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The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder: A Spooky Victorian Mystery
London 1881. Can two crooked women stop a murder?
Extravagant medium Mrs Ashton and her lover, blunt working-class Mrs Bradshaw, run a spiritualist scam. Mrs Ashton secretly reads minds.
Grieving Lady Violet craves the truth behind her mother’s untimely death. But Lady Violet’s powerful husband Sir Charles hates spiritualists. Has he killed before?
Uncovering this MP’s wicked crimes puts all three women in terrible danger…
To solve a shocking murder, look both sides of the grave.
A joyous romp with a serious core. Taking a wry look at Victorian hypocrisy, this twisty and gripping thriller goes from dockland slums to a country estate and the Old Bailey. Aided by Maisie - the sharpest and smartest dock-lass detective ever - they struggle to bring a powerful man to justice. Whatever laws they have broken, these rogues cannot stomach murder. This extraordinary case threatens all their certainties - it could divide them forever. And if Mrs Ashton were to run into Mr Sherlock Holmes, she could teach him a thing or two.
Extravagant medium Mrs Ashton and her lover, blunt working-class Mrs Bradshaw, run a spiritualist scam. Mrs Ashton secretly reads minds.
Grieving Lady Violet craves the truth behind her mother’s untimely death. But Lady Violet’s powerful husband Sir Charles hates spiritualists. Has he killed before?
Uncovering this MP’s wicked crimes puts all three women in terrible danger…
To solve a shocking murder, look both sides of the grave.
A joyous romp with a serious core. Taking a wry look at Victorian hypocrisy, this twisty and gripping thriller goes from dockland slums to a country estate and the Old Bailey. Aided by Maisie - the sharpest and smartest dock-lass detective ever - they struggle to bring a powerful man to justice. Whatever laws they have broken, these rogues cannot stomach murder. This extraordinary case threatens all their certainties - it could divide them forever. And if Mrs Ashton were to run into Mr Sherlock Holmes, she could teach him a thing or two.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2025
About the author
Stephen Cox
4 books62 followersI’m interested in strong, believable characters and their relationships. I like writing to have hope and humour, and to recognise the dark and unfair side of life. Usually, my work has some speculative or fantastical elements, but I am not interested in strict barriers between genres.
“Cox’s writing style is warm, lyrical and not afraid to explore humanity’s many complex and opposing points of view. This is the kind of book that makes you think about what being human is and could be.” (Run along the shelves blog)
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder - Spooky Sapphic Victorian Murder Mystery was published in 2025 and was a success.
"London 1881. Two older women, lovers living off their spiritualist scam; a beautiful young Lady lost in grief; and a powerful man concealing a hideous crime." One reader said
"With the perfect mix of meticulous research, emotional depth and a rollicking good story besides, Stephen Cox delivers surprises to the very end."
The sequel, The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror is on preorder (August 2026) and will be publishned worldwide in Sept 2026.
My two previous novels are available throughout the Anglosphere - and hopefully wider. MY novella Top Tips for Loving a Lizard will be part of Wiz 4, from Wizard's Tower Press and there is free short fiction on my website. I provide services for writers and readers.
The first book Our Child of the Stars was called 'heartfelt, imaginative and thrilling'. In a 60s small American town, a childless couple rescue an alien boy and try to keep him from the government.
Our Child of Two Worlds concludes the story - though not perhaps further stories in that universe.
'a remarkable story of family and the power of love, set against the backdrop of a fast-changing, terrifying decade and an interstellar threat almost beyond imagining.'
My grandmother told me I read too much. I remember walking in the garden when I was small, telling myself stories.
I post on the website and I have a regular newsletter
I’ve lived in several places. I spent nearly all my childhood in Bristol, and I’m now an adoptive Londoner. I have a partner and two adult children. I’m a professional communicator, a science PhD dropout, a recovering poet, and a Quaker.
I’m active in the All Good Bookshop writers group
Name buddies
I’m not the sculptor, the American Libertarian and expert on Jane Austen, or the guy who wrote a book about the Munchkins.
“Cox’s writing style is warm, lyrical and not afraid to explore humanity’s many complex and opposing points of view. This is the kind of book that makes you think about what being human is and could be.” (Run along the shelves blog)
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder - Spooky Sapphic Victorian Murder Mystery was published in 2025 and was a success.
"London 1881. Two older women, lovers living off their spiritualist scam; a beautiful young Lady lost in grief; and a powerful man concealing a hideous crime." One reader said
"With the perfect mix of meticulous research, emotional depth and a rollicking good story besides, Stephen Cox delivers surprises to the very end."
The sequel, The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror is on preorder (August 2026) and will be publishned worldwide in Sept 2026.
My two previous novels are available throughout the Anglosphere - and hopefully wider. MY novella Top Tips for Loving a Lizard will be part of Wiz 4, from Wizard's Tower Press and there is free short fiction on my website. I provide services for writers and readers.
The first book Our Child of the Stars was called 'heartfelt, imaginative and thrilling'. In a 60s small American town, a childless couple rescue an alien boy and try to keep him from the government.
Our Child of Two Worlds concludes the story - though not perhaps further stories in that universe.
'a remarkable story of family and the power of love, set against the backdrop of a fast-changing, terrifying decade and an interstellar threat almost beyond imagining.'
My grandmother told me I read too much. I remember walking in the garden when I was small, telling myself stories.
I post on the website and I have a regular newsletter
I’ve lived in several places. I spent nearly all my childhood in Bristol, and I’m now an adoptive Londoner. I have a partner and two adult children. I’m a professional communicator, a science PhD dropout, a recovering poet, and a Quaker.
I’m active in the All Good Bookshop writers group
Name buddies
I’m not the sculptor, the American Libertarian and expert on Jane Austen, or the guy who wrote a book about the Munchkins.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 8, 2026
3.5⭐
The Crooked Mediums Guide To Murder was an enjoyable and interesting read that was full of mystery and humour right from the start.
The storyline was easy to follow and has you invested with all the plot twists that happen throughout the book. The storyline has an incredible range of characters that are both likable and very interesting.
Overall this was a brilliant read.
The Crooked Mediums Guide To Murder was an enjoyable and interesting read that was full of mystery and humour right from the start.
The storyline was easy to follow and has you invested with all the plot twists that happen throughout the book. The storyline has an incredible range of characters that are both likable and very interesting.
Overall this was a brilliant read.
September 12, 2025
London 1881. Extravagant medium Mrs Ashton and her lover Mrs Bradshaw, run a spiritual scam .Can to crooked women stop a murder?
So this book turned out to be exactly what I needed at the time. I had a craving for a spooky Victorian mystery, and this story completely delivered. It was an engaging read with a well thought out plot, a superb twists, and well drawn characters that truly ticket all the boxes for me.
definitely recommend this book.
So this book turned out to be exactly what I needed at the time. I had a craving for a spooky Victorian mystery, and this story completely delivered. It was an engaging read with a well thought out plot, a superb twists, and well drawn characters that truly ticket all the boxes for me.
definitely recommend this book.
September 4, 2025
'The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder' is a high-spirited and thoroughly enjoyable novel that effortlessly draws one into its charmingly crooked world. Set in the late 1800s, this captivating tale follows the adventures of the intriguing medium, Hortensia Ashton, and her loyal, brave sidekicks, Braddie and Maisie. Their quest for fortune from a wealthy client soon spirals into a thrilling uncovering of the nefarious doings of the sinister Sir Charles.
We first encounter Mrs Ashton trying to carving out a meagre living from her spirited séances in a near-deserted Docklands church hall. Despite her notoriety in the scandal sheets – a reputation born from whispers of her being a 'fake medium' and an 'evader of debt' – her resourcefulness shines through. Her precarious financial situation makes the unexpected arrival of a new, exceptionally wealthy client, Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart, feel like a godsend.
Lady Violet, trapped in an unhappy and childless marriage and still grieving the loss of her mother, is desperate. She implores Mrs Ashton to communicate with her beloved beyond the grave, believing this connection will, at the very least, bring her some much-needed peace. However, her husband, Sir Charles, vehemently opposes his wife’s interest in the occult, going to extreme and violent lengths to thwart Lady Violet’s relationship with the medium. The alarming manifestations of his temper lead Mrs Ashton to delve into his past, revealing a disturbing history of suspicious family deaths that hint strongly at murder.
The story romps along at speed, brimming with unexpected twists and turns in every chapter that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The supporting characters are wonderfully crafted. I especially liked Maisie, a super-smart character whose ability to transform from a street-smart teenager to a sophisticated young lady, or even a discreet manservant, is truly entertaining. One of the novel's greatest charms lies in the ongoing mystery of Mrs Ashton's authenticity – my opinion of whether she was a genuine or fake medium rather enjoyably shifting from chapter to chapter!
Stephen Cox writes in a clever, distinctive style that quickly becomes a hallmark of the novel, feeling quite redolent of the fascinating era in which the story is set. I even found myself picking up a few intriguing historical facts along the way! This novel is a magnificent blend of historical mystery, thrilling adventure, captivating fantasy, and heartwarming romance all rolled into one. Regardless of your usual literary preferences, I thoroughly recommend 'The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder.' It’s a truly engaging read that promises to charm and excite.
We first encounter Mrs Ashton trying to carving out a meagre living from her spirited séances in a near-deserted Docklands church hall. Despite her notoriety in the scandal sheets – a reputation born from whispers of her being a 'fake medium' and an 'evader of debt' – her resourcefulness shines through. Her precarious financial situation makes the unexpected arrival of a new, exceptionally wealthy client, Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart, feel like a godsend.
Lady Violet, trapped in an unhappy and childless marriage and still grieving the loss of her mother, is desperate. She implores Mrs Ashton to communicate with her beloved beyond the grave, believing this connection will, at the very least, bring her some much-needed peace. However, her husband, Sir Charles, vehemently opposes his wife’s interest in the occult, going to extreme and violent lengths to thwart Lady Violet’s relationship with the medium. The alarming manifestations of his temper lead Mrs Ashton to delve into his past, revealing a disturbing history of suspicious family deaths that hint strongly at murder.
The story romps along at speed, brimming with unexpected twists and turns in every chapter that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The supporting characters are wonderfully crafted. I especially liked Maisie, a super-smart character whose ability to transform from a street-smart teenager to a sophisticated young lady, or even a discreet manservant, is truly entertaining. One of the novel's greatest charms lies in the ongoing mystery of Mrs Ashton's authenticity – my opinion of whether she was a genuine or fake medium rather enjoyably shifting from chapter to chapter!
Stephen Cox writes in a clever, distinctive style that quickly becomes a hallmark of the novel, feeling quite redolent of the fascinating era in which the story is set. I even found myself picking up a few intriguing historical facts along the way! This novel is a magnificent blend of historical mystery, thrilling adventure, captivating fantasy, and heartwarming romance all rolled into one. Regardless of your usual literary preferences, I thoroughly recommend 'The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder.' It’s a truly engaging read that promises to charm and excite.
September 8, 2026
Stephen Cox’s The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder is an irreverent, entertaining and enjoyable page-turner that will make readers laugh out loud and keep them turning the pages way past their bedtime.
London, 1881, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Mrs Ashton to continue to make a living as a medium. With whispers following her that she’s a crook and that she’s not remotely clairvoyant, Mrs Ashton has been reduced to eking out a living in draughty halls in less than salubrious places. Luckily for her, she can always count on her lover, Mrs Bradshaw, and it is her support she is going to need more than ever when she gets a new client who is going to send her down a very dangerous path teeming with danger, intrigue…and murder!
When Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart seeks her help, Mrs Ashton cannot believe her luck. It seems the gods have finally smiled down upon her and she can finally turn her business around. However, the medium cannot shake off this feeling that all isn’t quite what it seems with Lady Violet and her powerful husband, Sir Charles. Lady Violet had come to her desperate to uncover the truth about her mother’s untimely death. But could Charles – who makes his disdain for spiritualists abundantly clear – have had something to do with his mother-in-law’s death? Did he stand to gain from her dying? Is he innocent? Or is Violet putting on the performance of a lifetime?
Can Mrs Ashton get to the bottom of this case? Or will this murder investigation end up costing her everything?
There’s nothing quite like going into a book without knowing anything about it and the author and then ending up loving it and that’s exactly what happened to me with The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder. Atmospheric, rip-roaring and huge fun, Stephen Cox’s whodunnit features colourful sleuths readers will love, action, adventure and a mystery that will keep them guessing until the end.
I loved Mrs Bradshaw’s first case in The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder and I cannot wait for the next title in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
London, 1881, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Mrs Ashton to continue to make a living as a medium. With whispers following her that she’s a crook and that she’s not remotely clairvoyant, Mrs Ashton has been reduced to eking out a living in draughty halls in less than salubrious places. Luckily for her, she can always count on her lover, Mrs Bradshaw, and it is her support she is going to need more than ever when she gets a new client who is going to send her down a very dangerous path teeming with danger, intrigue…and murder!
When Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart seeks her help, Mrs Ashton cannot believe her luck. It seems the gods have finally smiled down upon her and she can finally turn her business around. However, the medium cannot shake off this feeling that all isn’t quite what it seems with Lady Violet and her powerful husband, Sir Charles. Lady Violet had come to her desperate to uncover the truth about her mother’s untimely death. But could Charles – who makes his disdain for spiritualists abundantly clear – have had something to do with his mother-in-law’s death? Did he stand to gain from her dying? Is he innocent? Or is Violet putting on the performance of a lifetime?
Can Mrs Ashton get to the bottom of this case? Or will this murder investigation end up costing her everything?
There’s nothing quite like going into a book without knowing anything about it and the author and then ending up loving it and that’s exactly what happened to me with The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder. Atmospheric, rip-roaring and huge fun, Stephen Cox’s whodunnit features colourful sleuths readers will love, action, adventure and a mystery that will keep them guessing until the end.
I loved Mrs Bradshaw’s first case in The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder and I cannot wait for the next title in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
This was an interesting read set in one of my favourite periods of history, the Victorian era, the pinnacle of hypocrisy. I say interesting because the style of writing used by the author is very different, often as if written at the time. I sometimes struggled with Braddie’s way of speaking, but maybe that’s because it put me outside of my comfort zone. The story however, is great fun, though there is a serious undertone.
Mrs Honoria Ashton is a medium. Except she’s a fraud, of course she is, as we all know it’s not possible to contact the dead. Her seances are full of tricks and ruses, but many who are grieving are taken in. But in spite of all this fakery, she can read minds, and get people to ‘open’ so she can see what they are really thinking.
As I said, Braddie grated on me, but I did love Maisie. Only fourteen years old, she’s street-wise beyond her years. She helps Mrs Ashton with various jobs, while looking after her younger siblings and drunken ‘pa’ since her mother died. But what she really wants to be is an amateur detective and be paid for it out of the profits.
The main story revolves around the beautiful Lady Violet and her husband Sir Charles, a rising star of the government, but in reality, a coercive bully. But is that all there is to him, or is he actually far worse, a murderer even? He hates spiritualists, but Lady Violet has asked Mrs Ashton to contact her late mother as she is still grieving and can’t move on.
This was a very entertaining read, if a little overlong (as so many books are these days), and I really enjoyed it. Recommended for anyone with an interest in spiritualism and the Victorian period of history.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
Mrs Honoria Ashton is a medium. Except she’s a fraud, of course she is, as we all know it’s not possible to contact the dead. Her seances are full of tricks and ruses, but many who are grieving are taken in. But in spite of all this fakery, she can read minds, and get people to ‘open’ so she can see what they are really thinking.
As I said, Braddie grated on me, but I did love Maisie. Only fourteen years old, she’s street-wise beyond her years. She helps Mrs Ashton with various jobs, while looking after her younger siblings and drunken ‘pa’ since her mother died. But what she really wants to be is an amateur detective and be paid for it out of the profits.
The main story revolves around the beautiful Lady Violet and her husband Sir Charles, a rising star of the government, but in reality, a coercive bully. But is that all there is to him, or is he actually far worse, a murderer even? He hates spiritualists, but Lady Violet has asked Mrs Ashton to contact her late mother as she is still grieving and can’t move on.
This was a very entertaining read, if a little overlong (as so many books are these days), and I really enjoyed it. Recommended for anyone with an interest in spiritualism and the Victorian period of history.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
September 10, 2025
This was a fun and whimsical novel which was easy to enjoy and drew me into the crooked world of the late 1800’s. The focus of this book is Hortensia Ashton (Hinny) a medium with supernatural skills allowing her to speak to spirits and at times see the horrors of peoples pasts, along with her trusted partner Braddie (The Queer ladies) and young Maisie.
Considered a scam by many and the local press Hinny is still determined to make her business of seances and readings work for her and Braddie. When the effluent Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart she could not of known what was to come. A book full of trickery, twists and characters who are not quite what’s they seem, Hinny’s abilities become crucial for not only hers but her trusty sidekicks survival. The characters will drag you in from Sir Charles the awful husband to Maisie the street wise girl with a mastery of disguise. I found myself questioning Mrs Ashtons abilities chapter to chapter often questioning whether she was just a fantastic fraudster.
Some may struggle with some of the way characters talk in the book for example Braddie however for me I found that’s what made her unique, overall the writing style felt different to my typical reads but it was enjoyable. The imagery the book generated allowed you to imagine life in the Victorian era, the power of the rich and the mistreatment of women. At the same time as this you also have a murder to solve and clues along the way to help you get there or throw you off the scent.
It was a great blend of historical fiction, mystery and spiritualism, with both a whimsical and dark side, I really enjoyed the read.
Considered a scam by many and the local press Hinny is still determined to make her business of seances and readings work for her and Braddie. When the effluent Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart she could not of known what was to come. A book full of trickery, twists and characters who are not quite what’s they seem, Hinny’s abilities become crucial for not only hers but her trusty sidekicks survival. The characters will drag you in from Sir Charles the awful husband to Maisie the street wise girl with a mastery of disguise. I found myself questioning Mrs Ashtons abilities chapter to chapter often questioning whether she was just a fantastic fraudster.
Some may struggle with some of the way characters talk in the book for example Braddie however for me I found that’s what made her unique, overall the writing style felt different to my typical reads but it was enjoyable. The imagery the book generated allowed you to imagine life in the Victorian era, the power of the rich and the mistreatment of women. At the same time as this you also have a murder to solve and clues along the way to help you get there or throw you off the scent.
It was a great blend of historical fiction, mystery and spiritualism, with both a whimsical and dark side, I really enjoyed the read.
September 9, 2026
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder is an enthralling late nineteenth-century set mystery, with all the trappings we would expect from a story set in this era, complete with a spiritualist (or is she?), an angry husband and a desperate wife, told with a flair for the language of the time, and some quite amusing insults to boot.
The setting is well depicted, and the (initial) mystery quickly reveals itself as Mrs Ashton resolves to aid poor Lady Violet while she uncovers the truth about her mother's death. And yet, not all is as it seems, and Mrs Ashton, with her own secrets as well, finds herself caught in the middle of something she's desperate to understand. Having placed herself in terrible danger when the very man she's investigating turns up dead himself, she's implicated in his murder; only there's something even more unsettling for Mrs Ashton to contend with (I don't want to spoil what happens). This adds a whole new dimension to everything the reader thought they knew!
A rousing mystery, with plenty of pace and a sure-fire hit for those who love stories set in the era. And with a fabulous 'well, I didn't see that coming' element about halfway through the book. This story kept me reading, and I was absolutely hooked. This is late nineteenth-century London (and further afield) splendidly told, never stinting on the harder sides of life, and with quite a shocking resolution. I am looking forward to book 2.
The setting is well depicted, and the (initial) mystery quickly reveals itself as Mrs Ashton resolves to aid poor Lady Violet while she uncovers the truth about her mother's death. And yet, not all is as it seems, and Mrs Ashton, with her own secrets as well, finds herself caught in the middle of something she's desperate to understand. Having placed herself in terrible danger when the very man she's investigating turns up dead himself, she's implicated in his murder; only there's something even more unsettling for Mrs Ashton to contend with (I don't want to spoil what happens). This adds a whole new dimension to everything the reader thought they knew!
A rousing mystery, with plenty of pace and a sure-fire hit for those who love stories set in the era. And with a fabulous 'well, I didn't see that coming' element about halfway through the book. This story kept me reading, and I was absolutely hooked. This is late nineteenth-century London (and further afield) splendidly told, never stinting on the harder sides of life, and with quite a shocking resolution. I am looking forward to book 2.
August 28, 2026
The first book in The Crooked Medium series The main protagonists are medium Mrs Hortensia ‘Hinny’ Ashton and her partner Braddie (Mrs Bradshaw) and 14 year old Maisie, a bright dock-lass who looks after her siblings following the death of their mother and having a drunk for a father, while helping Mrs Ashton out. Set in London in 1881 and times are hard for Hinny and Braddie until they are approached by a wealthy lady. The writing style of this book is unusual and at first caught me on the hop a few times but I found I wasn’t noticing it as the book progressed.
Briefly, Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart is grieving the shock sudden loss of her mother and is looking for some comfort. She approaches Mrs Ashton but her husband, Sir Charles uses ever increasingly violent behaviour in trying to stop his wife meeting with Mrs Ashton. His anger and violence leads Mrs Ashton to wonder about a number of deaths in his family!
This is an enjoyable and entertaining historical fiction novel. Full of larger than life characters and the one I most love is feisty young Maisie. Her life is hard and cruel but she is determined to make a good life for herself and her siblings. I liked the is she or isn’t she side of Mrs Ashton’s spiritualism, and there were some good twists to keep you on your toes. It’s a good fun read.
Briefly, Lady Violet Barrington-Stewart is grieving the shock sudden loss of her mother and is looking for some comfort. She approaches Mrs Ashton but her husband, Sir Charles uses ever increasingly violent behaviour in trying to stop his wife meeting with Mrs Ashton. His anger and violence leads Mrs Ashton to wonder about a number of deaths in his family!
This is an enjoyable and entertaining historical fiction novel. Full of larger than life characters and the one I most love is feisty young Maisie. Her life is hard and cruel but she is determined to make a good life for herself and her siblings. I liked the is she or isn’t she side of Mrs Ashton’s spiritualism, and there were some good twists to keep you on your toes. It’s a good fun read.
September 5, 2025
Title: The Crooked Medium's Guide To Murder
Author: Stephen Cox
Pages: 440
*Synopsis in the comments*
Available now
You can also read via Kindle Unlimited
(At the time of posting this)
#QOTD 💭 how are you communicating with spirits, based on your battery 🔋 percentage?
100% - 85% - seance/trance
84% - 65% - ouija board
64% - 45% - table tapping/fraudulent medium
44% - 25% - clairvoyant
Under 24% - Stage Magician
🩷🐈⬛️🫰🏻🌷🖤
Mrs Ashton is a medium. She says she can communicate with the dead. But this isn't entirely true. She can open people. Read them. Know what they're thinking. She is a con artist. She doesn't pay her debts and is looking for her next income.
After a reading, she finds a deep dark secret. And while investigating a gruesome murder happens to her enemy. Of course she's the lead suspect.
We join Mrs Ashton and her "servant" Mrs Bradshaw as they unravel the truth. There's three sides to every story.
This was an absolute gem of a read. Funny, charming, suspenseful. A fantastic portrayal of the Victorian era with a beautiful, tender queer back story.
These are some strong badass females that will give those misogynistic boys a run for their money. The man of the house, isn't in charge. We all know that a happy wife means a happy life.
You'll love this book if you like;
- Victorian era
- secret sapphic love
- murder mystery
- psychic medium
- strong female characters
- revenge/ he had it coming
- kindle unlimited
- morally grey fmc
- found family
🩷🐈⬛️🫰🏻🌷🖤
Author: Stephen Cox
Pages: 440
*Synopsis in the comments*
Available now
You can also read via Kindle Unlimited
(At the time of posting this)
#QOTD 💭 how are you communicating with spirits, based on your battery 🔋 percentage?
100% - 85% - seance/trance
84% - 65% - ouija board
64% - 45% - table tapping/fraudulent medium
44% - 25% - clairvoyant
Under 24% - Stage Magician
🩷🐈⬛️🫰🏻🌷🖤
Mrs Ashton is a medium. She says she can communicate with the dead. But this isn't entirely true. She can open people. Read them. Know what they're thinking. She is a con artist. She doesn't pay her debts and is looking for her next income.
After a reading, she finds a deep dark secret. And while investigating a gruesome murder happens to her enemy. Of course she's the lead suspect.
We join Mrs Ashton and her "servant" Mrs Bradshaw as they unravel the truth. There's three sides to every story.
This was an absolute gem of a read. Funny, charming, suspenseful. A fantastic portrayal of the Victorian era with a beautiful, tender queer back story.
These are some strong badass females that will give those misogynistic boys a run for their money. The man of the house, isn't in charge. We all know that a happy wife means a happy life.
You'll love this book if you like;
- Victorian era
- secret sapphic love
- murder mystery
- psychic medium
- strong female characters
- revenge/ he had it coming
- kindle unlimited
- morally grey fmc
- found family
🩷🐈⬛️🫰🏻🌷🖤
September 7, 2025
Rated 3.5/4 /5
Blog Tour Review
The writing was interesting, with little details like excerpts from newspapers, plus the addition of the supernatural. The story had everything you could want, an historical fiction setting, murder and ghosts.
The chapters were long and sometimes split. This meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. Each chapter had a title, a place and a time. This meant that you had a good idea of what you were about to read next and kept the story moving.
There was a good flow between the chapters, which helped to keep the story moving forward. There was an interesting pace to the story. Lots of things came to light and happened to the characters which slowed the story down (in a good way).
The characters were excellent. I enjoyed reading about the different sides to people and how we were made to like characters one minute and then not the next and vice versa. You could never really trust any of them, which made for an interesting story. I could quite happily read more about all of them. There were obviously so many things that had happened to them in each of their lives that had lead up to this point.
Each character represented a different class within society, and it was interesting to see how they interacted with one another and how it affected the story. The time period that they lived in helped to make the story what it was and added interest.
Lastly the settings. As this story was more character based, there wasn't a lot of detail on the surroundings. The detail that was there was good and helped to emphasise the time period that we were reading about. I feel that if any more detail was added it would have detracted from the main storyline.
Overall an interesting read, with a mix of historical fiction, mystery and fantasy.
Blog Tour Review
The writing was interesting, with little details like excerpts from newspapers, plus the addition of the supernatural. The story had everything you could want, an historical fiction setting, murder and ghosts.
The chapters were long and sometimes split. This meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. Each chapter had a title, a place and a time. This meant that you had a good idea of what you were about to read next and kept the story moving.
There was a good flow between the chapters, which helped to keep the story moving forward. There was an interesting pace to the story. Lots of things came to light and happened to the characters which slowed the story down (in a good way).
The characters were excellent. I enjoyed reading about the different sides to people and how we were made to like characters one minute and then not the next and vice versa. You could never really trust any of them, which made for an interesting story. I could quite happily read more about all of them. There were obviously so many things that had happened to them in each of their lives that had lead up to this point.
Each character represented a different class within society, and it was interesting to see how they interacted with one another and how it affected the story. The time period that they lived in helped to make the story what it was and added interest.
Lastly the settings. As this story was more character based, there wasn't a lot of detail on the surroundings. The detail that was there was good and helped to emphasise the time period that we were reading about. I feel that if any more detail was added it would have detracted from the main storyline.
Overall an interesting read, with a mix of historical fiction, mystery and fantasy.
September 21, 2025
This is the first time I have come across Stephen Cox and I found it rather a strange read at first. I have to be honest I stopped and started twice with this novel , mainly due to the fact that I found it incredibly slow for the first part of the book and I like a book to grab me and drag me into it’s storyline straight away, or at its worst within the first couple of chapters. It was only after reading the reviews for previous works by Stephen , namely Our Child of the Stars and Our Child of Two Worlds that I decided to give it another go and I am glad that I did as it certainly starts to build up speed and suspense as Mrs Ashton and Mrs Bradshaw dig deeper into solving what happened to Lady Violet’s mother in law and everything else that you will uncover along the way !!!!!!!!
I liked the Victorian setting in London in 1881 with a lesbian couple as the leads and it does take you down different avenues, turning up some surprises on the way that you will follow in earnest and reach a finale that you certainly couldn’t have forecast when you started the book.
So yes I would recommend it as a book to stick with in the beginning as it does deliver by the end and I will be looking out for more of Stephen’s work in the future.
I liked the Victorian setting in London in 1881 with a lesbian couple as the leads and it does take you down different avenues, turning up some surprises on the way that you will follow in earnest and reach a finale that you certainly couldn’t have forecast when you started the book.
So yes I would recommend it as a book to stick with in the beginning as it does deliver by the end and I will be looking out for more of Stephen’s work in the future.
September 1, 2026
Trickster medium Mrs Ashton and her tough-talking lesbian lover, Braddie, run a spiritualist scam, although Mrs Ashton does have the ability to read minds through physical contact with her clients. Grief-stricken Lady Violet seeks the medium’s help to learn the truth behind her mother’s untimely death, but Lady Violet’s domineering husband hates spiritualists and soon puts a stop to the meetings. However, when Sir Charles inadvertently reveals his role in a murder, Mrs Ashton is determined to expose the man’s crimes. Unfortunately, before she can bring him to justice, she finds herself accused of murder…
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it’s an entertaining one. Set in the 1880s, the author’s research and attention to detail give the story a realistic feel, enabling the reader to imagine each scene like watching a movie. The main characters are well-drawn and their relationship (and ongoing disagreements regarding their investigation) keep the tension going. Other characters (such as Maisie) add to the fun and there are lots of twists and turns to keep the story rolling along.
An amusing and engaging read that will please lovers of Victorian crime.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it’s an entertaining one. Set in the 1880s, the author’s research and attention to detail give the story a realistic feel, enabling the reader to imagine each scene like watching a movie. The main characters are well-drawn and their relationship (and ongoing disagreements regarding their investigation) keep the tension going. Other characters (such as Maisie) add to the fun and there are lots of twists and turns to keep the story rolling along.
An amusing and engaging read that will please lovers of Victorian crime.
September 1, 2026
I agreed to this arc because I was craving a spooky Victorian mystery, and séances, suspicious deaths, scandal sheets, and a possibly fraudulent medium turned out to be exactly what I wanted.
Honoria Ashton makes her living communicating with the dead, although there are enough tricks involved in her séances to make you question how much communicating is actually happening. When wealthy Lady Violet asks Honoria to contact her late mother, Honoria becomes tangled up with Violet's unpleasant husband and some very suspicious deaths in his family.
Maisie was easily one of my favorite characters. She's fourteen, street-smart, determined to be an amateur detective, and perfectly willing to disguise herself when necessary. I also loved constantly changing my mind about whether Honoria had genuine abilities.
Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book felt a little long in places, but the mystery kept pulling me back in. This was my first Stephen Cox book, and I really enjoyed his wonderfully strange version of Victorian London.
Honoria Ashton makes her living communicating with the dead, although there are enough tricks involved in her séances to make you question how much communicating is actually happening. When wealthy Lady Violet asks Honoria to contact her late mother, Honoria becomes tangled up with Violet's unpleasant husband and some very suspicious deaths in his family.
Maisie was easily one of my favorite characters. She's fourteen, street-smart, determined to be an amateur detective, and perfectly willing to disguise herself when necessary. I also loved constantly changing my mind about whether Honoria had genuine abilities.
Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book felt a little long in places, but the mystery kept pulling me back in. This was my first Stephen Cox book, and I really enjoyed his wonderfully strange version of Victorian London.
August 25, 2025
Victorian London. Mrs Ashton is a fraudulent medium, taking money from a gullible public to conduct fake seances to put them in touch with their dear departed. Her nemesis Sir Charles is the worst fruit of the aristocracy: violent, abusive and almost certainly a murderer, terrorising his wife. But Mrs Ashton genuinely does have a gift - of telepathic empathy, being able to read someone's memories and feelings and hopes and feelings and desires - and as much as she can, she uses that power for good while also technically committing fraud. And for all his many faults, Sir Charles is not without self-knowledge. From these basic facts, with a new murder thrown in and a couple of pre-existing ones uncovered, we get an astonishing story of redemption with well-plotted but never signposted twists and turns thrown in at every stage.
September 3, 2026
The Victorian era is so well-suited to a cozy mystery. The time period that gave us Sherlock Holmes and fingerprinting just feels like the right place for a small group to uncover a crime. This book features a charming set of would-be spiritualists who con the cons they pursue. Mrs. Ashton and Mrs. Bradshaw make for quite the pair as they work to bring justice.
Steven Cox has a formal yet approachable prose that matches the era without being so stilted that it's unrelatable for modern audiences. His sense of humor buzzes in at regular intervals to keep the story from becoming too heavy. The plot is well-crafted and easy-to-follow without becoming convoluted.
Overall, a fun story with enough twists to ramp up the fun and characters you will care about.
September 13, 2025
For my full review with sensory information please visit my blog. Mr Cox has brought us a fantastic book full of suspense, a great Victorian murder mystery, and I for one love the two main characters and their relationship, then the ghost story element was the cherry on the top. The setting is just perfect.
Cox really does show the reader rather then telling. I could picture the scenes so very clearly and the characters voiced are just spot on. The Crooked Medium’s Guide To Murder is very well researched. I found this to be a fast paced read and I look to read more by this author. If you are a historical thriller fan and enjoy AJ West then I think you might just enjoy this one too.
Cox really does show the reader rather then telling. I could picture the scenes so very clearly and the characters voiced are just spot on. The Crooked Medium’s Guide To Murder is very well researched. I found this to be a fast paced read and I look to read more by this author. If you are a historical thriller fan and enjoy AJ West then I think you might just enjoy this one too.
September 5, 2025
I love a good murder mystery, the touch of the unknown was the icing on the cake for me.
Cox's writing style immediately pulled me into the story, transporting me to the slums of Victorian London where the omnipresent smog added to the atmosphere of the story.
Hortensia Ashton reminded me so much of Oda Mae Brown from the film Ghost. The fake medium who suddenly realised she COULD hear the spirits she professed to contact. As the story progressed it had me thinking maybe she wasn't so fake after all?
A thoroughly enjoyable and immersive read.
Cox's writing style immediately pulled me into the story, transporting me to the slums of Victorian London where the omnipresent smog added to the atmosphere of the story.
Hortensia Ashton reminded me so much of Oda Mae Brown from the film Ghost. The fake medium who suddenly realised she COULD hear the spirits she professed to contact. As the story progressed it had me thinking maybe she wasn't so fake after all?
A thoroughly enjoyable and immersive read.
September 1, 2026
What a clever, spooky, murder mystery!
I've wanted to dive into something different for a while, so when the opportunity to read The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder showed up, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed.
Our characters are super compelling. I especially loved the side characters. I love when an author is able to make every character important in a story, and that happens here.
The twists and turns had me hooked. I never quite knew where we were going, and I was turning the pages to find out. I'm really excited to read the next book. I loved this!
I've wanted to dive into something different for a while, so when the opportunity to read The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder showed up, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed.
Our characters are super compelling. I especially loved the side characters. I love when an author is able to make every character important in a story, and that happens here.
The twists and turns had me hooked. I never quite knew where we were going, and I was turning the pages to find out. I'm really excited to read the next book. I loved this!
September 8, 2025
Really enjoyed this, fast paced and hugely fun. Liked the characters, particularly the sometimes tetchy but always loving relationship between the eternally optimistic chancer, Mrs Ashton, and the more pragmatic and down to earth Braddie. Maisie is a delight, Sir Charles is a satisfyingly old school hiss boo villain, and the sweary parrot made me smile. Black Hearts In Battersea for adults - which if you're familiar with Joan Aiken, you'll know is high praise indeed.
September 22, 2025
A little bit Wilkie Collins. A little bit Edgar Allan Poe. With plenty of entertaining intrigue.
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder is a terrific, supernatural, historical whodunnit. I thought it would just be a mystery until Mrs Ashworth’s true talents were revealed. My favourite character had to be Mrs A’s young assistant and spy, Maisie.
All in all, a great read that doesn’t disappoint.
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder is a terrific, supernatural, historical whodunnit. I thought it would just be a mystery until Mrs Ashworth’s true talents were revealed. My favourite character had to be Mrs A’s young assistant and spy, Maisie.
All in all, a great read that doesn’t disappoint.
September 10, 2025
An intriguing murder mystery with many plot twists, including one that subverted all of my preconceived notions of where the book was headed.
This story contains a strong cast of characters, all compelling and interesting, even as they vary from detestable to loveable.
With supernatural elements and a queer found family in Victorian England, what more could one possibly want?
This story contains a strong cast of characters, all compelling and interesting, even as they vary from detestable to loveable.
With supernatural elements and a queer found family in Victorian England, what more could one possibly want?
September 6, 2025
An enjoyably entertaining Victorian adventure with a modern twist in the form of our sapphic conwomen who are this time on the side of the angels. A good reveal shapes the plot up early on but if had liked a bit more character work early on to help build who these people are
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
September 13, 2026
I am a big fan of historical fiction, add in a murder mystery and a supernatural aspect I absolutely devoured these books. This is such a strong start to a series, the characters are brilliant and the way the story unfolded was great. I am so excited to read more
August 31, 2025
I'm grateful to Anne and Stephen for sending me a copy of The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder to consider for review, and for inviting me to join the book's blogtour.
Stephen Cox has previously written a heartwarming two part SF story Our Child of the Stars/ Our Child of Two Worlds about the arrival of an orphaned alien child, the humans who take him in, and the difference that makes to the world's future. He's one of those authors that I was keenly waiting for more from, so I was pleased to see The Crooked Medium's Guide forthcoming, something in quite a different vein but still - I'd say - with a sense of family, of community, at its heart and still told from the perspective of the underdog.
Mrs Ashton is though, at first, a hard underdog to like! She is the crooked medium of the title, a convinced Spiritualist but a fraud who does NOT converse with spirits, though she has another gift, the ability to "open up" subjects and read their minds. This enables her, often, to perceive enough to convince. Sometimes, she can do genuine good, but her willingness to break into minds without consent is troubling to put it mildly.
As is her willingness to pilfer, forge and leave a trail of debtors behind.
Mrs Ashton is aided in her endeavours by the formidable Mrs Bradshaw - Braddie - a Scot who's often exasperated, and often willing to give unpalatable advice, which is generally ignored. She regards the risks that Mrs Ashton runs as unconscionable, and her gloomy warnings prove wise over the course of this novel.
The two women are lovers, something that must, in the high Victorian age, be kept as the strictest secret, and Cox is good on both their physical relationship and the strain that this necessary discretion places on their relationship. There are some touching passages here, especially where he shows us Mrs B worrying over Mrs A, her "hinny" and recognising how she's being manipulated by the other woman.
The third member of the detective trio (as it turns out to be) is Maisie, a poor girl with a difficult family who acts as the other womens' bodyguard, spy and general fixer. Maisie is sharp and cynical, with a host of connections and contacts in the East End - and she's having none of Mrs Ashton's nonsense.
While a lengthy history of close brushes with the law is implied, putting the two older women at odds with a hostile Press and police, the central action in The Crooked Medium's Guide concerns an aristocrat, Lady Violet, who comes to Mrs Ashton for help with her abusive husband Sir Charles Barrington-Stewart, a rising MP. Though warned by Braddie to have no part of the affair, Ashton refuses to drop it and follows the Barrington-Stewarts to their country house where, naturally, murder follows.
From this point the book is in whodunnit mode as Ashton and Braddie race to clear their name, while a distinguished Scotland Yard detective has the opposite intention. I loved the complexity of the resulting situation, which takes in the closed society of the Big House, previous crimes that Sir Charles may or may not have committed, and a perplexed spirit who - to her horror - begins appearing to Mrs Ashton. None of the information adds up, Mrs Ashton's creditors are circling and a key witness has disappeared.
I think that credible and interesting stories often follow from characters in tight situations, people subject to constraints, and with Mrs Ashton especially, Cox gives us this in abundance. As if being a woman isn't enough in patriarchal Victorian society, Mrs Ashton is already suspected of fraud and of not paying her debts; her Spiritualism puts her at odds with the Establishment, and the loyal servants of Corwood Manor are suspicious. We are also shown hostile press accounts of her doings - clearly the crooked medium is newsworthy.
Yet she continues, winning over a person here, a person there, deploying her gift of "opening up", latching onto what little actual evidence there is and pursuing a shrewd series of deductions as to what really happened. Perhaps not likeable at first, Mrs Ashton - and her accomplices - did bring me round in a story that's mysterious, driven and, above all, great fun to read.
While most of the action is seen from the viewpoint of Mrs Ashton, and the story is always at its most vivid then, there are sections shown for example from the perspective of the detective or one of the Corwood servants and also from Maisie's. We also get to see a number of others representing something of the diversity of the Victorian Metropolis - I hope and expect that Cox is planning further episodes in this world because while some of the characters we meet, such as Dongmei Li and her family, fascinate they don't appear much - I hope they're being set up for future episodes.
Stephen Cox has previously written a heartwarming two part SF story Our Child of the Stars/ Our Child of Two Worlds about the arrival of an orphaned alien child, the humans who take him in, and the difference that makes to the world's future. He's one of those authors that I was keenly waiting for more from, so I was pleased to see The Crooked Medium's Guide forthcoming, something in quite a different vein but still - I'd say - with a sense of family, of community, at its heart and still told from the perspective of the underdog.
Mrs Ashton is though, at first, a hard underdog to like! She is the crooked medium of the title, a convinced Spiritualist but a fraud who does NOT converse with spirits, though she has another gift, the ability to "open up" subjects and read their minds. This enables her, often, to perceive enough to convince. Sometimes, she can do genuine good, but her willingness to break into minds without consent is troubling to put it mildly.
As is her willingness to pilfer, forge and leave a trail of debtors behind.
Mrs Ashton is aided in her endeavours by the formidable Mrs Bradshaw - Braddie - a Scot who's often exasperated, and often willing to give unpalatable advice, which is generally ignored. She regards the risks that Mrs Ashton runs as unconscionable, and her gloomy warnings prove wise over the course of this novel.
The two women are lovers, something that must, in the high Victorian age, be kept as the strictest secret, and Cox is good on both their physical relationship and the strain that this necessary discretion places on their relationship. There are some touching passages here, especially where he shows us Mrs B worrying over Mrs A, her "hinny" and recognising how she's being manipulated by the other woman.
The third member of the detective trio (as it turns out to be) is Maisie, a poor girl with a difficult family who acts as the other womens' bodyguard, spy and general fixer. Maisie is sharp and cynical, with a host of connections and contacts in the East End - and she's having none of Mrs Ashton's nonsense.
While a lengthy history of close brushes with the law is implied, putting the two older women at odds with a hostile Press and police, the central action in The Crooked Medium's Guide concerns an aristocrat, Lady Violet, who comes to Mrs Ashton for help with her abusive husband Sir Charles Barrington-Stewart, a rising MP. Though warned by Braddie to have no part of the affair, Ashton refuses to drop it and follows the Barrington-Stewarts to their country house where, naturally, murder follows.
From this point the book is in whodunnit mode as Ashton and Braddie race to clear their name, while a distinguished Scotland Yard detective has the opposite intention. I loved the complexity of the resulting situation, which takes in the closed society of the Big House, previous crimes that Sir Charles may or may not have committed, and a perplexed spirit who - to her horror - begins appearing to Mrs Ashton. None of the information adds up, Mrs Ashton's creditors are circling and a key witness has disappeared.
I think that credible and interesting stories often follow from characters in tight situations, people subject to constraints, and with Mrs Ashton especially, Cox gives us this in abundance. As if being a woman isn't enough in patriarchal Victorian society, Mrs Ashton is already suspected of fraud and of not paying her debts; her Spiritualism puts her at odds with the Establishment, and the loyal servants of Corwood Manor are suspicious. We are also shown hostile press accounts of her doings - clearly the crooked medium is newsworthy.
Yet she continues, winning over a person here, a person there, deploying her gift of "opening up", latching onto what little actual evidence there is and pursuing a shrewd series of deductions as to what really happened. Perhaps not likeable at first, Mrs Ashton - and her accomplices - did bring me round in a story that's mysterious, driven and, above all, great fun to read.
While most of the action is seen from the viewpoint of Mrs Ashton, and the story is always at its most vivid then, there are sections shown for example from the perspective of the detective or one of the Corwood servants and also from Maisie's. We also get to see a number of others representing something of the diversity of the Victorian Metropolis - I hope and expect that Cox is planning further episodes in this world because while some of the characters we meet, such as Dongmei Li and her family, fascinate they don't appear much - I hope they're being set up for future episodes.
August 14, 2026
This was such an interesting and engaging read. Set in 1881 its main characters are Mrs Ashton, who is a medium, and her lover Mrs Bradshaw. Although they run a spiritualist scam Mrs Ashton secretly reads minds. They are approached by Lady Violet who is convinced that there is more to her mother’s untimely death. However her husband Sir Charles is a powerful MP and absolutely hates spiritualists and will do everything in his power to stop any communication between his wife and Mrs Ashton. It’s not long before Sir Charles’s wicked crimes come to light but this in turn puts others lives in danger…..
There is plenty of mystery, twists and turns in this spooky Victorian thriller. I thought that the characters were really well thought out and really liked how the chapters were set out. Atmospheric with a great plot this really gathered pace kept me totally entertained. Very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
July 26, 2026
This spooky Victorian mystery was a refreshing change from my usual crime thriller reads and what a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. I’ve always enjoyed stories set in this era and the author brings it to life with such authenticity that I could vividly picture both the setting and the characters throughout.
It did take a few pages to adjust to the writing style, particularly as it reflects the traditional narrative voice of the 1880’s. However, once I settled into it, I found myself completely immersed, flying through the book and thoroughly enjoying its blend of humour, intrigue and a uniquely unconventional murder mystery. The cast of characters is wonderfully eccentric, unlike any I’ve come across before.
Braddie’s broad Scottish dialect may prove challenging for some readers but for me it added depth, individuality and emotional richness to her character. Mrs Ashton was another standout, her ability to open people up brought a more personal and engaging dimension to the investigation. That said, the true star of the show (aside from Mrs Ashton) was Maisie, her feisty, spirited personality was a perfect match for the tone of the story and she could easily carry a book of her own.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone intrigued by the darker (but still somewhat humorous) side of Victorian spiritualism and those looking for a distinctive and unusual mystery. It’s a well-written, atmospheric and thoroughly original read that will appeal to discerning crime fans.
#TheCrookedMediumsGuideToMurder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It did take a few pages to adjust to the writing style, particularly as it reflects the traditional narrative voice of the 1880’s. However, once I settled into it, I found myself completely immersed, flying through the book and thoroughly enjoying its blend of humour, intrigue and a uniquely unconventional murder mystery. The cast of characters is wonderfully eccentric, unlike any I’ve come across before.
Braddie’s broad Scottish dialect may prove challenging for some readers but for me it added depth, individuality and emotional richness to her character. Mrs Ashton was another standout, her ability to open people up brought a more personal and engaging dimension to the investigation. That said, the true star of the show (aside from Mrs Ashton) was Maisie, her feisty, spirited personality was a perfect match for the tone of the story and she could easily carry a book of her own.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone intrigued by the darker (but still somewhat humorous) side of Victorian spiritualism and those looking for a distinctive and unusual mystery. It’s a well-written, atmospheric and thoroughly original read that will appeal to discerning crime fans.
#TheCrookedMediumsGuideToMurder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 28, 2025
4.5 * upped to 5
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder was exactly the kind of reading pleasure I was hoping for. From the first pages I felt that Stephen Cox had full control of his story and his tone, and I loved how confidently he blended humour, mystery and a wonderfully crooked sense of morality. It is the sort of book that knows precisely what it wants to be and delivers it with charm.
The mystery is solid and satisfying. It moves with an easy rhythm, never dragging, never rushing, and always keeping just enough tension to make me curious about the next chapter. I enjoyed how the clues unfolded and how the story managed to stay playful without losing its structure.
The characters are the real highlight for me. Mrs Ashton and Mrs Bradshaw are delightfully morally grey, the kind of women who lie for a living yet refuse to tolerate murder. Their partnership is clever, messy, funny and unexpectedly touching. I could have followed them for twice as many pages.
The historical setting is vivid and full of texture. Cox paints Victorian London with such clarity that I could almost feel the fog and hear the clatter of the streets. It creates a world that feels lived in rather than decorative.
I thoroughly enjoyed this witty, atmospheric and queer‑hearted mystery. It left me smiling and very ready for more.
Many thanks to Stephen Cox for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder was exactly the kind of reading pleasure I was hoping for. From the first pages I felt that Stephen Cox had full control of his story and his tone, and I loved how confidently he blended humour, mystery and a wonderfully crooked sense of morality. It is the sort of book that knows precisely what it wants to be and delivers it with charm.
The mystery is solid and satisfying. It moves with an easy rhythm, never dragging, never rushing, and always keeping just enough tension to make me curious about the next chapter. I enjoyed how the clues unfolded and how the story managed to stay playful without losing its structure.
The characters are the real highlight for me. Mrs Ashton and Mrs Bradshaw are delightfully morally grey, the kind of women who lie for a living yet refuse to tolerate murder. Their partnership is clever, messy, funny and unexpectedly touching. I could have followed them for twice as many pages.
The historical setting is vivid and full of texture. Cox paints Victorian London with such clarity that I could almost feel the fog and hear the clatter of the streets. It creates a world that feels lived in rather than decorative.
I thoroughly enjoyed this witty, atmospheric and queer‑hearted mystery. It left me smiling and very ready for more.
Many thanks to Stephen Cox for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews