What do you think?
Rate this book
Mirabelle Bevan Mystery #2
London Calling
In the years following World War II, former Secret Service employee Mirabelle Bevan has found a refuge in the quiet coastal town of Brighton. But she can’t seem to resist an attraction to danger and a thirst for justice . . .
1952: Eighteen-year-old debutante Rose Bellamy Gore was last seen outside a Soho jazz club in the company of a saxophone player named Lindon Claremont. Now her mysterious disappearance is front-page news in the London tabloids.
When Lindon turns up the next day in Brighton, desperately seeking help, Mirabelle counsels him to cooperate with the authorities. After the local police take the musician into custody and ship him off to Scotland Yard, Mirabelle and her best friend, Vesta Churchill, hop a train to London in search of the truth.
As they scour smoky jazz clubs searching for clues to the deb’s disappearance, they descend into a sinister underworld where the price of admission can be one’s life. Mirabelle will need to draw on her espionage skills to improvise her way out of a disappearing act of her own . . .
Praise for the first Mirabelle Bevan mystery, Brighton Belle
“Beneath that prim exterior lies a fearless, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal. One part Nancy Drew, two parts Jessica Fletcher, Mirabelle has a dogged tenacity to rival Poirot.” — Sunday Herald
“Unfailingly stylish, undeniably smart.” — Daily Record
“I was gripped from start to finish.” — Newbooks
“Fresh, exciting, and darkly plotted, this sharp historical mystery plunges the reader into a shadowy and forgotten past.” — Good Book Guide
“Early 1950s England is effectively portrayed in this intriguing mystery story . . . An excellent read for the beach or a long flight.” — Historical Novel Review
“After many twists and turns, she finally unravels the mystery in an entertaining romp pitting her wits against underworld characters and scheming impostors.” — Bookseller
“An entertaining mystery read—light, intriguing and ideal for a weekend escape. Bits of history enhance the plot without overwhelming it, and a handful of unexpected twists keep the reader guessing.” — RT Book Reviews
1952: Eighteen-year-old debutante Rose Bellamy Gore was last seen outside a Soho jazz club in the company of a saxophone player named Lindon Claremont. Now her mysterious disappearance is front-page news in the London tabloids.
When Lindon turns up the next day in Brighton, desperately seeking help, Mirabelle counsels him to cooperate with the authorities. After the local police take the musician into custody and ship him off to Scotland Yard, Mirabelle and her best friend, Vesta Churchill, hop a train to London in search of the truth.
As they scour smoky jazz clubs searching for clues to the deb’s disappearance, they descend into a sinister underworld where the price of admission can be one’s life. Mirabelle will need to draw on her espionage skills to improvise her way out of a disappearing act of her own . . .
Praise for the first Mirabelle Bevan mystery, Brighton Belle
“Beneath that prim exterior lies a fearless, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal. One part Nancy Drew, two parts Jessica Fletcher, Mirabelle has a dogged tenacity to rival Poirot.” — Sunday Herald
“Unfailingly stylish, undeniably smart.” — Daily Record
“I was gripped from start to finish.” — Newbooks
“Fresh, exciting, and darkly plotted, this sharp historical mystery plunges the reader into a shadowy and forgotten past.” — Good Book Guide
“Early 1950s England is effectively portrayed in this intriguing mystery story . . . An excellent read for the beach or a long flight.” — Historical Novel Review
“After many twists and turns, she finally unravels the mystery in an entertaining romp pitting her wits against underworld characters and scheming impostors.” — Bookseller
“An entertaining mystery read—light, intriguing and ideal for a weekend escape. Bits of history enhance the plot without overwhelming it, and a handful of unexpected twists keep the reader guessing.” — RT Book Reviews
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2012
53 people are currently reading
960 people want to read
About the author
Sara Sheridan
46 books432 followersBorn in Edinburgh. I'm a complete swot - love books always have! Currently obsessed with late Georgian/ early Victorian culture, the subject of several of my novels, and with 1950s Britain for my Mirabelle Bevan murder mystery series set across the UK - and even one in Paris. Occasionally write tie-in books for historical dramas on TV, children's picture books and short stories, mostly for charitable causes.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 2, 2018
A good thriller. A saxophone player Lindon Claremont knows the police will be looking for him so he is taken by Ex secret Service to brighton police station purely as a witness. Lindon was seen talking to Rose Bellamy Gore in a seedy jazz club and has now gone missing. If you like this you may like to try the book Midnight In Havana by peggy Blair.
May 25, 2016
This is the second in the Mirabelle Bevans series and takes place about a year after the events of the last book. The intricacies of the mystery, this time involving a missing socialite, are not the strongest and Mirabelle does some rather unbelievable things, but there is a certain charm to the books and the early 1950s setting. I will say though that I am more than ready for Jack's ghost to be laid to rest. It's been three years, Mirabelle, move ON already.
July 18, 2019
I didn't love this. I mean you have to give kudos to any author who produces a book, and Sara Sheridan actually produced seven of these Mirabelle Bevan mysteries, so they must be popular and well read. This just wasn't my thing. I've been spoiled, being on Goodreads and being exposed to so many wonderful 4 and 5 star reads that take my breath away. This one wasn't my cup of tea, but I am sure many others have liked and enjoyed them. A lot of London, a little spy, mystery, jazz music, post war, racial tension, it had all the elements. It even held my attention. Abducted heiress, sassy partner, love interest - what could have gone wrong. Nothing really. It was just fine. 2.8? Maybe round it up to a low three?
Here's what I did love. I am not an audio fan, but I listened to this one on Audio. And since the "month tag" was London, how much fun was it to here the author read it in her British accent, and get the whole picture of London and the writing the way it was meant to be expressed. That part added a lot of ambiance to the London feel. I admit appreciated that and her describing London and its culture and idioms and thinking in her voice. That was fun. Plus I listened to about half of it, walking around the track of our indoor community center on days the weather wasn't ideal for swim. Today I had the last 1 hour 28 minutes left, and I put the plug in my phone and ear and began walking quickly, like I had done last week. And I walked around as speedily as I could pace until the story was complete! That was really fun and I appreciated it very much - that it helped me get through a nice walk. This audio also took me through my neighborhood, and through a bit of a longer drive. For that, I actually appreciated the book and the audio as well.
Here's what I did love. I am not an audio fan, but I listened to this one on Audio. And since the "month tag" was London, how much fun was it to here the author read it in her British accent, and get the whole picture of London and the writing the way it was meant to be expressed. That part added a lot of ambiance to the London feel. I admit appreciated that and her describing London and its culture and idioms and thinking in her voice. That was fun. Plus I listened to about half of it, walking around the track of our indoor community center on days the weather wasn't ideal for swim. Today I had the last 1 hour 28 minutes left, and I put the plug in my phone and ear and began walking quickly, like I had done last week. And I walked around as speedily as I could pace until the story was complete! That was really fun and I appreciated it very much - that it helped me get through a nice walk. This audio also took me through my neighborhood, and through a bit of a longer drive. For that, I actually appreciated the book and the audio as well.
August 1, 2013
Before I start, I should probably warn you. I am going to eulogise about this book. Unashamedly, unreservedly, full-on rave about it.
Firstly, it is part of the Mirabelle Bevan series. If you are not yet familiar with Mirabelle, this is important because she is elusive, attractive, witty and sharp. She is the kind of woman that men are intimidated by and she utilises her wily charms to wheedle out the facts she needs from men she encounters. I want to be like her. Infact, scrap that-I want to BE her.
Set in London in 1952, London Calling is the second book in the Mirabelle series. When a beautiful debutante mysteriously vanishes from a jazz club, saxophonist Lindon Claremont is the number one suspect. A childhood friend of Vesta, Mirabelle's sidekick, the women are determined to find out the truth and clear Lindon's name. We are sucked into the underground music scene and exposed to alluring secret drinking dens and caddish jazz musicians. As a fan of this era, Sara Sheridan does a fantastic job of representing post war London as a buzzing city high on promise and hope.
Delightful old-fashioned mystery stories in the same vein as Agatha Christie's classic 'Miss Marple' books, the Mirabelle books are intriguing and beguiling whilst never drifting into uncomfortable violence or unnecessarily graphic scenes. London Calling does not disappoint, and I found myself wishing that it was longer-always a promising sign! Infact, I was devastated when I finished the book and immediately tweeted the author asking when the next book will be out (unfortunately, not until 2014).
Well written and thought provoking, heart wrenching and thoroughly entertaining, Sheridan's evocative writing style will appeal to both those interested in the 1950s and the 'cosy crime' genre. Vivid, likeable characters add to the appeal, complimented by a highly readable plot. Pure escapist reading which makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew.
Bravo Sara Sheridan, bravo Mirabelle Bevan. More!
9/10
*first published on www.bookswithbunny.blogspot.co.uk*
Firstly, it is part of the Mirabelle Bevan series. If you are not yet familiar with Mirabelle, this is important because she is elusive, attractive, witty and sharp. She is the kind of woman that men are intimidated by and she utilises her wily charms to wheedle out the facts she needs from men she encounters. I want to be like her. Infact, scrap that-I want to BE her.
Set in London in 1952, London Calling is the second book in the Mirabelle series. When a beautiful debutante mysteriously vanishes from a jazz club, saxophonist Lindon Claremont is the number one suspect. A childhood friend of Vesta, Mirabelle's sidekick, the women are determined to find out the truth and clear Lindon's name. We are sucked into the underground music scene and exposed to alluring secret drinking dens and caddish jazz musicians. As a fan of this era, Sara Sheridan does a fantastic job of representing post war London as a buzzing city high on promise and hope.
Delightful old-fashioned mystery stories in the same vein as Agatha Christie's classic 'Miss Marple' books, the Mirabelle books are intriguing and beguiling whilst never drifting into uncomfortable violence or unnecessarily graphic scenes. London Calling does not disappoint, and I found myself wishing that it was longer-always a promising sign! Infact, I was devastated when I finished the book and immediately tweeted the author asking when the next book will be out (unfortunately, not until 2014).
Well written and thought provoking, heart wrenching and thoroughly entertaining, Sheridan's evocative writing style will appeal to both those interested in the 1950s and the 'cosy crime' genre. Vivid, likeable characters add to the appeal, complimented by a highly readable plot. Pure escapist reading which makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew.
Bravo Sara Sheridan, bravo Mirabelle Bevan. More!
9/10
*first published on www.bookswithbunny.blogspot.co.uk*
March 22, 2017
I received a free, advance copy of this work from Kensington Books and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I do love a period mystery, with all the tropes of the eccentric amateur detective but Mirabelle Bevan just does not work for me. Unfortunately the main problem is the quality of the writing, it is very sophmoric and is completely overloaded with unnecessary descriptive detail and tortured syntax.
The 1950s setting would have been better served if Sheridan had focused less on irrelevant period props and more on catching jarringly out-of-place turns off phrase and clarifying historical details.
The characters were really just cyphers lifted from other work in the genre. More than once I was reminded of Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart stories, but the comparison was not favorable. The plot was increasingly ridiculous and the motivation behind the political machinations was tacked crudely and unnecessarily to end, as if these elements had not been properly prepared until it was too late.
With a dash of humour or a more tongue-in-cheek tone it might have been and enjoyable, if very silly, adventure but it wants to be taken far more seriously than it deserves. In the end it reads like a fond homage to the Golden Age classics of Christie, Sayers and Marsh and nothing about the writing has the strength lift it beyond enthusiastic but flawed pastiche.
I do love a period mystery, with all the tropes of the eccentric amateur detective but Mirabelle Bevan just does not work for me. Unfortunately the main problem is the quality of the writing, it is very sophmoric and is completely overloaded with unnecessary descriptive detail and tortured syntax.
The 1950s setting would have been better served if Sheridan had focused less on irrelevant period props and more on catching jarringly out-of-place turns off phrase and clarifying historical details.
The characters were really just cyphers lifted from other work in the genre. More than once I was reminded of Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart stories, but the comparison was not favorable. The plot was increasingly ridiculous and the motivation behind the political machinations was tacked crudely and unnecessarily to end, as if these elements had not been properly prepared until it was too late.
With a dash of humour or a more tongue-in-cheek tone it might have been and enjoyable, if very silly, adventure but it wants to be taken far more seriously than it deserves. In the end it reads like a fond homage to the Golden Age classics of Christie, Sayers and Marsh and nothing about the writing has the strength lift it beyond enthusiastic but flawed pastiche.
March 18, 2016
I was given this book to read for a book group I belong to. Regrettably we were given the second book in the series. It appears Mirabelle ( ridiculous name!) has an interesting backstory to which many inferences were made which became quite frustrating. However that is not the fault of the book itself, but spoiled the enjoyment of what proved to be a pacy mystery. Also enjoyed the period details, the description of London in the smog and the poorly concealed racism towards the West Indians who had been fighting for our country less than 10 years previously. But Mirabelle! - what a self- satisfied interfering busybody! She well deserved the injuries she sustained, although they seemed to have little effect on her as she still managed to clamber on to roofs in high heels despite a badly sprained ankle and damaged elbow. And then discharged herself from hospital 24 hours after being shot through the clavicle.This was not a book I could take seriously and were it not such a quick read I would not have wasted my time on it. Don't think I'll be checking out the first book in a hurry.
March 19, 2017
It's 1952 and Mirabelle's debt collection agency is thriving in Brighton. She and her assistant, Vesta Churchill (no relation to the famous Churchill) are kept so busy that they are looking for another collector to work with them. One rainy cold morning a young man is slouched outside her office door. The young black man is Lindon Claremont, a musician in London. Lindon is a childhood friend of Vesta and is in trouble. A debutante, Rose Bellamy Gore has disappeared and Lindon was the last person to be seen with her. He swears that he has nothing to do with it so Mirabelle persuades him to turn himself into her friend, Inspector McGregor of the Brighton police. She is not too surprised that Lindon is transferred to London for questioning but the police keep him in custody. The girl has not been found but the police think that Lindon killed her. Vesta is insistent that Lindon could never hurt anyone and the two set off to London, a city that holds many memories for Mirabelle. It seems that a memory of her dead lover, Jack, is around every corner. Mirabelle's wartime training in the British Secret Service stands her in good stead as she and Vesta visit jazz clubs, the London underworld and the homes of the high and mighty.
When we first met Mirabelle in Brighton Belle, she was a lonely, friendless woman, sunk in her grief over the death of Jack. Taking over the agency that she once managed, meeting Vesta and making new friends are bringing her back to life. She is as stylish and intrepid as ever; also as stubborn. She is determined to help Lindon, no matter the cost. The atmosphere of London and its nightlife are very much an element in London Calling. Some interesting new characters are also added to the cast that I am looking forward to meeting again.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions above are my own.
RATING- 3.5 Stars
When we first met Mirabelle in Brighton Belle, she was a lonely, friendless woman, sunk in her grief over the death of Jack. Taking over the agency that she once managed, meeting Vesta and making new friends are bringing her back to life. She is as stylish and intrepid as ever; also as stubborn. She is determined to help Lindon, no matter the cost. The atmosphere of London and its nightlife are very much an element in London Calling. Some interesting new characters are also added to the cast that I am looking forward to meeting again.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions above are my own.
RATING- 3.5 Stars
August 1, 2021
I can tell that I'm going to be working my way through all of this series. Another thoroughly enjoyable story with a great main character and sidekick in Vesta. What I liked about this one was that it didn't start off from where the first left off, but moved on in time and location. So we get more of an insight into Mirabelle's past and her contacts, and see that she's a bit of a dark horse - not only to Vera but also to the reader.
The unwinding of the mystery and murder at the centre of the book was a bit too twisty and turny for me, and I did find the part of the story regarding Rose and her mates stretched my credulity just a little, but nevertheless, I kept turning the pages, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'd love this series to be made for tv. Now looking forward to the next instalment.
The unwinding of the mystery and murder at the centre of the book was a bit too twisty and turny for me, and I did find the part of the story regarding Rose and her mates stretched my credulity just a little, but nevertheless, I kept turning the pages, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'd love this series to be made for tv. Now looking forward to the next instalment.
June 7, 2017
This was such a change from my usual read. In lots of ways similar to Agatha Christie in language and setting. But Sara has her voice and it shines through in this novel. I liked her evocation of the times and her characters are well drawn and not superfluous to the story.
Mirabelle and Vesta run a debt collection agency in Brighton and when Vesta's friend Lindon Claremont is arrested in connection with disappearance of debutante Rose Bellamy Gore. He later dies in police custody' a death that is classed as suicide.
This sends Mirabelle and Vesta off on a quest to clear his name, a quest that involves the Establishment, Secret Service and assorted shady characters.
It is a story that keeps the reader turning the pages and following the story to its satisfying conclusion. I urge you to read this book.
Mirabelle and Vesta run a debt collection agency in Brighton and when Vesta's friend Lindon Claremont is arrested in connection with disappearance of debutante Rose Bellamy Gore. He later dies in police custody' a death that is classed as suicide.
This sends Mirabelle and Vesta off on a quest to clear his name, a quest that involves the Establishment, Secret Service and assorted shady characters.
It is a story that keeps the reader turning the pages and following the story to its satisfying conclusion. I urge you to read this book.
March 30, 2019
Good, but not as good as the first. This book read very slowly for some reason. I ended up liking it at the end. Mirabelle is proving to be a clever, resourceful investigator in her own right.
May 29, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. Here is my review:
I really like Mirabelle!! These books are set in Brighton in the 1950s. Mirabelle worked for a super secret agency during WWII, learned a lot, saw a lot, lost a lot, and just wants an ordinary life now. In the first book, Brighton Belle, she is working for a collection agency and her boss gets involved in some shady deals and gets killed. So now, she is running the collection agency, with the help of Vesta Churchill, who was previously a secretary for an insurance agency in the same building.
One of Vesta's friends from London shows up unexpectedly and has a problem in London. Then the fun begins! We learn more about Mirabelle's former life as she reconnects with people in London.
I really hope there are more coming in this series!
I really like Mirabelle!! These books are set in Brighton in the 1950s. Mirabelle worked for a super secret agency during WWII, learned a lot, saw a lot, lost a lot, and just wants an ordinary life now. In the first book, Brighton Belle, she is working for a collection agency and her boss gets involved in some shady deals and gets killed. So now, she is running the collection agency, with the help of Vesta Churchill, who was previously a secretary for an insurance agency in the same building.
One of Vesta's friends from London shows up unexpectedly and has a problem in London. Then the fun begins! We learn more about Mirabelle's former life as she reconnects with people in London.
I really hope there are more coming in this series!
March 27, 2013
Mirabelle Bevan and Vesta Churchill run a debt recovery agency in nineteen fifties Brighton. When a friend of Vesta’s, Lindon Claremont, turns up on their doorstep asking for help both Mirabelle and Vesta find themselves involved in a more complex case than they had bargained for.
Lindon seems to be the last person who saw Rose Bellamy Gore before she disappeared outside a seedy jazz club in London and he is wanted for questioning by the police. Mirabelle and Vesta encourage him to go to the police but things don’t work out as expected and both girls travel to London and start asking questions which might put them both in danger.
If you enjoyed this author’s ‘Brighton Belle’ then you will love this second book in the series. Life in the nineteen fifties is vividly described and the difference in attitudes between then and now is very clear to modern readers. I like both the main characters and think they are developing in interesting ways. I like the aura of secrecy which surrounds Mirabelle’s previous life and the way the author introduces scraps of information about it every now and then.
The book is well plotted and includes some very murky aspects of human nature and of crime but there is little on the page violence and no bad language. This series shows how compelling mysteries can be written without bad language, excessive violence or gratuitous sex. In fact the books are all the better for their lack of these ingredients.
Lindon seems to be the last person who saw Rose Bellamy Gore before she disappeared outside a seedy jazz club in London and he is wanted for questioning by the police. Mirabelle and Vesta encourage him to go to the police but things don’t work out as expected and both girls travel to London and start asking questions which might put them both in danger.
If you enjoyed this author’s ‘Brighton Belle’ then you will love this second book in the series. Life in the nineteen fifties is vividly described and the difference in attitudes between then and now is very clear to modern readers. I like both the main characters and think they are developing in interesting ways. I like the aura of secrecy which surrounds Mirabelle’s previous life and the way the author introduces scraps of information about it every now and then.
The book is well plotted and includes some very murky aspects of human nature and of crime but there is little on the page violence and no bad language. This series shows how compelling mysteries can be written without bad language, excessive violence or gratuitous sex. In fact the books are all the better for their lack of these ingredients.
July 14, 2019
If you're looking for a light mystery (no nail biting involved) set in the fifties, this may work for you, but I doubt I'll read any more of the series. What I liked was that it was mostly set in London and as places the characters went were described, walking down this street and turning onto that one, etc, I could picture it quite well sometimes. Unfortunately, for me that was the best thing about this one, and I love when books are set in London for that reason, as a rule anyway. Other than that tho, the story was pretty simple. Missing girl, where is she, who saw her last, did the saxophone player actually do away with her, with a lot of it being wrapped up pretty quickly at the very end. And it just seemed they were going from jazz club to hotel to jazz club to hotel and eating and drinking and drinking and drinking....and then the main character, using her hairpins, was able to so easily get in and out of any place she wanted without being seen....and I was actually glad it was a fairly short book! I guess I prefer my mysteries to be the kind that keep you up late and have you lying in bed going over it and wondering what will happen next. While a pleasant little romp at times, this wasn't that for me.
April 2, 2016
A good, quick read. I liked this better than the first one in the series - I'm not entirely sure why, since it's a while since I read Brighton Belle.
Mirabelle is resisting getting involved in private detection (unlike Vesta, who's keen as mustard), but events start to involve her, when one of Vesta's childhood friends turns up with a saxophone and a problem.
A rich girl has disappeared - how, and why, and is she alive or dead? Why doesn't anything seem to match up?
There are also hints of future developments relating to Superintendent McGregor, and we get to see a lot more of Vesta. Since there are further books beyond this, I think we will see the growth of some relationships - even now, Mirabelle is rather on her own. Books tend to flow better when there are stronger relationships between the characters, so I expect the next book (England Expects to be better yet.
Mirabelle is resisting getting involved in private detection (unlike Vesta, who's keen as mustard), but events start to involve her, when one of Vesta's childhood friends turns up with a saxophone and a problem.
A rich girl has disappeared - how, and why, and is she alive or dead? Why doesn't anything seem to match up?
There are also hints of future developments relating to Superintendent McGregor, and we get to see a lot more of Vesta. Since there are further books beyond this, I think we will see the growth of some relationships - even now, Mirabelle is rather on her own. Books tend to flow better when there are stronger relationships between the characters, so I expect the next book (England Expects to be better yet.
March 20, 2014
Having read the first Mirabelle Bevan book, Brighton Belle, I was keen to see how things developed with Mirabelle and Vesta. I wasn't disappointed.
The book starts with a musician friend of Vesta's arriving in Brighton from London, asking for help as the police were looking for him. Vesta and Mirabelle agree to help but feel he should hand himself into the police while they do so. Shortly after he dies while in custody, apparently committing suicide by hanging. Mirabelle feels terribly guilty and become more determined than ever to find out what happened.
This is a cracking story set in Brighton and London in the early 50's. Rationing is still in force and good manners are still the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who like good stories and/or books of this era.
The book starts with a musician friend of Vesta's arriving in Brighton from London, asking for help as the police were looking for him. Vesta and Mirabelle agree to help but feel he should hand himself into the police while they do so. Shortly after he dies while in custody, apparently committing suicide by hanging. Mirabelle feels terribly guilty and become more determined than ever to find out what happened.
This is a cracking story set in Brighton and London in the early 50's. Rationing is still in force and good manners are still the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who like good stories and/or books of this era.
January 6, 2014
I absolutely loved the first Mirabelle Bevan book and think that London Calling was even better. Both Mirabelle and Vesta are such strong and interesting characters. The author combines the social and economic history of the post war period perfectly with a classic 'who dunnit' story that keeps you guessing until the end
June 5, 2017
I found this a so-so murder mystery.
The first half goes way too slowly; by the halfway mark, no new clues or developments had really taken place and the action consisted of repeated forays by the detective, Mirabelle, to locations around where the mystery occurs and questioning the people there. Lots of details abound about Mirabelle's drinks (she's quite an elbow-bender!) and what she ate.
The second half picks up quite a bit, with more action rather than just questioning, and some derring-do on the part of the middle aged Nancy Drew and her cohorts.
Some backstory is presented that the reader need not know about, as it doesn't pertain to the mystery at hand, but tends to get in the way if the reader is not familiar with past loves and losses of the heroine.
The social milieu and issues the author addresses here, primarily pertaining to race relations in London in the 1950s, add a very interesting note here. The prime suspect is a black musician, playing in black clubs which rich spoiled white kids like to frequent, for the racy and risky feeling of rebellion it gives them. This forms the background of the mystery and actually gives it its impetus: black musician, high class girl from a good family -- these are elements not supposed to mix in this time period, and the characters in the book base their assumptions about the crime on these prejudices and assumptions about class and race.
Thank you to the author and publishers for a review copy.
The first half goes way too slowly; by the halfway mark, no new clues or developments had really taken place and the action consisted of repeated forays by the detective, Mirabelle, to locations around where the mystery occurs and questioning the people there. Lots of details abound about Mirabelle's drinks (she's quite an elbow-bender!) and what she ate.
The second half picks up quite a bit, with more action rather than just questioning, and some derring-do on the part of the middle aged Nancy Drew and her cohorts.
Some backstory is presented that the reader need not know about, as it doesn't pertain to the mystery at hand, but tends to get in the way if the reader is not familiar with past loves and losses of the heroine.
The social milieu and issues the author addresses here, primarily pertaining to race relations in London in the 1950s, add a very interesting note here. The prime suspect is a black musician, playing in black clubs which rich spoiled white kids like to frequent, for the racy and risky feeling of rebellion it gives them. This forms the background of the mystery and actually gives it its impetus: black musician, high class girl from a good family -- these are elements not supposed to mix in this time period, and the characters in the book base their assumptions about the crime on these prejudices and assumptions about class and race.
Thank you to the author and publishers for a review copy.
July 22, 2017
This is the second installment of the period mystery series featuring Mirabelle Bevan, former secret service agent. It picks up about a year after the events of the first book. Mirabelle and Vesta are going about their everyday lives, running the debt collection business, living social lives, etc. I actually liked that the book opened this way for these two characters. In the meantime, trouble is brewing which ultimately comes knocking on Mirabelle's door. During the case featured in this book, readers are brought into the world of jazz musicians and racial struggles in the 1950s. One thing I really wanted that the first book didn't deliver much for me was more insight on Vesta, Mirabelle's right hand girl. This missing piece is somewhat addressed in this second book , but I still feel like I really don't know who Vesta is as a person or what leads her to make certain choices. Mirabelle is still grieving over the loss of her lover, Jack, which had happened a few years previously. I found it annoying that the author kept bringing Jack up in as much detail as she did considering how long it had been. Overall, I didn't find this book as good as the first.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2018
Fans of The Alice Network will certainly find much to like about the Mirabelle Bevan mystery series. I know I certainly look forward to reading them all. It's not fair that England gets them first!! The author has created such strong, female protagonists in Mirabelle and her partner, Vesta, ostensibly running a debt collection agency, but getting caught up in mysteries as a sideline. It certainly helps that Mirabelle worked in England's Secret Service during WWII, as an operative. She picked up quite a few good skills along the way. Vesta is learning as she goes along. She's detail oriented, observant, and not afraid to do what needs to be done. Between the two of them they help get to the bottom of the framing for murder and death of Vesta's friend, jazz musician Lindon Claremont. The author introduces a new character in this installment, a former policeman and dog handler. It will be interesting to see how his character will be developed in future installments. Police Superintendent McGregor makes an appearance and as always, is the ladies' ally and possible love interest for Mirabelle if she would just leave her heartbreak behind her.
October 30, 2020
Mirabelle and Vesta have now taken over the debt collection office and are in need of finding some help. Mirabelle arrives at the office early and there is a young man soaking wet with a saxophone case. It turns out this young man is a childhood friend of Vesta's. He jams at various jazz clubs but has found out the police are looking for him. That Is why Lindon Claremont is in Brighton looking for Vesta.
Mirabelle sizes him up and no he is not the man to help out at the office. With her former secret service training realizes that Lindon is in trouble. He met a wealthy girl at Mac's and afterward she disappears and is warned that the police are looking for him. They tell him he must give a statement to the police and escort him to the Detective McGregor. Who then turns him over to Scotland Yard, where he dies. There is still a missing debutante. Mirabelle and Vesta have 2 days to figure out what is going on.
Mirabelle sizes him up and no he is not the man to help out at the office. With her former secret service training realizes that Lindon is in trouble. He met a wealthy girl at Mac's and afterward she disappears and is warned that the police are looking for him. They tell him he must give a statement to the police and escort him to the Detective McGregor. Who then turns him over to Scotland Yard, where he dies. There is still a missing debutante. Mirabelle and Vesta have 2 days to figure out what is going on.
May 21, 2017
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway drawing. This is the second book in the Mirabelle Bevan Mystery series and it is better than the first book. Sara Sheridan does a fine job setting the 1950's underground London jazz scene. It's a little scary, especially for a lady on her own. Mirabelle and her assistant Vesta are drawn into the setting when Lindon, a young man from Vesta's childhood, comes to Brighton seeking their help. He's been told that the police are looking for him, that he's the last known person to have seen a missing debutante. After Lindon is arrested and taken to Scotland Yard, Mirabelle and Vesta begin looking into the young lady's disappearance. What they find doesn't match what the police and the papers are reporting. It's exciting and well written. Mirabelle and Vesta make a fine and unique detective team.
December 4, 2018
You would be forgiven for thinking Mirabelle in her tweed suit, speaking with polite etiquette and crime solving was just another Marple but no, the ex-secret service assistant is in her 30's, cat burglary, masquerading as various characters and chasing after gunmen are more her remit. A very enjoyable read with a more complicated plot than I first thought which added gravitas to the novel. Well written, quick plot that saw Mirabelle, a wannabe detective and her assistant, Vesta travel from Brighton to London to solve the mystery of what happened to Rose, the missing debutante. Vesta's family friend Lindon, was the last to see her, but too scared to go to the police. A rich historical drama of London in the fifties, with race still being a massive issue to many. My thought would be a different cover would perhaps help appeal to the audience who might read this.
May 6, 2017
Vesta is Mirabelle's friend and business partner, although her dark skin often makes her too noticeable in lily-white Brighton. When her London friend Lindon comes to the office, suspected of having kidnapped (and killed?) a rich, white deb who's crazy about the jazz he plays, Mirabelle and Vesta persuade him to go to the police. On an impulse, Mirabelle goes to London, too, to see what this accusation means, and finds herself caught among liars and people behaving suspiciously. But they don't know that Mirabelle was in Intelligence during the war, and that she learned a lot from her former boss and lover, now three years dead. There's a lot of backstory, and by and large I'd advice starting with "Brighton Belle," the first in this series.
June 9, 2017
I hope there's going to be a third and a fourth and so on book in this really well done series. Mirabelle and Vesta are a dynamic duo for sure but what I really enjoyed (more than I expected) was the view of the UK in the 1950S. The jazz clubs make for a wonderful setting for the mystery, which isn't too twisty (but no spoilers because it actually surprised me in the end.). Both Mirabelle and Vesta are the epitome of intrepid women who aren't given their due. Mirabelle's back story is one which should automatically garner her respect but sadly, for so many women during this time period (and to honest others as well), her accomplishments and capabilities don't get the attention she deserves. This is a good read. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.
November 20, 2018
This is my first Sara Sheridan book, picked up at the library in passing. The paperback cover design drew my attention and I was encouraged by the reviews thereon - “Feisty, intelligent and charming”, for example. Now I understand that it’s the Mirabelle Bevan character that is so described, not the work itself.
If the profile of the author is correct, the stumbling blocks in the text, which slow down my reading while I weigh the sense of what I’ve just read and, in some cases, turn back a few pages to check, must be due to poor editing. It is a pity that the author didn’t have the opportunity to proof read this edition before it went to press.
This is the paperback edition published in 2016 by Constable. ISBN 978-1-4721-2249-0
If the profile of the author is correct, the stumbling blocks in the text, which slow down my reading while I weigh the sense of what I’ve just read and, in some cases, turn back a few pages to check, must be due to poor editing. It is a pity that the author didn’t have the opportunity to proof read this edition before it went to press.
This is the paperback edition published in 2016 by Constable. ISBN 978-1-4721-2249-0
June 22, 2024
Amazing plotting, believable characters, and fast-paced action, all conspire together to make this Mirabelle Bevan/Vesta Churchill adventure even more exciting than the first volume in this series … that said, the sensibilities of 1952 Britain seem more aligned with those of 2022 America … however, this is a gem …
by
Sara Sheridan
by
Sara Sheridan
May 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to, because of its fascinating insights into the societal attitudes and mores of many Britons in 1952. The country was rebuilding after the devastation of WWII, many people were still getting by on ration books and wild game, and jazz was still relegated to seedy underground clubs the less affluent areas. The attitudes of white people toward black people was similar to those in the US at the time, but their were differences as well.
The mystery itself seemed a bit disjointed in places, and both the British and jazz era slang were occasionally hard to,follow, it overall I'd recommend it to those who enjoy historical mysteries.
The mystery itself seemed a bit disjointed in places, and both the British and jazz era slang were occasionally hard to,follow, it overall I'd recommend it to those who enjoy historical mysteries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2017
What happened to Rose Bellamy Gore the night she climbed out of her bedroom window to go with her cousin, Harry to a jazz club? Why did she get into a cab with the saxophone player? Or did she get into a cab with Linton, the saxophone player? Prodded by her assistant, Vesta, Mirabelle Bevan uses her skills she learned during the war to unearth the truth.
This is a well-written, well-constructed mystery that keeps you guessing right to the end without a lot of red herrings and dead-end clues. I really liked the way Ms. Sheridan gets into the minds of the characters so that you understand them.
I would definitely read another Mirabelle mystery. I highly recommend!
This is a well-written, well-constructed mystery that keeps you guessing right to the end without a lot of red herrings and dead-end clues. I really liked the way Ms. Sheridan gets into the minds of the characters so that you understand them.
I would definitely read another Mirabelle mystery. I highly recommend!
April 7, 2018
I liked Ms. Sheridan's first story about Mirabelle Bevan (Brighton Belle), and snatched up the 2nd in the series. This one veers away from mere debt collection as our heroine and her friend, Vesta, take on 1950's jazz clubs in London, a kidnapped heiress, touches of the underworld, and something a bit dirty & shirty in a respectable someone's background. I like the way Mirabelle used her wartime contacts to force an injustice into something hopeful. I hope this leaves you with a teaser rather than a spoiler..... Now I have to wait till #3 in the series is released to see how Mirabelle's character and business continue to evolve. She's growing on me!
February 15, 2020
All the things that frustrated me about book #1 were present here (Mirabelle is distant, a bit too perfect, meant to be relatable because of her past relationship with a married man; chapter headings are overly cryptic and only attributed in the afterword) but the storyline was better and a bit more interesting. It was great to see a bit more of Vesta in this one, although I would be interested to know how people of colour would view the depiction of Vesta, Charlie, Lindon et al. I really did not think the inclusion of the n word was justified as Sheridan clearly demonstrates the rife racism of 1950s London without it. Half a star more than last time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews