the subject and it left a sour taste in my mouth.
4) Lowkey this book dragged. There were parts I really liked, but if the audiobook narrator hadn't been amazing this would have been a DNF. There's a lot of fluff that should have been cut.
I don't think I'm going to continue with this series. Never say never, but there are too many good historical mystery series to waste my time on meh ones.
1) This series is called the Tate AND Bell mysteries, but Gemma (Tate) is barely even a character in this. There was really no reason for her to be in this book. She didn't do much and didn't even appear in the story until almost a quarter into the book. I can suspend disbelief for having women intricately involved in solving crimes (something that definitely didn't happen very often in Victorian England), so the author should have come up with a better way to have Gemma involved in the story.
2) The romance in this SUCKED. I already barely cared about Gemma and Bell, so I definitely didn't care about their romantic relationship. I feel zero chemistry between them. I thought maybe it was gonna be a super slow-burn relationship, but they're basically together by the end of this book (and I feel like that came out of nowhere since they barely interacted in this book! I swear, they're only into each other because they both have baby fever.)
3) While most of the mystery was great, I hated the ending. I don't dislike the concept, but the execution felt extremely insensitive. While this is historical fiction and conservative views are period-accurate, this is a modern book written by a modern author for modern audiences. I was extremely disappointed with how the author treated the subject and it left a sour taste in my mouth.
4) Lowkey this book dragged. There were parts I really liked, but if the audiobook narrator hadn't been amazing this would have been a DNF. There's a lot of fluff that should have been cut.
I don't think I'm going to continue with this series. Never say never, but there are too many good historical mystery series to waste my time on meh ones.
May 11, 2024
Murder at Traitors’ Gate is the second in a series (Tate and Bell). I read it as a standalone, however it would have been beneficial to read the first one to better know the main characters. That said, it is an interesting and enjoyable mystery. The setting, in 1850s London, is highly detailed and incredibly atmospheric. Victorian London is a character in itself; as a reader you are swept up in daily life, the city streets, the types of homes, medical limitations, and class distinctions. Sebastian Bell, a Police Inspector, is challenged to solve the murder of a journalist. Gemma Tate, a nurse, is brought into the mix since she has ties to the Crimean War, also connected to the murder victim. There are many suspects and the story moves seamlessly as Shapiro brings you to its conclusion. I recommend it. With thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. My opinions are my own. susanh_bookreviews
May 9, 2024
The second entry in this series set in 1850s London is excellent like the first. Sebastian has to investigate the brutal murder of a journalist, and when he finds a link to the Crimean war, he has an excuse to bring nurse Gemma back into his work. This book focuses more on Sebastian than Gemma, a nice counterpoint to the first book. The mystery is well done and engaging, and both the main and side characters are vividly drawn. The historical details are seamlessly woven in, and you get a sense of daily life at the time with all its deprivations and challenges. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
November 5, 2024
I love these characters. Gemma and Sebastian are so cute and the ending left me feeling so wholesome. If you enjoy a good murder mystery set in a Victorian setting I highly recommend this series
June 19, 2024
Murder at Traitor's Gate is the second book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series set in 1850's London. Inspector Sebastian Tate and nurse Gemma Tate solve a series of murders that draw upon Tate's background as a nurse in the Crimea, beginning with the gory murder of former solider and current reporter Jacob Harrow and Lydia Morton, a nurse and acquaintance of Gemma's who is found murdered in a similar manner. It appears these deaths all trace back to the Crimea, where deathbed secrets have led to blackmail and more.
I really relished the well-written densely plotted murder mystery that slowly unfolded over the course of the book. But where the author really shines is in showing how perilous women's lives were in Victorian England. Gemma, without any family, has no safety line, and few career options other than being a nurse, caregiver, and domestic servant. As one character says "Life brings us all to our knees, albeit in different ways."
That adage also applies to Sebastian, who is slowly dealing with his horrendous loss, while pushing against demands that he quickly find a suitable suspect, rather than actually solve the case.
5 stars for this latest addition to the Tate and Bell mystery series, and I look forward to the next book.
I received an ARC from Storm Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I really relished the well-written densely plotted murder mystery that slowly unfolded over the course of the book. But where the author really shines is in showing how perilous women's lives were in Victorian England. Gemma, without any family, has no safety line, and few career options other than being a nurse, caregiver, and domestic servant. As one character says "Life brings us all to our knees, albeit in different ways."
That adage also applies to Sebastian, who is slowly dealing with his horrendous loss, while pushing against demands that he quickly find a suitable suspect, rather than actually solve the case.
5 stars for this latest addition to the Tate and Bell mystery series, and I look forward to the next book.
I received an ARC from Storm Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2025
I've read all four novels in this series this month and loved them all, but I've only had time to
review the first one....
RTF
review the first one....
RTF
April 2, 2025
The pacing was a little slower and there was a lot of unnecessary back and forth that didn't really up the stakes so it often felt unnecessary. The entire story was just between Gemma and Sebastian, Colin's interest in Genma seems to have disappeared completely as has most of his involvement in this book...
September 8, 2024
More murders and mysteries
I loved this historical whodunit once again staring Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. It had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, and suspense. I was pulled into the story from the first page and couldn’t put it down until they wrapped up the case. Gemma and Sebastian are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. This story picks up a few months after the end of the first book. Gemma is a nurse in 1858 London who now works at the foundling hospital and now lives in a boarding house. She is still struggling with the grief of her brother’s death. Sebastian is a Scotland Yard detective who having recovered enough from a shoulder injury comes back to work just in time to be assigned to investigate the murder of a newspaper reporter who was stabbed through the heart, had his tongue cut out and was hung on Traitors Gate with a meat hook. The pair once again form a quasi-partnership as Sebastian investigates the murder. The investigation leads them to unlikely places and suspects that all lead back to the Crimean War. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters, and a captivating storyline. I am addicted to this series.
I loved this historical whodunit once again staring Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. It had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, and suspense. I was pulled into the story from the first page and couldn’t put it down until they wrapped up the case. Gemma and Sebastian are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. This story picks up a few months after the end of the first book. Gemma is a nurse in 1858 London who now works at the foundling hospital and now lives in a boarding house. She is still struggling with the grief of her brother’s death. Sebastian is a Scotland Yard detective who having recovered enough from a shoulder injury comes back to work just in time to be assigned to investigate the murder of a newspaper reporter who was stabbed through the heart, had his tongue cut out and was hung on Traitors Gate with a meat hook. The pair once again form a quasi-partnership as Sebastian investigates the murder. The investigation leads them to unlikely places and suspects that all lead back to the Crimean War. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters, and a captivating storyline. I am addicted to this series.
October 28, 2024
Book #2 was equally as enjoyable as the first in the Tate-Bell series. The only bummer is that I have to wait a little more than a month, 10/21, for Book #3 to come out., Murder at the Foundling Hospital. Both books sucked me right in, and like I said, now I have to wait for the third with baited breath! I thoroughly enjoyed the comradery between Gemma, Sebastian, and Colin. All 3 characters certainly compliment one another well; each has their own ghosts to deal with; each has qualities the others lack; and each know how to bring the importance of the story to the reader (the author has done well!). These books are a quick read, but don't let that discourage you from reading them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2024
Murder at Traitors' Gate is the second book in Irina Shapiro's Tate and Bell Mysteries series. If you're a fan of historical mysteries, this series is for you! If you haven't read the first book, this mystery stands alone; however, you will be better served if you read the prior book first. You will be missing out on important character histories that shape their interactions with each other and have impact on their current investigation. The Highgate Cemetery Murder was my first book by this author, and I'm now a fan for life.
In Victorian London in 1858 during a bitter December, Gemma Tate is doing her best to put memories of nursing in the Crimean war behind her. She now lives on her own in a little boarding house since the death of her brother, and is currently working at a foundling hospital. However, when Jacob Harrow, a journalist who served in Crimea, is found murdered, Gemma finds herself pulled into the investigation. Police Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard prefers to work alone; however, he needs Gemma's help when it seems Harrow returned from Crimea with the dark secrets of others. But investigating the past has devastating results when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house. Sebastian and Gemma race against the clock as more secrets are revealed. Will the killer set his sights on them to hide his crimes?
I really liked the first book in this series, but I loved this one. The mystery was fantastic, and I read as quickly as I could to discover whodunit. Layers upon layers were revealed, and I got to the point I gave up trying to figure it out and just went with the flow. I did guess correctly about one piece of the puzzle, but I was shocked when the killer was revealed. I never saw it coming! The suspense really kept me on edge. As wonderful as the mystery was, however, it's the characters in this series that will keep me returning for more as long as Ms. Shapiro keeps them coming...which I hope will be for many more volumes. There has been significant characters development since the first book. Gemma and Sebastian met when Gemma's brother was murdered, and together they solved the mystery. She was devastated by the loss of her brother but is now moving forward with her life, living in a boarding house and working with orphans. Gemma still struggles at times with the horrors she experienced nursing in Crimea, and how nurses are now treated differently at home. In Crimea they were heroines, saving lives and bringing comfort to the dying. However, now home in London, they are treated as women of loose morals, as if they went to Crimea as prostitutes! It's hard working in the foundling hospital, as the staff is not encouraged to get close to the children. But Gemma can't help but falling in love with 5-year-old Lucy. Sebastian is the most changed, however. He was a hot mess in the first book! After his young wife and their unborn child were brutally murdered, he sought retribution, then became an opium addict, with addiction to other intoxicants as well. After being injured in the prior book, he was nursed by Gemma, who also helped him through his addiction. Now sober, Sebastian has become dear friends with Gemma. He still prefers to work alone and he worries about Gemma's safety, but he acknowledges that he sometimes needs her help. It seems they are becoming closer than "just friends", and I am thrilled with that development. There are other characters making reappearances in this book, my favorite being Sebastian's friend Colin Ramsey. He performs postmortems for the police, and he also teaches private surgical students in his basement mortuary after the police are done with the bodies. My other favorite? Gustav the cat, of course! Sebastian took over Gustav's care after his neighboring owner died, and Gustav repays his kindness in this story. You da cat, Gustav! I hope the next book in the series comes quickly; we get a glimpse of the next mystery in the Epilogue. I can't wait!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
In Victorian London in 1858 during a bitter December, Gemma Tate is doing her best to put memories of nursing in the Crimean war behind her. She now lives on her own in a little boarding house since the death of her brother, and is currently working at a foundling hospital. However, when Jacob Harrow, a journalist who served in Crimea, is found murdered, Gemma finds herself pulled into the investigation. Police Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard prefers to work alone; however, he needs Gemma's help when it seems Harrow returned from Crimea with the dark secrets of others. But investigating the past has devastating results when Gemma’s friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house. Sebastian and Gemma race against the clock as more secrets are revealed. Will the killer set his sights on them to hide his crimes?
I really liked the first book in this series, but I loved this one. The mystery was fantastic, and I read as quickly as I could to discover whodunit. Layers upon layers were revealed, and I got to the point I gave up trying to figure it out and just went with the flow. I did guess correctly about one piece of the puzzle, but I was shocked when the killer was revealed. I never saw it coming! The suspense really kept me on edge. As wonderful as the mystery was, however, it's the characters in this series that will keep me returning for more as long as Ms. Shapiro keeps them coming...which I hope will be for many more volumes. There has been significant characters development since the first book. Gemma and Sebastian met when Gemma's brother was murdered, and together they solved the mystery. She was devastated by the loss of her brother but is now moving forward with her life, living in a boarding house and working with orphans. Gemma still struggles at times with the horrors she experienced nursing in Crimea, and how nurses are now treated differently at home. In Crimea they were heroines, saving lives and bringing comfort to the dying. However, now home in London, they are treated as women of loose morals, as if they went to Crimea as prostitutes! It's hard working in the foundling hospital, as the staff is not encouraged to get close to the children. But Gemma can't help but falling in love with 5-year-old Lucy. Sebastian is the most changed, however. He was a hot mess in the first book! After his young wife and their unborn child were brutally murdered, he sought retribution, then became an opium addict, with addiction to other intoxicants as well. After being injured in the prior book, he was nursed by Gemma, who also helped him through his addiction. Now sober, Sebastian has become dear friends with Gemma. He still prefers to work alone and he worries about Gemma's safety, but he acknowledges that he sometimes needs her help. It seems they are becoming closer than "just friends", and I am thrilled with that development. There are other characters making reappearances in this book, my favorite being Sebastian's friend Colin Ramsey. He performs postmortems for the police, and he also teaches private surgical students in his basement mortuary after the police are done with the bodies. My other favorite? Gustav the cat, of course! Sebastian took over Gustav's care after his neighboring owner died, and Gustav repays his kindness in this story. You da cat, Gustav! I hope the next book in the series comes quickly; we get a glimpse of the next mystery in the Epilogue. I can't wait!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 19, 2024
BOOK: MURDER AT TRAITOR'S GATE
AUTHOR: IRINA SHAPIRO
PUB DATE: 24TH JUNE 2023
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
Another masterpiece in Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell's series! I read and loved the first book in the series, so I was up to read the next one, and I loved this too! In fact, I think this might be better than the previous one!
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
While solving this murder case, there was no evidence, no murder weapon. It was solved by Sebastian's sheer determination and grit. I admired that. He doggedly went after each suspect and made his research. Gemma also helped with the research since she was kinda involved, too.
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
I would have loved to see more of Gemma. She was more like a supporting character rather than the main one. But, I was able to feel her loneliness and the aftermath of her brother's death. She was living alone in a boarding house and working as a nurse in an orphanage. I really hope her loneliness is reduced in the next book.
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
I loved reading about the progress in Gemma and Sebastian's relationship. I can't wait to read more about them! At first, I was worried that Sebastian was still traumatized by his wife's death, but he's ready to love again. I love that for him
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
The murder victims were unsavory and cads. They were characters we had seen before. I liked that the author didn't just add in new characters anyhow. Anyway, I'm really excited for the next book!
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
AUTHOR: IRINA SHAPIRO
PUB DATE: 24TH JUNE 2023
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
Another masterpiece in Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell's series! I read and loved the first book in the series, so I was up to read the next one, and I loved this too! In fact, I think this might be better than the previous one!
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
While solving this murder case, there was no evidence, no murder weapon. It was solved by Sebastian's sheer determination and grit. I admired that. He doggedly went after each suspect and made his research. Gemma also helped with the research since she was kinda involved, too.
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
I would have loved to see more of Gemma. She was more like a supporting character rather than the main one. But, I was able to feel her loneliness and the aftermath of her brother's death. She was living alone in a boarding house and working as a nurse in an orphanage. I really hope her loneliness is reduced in the next book.
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
I loved reading about the progress in Gemma and Sebastian's relationship. I can't wait to read more about them! At first, I was worried that Sebastian was still traumatized by his wife's death, but he's ready to love again. I love that for him
👮🏼♂️👩🏼⚕️
The murder victims were unsavory and cads. They were characters we had seen before. I liked that the author didn't just add in new characters anyhow. Anyway, I'm really excited for the next book!
👩🏼⚕️👮🏼♂️
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