The Holborn Murders: Book 6 in the Mayfair 100 series

Mayfair 100 #6

by Lynn Brittney

The Holborn Murders
December 1915 is rather cheerless for most of the population of Britain,
as the war rumbles on into its second Christmas. The department stores
of London are still bulging at the seams, however, with shoppers
looking for gifts to send to the men at the Front. Nowhere is more
popular than Gamages store in Holborn, an establishment that
specialises in appropriate gifts for men and entertainment for children,
with its toy displays, Christmas Bazaar and magic shows.
However, tragedy strikes in the form of the brutal murder of the store’s
magician, in full view of his audience, and the Mayfair 100 team are
called in to make some discreet enquiries. There follows a further
murder attempt, whilst they are investigating, but nothing is as
shocking as the news that, in the same neighbourhood, a young actress,
from the Holborn Empire, has been killed and one of their own team
is implicated in the death.

Genres: Historical, Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Christmas

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2024

About the author

Lynn Brittany has been a writer for almost thirty years and has written several adult and children’s non-fiction books and many plays for adults and children that have been performed all over the world. Her first young adult novel was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize; the Brandford Boase Award and the Doncaster Book Prize. Her second young adult novel was included in the UK Government’s Recommended Reading List for Boys and was described by the Daily Telegraph as containing…”furious swordplay, tremendous chases, atmospheric journeys and wince-inducing reminders that this was an age before anaesthetics.”

'Mayfair 100: A Murder in Belgravia' is her first historical crime novel for adults and was published by Mirror Books in January 2018.

She has been a writer for many years, first working as a journalist on trade and business magazines. She also worked part-time as a drama teacher and began writing plays for children, young adults and older actors. These are published by Playstage Junior, Playstage YA and Playstage Senior.

Then, when her son was a teenager, she became aware that teachers were struggling to interest their pupils in Shakespeare, so she embarked upon writing a series of young adult novels set in Elizabethan England, involving espionage, action and Shakespearian plots. The Nathan Fox books were nominated for various awards, such as the Waterstone’s Book Prize and the Brandford Boase Award. She then created some fact books to accompany the novels, called The Elizabethan World of Nathan Fox. Both novels and fact books have become useful tools in English speaking schools around the world. These books are now published by Iris Books in London.

In 2017, she began to write a series of period murder mysteries – called the Mayfair 100 series. Set in London during WW1, the books involve a secret team of professional policemen and educated women in solving crimes. The team are based in Mayfair, an upper-class area of London and Mayfair 100 is the telephone number. Book 1, called A Murder in Belgravia, was published in the UK by Mirror Books, at the beginning of 2018 and the second book in the series was published in the UK in March 2019. The American version of Book 1 was published by Crooked Lane Books in March 2019.

In 2019, a second murder mystery book, in the Mayfair 100 series, called A Death in Chelsea, was published by Mirror Books in the UK and by Crooked Lane in the USA.

During the lockdown of 2020, Lynn Brittney tried her hand at something new and wrote a series of three small books entitled Gifts From Your Garden. An avid gardener, cook and craftsperson, she decided to combine all her hobbies and skills into Book 1: Culinary, Book 2: Health and Beauty and Book 3: Crafts. The trio of little books are packed with recipes, instructions and tips on how to make use of everything you grow and make them into gifts for friends and family. These books are published by Iris Books of London.

All of Lynn Brittney's plays are published by the Playstage Group (Playstage Junior, YA and Senior).

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1915. The team are brought in to investigate the murder of Gamage department store magician Charlie Sheridan. But this is only the first death. Then Peter Beech is arrested for the death of an actress.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable and interesting characters.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s December 1915 and the war that was supposed to be over by Christmas shows no signs of ending. However, people are trying to make it a special time of year and the London department stores are prepared and hoping for a busy few weeks. Gamages, the department store in Holborn, is no exception and the seasonal magic show is going ahead. And the action starts here, when the magician is killed violently in front of his audience.

This is a job for the Mayfair 100 team, a secret group established with the approval of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to deal with certain specific crimes. The members, mainly female amateur detectives, assisted by hand-picked regular policemen, are quickly allocated their roles, with some members actually working in the store. As they investigate there is another attempted murder, and then the shocking news that a young actress employed at the Holborn Empire has been killed and that one of their colleagues (a senior police officer) is under suspicion.

The team members have been together for long enough to appreciate and value one another’s strengths and skills and to enjoy each other’s company. This story enables each member to show and develop their own capabilities, whilst coping with their own private, emotional reactions to the ongoing investigation.

This is a neatly plotted, inventive and well-written story. Gamages provides some novel backdrops and a good supply of useful characters and adds to the atmosphere and sense of place. The roles of women in society, the disagreements between the various organisations supporting the major causes (eg, votes for women, the temperance movement, jobs for women in a rapidly changing society) fill in the background and inform the plot, which includes some interesting social history.

This is the sixth in the Mayfair 100 series and, though the central characters are well-established, it’s not necessary to have read any the previous books to enjoy it as stand-alone/introduction to the series.
------
Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Carol Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT STORY TELLING

An interesting cast of characters solve a variety of murders in this 6 book, to this point series. It is 1915 London, the war is changing everything including the real need for women in police work. The police don’t want them so a clandestine group is formed of both upper and working class women. Very enjoyable with some history of working women in a time of radical change.

[M.K. Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

This might be my favorite one in the wonderful Mayfair 100 series. Book 6 takes place near Christmas time, when the unlikely team of women detectives working on the sly have two very serious crimes to contend with. Brittney does more than get the period details right – she imbues the book with the realistic echoes of the World War I era that brings it stunningly to life.

A most satisfying read with several surprise twists.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

Another excellent addition to a great series. Very well researched. While spending time with some wonderful characters and trying to unravel the mystery…or mysteries, in this case, I also learn a lot about what life was like in London during WWI. Highly recommend and suggest reading in order to

[Helen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mayfair 100 team returns to deal with another murder. This time a magician at a department store, killed by his own magic trick. As the team discreetly investigates one of them is accused of murder. So with two murders to investigate in secret the team is a little stretched.

Murder, seduction, temperance, magic, technology and Christmas - it's all here.

[Karin Doull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still hugely enjoying this series. The interaction between the characters is what keeps me reading. They are also really carefully researched and I like finding out different aspects of the period. I am a bit disappointed by the treatment of Peter Beech. He seems to be being written out or portrayed as increasingly ineffective.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story, as usual a very satisfying ending. The characters are wonderful, consistent, and the writing is understandable, and smart. I would give it 5 stars except for the numerous grammatical errors. I have highlighted most of what I found in yellow.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really one of the best of the series, two mysteries, tangents that were very interesting and the group will continue as the war is only 1/2 over.
I really like that all the characters have nice defining rolls
I wouldn't call Tollman a full blown misogynist, but he sure has leanings.

[Sue Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

This series just keeps staying strong. Love to see all the usual characters back and a couple new ones. Looking forward to the next one.

[Elizabeth Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series