A Lamentation of Swans (Wicked Portland #1): A Gripping Historical Mystery Set in Turn-of-the-20th century Portland, Oregon

by Kerry Blaisdell

Portland, Oregon, 1904. As the city prepares for the Lewis & Clark World Exposition, a serial killer is targeting women who have come seeking work. Is it charismatic cult leader Edmund Creffield, who practices "free love" with twenty women at once? Or Catholic-school teacher Allen Grey, whose mysterious illness causes violent blackouts? Or perhaps it's someone else, lurking behind a mask of respectability that no one would ever suspect of cracking.

Desperate to clear her husband’s name, Solace Grey fears that even if she succeeds, his illness will be exposed, sending him to the brutal Oregon Insane Asylum. With no friends and no other options, Solace enlists the aid of Lucky Jacobs, a resourceful man with a past, and Lola Baldwin, a social reformer with powerful connections.

But as they race to uncover the killer’s identity, Solace is torn between loyalty to her husband and her growing feelings for Lucky. In a city built on secrets, the truth may be more dangerous than she ever imagined—and the next victim could be her...

Set against the backdrop of early 20th century Portland, A Lamentation of Swans is the first book in a thrilling historical mystery series featuring real-life figures and an emotional love story.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2025

About the author

Kerry Blaisdell is the bestselling and award-winning author of the acclaimed Dead Series, including DEBRIEFING THE DEAD and its sequels, which InD’tale Magazine recommends for “fans of shows like ‘Constantine’ or ‘Supernatural.’” She also writes award-winning Romantic Suspense (PUBLISH OR PERISH, a Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Quarterfinalist) and Historical Mystery. She has a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in Comparative Literature (French/Medieval English), and a Master’s in Teaching English and Advanced Mathematics from University of Portland. Kerry lives in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with her family, assorted animals, and more hot pepper plants than anyone could reasonably consume. To connect with Kerry online, join her Facebook Reader Group (http://facebook.com/groups/kerryskin), or subscribe to her Very Occasional Mailing List (https://rebrand.ly/vomlgr) and get TWO free downloads!

Reviews

[Marion Over · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one outstanding historical mystery. Going in, I didn't know this was based on real people. Amazing woman who paved the way for the modern freedoms we take for granted. I loved the characters, especially Lucky.
The story kept me hooked from page one. Definitely a nail bitter that just gets better towards the end.
This author has always been beyond amazing at creating characters. By the time you have finished reading the book, they feel like people you know. Every one of her books has been like that.
I love that I had the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book. I highly recommend it.

[Sadira Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll start my review with a caveat: this first-in-series book ends with some major cliffhangers. I went in knowing that, and because Kerry Blaisdell always delivers a ripping good story, I’m willing to wait for the rest of the tale. Without spoilers, I can say that the major plot point is resolved at the end of A Lamentation of Swans, but other important threads are left hanging. I have faith she’ll tie them up eventually, but we’ll have to wait.
That said, I really enjoyed this historical mystery based on real events in early 20th-century Portland, Oregon. There’s a killer on the loose, a really nasty one, and nothing is as it seems. Blaisdell’s writing is very immersive, weaving in historical details to make the reader feel like she’s walking the streets of Portland along with the characters, without any distracting info-dumps.
Another aspect Blaisdell handles skillfully is the shifting point-of-view between characters, giving us a multi-faceted view of the times, the crime, the hearts and minds of the players, and the factors complicating the hunt for the killer.
Since it’s a mystery, there’s not much more I can say without giving away too many clues, but if you can tolerate the wait for the next installment, I highly recommend A Lamentation of Swans, historical mystery at its finest!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this as a historical mystery book, it had that suspenseful atmosphere and was enjoying the use of real-life figures into this book. I was engaged from start to finish and enjoyed the mystery concept, it was a strong start to the Wicked Portland series and glad it was so well written. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and enjoyed the way they were written in this and thought the romance concept was used so well. I enjoyed the way Kerry Blaisdell wrote this and am excited to read more in this series and from the author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Janice Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good mystery. There were some twists and turns but I figured out the murder before the end. I received this book for free and wished to leave a review. I did like the characters. Lucky is just so real and adorable and Solace is a wonderful, determined woman with a few faults. I look forward to the next book to see what happens to them both.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lamentation Of Swans is the first book in the wicked Portland mystery series by Carrie Blaisdelle, in the book we meet solace Gray who is new to Portland along with her husband Alan Gray. They’ve recently moved a lot due to her husband’s spells where he seems not to know where he is he knows who he is and he knows his first wife’s name and his mother but poor Solace is forgotten. She takes her vows very seriously however so when she meets Lucky Jacobs who delivers her mulch for her garden they first start off as adversaries but a spark is fired and it’s something neither one can forget. Coincidentally he will continue to pop up in her life with only kindness and being the utmost gentleman. In Portland women are being murdered and they’re blaming it on a cult leader but soon a transplant from New York and the new cop to Portland Jenkins is determined to make a big splash even if he has to put the wrong man in jail and he has his sites on Lucky Jenkins. The detective in Portland however has his sites on Alan Greg who is a much more suitable suspect but it doesn’t look as if either one of them really did it it’s a good thing Alan Brown’s wife solace is a lot more than just a housewife she is a learned botanist she speaks many languages and is determined to prove her husband is innocent. unfortunately for Solace, she will see aside to her dizzy professor husband that she’s never seen in may even cause her to question her belief of his innocence. Who is really going around killing prostitutes in Oregon and will they eventually get the right man? let me start my opinion by saying this is one of the best historical fiction mysteries I’ve read in a while this is one of those books that could really get you out of a reading slump and had me on the edge of my seat and for most of the book I didn’t know where it was going and even when I thought I knew the killer I still didn’t want to put the book down. I have never heard of this author before but I’m so glad I know her now and will probably become an avid reader of the wicked Oregon mystery series. This is a book I definitely recommend and have no negatives about. #BookSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Cris Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, atmospheric, and quietly heartbreaking.

A Lamentation of Swans pulls you into turn-of-the-century Portland and never lets you feel safe there. The setting is rich with grime and unease—perfect for a story about women disappearing and the dangers hidden behind “respectable” faces. The mystery is layered and unsettling, with multiple suspects who all feel disturbingly plausible.

Solace Grey is a compelling heroine, driven by fear, loyalty, and desperation. Her love for her husband—and the terrifying reality of what could happen to him if the truth comes out—adds real emotional weight. The stakes feel personal, not just procedural. Lucky Jacobs is the perfect counterbalance: guarded, capable, and carrying his own scars. Their slow-burn tension is subtle but powerful, never overshadowing the mystery.

What truly stands out is how the novel confronts injustice—how easily vulnerable women are dismissed, how mental illness is punished, and how power protects the guilty. The inclusion of real historical figures deepens the realism without distracting from the story.

This is a gripping start to a series: haunting, intelligent, and emotionally grounded. If you enjoy historical mysteries with moral complexity and understated romance, this one is absolutely worth reading.

[Dina Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating reflects only how I felt about the story. I read it for book club so it wasn’t one I would have personally picked.

The author did keep my interest but I didn’t like the way she switched points of view unexpectedly throughout the book. I would have to back up sometimes to figure out through which character’s mind we were supposed to be viewing the events. There were also a few places in the book that were really hard to get through. One is the first chapter when we are witness to the killer’s perverse thoughts. Also, it was very hard for me to read the part when Solace’s husband beats her and almost strangles her. The ending of the book didn’t give me much satisfaction for several reasons. First, I wanted Jenkins’ arrest to be more personal (not sure that’s the correct word). Secondly, I hated the way things were left with Solace and Lucky.

While I think it’s probably a good idea to venture out occasionally and read books different from your normal picks, this book left me wjth an overall disgusting feeling.

[Nathan Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it was a charming guide to swan-themed scrapbooking. You know—tips on preserving feathers, maybe a section on tasteful lamination techniques for waterfowl photos. I imagined myself gently pressing a swan-shaped sticker into a pastel memory book while sipping chamomile tea.

Instead, I got a poetic gut-punch about grief, longing, and metaphorical birds that do not come with adhesive backing.

Page one: no swan templates. No glitter glue. Just aching prose and emotional devastation. I kept waiting for the chapter titled “Elegant Swan Borders for Your Spring Layout” and instead got “The unbearable weight of memory and loss.”

By chapter three, I was Googling “can you laminate tears?” because that’s all I had to work with.

By the end, I was emotionally decoupage’d. My scrapbook is now just a pile of soggy pages and existential dread.

Beautiful writing. Would not recommend for craft night.

Not what I expected.

Good read though.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lamentation of Swans drew me in right away. The character development is truly outstanding—every person on the page feels vivid, layered, and fully human. I especially loved how seamlessly the author wove real historical figures into the story. It gives the mystery an added spark of authenticity while still feeling effortless.

As someone who lives in Portland, all the local references were such a treat. Seeing familiar places re-imagined through a turn-of-the-20th-century lens made the city feel both nostalgic and new, and added so much atmosphere to the story.

Overall, this is a gripping historical mystery with heart, style, and characters I can’t wait to follow into the next book. Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Olivia Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lamentation of Swans was a very interesting read. So many things in the turn of the 20th century that we would not even consider in our current days. First and foremost in my humble opinion would be the treatment of women as less than their male counterparts. In fact many women of that era needed to be stronger (mentally and physically) than their husbands. The second that stood out for me was the stigma and lack of help for mentally challenged people. If you did not fit into the "normal" category as society deemed, you were sent away to an insane assylum, where if you weren't crazy when committed, you would be crazy afterwards. This was a very good read that kept me turning those pages to see just how Solace would handle her many challenges during this time period.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lamentation of Swans is Book 1 in the Wicked Portland Series by Kerry Blaisdell. The story opens inside the serial killer's mind as he sees his next victim. The story is set in 1904 at the Portland World Fair. Solace must look into the murders because the killer is framing her husband. I found the story to be surprising and often very unexpected. The ending was totally surprising to me. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[C]

This was an excellent historical mystery. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. The characters were very well written and had a lot of depth. The author deftly wove together the threads of the story making the mystery a real nail biter. I also enjoyed the historical details as well as learning about Portland at the turn of the century. I can’t wait for the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the historical accuracy of the novel and attention to detail which accounts for the rating. In particular, after reading the notes at the end I might dig deeper into these real life characters. The mystery held my attention throughout. There’s a lot of characters in this novel so keep that it mind. I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I received an ARC via Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Ghostreadergal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel wasn't what I expected. The characters felt real and raw, reading much like literary fiction with heavy exposition that isn't for the faint of heart or attention span. The ending felt a little rushed, so I'd have loved for it to be a smidge longer! It definitely reads more as a historical mystery novel rather than a romance, so keep that in mind.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julie Hastrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic way to learn about Portland's history and the struggles of women leading up to the World's Fair. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and found this to be an immersive and well-written story that kept me guessing until the very end. I'm definitely looking forward to Wicked Portland #2.

[Pat J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Twisty plot, interesting characters and the carefully drawn historical background of 1904 Portland, Oregon, held my interest. I was especially fascinated by the real-life person who would become Portland’s first female police chief, and look forward to the next installment of the Wicked Portland series. Especially liked that the book didn’t play fast and loose with history.

[Darla Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review:
A Lamentation of Swans (Wicked Portland) by Kerry Blaisdell
This is an amazing story that was very well thought out and researched. I loved the characters and if you really pay attention you might figure out part of what's going on and who is hiding in plain site, but for some parts I had no clue. Lol. Will they find the serial killer or will more women be killed? I can't wait for book 2 . Thanks Kerry for letting me read this 5 star story for my honest review.

[J Woollcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early version of this book and loved it. Wonderful settings in old Portland, beautifully described, and as always, terrific characters rife with simmering, forbidden desire. Add a serial killer to the mix and you have a complex, immersive read.

[My · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWSOME BOOK!