New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Victorian Scotland in the latest in the genre-blending Rip Through Time series.
Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She’s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more.
Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous--than it first seems
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.
I want to say a massive thank you to St. Martin's Press-especially Kat White, for the ARC of An Ordinary Sort of Evil.
Kelley Armstrong has been a favourite author of mine for years and to have the privilege to ARC read some of her work is a dream come true. She is always an instant buy/read author for me.
I find this series just keeps getting better with each book/ novella that is written. This book is the fifth instalment in the Rip Through Time series that follows Canadian detective Mallory Atkinson who finds herself transported back to 1879 in Scotland. She finds herself in the body of a 20 year old housemaid who is employed by Dr. Gray (one of the more progressive families of this time). Throughout the novels we've seen how she's adapted to life in Scotland in the 1800's and dealing with her change in status.
This story begins with Dr. Duncan Gray and Mallory being called to Lady Adler’s estate late in the night. To which when they arrive they are presented with a message from a ghost during a séance. Nellie who is a housekeeper has appeared- specifically asking for Dr. Duncan Gray to solve her murder. I love reading about Duncan and Mallory work together to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Nellie.
The fact that Queen Victoria is as enthralled with Duncan and Mallory's stories as the rest of Scotland was absolutely perfect. She also validated the fact of what Duncan's position should be and how he should not just be working in the family business.
I cannot express enough how well Kelley Armstrong has managed to blend modern day tone with Victorian times all while not causing Mallory to be lost as a character. I absolutely cannot wait to see where this series goes next, especially with what is revealed at the end of the story.
I'm not going to say much on the aspect of Duncan and Mallory as I want people to experience that aspect of the story themselves and I hope that they cheer and have as much glee as I did while reading that part.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the advanced reader copy of this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
This book absolutely delivered — tension, twists, and finally, FINALLY the emotional payoff I’ve been waiting for. Mallory and Gray have danced around their feelings long enough, and watching them finally open up to each other was everything. I may have cheered out loud. No regrets.
Armstrong’s pacing is razor-sharp, and the blend of mystery with character-driven depth makes this installment one of my favorites in the series. The emotional stakes feel earned, and the resolution left me desperate for the next book.
I’ve already introduced my coworker to this series, and I know she’s going to love this one. If you’ve been following Mallory and Gray’s journey, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.
Spoiler alert: I’m still grinning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is a series that seems to just keep getting better. We are 5 books in, and it has been quite the ride.
We have followed FMC Mallory Mitchell, a 30 something present day homicide detective (now former) who somehow found herself in the body of a 20 year old housemaid in Victorian Scotland the year 1879. Yep, 1879.
She was forced to quickly realize, adapt and deal with the fact that women's rights and privileges are quite different in 19th Century Victorian Scotland. Luckily, she found herself in the home of a fairly progressive family - at least for that time period. It has been a fun journey as the relationships that she has developed with her new family (who are also her employers) have progressed from employers who thought she was "odd" to friends who now know the truth of her situation. And even more importantly - who BELIEVE her story that she is actually from the future.
She is now acting as an "assistant" to Dr. Duncan Gray who is himself a bit of an outlier for the time period. He is an undertaker by trade but now acting as a "Consulting Detective" along with his best friend Detective Hugh McCreadie. Mallory does the actual detecting while Duncan handles the science and medical side of things - things like autopsies. It is hilarious to see how the men of that era have the absolute belief that there is no way that a woman could be intelligent enough or have the knowledge necessary to solve crimes.
One of the very unique things about this series - and what takes it to a higher level - is the way that Duncan is dealing with the presence of Mallory. He is learning that not only is she extremely intelligent, but she is teaching him a different way to think about many of his lifelong beliefs. The more we get to know him, the more we understand that he WANTS to be a better man. He is learning that just because something has always been a certain way does not mean that it is right, or that it should stay that way. We see so much character growth in him, and he is truly one of my favorite characters.
There is also a HUGE development in another aspect of their relationship and I, for one, could not have been happier. It's been a long time coming and I spent a huge portion of the book with a smile on my face. Yes, yes, yes!
As usual, the actual "case" that the duo is working on for this book kept my attention as things began to unfold. It started with a seance, and things heated up with the discovery of a body. We see more political shenanigans taking place as Mallory and Duncan and even Hugh become more popular through the publication of the stories of the Undertaker Sleuth. We even got an unexpected visit with royalty. Things are definitely heating up.
I flew through this book and was so disappointed when it came to an end.
Book 6 cannot come quick enough :)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on May 19, 2026.
I admit it—if Kelley Armstrong writes a new book, I’m going to be one of the first in line to read it. An Ordinary Sort of Evil is the newest installment in her time-traveling mystery series, A Rip Through Time, following present-day Canadian detective Mallory Atkinson. After surviving an attempted murder, Mallory finds herself transported 150 years into the past—to Scotland—where she wakes up in the body of a 20-year-old housemaid.
In the earlier books, Mallory has proven invaluable in helping Dr. Duncan Gray solve murders. She’s shared her secret with Duncan (on whom she has a not-so-secret crush), his sister Isla and her beau Detective Hugh McCreadie, and the ever irascible housekeeper, Mrs. Wallace.
This story begins with a late-night summons to Lady Adler’s estate, where Dr. Gray and Mallory are presented with a ghostly message from a séance. The spirit of a murdered housemaid, Nellie, has appeared—asking specifically for Duncan Gray to solve her murder. What follows is a clever, atmospheric mystery filled with engaging characters, sharp wit, murder, and even a royal admirer. As always, Armstrong delivers a fast-paced, richly detailed story with all the charm and grit of Victorian Scotland. The growing tension between Mallory and Duncan adds emotional depth, and the mystery kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I eagerly await the next installment!
“That’s one of the truly fascinating things about witnessing history. Seeing how much of our world is tethered to the past.”
For me this quote perfectly explains why I love stories about people falling through time. This series is one of my favorites. Armstrong does a wonderful job blending a modern day tone with Victorian times. Plus, there’s non problematic, healthy relationships.
This book hits the ground running with a mysterious late night caller. And spiritualists! The mystery is very well done and engaging. You could easily read this without reading the previous books. One of my favorite things is stumbling on a new book that is part of a series with an author who has an impressive catalogue.
Absolutely 10 out of 10. I'm obsessed. This book had been scratching my head and kicking my feet with glee all in the same chapter. The mystery was so good, and the payoff with Gray and Mallory was *chefs kiss*. I have been waiting for this for so long!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The next thrilling addition to the Rip Through Time series.
Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has traveled back to Victorian London and grown accustomed to daily life there as a housemaid. She's built a new life for herself as an assistant to forensic science pioneer Dr. Duncan Grey, and Detective Hugh McCreadie, and considers them to be true friends.
When they receive an unusually late-night call from a well-known client of Dr. Grey's undertaking business...they assume there's been a death in the family... but things take a turn for the stranger when they show up to the midst of a seance... with the spirit of the lady's maid demanding to have Dr. Grey investigate her murder...
Though both are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter... and the mystery only deepens...
When I noticed the subtle references to something a little darker, and a little more on the paranormal side, my heart quickened, and I could feel my anticipation rising just a little bit more at the thought of reading this book. And... my thoughts?
Wow.... just... wow. Blending time travel into Victorian London, and also a slight exploration into the spooky, into the paranormal and the ways that sometimes the spirits who surround us are sometimes mocked or faked for the entertainment of the community, or perhaps to ease the loved ones of those who passed on, An Ordinary Sort of Evil was everything I wanted and so much more... it was dark, it was twisty... and to be honest, it was everything that I could've wanted in a mystery/thriller... maybe even more.
Everything from the characters to the emotions... this is a spectacularly wild ride that will keep you at the edge of your seat till the very end.
With the spookier tones that are weaved into An Ordinary Sort of Evil, this was the perfect read for the month of October, and I am eager for more...
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
I want to, again, extend some special thanks to Kat White at St. Martin's Press for the invite to read this novel from the desk of Kelley Armstrong. It is always a true delight to be able to read a mystery, and I have begun to fall in love more and more with the idea of being able to put on a detective hat and try and figure out who did it... and more and more in love with Ms. Kelley Armstrong's works.
I am so happy when another “Rip Through Time” novel appears. Kelley Armstrong does a wonderful job helping modern-day Mallory Atkinson live a pretty nice life in 1870s Edinburgh.
As you can tell from the title, this is a time-travel series– but with a twist. Through no effort or desire on her part, Mallory was somehow transported from 2019 Vancouver to Edinburgh. Another twist: she lands in the body of a maid employed at the Gray home.
As a police detective in her former life, Mallory fits in well with Dr. Gray, once she’s able to convince them she’s not the maid. Gray is an early forensic scientist who assists the police in murder cases. Since Mallory knows a lot about forensics that isn’t yet known in 19th-century Scotland, she gets to share her knowledge with him. He’s a receptive learner plus there is great chemistry between the two.
Each book has been so well-written. The characters are appealing and the plots feature lots of excitement. Do start with the first book, “A Rip Through Time.”
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
An Ordinary Sort of Evil is the fifth book in Kelley Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series and it is another winner. If you have not read the previous books, this can function as a standalone but is better if you know the entire back story. It makes a spoiler that takes place later in the book that much more delicious. Mallory Atkinson is the main character in this time travel romantasy. A 21st century Canadian police detective, Mallory is swept back in time to inhabit the body of a 19th century Scottish maid working for a gentleman who should have gotten his medical degree but owns an undertaking business instead. Over the course of the four previous books, Mallory and Duncan Grey have become a crime solving team along with secondary characters his sister Isla and her now fiance, Inspector McCreadie. Other house servants round out the supporting cast of characters. This particular installment focuses on psychic mediums and seances and of course, a murder to be solved. Duncan is an extreme skeptic and has a hard time taking anyone involved seriously until a body is discovered. Politics and egos threaten to derail the investigation, but Duncan has a very surprising benefactor intervene that allows the investigation to continue. This is another romp that marries 21st century investigative techniques with 19th century restraints and continues the narrative of a group of characters that are both entertaining and believable. *Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kelley Armstrong is an auto-read author for me. She has successfully written across many genres that I have enjoyed thoroughly.
This series has to be my favourite by her. Each book just gets better and better than the one before. Mallory Mitchell, a Canadian police detective who gets transported through time to the late 1800's in Scotland, into a young Victorian 20 yr old housemaid. Almost a year now in this time. She and Duncan find themselves in yet another murder mystery, this time summoned by a “ghost". These two characters compliment each other so well with each also learning more from each other. The build up that grew stronger with each book finally gets some satisfaction and earned a huge smile that I kept for the last part of the story.
Each book is so well written and fitting for the time it is written in. Each character is written perfectly for the role they play. I can hardly wait to read more from this series!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press-especially Kat White, for the ARC of An Ordinary Sort of Evil.
Kelley Armstrong is an immediate read author for me, and so I’m very grateful to have been able to receive an arc for the latest book in her Rip Through Time series.
This book continues to follow our main character, Mallory, from modern day Canada who is stuck back in 1800s Victorian England, helping solve crimes, and gently influencing the progression of policing, detective work, and science. The author does a great job of weaving in Mallory’s modern knowledge and mannerisms, while allowing the story to shine in the era it takes place. She sets the scenes well, the story telling feels true to the time, and the characters are likeable and interesting.
These certainly aren’t heavy mysteries, but they are fun and interesting, and are generally well plotted out. I am a big fan of the slow progression of Mallory and Duncan, and I am glad for the character developments in this one.
Overall, 4 solid stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review!
This was a good addition to the series. I enjoyed the inclusion of Art. I like that the author has Mallory think about how Victorian society differs from and is similar to current society, and how things will change. I was also glad to see some relationship shifts in this book.