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Victorian Village Mysteries #3
The Secret Staircase: Victorian Village Mystery Series, Book 3
Kate Hamilton is feeling good about her plans to recreate Asheboro, Maryland, as the Victorian town it once was. Even two recent murders aren't enough to discourage After she helped to solve them, she put them behind her.
Now comes the time to make real plans, and her first goal is to renovate the Barton Mansion on the outskirts of town. Luckily, it's been maintained in good condition in the century since the wealthy Henry Barton lived and died there. But when the contractor gets started, he discovers a staircase that had been walled in years earlier. And of course, given the way Kate's luck has been going, there's a body on the stairs.
After the first shock, Kate is relieved when the autopsy reveals that the man had died around 1880. Unfortunately, it also reveals that he had not died a natural death - he had been murdered.
So Kate and Carroll Peterson, who Kate had drafted to sort through Henry Barton's papers, start a hunt to identify the man and why he died at the Barton Mansion. But when a second body is found - this time from the present day - Kate realizes that someone may not be so keen on her digging up the past....
Now comes the time to make real plans, and her first goal is to renovate the Barton Mansion on the outskirts of town. Luckily, it's been maintained in good condition in the century since the wealthy Henry Barton lived and died there. But when the contractor gets started, he discovers a staircase that had been walled in years earlier. And of course, given the way Kate's luck has been going, there's a body on the stairs.
After the first shock, Kate is relieved when the autopsy reveals that the man had died around 1880. Unfortunately, it also reveals that he had not died a natural death - he had been murdered.
So Kate and Carroll Peterson, who Kate had drafted to sort through Henry Barton's papers, start a hunt to identify the man and why he died at the Barton Mansion. But when a second body is found - this time from the present day - Kate realizes that someone may not be so keen on her digging up the past....
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First published August 21, 2021
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About the author
Sheila Connolly
73 books1,398 followersSheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.
She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.
She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.
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May 18, 2021
The Secret Staircase
by Sheila Connolly brings together a dead body, historic preservation, and several mysteries about the former inhabitants of a home built in the 1800’s. Kate Hamilton’s renovation experience is with modern institutions in the hospitality industry, but her childhood friend Lisbeth Scott asks her to help revitalize her home town, which has lost its industry and is fading fast. As part of the effort to convert the fictional town of Asheboro, Maryland to its Victorian village roots, the first goal is to renovate the Barton Mansion. A hidden staircase is found behind a wall, and at its foot is a body. Did the individual fall or was it murder?
Kate is a likeable character who wants to do what is right for her hometown. She makes a lot of mental lists, and occasionally, she writes them down. The reader gets to see into her thoughts with the first person point of view. However, to me, she seemed disorganized and unsystematic; inconsistent with her professional experience. Most of the other characters are pleasant, but there isn’t a lot of depth except for Carroll, Morgan, and Bethany Wallace.
The author does a good job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through. The plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, but the story is interesting and kept me engaged. Unraveling the mysteries of the house and its inhabitants was twisty and enjoyable. The ending wrapped things up nicely and set the stage for book four.
Overall, this book was an entertaining and steadily paced cozy mystery. What will Kate and Carroll uncover about the home’s original owners, Henry and Mary Barton? Did they marry for convenience or love? Did they have children? What happened to Mary? While there is information on Henry in the local newspaper of their era, there is scant information on Mary. Who is the dead man behind the wall and how did he die? When and why did he die? Will the preservation and renovation work on the house even be allowed to continue?
This is the third book in the Victorian Village Mysteries series and worked fine as a standalone novel, but reading the books in order would likely provide additional character depth. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Readers that enjoy cozy mysteries and history will likely enjoy this series.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Sheila Connolly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 24, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Kate is a likeable character who wants to do what is right for her hometown. She makes a lot of mental lists, and occasionally, she writes them down. The reader gets to see into her thoughts with the first person point of view. However, to me, she seemed disorganized and unsystematic; inconsistent with her professional experience. Most of the other characters are pleasant, but there isn’t a lot of depth except for Carroll, Morgan, and Bethany Wallace.
The author does a good job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through. The plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, but the story is interesting and kept me engaged. Unraveling the mysteries of the house and its inhabitants was twisty and enjoyable. The ending wrapped things up nicely and set the stage for book four.
Overall, this book was an entertaining and steadily paced cozy mystery. What will Kate and Carroll uncover about the home’s original owners, Henry and Mary Barton? Did they marry for convenience or love? Did they have children? What happened to Mary? While there is information on Henry in the local newspaper of their era, there is scant information on Mary. Who is the dead man behind the wall and how did he die? When and why did he die? Will the preservation and renovation work on the house even be allowed to continue?
This is the third book in the Victorian Village Mysteries series and worked fine as a standalone novel, but reading the books in order would likely provide additional character depth. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Readers that enjoy cozy mysteries and history will likely enjoy this series.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Sheila Connolly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 24, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
August 24, 2021
***Now Available***
The Secret Staircase is the third book of the Cozy Series called the Victorian Village Mysteries. The premise of the series is that Kate Hamilton has gone back to her small hometown of Asheboro, Maryland to help revitalize it as a tourist attraction. The plans are to recreate it as the Victorian village it once was. Years ago, Asheboro was gifted an old mansion outside of town by Henry Barton. This is Kate’s first major renovation project and she wants to focus on restoring the kitchen. While she is enthusiastic, Kate has no background in historic preservation. She is constantly making mental notes of who to assign a task to since she can’t handle it herself.
When a contractor is inspecting the property, he realizes there is a hollow space behind one of the kitchen walls. He drills a tiny hole and inserts a camera. There he discovers not only a hidden staircase but also a mummified body. Soon thereafter, a sub-contractor finds some hidden diaries that shed light on who the victim was and why he was murdered. Before too long, there is another murder at the mansion. There is a suspicion that this modern-day murder was the result of a century-old Hatfield-McCoy-type feud between two families in the county.
I didn’t find the story about the first body to be plausible since naturally mummified bodies are very rare. This victim died in an open staircase. Then someone built a lathe and plaster kitchen wall to entomb the corpse. There would have been plenty of oxygen during the construction to keep it from mummifying. In the current timeline, there is too little character development to understand the suspected feud between the families or how the two deaths might be related.
I did enjoy the parts of the story involving historical research. Kate and her assistant Carroll diligently try to find out more about Henry Barton and his wife through newspaper articles and genealogy research. The newly discovered diaries help tremendously. Kate wants the home to become a museum as well as a learning center with children’s activities.
3-Stars. This novel will be published posthumously on August 21, 2021. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my NetGalley widget in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret Staircase is the third book of the Cozy Series called the Victorian Village Mysteries. The premise of the series is that Kate Hamilton has gone back to her small hometown of Asheboro, Maryland to help revitalize it as a tourist attraction. The plans are to recreate it as the Victorian village it once was. Years ago, Asheboro was gifted an old mansion outside of town by Henry Barton. This is Kate’s first major renovation project and she wants to focus on restoring the kitchen. While she is enthusiastic, Kate has no background in historic preservation. She is constantly making mental notes of who to assign a task to since she can’t handle it herself.
When a contractor is inspecting the property, he realizes there is a hollow space behind one of the kitchen walls. He drills a tiny hole and inserts a camera. There he discovers not only a hidden staircase but also a mummified body. Soon thereafter, a sub-contractor finds some hidden diaries that shed light on who the victim was and why he was murdered. Before too long, there is another murder at the mansion. There is a suspicion that this modern-day murder was the result of a century-old Hatfield-McCoy-type feud between two families in the county.
I didn’t find the story about the first body to be plausible since naturally mummified bodies are very rare. This victim died in an open staircase. Then someone built a lathe and plaster kitchen wall to entomb the corpse. There would have been plenty of oxygen during the construction to keep it from mummifying. In the current timeline, there is too little character development to understand the suspected feud between the families or how the two deaths might be related.
I did enjoy the parts of the story involving historical research. Kate and her assistant Carroll diligently try to find out more about Henry Barton and his wife through newspaper articles and genealogy research. The newly discovered diaries help tremendously. Kate wants the home to become a museum as well as a learning center with children’s activities.
3-Stars. This novel will be published posthumously on August 21, 2021. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my NetGalley widget in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2021
I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is Book 3 in the Victorian Mystery series. Not having read the others, I may have missed out on some character development and events leading up to the present situation.
The plot was intriguing, but the story was very slow-paced and contained unnecessary fillers and details. I am not a fan of cozy mysteries. However, the book avoids gory details and explicit sex. Any violence and murders occur off the pages, making the story a comfortable read for many to puzzle over. The description of the mansion was well done and easy to visualize, but there was too much discussion of its needed renovations to keep me engaged.
The protagonist, Kate Hamilton, was annoying at first. She had taken on the task of returning to her hometown, Asheboro, Maryland, to revitalize the fading town by turning it into a Victorian village. The mansion belonged to a wealthy factory owner, Henry Barton, and went into decline after the death of his wife, Mary, and the closing of his business. She has obtained a sizeable grant from Mid-Atlantic Power and has started to restore Barton Manor to its former glory. Kate has many self-doubts about the project, is disorganized, and expresses many concerns about her ability to complete the work sufficiently.
Once she hires a contractor who enjoys the challenge of restoring the manor to its original shape and plumbers and an electrician, it looks like the renovations will proceed. This is delayed when a mummified body of an unknown individual is discovered behind a walled-in room containing a stairwell. The police begin an investigation, and we learn that the man died in 1880 and was murdered.
With friends and helpers, Kate begins to investigate the personal history of Henry Barton and his wife to add their story of life in the home as a point of interest for future visitors. This leads to tracing the family tree with some surprising twists.
Kate fears that finding the ancient body within the walls may deter future visitors and grants. This becomes a major concern when a present worker is found dead after falling down the stairs. Was he pushed? This leads to more police investigations. At this point, with two possible murders on-site and many suspects, Kate seems rejuvenated by her determination to help solve both mysteries and carry on with the project to restore the mansion and the downtown businesses.
The plot was intriguing, but the story was very slow-paced and contained unnecessary fillers and details. I am not a fan of cozy mysteries. However, the book avoids gory details and explicit sex. Any violence and murders occur off the pages, making the story a comfortable read for many to puzzle over. The description of the mansion was well done and easy to visualize, but there was too much discussion of its needed renovations to keep me engaged.
The protagonist, Kate Hamilton, was annoying at first. She had taken on the task of returning to her hometown, Asheboro, Maryland, to revitalize the fading town by turning it into a Victorian village. The mansion belonged to a wealthy factory owner, Henry Barton, and went into decline after the death of his wife, Mary, and the closing of his business. She has obtained a sizeable grant from Mid-Atlantic Power and has started to restore Barton Manor to its former glory. Kate has many self-doubts about the project, is disorganized, and expresses many concerns about her ability to complete the work sufficiently.
Once she hires a contractor who enjoys the challenge of restoring the manor to its original shape and plumbers and an electrician, it looks like the renovations will proceed. This is delayed when a mummified body of an unknown individual is discovered behind a walled-in room containing a stairwell. The police begin an investigation, and we learn that the man died in 1880 and was murdered.
With friends and helpers, Kate begins to investigate the personal history of Henry Barton and his wife to add their story of life in the home as a point of interest for future visitors. This leads to tracing the family tree with some surprising twists.
Kate fears that finding the ancient body within the walls may deter future visitors and grants. This becomes a major concern when a present worker is found dead after falling down the stairs. Was he pushed? This leads to more police investigations. At this point, with two possible murders on-site and many suspects, Kate seems rejuvenated by her determination to help solve both mysteries and carry on with the project to restore the mansion and the downtown businesses.
August 21, 2021
Kate Hamilton is tasked with restoring the town of Ashboro, MD to its original splendor. To achieve this goal, Kate recruits the help of her friend Carroll Peterson. Carroll is focusing on library studies so researching nineteenth-century documents would be the perfect fit for the restoration project.
The first undertaking of the restoration project is the Barton mansion. The mansion had been a simple farmhouse in the beginning, but Henry Barton turned it into an impressive and splendid mansion with money he earned.
With funding secured. Kate begins vetting potential contractors and finds an interested party, Morgan Wheeler. Excited with this news, Kate shows Morgan the layout of the building — particularly the kitchen. To both Kate’s and Morgan’s surprise, Morgan discovers a secret staircase and even a bigger surprise is the discovery of a dead body in that staircase. That dead body turns out to be a man who died in 1880, but not of natural causes. Now its up to Kate and Carroll to unearth the secrets and mysteries of the Barton family. And when a present day dead body is found, the search for secrets and answers become urgent and pressing.
The Secret Staircase is a very slow read. Slow primarily because there was a lot of background data on how the restoration project came to be and the obstacles that the project faced. There were “breadcrumbs” here and there to keep the story moving, but I would have preferred more suspense and thrills.
Being that The Secret Staircase is the third installment of the Victorian Village series, I probably missed a lot of the character development. Needless to say, however, I did get a feel for the major players in the novel.
The plot is straightforward without much twists and turns. It’s a simple discovery and piecing of information to determine the who, what, when, where, and why. Three pleasing stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The first undertaking of the restoration project is the Barton mansion. The mansion had been a simple farmhouse in the beginning, but Henry Barton turned it into an impressive and splendid mansion with money he earned.
With funding secured. Kate begins vetting potential contractors and finds an interested party, Morgan Wheeler. Excited with this news, Kate shows Morgan the layout of the building — particularly the kitchen. To both Kate’s and Morgan’s surprise, Morgan discovers a secret staircase and even a bigger surprise is the discovery of a dead body in that staircase. That dead body turns out to be a man who died in 1880, but not of natural causes. Now its up to Kate and Carroll to unearth the secrets and mysteries of the Barton family. And when a present day dead body is found, the search for secrets and answers become urgent and pressing.
The Secret Staircase is a very slow read. Slow primarily because there was a lot of background data on how the restoration project came to be and the obstacles that the project faced. There were “breadcrumbs” here and there to keep the story moving, but I would have preferred more suspense and thrills.
Being that The Secret Staircase is the third installment of the Victorian Village series, I probably missed a lot of the character development. Needless to say, however, I did get a feel for the major players in the novel.
The plot is straightforward without much twists and turns. It’s a simple discovery and piecing of information to determine the who, what, when, where, and why. Three pleasing stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 18, 2021
I have enjoyed all of her series. The Secret Staircase was very good. Although it was the 3rd in the series I thought it stood out by itself. The book kept the reader in suspense with all the twists and turns trying to figure out whodunnit. I liked all the characters. The ending once all fell into place left you wanting the story to continue. I would recommend it to any of my friends. I will miss her.
Thank you NetGallery, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC.
Thank you NetGallery, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC.
August 29, 2021
*3.5 stars rounded up.
This is the third and perhaps final book in Sheila Connolly's Victorian Village Mysteries series as Ms Connolly passed away on April 20, 2020. I read all three of these mysteries in a row and can honestly say each one was better than the one preceding it.
The continuing plot has been that Kate Hamilton has returned to her hometown of Asheboro, MD, and is working with board members of the Asheboro Revitalization Project to save the town from a slow death.
The centerpiece of that project has been the Victorian mansion of the late Henry Barton and in this latest episode, the characters learn a lot more about the family history. Fascinating! I enjoyed that part of the story thoroughly.
The book ends on a very happy and positive note so if that has to be the last we see of Kate Hamilton and friends, so be it. I enjoyed getting to know them all in the pages of this charming cozy mystery. If you are interested in this series, I would recommend reading the three books in order, since they do build on the one before.
I received an arc of this mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity. The title attracted me when I was offered a widget, reminding me of the title of a Nancy Drew mystery I loved as a girl: The Hidden Staircase. How could I resist? :-)
This is the third and perhaps final book in Sheila Connolly's Victorian Village Mysteries series as Ms Connolly passed away on April 20, 2020. I read all three of these mysteries in a row and can honestly say each one was better than the one preceding it.
The continuing plot has been that Kate Hamilton has returned to her hometown of Asheboro, MD, and is working with board members of the Asheboro Revitalization Project to save the town from a slow death.
The centerpiece of that project has been the Victorian mansion of the late Henry Barton and in this latest episode, the characters learn a lot more about the family history. Fascinating! I enjoyed that part of the story thoroughly.
The book ends on a very happy and positive note so if that has to be the last we see of Kate Hamilton and friends, so be it. I enjoyed getting to know them all in the pages of this charming cozy mystery. If you are interested in this series, I would recommend reading the three books in order, since they do build on the one before.
I received an arc of this mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity. The title attracted me when I was offered a widget, reminding me of the title of a Nancy Drew mystery I loved as a girl: The Hidden Staircase. How could I resist? :-)
September 18, 2021
It was sad reading this because I knew it'd be the last, but it ended on a happy note. I'm not sure if the author purposely ended this book like it was the end of the series or if someone wrote the ending after her death, but they did it well. I liked Kate's adventures and can see myself rereading the series in the future.
July 14, 2021
The Secret Staircase" the third instalment in the “A Victorian Village Mystery” by Sheila Connolly. Sadly this will be the last book in the series as the author has passed away.
This is a story of past and present generations, and family that Kate and Carroll unravel, much comes to light when they find Mary’s diaries.
The setting of Asheboro, Maryland and the Barton mansion is detailed and I could picture it in my mind. I love the history in Ms. Connolly’s books.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves mysteries.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
This is a story of past and present generations, and family that Kate and Carroll unravel, much comes to light when they find Mary’s diaries.
The setting of Asheboro, Maryland and the Barton mansion is detailed and I could picture it in my mind. I love the history in Ms. Connolly’s books.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves mysteries.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
June 22, 2021
I loved visiting Asheboro again in this third Victorian Village mystery from the late Sheila Connolly. Kate Hamilton has her hands full when the house she's trying to renovate turns out to include a long-dead body in the walls. Kate unfolds other mysteries from the past until justice is served and the Victorian Village project can progress. I'm sorry this is master storyteller Connolly's last tale and happy she (and her daughter, co-writer Julie Williams) left the town - and her protagonist - in a good place.
August 10, 2021
Series: Victorian Village Mysteries #3
Publication Date: 8/24/21
Period: Contemporary Maryland
Number of Pages: 304
Since the last book, things are moving right along in the tiny Maryland village of Asheboro. After the sizable donation from Mid-Atlantic Power, Kate and her board have been able to start work on restoring Henry Barton’s shovel factory and have even begun planning for the restoration of the Barton’s Victorian mansion. If all continue to move forward, they should be able to begin work on Main Street before too long. Kate and the town’s, dream of creating an authentic Victorian Village – complete with downtown area, mansion, and factory will save the town from totally disappearing. So much is riding on the success of this project, and then … they find a body hidden in a closed-up stairwell. Why is the 100-year-old body in the stairwell? What happened to the man? Was he murdered? Did he fall down the stairs and die? Why would anyone wall him in? Since the house has been closed up for over a hundred years, they’ll probably never know the answer. But when another body is found – a very recent death – also having fallen down a stairway – well – things get curioser and curioser.
Kate vacillates between feeling positive about the project and apprehensive about it. Has she bitten off more than she can chew? The publicity around finding not one, but two dead bodies at the Victorian mansion could very well keep donors from contributing to the project, so Kate, Josh, and Carroll know they have to pull out all of the stops to learn the personal history of the reclusive Henry and Mary Barton. Learning that may help them solve the mystery behind the 100-year-old corpse. Is the second body related to the first in some way? Is it some weird family feud? The victim wasn’t a very pleasant fellow, so who did he anger enough to kill him?
This was a thoroughly enjoyable story. The mystery (both of them) was intriguing and the solution unexpected. There were lots of clues to follow and lots of suspects to clear before we finally have solutions. I also love following along with the overarching story of Kate leading the charge to turn Asheboro, Maryland into a vintage Victorian Village similar to Williamsburg, VA. I hope you’ll give this book a try and love it as much as I did. I definitely miss this author and all of her lovely series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 8/24/21
Period: Contemporary Maryland
Number of Pages: 304
Since the last book, things are moving right along in the tiny Maryland village of Asheboro. After the sizable donation from Mid-Atlantic Power, Kate and her board have been able to start work on restoring Henry Barton’s shovel factory and have even begun planning for the restoration of the Barton’s Victorian mansion. If all continue to move forward, they should be able to begin work on Main Street before too long. Kate and the town’s, dream of creating an authentic Victorian Village – complete with downtown area, mansion, and factory will save the town from totally disappearing. So much is riding on the success of this project, and then … they find a body hidden in a closed-up stairwell. Why is the 100-year-old body in the stairwell? What happened to the man? Was he murdered? Did he fall down the stairs and die? Why would anyone wall him in? Since the house has been closed up for over a hundred years, they’ll probably never know the answer. But when another body is found – a very recent death – also having fallen down a stairway – well – things get curioser and curioser.
Kate vacillates between feeling positive about the project and apprehensive about it. Has she bitten off more than she can chew? The publicity around finding not one, but two dead bodies at the Victorian mansion could very well keep donors from contributing to the project, so Kate, Josh, and Carroll know they have to pull out all of the stops to learn the personal history of the reclusive Henry and Mary Barton. Learning that may help them solve the mystery behind the 100-year-old corpse. Is the second body related to the first in some way? Is it some weird family feud? The victim wasn’t a very pleasant fellow, so who did he anger enough to kill him?
This was a thoroughly enjoyable story. The mystery (both of them) was intriguing and the solution unexpected. There were lots of clues to follow and lots of suspects to clear before we finally have solutions. I also love following along with the overarching story of Kate leading the charge to turn Asheboro, Maryland into a vintage Victorian Village similar to Williamsburg, VA. I hope you’ll give this book a try and love it as much as I did. I definitely miss this author and all of her lovely series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 25, 2021
The pressure is mounting for Kate as she needs to get things moving on the renovations if she is going to be able to help save the town from disappearing, but every step she takes forward seems to lead her to stumble upon a dead body that throws a wrench in the plans and this book is no exception. The intrigue spirals as Kate and crew now need to figure out if the person they are trying to plan their town's comeback around is the great guy that they have come to believe he was. A layered plot of various characters stories wrapped around a murder investigation makes this a delightfully entertaining read. I love the historical aspect of the books without being set in historical times. It makes the book seem all that much more realistic. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series!
August 11, 2021
The Secret Staircase is the third book in the Victorian Village Mystery series. Sadly, Ms. Connolly passed away in 2020, so I assume this is the final book in the series unless someone takes over writing the books. The main character, Kate Hamilton, is working with several board members to revitalize the town of Asheboro, Maryland. She is starting with turning a mansion left to the town by the late Henry Barton but the discovery of bones from a long ago murder followed by a new murder slow the process down. Kate can’t help but investigate to find out if these two deaths could be related.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but missed the second one. I was surprised that the restoration of the Barton mansion and the creation of the Victorian village in the town wasn’t further along. Things are moving slowly in that process. The pace of the book is even, but also slow and there were times I lost interest in what was going on. There are two many unnecessary details that bog the story down. However, I like the characters in the book. I especially like Kate’s love interest, Professor Josh Wainwright, and her best friend Lisbeth. Without spoiling anything, documents discovered in the home are intriguing for the reader and provide Kate some important clues needed in her investigation. I like the way things are wrapped up in the end and think fans of the prior two books in this series will enjoy the book. I would rate it 3.5 stars.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but missed the second one. I was surprised that the restoration of the Barton mansion and the creation of the Victorian village in the town wasn’t further along. Things are moving slowly in that process. The pace of the book is even, but also slow and there were times I lost interest in what was going on. There are two many unnecessary details that bog the story down. However, I like the characters in the book. I especially like Kate’s love interest, Professor Josh Wainwright, and her best friend Lisbeth. Without spoiling anything, documents discovered in the home are intriguing for the reader and provide Kate some important clues needed in her investigation. I like the way things are wrapped up in the end and think fans of the prior two books in this series will enjoy the book. I would rate it 3.5 stars.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
August 24, 2021
The Project
Kate is involved in restoring an old mansion called "The Barton Mansion" once owned by a factory owner. Her dream is to restore the whole town to a Victorian village, but the Barton house is the first on her list.
She engages a contractor, a plumber, and an electrician to restore the house. Unfortunately the work is halted not once but twice. The first time is when a hollow wall is found in the kitchen with a body behind it that fell down a secret staircase. Work begins again but another body shows up as the plumber is found dead from falling down a staircase.
Kate does her best with her friends and the workers to renovate the house, but is it too big of a task for her? Can her friends help her find out the historical information she needs to sell the house as a Victorian tourist attraction?
Will the mystery of the body in the wall and the unfortunate plumber be solved? Who was to blame, will we ever find out?
This was a very engaging mystery, a lot of history of Victorian times and a lot of who done it questions to be answered. I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Thanks to Sheila Connolly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.
Kate is involved in restoring an old mansion called "The Barton Mansion" once owned by a factory owner. Her dream is to restore the whole town to a Victorian village, but the Barton house is the first on her list.
She engages a contractor, a plumber, and an electrician to restore the house. Unfortunately the work is halted not once but twice. The first time is when a hollow wall is found in the kitchen with a body behind it that fell down a secret staircase. Work begins again but another body shows up as the plumber is found dead from falling down a staircase.
Kate does her best with her friends and the workers to renovate the house, but is it too big of a task for her? Can her friends help her find out the historical information she needs to sell the house as a Victorian tourist attraction?
Will the mystery of the body in the wall and the unfortunate plumber be solved? Who was to blame, will we ever find out?
This was a very engaging mystery, a lot of history of Victorian times and a lot of who done it questions to be answered. I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Thanks to Sheila Connolly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.
September 27, 2021
One dead guy. One secret staircase. A second dead guy. All in a days work? 😬⚰️
*
*
I headed back to Asheboro, Maryland where Kate is heading the revitalization of the town, beginning with the old Barton mansion. Her idea is to start with the kitchen and make it functional yet look like the original. She hires a team of professionals but before long, one of them finds a lot more than they bargained for behind one of the walls. Tensions begin to rise amongst the restoration crew and Kate is awfully suspicious of one boisterous member in particular. Before you know it, there’s a second body, crew members can’t be reached, suspicions are raising, and Kate finds the deceased Mrs. Barton’s diary!
*
This is book 3 in the Victorian Village Mysteries and it wasn’t my favorite but it did tie up a lot of loose ends. Unfortunately, the author passed away while writing this and her daughter graciously finished it for her posthumously. I don’t know if this is the end of this series but it’s definitely been an enjoyable one and I’m going to miss Sheila Connolly’s writing!
*
*
I headed back to Asheboro, Maryland where Kate is heading the revitalization of the town, beginning with the old Barton mansion. Her idea is to start with the kitchen and make it functional yet look like the original. She hires a team of professionals but before long, one of them finds a lot more than they bargained for behind one of the walls. Tensions begin to rise amongst the restoration crew and Kate is awfully suspicious of one boisterous member in particular. Before you know it, there’s a second body, crew members can’t be reached, suspicions are raising, and Kate finds the deceased Mrs. Barton’s diary!
*
This is book 3 in the Victorian Village Mysteries and it wasn’t my favorite but it did tie up a lot of loose ends. Unfortunately, the author passed away while writing this and her daughter graciously finished it for her posthumously. I don’t know if this is the end of this series but it’s definitely been an enjoyable one and I’m going to miss Sheila Connolly’s writing!
September 10, 2021
I feel bad, but I can't give this book a good review. It is the 3rd in the series, and I have been waiting to see if there is any progression in the characters, the plot, the renovation of the mansion and town, but there really doesn't seem to be. My main complaint is that, like books one and two, it seems filled with filler, going over the same things repeatedly. How many times do we have to read about all of Kate's doubts whether she can do the job or not? When they find the slightest new detail about Henry Barton's life, it is hashed and rehashed throughout the whole book, told to numerous people one at a time instead of as a group. It is the 3rd in the series, and only on about the last three pages do we read about some progress being made on the mansion. Unless the 4th (if there is one) book if offered to me free, (and even then I don't know) I seriously doubt that I will be reading anything else in this series.
December 21, 2021
The Secret Staircase is the third book in the Victorian Village mystery series. Kate Hamilton returned to her small hometown to help revitalize it and improve tourism. Along the way, she’s been involved in solving some mysteries.
Kate’s latest project is to renovate the Barton Mansion. During the renovation a secret staircase is found. Unfortunately, there’s a dead body in the stairwell. While the death was not a recent one, it is unknown who the deceased. Kate’s interest is peaked, and she’s on the case.
I have read the first two books this series, and enjoyed them both. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but Kate and the other character’s personal story arcs progress through the books. I recommend reading the series in order.
Realistic characters in a charming setting. An enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kate’s latest project is to renovate the Barton Mansion. During the renovation a secret staircase is found. Unfortunately, there’s a dead body in the stairwell. While the death was not a recent one, it is unknown who the deceased. Kate’s interest is peaked, and she’s on the case.
I have read the first two books this series, and enjoyed them both. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but Kate and the other character’s personal story arcs progress through the books. I recommend reading the series in order.
Realistic characters in a charming setting. An enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2021
I would have liked more from this series too bad it wasn't too be. I always loved the history in many of Sheila's series. This gives history and some hope for the Barton house and the town, would have loved many more tales!
September 6, 2021
Although this is only the third book in the Victorian Village Mysteries, with the death of its author, Sheila Connolly, it will probably be the last. Her daughter finished this one for her and did a wonderful job making the story seamless. In this story, Kate Hamilton is feeling good about her plans to recreate Asheboro, Maryland as the Victorian village it once was. She has some financial backing (you need to read the second book to find out why) and is working on renovating the Barton Mansion. She wants it to look like a Victorian home, but knows that the plumbing and electrical need to be brought up to code. She is meeting with construction crews to get some information, when one of them finds a hidden staircase in the kitchen. They also find a body in the staircase. Solving the cold case is not a priority, but, it will help the mansion and the recreation of the village if the mystery is solved. When a second body turns up in the mansion, this one more recent, the backers get a bit antsy. Can Kate continue with her work as well as help to find out what is happening?
Once again, Kate and her friends are sorting through papers to find out the history of the Barton family and the mansion. As they discover new information, the identity of the older victim is uncovered as well as the why and who of the recent one. I am a huge history buff, so I enjoy the fact that they are uncovering the past and bringing it to light. The characters we meet in this story are both unlikable and likable. They are realistic in their attitudes and work ethic. I was a bit worried about Kate's and Josh's relationship, but by the end we get an answer to what is happening. This is an interesting story with a good mystery (both of them) and great characters. The ending does tie up the series nicely and I was happy with the way it ended. The audiobook was once again narrated by Emily Durante, so was a very pleasant listening experience.
Once again, Kate and her friends are sorting through papers to find out the history of the Barton family and the mansion. As they discover new information, the identity of the older victim is uncovered as well as the why and who of the recent one. I am a huge history buff, so I enjoy the fact that they are uncovering the past and bringing it to light. The characters we meet in this story are both unlikable and likable. They are realistic in their attitudes and work ethic. I was a bit worried about Kate's and Josh's relationship, but by the end we get an answer to what is happening. This is an interesting story with a good mystery (both of them) and great characters. The ending does tie up the series nicely and I was happy with the way it ended. The audiobook was once again narrated by Emily Durante, so was a very pleasant listening experience.
December 30, 2021
I started this one a few months ago and finally got around to finishing. It was a little bittersweet, as it was written by Sheila Connally who passed away last year, which means this is the final book in the series.
I read the first book in the series a few years ago, and picked this one up because it had everything I love in a mystery; a long-ago boarded up secret room containing a body, a modern day death that may be connected to the first, and a poignant historical tale of tragedy, love, and heartbreak. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it, I love the characters, especially Kate who reminds me of Merry from the Merry muffin series; she’s a capable, practical and knows how to get things done, but she has such a charming way about her that makes you want to be friends with her. I loved the plot and how it encompassed all the events in the past and her work to restore the Barton mansion as well as fleshing out the history of Henry Barton and how it tied into the current day events, making the whole story very dimensional and organic.
I am bummed that this will be the final chapter in Kates story (and the Barton’s) but this was definitely the perfect way to end the series.
I read the first book in the series a few years ago, and picked this one up because it had everything I love in a mystery; a long-ago boarded up secret room containing a body, a modern day death that may be connected to the first, and a poignant historical tale of tragedy, love, and heartbreak. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it, I love the characters, especially Kate who reminds me of Merry from the Merry muffin series; she’s a capable, practical and knows how to get things done, but she has such a charming way about her that makes you want to be friends with her. I loved the plot and how it encompassed all the events in the past and her work to restore the Barton mansion as well as fleshing out the history of Henry Barton and how it tied into the current day events, making the whole story very dimensional and organic.
I am bummed that this will be the final chapter in Kates story (and the Barton’s) but this was definitely the perfect way to end the series.
August 24, 2021
The project to make Asheboro, Maryland into the Victorian showpiece it once was is going well. The townspeople have finally come around to her way of thinking and the money is no longer an issue. Her first big renovation will be the Barton Mansion thankfully its in pretty good condition so the only big change will be to the kitchen. When the contractors working on the project find a secret staircase along with a body the project comes to a screeching halt. Thankfully after an examination Kate learns the body is from the 1800's. She soon learns the mans death wasn't natural but murder. Kate wants to figure out who the man was and why he was killed. During her investigation another body is found and this one happens to be from this era. Do the two deaths have anything to do with one another or is it all just a coincidence? Kate is determined to find out hoping along the way she can solve both deaths!
January 27, 2022
This is the third book in the Victorian Village Mysteries series and I still really like this series. Kate Hamilton is a really fun MC and I love the fact this series is set in Maryland, where I spent much of my life. This time Kate stumbles across a dead body in a hidden staircase, and then another body turns up when she starts investigating what happened. I love the town and Kate's efforts to continue to turn the economy around for this little village. I look forward to reading more in this continuing story.
I received an e-book by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I received an e-book by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
December 14, 2022
I was very unhappy with the editing of the first two books in this series, but I am happy that this last book was marvelous. I really enjoyed it. It was the only book in the series that made me care about what the main character, Kate, was trying to accomplish.
In this Victorian Village Mystery Series, Kate is trying to save her old hometown from slowly withering away. She wants to turn it into a tourist destination as an authentic Victorian Village.
Although, she has no idea what she’s doing, she begins renovations on a large estate that the town inherited. While getting ready to refurbish the kitchen, she discovers something ghastly.
It is very sad that the writing community has lost this author. This last work was truly something good.
5 stars.
In this Victorian Village Mystery Series, Kate is trying to save her old hometown from slowly withering away. She wants to turn it into a tourist destination as an authentic Victorian Village.
Although, she has no idea what she’s doing, she begins renovations on a large estate that the town inherited. While getting ready to refurbish the kitchen, she discovers something ghastly.
It is very sad that the writing community has lost this author. This last work was truly something good.
5 stars.
September 6, 2023
In this story, work is beginning to restore the Barton mansion in Asheboro, Maryland when a discovery is made behind a wall in the kitchen. Everyone involved wants to know more about Mr & Mrs Barton and their connection to the man hidden in the secret staircase. The book was an easy read.
February 23, 2022
The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly was about the Henry Barton Estate, inherited by the town. Kate Hamilton has taken charge of overseeing the restoration of the mansion and restoring the town to it’s historical roots. The town residents hope to draw tourists by creating a working historical representation of life in the late 1800’s. However, Kate didn’t plan on uncovering a body in a hidden staircase before they even start. Complicated by a second body in the cellar. This was Sheila Connolly last mystery before she died.
February 26, 2022
I enjoyed this one! Much better than the first two. The plot was a lot deeper and I liked the historical aspect of the murder.
March 26, 2021
I enjoyed the characters in this book and they mystery itself was very good.
The history of the house piqued my interest, it’s always fun to learn the history of the old houses included in the stories.
I’ve enjoyed several books by this author and I’m looking forward to enjoying more.
The history of the house piqued my interest, it’s always fun to learn the history of the old houses included in the stories.
I’ve enjoyed several books by this author and I’m looking forward to enjoying more.
September 4, 2021
This is the third release in the outstanding "Victoria Village Mysteries" series by cozy author Sheila Connolly. The author is one of my favorite cozy authors and I was pleased to receive this for review. I highly recommend this series. Sadly the author has passed away and this is her last book assisted by her daughter. All of us in the cozy community are deeply saddened by her passing. Sheila Connelly was a masterful storyteller and a author I will always treasure.
In this third in series our protagnist Kate is rapidly moving forward with her plans to renovate the town into the Victorian village it once was. She has the financing and approvals and begins work on a mansion that is part of the long awaited project. The Barton mansion is going to be used to host events when the renovation is complete. When a body is found in the wall kate becomes involved in the murder and wants to solve this mysterious mystery from the 1800's. When a present day murder occurs Kate is sure the two may be connected by circumstance involving long ago town history.
I like Kate as a savvy smart protagnist . The supporting charcters are delightful and the setting of a small town converted to a Victorian village is wonderful. This is a wonderful way to leave the series . I highly recommend this next in series for your reading enjoyment.
In this third in series our protagnist Kate is rapidly moving forward with her plans to renovate the town into the Victorian village it once was. She has the financing and approvals and begins work on a mansion that is part of the long awaited project. The Barton mansion is going to be used to host events when the renovation is complete. When a body is found in the wall kate becomes involved in the murder and wants to solve this mysterious mystery from the 1800's. When a present day murder occurs Kate is sure the two may be connected by circumstance involving long ago town history.
I like Kate as a savvy smart protagnist . The supporting charcters are delightful and the setting of a small town converted to a Victorian village is wonderful. This is a wonderful way to leave the series . I highly recommend this next in series for your reading enjoyment.
September 7, 2021
Kate has returned to her hometown of Asheboro, Maryland to lead the Asheboro Revitalization Project. One big focus is the mansion left to the town by Henry Barton when he died in 1911. It’s a very large Victorian mansion that has not been lived in since Mr. Barton died. Now, the town wants to restore it and use it for civic events.
Kate has her friend, Carroll, and boyfriend, Josh, helping her. She wants to focus on the kitchen first and interviews some contractors. One realizes that a kitchen wall is oddly shaped and using a camera placed into the wall, discovers a dead body at the end of a hidden staircase. Looks like the body has been there for a long time.
I believe this is the first book I have read by this author and I must say that I enjoyed it immensely. The story is compelling and the characters are well-crafted. I learned so much about the Victorian time period as it related to the home. I was impressed with the intricate work done to investigate the history of the Barton family. There was some sadness but I was proud of the “decision” made in the end. Yes, that is a cryptic remark but so meaningful, and thus my way of teasing readers into checking out this book. It’s nice and wholesome too!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Kate has her friend, Carroll, and boyfriend, Josh, helping her. She wants to focus on the kitchen first and interviews some contractors. One realizes that a kitchen wall is oddly shaped and using a camera placed into the wall, discovers a dead body at the end of a hidden staircase. Looks like the body has been there for a long time.
I believe this is the first book I have read by this author and I must say that I enjoyed it immensely. The story is compelling and the characters are well-crafted. I learned so much about the Victorian time period as it related to the home. I was impressed with the intricate work done to investigate the history of the Barton family. There was some sadness but I was proud of the “decision” made in the end. Yes, that is a cryptic remark but so meaningful, and thus my way of teasing readers into checking out this book. It’s nice and wholesome too!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 20, 2021
This is the third in a series where Kate Hamilton is trying to revive a dying town by revitalizing it as a Victorian village and a tourist destination. It requires a lot of renovation and one of the gems is an old mansion she hopes to start with. But just as she seems to have secured a great crew dissension arises and an old body is found in a sealed staircase. Then a new body joins the old and Kate has to figure out who is the modern day murderer before he or she kills the town’s hopes too.
I haven’t read the previous books in the series but it was easy enough to understand what was going on. I enjoyed the characters who are well rounded though it is obvious I had missed some of their bonds that grew from the previous books, this was particularly obvious in her relationship her perhaps boyfriend. But my favorite part was interweaving of information about the builder of the house and his wife into the story and making it relevant to the mystery.
A fun mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in an exchange for an honest opinion.
I haven’t read the previous books in the series but it was easy enough to understand what was going on. I enjoyed the characters who are well rounded though it is obvious I had missed some of their bonds that grew from the previous books, this was particularly obvious in her relationship her perhaps boyfriend. But my favorite part was interweaving of information about the builder of the house and his wife into the story and making it relevant to the mystery.
A fun mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in an exchange for an honest opinion.
February 22, 2022
In one of my book related emails, I saw that this book was rated fairly high, and was highly recommended. I then saw that this book was the third book on the series. So I bought used copies of all three books, thinking I needed to have the full back story before reading the third book. The first book was extremely disappointing. It mainly focused on the renovation of the town and how they did not have any money to do anything. Plus a murder on the back burner. I got so tired of hearing about everything other than solving the murder. However, I pressed on, finished the first book and started the second book. Not much better, but it was a step up. I started the third book. In about the first 100 pages, same old, same old "no money; Victorian town renovation theme". Then at about page 130, it started getting much better, and had the elements of a cozy mystery that I liked to read. I could not put the book down and finished it. I was very sad to learn that the author had passed away before the book was published and the daughter had a hand in the editing and publishing. The entire writing style seemed to change about the third of the way into the book. Several more twists and turns in this book, than the first two. It also flows better. The center of the story shifted to finding information about Henry Barton and his wife Mary, among other historical aspects of the story. It also ended in a way that allows the reader to think that the town would be saved and become prosperous again.
I still did not particularly like Kate. I didn't dislike her either. And the relationship between her and Josh seemed strained, and not conducive to a long term romance. I think the best characters may have been Frances, and Morgan.
So, book 3 was by far the best one and I would recommend reading it.
I still did not particularly like Kate. I didn't dislike her either. And the relationship between her and Josh seemed strained, and not conducive to a long term romance. I think the best characters may have been Frances, and Morgan.
So, book 3 was by far the best one and I would recommend reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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