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The Milliner Mysteries #2
Murder at the Marlowe Club
A corpse in a corset. A dangerous gambling den. A perilous path between safety and evil.London, 1905. Leading milliner Emily Gates' illegal shortcut through a private park in the rain brought her straight to a scantily clothed corpse. Then her route took her straight into the hands of the indefatigable Lady Kaldaire, who recognized the body as a relative of her longtime friend, the Duchess of Wallingford.Lady Kaldaire blackmailed Emily before to find Lord Kaldaire's killer. Why not this murderer, too? Emily has plenty of reasons why not, but finding links between her father's nefarious family of crooks and conmen and the debauchery of the secretive Marlowe Club involves her in the investigation led by the handsome Inspector Russell of Scotland Yard.Emily discovers more than she expects about the licentious world of the corpse through her aristocratic customers, including Georgia, heroine of the Victorian Bookshop Mysteries, now the Duchess of Blackford. Are the scandal rags correct, or has the victim been maligned by a mastermind who'll stop at nothing to gain everything?This is a historical cozy mystery with no graphic violence, sex, or foul language. Just exciting action, mysterious events, and surprising endings.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2020
About the author
Kate Parker
37 books753 followersKate began reading Agatha Christie mysteries and the Nancy Drew books while her classmates were reading Dick and Jane. She particularly likes historical mysteries and the feeling of time travel a good historical book can give the reader. Combined with her love of late Victorian to World War II architecture and fashions, she found an outlet for the stories and characters that fill her head by writing The Victorian Bookshop Mysteries, The Milliner Mysteries, and The Deadly series, as well as taking part in the Christmas Revels anthologies.
So far, Kate has put out four free short stories, The Missing Brooch (Victorian Bookshop Mystery), Emily's First Case (Milliner Mysteries), and The Missing Maps and A Christmas Mystery (Deadly Series), to her newsletter list. The Mystery at Chadwick House is a novella that is free for newsletter subscribers or can be purchased at retailers. Sign up at www.KateParkerbooks.com to get free copies.
So far, Kate has put out four free short stories, The Missing Brooch (Victorian Bookshop Mystery), Emily's First Case (Milliner Mysteries), and The Missing Maps and A Christmas Mystery (Deadly Series), to her newsletter list. The Mystery at Chadwick House is a novella that is free for newsletter subscribers or can be purchased at retailers. Sign up at www.KateParkerbooks.com to get free copies.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 14, 2020
I like the dilemma Kate Parker has created where Emily is torn between loyalties regarding both sides of her family and also between her father's family and Inspector Russell of Scotland Yard. While I like the character of Lady Kaldaire, if she is really Emily's friend, she will need to stop blackmailing her in the future or my respect for her will wane. I hope Ms. Parker can find a way for Emily and Lady Kaldaire to work together on solving mysteries without Lady Kaldaire always needing to fall back on blackmail.
As far as the mystery was concerned, Emily was a little slow on the uptake. She suspected just about everybody except the one obvious person who turned out to be the guilty party. Seemed contrived to drag out the story.
I do like the characters littering this series. They are the reason I will continue coming back for more.
As far as the mystery was concerned, Emily was a little slow on the uptake. She suspected just about everybody except the one obvious person who turned out to be the guilty party. Seemed contrived to drag out the story.
I do like the characters littering this series. They are the reason I will continue coming back for more.
August 3, 2020
2020 bk 258. An Edwardian mystery. The second in the series and I hope the third does not take as long to produce. Emily Gates is an up and coming Milliner (hat maker) in London, during the days of big hats and debutantes. Emily Gates is also one of a handful of Gates who are trying to separate themselves from their criminal family roots. Life is complicated for Emily as she is repeatedly blackmailed into helping solve murders, is 'seeing' a Scotland Yard detective, and occaisionally having to rely on her criminal family members to help in solving crimes (which they do because they love Emily, even if she is honest). A fun series with lots of lovely little plot twists.
May 10, 2020
It's London, 1905 and Emily is still busy with her hat shop and her budding relationship with the inspector she met in the first book. When she stumbles across the dead body of the notorious Lady Roxanne while on her way to deliver a hat, she ends up becoming involved in tracking down the killer. It turns out that Roxanne is a relative of Lady Kaldaire's (from the first book) close friend. Lady Kaldaire has no qualms about blackmailing Emily into assisting her in discreetly investigating. The more they investigate the more sordid the truth seems to be. The bonus with this book is the appearance of some characters from Parker's Victorian Bookshop series. It would be lovely to continue to have this crossover in future books.
November 7, 2023
The characters are terrific, the plot is thin.
March 6, 2020
MURDER AT THE MARLOWE CLUB by Kate Parker
The Second Milliner Mystery
Taking a shortcut through a private park, milliner Emily Gates discovers the dead body of a woman. Lady Kaldaire soon joins the scene and recognizes the woman as the notorious Lady Roxanne, wife of the equally reprobate Lord Theodore who died mere weeks before. Although Emily just wants to return to her business and make more hats, Lady Kaldaire has other ideas. The murdered woman was the daughter-in-law of her good friend and Lady Kaldaire is determined to make Emily help her solve the murder. With Lady Kaldaire threatening to tell all of Emily's clients that her family is comprised of criminals, thereby ruining her, Emily reluctantly complies. Will Emily's new friends be able to help her survive the debauchery found at the Marlowe Club? Or will she encounter something even more sinister?
MURDER AT THE MARLOWE CLUB has more twists and turns than rosettes on one of Emily's millinery creations! The perceptions of various characters colored everything and I love how the truth was slowly revealed. The book proves a good reminder not to believe everything you hear!
Emily Gates makes a wonderful protagonist. She's loyal, smart, and truly doesn't want to get involved in another murder. Emily is also well able to take care of herself, as we see in a few scenes! Her criminally inclined family provide a great counterpoint to the aristocracy, with Emily caught in the middle. We also meet some great new characters in this second Milliner Mystery. The Duke and Duchess of Blackford are actually characters from the Victorian Book Shop Mysteries, another series written by Kate Parker. While readers familiar with that series will enjoy seeing these characters again, previous knowledge of them is totally unnecessary as they are unfamiliar to Emily as well and we learn about them as she does.
MURDER AT THE MARLOWE CLUB is an exciting twisty ride through the seamier side of Edwardian London at a time when cocaine was still legal and private clubs held all manner of secrets.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me an e-copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The Second Milliner Mystery
Taking a shortcut through a private park, milliner Emily Gates discovers the dead body of a woman. Lady Kaldaire soon joins the scene and recognizes the woman as the notorious Lady Roxanne, wife of the equally reprobate Lord Theodore who died mere weeks before. Although Emily just wants to return to her business and make more hats, Lady Kaldaire has other ideas. The murdered woman was the daughter-in-law of her good friend and Lady Kaldaire is determined to make Emily help her solve the murder. With Lady Kaldaire threatening to tell all of Emily's clients that her family is comprised of criminals, thereby ruining her, Emily reluctantly complies. Will Emily's new friends be able to help her survive the debauchery found at the Marlowe Club? Or will she encounter something even more sinister?
MURDER AT THE MARLOWE CLUB has more twists and turns than rosettes on one of Emily's millinery creations! The perceptions of various characters colored everything and I love how the truth was slowly revealed. The book proves a good reminder not to believe everything you hear!
Emily Gates makes a wonderful protagonist. She's loyal, smart, and truly doesn't want to get involved in another murder. Emily is also well able to take care of herself, as we see in a few scenes! Her criminally inclined family provide a great counterpoint to the aristocracy, with Emily caught in the middle. We also meet some great new characters in this second Milliner Mystery. The Duke and Duchess of Blackford are actually characters from the Victorian Book Shop Mysteries, another series written by Kate Parker. While readers familiar with that series will enjoy seeing these characters again, previous knowledge of them is totally unnecessary as they are unfamiliar to Emily as well and we learn about them as she does.
MURDER AT THE MARLOWE CLUB is an exciting twisty ride through the seamier side of Edwardian London at a time when cocaine was still legal and private clubs held all manner of secrets.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me an e-copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
April 25, 2020
Kate Parker is one of my favourite authors, and I have read and very much enjoyed a number of her books. This second book in the Milliner Mysteries was no exception - a very enjoyable and entertaining read!
Emily is a wonderful protagonist and the perfect main character to build this series around! As a shop keeper, she is able to do certain things and go certain places that the aristocracy she makes hats for would have difficulty in accessing. With her pushy "acquaintance" in Lady Kaldaire dragging her into a second murder investigation here, she also has the access to the people in the ton that are apparently involved. While Lady Kaldaire's demands on Emily are high-handed and threatening blackmail on Emily's business, Emily still manages to push back and maintain her own independence while helping. She is a spunky, likable protagonist and I am very fond of Emily.
We also get to know Emily's "family of crooks" much better in this book and that was another very fun feature of this second book! Emily relatives may be crooks, but they are also funny and charming and the visits Emily makes to the family are an entertaining side aspect to this book.
I was further delighted by Georgia, Duchess of Blackford making a guest appearance in this book, and helping Emily and Lady Kaldaire with the investigation. It was fun to re-visit with Georgia [who starred in Parker's other series - The Victorian Bookshop series of 5 books - and is equally great and highly recommended!] and find out a little more about what happened with Georgia after the last book in that series ended.
Overall, Kate Parker writes light, fun, easy-reading cozy-type mysteries set in England, with smart, resourceful, likable female protagonists, and entertaining, exciting murder mysteries. I highly recommend her books if this is your genre!
Emily is a wonderful protagonist and the perfect main character to build this series around! As a shop keeper, she is able to do certain things and go certain places that the aristocracy she makes hats for would have difficulty in accessing. With her pushy "acquaintance" in Lady Kaldaire dragging her into a second murder investigation here, she also has the access to the people in the ton that are apparently involved. While Lady Kaldaire's demands on Emily are high-handed and threatening blackmail on Emily's business, Emily still manages to push back and maintain her own independence while helping. She is a spunky, likable protagonist and I am very fond of Emily.
We also get to know Emily's "family of crooks" much better in this book and that was another very fun feature of this second book! Emily relatives may be crooks, but they are also funny and charming and the visits Emily makes to the family are an entertaining side aspect to this book.
I was further delighted by Georgia, Duchess of Blackford making a guest appearance in this book, and helping Emily and Lady Kaldaire with the investigation. It was fun to re-visit with Georgia [who starred in Parker's other series - The Victorian Bookshop series of 5 books - and is equally great and highly recommended!] and find out a little more about what happened with Georgia after the last book in that series ended.
Overall, Kate Parker writes light, fun, easy-reading cozy-type mysteries set in England, with smart, resourceful, likable female protagonists, and entertaining, exciting murder mysteries. I highly recommend her books if this is your genre!
March 5, 2020
I absolutely love reading cozy mystery books set in the time period in which Murder at the Marlowe Club takes place. I was very excited to read this book because of the synopsis. Plus, it is only the second book in the series which meant I wasn’t too far behind. This can easily be read as a stand alone though there are definitely hints about what happened in book one, so start with that one if you don’t like spoilers.
Murder at the Marlowe Club starts out strong and just keeps going. I love that Emily, the main character, owns a millinery shop because the author describes the hats (as well as the fashion) in a lot of detail. Emily comes from a sketchy family. And, in the story, we find out that Lady Kaldaire uses that fact to “blackmail” Emily into helping her solve the murders. She’s the only one in “proper” circles who knows about Emily’s family. Emily, thinking her shop will fail if people find out about her family, agrees to help Lady Kaldaire.
I know what you’re thinking…this Lady Kaldaire must not be a very nice person. Au contraire. I think she just likes solving crimes, and she doesn’t want to do it alone! Even though Emily’s family may be criminals, they’re a very tight knit family who love each other and love Emily. They also come in handy when things get hairy, or when Emily needs certain information that she knows they’ll have. If you know anything about London during this time period, you can’t really blame her family for their activities.
Speaking of the time period, you can definitely tell that the author knows what she’s talking about. You can see in her bio that she grew up reading her father’s history books. This knowledge really brings life to the book. It’s the little details about fashion, society, debauchery, locations, etc. that make this feel like you’re reading a factual account rather than a fictional cozy mystery book.
Though this is a clean cozy mystery (and it really is), someone in the story discusses what two characters do to another character at the Marlowe Club. Though no specific details are given, that discussion is on the PG13 side. It completely fits the story, and it’s not used for shock value. It’s used so we can see the complete immorality and evil intentions those characters have.
I highly recommend Murder at the Marlowe Club for you historical cozy mystery lovers. I’ll be going back to read the first book, The Killing at Kaldaire House, soon, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Murder at the Marlowe Club starts out strong and just keeps going. I love that Emily, the main character, owns a millinery shop because the author describes the hats (as well as the fashion) in a lot of detail. Emily comes from a sketchy family. And, in the story, we find out that Lady Kaldaire uses that fact to “blackmail” Emily into helping her solve the murders. She’s the only one in “proper” circles who knows about Emily’s family. Emily, thinking her shop will fail if people find out about her family, agrees to help Lady Kaldaire.
I know what you’re thinking…this Lady Kaldaire must not be a very nice person. Au contraire. I think she just likes solving crimes, and she doesn’t want to do it alone! Even though Emily’s family may be criminals, they’re a very tight knit family who love each other and love Emily. They also come in handy when things get hairy, or when Emily needs certain information that she knows they’ll have. If you know anything about London during this time period, you can’t really blame her family for their activities.
Speaking of the time period, you can definitely tell that the author knows what she’s talking about. You can see in her bio that she grew up reading her father’s history books. This knowledge really brings life to the book. It’s the little details about fashion, society, debauchery, locations, etc. that make this feel like you’re reading a factual account rather than a fictional cozy mystery book.
Though this is a clean cozy mystery (and it really is), someone in the story discusses what two characters do to another character at the Marlowe Club. Though no specific details are given, that discussion is on the PG13 side. It completely fits the story, and it’s not used for shock value. It’s used so we can see the complete immorality and evil intentions those characters have.
I highly recommend Murder at the Marlowe Club for you historical cozy mystery lovers. I’ll be going back to read the first book, The Killing at Kaldaire House, soon, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
February 7, 2025
Emily Gates, milliner is indebted to Lady Kaldaire for not revealing her father's family are criminals. If 1900's London society should find that out they would drop Emily as their favourite hatmaker. Unfortunately Lady Kaldaire keeps pushing Emily into murder investigations. But this time Emily finds the murdered woman. The investigation leads to the notorious Marlowe Club and its dangerous owner, Jeb Marlowe. As usual, Emily struggles between satisfying Lady Kaldaire and keeping her business running. Add in her growing attraction to Inspector Russell of Scotland Yard and Emily's life is complicated. What Emily and Lady Kaldaire learn about the Marlowe Club are things no lady should speak or think of. But how does that figure into the murder. A convoluted (in a good way) mystery that kept my attention throughout.
March 7, 2020
Pretty bad
I rarely review books I don't finish as I assume it is just my taste doesn't match the author's. But it's hard to imagine this book was written by the same author. One major character has aged a generation between the first and second book. She was a lively contributor in the first book. Now she is a cardboard bully. We are bludgeoned with why the main would ever consider pursuing a murderer, because it is so thin as to be totally unbelievable. Perhaps by sheer repetition we'll finally swallow the absolutely idiocy of a plot hole. I could go on, but then this review would be as boring as this book. Which was unexpected because the first one was so good. Do yourself a favor and savor the first in the series and skip this one.
I rarely review books I don't finish as I assume it is just my taste doesn't match the author's. But it's hard to imagine this book was written by the same author. One major character has aged a generation between the first and second book. She was a lively contributor in the first book. Now she is a cardboard bully. We are bludgeoned with why the main would ever consider pursuing a murderer, because it is so thin as to be totally unbelievable. Perhaps by sheer repetition we'll finally swallow the absolutely idiocy of a plot hole. I could go on, but then this review would be as boring as this book. Which was unexpected because the first one was so good. Do yourself a favor and savor the first in the series and skip this one.
November 29, 2020
I always enjoy strong female characters and from the much put upon Emily to the stubborn and bossy Lady Kaldaire, strength is what you get. The recurring characters are wonderful, the relationships grow and, for me the most fun, the joining of characters from Kate's other series - The Victorian Bookshop Mysteries.
A good mystery which keeps you on your toes and aristocrats that serve to remind you that having a title doesn't mean you're a good person.
Root for the middle class 😁
A good mystery which keeps you on your toes and aristocrats that serve to remind you that having a title doesn't mean you're a good person.
Root for the middle class 😁
Read
January 5, 2022The premise sounded good, but the writing was really a turn-off and why this is a DNF. And I really, REALLY, wanted to like this book because I'm such a fan of Georgia Fenchurch and the Victorian Bookshop series. The author needs to work on her plot development and mature in her writing style.I hope she does, because she does have good ideas, just not so good at execution.
February 11, 2023
A Few Things
I enjoyed this book, but I was very annoyed by the way Emily was treated by Lady Kildaire. She was essentially a bully. I also hate that Lady Roxanne's reputation and name were never really cleared. I did enjoy the plot and most of the characters and look forward to the third book in this series.
I enjoyed this book, but I was very annoyed by the way Emily was treated by Lady Kildaire. She was essentially a bully. I also hate that Lady Roxanne's reputation and name were never really cleared. I did enjoy the plot and most of the characters and look forward to the third book in this series.
April 11, 2026
Great book. I love that the Duke and Duchess of Blackford are involved enjoyed the update on them and Emma and John Sumner .
Please write a third book in this series and keep us updated on Emily and her police inspector as well as the characters I mentioned .
Love your books, I have read the Victorian Murders and the Deadly series too.
Please write a third book in this series and keep us updated on Emily and her police inspector as well as the characters I mentioned .
Love your books, I have read the Victorian Murders and the Deadly series too.
Read
March 15, 2020Enjoyed it
An excellent story, I enjoyed seeing the Duchess of Blackburn again. I love the interesting characters and the intriguing mix of aristocracy, the middle class and Emily's criminal family. I look forward to the next book.
An excellent story, I enjoyed seeing the Duchess of Blackburn again. I love the interesting characters and the intriguing mix of aristocracy, the middle class and Emily's criminal family. I look forward to the next book.
July 14, 2022
Answers I Wanted
Enjoyed this book very much. A variety of characters and was so happy to find out about what happened to the "Archivist Society" members. Was nice to learn about the Duke &Duccess of Blackford and their friends. Hope to read more "Milliner Mysteries.
Enjoyed this book very much. A variety of characters and was so happy to find out about what happened to the "Archivist Society" members. Was nice to learn about the Duke &Duccess of Blackford and their friends. Hope to read more "Milliner Mysteries.
December 25, 2022
Growing Mystery Characters
A very enjoyable story/mystery. The main characters are becoming very interesting as to the future. As to the Scotland Yard Detective and. Our milliner/ Private Detective.
A very enjoyable story/mystery. The main characters are becoming very interesting as to the future. As to the Scotland Yard Detective and. Our milliner/ Private Detective.
February 29, 2020
Great read!
Very enjoyable historical mystery. The second in the series, just as entertaining as the first. Looking forward to,I hope, many more.
Very enjoyable historical mystery. The second in the series, just as entertaining as the first. Looking forward to,I hope, many more.
May 26, 2020
Again, enjoyed it a lot! I think I'll go back and read the bookshop series, I like Parker's mysteries so much. Might read again, I don't know.
July 2, 2020
Enjoyable Read!
I have a new author, what a treat. Interesting characters, good plot, a romance, ticks all of my boxes.
I highly recommend! Thank you!
carolintallahassee
I have a new author, what a treat. Interesting characters, good plot, a romance, ticks all of my boxes.
I highly recommend! Thank you!
carolintallahassee
October 6, 2021
A very good mystery!
September 27, 2022
Really enjoyed this, love this type of book
August 3, 2023
Love the humour intertwined with solving a murder.
July 23, 2024
Great
Very cute story. Love the banter between the characters and a inside look of the rich and famous of the early Twenty Century England.
Very cute story. Love the banter between the characters and a inside look of the rich and famous of the early Twenty Century England.
July 29, 2024
Too many characters; slow pace.
November 29, 2024
good cozy
I enjoyed the second book in this series. Interesting look at life during this time period. Will read a next book when it comes out.
I enjoyed the second book in this series. Interesting look at life during this time period. Will read a next book when it comes out.
June 23, 2025
An unexpected trio get involved with what looks like a serial killer, and finds a way to solve the murders
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews