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Augusta Peel #1
Death in Soho
It’s the Roaring Twenties. London’s bright young things are partying, Soho’s nightlife is buzzing and Augusta Peel is hiding in her basement.
She has a reason to hide there: it’s home to her Bloomsbury workshop where she repairs old, neglected books. After a busy time during the war, all Augusta wants is peace and quiet - even if it is routinely disturbed by the tube trains beneath her feet.
But events take a turn when Augusta agrees to chaperone 19-year-old Harriet Jones on a date. Failing to get her home on time, she ends up in a riotous nightclub. She can’t imagine the evening getting much worse when the police raid it. But then the murder happens.
Who shot Jean Taylor? An old acquaintance at Scotland Yard learns Augusta was near the murder scene and persuades her to help with his investigation. But how can a humble book repairer navigate Soho’s world of actresses, gangsters and theatre impresarios to discover the truth?
A new historical cozy mystery from the author of the Penny Green Victorian Mystery Series and Churchill & Pemberley Cozy Mystery Series.
She has a reason to hide there: it’s home to her Bloomsbury workshop where she repairs old, neglected books. After a busy time during the war, all Augusta wants is peace and quiet - even if it is routinely disturbed by the tube trains beneath her feet.
But events take a turn when Augusta agrees to chaperone 19-year-old Harriet Jones on a date. Failing to get her home on time, she ends up in a riotous nightclub. She can’t imagine the evening getting much worse when the police raid it. But then the murder happens.
Who shot Jean Taylor? An old acquaintance at Scotland Yard learns Augusta was near the murder scene and persuades her to help with his investigation. But how can a humble book repairer navigate Soho’s world of actresses, gangsters and theatre impresarios to discover the truth?
A new historical cozy mystery from the author of the Penny Green Victorian Mystery Series and Churchill & Pemberley Cozy Mystery Series.
282 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2021
1013 people are currently reading
1173 people want to read
About the author
Emily Organ
72 books655 followersEmily Organ is the author of over thirty historical cozy mysteries set in Victorian and 1920s England. Her bestselling series include the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries, the Augusta Peel Mysteries, and her newest Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries, in which a plucky widow teams up with former reporter Penny Green. She also writes the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mysteries, featuring two spirited senior sleuths. Emily’s books combine warmth, wit, and a love of history, inspired by her fascination with London’s past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
June 30, 2024
Cut people out like tags on my clothing / I end up all alone, but I still keep hoping / I won't be scared to let someone know me / Life feels so monotone, but I still keep hoping (People Watching – Conan Gray).
Hell yeah! Wo~oo!! Sorry, I’m riding on a high here because I correctly guessed who the killer was! Let me bask in this victory for a moment. Ahh… this is a big moment for me. And even though I often got a little confused at all the character names being thrown my way (Mr. This and Mrs. Who), I managed to power on through. This will sound like a compliment sandwich, but I’m really just trying to paint a picture reflecting on what a grand accomplishment this is! It's a miracle because my attention span really is pretty short every now and then (to the point where I may or may not read six books at the same time). My personal issues usually aren't an issue because I subscribe to the idea that a confusing mystery is a sure sign of a good mystery! Besides, it’s cool when books don’t dumb down their story in an attempt to appeal to the largest number of people possible. It's better to confuse the reader than patronize them. It’s not this book’s problem I have such a lack of object permanence that a game of peek-a-boo would mess me up. Um, inane rambling aside, I thought that this book was alright. I know, all that build-up. Well, at least the mystery was fascinating, but I've got to say that there were a few things that made it a little too easy to see in-between the lines. It's probably not a good thing when I could figure everything out without even trying. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have noticed any of this if it didn't feel like the dialogue was often a little stiff. If I were being charitable, I’d say that this was purposeful, as it contrasted nicely with the plethora of other 1920’s mysteries that place heavy emphasis on the flash and glamour of the era, to the point where they can drift a little too close to romanticizing the time period. The muted tone of this book not only differentiated it from the crowd, but it also helped ground the whole thing in a sense of reality. And I can objectively appreciate the realistic tone because we are reading about murder after all, and it's a good thing to remember. Not all books need to be on a Great Gatsby vibe, right? But while it’s important for these things to have a sense of gravity, the writing style and main character are given such a passive voice that, while befitting Augusta’s personality and the general tone the story is going for, it doesn’t exactly make for the most engaging of plots. Is it too much to ask for a main character that wants to engage in the story? I don't need John Wick breaking concrete, but a little intellectual curiosity would be nice. Yeah so, I liked the story, but I didn’t love it. It's weird because I probably would have if I had read this even two months ago! I think my inconsistent feelings towards this book are mostly because I’ve probably been reading too many of these cozy mysteries recently. It’s sad, really. I can’t help but grow more and more melancholic at my general disinterest in the things I’m supposed to love. Damn, changing as a person kind of sucks. It’s a little like how you can tell the Hot Ones guy sounds more and more jaded with each passing hot one he has to consume while spewing his “shower thoughts”-esque, deep questions. You can see how the light has gone out of his eyes and that’s probably how I’m looking right now. I’m just being fatalistic, because I always come back to things and none of my interests ever truly leaves me. By this time next month, there’s a good chance that my dormant obsession with mysteries of the cozy variety awakens like an Archdemon.
Inane musing aside, I can stomach a middling mystery as long as I love the main character, because then at least there's something tangible to latch onto. You can probably guess where I’m going with this… I didn't love the main character. Sorry, but Augusta is a good character, just not a fun character. I mean, I actually related to her a lot! An introverted bookworm? Sure, I dig it. But I’m not an amateur sleuth, I'd be the most boring mystery protagonist ever! So, don't worry, you won’t be seeing “Noah Mysteries #1-36” any time soon! Her Eeyore-vibe is probably why the author tried to inject some excitement by adding several (!?) other pov’s throughout this super short, hundred-page book. On one hand, I liked how changing the narration gave the book a little flavor, a little hot sauce, and made it feel like a complete story rather than just another notch in some amateur sleuth’s belt (and it was fun to play the guessing game because everyone had good reasons for doing the dastardly deed), but on the other hand, it made the whole thing too easy to solve. Like, the plot thins? There were three other perspectives, two of which had things to hide and another who seemed completely innocent? Spoilers, I suppose, but gee, I wonder who the turns out to be the murderer. You know, now that the high’s come down, I'm kind of wishing I hadn't figured everything out so early. The truth is, I’d much rather be completely lost than impatiently waiting for our detective to finally catch up. My favorite Sherlock Holmes story is actually this video game (#gamer) called Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One where you play as the famous detective in his early days. And while I had a lot of fun, the thing is, I seriously needed a guide for every little puzzle there was to solve! I’d be running around in circles for hours talking to everyone when it turned out that all I had to do was pick up a thing and spin it around. I’m not made for this business, I’m afraid. But it was fun and the story was beautiful (seriously, check it out)! My point is that I needed my hand held, but I loved the mystery for the story it told, not at how easily (or not so easily) I could “beat” it. Anyway, speaking of video games, I’m mentioning them again despite there being barely any overlap between these two mediums, because some of the dialogue in this novel reminded of that particular back-and-forth that you usually only ever see in games. You know how there are always a bunch of side characters who are a little too forthcoming with convenient plot information? Yeah, that’s how a lot of Augusta’s interrogations felt like with potential culprits (all three of them). Every “What were you doing at the time of the murder” is met with a “Ah yes, well, let me tell what I was doing at the time of the murder.” No offense, but there's some real Skyrim ass dialogue here. Also, how old is Augusta supposed to be!? The book goes on and on about how she’s “getting on in the years” or how she lives like a “middle aged spinster” (the book’s wording, not mine), but then it’s stated that she’s not of a dissimilar age to a guy who’s in his early thirties! So… she’s in her thirties? Sure, I guess. I’ll just chalk this up to era accurate double standards about the way they viewed men and women’s ages respectively, but I just thought it was weird because the whole time I was picturing a real Mrs. Crumplebottom walking around. Okay, I’m done. This book was okay, but I probably would have liked it more if I’d read it when I was in a better headspace for mysteries. I know this is an unfair sentiment, so I’ll definitely try to give this series another go somewhere down the line.
“The golden rule was to always walk slowly. People needed time to stare.”
Hell yeah! Wo~oo!! Sorry, I’m riding on a high here because I correctly guessed who the killer was! Let me bask in this victory for a moment. Ahh… this is a big moment for me. And even though I often got a little confused at all the character names being thrown my way (Mr. This and Mrs. Who), I managed to power on through. This will sound like a compliment sandwich, but I’m really just trying to paint a picture reflecting on what a grand accomplishment this is! It's a miracle because my attention span really is pretty short every now and then (to the point where I may or may not read six books at the same time). My personal issues usually aren't an issue because I subscribe to the idea that a confusing mystery is a sure sign of a good mystery! Besides, it’s cool when books don’t dumb down their story in an attempt to appeal to the largest number of people possible. It's better to confuse the reader than patronize them. It’s not this book’s problem I have such a lack of object permanence that a game of peek-a-boo would mess me up. Um, inane rambling aside, I thought that this book was alright. I know, all that build-up. Well, at least the mystery was fascinating, but I've got to say that there were a few things that made it a little too easy to see in-between the lines. It's probably not a good thing when I could figure everything out without even trying. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have noticed any of this if it didn't feel like the dialogue was often a little stiff. If I were being charitable, I’d say that this was purposeful, as it contrasted nicely with the plethora of other 1920’s mysteries that place heavy emphasis on the flash and glamour of the era, to the point where they can drift a little too close to romanticizing the time period. The muted tone of this book not only differentiated it from the crowd, but it also helped ground the whole thing in a sense of reality. And I can objectively appreciate the realistic tone because we are reading about murder after all, and it's a good thing to remember. Not all books need to be on a Great Gatsby vibe, right? But while it’s important for these things to have a sense of gravity, the writing style and main character are given such a passive voice that, while befitting Augusta’s personality and the general tone the story is going for, it doesn’t exactly make for the most engaging of plots. Is it too much to ask for a main character that wants to engage in the story? I don't need John Wick breaking concrete, but a little intellectual curiosity would be nice. Yeah so, I liked the story, but I didn’t love it. It's weird because I probably would have if I had read this even two months ago! I think my inconsistent feelings towards this book are mostly because I’ve probably been reading too many of these cozy mysteries recently. It’s sad, really. I can’t help but grow more and more melancholic at my general disinterest in the things I’m supposed to love. Damn, changing as a person kind of sucks. It’s a little like how you can tell the Hot Ones guy sounds more and more jaded with each passing hot one he has to consume while spewing his “shower thoughts”-esque, deep questions. You can see how the light has gone out of his eyes and that’s probably how I’m looking right now. I’m just being fatalistic, because I always come back to things and none of my interests ever truly leaves me. By this time next month, there’s a good chance that my dormant obsession with mysteries of the cozy variety awakens like an Archdemon.
Inane musing aside, I can stomach a middling mystery as long as I love the main character, because then at least there's something tangible to latch onto. You can probably guess where I’m going with this… I didn't love the main character. Sorry, but Augusta is a good character, just not a fun character. I mean, I actually related to her a lot! An introverted bookworm? Sure, I dig it. But I’m not an amateur sleuth, I'd be the most boring mystery protagonist ever! So, don't worry, you won’t be seeing “Noah Mysteries #1-36” any time soon! Her Eeyore-vibe is probably why the author tried to inject some excitement by adding several (!?) other pov’s throughout this super short, hundred-page book. On one hand, I liked how changing the narration gave the book a little flavor, a little hot sauce, and made it feel like a complete story rather than just another notch in some amateur sleuth’s belt (and it was fun to play the guessing game because everyone had good reasons for doing the dastardly deed), but on the other hand, it made the whole thing too easy to solve. Like, the plot thins? There were three other perspectives, two of which had things to hide and another who seemed completely innocent? Spoilers, I suppose, but gee, I wonder who the turns out to be the murderer. You know, now that the high’s come down, I'm kind of wishing I hadn't figured everything out so early. The truth is, I’d much rather be completely lost than impatiently waiting for our detective to finally catch up. My favorite Sherlock Holmes story is actually this video game (#gamer) called Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One where you play as the famous detective in his early days. And while I had a lot of fun, the thing is, I seriously needed a guide for every little puzzle there was to solve! I’d be running around in circles for hours talking to everyone when it turned out that all I had to do was pick up a thing and spin it around. I’m not made for this business, I’m afraid. But it was fun and the story was beautiful (seriously, check it out)! My point is that I needed my hand held, but I loved the mystery for the story it told, not at how easily (or not so easily) I could “beat” it. Anyway, speaking of video games, I’m mentioning them again despite there being barely any overlap between these two mediums, because some of the dialogue in this novel reminded of that particular back-and-forth that you usually only ever see in games. You know how there are always a bunch of side characters who are a little too forthcoming with convenient plot information? Yeah, that’s how a lot of Augusta’s interrogations felt like with potential culprits (all three of them). Every “What were you doing at the time of the murder” is met with a “Ah yes, well, let me tell what I was doing at the time of the murder.” No offense, but there's some real Skyrim ass dialogue here. Also, how old is Augusta supposed to be!? The book goes on and on about how she’s “getting on in the years” or how she lives like a “middle aged spinster” (the book’s wording, not mine), but then it’s stated that she’s not of a dissimilar age to a guy who’s in his early thirties! So… she’s in her thirties? Sure, I guess. I’ll just chalk this up to era accurate double standards about the way they viewed men and women’s ages respectively, but I just thought it was weird because the whole time I was picturing a real Mrs. Crumplebottom walking around. Okay, I’m done. This book was okay, but I probably would have liked it more if I’d read it when I was in a better headspace for mysteries. I know this is an unfair sentiment, so I’ll definitely try to give this series another go somewhere down the line.
“The golden rule was to always walk slowly. People needed time to stare.”
July 16, 2022
Wonderful heroine
Delightful story with a slightly mysterious, charming, book loving heroine. There is enough of a mystery, along with a twist at the end, to keep it fun. Enjoyable. I will be reading the next book in this series as soon as possible. Kudos to one of my favorite authors, Emily Organ.
Delightful story with a slightly mysterious, charming, book loving heroine. There is enough of a mystery, along with a twist at the end, to keep it fun. Enjoyable. I will be reading the next book in this series as soon as possible. Kudos to one of my favorite authors, Emily Organ.
February 18, 2022
This is the first in a mystery series set in the Roaring Twenties. Augusta Peel has a workshop, repairing books, but we soon learn that she has some secrets behind her benign appearance. She is asked by a friend to chaperone her daughter, Harriet, on a night out with theatre entrepreneur Gabriel Lennox. When there is a police raid at Flo's Club, Augusta uses her friendship with Detective Inspector Fisher to extracate herself and Harriet from having to appear in Court the next morning. However, when the body of a young actress is found in the club, after the raid, she is asked by Fisher to investigate.
I enjoy Golden Age mysteries, although modern takes on the genre are often slightly mixed. With this book, I liked the capable character of Augusta. However, I felt the eventual discovery of the truth was unlikely to be guessed by most readers, as the suspect was a fairly unlikely one. I would have liked to have seen the characters fleshed out more as so many lacked depth. This did have promise, but lacked authenticity, although often first books have such issues and Augusta herself was a promising sleuth.
I enjoy Golden Age mysteries, although modern takes on the genre are often slightly mixed. With this book, I liked the capable character of Augusta. However, I felt the eventual discovery of the truth was unlikely to be guessed by most readers, as the suspect was a fairly unlikely one. I would have liked to have seen the characters fleshed out more as so many lacked depth. This did have promise, but lacked authenticity, although often first books have such issues and Augusta herself was a promising sleuth.
March 2, 2022
Good start with believable characters, but weak mystery with an odd ending.
February 7, 2025
One more to mark off my "Have The Book - TBR" Goals list.
August 14, 2021
Rather enjoyed this new book by the author of the Penny Green and Churchill and Pemberley books. One can't go wrong with a dead actress in a raided nightclub, shifty characters and a besotted swain that is just "not the right sort."
Readers will want to know more about the mysterious Mrs. Peel and her goings-on during WWI. Her sleuthing skills are definitely well established in Death in Soho. The author also has a deft hand with settings and plotting.
An author's note offers up facts about some of the real people of the time that the plot touches upon.
Looking forward to more adventures for our book-repairing "amateur" detective. May she continue to help the police with their inquiries for some time to come.
Readers will want to know more about the mysterious Mrs. Peel and her goings-on during WWI. Her sleuthing skills are definitely well established in Death in Soho. The author also has a deft hand with settings and plotting.
An author's note offers up facts about some of the real people of the time that the plot touches upon.
Looking forward to more adventures for our book-repairing "amateur" detective. May she continue to help the police with their inquiries for some time to come.
January 13, 2023
Rating: 4.1 / 5
I think the main thing this book has going for it is pacing: it is fast-paced. Like...it literally jumps from one chapter to the next, from one scene to the next, even though it sometimes feels like it leaves someone in the middle of a conversation.
But...like...that's not a bad thing, if it makes sense?
Tis not a bad thing at'all!
The mystery at hand is the murder of a subpar actress at a club in Soho. Our heroine, Augusta Peel, is there as a chaperone to the daughter of one of her friends--and doing a terrible job of it, seeing as they end up in a club and all. But, oh well, at least she can help solve a murder as penance, right?
Anyways, the fast pacing is what really helps this book along, and so I quite enjoyed it. I just...am not 100% sure whether I'm interested in continuing the series, if that makes sense? I mean, nothing else much really stands out about it besides the pacing, and, I'm afraid, that isn't quite enough to mean reading it all the way through, y'know?
I would recommend it for others to check out though--it's definitely on the spectrum of 'good', so that's a plus!
I think the main thing this book has going for it is pacing: it is fast-paced. Like...it literally jumps from one chapter to the next, from one scene to the next, even though it sometimes feels like it leaves someone in the middle of a conversation.
But...like...that's not a bad thing, if it makes sense?
Tis not a bad thing at'all!
The mystery at hand is the murder of a subpar actress at a club in Soho. Our heroine, Augusta Peel, is there as a chaperone to the daughter of one of her friends--and doing a terrible job of it, seeing as they end up in a club and all. But, oh well, at least she can help solve a murder as penance, right?
Anyways, the fast pacing is what really helps this book along, and so I quite enjoyed it. I just...am not 100% sure whether I'm interested in continuing the series, if that makes sense? I mean, nothing else much really stands out about it besides the pacing, and, I'm afraid, that isn't quite enough to mean reading it all the way through, y'know?
I would recommend it for others to check out though--it's definitely on the spectrum of 'good', so that's a plus!
July 19, 2021
Big fan of Emily Organ's books and this book does not dissapoint. Full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Very enjoyable book.
August 4, 2021
Who is Mrs. Augusta Peel? Is she even, or was she ever, a Mrs.? This is the central mystery at the heart of this first entry in a wonderful new series set in the 1920s by an author who has proven multiple times to be an expert at crafting an entertaining whodunnit.
There are quite a few series out there set in the Jazz Age, and quite a few never quite live up to your expectations; however, this is not the case here. There are many fabulous and intriguing characters throughout, not least of those being Augusta herself, along with the darling Sparky. It was so nice to have a little songbird in the story rather than the usual canine or feline. But I digress. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing the adventures of Mrs. Peel. Oh, and she's a book repairer too, so there's even more to love about her.
If you want an enjoyable mystery with a fast-paced plot and likeable characters, I can most definitely recommend this one.
**I received an ARC from the author. My review is strictly voluntary.**
There are quite a few series out there set in the Jazz Age, and quite a few never quite live up to your expectations; however, this is not the case here. There are many fabulous and intriguing characters throughout, not least of those being Augusta herself, along with the darling Sparky. It was so nice to have a little songbird in the story rather than the usual canine or feline. But I digress. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing the adventures of Mrs. Peel. Oh, and she's a book repairer too, so there's even more to love about her.
If you want an enjoyable mystery with a fast-paced plot and likeable characters, I can most definitely recommend this one.
**I received an ARC from the author. My review is strictly voluntary.**
August 1, 2021
Death in Soho is a promising new series by Emily Organ. I have enjoyed the author's other two series "Penny Green, journalist" and "Churchill and Pemberley, amusing mature lady detectives".
I really liked the book and the characters. The plot was interesting and had me fooled until the end. The featured character is Augusta Peel who repairs books in her basement workshop. She also is taking care of a canary who has a minor role in the plot. I hope the canary "Sparky" keeps appearing in future stories!
I received a preview copy of this book.
I really liked the book and the characters. The plot was interesting and had me fooled until the end. The featured character is Augusta Peel who repairs books in her basement workshop. She also is taking care of a canary who has a minor role in the plot. I hope the canary "Sparky" keeps appearing in future stories!
I received a preview copy of this book.
August 1, 2021
As always I read my new books twice, I could not put this one down. I found the characters, location and the plot incredible. I was totally lost in this wonderful story, I have read other books by Emily Organ, but this latest novel is a wonderful read.
Don Taylor
Don Taylor
October 29, 2021
As a fan of Emily Organ's Penny Green series, I was interested to see her take the time period forward forty years to the 1920s with a new detective. Augusta Peel - who was definitely not a spy during the Great War, what are you talking about? - is an understated agent of the police, who claims that she would really be very happy just repairing books in her workshop but gets awfully into helping out an old army friend. There are a lot of mysteries about Augusta's past but they don't detract from the main murder plot, and if the book also features the single most obnoxious example of the Precious Ingenue trope I've ever encountered (seriously, Harriet has zero redeeming features), at least she gets her comeuppance.
Long story short, it was fun. Organ's more than just a one good series author, and I may try her cozy series while I wait for volume two of this one.
Long story short, it was fun. Organ's more than just a one good series author, and I may try her cozy series while I wait for volume two of this one.
August 2, 2021
I received an advance copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Organs Penny Green mysteries and looked forward to reading the adventures of Augusta Peel. I enjoyed the plot with its twists and turns. Of course the book has left a lot of questions about the main protagonists to be resolved in the future adventures of Augusta. I love reading a mystery that doesn’t involve gratuitous sex scenes. Already looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 6, 2021
Another great addition to the Emily Organ collection!
April 22, 2022
I like Augusta
Woman of mystery - well rounded characterisation, yet with a mysterious background. One has to keep reading, because little droplets of information about Augusta's past are fed in to the story at appropriate moments and we build up a picture of the woman who can "do this". Slowly we begin to understand the trust between a quiet, middle aged bookbinder and a senior Scotland Yard detective.
No bad grammar, typos and cut and paste errors to irritate me. Flow and interest all the way. And a wonderful sting in the tail that I didn't see coming but makes perfect sense - and I'm still kicking myself for it. She won't get away with it next time though, I'm forewarned!
Oh, spoiler - nice sad touch about the stooge. It's good to get something right. I had a soft spot for him from the beginning, and do feel sorry it ended like that.
Woman of mystery - well rounded characterisation, yet with a mysterious background. One has to keep reading, because little droplets of information about Augusta's past are fed in to the story at appropriate moments and we build up a picture of the woman who can "do this". Slowly we begin to understand the trust between a quiet, middle aged bookbinder and a senior Scotland Yard detective.
No bad grammar, typos and cut and paste errors to irritate me. Flow and interest all the way. And a wonderful sting in the tail that I didn't see coming but makes perfect sense - and I'm still kicking myself for it. She won't get away with it next time though, I'm forewarned!
Oh, spoiler - nice sad touch about the stooge. It's good to get something right. I had a soft spot for him from the beginning, and do feel sorry it ended like that.
September 21, 2021
I was struggling to get to know Augusta and by chapter six I was beginning to think this book might not be for me What kept me going was the hint there might be something in her past that might make her interesting.
Unfortunately Augusta was only a small part of the book, much more space was given to the machinations of half-a-dozen other characters. To make matters worse it turns out that Augusta’s past didn’t reveal anything interesting and she wasn’t as proficient and capable as I hoped. Also when the murderer is finally revealed, I found I was actually disappointed.
Overall I suppose it wasn’t too bad so if possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
Unfortunately Augusta was only a small part of the book, much more space was given to the machinations of half-a-dozen other characters. To make matters worse it turns out that Augusta’s past didn’t reveal anything interesting and she wasn’t as proficient and capable as I hoped. Also when the murderer is finally revealed, I found I was actually disappointed.
Overall I suppose it wasn’t too bad so if possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
July 24, 2021
I was lucky to receive a preview copy of Death in Soho. Thank you to the publisher and to Emily Organ for this opportunity.
I love the character of Augusta Peel, she is intelligent, feisty and independent.
From start to finish ,this clever plot , is full of interesting characters with plenty of twists and turns.
I found it difficult to put down and was surprised to find I hadn’t guessed the culprit.
I hope this will turn into a long running series. Three cheers for Augusta Peel !
I love the character of Augusta Peel, she is intelligent, feisty and independent.
From start to finish ,this clever plot , is full of interesting characters with plenty of twists and turns.
I found it difficult to put down and was surprised to find I hadn’t guessed the culprit.
I hope this will turn into a long running series. Three cheers for Augusta Peel !
August 1, 2021
Augusta is a wonderful character, strong and smart. The fact that she is a middle-aged woman is just the cherry on top. The story is fun and interesting and the end was really surprising. I particularly enjoyed the titbits about her background. :D The mistery is very well-plotted and I liked how it was paced.
A quick, easy read. I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
A quick, easy read. I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
January 18, 2022
While I will forever be a fan of Churchill and Pemberley; unfortunately the Augusta Peel book was just not a good fit for me! It lacked the cozy warmth and quirky humor that I gravitate towards! I think with the 1920's and the overall feel it was just too serious for me.
July 22, 2023
Good old-fashioned murder mystery
A nice, quick read, nothing too heavy (just a little murder!), which is perfect for me right now. First in a series.
A nice, quick read, nothing too heavy (just a little murder!), which is perfect for me right now. First in a series.
November 19, 2021
I am a fan of historical mysteries which take place in the period between the 2 World Wars. This story is set in London. And people in the know are enjoying life. There are places to go and people to see.
Augusta Peel is a middle aged woman who repairs book bindings. She has her own basement shop and lives in an apartment upstairs. She likes being alone. It gives her a sense of peace. Now the only thing unusual in her life is a canary named Sparky. She is bird sitting.
Then a friend asks her to be a chaperon for her 19 year old daughter. Harriet , the daughter, is seeing an older man who is a part of the world of theater. He adores Harriet. Harriet is quite flattered that this man of the world is attracted to her.
They go to a seedy night club. It is crowded with people having fun. There are actresses, gangsters, and all sorts of other people. The dancing is to die for.
In fact, the next morning, a young actress is found shot to death in the club. Everyone is a suspect.
Mrs Peel knows a Scotland Yard detective inspector. They did some secret things in Belgium during the war. He asks her to do some investigating on behalf of Scotland Yard. She simply has to ask a few questions and observe people.
The reader is taken along for the ride.
We get to see the locations, hear the questions and answers as well as evaluate what we learn.
The outcome was a surprise. That is how I judge a good mystery story.
This is an entertaining story. Mrs Peel is an interesting woman. And the secondary characters add a great deal of texture to the story.
I enjoyed the book.
Augusta Peel is a middle aged woman who repairs book bindings. She has her own basement shop and lives in an apartment upstairs. She likes being alone. It gives her a sense of peace. Now the only thing unusual in her life is a canary named Sparky. She is bird sitting.
Then a friend asks her to be a chaperon for her 19 year old daughter. Harriet , the daughter, is seeing an older man who is a part of the world of theater. He adores Harriet. Harriet is quite flattered that this man of the world is attracted to her.
They go to a seedy night club. It is crowded with people having fun. There are actresses, gangsters, and all sorts of other people. The dancing is to die for.
In fact, the next morning, a young actress is found shot to death in the club. Everyone is a suspect.
Mrs Peel knows a Scotland Yard detective inspector. They did some secret things in Belgium during the war. He asks her to do some investigating on behalf of Scotland Yard. She simply has to ask a few questions and observe people.
The reader is taken along for the ride.
We get to see the locations, hear the questions and answers as well as evaluate what we learn.
The outcome was a surprise. That is how I judge a good mystery story.
This is an entertaining story. Mrs Peel is an interesting woman. And the secondary characters add a great deal of texture to the story.
I enjoyed the book.
July 28, 2021
Having read, and loved, all the Churchill & Pemberley stories, I was looking forward to meeting another new character, Mrs Augusta Peel, (assuming that is her real name!) in the new Death in Soho mystery.
I wasn't disappointed. After a slow start, where you're led to believe Mrs Peel (and yes, I did start thinking about The Avengers*), was a quiet soul, you soon find out otherwise, as Mrs Peel starts to investigate the death in question.
As with Churchill & Pemberley, there are lovely moments of humour and also interactions with a pet, in this case Sparky, which always makes me smile. The writing is easy to read and flows well and despite half way through thinking I knew who the murderer was, I was completely wrong, which is always good.
I'm looking forward to seeing the main characters develop in future stories and learning more about Mrs Peel's life, before spending her time repairing old books.
I received an advance copy of this book, the first time ever, and my review would have been exactly the same had I purchased it.
*Only readers of a certain age, and familiar with old British TV, would get this reference!
I wasn't disappointed. After a slow start, where you're led to believe Mrs Peel (and yes, I did start thinking about The Avengers*), was a quiet soul, you soon find out otherwise, as Mrs Peel starts to investigate the death in question.
As with Churchill & Pemberley, there are lovely moments of humour and also interactions with a pet, in this case Sparky, which always makes me smile. The writing is easy to read and flows well and despite half way through thinking I knew who the murderer was, I was completely wrong, which is always good.
I'm looking forward to seeing the main characters develop in future stories and learning more about Mrs Peel's life, before spending her time repairing old books.
I received an advance copy of this book, the first time ever, and my review would have been exactly the same had I purchased it.
*Only readers of a certain age, and familiar with old British TV, would get this reference!
July 28, 2021
What a delightful book! I received it as an advance copy. I have read the Penny Green series and loved each book, so I expected to like this new character. I thoroughly enjoyed chasing after suspects and was completely taken off guard at the conclusion. I really like Mrs. Peel and look forward to learning more about her past and her wartime history with DI Fisher.
February 12, 2025
This was an enjoyable and easy-to-read murder mystery. The story had a well-paced plot and an interesting range of characters. I liked uncovering new clues and trying to solve the case alongside Mrs. Peel. While the story didn’t completely wow me, I still found it engaging and enjoyable. I might check out the other books in the series
July 28, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the characters at first, but soon found my immersed in the time period and wondering who did it! I can't wait for the next book in this series so I can get to know Augusta Peel better!
May 22, 2022
In an interesting time and place--England between the wars--Augusta Peel keeps herself occupied by repairing books in her basement. Mrs. Peel (I kept picturing Diana Rigg) is a woman with a past and a skill set that makes her useful to Scotland Yard when murder occurs.
March 1, 2024
I wanted to like this more, but it really fell flat for me. The characters weren’t very deeply developed and the delivery and plot all seemed very basic. I do see now that it may have been “independently published.”
August 3, 2025
This is a DNF for me. The plots jumps from character -- or different sets of characters -- in the opening chapters and I didn't really care about any of them. We were presented with a lot of potential issues for a variety of characters, but I didn't like this enough to continue reading to find out what the ultimate mystery would be.
July 28, 2021
Augusta fixes books and fixes crime. Wonderful characters star in an interesting story with a truly surprise ending. Entertaining and easy-to-read. Recommended.
August 26, 2021
I enjoyed, and hope there are more to come making this a serries.
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