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A Penny Green Victorian Mystery #1
Limelight
How did an actress die twice?
London, 1883. Actress Lizzie Dixie drowned in the River Thames, so how was she murdered five years later in Highgate Cemetery?
Intrepid Fleet Street reporter Penny Green was a friend of Lizzie’s and Scotland Yard needs her help. Does Penny unwittingly hold clues to Lizzie’s mysterious death? Penny must work with Inspector James Blakely to investigate the worlds of theatre, showmen and politicians in search of the truth.
But who is following her? And who is sending her threatening letters?
Penny is about to discover that Lizzie’s life was more complicated, and dangerous, than she could ever have imagined.
If you like a murder mystery then you'll love this atmospheric Victorian mystery by Emily Organ.
London, 1883. Actress Lizzie Dixie drowned in the River Thames, so how was she murdered five years later in Highgate Cemetery?
Intrepid Fleet Street reporter Penny Green was a friend of Lizzie’s and Scotland Yard needs her help. Does Penny unwittingly hold clues to Lizzie’s mysterious death? Penny must work with Inspector James Blakely to investigate the worlds of theatre, showmen and politicians in search of the truth.
But who is following her? And who is sending her threatening letters?
Penny is about to discover that Lizzie’s life was more complicated, and dangerous, than she could ever have imagined.
If you like a murder mystery then you'll love this atmospheric Victorian mystery by Emily Organ.
340 pages, ebook
First published February 28, 2017
3366 people are currently reading
3178 people want to read
About the author
Emily Organ
72 books654 followersEmily Organ is the author of over thirty historical cozy mysteries set in Victorian and 1920s England. Her bestselling series include the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries, the Augusta Peel Mysteries, and her newest Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries, in which a plucky widow teams up with former reporter Penny Green. She also writes the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mysteries, featuring two spirited senior sleuths. Emily’s books combine warmth, wit, and a love of history, inspired by her fascination with London’s past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
February 5, 2022
Historical Information.
Lots of historical information was gathered by reading this book.
Penny Green works for a major newspaper and when a famous friend is found murdered she helps Inspector Blake with the investigation.
Lizzie Dixie is an actress who supposedly died five years ago and is now dying again. Sharing the same shock confusion and befuddlement as everyone else, Penny Green is determined to find out who killed her friend.
The story enjoys the use of a lot of historical fact to give an interesting background to the story.
Lots of historical information was gathered by reading this book.
Penny Green works for a major newspaper and when a famous friend is found murdered she helps Inspector Blake with the investigation.
Lizzie Dixie is an actress who supposedly died five years ago and is now dying again. Sharing the same shock confusion and befuddlement as everyone else, Penny Green is determined to find out who killed her friend.
The story enjoys the use of a lot of historical fact to give an interesting background to the story.
November 2, 2024
4.5★s
London, 1883, was to bring a terrible shock to intrepid reporter Penny Green, when she was approached by a young Inspector from Scotland Yard. Her once good friend, Lizzie Dixie, an actress, had drowned five years prior when a ship went down in the River Thames, with over 600 lives lost. Lizzie was buried in the local cemetery, but when Inspector James Blakely informed Penny that Lizzie had been murdered the night before, in the same place she was supposedly buried, Penny was astounded. Lizzie died and was buried - 5 years before she was murdered. They had a mystery on their hands, and a murderer to find...
Limelight is the 1st in A Penny Green Victorian Mystery series by Emily Organ and I enjoyed it very much. Originally published in 2017, and republished on 4th November, 2024, it has actresses, reporters, revenge and hidden secrets - the 1800s was an age of no DNA; nothing much to help with cases but police intelligence and wiles, along with investigative reporters, one named Penny Green. I'm looking forward to the 2nd in this intriguing historical mystery series. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
London, 1883, was to bring a terrible shock to intrepid reporter Penny Green, when she was approached by a young Inspector from Scotland Yard. Her once good friend, Lizzie Dixie, an actress, had drowned five years prior when a ship went down in the River Thames, with over 600 lives lost. Lizzie was buried in the local cemetery, but when Inspector James Blakely informed Penny that Lizzie had been murdered the night before, in the same place she was supposedly buried, Penny was astounded. Lizzie died and was buried - 5 years before she was murdered. They had a mystery on their hands, and a murderer to find...
Limelight is the 1st in A Penny Green Victorian Mystery series by Emily Organ and I enjoyed it very much. Originally published in 2017, and republished on 4th November, 2024, it has actresses, reporters, revenge and hidden secrets - the 1800s was an age of no DNA; nothing much to help with cases but police intelligence and wiles, along with investigative reporters, one named Penny Green. I'm looking forward to the 2nd in this intriguing historical mystery series. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2018
The mystery was interesting, but the story suffered from having the wrong narrator. The young Scotland Yard detective would have been a much better narrator. For all that Penny cast herself as an investigative journalist, I didn't see anything in the story to back that up. A researcher, sure, as she seemed very good at going into libraries and finding information. But there was nothing in this book to show that she understood investigation. Her few attempts involved bumbling around clumsily trying to interview a few people the she knew. For all that the detective thought she'd be helpful, she didn't add anything to his investigation either. In the end, by halfway through the book we're spinning our wheels waiting for something interesting to happen.
August 20, 2018
I borrowed this from the KU. It reads like a first effort, the pacing isn't great and it drags but it wasn't entirely without charm and I think it's likely that the series will improve with practice.
May 25, 2018
Like many other bibliophiles, I subscribe to BookBub. Basically every day I get an email telling me about all the great deals for ebooks in categories that I have selected. This service is free so if you like book and want to hear about good deals on ebooks, subscribe!
So in one of my emails last week there was a special ad feature at the bottom of the email that said ‘have you discovered Penny Green yet?’ with this great foggy London photo in the background.
And in my mind all I could hear was ‘no I have not discovered her yet!’. The first book in this series was on sale for $2.99 to buy or free if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber. I was intrigued and had just come off reading a more sophisticated mystery so I was eager for something slightly on the lighter end of things.
I have not heard of this series at all or the author which made me a little nervous because what if I just wasted $2.99 on a book that was terrible?! But I was feeling brave and bought it (no I don’t have Kindle Unlimited….terrible I know).
The premise sounded interesting and I was eager to discover this new Penny Green!
This book was hard for me to review. There were things that I just didn’t care for but on the whole though it was a decent read that with some refining would be a fantastic series. The premise of the book was interesting—woman dies twice. Why? Why would she fake her own death? The obvious answer would be to escape her life with her husband but could that be the only reason? So as I said….intriguing. However I sometimes felt like Organ was brow beating the reader when it came to speculations surrounding her murder.
Then there were a few red herrings that I felt like….why is this here??? Is it even relevant??? Could the end goal be accomplished through another way??? And my answer was yes I believe so. I think that with the red herrings it made the mystery disjointed and it almost felt like she was forcing the red herring to have a place within the narrative. In many ways I think she could have done away with it all together. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone, but I’ll just say the Irish didn’t need to be in the story for me.
I loved the relationship between James and Penny. It’s clear that James has a little crush on Penny and I think it’s sweet and endearing. I loved watching their friendship grow into something more. However I don’t like how things were left between them. I felt sad and a little let down. They didn’t have the same chemistry that some of my other favorite Victorian mystery power couples have, but they were sweet and I want to see where the relationship goes in future books.
The mystery itself was convincing and curious. I liked reading it and Penny was likable and smart. I mean I liked it enough to buy the second book in the series and was genuinely sad to see the book end because I liked the characters but I couldn’t give it more than a 3 star rating. Mostly because I felt like the red herring was unnecessary and some of the time I felt like I was constantly being told rather than shown the story. I liked it, I didn’t love it but as I said, I am happy to continue reading the series because there were enough things that I did like to justify continuing.
Was I happy that I discovered Penny Green? Absolutely! Thank you BookBub for the special feature in my daily emails, without that I would probably never have found this fun little series!
See my full review here
So in one of my emails last week there was a special ad feature at the bottom of the email that said ‘have you discovered Penny Green yet?’ with this great foggy London photo in the background.
And in my mind all I could hear was ‘no I have not discovered her yet!’. The first book in this series was on sale for $2.99 to buy or free if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber. I was intrigued and had just come off reading a more sophisticated mystery so I was eager for something slightly on the lighter end of things.
I have not heard of this series at all or the author which made me a little nervous because what if I just wasted $2.99 on a book that was terrible?! But I was feeling brave and bought it (no I don’t have Kindle Unlimited….terrible I know).
The premise sounded interesting and I was eager to discover this new Penny Green!
This book was hard for me to review. There were things that I just didn’t care for but on the whole though it was a decent read that with some refining would be a fantastic series. The premise of the book was interesting—woman dies twice. Why? Why would she fake her own death? The obvious answer would be to escape her life with her husband but could that be the only reason? So as I said….intriguing. However I sometimes felt like Organ was brow beating the reader when it came to speculations surrounding her murder.
Then there were a few red herrings that I felt like….why is this here??? Is it even relevant??? Could the end goal be accomplished through another way??? And my answer was yes I believe so. I think that with the red herrings it made the mystery disjointed and it almost felt like she was forcing the red herring to have a place within the narrative. In many ways I think she could have done away with it all together. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone, but I’ll just say the Irish didn’t need to be in the story for me.
I loved the relationship between James and Penny. It’s clear that James has a little crush on Penny and I think it’s sweet and endearing. I loved watching their friendship grow into something more. However I don’t like how things were left between them. I felt sad and a little let down. They didn’t have the same chemistry that some of my other favorite Victorian mystery power couples have, but they were sweet and I want to see where the relationship goes in future books.
The mystery itself was convincing and curious. I liked reading it and Penny was likable and smart. I mean I liked it enough to buy the second book in the series and was genuinely sad to see the book end because I liked the characters but I couldn’t give it more than a 3 star rating. Mostly because I felt like the red herring was unnecessary and some of the time I felt like I was constantly being told rather than shown the story. I liked it, I didn’t love it but as I said, I am happy to continue reading the series because there were enough things that I did like to justify continuing.
Was I happy that I discovered Penny Green? Absolutely! Thank you BookBub for the special feature in my daily emails, without that I would probably never have found this fun little series!
See my full review here
March 2, 2017
I do love an Emily Organ book!
I stalk Emily - sorry - I mean I keep an eye out for Emily's new books as I have read every single one and never been disappointed. This is no exception. Moving to a new historical era following on from the Runaway Girl series that was set in the 1350s, Limelight is set in 1883 and yet again Organ shows off her talent for creating a convincing world and transporting the reader back in time.
What I also admire about Organ's writing is that even though I recognise her style and rich use of language, each novel does feel quite different. The tone and atmosphere of this book feels refreshing and new which is both an achievement a pleasing change after having lived with so many of Organ's characters throughout a whole trilogy. Limelight appears to be a stand alone novel - although who knows?!
Again, there is a slight change in genre too. So far Organ has written two very contemporary novels set in the modern day; The Last Day is perhaps more of a character driven story, The Outsider is a more popular fiction/ psychological thriller with the echoes of the fabulous Du Maurier's Rebecca hiding beneath some of the inspiration for the plot and The Runaway Girl Trilogy is an historical thriller series. I would describe Limelight as more of gentle crime read - it's not cosy crime as there are scenes of violence and some quite graphic moments, but it feels intriguing and a very satisfying mystery rather than a chilling or disturbing read.
I liked it. A lot.
The book opens in Highgate Cemetery with a policeman in pursuit of the sound of a gun shot which has disturbed the still night. Eerie. Dramatic. Excting!
"The night was moonless and now silent as PC Preston followed the path through the cemetery, holding his lantern out in front of him. The other hand was wrapped tightly around his revolver. 'Police!' he called out. 'Show yourself!' There was no response."
We then move on to meet our Detective James Blakely who is to investigate the murdered body discovered in the cemetery. He approaches Miss Penny Green, our protagonist, who is a journalist although not a news reporter on the daily paper following an article she wrote as she "believed that the wrong man had been hung" and as Blakely concurs, "time revealed that the wrong man was, indeed, hung." Therefore we are shown Penny to be a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind and is a driven and dedicated professional journalist in a time when it was not easy for women to be taken seriously or respected as equals.
However, Blakely continues.
"'Miss Green, it is most urgent that I speak with you. It is regarding the actress, Lizzie Dixie. She has been murdered.'
I came to an instant standstill. ......
'Lizzie Dixie? But that's impossible. She drowned. Years ago.'"
Ooohhhh, yes. Now you're interested aren't you?!
Miss Penny Green is a great character. Serious, sharp and perceptive. Single, intelligent and perhaps a little ahead of her time, but ultimately believable and likeable. I related to her immediately. Introducing her against her back story of having just lost her regular salary from the newspaper, because of her values and search for justice, means the reader is rooting for her from the start. She doesn't need, want or ask for our sympathy and is very independent but I respected her and wanted to know more about her. Her relationship with her sister which is revealed as the novel develops, shows us a softer side to Penny and how even though sometimes her job - or life choices - have separated her away from her friends, family and peer group, some of them secretly envy her confidence and drive.
"..[Eliza] often laughed at me for being a working woman and shunning family life, she had always taken a keen interest in what I did and I sensed that she sometimes dreamed of having a job like mine."
However, most of the time Organ gently reminds us of the social and historical context of the novel and that actually Penny is subjected to barbed remarks about age, family, marriage and respectability frequently. I loved the sly look at her "ink-stained fingers" which conveyed such "disapproval that I had a job" when Penny was at dinner. I also liked Penny's need for extra sherry when visiting a family with 13 (that's 13 folks!!!!) children who she attempted to endure! Organ juggles a great balance between making Penny independent and single without making her hard and cold. It's refreshing to read about a female protagonist who is content with their life, ambitious without being cut throat and single by choice rather than a traumatic back story of a broken heart or abuse!
Not that there isn't a love interest - but it is a slow burning relationship born out of mutual respect; not in the slightest bit twee, sentimental or reflecting any weakness or digression in Penny's character. It's well executed and welcomed by the reader!
As well as the relationship between Blakely and Penny there is also another male character with whom Penny has much involvement; journalist Edgar Fish. Fish is a competitor of Penny's and always quick to throw both physical and emotional obstacles in her way.
"'There are plentiful ladies' journals in need of writers, so I am sure it will be easy for you to find work. The grand ladies of Britain always require advice on which colour hat to wear and how to discipline their maids.'"
There's a great contrast between the developing closeness and understanding between Blakely and Penny and the tension between Fish and Penny.
What's also interesting about this murder investigation is Penny's previous relationship with Lizzie which allows us some insight into Lizzie's character and the potential to reveal hints, clues and information which enhance the tension and suspense surrounding the case. Lizzie is also a strong female character who again has struggled with the conventions of society versus her ambitions. She is also a good contrast to Penny's character.
"I have done things I am not proud of to get where I am today....."
"I would not have been able to refuse [Charles Burrell] he would never have let me. But that was just the start....... I liked to be desired. Being an actress made me desirable; I could dress up and look beautiful. So that's what I did, and I made lots of money from it."
And, as possibly with many actresses but definitely with most people, there is a hidden life, a buried secret or choices and decisions made which reveal another side to a character and make the circumstances more complicated. Maybe indeed there was much more to Lizzie's apparently glamorous and successful life than anyone really knew?
"One day people will realise who I really am. They will hate me."
I won't dwell any more on the plot for fear of spoilers but what worked well for me in this story was the use of gentle humour in places, usually relating to historical context. I particularly enjoyed some of the comments when the journalists were introduced to the typewriter:
"Just one letter at a time? This is rather laborious."
"But the letters aren't even in alphabetical order."
"Our hands are perfectly suited for writing. Why use a machine?"
And also meeting Mrs Henrietta Henderson of the Rational Dress Society as they discuss the merits and dangers of "divided skirts" to create more practical "baggy trousers"!
All in all, Organ is showing herself to be a very versatile writer who has a skill for creating engaging and interesting, three dimensional characters. I am really hopeful that Limelight will appeal to a new audience again and introduce even more people to her novels. It is a very rewarding and well written novel and I am already counting down the days until her next book!!
This is the perfect read for fans of Victorian history, stories with strong female protagonists and for people looking for a good murder mystery story.
I stalk Emily - sorry - I mean I keep an eye out for Emily's new books as I have read every single one and never been disappointed. This is no exception. Moving to a new historical era following on from the Runaway Girl series that was set in the 1350s, Limelight is set in 1883 and yet again Organ shows off her talent for creating a convincing world and transporting the reader back in time.
What I also admire about Organ's writing is that even though I recognise her style and rich use of language, each novel does feel quite different. The tone and atmosphere of this book feels refreshing and new which is both an achievement a pleasing change after having lived with so many of Organ's characters throughout a whole trilogy. Limelight appears to be a stand alone novel - although who knows?!
Again, there is a slight change in genre too. So far Organ has written two very contemporary novels set in the modern day; The Last Day is perhaps more of a character driven story, The Outsider is a more popular fiction/ psychological thriller with the echoes of the fabulous Du Maurier's Rebecca hiding beneath some of the inspiration for the plot and The Runaway Girl Trilogy is an historical thriller series. I would describe Limelight as more of gentle crime read - it's not cosy crime as there are scenes of violence and some quite graphic moments, but it feels intriguing and a very satisfying mystery rather than a chilling or disturbing read.
I liked it. A lot.
The book opens in Highgate Cemetery with a policeman in pursuit of the sound of a gun shot which has disturbed the still night. Eerie. Dramatic. Excting!
"The night was moonless and now silent as PC Preston followed the path through the cemetery, holding his lantern out in front of him. The other hand was wrapped tightly around his revolver. 'Police!' he called out. 'Show yourself!' There was no response."
We then move on to meet our Detective James Blakely who is to investigate the murdered body discovered in the cemetery. He approaches Miss Penny Green, our protagonist, who is a journalist although not a news reporter on the daily paper following an article she wrote as she "believed that the wrong man had been hung" and as Blakely concurs, "time revealed that the wrong man was, indeed, hung." Therefore we are shown Penny to be a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind and is a driven and dedicated professional journalist in a time when it was not easy for women to be taken seriously or respected as equals.
However, Blakely continues.
"'Miss Green, it is most urgent that I speak with you. It is regarding the actress, Lizzie Dixie. She has been murdered.'
I came to an instant standstill. ......
'Lizzie Dixie? But that's impossible. She drowned. Years ago.'"
Ooohhhh, yes. Now you're interested aren't you?!
Miss Penny Green is a great character. Serious, sharp and perceptive. Single, intelligent and perhaps a little ahead of her time, but ultimately believable and likeable. I related to her immediately. Introducing her against her back story of having just lost her regular salary from the newspaper, because of her values and search for justice, means the reader is rooting for her from the start. She doesn't need, want or ask for our sympathy and is very independent but I respected her and wanted to know more about her. Her relationship with her sister which is revealed as the novel develops, shows us a softer side to Penny and how even though sometimes her job - or life choices - have separated her away from her friends, family and peer group, some of them secretly envy her confidence and drive.
"..[Eliza] often laughed at me for being a working woman and shunning family life, she had always taken a keen interest in what I did and I sensed that she sometimes dreamed of having a job like mine."
However, most of the time Organ gently reminds us of the social and historical context of the novel and that actually Penny is subjected to barbed remarks about age, family, marriage and respectability frequently. I loved the sly look at her "ink-stained fingers" which conveyed such "disapproval that I had a job" when Penny was at dinner. I also liked Penny's need for extra sherry when visiting a family with 13 (that's 13 folks!!!!) children who she attempted to endure! Organ juggles a great balance between making Penny independent and single without making her hard and cold. It's refreshing to read about a female protagonist who is content with their life, ambitious without being cut throat and single by choice rather than a traumatic back story of a broken heart or abuse!
Not that there isn't a love interest - but it is a slow burning relationship born out of mutual respect; not in the slightest bit twee, sentimental or reflecting any weakness or digression in Penny's character. It's well executed and welcomed by the reader!
As well as the relationship between Blakely and Penny there is also another male character with whom Penny has much involvement; journalist Edgar Fish. Fish is a competitor of Penny's and always quick to throw both physical and emotional obstacles in her way.
"'There are plentiful ladies' journals in need of writers, so I am sure it will be easy for you to find work. The grand ladies of Britain always require advice on which colour hat to wear and how to discipline their maids.'"
There's a great contrast between the developing closeness and understanding between Blakely and Penny and the tension between Fish and Penny.
What's also interesting about this murder investigation is Penny's previous relationship with Lizzie which allows us some insight into Lizzie's character and the potential to reveal hints, clues and information which enhance the tension and suspense surrounding the case. Lizzie is also a strong female character who again has struggled with the conventions of society versus her ambitions. She is also a good contrast to Penny's character.
"I have done things I am not proud of to get where I am today....."
"I would not have been able to refuse [Charles Burrell] he would never have let me. But that was just the start....... I liked to be desired. Being an actress made me desirable; I could dress up and look beautiful. So that's what I did, and I made lots of money from it."
And, as possibly with many actresses but definitely with most people, there is a hidden life, a buried secret or choices and decisions made which reveal another side to a character and make the circumstances more complicated. Maybe indeed there was much more to Lizzie's apparently glamorous and successful life than anyone really knew?
"One day people will realise who I really am. They will hate me."
I won't dwell any more on the plot for fear of spoilers but what worked well for me in this story was the use of gentle humour in places, usually relating to historical context. I particularly enjoyed some of the comments when the journalists were introduced to the typewriter:
"Just one letter at a time? This is rather laborious."
"But the letters aren't even in alphabetical order."
"Our hands are perfectly suited for writing. Why use a machine?"
And also meeting Mrs Henrietta Henderson of the Rational Dress Society as they discuss the merits and dangers of "divided skirts" to create more practical "baggy trousers"!
All in all, Organ is showing herself to be a very versatile writer who has a skill for creating engaging and interesting, three dimensional characters. I am really hopeful that Limelight will appeal to a new audience again and introduce even more people to her novels. It is a very rewarding and well written novel and I am already counting down the days until her next book!!
This is the perfect read for fans of Victorian history, stories with strong female protagonists and for people looking for a good murder mystery story.
December 19, 2017
I wanted to like this book, I liked the concept and the setting...but felt that the author told me the story, rather than showing me the story. I was never absorbed in the story, it felt more like I was reading the clifnotes version, rather than the actual tale.
February 2, 2021
Limelight by Emily Organ was an interesting historical mystery but I found the characters, Penny Green and Inspector Blakely, to be a rather odd duo. I truly can't imagine an Inspector from that time seeking out a reporter to help him investigate. The murder was complex and the ending/reveal was very dramatic. I thought the middle was very slow and I was surprised at how inept Penny seemed to be when it came to actually investigating. All in all, it kept me entertained for the afternoon. I would definitely consider reading more in the series.
March 31, 2021
I found this pretty bland and dull. The characters did not shine. The storyline should have been interesting enough to hold my attention, yet somehow failed to do so.
February 19, 2021
In 1880's London Penny, a reporter, is shocked when her friend Lizzie, an actress is shot dead, especially because Lizzie had been reported drowned three years earlier. James, the Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case, asks for her help in solving the mystery. I enjoyed the Victorian London ambiance created by the author, but was skeptical that Scotland Yard would invite a reporter along when interviewing murder suspects.
October 3, 2020
Excellent who done it
When an actress is found murdered on her grave and strange and twisted tale begins.
A new and young detective from Scotland Yard is given the case to solve he starts by interviewing a disgraced journalist who knew the actress.
Penny Green was a journalist for the biggest newspaper in London and had uncovered a innocent person had been charged with a crime and convicted. Because she was able to show that the Chief of Police had missed up the man went free and she lost her job due to pressure applied to her boss.
There are subplots and love interest throughout the story. And stories come out that are better left untold.
When an actress is found murdered on her grave and strange and twisted tale begins.
A new and young detective from Scotland Yard is given the case to solve he starts by interviewing a disgraced journalist who knew the actress.
Penny Green was a journalist for the biggest newspaper in London and had uncovered a innocent person had been charged with a crime and convicted. Because she was able to show that the Chief of Police had missed up the man went free and she lost her job due to pressure applied to her boss.
There are subplots and love interest throughout the story. And stories come out that are better left untold.
October 12, 2021
Obtained Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.
Not a bad story but buried under mountains of incredibly boring prose. Could have been cut by at least 100 pages and lost nothing. Author needs to learn how to write effective dialogue. Two stars is being very generous.
Not a bad story but buried under mountains of incredibly boring prose. Could have been cut by at least 100 pages and lost nothing. Author needs to learn how to write effective dialogue. Two stars is being very generous.
June 22, 2018
I actually found this really enjoyable. I loved the characters and the mystery actually kept me guessing.I’m happy to have discovered this series. I’ll definitely be reading the next book soon.
April 15, 2020
I do love a Victorian murder mystery, but I'm not ranting and raving about this one.
For me, it was a bit bland. I love a main character that is complex and flawed, and Penny just seemed a bit too perfect yet boring. I wasn't as hooked as I have been with other books on this genre and felt like the story dragged somewhat.
I didn't actually guess the ending which I always a plus and a lot of thought and research had been done to make this story reflect the times. I particularly love the mention of the suffragette movement as well as mentions of the Princess Alice accident and the London bombings which I did have prior knowledge about.
I'm not rushing to grab the next book, but if it does end up in my possession then I’ll be interested to see if we get to see another side of Penny.
For me, it was a bit bland. I love a main character that is complex and flawed, and Penny just seemed a bit too perfect yet boring. I wasn't as hooked as I have been with other books on this genre and felt like the story dragged somewhat.
I didn't actually guess the ending which I always a plus and a lot of thought and research had been done to make this story reflect the times. I particularly love the mention of the suffragette movement as well as mentions of the Princess Alice accident and the London bombings which I did have prior knowledge about.
I'm not rushing to grab the next book, but if it does end up in my possession then I’ll be interested to see if we get to see another side of Penny.
December 30, 2024
Great historical mystery! I loved the Victorian London setting, all the characters, especially the protagonist, and how the mystery came together.
This was a fun read, and I look
forward to reading more of this
series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was a fun read, and I look
forward to reading more of this
series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 14, 2020
This book had two things working against it. The wasn't overly interesting to me, and the narrator wasn't good enough to lift me out of my bored state. I'm not sure I could do audio anymore (not horrible just...not engaging), and I'm not sure I'll ever have the desire to continue with reading only. Nothing about this start made me want to continue... but I never say never.
July 8, 2017
See more of my reviews on my blog the Book Deviant
Limelight opens up with Penny being approached by Blakely, tossing you into the story the moment you open up the novel. The banter between the characters, in addition to the setting, gives you an amazing atmosphere that leaves you so engrossed in the story that it literally flies by. During the first half, I couldn’t stop reading this one. I was really engaged and interested in the story, and I felt for Penny and her struggles.
After a while, though, the facade really wears down. So much is revealed within the last 25% of the novel, leaving the previous 75% with the characters floundering around. There were so few scenes with action or clue revelations, and I could literally feel the story dragging behind me. For such an amazing start, the middle and ending of Limelight was almost hard to read, because it felt like nothing important was happening. There were often scenes where Penny was doing things that didn’t even relate to the mystery, and while I recognize that people do more than solve mysteries all day, it really worsened the pacing.
There was also an odd romanc-y feeling that seemed to have been added into the story, and it was very unnecessary. Penny was such a strong woman on her own, and when the romance angle was added in, it felt really wonky. And then, randomly, Organ decides to smash it by adding a “future Mrs. Blakely” and just had to focus on how disappointed Penny was.
My last point is that, once you realized the angle of where Organ wanted the story to go, it’s a fairly easy murder to solve. It relied on the time frame, if that makes sense, and I thought it was a strange cop-out–and especially made Penny and the inspector seem oblivious.
three stars - Overall?
I had fun with the story, while it lasted, but as it continued on, you could really see the flaws. There were a few odd ends that I thought were unnecessary, and, while I did enjoy the characters and the plot (mostly), Organ really rushed it to an end.
Would I Recommend?
Maybe, if you’re looking for a historical murder mystery that isn’t too over the top. I thought the faked-their-death idea was pretty cool, but where it lead, not as much. It really depends on what you’re looking for.
Trigger warnings for 1880s era sexism, violence (mild), murder, and slut shaming.
Limelight opens up with Penny being approached by Blakely, tossing you into the story the moment you open up the novel. The banter between the characters, in addition to the setting, gives you an amazing atmosphere that leaves you so engrossed in the story that it literally flies by. During the first half, I couldn’t stop reading this one. I was really engaged and interested in the story, and I felt for Penny and her struggles.
After a while, though, the facade really wears down. So much is revealed within the last 25% of the novel, leaving the previous 75% with the characters floundering around. There were so few scenes with action or clue revelations, and I could literally feel the story dragging behind me. For such an amazing start, the middle and ending of Limelight was almost hard to read, because it felt like nothing important was happening. There were often scenes where Penny was doing things that didn’t even relate to the mystery, and while I recognize that people do more than solve mysteries all day, it really worsened the pacing.
There was also an odd romanc-y feeling that seemed to have been added into the story, and it was very unnecessary. Penny was such a strong woman on her own, and when the romance angle was added in, it felt really wonky. And then, randomly, Organ decides to smash it by adding a “future Mrs. Blakely” and just had to focus on how disappointed Penny was.
My last point is that, once you realized the angle of where Organ wanted the story to go, it’s a fairly easy murder to solve. It relied on the time frame, if that makes sense, and I thought it was a strange cop-out–and especially made Penny and the inspector seem oblivious.
three stars - Overall?
I had fun with the story, while it lasted, but as it continued on, you could really see the flaws. There were a few odd ends that I thought were unnecessary, and, while I did enjoy the characters and the plot (mostly), Organ really rushed it to an end.
Would I Recommend?
Maybe, if you’re looking for a historical murder mystery that isn’t too over the top. I thought the faked-their-death idea was pretty cool, but where it lead, not as much. It really depends on what you’re looking for.
Trigger warnings for 1880s era sexism, violence (mild), murder, and slut shaming.
February 1, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed Limelight by Emily Organ and I'm surprised by some of the reviews I just finished reading. I found the heroine, Penny Green, delightful and hardworking as well as thoughtful in the sense of trying to put together details. I liked the mystery and the characters, and though I early on figured out part of the mystery, I was not expecting the actual way it was solved or brought to end. I would have liked to learn a little more about what happened to the daughter of the slain actress after the mystery of the killing of her mother was solved, but otherwise, I liked the wrap up of the story. I have now started the second in the series and look forward to more mysteries set in the Victoria time period.
Celia Martin
Celia Martin
April 13, 2021
Nice and rather slow paced mystery that focuses on life in 1880's London. I enjoyed the way the author managed to convey atmosphere, with all these new stuff coming in: typewriters, women riding bicycles and therefore starting to wear bridges, women working for the newspaper and capable of living alone.
The book is a good choice for those who want to read a mystery that won't trigger fears or emotions and yet something that has killing and investigation.
The book is a good choice for those who want to read a mystery that won't trigger fears or emotions and yet something that has killing and investigation.
September 1, 2018
Terrific authentically-researched novel about a female journalist in London in the 1890s who solves a murder. First in a series which I will definitely continue. The protagonist, Penelope Green, is eminently likeable.
March 1, 2019
Unfortunately, I wasn't very impressed with this Victorian mystery. There were punctuation errors and anachronistic expressions. I do appreciate that the author did a lot of research into issues of the day. However, the writing seemed rather clumsy and overly direct. I'm not interested in continuing the series.
July 27, 2025
A nice read
Very atmospheric and interesting. I liked the characters and the twists, and the plot moved along at a good pace.
Very atmospheric and interesting. I liked the characters and the twists, and the plot moved along at a good pace.
February 27, 2021
a Clever Murder Mystery
Very well written visit to Victorian times and the murder of someone who has been dead five years.
This book was fun to read and well researched so it was historically accurate. A good mystery that leaves you guessing and surprised at the guilty party. I recommend it.
Very well written visit to Victorian times and the murder of someone who has been dead five years.
This book was fun to read and well researched so it was historically accurate. A good mystery that leaves you guessing and surprised at the guilty party. I recommend it.
March 25, 2025
3 stars (Audible PlusCatalog). Solid story/series with a female journalist (unheard of in this era) + an actually not-so-bumbling detective that she's fallen for. Has Miss Scarlet and the Duke vibes. Book 1 of 3 in this package deal.
November 11, 2017
In 1883 London bachelor-girl reporter Penny Green is struggling to make ends meet after losing her newspaper job. When the death of actress Lizzie Dixie, an erstwhile close acquaintance of Penny's, is reported, this causes a big public stir since, supposedly, Lizzie had died five years earlier in a boating accident on the Thames. What had she been doing in these five years and who had now wanted her dead?
Since Penny knew Lizzie, she is asked to help young Scotland Yard inspector James Blakely to investigate the murder. As incentive, she is offered her job back. Their investigation leads Penny and James to various parts of London, to interviews with politicians and theatre persons and Astley's Ampitheatre personnel, all friends, relatives or acquaintances of Lizzie's in her "pre-first-death" life. They need to find out who knew Lizzie was alive, who was happy about that fact and who not.
The mystery is relatively interesting and the historical and cultural background well researched. I enjoyed this enough to want to try the second of the series when it's released. However, I do believe there's room for improvement in character development, in plotting of the mystery, and in dialogue.
This story is written in 1st-person POV, in Penny's voice. Usually this POV puts the reader in sync with the narrator and we should get to know her and her feelings and impressions well (as long as the style is not "unreliable narrator", which it is not here). That didn't happen for me. Penny's personality felt underdeveloped. I learned to like Penny's married sister Eliza, a Modern Woman, a bicycle-riding women's rights advocate, the "rational dress" (more comfortable, practical clothing for women) wearing wife of a solicitor, in the few pages she appeared, more than I liked Penny.
As for the plotting of the mystery, that could have been done a bit more deftly. And I pretty much figured out whodunit much before the big "reveal" moment and I'm not usually the brightest bulb in the chandelier about solving mysteries, much as I love to read them. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read for the most part. I'm hoping the author will make Penny into a more interesting person as the series progresses and also make the dialogue slightly less wooden.
Since Penny knew Lizzie, she is asked to help young Scotland Yard inspector James Blakely to investigate the murder. As incentive, she is offered her job back. Their investigation leads Penny and James to various parts of London, to interviews with politicians and theatre persons and Astley's Ampitheatre personnel, all friends, relatives or acquaintances of Lizzie's in her "pre-first-death" life. They need to find out who knew Lizzie was alive, who was happy about that fact and who not.
The mystery is relatively interesting and the historical and cultural background well researched. I enjoyed this enough to want to try the second of the series when it's released. However, I do believe there's room for improvement in character development, in plotting of the mystery, and in dialogue.
This story is written in 1st-person POV, in Penny's voice. Usually this POV puts the reader in sync with the narrator and we should get to know her and her feelings and impressions well (as long as the style is not "unreliable narrator", which it is not here). That didn't happen for me. Penny's personality felt underdeveloped. I learned to like Penny's married sister Eliza, a Modern Woman, a bicycle-riding women's rights advocate, the "rational dress" (more comfortable, practical clothing for women) wearing wife of a solicitor, in the few pages she appeared, more than I liked Penny.
As for the plotting of the mystery, that could have been done a bit more deftly. And I pretty much figured out whodunit much before the big "reveal" moment and I'm not usually the brightest bulb in the chandelier about solving mysteries, much as I love to read them. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read for the most part. I'm hoping the author will make Penny into a more interesting person as the series progresses and also make the dialogue slightly less wooden.
August 25, 2018
I finished this one yesterday and found myself trying to figure out how I felt about the book. I mean, I didn't HATE it, but I didn't like it either. Penny, our MC, has an interesting back story, but I still thought her actions didn't make a lot of sense.
In the end, I think it was just that writing was pretty - well, average. We only got to really know 2 characters in the book, and they were still a little flat. The pacing was off, all the action occurs in the beginning and the very end. There was a lot of telling, a lot of dialogue, but not much to hint at what characters were actually feeling.
I do enjoy this time period, and I admit to being intrigued by the female reporter angle. But really, there are better Victorian era mysteries out there. I would not recommend this one and I don't plan on reading more by this author. However, it is a first novel, so it's possible the series gets better as it goes on. I won't be bothered to find out.
In the end, I think it was just that writing was pretty - well, average. We only got to really know 2 characters in the book, and they were still a little flat. The pacing was off, all the action occurs in the beginning and the very end. There was a lot of telling, a lot of dialogue, but not much to hint at what characters were actually feeling.
I do enjoy this time period, and I admit to being intrigued by the female reporter angle. But really, there are better Victorian era mysteries out there. I would not recommend this one and I don't plan on reading more by this author. However, it is a first novel, so it's possible the series gets better as it goes on. I won't be bothered to find out.
January 3, 2020
This felt like a first effort. It was just good enough to try another (because I bought it before reading this one) It took me a long time to finish it, as l kept putting it aside to read something else. There was no evidence whatsoever that the Penny has intelligence or any investigative skills. She feels like a side character...a boring side character. James Blakely should have been the main protagonist. Dialogue was stilted, there was too much "filler" and too much repetition. Dear Author, please don't assume your readers are half-wits. Wait, is that the demographic? Should I be reading this?
September 14, 2020
I adore Penny!!
May 15, 2019
Penny has an interesting back-story, I particularly like that Scotland Yard are trying to recruit her to help with a case, even though they were responsible for unfairly getting her sacked from her reporters job. This was a good beginning, but I’m afraid this was probably the high point of the book.
November 21, 2024
Serial detective fiction, like any serial, trades on familiarity and continuity. Limelight happily tosses off references to past incidents in the life and career of its protagonist Penny Green, recently fired as a reporter from the Morning Express for being too forthright about a wrongfully convicted murderer - which I assumed was, along with much business with a missing father and exasperated landlady, the stuff of previous books in the series. Well, there are indeed twelve books in the Penny Green Victorian Murder Mystery series, but Limelight turns out to be the first. Interestingly, the world seems so lived in that future books may deal with that past, but I guess it is part of Emily Organ's solid world-building. Miss Green is already a capable journalist and sleuth and does not have to prove herself to the readership, even if she constantly has to for her male contemporaries. There is a forward-thinking Police Inspector who wants to work with her and I daresay may be a slow-burn love interest (very slow burn if this book is any indication), an exasperated editor and a prudish landlady who will be useful supporting characters, but these will probably be clean and accessibly continuity light mysteries.
This opener concerns the murder of a woman who had already been reported dead in a tragic accident five years before, so has a nicely ghoulish "how do you kill someone already dead" aspect to it. The suspect pool stays relatively small, and I had worked out the criminal relatively early on because they were the person who seemed to have the most motive and had been kept out of the narrative for the longest. But the book gains a touch of hefty from its setting, the crime takes place in Highgate Cemetary (a mile from my house), and despite the changes from Victorian London there is still a solid sightseer vibe (from the British Library Reading Room to the Teather Royal Drury Lane). But it all feels very natural, and satisfying, and I would certainly come back for more.
This opener concerns the murder of a woman who had already been reported dead in a tragic accident five years before, so has a nicely ghoulish "how do you kill someone already dead" aspect to it. The suspect pool stays relatively small, and I had worked out the criminal relatively early on because they were the person who seemed to have the most motive and had been kept out of the narrative for the longest. But the book gains a touch of hefty from its setting, the crime takes place in Highgate Cemetary (a mile from my house), and despite the changes from Victorian London there is still a solid sightseer vibe (from the British Library Reading Room to the Teather Royal Drury Lane). But it all feels very natural, and satisfying, and I would certainly come back for more.
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