Who Killed Lady Pippa?: A Locked-Room Murder Mystery

by Shelly Dickson Carr

Oxford, 1890.

Beneath the wavering glow of gaslight, whispers coil through ancient colleges and fog-choked lanes. Whispers of a murder no one can explain.

Lady Pippa Hastings stands accused of killing a young man in a locked room — the evidence as damning as it is impossible. The gallows await.

But years in the future, a single discovery will cast doubt on everything.

Katie Lennox makes the only choice that matters: travel back through the London Stone, a Druidic portal binding past and present, and save Lady Pippa before history seals her fate. In a city steeped in secrets, she joins forces with brilliant Oxford scholar Henry Merrivale and sharp-witted Cockney lad Toby Becket. Together, they must untangle vanishing killers, sealed chambers, and crimes that defy reason — as the shadow of the notorious Demon Duchess of Devon looms ever closer.

Every revelation leads deeper into a labyrinth where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted.

The clock is ticking. The noose is waiting.

Can Katie outwit a perfect killer — before history claims another innocent life? Find out in the thrilling follow-up to the award-winning Ripped!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2026

About the author

I was ten years old when I read He Wouldn't Kill Patience, the classic mystery by my grandfather, John Dickson Carr. I guess it all started there, because ever since that book, I've been hooked on the genre and thinking about the mysteries I'd one day write.

My newest novel, WHO KILLED LADY PIPPA? (Level Best Books, 2026), is a Victorian locked-room murder mystery featuring a young Sir Henry Merrivale, the famous detective my grandfather created. It's Book 2 in my Katie Lennox time-travel series, and it can be read as a standalone.

My first novel, RIPPED, a Jack the Ripper time-travel thriller, won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best First Book, along with silver medals for Best New Voice and Best Mystery/Suspense. The idea for RIPPED came while on a scouting trip. As a board member for the Huntington Theatre in Boston, I'm lucky enough to travel to London each year with theater members in search of interesting new plays. While in London, I began researching the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper, one of the greatest unsolved murder cases in history.

My fascination with the nineteenth century started as a young girl, in a rambling Victorian house in Mamaroneck, New York. My British mother, Julia McNiven, an author, mystery writer and bibliophile, filled every room in the house with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Leather-bound classics abounded. My friends called it the library house. In third grade I read all of Kipling's Just So Stories, because I could reach them on the lower shelves. That makes me a third-generation mystery writer.

My short mystery fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and the anthology ALL THE CRIME IN THE WORLD.

A founding member of The Masterpiece Trust, which helped bring Downton Abbey to PBS, and a supporter of Masterpiece Mystery's Sherlock, you might say I'm wacky about all things British.

I have three daughters who helped so much in shaping my books, and my husband is my biggest supporter. We live in Boston with our bulldog, Becket.

I have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and an undergraduate degree in education.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical crime mystery, Who Killed Lady Pippa (2026) by Shelly Dickson Carr, is a time-travel tale set in 1890, Oxford. A sequel of sorts, it begins with Katie Lennox on a train when she decides to journey back in time, to solve a murder. Lady Pippa was found guilty and hanged for a crime they later discovered she did not commit. As Katie returns to Victorian England to investigate who the real killer is, she meets Dr Conan Doyle. Although a tantalising locked-door mystery set in an interesting time, the lack of prior knowledge of the time-travel aspect proved somewhat arbitrary. Overall, the story lacked a real time-period feel and the somewhat ho-hum characters, made for an okay three star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty locked-room mystery meets time-travel historical fiction. I loved falling back in time to 1890s Oxford with American college student Katie Lennox, and it was delightful to meet an imagined younger version of John Dickson Carr's Sir Henry Merrivale.

[Booked & Dreaming · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐3.5-star review:
First, a big thank you to Level Best Book and NetGalley for providing this ARC. I want to mention that although this seems to be the start of a new series, there is actually a novella that comes before it; something I didn’t realize before diving in. As a result, I felt a bit thrown into the middle of the story at first, but I was still able to follow along. I found the mystery intriguing, but the execution didn't quite hit the mark for me, mainly because of the writing style. At times, it felt chaotic and unrealistic, even within the realm of fiction. The characters’ reactions and behaviours seemed a little odd, and I personally didn't find the romantic subplot necessary.

[BookishAdventuresWithJules · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love both time travel and murder mysteries and I was intrigued by the premise of Who Killed Lady Pippa by Shelly Dickson Carr. I started the book unaware that it was the follow up to Ripped, published in 2012. 

I struggled to get into this book, initially because it felt as though I was dropped into a world I should be familiar with but knew nothing about. The context of time travel and necessary background information was missing, and this really felt like a follow up to something else. Which it absolutely was, but I often find a few lines giving a quick summary helpful with a series I happen to start without having read any previous books. 

Katie feels very confident about her own abilities, despite having very surface level education in solving crimes, botany and hypnosis. The consequences of time travel and the butterfly affect on future events feels like an important consideration but Katie jumps headlong into solving a crime that hasn't happened yet in order to save Pippa's life and intentionally change the future. Which she has apparently done before, but I digress.

Perhaps the context of the prior novel would have helped, but in this novel the romance with Toby didn't work for me. He was rude and dismissive towards her and I found it hard to believe that they shared any kind of real connection. If I am being honest, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters and I struggled to finish the book. The inclusion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was intriguing but I wish more had been done with fleshing out his character. 

I enjoyed the descriptions of the Oxford setting, they were vivid and detailed, bringing the campus and surrounding environment to life. 

I ultimately found the resolution to the mystery, and the book as a whole unsatisfying. I was frustrated as there were a lot of good ideas but the potential they held was not fully realized. 

I received an ARC copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I confess, I did not love this book. I finished it because it was an ARC and I feel morally obligated to finish and review books provided by Net Galley.

None of the characters were particularly likable— Some, were actually painful to read, specifically, Fessi with his insufferable nicknames.

The author uses ellipses in a way similar to Jennifer Armentrout— as in, way too often. For whatever reason, ellipses read like stutters to me and it actually makes my brain disengage from the story.

Finally, my biggest gripe, is the way we are just thrown into time travel with no lore or lead up. Just FMC on a train car holding a piece of rock and staying she’s going to time travel, now, to solve a murder. Here one second, in the past, the next. And then “solving” some of those murders because she’s read Sherlock Holmes in her present-day life, and he happens to be involved in the past-day story so she figured he must have written his mysteries based on things he actually encountered.

Honestly, this took me about 5 days to read, when it should’ve taken no more than 1 or 2, simply because I didn’t want to pick it up. It reminds me of Keri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack The Ripper series, but written less cleanly.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, views are my own)

I did not realise this was a follow up book. While it can be read on its own, I felt like I was missing information on the mechanics of the time travel that I would have enjoyed learning about that would have been in the first book.

The first chapter felt like a mile a minute and the pace did not let up. Mysteries, time travel, stolen items, murders, cursed items, multiple personalities, Arthur Conan Doyle, there was so much packed in for a book of less than 300 pages. I would have found it easier to follow and better fleshed out with at least two of those things removed.

By Jove! I thought there were too many big personalities and nicknames that it felt like a big group constantly booming and competing with each other (As an introvert, my literal nightmare). I thought Toby would be a main character but he ends up fading into the background.

What I enjoyed -
Katie receives a letter to meet in fifteen minutes, and promptly gets distracted by something shiny.
The idea was great - go back in time to solve a murder.

[Noha Badawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oxford in 1890? An absolute dream of a setting for me! Historical mysteries set in this particular era and place are always a favorite - it's one of the things that make me READ a book, and this book delivered exactly the kind of atmosphere I love. I really enjoyed how much detail went into building the story, from the historical elements and descriptions to the setting itself. The plot was engaging, and I appreciated how the history was woven into the mystery rather than simply serving as a backdrop. It was very interesting to be immersed in a different time period while trying to piece together the clues and figure out what really happened.

[Beverly Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel, romance and mystery! Well written book that had enough twists to keep the reader guessing until the end. I loved it and I'm very excited that it seems there will be another book where Katie Lennox will be traveling back to the 1890's to help solve another mystery and see her love, Toby Becket.

Thank you to NetGalley, Level Best Books ad Shelly Dickson Carr for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jenica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was enjoyable, but kind of underwhelming. I haven’t read it’s predecessor so I don’t know what kind of difference that would have made. I think it was fine as a stand alone, but the romance was weak and I didn’t feel all that invested in the story.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my review.

[Jenn Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good old-fashioned historical mystery with a twisty, interesting premise, well-written characters, and exceptional writing and storytelling overall. This one is a page-turner from the get-go, and I had a hard time solving the mystery -- which is how I know it's a good one!

[Noor ul Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHO KILLED LADY PIPPA by SHELLY DICKSON CARR is a mystery fiction set in 1981. The story, written in First Person, revolves around Katherine Lennox, the girl time-travelled to the nineteenth century, OXFORD! She has to find out who killed the person in a locked room and save Pippa from the gallows. The narrator, Katie, narrates the story in no less than a grave warning tone- one will surely remember WEDNESDAY ADDAMS while reading her. Commonly, we aim at a specific person or two as the real culprit, our well aimed haunch! But let us bet on it, this time you will never find the killer of the locked room unless the story states it exactly.

My notion was that it would be a simple detective riddle. But it turned out to be a residing haunt in the pages of history, never truly written and will never come to the light ever. Many things happened behind the doors of history; we never got to know. A cake of mystery obliged to stay mystery, and the author cut a piece from that cake and served it well. The most amazing thing is surely the entrance of SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, the maker of SHERLOCK HOLMES. I got a chance to observe the way he wrote, and it was, not to mention, splendid! A challenging task the author could do is to introduce a non-fiction character into a fiction frame and the author totally beat it.

Note for the intellectuals: there’s a well cooked soup of different languages and accents_ different shades fitting and justly giving space to one another to shine to their fullest. Here I must praise the author’s vast knowledge and perfect storytelling ability, forcing you to stay awake through the midnight and still up till the afternoon. Oh, that one-sitting addiction!

Not to forget the precisely showcased locations_ I immediately craved for some key to nineteenth century. And a solo vintage love, far-fetched, Alas!

I loved how the character of modern day perfectly fitted herself in that time. No flaws, no confusion_ totally into solving the case she was assigned to.

So mystery, thriller lovers and dear bookoholic detectives, what are you waiting for? Open your mini diaries and start taking notes. This one is surely your arena to enter. Now the question lies to the very end: will she save Pippa from the gallows? And if not, then who would be the killer? Will he be caught? Or will she stays in that century after finding the guilty, or time-travel back to us before revealing it their? Time is always the enemy, you know. To find out, mark your calendars, 3rd of November 2026! Cause, ‘finders keepers, losers weepers!’

Thankyou LEVEL BEST BOOK PUBLISHER for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Alex · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in advance !

I am pretty blunt in my review, but it is because it annoys me that a book with a base idea THIS GOOD was just poorly executed and that led to a very underwhelming read.


The idea of the book is reaaaally good but there was some stuff that bothered me.

1. You have to let your reader guess some things ; suggest rather than tell point blank. For instance, at the beginning when she meets the descendant of the guy she knows, we can guess that by her reaction and the fact that they share the same name : no need to tell us that the other guy is his ancestor. You have to trust your reader to figure things out on his own, otherwise it kind of feels bland. That really was the main issue for me.

2. I went in not knowing there was a previous book in the series, but that wasn’t too much of a bother, since there were sooo many reminders of what happened in the previous book ; especially, sometimes the same thing was said by Katie multiple times, in case the reader forgot I guess ? But YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE READER, I think we can remember some stuff without you reminding us every second

3. I feel like there were so many loose ends that were not explored and that was quite infuriating. Somebody would say something or do something that would imply a whole new theory on the murder case, and poof that theory would never be talked about ever again. And there were so many interesting theories ! But in the end I feel like the explanation for the murders was VERY underwhelming, which brings me to my next point

4. I was soooo underwhelmed by everything. I feel like the characters did not have strong recognisable personality features ; everyone felt kind of bland (except for Henry I would say ?), but especially Katie. I did not give a damn about her by the end of the book, which is a bummer since I spent 352 pages with her. Toby had an interesting internal debate at the beginning, which was under exploited and straight up brushed away. Some really interesting issues were brought up regarding time travel logistics, and also their relationship, but they were never brought up ever again. And I was really disappointed by the outcome : I wanted some twisted secrets explaining everything, some betrayal, etc… and I was just given the obvious explanation from the beginning.

Overall I don’t think this is a bad book, and I really love the base idea. I juste feel like the execution is lacking, and maybe the short length did not help with everything being kind of underwhelming.

[Vanessa Sederstrem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great Concept and Beautiful Setting, But Left Me Feeling Lost and Disconnected

I was initially drawn in by the intriguing title and the fascinating premise of Who Killed Lady Pippa, as I was eager to try something fresh and unique. Unfortunately, I dove into the story completely unaware that it was actually a continuation of the author's 2012 book, Ripped.
Because of this, I heavily struggled to immerse myself in the narrative. Right from the opening pages, it felt exactly like jumping into the middle of a television series without having watched the first episode. I was instantly thrown into an established world with zero context regarding the mechanics of the time travel or the essential lore. When picking up a series out of order, a brief summary or a few lines of introductory background information go a long way, and the total lack of it here left me feeling incredibly left out and confused at the start.

The protagonist, Katie, also proved difficult to connect with. She possesses an immense amount of confidence in her crime-solving abilities, despite her training in criminology, botany, and hypnosis seeming rather superficial. I found myself frustrated by her reckless approach to the timeline; instead of carefully weighing the catastrophic "butterfly effect" risks of altering history, she leaps headfirst into preventing a murder before it even takes place.

This lack of foundation hurt the romantic subplot as well. Without the context of the previous book, the relationship between Katie and Toby completely fell flat for me. He came across as dismissive and abrasive, making it hard to buy into any genuine spark or deep connection between them. Ultimately, I couldn't bond with any of the characters, and finishing the book felt like a chore. Even the cameo by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which had so much potential, felt under-fleshed and underutilized.
The absolute highlight of the book was the backdrop. The descriptions of Oxford are wonderfully vivid and incredibly detailed, completely bringing the university campus and its surroundings to life.

While I genuinely liked the core themes of historical mystery, time travel, and intrigue, the execution was highly unsatisfying. The book is packed with fantastic ideas, but the resolution felt hollow, and the potential of the premise was never fully realized. It is a real shame, but due to the missing context, I just couldn't get invested.

[Gabs Arellano · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Primeramente, muchas gracias a NetGalley por proporcionarme un ejemplar adelantado.

La premisa de este libro sonaba a todo lo que me gusta: una historia de ficción histórica y crimen, con un estilo que me recordaba a Sherlock Holmes. Sin embargo, ni la trama ni los personajes me terminaron de enganchar. Al comenzar la historia conocemos a nuestra protagonista y sin demasiado contexto de pronto viaja en el tiempo. No me lo esperaba para nada. Además por como estaba escrito tuve la sensación que había una historia anterior de la que no tenía conocimiento, lo que hizo que no pudiera conectar del todo con lo que estaba sucediendo. Dejando eso de lado el viaje en el tiempo y la mención de la piedra me dio vibras de Outlander. Por otro lado, el interés romántico está presente desde el primer instante y realmente no le aporta gran cosa a la historia. Me gusto que vieramos a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle porque al final era el estilo de historia que buscaba. En generarl fue entretenido y seguí leyendo porque tenía curiosidad de saber como se resolvería el misterio pero creo la premisa prometía más de lo que ofreció.

First of all thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC
This book was presented like everything I enjoy: a historical fiction and crime story, with a style that reminded me of Sherlock Holmes. However, neither the plot nor the characters fully convinced me. At the beginning, we're introduced to our FMC, and suddenly with very little context—she travels back in time. I wasn’t expecting that at all. The way it was written gave me the impression there was a previous story I knew nothing about, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with what was happening. That aside, the time travel and the mention of the stone gave Outlanderish vibes. There's also a romantic interest is present from the very beginning, but it doesn’t really add much to the story. I did enjoy the appearance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as it fit the type of story I was looking for. Overall, it was an entertaining read, I kept reading because I was curious to see how the mystery would unfold, but I feel the premise promised more than it actually delivered.

[Raisa Mbalule · Rating 4 out of 5]

When History, Mystery and Time Travel Collide

Who Killed Lady Pippa by Shelly Dickson Carr is an entertaining blend of historical fiction, murder mystery and time travel, with Victorian Oxford providing a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop. The story follows Katie Lennox as she travels back to 1890 to prevent Lady Pippa from being hanged for a murder she may not have committed. Alongside Henry Merrivale and Toby Becket, she finds herself navigating locked-room mysteries, suspicious characters and enough secrets to keep even the most seasoned detective busy. I particularly enjoyed the combination of historical intrigue and the supernatural element, which gives the story an interesting twist.

One of the book's biggest attractions is its setting, with its gaslit streets, ancient colleges and rigid Victorian social conventions. The author does a lovely job of bringing this period to life while exploring themes of class differences, women's limited opportunities and society's expectations. The mystery also offers several potential suspects and unexpected turns, making it enjoyable to follow the clues and speculate about who might be behind the crimes. I found the premise especially appealing because it brings together two genres that make for a rather delightful reading adventure.

Although the story has plenty of interesting ingredients, the pacing and character development could have been stronger, and some of the interactions felt a little awkward. The time-travel element could also have used a little more groundwork, as readers are suddenly swept into the past with very little explanation of how it all works, leaving some of the surrounding context feeling rather incomplete. Overall, Who Killed Lady Pippa is an enjoyable read for fans of historical mysteries, Victorian England, time travel and puzzling murder investigations, particularly those who appreciate a little supernatural mischief alongside their detective work.

[Diane Knutzen · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank-you to NetGalley and Level best Books for my ARC copy of this book!

3.5 ⭐️

This book was simultaneously a page turner and too over the top at the same time.

The setting of the story, having London both in the past and present, was great. I love the London atmosphere and the way the author described it.

The characters were likable, memorable characters, but they were way too much. It felt like being at a circus. But yet, I still liked them even though they drove me nuts. I really like Katie, but I do wish she acted and talked a bit more mature. She came off as a teenager. I was also hoping for a little more depth to her character. In fact, I wish there was more depth to all the characters. They seemed like they were stuck on full blast, over the top throughout the whole book.

I liked the hints of romance, but it wish there was more yearning. I wish it was developed more and there were deeper feelings.

The overall plot was intriguing, but had far too many plot holes and things going on. There were too many different subplots of mystery that it detracted from the main mystery plot. I also did not think that all the dots connected at the end. We were thrown facts in the end and expected to just go with it. It was a bit confusing and disjointed.

The writing style was decent. I do wish that the author would have refrained from making Katie talk in a Gen Z way. It was cringe worthy. I also thought some of the other phrases and word choices were a bit cringy and weird. I did get a good overview of everything though and the author is incredibly descriptive.

Overall, this was a good book. It was fast paced and captivating. It left you wanting to read more.

[Dyanna · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴀ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ. ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴꜱ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.


"​Who Killed Lady Pippa?" by Shelly Dickson Carr had all the elements on paper to be an absolute dream for historical mystery lovers: Victorian Oxford, gaslight-lit foggy streets, a glamorous party, and—best of all—an impossible, locked-room murder mystery where Lady Pippa Hastings stands accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Plus, the time-travel twist adds a unique layer to the investigation.

​On one hand, I really appreciated the classic whodunit atmosphere and the clever nod to traditional locked-room mysteries. Trying to figure out how a murder could happen in a sealed room is always a fun puzzle, and stepping back into the 19th century gave it a cozy, atmospheric vibe.

​On the other hand... execution-wise, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The pacing felt a bit uneven at times, and I found it hard to fully connect with the characters or feel deeply invested in their emotional journeys. The transition elements and the overall depth left me wanting a bit more punch from a story with such a brilliant premise.

​It’s not a bad read by any means—especially if you enjoy historical puzzles with a speculative twist—but it ultimately felt like a missed opportunity to be something truly extraordinary.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is set in 1890 and revolves around a murder mystery and a time traveling amateur investigator. Katie Lennox has the ability to travel through time with a magic rock that she rubs or holds. It appears she is only able to travel back in time to help solve a crime.

The story starts with Katie on the train in her own time. She takes out the stone of Brutus and holds it in her hand. The stone has the power to expand time and brings her back to the exact time she wants to go.. The part that doesn’t make sense is Reverend Pinker is on the train in her time and still on the train when she’s in the past. So is she in both time frames or do they both have the ability to travel in time?

This is a lock door mystery, which I thought was somewhat interesting. The title, however, doesn’t really make sense. We meet several characters. Some may end up reoccurring since this appears to be a series. There are several odd characters. Katie, herself, thinks she can solve the mystery because she’s from the future and she’s read several of Dr. Conan Doyle’s books.

I’d like to thank the publisher and net galley for giving me the chance to read this advanced reader copy and exchange for an honest review.

[Terri Morgan · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Elements~
Locked door whodunit
No spice
Time travel

I must admit that I was a bit confused at the familiarity that the MMC & FMC had and their references to previous quests—I did not know there was a novella prior to this book. Happily, it did not detract greatly from this story.

Katie Lennox, a modern day student of forensics, has been called to travel back in time, by Toby Becket, who is residing in 1890 Oxford to save Lady Pippa from execution for a crime Toby insists she is not guilty of. Plot twists and hijinks occur. Using a piece of the London Stone, Katie can jump timelines to solve crimes (and see Toby who has been dead for 75 years in present day).

Loved the historical aspects of this book! It felt like watching an episode of “Murder, She Wrote” or “Father Dowling Mysteries” mixed with reading a Nancy Drew book. It was a very comfy read and not too high-stakes (despite the title). Notably, all my theories were wrong until the very last moment, which is unusual for me.

Come join us in an Oxford long past and see if we can prevent the death of an innocent young woman. And maybe revisit a timeless love.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of the e-book. All opinions are my own.

[Chandni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who killed Lady Pippa? , it's easy to guess from the title itself that it's a mystery and it's historical.
Written in first person Katherine Lennox is a student in today's world but she can time travel to the nineteenth century. And there she solves mysteries with the help of Toby . And Toby is also her love interest . Well actually they're both in love with each other.The mystery part of the book is good with an quite unpredictable ending. The romance side well it's better than the mystery side 😃.
What I liked about this book is the historical part . Getting to know so much about the University of Oxford and it's adjacent area and society in the nineteenth century.
And most importantly meeting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Yes , he is there present as an eye surgeon and written only just two short stories 😀
But I hated that he doesn't seem very smart 😕
Anyway if you love reading mystery books and also in the lookout for some historical fiction like me then this is the book for you. Go for it, I think you will like it

[Entisar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Pippa was hanged for a murder she didn't commit, trapped in a locked room mystery with evidence as damning as it was impossible, and I had to find out alongside Katie whether traveling back through the London Stone could actually save her before history sealed her fate. Every single theory I formed about the real killer turned out wrong, and I loved being completely blindsided each time. Katie, Toby, and Henry made such a compelling trio to follow through 1890s Oxford, and I was especially drawn to how fiercely Katie stood up for feminist ideals even while navigating a time period determined to put her in her place. The appearance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle woven into the fiction felt like such a delightful touch, handled with real care. As the clock ticked down toward the gallows, I was fully consumed trying to piece together who the real killer was before the story revealed it, and the twists kept coming right until the very end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed Who Killed Lady Pippa? It was a different sort of mystery, mixing murder, time travel and romance in a way that actually worked really well.

I didn’t work out who the killer was, which is always a big plus for me, and the ending wasn’t predictable. The time-travel element wasn’t the main focus of the story, but it was important to how everything came together, and I particularly enjoyed the romance because the two characters are from completely different times. It made their relationship much more interesting.

It took me a little while to really get into the story, but once I did, the pace picked up and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages. The ending was good and left things open enough that I’d definitely be interested in seeing where the story goes next.

It’s the second book, but you don’t need to have read the first one to enjoy this, which is always handy.

A solid 4 stars from me — different, entertaining and with a mystery that kept me guessing.

[Elena Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Oxford in 1890, Who Killed Lady Pippa? begins with a seemingly impossible crime: Lady Pippa Hastings is accused of murdering a young man in a locked room, and the evidence threatens to send her to the gallows. Shelly Dickson Carr builds an atmospheric mystery around gaslit streets, ancient colleges, and secrets that stretch beyond the boundaries of time. When Katie Lennox discovers a way to travel through the Druidic London Stone, she takes on a mission to save Lady Pippa and uncover the truth before history takes its course.

The novel combines historical fiction, locked-room puzzles, and supernatural time-travel adventure. Katie's partnership with Oxford scholar Henry Merrivale and Toby Becket brings different perspectives to an investigation involving vanishing killers, sealed chambers, and the shadow of the Demon Duchess of Devon. With its layered mystery and urgent stakes, the story offers an engaging premise for readers who enjoy historical settings, clever mysteries, and unexpected revelations.

[Liza Rangel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Author: Shelly Dickson Carr
Title: Who Killed Lady Pippa?
Genre: Historical Mystery | Time Travel | Locked-Room Mystery
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Who Killed Lady Pippa? was such an entertaining blend of historical mystery, time travel, and fast-paced adventure. I absolutely loved being transported to atmospheric 1890s Oxford—the gaslit streets, ancient colleges, and Victorian setting created the perfect backdrop for an impossible murder mystery.

One of my favorite parts was the chemistry and tension between Katie and Toby. Their connection added another layer of fun to the mystery, while Katie’s modern perspective made watching her navigate nineteenth-century life especially enjoyable.

I also loved piecing together the clues and following the twists as Katie raced against history to uncover the truth. Atmospheric, clever, adventurous, and wonderfully bookish, this was a very enjoyable 4.5-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Level Best Books, and Shelly Dickson Carr for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marina Longo · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Who Killed Lady Pippa? drops you into Oxford, 1890, where Lady Pippa Hastings is accused of an impossible locked-room murder. Katie Lennox travels back through time to save her before she hangs, teaming up with scholar Henry Merrivale and Cockney lad Toby Becket.
I loved the atmospheric Victorian setting (the gaslit streets, ancient colleges, and rigid social customs) and the classic whodunit puzzle at the heart of it. Katie, Toby, and Henry make a fun trio, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's appearance was a welcome touch.

I didn’t realize it until after I started the book, but there is a novella before this. Having not read the novella, I don’t think it hurt my reading experience and I never felt like I was missing something. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries, locked-room puzzles, and a little time-travel adventure, I most definitely recommend. Having finished it and realizing there was a book before this, you may feel a bit confused since the time travelling seems to be out of nowhere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC by Netgalley. This is the first book by Shelly Dickson Carr for me.

Katherine Lennox, a student, has the ability to time travel to the nineteenth century, where she tries to uncover the truth behind a locked-door murder with her friend Toby. One of the obstacles she must overcome is the Victorian attitude towards women. This premise combined with the setting in Oxford, a city I love, made this book quite appealing.

However, I only gave it four stars because apparently there is a previous book in this setting and I would have liked to have had some background information rather than just being plonked in a story without any knowledge of its previous happenings. Moreover, there is no leading up to the time travel; from the present to the past without any prior indication makes is a weird occurrence.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75*
A time travel murder mystery between the present day and Victorian Oxford.
I haven’t read the book that precedes this one, where Katie and Toby, the man she falls in love with, save her great-great-great-grandmother Lady Beatrix. Both Lady Beatrix and Toby appear in this story but there is little sign of any romance between Katie and Toby. Toby is rude, dismissive and constantly trying to get Katie to go back to her own time, not much sign of being in love. His best friend Henry is a much nicer character!
Leaving the romance aside, I quite enjoyed the murder mystery aspect. It was just a shame about the number of silly typos in this pre-published story which I found rather distracting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Beautifulday4makeup The-book-and-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished Who Killed Lady Pippa?, and I really enjoyed it! This is a murder mystery wrapped in a time-travel setting. The time travel itself isn’t quite as important to the story as I initially expected, but it adds a fun and quirky element.

The book is divided into, let’s say, three big acts, and I loved every part of it. The writing is clear and fast-paced, and the detailed characters made it easy to get invested in the story. From the very beginning, you’re plunged straight into an adventure, which kept me turning the pages.

Apparently, this book is part of a series, so I’ll probably be picking up the rest in the future!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an eBook

[Dana Weltmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between now and then

This locked-room murder was resolved convincingly with the entire book providing a fascinating and enlightening preface. The author’s ability to speak about her present and her visit to the past and to “keep it all straight” was masterful. The time travel provided ample opportunity to school the audience on the many differences between the two societies which heavily figured into the book’s conveyance of interesting tidbits of place, time and characters. This resulted in a richly drawn world with ideas and characters with which we were not only interested but for whom we could hiss and root! A very enjoyable and satisfying read. Jolly well done. I await with bated breath the next adventure.

[Sarah | Sarahs.all.booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Locked door mystery and time travel. Definitely an interesting combination, but it worked well together! I loved the storyline but something was off with the writing. I can’t quite figure it out, but the flow was just a little odd to me. I did see that there is a novella that was written before this, so maybe that would help explain a few things. I feel like the time travel aspect was just kinda of random. We’re on a train one minute, then traveling back in time to solve a murder the next. As previously stated, I love the idea of the storyline but with a few tweaks here and there.

Thank you so much Shelly Dickson Carr and Netgalley for my gifted arc in exchange for my honest review!