Isobel Amsel is wasting away in an asylum. Mad with boredom, she recklessly risks her future wandering the countryside. When an excursion nearly turns deadly, Isobel fears one of her enemies is targeting her, but she quickly discovers something far more insidious. The lives of two boys are at stake, and she desperately wishes her partner were by her side.
But Atticus Riot has problems of his own. With Bel sidelined, he’s left juggling an exhausting caseload. His finances are in ruins, his agency is bankrupt, and his daughters are fighting. Then a strange young man shows up at Ravenwood manor, and Riot is thrown in the path of a dangerous rival.
Sabrina lives in perpetual fog and sunshine with a rock troll and two crazy imps. She spent her youth trailing after insanity, jumping off bridges, climbing towers, and riding down waterfalls in barrels. After spending fifteen years wrestling giant hounds and battling pint-sized tigers, she now travels everywhere via watery portals leading to anywhere.
She is the award-winning author of the epic fantasy series Legends of Fyrsta and the historical mystery series Ravenwood Mysteries.
Another wonderful addition to the series. The couple are separated as Bel is in an asylum to "pay" for her crimes (yes this adds another layer to the story). The writing and plotting are creative and held my attention. Atticus must stay in San Francisco to deal with paperwork and finalizing the adoption of the 2 children so separate mysteries are developed. I agree with another reviewer that each book in the series is better than the last. A woman ahead of her time that society makes her pay for not conforming. 4.5*
These Ravenwood mysteries are excellent. Like good detective novels they are character driven, and what characters. The real historical background is top notch and literature references are sprinkled in, but Steed and Peel, I missed that in a prior book, now I am wondering how many other pop cultural pearls slip by me.
5 stars- this one had side mysteries that were powerful on their own but what I really enjoyed was the interpersonal relationships. Bels mother is a hoot, I loved seeing the interaction with Ari as well and the time apart sweetens the bond between her and Riot.
Money issues have cropped up and adds to Riot's overflowing plate. Jin, Sarah, Tobias, they all have a part in this story and we get to see their healing as they navigate relationships. I love their stories as well.
The mystery that Bel unravels was sad, sad in the abuse towards Samuel and the situation for Titus. I was sure the Dr. was guilty but no. And the adventure for Riot leads to actual treasure. Really well done story.
Highlights & Spoilers: the twins- "Where the hell have you been?" he said through his teeth. "You've always had a knack for voices, Ari. That sounded just like me." ------------ "What drivel are you reading?" she asked, nodding to his book. "I'm on holiday." "A holiday away from your stress as a dancer and a whore?" ------------ Isobel said nothing, which was far worse than prodding him about it. "Oh, say it," he growled. "Dr. Bright is worried about you." "He should worry about you instead," Lotario said. "He'll worry when I strangle the next nurse who speaks soothingly to me. I need stimulation." Lotario opened his mouth. "Mental," she growled. ------------ "Everything is dangerous with you. Since you've been back, I've been seduced by a mad coroner, abducted, nearly drowned, and shot." "I'm not asking for your help." She took back the dress, and briefly considered shoving her twin into the wardrobe, but Lotario always made such an awful racket.
Riots advice to Jin was really good: "You might like China, or you might hate it. But it's your choice. Once you make that choice—you best put your all into it." and "What if Captain Morgan does not marry you?" Jin asked after a time. "Then I suppose you're both stuck with just me." Sarah took his arm. "Hardly stuck, Mr.—" She tilted her head. "Should we call you Pa now?" "Whatever you like, Sarah. Though I feel like I've aged decades in an hour."
Her mother: Isobel sighed, and turned to pace, but a bony hand snaked out and held her fast. It was her mother's. Catarina looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes. "How could you think me so cruel?" "You generally have something critical to say," she replied truthfully. --------------- Catarina took a steadying breath. "I am overjoyed, Isobel." "You are?" The hand around her own tightened. "Yes." "Why?" Isobel asked with no small amount of suspicion. "Because Sao Jin will give you every bit as much aggravation as you give me."
And this gem: "You made Ravenwood Agency famous, Bel." "It was famous long before I came along." "Then at the very least you breathed life back into it. We've had a number of clients come in with fabricated stories." The line crackled when she snorted. "Don't you dare pin all this on me—you did your fair share, Mr. Frequently-energetically-and-thoroughly." "I didn't hear any complaints from you at the time." When her laughter died, Riot sobered.
The Ravenwood series is absolutely one of my favorite historical mystery series. San Francisco has such a colorful and interesting history, it's honestly a little weird that more people haven't written about it. Flynn's attention to these details of history combine perfectly with the characters she's created to make a wonderful series that I enjoy coming back to time and again. Riot and Bel are one of the great mystery partnerships!
This book was a bit of a breather after the tense over-arching plot of the first four books. Bel and Riot are dealing with being separated by Bel's enforced asylum stay and have both found a low-stakes (for them) case to occupy their minds. So we get a bit of character study with a dash of mystery. It reads more cozy than the previous books, but I liked getting the chance to see the characters without imminent danger hanging over their heads. And now I definitely want to go back and reread the series from the beginning again!
I Love This Series! The character development has been amazing throughout the whole series and is so incredibly heart warming in this fifth and hopefully not final edition.
Riot is not enjoying life without Bel and I love how the author is able make her readers feel his loneliness while making it so endearing. Unfortunately his loneliness is not his only problem. His case load is exhausting and financial problems are mounting.
As a Strange client seeks Riot’s help the lonely Bel finds a magnifying glass hanging from a tree that will lead her and her dr. on a heart wrenching case but once again she is hindered by the fact that she is a woman.
I can't say enough about this series, I really enjoy the mystery and the historial context of this series. The characters fit in perfectly and if you like historical mysteries you need to try this series, sometimes the story line is slow at first but then you can't put it down. Now I am waiting to get the book 6 to read.
Wow! Each book is better than the last. The mysteries are complex and engaging. Great character development not only of Bel and Riot but of the secondary characters as well. The story was over way too soon. Looking forward to the next entry in the series.
Book 5 of the Ravenwood Mysteries continues to deliver. In this novel Isobel and Atticus are separated due to her prison term in the asylum. So, in essence, the reader alternates between two different investigations. One with Isobel and one with Atticus. The humor doesn't diminish as the couple is apart but now learning to be parents to Jin and Sarah.
The case studies in this novel seemed simpler and not as convoluted as the previous books. There are less characters and the investigations were more straightforward. I enjoyed this as it was easier to keep track of events. It also seemed a new beginning. Book 4 brought to conclusion the plots from the beginning of the series. The PI cases in The Devils Teeth have no relation to the previous books. It could be a stand alone read except for the ongoing love saga between the couple and the employees of Ravenwood. The series continues to be a fun read.
"A story reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes meeting Nick and Nora Charles meeting Veronica Mars."
Another fantastic read by Author Sabrina Flynn! Her Ravenwood Mystery series is the best part of this 2020 nightmare -- I mean, pandemic world we live in. I could fully escape into each and every book, and #5 - The Devil's Teeth, was just another satisfying read. I'm thankful the author doesn't make anything easy on her main characters. She gives them the good days and the bad, the ups and the downs, and she never lets them grow too comfortable.
With Bel in an asylum, she's about to pull out her hair, but it could always be worse. Right? Yet, even here, she finds a mystery to occupy her time. Trying to find two missing boys is a lot of work, but what I like about this book in relation to the first four is how much Bel doesn't lose her spunk and audacious, tenacious attitude. I respect her desire to do more, be more, and see more. The fact that she, also, wants to spend a living helping other people is another quality I admire.
This story isn't quite like the others, and I like the differences it presents with the story, the outcome, and the nuances of life and learning that Bel continues to challenge and learn. It's a captivating read, and I must encourage you to read the whole series! You won't be disappointed! :)
In 2018, I read the first of the Ravenwood Mysteries, then the second, third, and fourth. The more I read the more I enjoyed them (always fortunate).
The Devil's Teeth is book #5, and I was delighted to get back to a cast of characters that continued to grow on me with each book.
For pure rollicking adventure, wit, and historical inspiration, these books have all been a pleasure of escapism. The Devil's Teeth is somewhat tamer, as Bel has been confined to an asylum. Not that this has done much to contain her.
In San Francisco, Atticus Riot has his own problems with the agency, his caseload, and the two daughters he has adopted.
Sabrina Flynn uses the history of San Francisco and the raucous Barbary Coast as inspiration for both characters and events. In the midst of the adventure, other topics like misogyny, racism, political corruption, all the vices of the Barbary Coast and China Town.
Action packed and characters that leave the page and engage your imagination. A Victorian mystery series that is one romp after another.
This novel had much less romantic fluttery than the last one, so I enjoyed it quite a bit more. Riot and Bel both solve mysteries, although Bel’s solution leaves a dangerous killer free. I am slightly peeved that the problem of selecting a tutor for the children at Ravenwood Manor isn’t quite settled at the end. Bel is massively bored at the asylum, so she goes wandering. Naturally, she runs across a mystery: a magnifying glass dangling from a tree. This leads her to a case involving two missing boys. Riot is interviewing possible instructors for his crew. None of them seems appropriate. The last candidate, it turns out, is NOT applying for the position. He insists that someone is following him. Riot rather rudely chases him off, but then someone breaks into the man’s home. This leads to some intriguing historical data about the value of items during the Gold Rush.
These mysteries by Sabrina Flynn are like a box of chocolates - you can't eat just one. They get better and better. The relationship between the characters is what grabs me. Isobel's relationships to her brother Lothario and to the love of her life AJ. AJ and Isobel's relationship to each other and their adopted children. Their relationship to the world. You feel like you know these people and that is a rare thing for an author to be able to do. These characters have become my friends and I can't wait to see what happens next. I only ask that AJ and Isobel get married. Even though this particular nook is two separate stories with Bel and AJ on separate paths this was just wonderful. Hurry up and write Sabrina!
solved by smart people. i just find their luck of not getting killed for past transgressions and current activities a bit hard to believe. but i enjoy the exaggerated character gets so much i will let it slide.
This one I couldn't put down. I read all day to complete it. I wanted to skip to the back but I didn't. it is that good. It grabbed me right at the start.
Bel is still in her "asylum" serving out her sentence for faking her death. Riot is stuck in San Fran dealing with the agency, it's fiscal position, an influx of cases from their new trial publicity and of course, adopting Sarah and Jin.
Bel becomes the suspect in a missing child case when she finds a magnifying glass while climbing in the desert. The situation escalates when a Sheriff with a grudge and a defiant Bel go head to head. Ari is unfortunately caught up in the chaos as well.
In the meantime, Riot is in San Fran trying to deal will everything domestic including managing the relationship between his two young wards. When a fight breaks out, Jin runs like a rabbit into the wilds. He also takes on a case when an autistic gentleman asks for his help. Initially declining, he is nudged into the investigation when Sarah and Tobias take it upon themselves to "help".
As usual, lots of interesting historical details are interwoven along with the period specific culture of women, immigrants, vaccines, the "eggers" (never heard of this before), etc. I'm always blown away with the facts that Ms. Flynn weaves into her narratives to anchor a reader to the time/place.
One of the highlights of this book is the inclusions of Bel and Ari's parents. They are hilarious and a welcome addition to character development. Seeing the interplay with the twins is not only amusing, but fleshes out both the love and pain of the relationship.
I only have a few books left to read in this series but I've purchased them all for future rereads.
I really love these mysteries and I liked the two concurrent stories contained in this novel. Glad to have the whole cast of characters in action here, each with their own important part to play. In previous books in the series, the reader is drawn into the period and place with lush descriptions of the settings. 'The Devil's Teeth' doesn't use narrative in quite the same way, and I kind of longed for the details that littered the other stories and brought them to life in my imagination. The book concludes with plenty of scope for further adventure, and I look forward to where the series will go next.
Another enjoyable and satisfying installment to the Ravenwood series! While this novel is not as convoluted or complicated as books 3 and 4, to me it was just as enjoyable and was a nice break from the preceding dark story line. Perhaps my favorite part of this novel was seeing Bel and Ari interacting with their parents, as well as the incorporation of Jin into their small familial circle. I love Bel and Riot's verbal sparing, but it was nice to see them working separately on different cases and watching their relationships develop with supporting characters in different ways. I can't wait for the next one!
The fifth book in the series doesn't disappoint, in fact, it grabs you from the first page and compels you to keep reading. Bel and Riot are separated while she is doing her sentence at an asylum and their yearning for each other bleeds onto the page. Both get caught up in complex and potentially disastrous inquiries that challenge their skills and open them to risks that could separate them forever. With intriguing characters and life-changing events, this 5th in the Ravenwood Mystery series is a wonderful page-turner. I can't recommend this series more.
Another great read in this series! There is just never a dull moment! I am so crazy about Riot and Bel and all the others, the children are also so different and interesting. This series would make a fantastic mini series for the screen!!! Thank you MS. Flynn for all your fascinating work on the historical facts of the time and locations. I can't wait to start book 6! To everyone out there... These books are absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another excellent entry in this series. This one seemed a bit shorter and slightly less violently turbulent than the previous books. Still confined to the asylum, Bel becomes involved in the case of a missing child, the conclusion of which haunts her. Riot, in the meanwhile, takes on a case that he's not even sure is a case while attempting to put the agency and his home back together. Good mysteries, excellent and intriguing characterizations.
Isobel's mystery is a bit too dark for me, though I enjoyed Atticus as a father.
Isobel has been sentenced to 6 months at Bright Waters' Asylum. Atticus goes ahead with the adoption of Sarah and Jin, before their marriage. Isobel is drawn into the mystery of a missing boy, with the arrest of her brother and then the simple man who delivers Atticus's telegrams to her. While Riot is asked by a nervous/particular man for help, back in San Francisco.
Delightful, intriguing and on Sherlock Holmes level
I think what leaves me in awe of Ms. Flynn's writing is that it effortless. But I know that isn't true for the simple fact that so MANY books are disappointing. Ms. Flynn has some of the most incredibly descriptive characters ( and so many in each book) and her story line is so streamlined, you are captivated immediately.
This is an uncommonly good series that just gets better and better. The historical details are fascinating. The characters continue to evolve, and the relationship between Riot and Bel both satisfies and intrigues. Can’t wait to follow them on the next leg of the journey.
I loved this series from the first book but I think it's like a TV show thats prolonged past its used by date. I just didn't care about the story this time. A child has gone missing and someone thinks they're being stalked....... Two plots to make up for the lack of a real one.
Bel is at Bright Waters Asylum, serving her 6 month sentence while Riot is in San Francisco, adopting Sarah and Jiin! Both become involved in separate cases and both have very strange solutions. The kids are very involved, learning detective skills from Riot. Gr at adventure and wonderful change from stressful situation of the 2 prior books. Enjoyed it immensely!
As with the first four books in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed book five! Ravenwood is one of my favorite mystery series: great attention to detail and history with a unique and riveting cast of characters. Bel and Riot are a wonderful team, two halves of the same whole!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Like the others in the series, it was captivating and kept me in thralled to the bitter end. Oh yes, I also read the acknowledgments.
The waiting period before Bel and A. J. can marry is spent saving more lives, meeting more people and creating a family. Sounds humdrum, but Sabrina Flynn makes it exciting.