The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne

by Elsa Hart

London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.

For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby’s crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby’s murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.

To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in 'THE CABINETS OF BARNABY MAYNE'.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller, British Literature

341 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Elsa Hart is the author of three acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China. The most recent, City of Ink, was one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2018. The daughter of a journalist, Elsa was born in Rome and spent much of her childhood abroad, attending international schools in Moscow and Prague. She is drawn to stories about travelers throughout history, and likes to put her own characters in places that are unfamiliar to them.

Reviews

[ScrappyMags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha Christie would be proud!

Shortest Summary Ever: It’s 1703 (the place to be!) and Cecily Kay has returned to London to visit the home of collector Barnaby Mayne. While searching for botanical information, she stumbles right into a mystery when the host is killed. But she saw the killer and he confessed! The end? Oh no, that’s merely the beginning!

Thoughts: I wasn’t sure about this mystery until about 20% in, and then I was hooked (line AND sinker!). I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE historical mysteries, and while the tone was more cozy than I typically care for, I fell right in and enjoyed a paddle through this mystery pool.

The author’s narrative was engaging - pulling me into the shelves upon shelves in the home of Barnaby Mayne. I envisioned all of the characters ala Christie fashion, and the mystery itself reminded me so much of her books. Not an easy endeavor. I did guess the killer right off but it was likely a guess or else I’m watching entirely too much ID channel during this quarantine and I should become the next Hercule Poirot (minus the ‘stache).

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

Recommend to: Agatha lovers, leaning toward cozy mystery but a little grit.

Not recommended to: Those who love the dark and dirty.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my always-honest review and for the education of the time period!

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Barnaby Mayne, filling his cabinets with curious wonders of the world, is quite the character. It’s a time when old science and new science are merging in 1700s London. People love to visit his oddity collection, for viewing and for study.

Cecily Kay is on one such visit when Sir Barnaby is stabbed to death. Something’s just not right about all of it, and Cecily is determined to figure it out. As she hunts for clues, she may be the next victim.

I’ve read a few books about the oddity collectors over the years, and it adds such a creepy gothic vibe to books, which is present here. This is a slow building mystery, at least for the first half, but it finds its footing. There are a variety of characters to get to know, and all of them have a clue or knowledge of some sort. I enjoyed the writing by Elsa Hart, and overall, I found this an intriguing mystery.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

“...the unkempt mass of curls on his head looked less like a wig than like a gray cat posing as a wig to escape pursuing hounds.” I loved the descriptions in this book. In 1703 the famous collector Sir Barnaby Mayne invited the young botanist Cecily Kay to visit his London home so that she could study his plant collection. Mayne’s interests included the natural sciences, valuable treasures, curiosities and the occult. When Mayne is killed while conducting a tour of his collection Cecily and her old friend, the illustrator Meacan Barlow, try to pick out the murderer from a group of obsessed collectors.

I don’t read many straight forward mysteries any more, but I liked both the setting for this one and the detective team. They were determined, intelligent and capable and they didn’t rely on men to get them out of trouble. There were a lot of red herrings and I didn’t guess who the murderer was. The resolution was explained at the end of the book in a classic mystery info dump. The ending leaves room for this book to become the first of a series and I would definitely read another book with these characters.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story reads like a classic mystery. The pace is a bit slower....but the story is rich and well worth the wait. Set in London in 1703, this tale centers around Collectors. Collectors are an elite, wealthy group who pride themselves on collecting bits of science and history, then display cabinets filled with the wonders they have curated. The best collection is owned by Barnaby Mayne.....rare rocks, plant samples, animal bones, archaeological artifacts....if it's odd, intriguing and interesting, Barnaby Mayne has it in his cabinets. His house is a chaotic yet mesmerizing place filled with his treasures....like a strange museum. Cecily Kay comes to the house to study Mayne's collection of rare plant specimens, but ends up investigating the murder of Mayne himself.

I loved the atmospheric feel of this story. I could imagine myself in Mayne's house surrounded by the things he had collected over years. I could almost feel his pride in The Collection and the envy of the others whose cabinets of wonders just didn't quite match up to Mayne's. Elsa Hart writes a very descriptive story.....I could almost smell the dust and furniture wax.

This story is slow paced like more classic mysteries. It has an almost Sherlock Holmes feel to it. There are plenty of suspects and sleuthing by two women determined to get at the truth....and some well-done plot twists. Definitely a must-read for those who enjoy classic mystery! This book would make an excellent movie....Mayne's house would be quite visual and engaging!

This is the first book by Elsa Hart that I've read. I will definitely be reading more! I've heard very good things about her Li Du series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read a book I am looking for a good story first. I also like strongly drawn characters, preferably with at least one likable one and a good sense of place. In this one I didn't find that. I found an author who was trying to be clever and weak, unlikable characters. It was a disappointment to me.

Barnaby Mayne is a collector in the early 1700's and setting up a basic home museum. His house is full of cabinets of different collections of things like insects, plants, fossils, rocks, etc. None of them particularly interesting to me but apparently interesting to a collection of collectors. They come to the house for a tour and Mayne ends up murdered.

There is a hunt through insipid characters for the murderer. I had a hard time keeping interested as I really didn't like anybody and never invested in who killed him. The author was more interested in writing quirky characters that making any of them likable. Good job. They are quirky.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin's Press for this advance copy in return for my honest review. I feel that I should have liked this book a whole lot more than I did. The plot is pretty good, a private collector of museum type pieces back in the early 1700's is found murdered and his assistant quickly admits to killing him and then runs away and disappears before he could be captured. See, pretty good. We have two ladies who are involved in trying to find the real killer and a whole host of possible murderers. Again, pretty good. But for some reason it does not click for me. The ladies knew each other years ago, and their rediscovered friendship just fall flat for me. I think the book is well written but there are two many red herrings, and it just was not an easy read for me. When the number of pages remaining in a chapter is more important to me that the plot, well that is a problem. Probably a 2.5 stars at most but I rounded it up to a 3 for a really good plot.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical murder mystery set in 1703, a strong lead female character with an obsession for plants and a collector that has been stabbed to death ... and that's just a tiny part of this puzzle!

Cecily Kays plant obsession takes her to the Mayne residence where she plans to locate the specimens she needs within Barnaby Maynes cabinets. What was supposed to be a trouble-free task takes an unexpected turn when her host winds up dead. From here Cecily begins her journey to discover the truth of Barnaby's death ...

I really enjoyed this story! The descriptions of Barnaby Maynes cabinets of collections was so well done. I had such a strong visual of the items and felt as though I was in each of the rooms as I read. I found the characters fascinating and the storyline interesting. Lots of second guessing which I always enjoy. A nice surprise at the ending ...

Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my review copy!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I was looking for something fun and unique, and boy did I find it in The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hart. This author wasn't on my radar before, but she sure is now. This is my first book in the historical mystery genre, and I quite enjoyed it. I kept forgetting it was 1703 London, but I think the author set the scene perfectly, and I would always be reminded through her writing. The idea of the collectors was just fascinating to me, and although I don't know anyone like this, I kind of wish I did now. I loved the chance to journey back to this time period through the novel, and the main characters, Cecily and her old friend Meacan, were the best female leads anyone could ask for. I loved their spirited natures, and their sleuthing was a whole lot of fun to read.

And if you are an audiobook lover, The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne is completely fantastic on audio as well. The narrator is Barrie Kreinik and her enthusiasm for her narration and the book made her very fun to listen to. Her accent made me feel like I was actually in the book and I couldn't have asked for anyone better. The mystery was also layered and interesting, and I did not have the killer guessed. I thought the ending left great potential for this to be a series and I would honestly love it if Hart decided to do that. I really want more of Cecily and Meacan, and you will fall in love with their characters and bold attitudes, especially Maecan's! I also loved the way the book was written and there is no shortage of suspicious characters. I saw one reader compare The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne to a game of clue and I completely agree!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Eilonwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1703, Lady Cecily Kay has returned to England from her ambassador husband’s post in Smyrna to stay with Barnaby Mayne in order to identify the plants she has collected during her travels. Her host is a collector of an eclectic array of natural and human-made objects, with meticulously organized rooms and records. Cecily’s visit is brightened by the presence of her childhood friend Meacan, who is employed making sketches of some of the items.

Her very first day there, Sir Barnaby is murdered. And despite a confession by the man found holding the knife, Cecily questions the circumstances surrounding Sir Barnaby’s death. But Lady Mayne wishes to close the house and dispose of the collection as quickly as possible, leaving Cecily little time to determine what truly happened. Or to properly catalog her plants.

I read this because I loved Elsa Hart’s Li Du mysteries set in 18th-century China, and I was curious to see what she would do with an entirely different setting.

I enjoyed this book just as much as that trilogy. The obsession with collecting was palpable, the competition between collectors cut-throat. And yet it’s not only other collectors who might benefit from Sir Barnaby’s death. The descriptions of the house and cabinets are not overly flowery, but vivid enough that I saw every room and object clearly in my mind. The mystery is a slow burn, with plenty of suspects, an atmosphere of mistrust and danger, and a recognition of the limitations Cecily faces as a lone woman. I liked Cecily’s pragmatism and her dedication to science and accuracy, and Meacan made a great rollicking but also grounded foil of sorts.

This appears to be a standalone rather than the start of a new series, but I would gladly read more books about Cecily. And I’m very much looking forward to whatever Elsa Hart writes next.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine playing a live game of clue in 1703 at a grand estate with one of the foremost curiosity collectors in the world, and you’ll conjure up something akin to The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne, a light but smart and utterly delightful drawing room mystery.

In terms of theme and setting, Hart gives us everything we want out of a book of this genre, complete with mysterious figures lurking about, a campy but sharp murder investigation led by two plucky women, and a crumbly old estate filled with all things de rigueur in the Age of Collecting, from rare plant and animal specimens to valuable gems to objets d’art to exotic taxidermy.

The story is fun, the characters charming, and the setting close to perfect. How about a sequel?

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne reads like a classic Agatha Christie novel. Set in London in 1703, the plot of the book centers around the murder of Barnaby Maybe, a wealthy collector who's house is filled with all sorts of curiosity. He has animal skulls, gemstones, feathers, shells, plant samples, butterflies etc. One night, while giving a tour of his collection to a number of guests, Barnaby winds up stabbed to death in his study. One of the guests immediately confesses to the crime. Mystery solved, right? Wrong.

Lady Cecily Kay, who was working on cataloging Mayne's plant collection, believes that there is more to Mayne's death than there seems. With the help of her childhood friend Meacan, Cecily unwinds the mystery of Mayne's death and what's in his locked cabinets.

Overall, I enjoyed this read although it had a slow start for me. But, my interest increased at around 25% through the book and I found it harder to put down. I liked the classic feel of the story and I could totally picture Barnaby Mayne's house...wood paneling, taxidermy animals scattered about and hanging on the walls, shelves loaded with stuff. The book was definitely atmospheric. I also liked that the lead investigators were two smart females who bucked the norms of their time.

What to listen to while reading...
Open Spaces by Jonny Greenwood
The World Spins by Julee Cruise
Mystery Man by Terje Rypdal
Not in Blood, But in Bond by Hans Zimmer
Music Box by Philip Glass
Beautiful Crime by Tamer

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

[Cynthia]

This is a DNF. ☹️ I feel like my tastes are changing. A year ago, this book might have worked better for me but I can’t get into it and haven’t had any desire to pick it back up since starting it a week ago.

I think the tone of the writing is pitch perfect. I really appreciate that. But I don’t think this story is for me. 😥

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Elsa Hart has written another intriguing historical mystery. I have her "Li Du" historical mystery series, set in China in the 18th century, on my bookshelf. However, I have not read them yet. Her latest work is set in 1703 London. I could not pass up requesting to read an eARC of this book based on what I knew of her earlier series, and the time and place that this new mystery occurred. I am so happy to have had the chance to read this book.

As the book opens, we find Cecily Kay arriving in London with her bundles of dried flora from the Smyrna region of Greece where she had been living with her husband. She arrived at the London house of the famed Collector, Barnaby Mayne on the day he was murdered. To be precise, she arrived before he was murdered. She was hoping to use his extensive collection of dried flowers and plants to help her identify those that she had collected. Immediately upon her arrival she met the demanding Mayne. By 2:30, she had been settled in her room and was ready the planned Collection tour.

A group of four other gentlemen joined her on the tour through the collections. Mayne abruptly cut the tour short after receiving a letter that he had to respond to immediately. Fast forward to a couple of hours later when Mayne was found stabbed to death in his study. His milquetoast curator, Dinley was standing over him with a bloody knife, and confessed to killing him. Then Dinley runs off into the sooty fog of London.

The story pace picks up from there. As luck would have it, a childhood friend of Cecily’s was also working at Barnaby Mayne’s house. Meacan was working as an illustrator of his Collection items. She was the gardener’s daughter on the estate that Cecily’s family owned. As the pair reunite unexpectedly, they band together to try to solve the mystery of Mayne’s death. Cecily just does not believe that Dinley could actually have killed his boss. However, as Meacan and Cecily work together, there are doubts about how much they trust each other as they dig deeper into the mystery.

Ms. Hart so ably captured this Queen Anne era where the world was starting to open up for travel on a broader scale. Rich Englishmen were intent on collecting all manner of things from those travels. Barnaby Mayne’s cabinets were full of wonders and oddities that drew the admiration and envy of many other Collectors of the time. Many folks might have wanted Mayne dead.

As the story progresses, the pace increases. This is a classic who-dun-it mystery. It was well written and entertaining. I would recommend it to aficionados of classic mysteries like those written by Agatha Christie or Josephine Tey. I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy a good historical mystery, or a work of historical fiction. I now have to go back and start reading this author’s "Li Du" mysteries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical mystery featuring two strong female leads.
The blurb gives a good idea of the plot, so take a minute to read it.

I had a great time reading this.
The setting was fascinating, the mystery was twisty; once the action kicked in I had a hard time putting down the book.
I love our two heroines. Lady Cecily Kay has a great respect for the scientific method and the necessity of being accurate. Mrs Meacan Barlow, a sought-after illustrator, has a more jaundiced view of the scientific collectors and their world. They had been friends as children but had long ago lost track of each other. They become very reluctant partners in sleuthing after Sir Barnaby's murder.
The secondary characters are fascinating in their own right. Martha, the house-keeper, is truly the custodian of the collection; her husband John, does the cooking and manages the garden. Lady Mayne has chosen to live in the country all these years, while her husband becomes obsessed with his collecting. I loved her unspoken (but quite obvious) opinion of his life's work.
We even have a pair of young lovers, as well as a Swedish scholar interested in snakes, and some Russians. Rounding out the cast are the mysterious Signore Covo--coffee house owner (and so much more) and a handful of Sir Barnaby's fellow collectors. The murderer is someone who knew Sir Barnaby--but who? and why?
As I mentioned, there were several plot twists and red herrings galore before we reach a very satisfactory resolution.
Best of all, there's a hint of another book to come featuring Cecily and Meacan. I will definitely be on the look-out for that!

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elsa Hart is excellent at description of minutia. Especially objects. And in this book at least 1/2 of the total copy is just that. It's description of 1000's and 1000's of "collection" items. Items of fossils, skeletons, persevered biological materials, geology samples, artifacts of historical or scientific ancient interest etc. etc. Also occult or mystic or religious paraphernalia. Dozens of categories of boxed, shelved, drawer stocked, hung or prone on any surface collectible "stuff".

It got tiring.

The two characters who knew each other from a girlhood 25 plus years before- those were well crafted. And also quite interesting for the 1703 time period. Not as "fitting" in their era, most probably- but still intriguing. Both of them. Worldly wise and no spring chickens- it was a lesson in association sublime too for "past" associations.

But the crime, the locations, the plot itself? Very generic. I think you could have been side tracked with red herrings several times, but this time I did guess the perp way before the 3/4ths point of the copy. Also I have to add this- there is a scene near the ending that was gun and weapon prone that was beyond my reasoning to believe would have that outcome. In any era.

She can write. And she intones personality into conversations very well. But she needs a better plot "set"- particularly a better one than this particular "house tour" and "locked room" survey to detect who it was who did the deed in the study. Agatha was the master in this form. There has to be more than just a trick exit or entrance. Or repetitive and redundant time sequence renditions. Or distraction hearsay etc. And this just had the "rote" routes and absolutely nothing original to that recipe.

I might read another of her stand alones, just to see if she goes to a more "usable" time period for the kind of novel she is attempting. But I absolutely like her Li Du series more.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Cecile Kay is an interesting woman. She has arrived back in England from Turkey, many plant samples in hand, eager to avail herself of the many plant references contained in the well-known cabinets of Burnaby Mane.
He, like other collectors, has been buying samples and sending his agent around the world for unique and wonderful objects. These collectors compete avidly against one another be the one to obtain the best objects. (And what I find most interesting was these jealous, avaricious, rich men and their cabinets chock-full of curiosities are the origins of today’s museums.)
Lady Cecile arrives coincides with a visit by other researchers to tour Barnaby's cabinets, all eager to view the many interesting items. Cecile also encounters a childhood friend, Meacan Barlow, now a respected illustrator, currently employed by Barnaby to illustrate a new catalogue of his treasures.
Unfortunately, during the tour, Burnaby is murdered, and ownership of the priceless cabinets is suddenly a concern, in addition to a manhunt for Mane’s curator, who awkwardly confesses then runs.
Cecile can’t help herself, and begins investigating, not believing the confession. When someone attacks her and Meacan rescues her, the two begin working together to find the actual killer.
The two middle-aged women don’t seem to be the typical picture of detectives, but they have diverse and complementary skills and methods for analyzing and resolving problems, and actually work well together. The story doesn’t have a lot of action to it, as it is mostly one or the other women verbally tackling a potential suspect (though Meacan proves herself to be far more action-oriented than Cecile). I liked the relationship between the two, and hope the author has more stories of the two together.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

1703 London is the setting for the latest book from Elsa Hart, a favorite author. She has succeeded in delivering a complex and interesting portrait of those early pioneers of London society who were known as collectors as well as those who had varying interests in famous collections with an eye on profit. At the center of the action are two young women of intellect and differing experiences who are surprised to reunite having known each other well in youth.
The British Museum was yet to open for another 50 years, but the collections featured in this book would have been good candidates.
There is a murder mystery tucked into this tale that the women are instrumental in solving as they both face mortal danger attempting to save one innocent man accused of the murder.
I shall expect to see another book featuring these two great characters.

Library Loan

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.

My reading preferences usually run toward mysteries and thrillers set in the present or a couple decades ago, but every once in awhile I enjoy a good historical mystery, especially if the premise is an intriguing one.

** Minor spoilers ahead **

When Cecily Kay arrives at Barnaby Mayne's home to study his vast collection of plant specimens, she did not expect to be embroiled in a murder investigation.

But, that's what happens when Barnaby is murdered in a house full of people and when Cecily discovers the wrong man is imprisoned for the crime, she seeks out to find the truth and deliver justice.

Cecily Kay is an unconventional woman, to say the least.

She is married, but educated, smart and speaks her mind, a rarity during the eighteenth century when women were deemed to be seen and not heard.

Coming along for the ride, a childhood friend whose acquaintance she renews, Cecily and Meacan travels the filthy streets of London to pursue a killer, interviewing suspects and potential witnesses, encountering obstacles and unfriendly people, that does nothing to deter their course of pursuing the truth.

I loved how the main characters are two women who speak their mind. They are talented and quick witted, independent thinkers and courageous.

There are lots of supporting and minor characters, all of whom have a role in the story or know something about the murder in some way.

The story itself about collectors of antiquities, curiosities and rarities, pirates and tall tales of magic and the high seas is intriguing and offers an interesting look at what people during that particular century found captivating.

The author is a skilled writer, especially when describing the grim realities of living in the early eighteenth century, especially for a lady.

At times, the narrative began to drag, and I felt my attention waning, but for the most part, this was a good read.

I would recommend The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne to anyone looking for a good historical mystery with strong female characters.

[Kayla TM · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the world begins to open up, in 1703, collecting things of interest becomes a fad. In London, one of the largest collections belongs to Sir Barnaby Mayne, whose cabinets fill his home. A group of people gather for a tour of the collection, but it ends with the discovery of Sir Barnaby Mayne dead on the floor of his study and a confession that Lady Cecily Kay doesn’t wholly believe.

To be honest, I struggled through the beginning of this book. It starts slow and builds from there, but the beginning felt, almost, formulaic to me. Almost like a game of Clue: Sir Barnaby in the study with a knife. It wasn’t until page 80 or so that I was finally intrigued and wanting to continue. From there, the plot is twisting with questions. People telling their story and questioning whether it is truth or not. There’s some action, though most of it is two women solving a murder mystery that everyone else has given up on. The ending, though, is wonderful. The way everything comes together, pointing out the flaws in people’s thinking that lead them to this point, that lead one to murder. This mystery comes down to questions, obsessions, and appearances.

That said, I did struggle a bit with the relationships portrayed in this book. Cecily’s marriage is distant, and after a brief explanation isn’t really delved into further. The friendship between Cecily and Meacon is awkward and feels superficial. Lady Mayne’s relationship with her husband was almost nonexistent. And for that lack in personal relationships, the whole book feels distant to me. Four stars.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical mystery started strong with descriptive writing that really painted a vivid picture. Halfway through two historical inaccuracies began the slide into an average, but mostly enjoyable novel. The last third became a bit crowded with plot twists.
Apparently this is the first in a series featuring the two unconventional female sleuths. I’ll hope for a tighter storyline in book two.

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin's Press for this advance copy in return for my honest review. I feel that I should have liked this book a whole lot more than I did. The plot is pretty good, a private collector of museum type pieces back in the early 1700's is found murdered and his assistant quickly admits to killing him and then runs away and disappears before he could be captured. See, pretty good. We have two ladies who are involved in trying to find the real killer and a whole host of possible murderers. Again, pretty good. But for some reason it does not click for me. The ladies knew each other years ago, and their rediscovered friendship just fall flat for me. I think the book is well written but there are two many red herrings, and it just was not an easy read for me. When the number of pages remaining in a chapter is more important to me that the plot, well that is a problem. Probably a 2.5 stars at most but I rounded it up to a 3 for a really good plot.

[LAPL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1704 and Lady Cecily Kay has returned to London from her husband’s posting as a consul in Smyrna. Upon learning of her imminent return to the British Isles, Cecily sent a letter to Sir Barnaby Mayne, a renowned collector in London with one of the most expansive collections in the country, possibly the world. Cecily is interested in identifying some plant samples she has collected while abroad and Sir Barnaby has agreed to her use of his collection for this purpose.

The day after her arrival, Sir Barnaby is to conduct a tour of his collection for several other collectors and Cecily is invited to join the tour. As Sir Barnaby is conveying his guests through his labyrinthine collection, he receives a letter that is urgent and must be responded to immediately. He asks his assistant to continue the tour and retires to his study. The next time Sir Barnaby is seen, he is dead. He has been stabbed through the heart. Cecily is one of the people on the tour who finds him and hears his assistant confess to the murder before fleeing the house. As she considers what happened, Cecily begins to question the motives assigned and the circumstances of the crime. She becomes convinced that someone else killed Sir Barnaby, but will she be able to determine who actually killed him and why?

In this novel, Elsa Hart provides readers with a thrilling mystery and a wonderful sense of early 18th century London (complete with uncomfortable clothes, class structures and wigs that may add a foot to a person’s height!). The characters are nicely drawn, and are primarily from London’s upper social classes where those with the means are able to pursue their obsessive collecting habits (or look with disdain upon those who do). When Cecily arrives at the Mayne household, she is reunited with Meacan, a childhood friend. Hart uses Meacan to illustrate the class differences present in the culture (Meacan is the daughter of the gardener for Cecily’s family’s estate); the differences in their current situations (one must work, the other does not); and their perspectives and proficiencies (Meacan is markedly the more “streetwise” of the two while still a “proper” lady). This results in a partnership in solving the murder as they work together to solve the crime.

Meacan is also the conduit through which Hart introduces the most interesting character in the book: Covo. Covo is the proprietor of a local coffee house frequented by collectors because of his unrivaled abilities to assist them in acquiring the items they seek (even if those items do not actually exist). Part charlatan and part protector, Covo is a variation on the honorable criminal archetype with a fascinating, if clouded, past who plays a critical part in solving the mystery of Sir Barnaby’s death.

The quest for the identity of Sir Barnaby’s killer will keep readers turning the pages and there is a hint on the last pages that this may not be the only mystery Cecily and Meacan solve together. Here’s hoping that readers get the chance to read about their further adventures!

Here is an interview with the author.

Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library

[Carol lowkey.bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the unique historical setting of this book. A 1700’s London house of a curiosities collector was the perfect dark and gloomy place to set this murder mystery. The atmospheric book made me feel like I was in that dark and claustrophobic setting throughout the book.

The main character, Lady Kay is strong, smart, and fearless. I thought Lady Kay’s relationship with her longtime friend, Meacan, was a little awkward. I didn’t get the sense that there was much affection between the two. Although, I did like them working together as a fearless and independent investigating duo.

There were several supporting characters in this book. Maybe that is why most of the male characters all muddled together for me. They were a muddy mess and I couldn’t tell them apart.

This book takes a while to get into, but once you do the mystery plot itself was flawless! There are plenty of red-herrings so it will keep you guessing. I didn’t guess the murderer at all until it was revealed to me in the end.

This book left me wanting more of an ending, possibly an epilogue. Hopefully this is because there are more Lady Kay books to come.

I would recommend The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne to anyone looking for an atmospheric and slow building historical mystery with strong female characters. 4/5

Thank you to Minotaur Books for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't really know what to expect when I started it [I sure didn't realize it was set in 1703, a time period I know next-to-nothing about] as I tend to not read too much of the description of the book, but it quickly sucked me in and I found myself completely enthralled.

The problem when you read a book in a time frame you are not accustomed to is, you spend a LOT of time looking things up [50,000 pounds sterling is close to 4 million pounds in today's money, just as a side note - GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY] and that slowed me down considerably. What I learned is that men were just as obnoxious about women and them having knowledge then as they are now [when WILL that end?] and that women spend a great deal of time either ignoring those remarks or trying to prove themselves to the world. It must have been exhausting.

The biggest problem is that I cannot really write a decent review for this without giving a ton of it away. This is a book that needs to be unwrapped by the reader and should not be spoiled by a tacky revealing review. So I am not going to leave one of those. I am going to tell you that Cecily is a great MC, Meacan is a fantastic side-kick and the world of cabinets [that may or may not be magic or hold magical things or they may just be ordinary - the answer lies with each reader] and collecting, even in 1703, was a dangerous and obsessive hobby. I will also say that I didn't get who the killer was until just as they were about to be revealed and that was TOTALLY awesome [my last 4 mysteries I had guessed early on, but didn't in this one - though now that I know, I TOTALLY see it {eyeroll}, so that is BONUS points in my opinion]. And made me like the book even more. And the author leaves it set up for another books, so I do hope that she will be writing another one as I really did enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barnaby Mayne is an oddity collector with a massive collection. He opens his collection to others with similar interests which brings Cecily Kaye, a botanist, for a tour to discover the exotic plants in his collection. There are several visitors when Cecily embarks on her tour and all will be shocked by the murder of Barnaby on that same day. The murderer is quickly identified and criminal proceedings progress rapidly. Cecily believes he is innocent and sets out to find the perpetrator with the help of her childhood friend, Meacan Barlow.

This is a typical whodunnit mystery set in the 18th century with interspersed clues that lead to the solution. The mystery was nicely paced and I was intrigued by the oddities in Barnaby's collection.

Barrie Kreinik performs an excellent narration of the story, my second audio read by her and I will be looking for more of her work.

[Anmiryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsa Hart follows her wonderful Li Du mysteries with a new series set at roughly the same period, early 18th century, but a world away in England. Despite the change of scenery, her fascination with travel and the stories and obsessions it can engender continue to be a centerpiece in this new novel.

Despite starting a bit slowly with some awkward writing at the outset, the story gathers pace and interest as the new set of characters get involved in solving a classic mystery with a limited set of suspects. Lady Cecily Kay, an avid naturalist and botanist arrives at Sir Barnaby Mayne's house to identify the specimens she has transported from Smyrna where her husband is stationed as ambassador. While there she encounters a friend from childhood, Meacan (short for Meacanmara) Barlow. The two tentatively begin to rebuild their friendship as they investigate the murder of Sir Barnaby, despite the apparent confession of his curator. It is these two complementary women (one logical, the other impulsive, one tall and elegant, the other short, round and warm -- you get the idea and while it's all a bit too tidy it works and each of them have parts of their characters which surprise) -- and the secondary character of the rogue dealer/innkeeper Covo -- who form the main attraction of the novel. The mystery is clever enough, but a bit lacking in suspense. Still, it is a warmhearted and appealing series opener and I look forward to future episodes in the continuing adventures of Cecily and Meacan.

[C.P. Lesley]

Lady Cecily Kay has just returned to England when she encounters Sir Barnaby Mayne. It’s 1703, Queen Anne is on the throne, and London’s coffee houses are buzzing with discussions of everything from science and philosophy to monsters and magic. Of course, Cecily has no plans to join the ongoing conversations; coffee houses bar the door to female visitors, however intelligent and learned. But she has secured something better: an entrée to the house of the city’s most influential collector, where she can compare her list of previously unknown plants to his rooms filled with specimens and, with luck, identify them.

On Cecily’s first day in the Mayne house, however, Sir Barnaby is stabbed to death. His meek curator confesses to the crime, and even the victim’s widow seems willing to ignore any discrepancies in the evidence. With assistance from Meacan Barlow, an illustrator also living in Sir Barnaby’s house, Cecily sets out to tie up the loose ends on a murder that far too many people would prefer to remain unsolved. Her quest leads her into the shadowy world of London’s collectors, who will stop at nothing to cut out the competition and have no qualms about silencing a pair of nosy women who are coming too close to the truth.

In The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne, Elsa Hart, the author of the famed Li Du novels, here brings her talent for spinning a great yarn and crafting a compelling mystery to a new place, which—as you will learn in the interview—is in fact her original literary destination, attained at last.

Interview with the author at New Books in Historical Fiction.

[Addie BookCrazyBlogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecily Kay is an explorer during a time when most women scientists are regarded with laughter or suspiciousness. She’s estranged from her husband, mostly due to his selfishness and her own scientific pursuits, so she moves back to London in order to study with one of the greatest collectors in the world, Sir Barnaby Mayne, whose impressive various scientific experiments are not only fascinating but worth a lot of money. On the day of her arrival, she finds an old school friend, Meacan, who was her bosom friend as a child and is now an illustrator working on Barnaby’s collections. Latter that same day, Barnaby is found murdered and this leads to an investigation as to who would do such a thing-and why. I found myself really enjoying this book. I loved the way Meacan and Cecily used their scientific/creative powers to identify the real murderer. I thought the way the novel discusses collections and science within the 19th century in general, was totally absorbing. I especially loved Meacan’s in your face, take no prisoners, attitude. I thought this was a pretty interesting concept for a mystery novel and I look forward to seeing possible Meacan-Cecily books in the future.

[Zora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this historical mystery, set in the world of obsessed natural history collectors in England in the 18th century. The mystery is interesting, the two women friends are appealing leads, and the primary failing here is that the author fell too in love with her research, and lovingly described about 500 collected objects in detail, objects that have nothing to do with the plot. It's just... research masturbation, excuse the term. I'm happy she was happy, lost in her research, wanting to share every little thing with us, but I wish her editor would have convinced her to stop at "wanting" to do that and convinced her to not actually do it. I felt I was stuck on an airplane with a woman who kept showing me pictures of her grandchildren, leaving me secretly wishing the lot of them ill. So, anyway, skimming over those descriptions, I liked the book better and ended up feeling generous in my rating. Still, edit that kind of junk out in the future, k?

Those descriptions made it a long six days.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsa Hart, long may you live and continue to write as you do here in this utterly captivating historical mystery. I am in awe - how do you move so smoothly from the wonderful Li Du novels set in ancient China to this setting, late seventeenth-century London? Reader, if you're familiar with the term "cabinets of wonder" you'll delight in this story of maniacal collectors and the people who serve/supply them with everything from the stone that David used to kill Goliath to ranks of glass jars filled with pickled specimen snakes. Fingers crossed this is the first in a long series.