Death of a Victorian Gentleman: Victorian Gentlemen Series I

by Tay R Dornie

396 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Tay R. Dornie comes from a bilingual English and German background. Her love of literature began in childhood. She began writing poetry and short stories in her youth. Over time, she developed a deep interest in the Victorian era, which has since become the foundation of her work in historical fiction.
When not writing, she runs a traditional British-style teashop with a small, welcoming tearoom in Franconia, Southern Germany - where she is often found surrounded by the scent of Earl Grey, the comfort of freshly baked scones with clotted cream, and just a touch of London fog.

Reviews

[Kim Roger]

This book took me a while to get into. I persevered because it looked and sounded so
good...and because I couldn’t really work out why I struggled to get into it.

I am so glad I didn’t give up because I absolutely loved it and I already want the next book!

There was so much to this book; suspense, mystery, thrills, intrigue, history, murder,
different worlds and it makes you think.

The book transports you to Victorian London where pickpocket Ezra steals a precious
pocket watch from Lord Lloyd Webster. Neither of them could foresee the events this will
lead to. As Ezra tries to earn Lloyd’s respect their lives become entwined. Lloyd’s eyes are
opened to the harsh reality of poverty and what people have to do to survive when they
aren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Neither of them expects to become
friends...with bigger feelings than they realise.

[Giovanni Jacobs]

WHAT A PHENMONAL BOOK!
This book starts off very cosy, and I appreciate the time taken with the realism and research and atmosphere created.
both MCs in this book get taken out of their comfort zone, with what they believe about life and about themselves and each other being tested when they get thrown into a situation neither of them could've imagined.
I loved the prose in this story, with each POV being believable, and it was written richly with deep descriptions and prose that encapsulated the time period so well.
Ezra and Lloyd's character evolutions over time were also stunning, with a mortal threat throwing what they believe about class and society and their place in it into question. Their self worth is tested, and they form a bond despite circumstances conspiring to pull them apart.
This story caries with it a hopefulness that is light and airy despite its often times oppressing situations that will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired to look for the goo din others, for the humanness in the other.

[Chloe]

This is a book that transports you to the world of Victorian London, exploring how the lives of a pickpocket, Ezra Taylor, and the son of a Lord, Lloyd Webster, gets intertwined in the most unlikely scenario.

Dornie has created two entirely different characters that are so likeable, I never thought I would be rooting for both characters despite their different backgrounds. There were plenty of plot twists woven throughout this book that kept me on my toes, and especially had me hooked towards the end of the book waiting to find out what happened.

The one thing I want most in a historical fiction novel is to be able to feel like I’ve been transported to the era it’s set in. This book certainly did just that, I got a true sense of both upper and lower class life in Victorian London.

If you like historical fiction and murder mystery then you will love this book!

[Janet]

4.5 stars
A great book , refreshingly different
A chance encounter between two men from totally opposite worlds.
Lloyd Webster, the son of a wealthy baronet and Ezra Taylor , a pickpocket.
A well written, fast paced historical novel with twists and turns aplenty.
Definitely worth a read !