Kirkyards & Kindness

A Rip Through Time #4.5

by Kelley Armstrong

Mallory Mitchell and Dr. Duncan Gray take a break from investigating murder to find the most famous dog in Victorian Scotland.

A year ago, twenty-first-century detective Mallory found herself in 1869 Edinburgh, in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemade working for Dr. Duncan Gray, pioneer in forensic science. Shortly after she arrived, she made the unfortunate acquaintence of Catriona’s former criminal mentor, Davina, an entanglement that nearly got Mallory killed. Now she’s about to meet Davina again.

Greyfriars Bobby has disappeared. The little terrier is already a legend, and Davina has made a tidy living showing him off on graveyard tours…while picking the pockets of her guests. When the elderly dog vanishes, Davina calls in a favor from her old student. Mallory agrees to help find Bobby in return for the one thing she’s been unable to get from Davina—the mysterious Catriona’s life story.

Note this is not a full-length novel. It's a novella set after Death at a Highland Wedding.

Genres: Mystery, Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Historical, Novella, Mystery Thriller, Fantasy

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2025

About the author

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelley Armstrong is back with another of her great thrillers that spans over a century and a half. Mallory Atkinson continues to settle in 19th century Scotland with her secret of time travel. She remains stuck in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemade working for Dr. Duncan Gray, pioneer in forensic science. To date, she remains unaware of Catriona’s past, though the criminally-minded Davina has much she could tell. Greyfriars Bobby, a popular terrier, has disappeared. Davina seeks Mallory’s assistance, as the little pup has helped bring in a large sum of coins and has helped Davina trick hapless people who agree to graveyards tours. Mallory agrees to take up the case, bringing Dr. Gray along with her, hoping this will cement a promise that Davina will share the truth about Catriona’s past. This could be beneficial for both parties, should everyone remain on the up and up. Kelley Armstrong delivers a great novella to keep the series fresh in the mind of readers.

I discovered the work of Kelley Armstrong not too long ago and cannot get enough. It was another series that pulled me in, but Armstrong’s use of time travel seemed intriguing. The series has a great narrative foundation, keeping the reader well connected to all that is going on. The needed momentum keeps the story sharp and makes sure there is little time to rest, as th action is plentiful.

As things gain speed, the handful of core characters develop effectively, keeping the reader curious. Mallory Atkinson remains a great protagonist whose life has been split between two centuries, eager to get answers to fit the pieces together. Others help add depth and a flavoring to the series, which I have always enjoyed. Armstrong has always been able to effectively paint clear images of her characters and stories with those who grace the pages of her publications.

The characters are complemented by a strong plot that weaves its way throughout and provides multiple surprises on which the reader can feast. While this is a novella, it was packed with twists that make the reader take note of all moving parts.
I am eager to see where things are headed with this series and how Kelley Armstrong will keep appealing to her reading base.

Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for another addictive piece in this time-travel collection.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so good, and this one finally provided some important backstory for Catriona's life.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4.25 stars
This is a novella in this series about a modern day female detective that switches places with a chambermaid from 1869. She didn’t switch willingly, but has found a new life as assistant to a Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and forensic scientist of the 1869 sort. They solve crimes together In Edinburgh Scotland. This time Greyfriar’s Bobby, the famous dog that lives on his masters grave, has been stolen. Not exactly the murder cases they usually solve, but I enjoyed it all the same. I remember crying when I was young when I saw the movie about the dog so that just added to my time with this read. The whole series is very well crafted and I really recommend it to mystery readers or ones that enjoy time travel.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella (#4.5) in the A Rip Through Time series.

I love this series. And I love Mallory and Gray. This case was interesting. Although it wasn’t as elaborate as most of their previous cases. I definitely loved seeing all of my favorite characters and am so excited about the next full length book.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Events in Kirkyards & Kindness take place after Death at a Highland Wedding. While each book/novella in this series features its own mystery, the overall arc of what happened to Mallory and the relationship she forms in Edinburgh have me recommending you read the series in the order of their release.

Greyfriars Bobby has disappeared, and a deadly acquaintance of Catriona is seeking Mallory’s help. Davina was the former criminal mentor of Catriona, and the last time she and Mallory tangled, she was nearly killed. So naturally, Duncan is concerned. The two agree to meet Davina, who seeks help to find Greyfrairs Bobby.

Bobby is a terrier who sits on a grave and is beloved by children and tourists alike. Davina claims his disappearance is hurting her tours, and Mallory and Duncan agree to help for information about Catriona. The story was clever, with twists and turns that kept me entertained. I loved spending time with Duncan and Mallory in this quieter investigation. It was the perfect snack to hold me over until the next full-length novel. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love spending time with Mallory and Duncan. In this novella they investigate a dognapping and Mallory learns a bit more about Catriona's background. They are also navigating the changed dynamic in their foursome, now that Hugh is courting Isla.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mystery taken on as a way to get information from Davina on Catriona's past.

I'm looking forward to the next book!

[A.C. Toy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why but I always love the novellas more than the full novels. we get a dognapping case (which I worried would be boring, but was a nice change of pace.) I had to look up an image of Greyfriar's Bobby because I wanted to make sure I was envisioning the dog correctly. AND I WAS.
we get a very much in love Isla and McCreadie. Finally received Catrionna's backstory 💔 and we STILL DONT GET Gray & Mallory accepting their feelings for each other. but a little girl is made VERY happy by the end. quick and sweet read! can't wait for the next one.

[Megan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know people say you can skip the novellas… but don’t skip the novellas.

[Ann Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally get to read a little bit of Catriona's story. There is a short case, looking for Bobby

[Gawelleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je n’ai pas été très emballée par cet opus.
J’espère mieux pour la suite.

[Sudasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Nice little novella. Wish Mallory and Gray would hurry up and get to it! They're taking slownburn to a whole other level...

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet! I hope this series never ends, honestly! 🐾

[Diana Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to Kelley's annual novellas and this year's Rip through time's Kirkyards and kindness was another hit, giving me another chance to step into the Victorian world of Mallory and Duncan. In the previous couple of novels the detecting couple have been featured in penny dreadfuls and have become a bit famous...so when the famous Skye terrier Greyfriars Bobby disappears from the Kirkyard, they are approached to find him!
This is a quick and easy humourous read, with a bit of Scottish history and a chance to find out more about Catriona's past. It also has a sneak peek at the next novel, An ordinary sort of evil, out in May 2026...(but I didn't read it...I do have the ARC and am trying to wait until the new year to read it)

Totally recommend this series!!!!

[Colleen Yerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute novella. I loved that the entire mystery revolved around Greyfriars Bobby – the dog who's the mascot of the graveyard. You get to see Mallory and Duncan work together to solve this mystery. You also get more information about Catriona’s past…I definitely feel bad for her and how she was raised (what a horrible mother) but that probably doesn’t excuse how she acted as an adult, although you can better understand how she got there. This also shows McCreadie & Isla continuing to court and less involved in the mystery solving, but they make it very clear they still want to be included lol. I’m excited for book 5 and hope to see some Duncan & Mallory progression as a couple.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is something about this one that makes it come across as fun, despite times when it wasn't. The case was one that you kinda had to smile about, especially with who helped Mallory and Dr. Gray solve it and with the very end of the book. The not so fun part was Mallory learning more about the girl who's body she inhabits. You can tell she feels sorry for her and if it was in her power, would have tried to fix the past. It will be interesting to see how that affects her going forward.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hilarious series, with a lot of lip twitching and eyebrow waggling, but this little novella addition was actually very enjoyable. Featuring Edinburgh's very own grey friars Bobby and some more insight into Catriona's past - a thoroughly pleasant read.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow. Even the info on Catriona's background wasn't super fascinating imo. Definitely could have skipped this one and been just fine.

[Weezey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - love love loved! Short, sweet, cute, and just the right amount of emotional. 😭

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these novella in between the full length novels. I get to visit this wonderful world and characters again and we get more clues here and there! Love these!

[Madison Rusnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Great storyline as usual and the tension between these two???? My god, I can't handle it!!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory and Gray take on the case of the missing Greyfriar's Bobby. Mallory also learns more about Catriona's past.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Amazon
*Genre* Mystery / Historical
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

Kelley Armstrong's Kirkyards & Kindness is a 158-page novella in the author's A Rip Through Time series, set after Death at a Highland Wedding. Mallory Atkinson continues to settle into 19th-century Scotland while keeping her secret of time travel, which only 3 people know. She remains stuck in the body of 19-year-old Catriona Mitchell, working for Dr. Duncan Gray, a pioneer in forensic science. To date, she remains unaware of Catriona’s past, though the criminally-minded Davina has much she could tell. This is where part of this story is driven.

*Full Review @ Gizmo's Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mallory and Duncan Holiday fix!!!
Love this novella! Want more!

[Hannah Wegert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute little story. It made my heart happy. It also answered some questions I've been wondering about.

[Heather Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this absolutely pointless, even for a novella? Yes. Can you skip this if you’re a series fan? Yes. Was I entertained? Also yes.

[Flo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very low-stakes romp through the historical world that Kelley Armstrong has created in her Rip Through Time series. In this novella, Mallory and Gray are tasked with finding a famous lost dog by an old acquaintance of Catriona, whose body Mallory currently inhabits. Said acquaintance promises Mallory that she would tell her more about Catriona's past if they find the dog.

Obviously, this is not a particularly suspenseful plot, but I enjoyed the short return to this world and the additional information that we get about Catriona, especially as she has remained a large mystery up to now. We still don't know much about her, but we at least now know where she comes from and a little bit of her history. There wasn't a ton of other development with Gray (other than the normal banter and flirtation/feelings), and none of the side characters I love were in it too much, but I'm glad Isla and McCreadie got a little bit of page time.

I particularly enjoyed that they actually talked about the small conflict around Isla/McCreadie spending more time together and how Mallory and Gray were trying to navigate that along with their cases - they were actually adults about the whole thing, which is always highly appreciated. I definitely don't want there to be weird conflict between them, because I love each of them and adore their easy friendship in all of the books.

Other than that, not too much to say about this novella. There were some cute dogs!

I received an ARC copy of the next book in a Goodreads giveaway, so I will hopefully read and review that in the next couple months!

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See my Rip Through Time series reviews:

A Rip Through Time (#1) | here
The Poisoner's Ring (#2) | here
Cocktails & Chloroform (#2.5) | here
Disturbing the Dead (#3) | here
Schemes & Scandals (#3.5) | here
Death at a Highland Wedding (#4) | here
Kirkyards & Kindness (#4.5) | here
An Ordinary Sort of Evil (#5) | coming soon

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twenty-first-century detective Mallory is pretty much adjusted to life in 1869 Edinburgh, and has made peace (mostly) with inhabiting the body of criminal Catriona Mitchell. Catriona had worked as a maid for Dr. Duncan Gray, a forensic mortician, and his sister. Mallory works for them in a different capacity. They know her secret, and her skills as a detective have enabled her to be a genuine asset to the duo, who, along with their friend Detective Hugh McCreadie, work to solve crimes.

One thing hangs over Mallory's new existence, and that is Catriona's old one. Mallory is uncertain just how much trouble Catriona was in, has no idea of the woman's background, and seriously doubts that her lack of memory will keep the more nefarious of that lady's former contacts from enacting any vengeance or extracting any debts they feel are their due.

So when Davina, a former co-criminal of Catriona's, shows up asking for help to get her profitable pooch back, Mallory strikes a deal with her. She'll find the dog if Davina gives her the background story of Catriona.

I had zero interest in the dognabbing case and would have preferred if the story had given us more information about our young lady's past. A few paragraphs of conversation, which shed some light on the girl, didn't feel really sufficient for me. So this tale fell flat for this reader.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-first century detective Mallory found herself in 1869 Edinburgh a year ago. She's in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid for Dr Duncan Gray and his sister, Isla. Gray is a pioneer in forensic science and often helps his friend, McCreadie, a police detective. Shortly after her arrival, Mallory had a run-in with Davina, Catriona's former criminal mentor, that almost got her killed. Now Davina's back. Someone has stolen Greyfriars Bobby who's already popular and Davina has made money by showing him off. She wants Mallory and Gray to find the missing dog and Mallory agrees to help in exchange for information about Catriona.

I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and I love the time travel aspect of this series. This novella was well-written with wonderful characters and a fast-moving plot. It's mostly just Gray and Mallory in this book and I like how they work together very much. I was drawn into this utterly captivating story and kept hooked from start to finish. The mystery was intriguing and the story is a can't-miss part of a must-read series. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order to get the most out of things. However, the mystery in this novella is self-contained without a cliffhanger.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical novella, part of a series set in Victorian Edinburgh. continues the story of Mallory Mitchell, a modern-day detective. Mallory is transported to 1869 Scotland and finds herself in the body of a housemaid in the household of Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister, Isla. It doesn’t take her long to begin assisting Gray in his investigations into the deaths of murder victims.

Armstrong offers clever and believable scenarios as Mallory adjusts to her role first as the housemaid and then as an assistant to Gray. In this book, Greyfriars Bobby, the now-elderly dog that spent a considerable part of his life guarding the grave of his dead owner, has gone missing. Mallory is hired to find him. There are few clues to direct her to the dognapper.

This is a well written novella that reads like a much longer novel. It is fast paced, well-written, with well developed characters. You don’t have to read the first four books in this series to thoroughly enjoy this story.

My thanks to Amazon for an eARC