Snap Shot: An atmospheric historical thriller

by Marilyn Todd

A brilliant new Victorian mystery series you won’t want to miss! For fans of Sherlock Holmes, Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters and Victoria Thompson.Julia turns from murder suspect to England’s first crime scene photographer…1895, LondonTaking risqué photographs is the only way Julia McAllister can retain her independence as a young widow in London.But one by one, her models are dying — and now she is being framed for their murders.The relentless Inspector Collingwood is on the case and Julia knows he’s watching her every move.With young women still dying, and her own life on the line, Julia must unmask the real killer before it is too late…Can Julia clear her name? Will Collingwood believe her?Or will the dark secrets of her past come back to haunt her…?SNAP SHOT is the first book in the Julia McAllister Victorian Mystery historical romance murder mysteries with a courageous woman sleuth embarking on a traditional British, private investigation in nineteenth-century London.Praise for Marilyn ‘wry and entertaining’ – Mystery Scene‘delectably enjoyable’ – Daily Mail‘Skilfully tangled plot’ – Booklist‘never boring’ – Kirkus Reviews‘thoroughly entertaining’ – The BooksellerJULIA MCALLISTER VICTORIAN MYSTERY SERIESBOOK Snap ShotBOOK Cast IronBOOK Bad BloodBOOK Dead Drop

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2019

About the author

MARILYN TODD lives with her husband on a French hilltop, surrounded by vineyards, châteaux and vines. As well as sixteen critically acclaimed historical thrillers, she's a prolific writer of short stories, most of which are crime, but range from commercial women's fiction to comic fantasy and all points in between. When she isn't killing people, Marilyn enjoys cooking. Which is pretty much the same thing.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snap Shot is the first book in the Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries series, which takes place in London circa 1895. This is historical crime fiction that has elements of cosy mystery, and I found that very enjoyable. However, sadly, there are quite a few issues to contend with throughout. The writing was, at times, quite confusing and so long-winded that the story barely moved forward in parts. That said, I particularly enjoyed the characters as Todd gave us just enough to be able to latch on to them but managed to allow them to carry an air of mystery about them too; this worked really well.

I also appreciated the diverse cast with the author using LGBTQ+ characters despite them being shunned at the time for non-conformity. Overall, I would recommend it as it's easy, light entertainment, however, it is not thrilling enough to earn the title of thriller, but there is mystery and intrigue and it very much resembles the cosy genre more than anything else. My favourite part has to be the perfect sense of time and place the author created and the atmosphere that was cultivated as a result. Many thanks to Sapere Books for an ARC.

[Danni (_forbookssake) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year is 1895, and the only way Julia McAllister can retain her business, and her independence as a young widow in London, is by taking risqué photographs. But, one by one, her models are being murdered, and the murderer is determined to frame Julia for the crimes.

With the relentless Inspector Collingwood on the case, watching her every move, young women still dying, and her life at stake, Julia must unmask the real killer and prove her innocence before it is too late… Can she do it? or will her dark past come back to haunt her?

The cover for Snap Shot instantly caught my eye, while scrolling through NetGalley. I found that it was a combination of two of my favourite genres: historical fiction, and thriller, so I knew I had to give it a read.

I had quite high expectations for this book. I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed, but I definitely set my expectations higher than I should have. At times, I found the writing style a little confusing, especially in the first few chapters. However, I did enjoy reading the opening chapters quite a lot. The introductions of each character were not too detailed, which left a lot of mystery surrounding them and their pasts, and I feel that this really helped while moving forward in the story.

Although there wasn’t a huge amount of action, the storyline held strong, and I didn’t feel like I was losing interest at any point. I think it helped that I actually liked the characters, and that Todd threw some humour into the story. I do feel that more detail could have been added in regards to the time period that the book was set, to give a more historical feel and to really bring it to life.

I liked that Todd included characters that would not have conformed to the society of that time. During this period of time, women were seen to be inferior, and were supposed to be the traditional housewife, but Julia is a strong, fiery, female character, who ran her own business, and ignored everything that a woman “should” be in 1895. Todd also included homosexual characters, who at that time would have been imprisoned for their sexuality. It was great to see these characters included, to show that it is always good to be yourself.

This book wasn’t as thrilling, and intense as I had hoped for, but I definitely didn’t see the twist coming, and didn’t suspect the real killer at all during the story. I did felt that the end chapter was a little rushed, and could have been written much better. Overall, it is a nice, fast read, which is perfect if you’re looking for something to chill out and pass the time with.

Snap Shot is the first book in the Julia McAllister Victorian Mystery series, and although I had a couple of complaints for this one, I will be giving the next one a read when it is released, as I’m intrigued to see how Julia’s story will continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I give Snap Shot a 3/5 rating.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Sapere Books for a review copy of Snap Shot, the first novel to feature Victorian photographer Julia McAllister.

Julia McAllister has inherited a photography business but is struggling, as a woman with few legal rights and no stature in society, to make a living. As a result she has started taking risqué pictures to make ends meet but is terrified when her models get murdered and Inspector Collingwood has her down as prime suspect. To keep her secrets and save her life she starts her own investigation.

I enjoyed Snap Shot which is a lighthearted read with amusing dialogue. The novel is told mostly from Julia’s point of view and is as much about unravelling her secrets as it is about her investigation. The investigation is slow and doesn’t really go far but her interactions with the “suspects” are amusing. Her secrets, starting with her fake identity, are more substantial and are gradually revealed over the course of the novel.

I didn’t get any sense of the period, in fact the novel reads more like a modern novel set in a previous era with a nod to its conventions. The most glaring example being the ready availability, installation and use of telephones which really jarred for me.

Julia McAllister is a “modern” woman, running her own business as an ostensible widow, even her choice to take saucy pictures is unusual. How credible it is I can’t tell but I like her wit and ready tongue.

Snap Shot is a light, frothy read and an easy way to pass a few hours so I can recommend it as a good read.

[Kris Bock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tense and tragic

The writing is generally strong, with plenty of tension. The book is hard to put down. On the negative side, sometimes it's hard to follow jumps without clear transitions, there are lengthy observations on the time period and place, and it deals with dark subjects. The ending is sad rather than satisfying. I won't read more because I don't like the way this book made me feel.

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was torn between 3 or 4 stars for this book. I liked Julia the Victorian photographer who supplements her meagre income with more salacious pictures. Really I would like to have heard more about her ‘honest’ work not just the usual weddings, group photos, portraits but also fulfilling the Victorian love of photos of their dear departed.
Anyway, some of her models for the ‘naughty’ pictures have been found dead and Julia finds she is being framed for the murders. She has things she wants to hide from the police, obviously, so undertakes her own investigation before she is arrested.
Inspector Collingwood is unhappily married and has a very sick daughter. He covers his unhappiness with drink and affairs but he needs to solve these murders and his only lead so far is to Julia.
The style of writing takes a bit of getting used to. A scene is briefly set then left to go somewhere else and in the middle of this we go back to the last scene again.
Julia is interesting and funny hiding an awful back story behind a rather fiercely determined mask. But she takes on a young street urchin, poor Bug, and their repartee is amusing and warm-hearted. Collingwood is definitely a wolf in wolf’s clothing. He is not sure whether to arrest Julia or take her to bed, but he is married with a sick child so your sympathy towards him wears a bit thin. Julia too knows his home situation but seems unperturbed by it..why?
The book reminds me a bit of Death and the Harlot but at least the two protagonists in that are unattached.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia, a photographer in Victorian era London, resorts to taking boudoir-esque photographs in order to make ends meet in a predominately-male profession. All is well, until her models start turning up dead and the police are pegging her as the primary suspect in their murders! Desperate to stop the string of killings and to clear her name, Julia sets out on her own to expose the real killer. Along the way, she discovers love, friendships, and hidden secrets she was not anticipating to find.
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I found this book to be a fun, quick read. I liked the characters, along with the subject and setting. I also enjoyed the fact the killer was someone I was not expecting. However, I grew tired of the author’s frequent use of idioms and quirky phrases. Rather than adding to the story, I felt they created redundancy. In addition, the writing style created confusion for me at times, making it difficult to follow what was going on and/or what the author was trying to depict.
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I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for allowing me to read and review this title before its publication on July 29, 2019. I look forward to more books in this series!

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia McAllister is a female photographer in 1895 who works for herself - which is a struggle in England at this time, as she would have had no legal rights. She pretends to her clients that she is working for a male photographer, but in reality he left her the business when he died. So, in order to make ends meet she finds work taking ‘French Style’ photos. These were risqué pornographic photos. Julia makes sure her models are comfortable with what they’re doing and that they’re well paid. She feels responsible for these young women.

When three of them are found murdered, and Julia is visited by an Inspector Collingwood asking questions because her stamp is on the back of the photos found with these women, Julia is devastated. Devastated that she is in the frame, and devastated that she has lost women who she considers to be friends. So Julia sets out to find the killer herself, because she has secrets that she doesn’t want anyone finding out.

This book is pretty jam packed with dead bodies, if I’m honest. The dead models and two unconnected men. Julia is involved with finding the perpetrators of these deaths too. So if you don’t like dead bodies, you’re going to struggle with this one! Although it’s not graphic in any way. It’s not a salacious book - the photos aren’t really described in any great detail: the making of them is just a part of the story.

I liked Julia. She is a caring character who looks after her models, her neighbours, and she even gives a home to a street urchin. I found the photography descriptions (taking photos and developing them) really interesting, and I thought the setting was really well described: the sights and sounds of a busy urban Victorian England especially. This is a very enjoyable book, and one for those who enjoy an easy reading mystery.

Many thanks to Sapere Books for sending me my copy to read and honestly review.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia McAllister is a widow supporting herself, taking all types of photographs from post mortem “memento mori” portraits to intimate bedroom photos of women that skirt the laws in London in 1895. When more than one of Julia’s models become murder victims, circumstantial evidence links Julia to the case and DI Collingwood becomes suspicious of her. Julia knows she’s innocent and that someone is framing her for these crimes. Julia is determined to find out who is doing this and why to protect herself and the other young women she has been working with.

This book is unique in the subject matter is covers, especially for a book set in Victorian times. Julia is a strong, independent woman and a likable main character. The story of who is murdering young women and framing Julia is intriguing and kept my interest from the beginning until the end. I also like the chemistry between Julia and DI Collingwood who fight their attraction to each other because of the circumstances of their meeting and secrets Julia is keeping. I also enjoyed Julia’s interactions with the young street boy “Bug” and how helping him brings out the softer side of Julia.

This would have been a much better book if the writing would have been more clear. At times the descriptions were poetic, but in many instances, they were confusing and slowed the pace. It took me out of the story when I had to reread passages to figure out what the author was trying to say. I was also disappointed that the ending wasn’t as hopeful as I wanted, but I still enjoyed the book and would rate it 3.5 stars.

I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one of Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries. Book 2 is Cast Iron, which I thoroughly enjoyed and am reading again keeping the story in sequence. Though each story is stand-alone, Shap Shot sets the background for the protagonists in Cast Iron and adds depth to the protagonists, and to the story not present without it.

Book One is also 1898 London where lots of things are moving along at top speed. Women's suffrage movements, major crime scene advances including fingerprinting, advances in laboratory testing for information that would point to causes of death other than natural or murder, and a permanent photographic record of the scene of the crime. We also have a clearer picture of the history behind our feisty lady photographer. The childhood abuse, name changes, moving from place to place - the things that make her a good detective who sees into the depth of the crime - hark back to those days in her youth when she lost her miner father and the total lack of support for her destitute family, leading her mother into a marriage to a man little known and sadly not the life-saver they had needed. How young Julia dealt with the family abuse of her step-father begins her life on the run, but also gives her the ability to back-track a crime to its basic denominator, seeing through all the dross and into the mind of the perpetrator.

Now she has to make a clean break again, leave behind the life she had formed for herself before DI Collingsworth can worry out her past. Murder is murder, in his eyes. Unfortunately, it is as well for Julia McAllister.
Reviewed on December 16, 2020, at Goodreads and AmazonSmile. Not available for review on B&N, BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the cover has no real connection to the book which is set in 1895 and is not gory in the way the cover implies, I liked the description and the Victorians setting and decided to give it a go.

from description: 1895, London--
Taking risqué photographs is the only way Julia McAllister can retain her independence as a young widow in London.

Snap Shot is the first in a new series featuring Victorian photographer Julia McAllister. Julia is intelligent and skilled; however, in order to keep customers, she has to pretend that the previous owner of the studio is still alive. An independent woman with her own business doesn't sit well with the Victorian social norms, so Julia keeps up the facade of being the apprentice photographer. But taking the ordinary pictures of the trade barely sustain her, and Julia wants a nest egg large enough to help her travel and take artistic photographs.

Thus the sideline of naughty pictures. I was happy with this one, which has some light moments among the more serious incidents...until the end. I wasn't as pleased with the end.

I imagine the next book will be about Julia becoming a crime photographer. She mentions that the French have already begun using crime photography. I imagine she is referring to Alphonse
Bertillon, the Parisian who pioneered the practice of mug shots and crime scene photographs.

Read in June; blog review scheduled for July 18.

NetGalley/Sapere Books
Historical Mystery. July 29, 2019. Print length: 252 pages.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marilyn Todd's novel, which was well-written and very descriptive, opens with Julia taking a photograph of a child...a dead child. Oh, the Victorians and their morbidly weird customs! When she arrives back at her photography studio, she is greeted by questions from a police inspector. Three of her clients were found murdered and Julia's pictures and stamp tie her to the crimes.

Readers quickly learn that Julia isn't all that she seems, but she is not a murderer of innocent women. With the help of a street urchin named Bug, Julia sets out finding the real killer to clear her own name, as well as solving another crime, and investigating a suicide.

"Snap Shot" is the intriguing first book of a new series called the Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries. I found it to be an entertaining, but somewhat quick and light, read. Even though mysteries are not my usual genre of choice, I will probably keep reading the series. I did not figure out the real killer prior to the author's big reveal, which is always a plus.

Thank you, as always, to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

1895. London is rather strait laced at least on the surface. Taking risqué photographs is not the occupation you'd expect a young woman to follow, but photography is her passion and if this is the only way she can achieve her dream to travel, see the world and photograph it, then so be it.

When her models start dying one by one, in the most awful manner however, Julia knows she is being set up. Despite her covering her back at every turn, she knows the law in the shape of the canny Detective Collingwood is going to catch up with her. To top it all, she really likes the detective, and hoodwinking him is not going down well with her personally.

This was Victorian England, veiled in hypocrisy as to the way one should live and Heaven help you if you were discovered not keeping to the straight and narrow.
I enjoyed the contrasts in the story - the character of not just Julia but the other models as well and their very matter of fact approach to the photography which was very unusual for the times.

Ending was a complete turn around for me. Never saw it coming

[Di Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars for this book. It was enjoyable, and I'll look out for the next in the series, but I found it a little long-winded. I liked the light-hearted style of the book, and the characters drew me in. The story-line was very interesting, with a new take on Victorian sexuality and gender politics, but I wasn't as gripped as I thought I'd be. It seemed to take a long time getting to the crux, and then rushed through it, and was suddenly over, leaving me feeling a little wanting. But as the first in a series, the book seemed to focus more on setting the scene and introducing us to a new protagonist, rather than on the investigation of the mysterious deaths, and I think it is worth reading if you enjoy a more relaxed type of murder mystery. The historical aspects of the novel seem to be well-researched and add an interesting dimension.

My thanks to the publisher, Sapere Books, for giving me a copy of the book for an honest review.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An fascinating foray into an older time and an interesting career choice!
I enjoyed Julia's POV, seeing her world and the people in it. The characters were complex and interesting in general.

There was a sentence here or there that felt too 'modern' for the time but that's just me being picky. Overall it was an enjoyable read.


The only issue I can find with it is the tagline 'Julia turns from murder suspect to England’s first crime scene photographer…' This doesn't actually happen in the book though. There is a passing mention by Collingwood that the Police Dept will be hiring one but that's it. Since the last chapter feels a little rushed in general I can only assume this was accidentally missed out? Very odd.

---------------
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half-way through this book I was only going to give it 3 stars. I thought the main story was getting a bit bogged down with other mysteries which detracted from it somewhat. I was even starting to get a little lost. But I’m glad I stuck with it cos it all soon started to make sense, and I ended up actually enjoying it. The main character Julia is a strong woman who hasn’t had an easy life. The Inspector John Collingwood, is a street-wise member of the police who has a troubled home life. I wasn’t sure either was the nicest at times but the more I got to know them certain aspects of their character made sense. I have the next book in the series which I shall be interested to read how their respective stories progress.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1895, London and Julia McAllister has found that the only way to carry on in the photography business left to her is by taking risqué photographs. One day Inspector Collingwood calls on her to inform her that some of her models have been killed, and it looks like she is being framed for their murders. So she decides that her only possible action is to find out who the murderer is.
An enjoyable Victorian murder mystery, with a touch of romance. The main characters were in the main likeable, and not working out who the killer was is a bonus. So overall a good solid start to what I presume is a new series which I look forward to reading.
A NetGalley Book

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a historical thriller set in the late 1800’s I enjoyed this. Thought sometimes the action was slow but as the story built the earlier passages became more logical and obvious. Inspector Collingwood and JJ become not only key figures but also involved with each other. Collingwood is harassed by the Chief Inspector to get results on the murder of three girls along with two other suspicious deaths. JJ in her photographers role is aware of the three girls as they have “modelled” for her. She is afraid Collingwood will end up with only one suspect, her. So she goes out of her way to establish why the girls were murdered and who did it. Surprising twist at the end of this well written tale

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in London at the end of the 19th century, Snap Shot tells the story of the murders of 3 young women who had been posing for some saucy pictures to earn extra money all of whom are known to Mrs Julia McAllister, a young photographer trying to make a name and a living in a predominantly male profession and world. But all is not what it appears and the astute detective Collingwood realises this however he cannot help but admire her too!

There are times when the narrative seems to be a bit ponderous and repetitive in some chapters too, though it is a good easy read and I didn't figure out the killer until the end. Overall 3.5*.

Thanks to Sapere Books for the ARC to review.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is anything but the typical historical novel set during Victoria's reign. Julia McAllister defies all expectations of what a "proper lady" should be; she's opinionated, vocal, forthright, sensual, and definitely has agency over her own life. The brisk repartee between herself and Inspector Collingwood and Bug, the street urchin who insinuates himself into the role of her assistant, were a delight. I appreciated how the author exposes, in various ways, the vulnerable position of women in society at the time. Although I found that the minor storylines unnecessarily muddied the plot and that the conclusion was rather rushed, the psychology behind the crimes felt credible. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.


I received an electronic copy of this novel from the publisher, Sapere Books, in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Anne Buelteman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling stories knit together

The writing is definitely worthwhile, although comparisons to Elizabeth Peters are, in my humble opinion, rather overblown. I enjoyed the characters, the grittiness of the setting and storylines and will be looking for the next in the series IN SPITE OF a major gaffe near the end of the novel where the heroine ascribes her motivation for certain actions to her love for her brother, who was a similar type to the victim. Problem: her actions were well in train long before she realized the victim’s true nature and could have drawn the parallel with her brother. Oops. Still, a pretty good read.

[Joy]

Julia McAllister pretends to be an employee of her own photography studio, because clients don't trust a woman photographer. She pretends to be a respectable woman, instead of getting most of her income from pornography. She even pretends to be named Julia. What she doesn't realize is that her sexy pictures are only soft porn compared to what else is going on in that underground industry.

For the first half or more of SNAP SHOT, the writing provided me with a lot of chuckles, but the sass stood between me and the heroine. As matters became serious, I could relate more. So much so that I didn't want to be faced with the stark statement of danger on the last page.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Victorian mystery thriller grabs you from the first page as a female photographer takes a memento mori daguerreotype of a deceased child for her grieving parents. The narrative contains a few anacronyms and is hard to follow occasionally, but this gets easier once one becomes familiar with the author's style. Overall, an interesting ride through the Victorian seamy underside with characters one grows to like. The series continues but this book does reach closure with the story covered in this novel.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very interested in the setting of this book about a young, independent female photographer in a fictitious borough of London towards the end of the 19th century. However, after a bright, brisk start, the plot just seemed to meander round in circles repetitively.
I read to about a third of the way in, then skipped to the end to find out whodunnit, without missing any key information or plot development. Saying that, I'll definitely try the next one in the series as it's such a promising premise.

[Debberae Streett · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWSER

Historical thriller? Absolutely! A female photographer is being framed as a serial killer of young girls who have been posing for "French" postcards. Investigation makes her the obvious choice, but she has to follow the twisted, malicious clues to find the real killer and clear her name. So many possibilities, and this will keep you guessing. Great character development, especially "Bug" who leaps off the pages. I loved the fervent pace and the fierce determination of Julia to do what she has to do.

[ABCme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced historical fiction, set in the Victorian photographer's community. Our main character, Julia, is framed for the murders of several models. While the police investigates, Julia shows us the shadier side of the business, being a woman amongst vultures, also keeping a secret of her own.
Snapshot is an entertaining read filled with interesting characters, absolutely worth the time!

Thank you Netgalley and Sapere Books for the ARC.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mystery story that I enjoyed reading. Because I love the Victorian era or anything related with historical London, this was an appealing story to read.
However, the writing style was good but it felt dragged a lot at times for no reason than giving a lot of descriptive scenes that maybe in my opinion weren’t that necessary and could have been ok without it. Otherwise, I enjoyed all the different characters and their lives stories even wearing a stigma for their times.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

An absolutely fabulous start to a new series. Marilyn Todd has captured the atmosphere of Victorian England beautifully, crafted a fascinating new heroine and keeps the reader guessing who the villain is until the very end. I highly recommend this volume and personally, I can't wait until the end of October for the second in the series, Cast Iron, to be published.

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery component of this book was interesting but the conversations of the characters was tedious at times. Lots of diversions in this book to finally find the killer of these young girls. At times I just become confused with what the purpose of the street urchin was, the other photographers and the comings and goings of Julia and the detective. The ending was interesting and not expected . A decent read. I will be reading Cast Iron by this author as well.

[Haydn Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this novel, a mixture of murder, mystery, prejudice all set in late Victorian England mainly carried through by a female photographer. Apart from the crime’s perpetrated there was a marvellous humour mainly on the part of Mrs McAllister - I still smile now at the thought of them!

[Roxane Twisdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Loved this book. Alot if words I had to look up the meaning tho. Lol
Sometimes it git confusing but I went back to the beginning of the chapter . The characters were great, the mystery was exciting and I was blown away by the ending, very well done. On to the next book