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Gaslamp Gothic #7
The Scarlet Thread
Bloody Mary Worth.
Say her name thirteen times in a mirror and you might see the face of your future husband.
Or, less happily, your own shrieking demise.
December 1889. When society girls start dropping like flies at the start of the Winter Ball Season, Harrison Fearing Pell lands her first juicy case since she was suspended from the Society for Psychical Research. And the prime suspect is the very same client who landed her in the soup last time—criminal prodigy and all-around nuisance James Moran.
The victims appear to have been scared to death. But is the real culprit the ghost of a vengeful dead girl—or something even worse? As Harry digs deeper into Mary’s unsolved murder thirty years before, the icy hand of the past reaches into the present. What is the significance of the scarlet thread wound around the victims’ fingers? Is there a connection to the mesmerism fad sweeping New York? And if he’s innocent, why is James still such an insufferable bastard?
Moran’s connections to the city’s seedy underworld might be the key to untangling the mystery—assuming Harry can find the answer before she ends up killing him herself.
Say her name thirteen times in a mirror and you might see the face of your future husband.
Or, less happily, your own shrieking demise.
December 1889. When society girls start dropping like flies at the start of the Winter Ball Season, Harrison Fearing Pell lands her first juicy case since she was suspended from the Society for Psychical Research. And the prime suspect is the very same client who landed her in the soup last time—criminal prodigy and all-around nuisance James Moran.
The victims appear to have been scared to death. But is the real culprit the ghost of a vengeful dead girl—or something even worse? As Harry digs deeper into Mary’s unsolved murder thirty years before, the icy hand of the past reaches into the present. What is the significance of the scarlet thread wound around the victims’ fingers? Is there a connection to the mesmerism fad sweeping New York? And if he’s innocent, why is James still such an insufferable bastard?
Moran’s connections to the city’s seedy underworld might be the key to untangling the mystery—assuming Harry can find the answer before she ends up killing him herself.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2022
About the author
Kat Ross
37 books812 followersKat Ross is an award-winning and bestselling fantasy author whose series range from the Persian-inspired Fourth Element to the cozy Ravencroft Hall books. She lives in Connecticut with her son and a gang (clowder?) of anarchist cats. When she’s not writing, you can find Kat wandering in the woods or poring over maps in the cartography turret. For more info, check out her website: www.katrossbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 27, 2025
Who doesn’t want a story all about Bloody Mary? I mean, come on. The premise of this book was fantastic and the follow through was just as great. Kat Ross can do no wrong.
I so love watching Harry and John come together. They are so stinking sweet. There was a part of me that was secretly holding out for James Moran, even though it was pretty clear that was never going to happen (a girl can dream). I do love the idea of Myrtle finding love with her Moriarty, so I’ll just sit over here and daydream about that instead.
I love the dual stories that come together, this series has done it a couple times and it never fails to surprise me. I also really love bouncing around with the characters in the different books in this series. We may have a focus on Harry and John, but the nice little breaks with Balthazar and Anne have been so fun.
I so love watching Harry and John come together. They are so stinking sweet. There was a part of me that was secretly holding out for James Moran, even though it was pretty clear that was never going to happen (a girl can dream). I do love the idea of Myrtle finding love with her Moriarty, so I’ll just sit over here and daydream about that instead.
I love the dual stories that come together, this series has done it a couple times and it never fails to surprise me. I also really love bouncing around with the characters in the different books in this series. We may have a focus on Harry and John, but the nice little breaks with Balthazar and Anne have been so fun.
June 18, 2023
This is a 4.25 🌟 read rounded ⬇️ to 4 🌟.
May 12, 2022
Kat Ross's settings are richly brought to life, and the characters have consistent and compelling voices... they draw you into their dramas and mysteries and sweep you along the dark streets of late 19th Century New York - a city of stark contrasts. The wealth against the abject poverty, the lush and comfortable interiors against the dirty, noisy industrial exterior.
Harrison Pell's latest adventure explores the spectrum of experience, from the desperation of the very poor, to the fragile reputations of the wildly rich... all the while immersing us in a mystery of velvety supernatural darkness.
Another effortlessly enticing and delicious Gothic mystery from an author with truly original tales and a gift for exceptional storytelling. The Scarlet Thread will not disappoint.
Harrison Pell's latest adventure explores the spectrum of experience, from the desperation of the very poor, to the fragile reputations of the wildly rich... all the while immersing us in a mystery of velvety supernatural darkness.
Another effortlessly enticing and delicious Gothic mystery from an author with truly original tales and a gift for exceptional storytelling. The Scarlet Thread will not disappoint.
May 24, 2024
This book sees us back in the company of Harry and John, who are wonderfully written characters with sparkling and captivating personalities.
The plots of the stories containing these two characters have, so far, been like a mixture of Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this one falls neatly into that bracket too, especially with the opening chapter.
It's a lively fast-paced adventure filled with mystery, intrigue and humour, as well as being laced with creepy and scary aspects and more than a few thought-provoking moments that make this a highly engaging read that I, unfortunately, zipped through far too quickly.
It also further develops the relationship between Harry and John in a very natural and enjoyable manner that fits nicely into the overall story.
The plots of the stories containing these two characters have, so far, been like a mixture of Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this one falls neatly into that bracket too, especially with the opening chapter.
It's a lively fast-paced adventure filled with mystery, intrigue and humour, as well as being laced with creepy and scary aspects and more than a few thought-provoking moments that make this a highly engaging read that I, unfortunately, zipped through far too quickly.
It also further develops the relationship between Harry and John in a very natural and enjoyable manner that fits nicely into the overall story.
January 8, 2023
Scarlet Thread
Every time I read one of these gaslamp Gothic by Kat Ross, I think it is my favorite among them. I do love the ones with Harry and John the most, and hope there is more beyond the Loch one, which I inadvertently read first. I had been rooting for Myrtle and James right on along and I'd like to see more of Helen and her policeman.
Every time I read one of these gaslamp Gothic by Kat Ross, I think it is my favorite among them. I do love the ones with Harry and John the most, and hope there is more beyond the Loch one, which I inadvertently read first. I had been rooting for Myrtle and James right on along and I'd like to see more of Helen and her policeman.
February 15, 2023
I can't say enough good things about this book and series. I love all of the characters and this series has to be at the top of fav list. Kat Ross has an excellent writing skill and it's such a skilled storyteller. This book and series is a must read.
August 11, 2022
Very good, a very deep story line. This was my favorite of the series.
November 9, 2025
Loved it, raced through the pages late into the night.
December 12, 2022
great story! :)
March 1, 2023
1889. When a young lady is seemingly scared to death, Harrison Pell is asked to investigate while she is under suspension from the SPR. Is the guilty party the ghost of Mary Worth.
An entertaining paranormal historical mystery with its likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this series.
An entertaining paranormal historical mystery with its likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this series.
February 4, 2023
Go to 19th century New York and enjoy the Christmas festivities. Dine at Delmonico's, waltz at Mrs. Astor's ball, attend a hypnotist's stage show, and try to avoid being murdered by the ghost of Bloody Mary. Harry has her hands full when young ladies start dropping dead at the stroke of midnight. Can she solve the mystery, help her friend John study for his medical degree, and avoid annoying her sister, the Great Detective, while partnering with New York's own version of a Master Criminal? With many loving nods to Sherlock Holmes, the author has created her own cozy world of detection and supernatural high jinks in an underused historical setting (seriously, 19th century New York City was just as strange and wild as Jack the Ripper's London). While part of a longer series, you can drop into the Gaslamp Gothic world with this particular story and enjoy an excellent tale.
November 22, 2025
It was a lot of fun getting to know James Moran a bit better, and I would love more books exploring his relationship with Myrtle. This book was very good, and it is so much fun to get to follow Harry and John again. This series has been a lot of fun in total, with lots of different characters, and I love how Kat Ross merges the worlds from her different books.
July 26, 2022
Searching through my nook for something new to read, I forgot the pre-order on this book came through.
Henry (Harrison Fearing Pell) is a 20 year old woman following in her sister's footsteps and a detective in 1889 New York. She receives a summons to help a notorious criminal, not from him, but from his mother. She's had dealings with Moran before and only agrees to see him in prison to assure his mother he is well. As with all of her other cases, there appears to be something supernatural about this case and after a second woman turns up dead from calling on Bloody Mary Worth in the mirror, she can't turn away from it.
When I start to read any of the books in this series, I feel my shoulders drop as I am transported into Henry's world. While there are twists and turns, it's a world I will always enjoy visiting!
Henry (Harrison Fearing Pell) is a 20 year old woman following in her sister's footsteps and a detective in 1889 New York. She receives a summons to help a notorious criminal, not from him, but from his mother. She's had dealings with Moran before and only agrees to see him in prison to assure his mother he is well. As with all of her other cases, there appears to be something supernatural about this case and after a second woman turns up dead from calling on Bloody Mary Worth in the mirror, she can't turn away from it.
When I start to read any of the books in this series, I feel my shoulders drop as I am transported into Henry's world. While there are twists and turns, it's a world I will always enjoy visiting!
May 5, 2024
Another fun read in the Gaslamp Gothic series. Harry and John are now a courting couple, but John is taken up with exams, leaving Harry to investigate a series of unexplained deaths of young high society women. As always, the setting is Manhattan in the Gilded Age. We have a vengeful ghost, hypnotism, visits to graveyards, a ball, and more details about the ever-fascinating James Moran. The book did not disappoint, except I thought some scenes involving digging up graves made the process seem way too easy. That aside, it was an entertaining book.
July 5, 2022
This is one of my favorite series and really enjoyed this story. Harrison Fearing Pell is one of my favorite fictional characters and this is one of her best adventures. The story takes Harry and her friends from the Astor's social event of the season to New York's Five Points and Hell's Kitchen all in search of a vengeful wraith. There are many twists and turns and plenty of surprises, thrills and chills. If you are looking for a good old fashioned gothic ghost story this is the book for you.
August 7, 2022
Wonderfully fast paced, with a delicious mystery to discover and enough chills to have your spine tingling.
Also James Moran...
The perfect summer read for those that, like me, aren't into romance and prefers something different yet easy to devour in one sitting.
Also James Moran...
The perfect summer read for those that, like me, aren't into romance and prefers something different yet easy to devour in one sitting.
June 29, 2022
A very fun read, just like the previous one. Nice surprising story and a lively setting.
I like the characters development, but next time a bit more Connor, though judging from the preview it will be quite a different setting.
I like the characters development, but next time a bit more Connor, though judging from the preview it will be quite a different setting.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews