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Mrs Imogene Lynch #1
The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby
A presumed dead baby who's just turned fifty, a grieving widow on a mission, a female haberdasher hiding a scandalous secret
The Cotswolds, England, December 1895
Fifty-year-old Imogene Lynch has recently moved to the tight-knit community of Dartmond after her husband passed away.
In the decades of her husband's job as chief constable of the neighboring Landdulton, the childless Imogene often assisted him in solving seemingly unsolvable crimes. On his deathbed Thaddeus Lynch has one last request to his wife: solve the secret Christmas baby's mystery.
Overcome by grief, but with the promise as a stamp on her heart, Imogene sets out in her roundabout way to unearth Sir Finley Lowther's mysterious origins. The first trace leads to Miss Eloise Platt, a well-respected Dartmond shopkeeper.
But when a baby's skull is dredged up from the bottom of Tiverstock Lake and Miss Eloise confesses to the murder, Mrs Imogene Lynch faces a stalemate. While the Dartmonders squabble over Miss Platt's fate, the widow-turned-detective worries she'll never fulfil her promise.
To break through her impasse, she pays a visit to the elderly Lady Lowther in Ridgeview Asylum with far-reaching consequences. For Imogene, the mystery is now solved, but getting Miss Platt to tell the truth is another matter.
With her characteristic quirky style, Mrs Lynch confides in the most unlikely candidate in her arsenal, her landlord, Mr Richard Hopewell. If the mute bookkeeper can shed light on what he witnessed on that fateful Boxing Day in 1845, she has the ally she needs to confront Miss Platt.
After fifty-one years, Constable Thaddeus Lynch's brown file on the Secret Christmas Baby can be closed for good. With Finley's adoption mystery solved and Miss Platt redeemed, all Dartmond joins in the merry 1896 Christmas celebrations.
This first book in the Victorian Cozy Mystery Series introduces Mrs Imogene Lynch, a willy-nilly detective who talks too much and eats too little.
The Cotswolds, England, December 1895
Fifty-year-old Imogene Lynch has recently moved to the tight-knit community of Dartmond after her husband passed away.
In the decades of her husband's job as chief constable of the neighboring Landdulton, the childless Imogene often assisted him in solving seemingly unsolvable crimes. On his deathbed Thaddeus Lynch has one last request to his wife: solve the secret Christmas baby's mystery.
Overcome by grief, but with the promise as a stamp on her heart, Imogene sets out in her roundabout way to unearth Sir Finley Lowther's mysterious origins. The first trace leads to Miss Eloise Platt, a well-respected Dartmond shopkeeper.
But when a baby's skull is dredged up from the bottom of Tiverstock Lake and Miss Eloise confesses to the murder, Mrs Imogene Lynch faces a stalemate. While the Dartmonders squabble over Miss Platt's fate, the widow-turned-detective worries she'll never fulfil her promise.
To break through her impasse, she pays a visit to the elderly Lady Lowther in Ridgeview Asylum with far-reaching consequences. For Imogene, the mystery is now solved, but getting Miss Platt to tell the truth is another matter.
With her characteristic quirky style, Mrs Lynch confides in the most unlikely candidate in her arsenal, her landlord, Mr Richard Hopewell. If the mute bookkeeper can shed light on what he witnessed on that fateful Boxing Day in 1845, she has the ally she needs to confront Miss Platt.
After fifty-one years, Constable Thaddeus Lynch's brown file on the Secret Christmas Baby can be closed for good. With Finley's adoption mystery solved and Miss Platt redeemed, all Dartmond joins in the merry 1896 Christmas celebrations.
This first book in the Victorian Cozy Mystery Series introduces Mrs Imogene Lynch, a willy-nilly detective who talks too much and eats too little.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2022
70 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 2, 2022
Publication Date: 06th Dec 2022
2 Stars
One Liner: Interesting premise but painful execution
The Cotswolds, England, December 1895
Imogene Lynch moves to Dartmond to solve a case her recently dead husband, Thaddeus Lynch, was working on. He was a chief constable working on an adoption case from the family. Sir Finley Lowther’s father tells him that he was adopted as a child but doesn’t give any other information.
Though Finley is not particularly interested in finding his real mother, his brother-in-law, Thaddeus Lynch, takes up the case to assist his sister Anna (Finley’s wife).
With Thaddeus dead, it’s up to Imogene to get to the root of the matter. However, an old baby’s skull ends up in a fishing net, and Miss Eloise Platt confesses to the crime. Imogene has no choice but to solve this new case as Miss Platt is a possible candidate to be Finley’s real mother.
Can Imogene follow in her dead husband’s footsteps and solve the cases?
The story comes in the first-person rambling from Imogene, addressing the readers.
What I Like:
There’s a list of characters at the beginning of the book. This was helpful as the story had loads of characters.
The cover is rather pretty and has Christmas-y vibes. The book can be sped-read with ease.
Timothy is an adorable kid. I hope he becomes a recurring character in the series.
For a change, the story has an aged and overweight dog instead of an excited furball. Older dogs need love too!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Unfortunately, a lot of it didn’t work for me. I’ll try to keep it brief.
To summarize, The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby could have been a lot better if the execution was compact and well-planned. The book would work for some readers. Sadly, I’m not one of them.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hannah Byron Books, and Xpresso Book Tours, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheUnsolvedCaseoftheSecretChristmasBaby
**
P.S.: I hate to do this with an indie book. I read indie cozies and know some real good ones.
My best wishes to the author.
2 Stars
One Liner: Interesting premise but painful execution
The Cotswolds, England, December 1895
Imogene Lynch moves to Dartmond to solve a case her recently dead husband, Thaddeus Lynch, was working on. He was a chief constable working on an adoption case from the family. Sir Finley Lowther’s father tells him that he was adopted as a child but doesn’t give any other information.
Though Finley is not particularly interested in finding his real mother, his brother-in-law, Thaddeus Lynch, takes up the case to assist his sister Anna (Finley’s wife).
With Thaddeus dead, it’s up to Imogene to get to the root of the matter. However, an old baby’s skull ends up in a fishing net, and Miss Eloise Platt confesses to the crime. Imogene has no choice but to solve this new case as Miss Platt is a possible candidate to be Finley’s real mother.
Can Imogene follow in her dead husband’s footsteps and solve the cases?
The story comes in the first-person rambling from Imogene, addressing the readers.
What I Like:
There’s a list of characters at the beginning of the book. This was helpful as the story had loads of characters.
The cover is rather pretty and has Christmas-y vibes. The book can be sped-read with ease.
Timothy is an adorable kid. I hope he becomes a recurring character in the series.
For a change, the story has an aged and overweight dog instead of an excited furball. Older dogs need love too!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Unfortunately, a lot of it didn’t work for me. I’ll try to keep it brief.
To summarize, The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby could have been a lot better if the execution was compact and well-planned. The book would work for some readers. Sadly, I’m not one of them.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hannah Byron Books, and Xpresso Book Tours, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheUnsolvedCaseoftheSecretChristmasBaby
**
P.S.: I hate to do this with an indie book. I read indie cozies and know some real good ones.
My best wishes to the author.
December 18, 2022
⭐⭐ -- Love this cover!
The cover of this one is what first caught my eye, add it in the "Christmas" angle and I was excited to dive in. Unfortunately, the cover was the best part of this book. It was slow. It was boring. Imogen just basically sat in her room talking to herself, grieving her husband, and not eating. She basically did zero detective work and the "mystery" was solved in a very lackluster fashion. Oh well, they all can't be hits, right?
**ARC Via NetGalley**
The cover of this one is what first caught my eye, add it in the "Christmas" angle and I was excited to dive in. Unfortunately, the cover was the best part of this book. It was slow. It was boring. Imogen just basically sat in her room talking to herself, grieving her husband, and not eating. She basically did zero detective work and the "mystery" was solved in a very lackluster fashion. Oh well, they all can't be hits, right?
**ARC Via NetGalley**
February 8, 2023
This is a really slow moving story about a grieving widow investigating, on behalf of her family, a fifty-year old case of a missing baby.
The widow is Imogene Lynch, the wife of a now dead policeman, who had been looking into the case though he was gravely ill. Imogen had promised to continue the search; she moves from her comfortable home to Dartmond, the town central to the case, so she can spy on a potential mother of that missing baby.
Imogene is a passive character, spending much of the book in her head, rather than leaving her chair to go detecting in Dartmond. She’s got a suspicion that things aren’t what they seem when a child’s skull is found, but months go by before she gets on and does something. It makes for frustrating reading at times, but I could also appreciate that a grieving woman prone to migraines and eating barely enough to sustain her would hardly go running about the village, peering into and under things and interrogating people.
She does end up solving the case, but not through action but through instinct, some kindness, and conversation. So, from that perspective, this is definitely a cozy mystery, and it did have several enjoyable scenes. I just wished that the pacing had been tighter. I liked Imogene, and her doting on her overweight dog Jasper.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Hannah Byron Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The widow is Imogene Lynch, the wife of a now dead policeman, who had been looking into the case though he was gravely ill. Imogen had promised to continue the search; she moves from her comfortable home to Dartmond, the town central to the case, so she can spy on a potential mother of that missing baby.
Imogene is a passive character, spending much of the book in her head, rather than leaving her chair to go detecting in Dartmond. She’s got a suspicion that things aren’t what they seem when a child’s skull is found, but months go by before she gets on and does something. It makes for frustrating reading at times, but I could also appreciate that a grieving woman prone to migraines and eating barely enough to sustain her would hardly go running about the village, peering into and under things and interrogating people.
She does end up solving the case, but not through action but through instinct, some kindness, and conversation. So, from that perspective, this is definitely a cozy mystery, and it did have several enjoyable scenes. I just wished that the pacing had been tighter. I liked Imogene, and her doting on her overweight dog Jasper.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Hannah Byron Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
November 25, 2022
Shades of Dickens! The newly-bereaved of an English constable promises her late husband on his deathbed to bring to a satisfactory conclusion the one case that has plagued his conscience for fifty years, a case that may impinge directly on his brother-in-law, a squire of some standing. Strong, independent, female protagonist and a finely-detailed perception into Victorian culture.
November 30, 2022
Set mostly in 1895 fictitious Dartmond in the glorious Cotswolds, The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby is the first in the refreshingly wholesome Mrs. Imogene Lynch Series. Imogene has recently become widowed and is grieving deeply. Her roly poly dog Jasper keeps her company in her temporary home across from the haberdashery but she also misses Honeydew Mansion. Her beloved Thaddeus who was a constable leaves her a brown folder with notes on disappearances, an adoption and a murder. She promises to investigate and at first does it to honour him. But her perspective changes as she becomes involved in ways she would have never dreamed. The past is sneaky and holds many secrets and answers come from unexpected places. From her ideally-located home Imogene observes and puzzle pieces zip into place, a little too neatly.
For me the story is beyond the mystery but also an introduction to quirky yet likeable Imogene and the varied cast of Dartmonders (listed in the front, too). It is also about grief, loss, family, friendship, hope and love. My favourite aspect is the witty and original writing style, fun and playful yet substantive with Victorian-era vernacular, values and details. I like that the protagonist is middle aged and has loads of life experience.
Historical Fiction readers will be pulled in, especially those intrigued by dollops of mystery and underpinnings of enduring love.
My sincere thank you to Hannah Byron Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this charmer. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next in the series, The Peculiar Vanishing Act of Mr. Ralph Herriot.
For me the story is beyond the mystery but also an introduction to quirky yet likeable Imogene and the varied cast of Dartmonders (listed in the front, too). It is also about grief, loss, family, friendship, hope and love. My favourite aspect is the witty and original writing style, fun and playful yet substantive with Victorian-era vernacular, values and details. I like that the protagonist is middle aged and has loads of life experience.
Historical Fiction readers will be pulled in, especially those intrigued by dollops of mystery and underpinnings of enduring love.
My sincere thank you to Hannah Byron Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this charmer. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next in the series, The Peculiar Vanishing Act of Mr. Ralph Herriot.
December 11, 2022
This cover and quirky title drew me in, but I was disappointed. Info dumps, awkward dialogue, and little insight into the characters’ feelings along with a dull investigation made this a boring read.
We’re told Imogene is a good investigator, but the first person present pov is just rambling thoughts and we don’t actually see her do anything other than share her opinion. She does zero detective work to uncover the tragic backstory—not even a crime—and it’s a flat resolution.
I received an arc from NetGalley
We’re told Imogene is a good investigator, but the first person present pov is just rambling thoughts and we don’t actually see her do anything other than share her opinion. She does zero detective work to uncover the tragic backstory—not even a crime—and it’s a flat resolution.
I received an arc from NetGalley
December 17, 2022
I really like Victorian mysteries, so from the description, I thought this sounded like my sort of book. I was also very drawn to the cover design; I thought it was striking and pretty.
I enjoyed this book. There was something quite cosy and comforting about it. I liked the protagonist, and the way she narrated. I felt a connection with Imogene, and felt that I got to know her quite well. I also warmed to some of the other characters.
This story was entertaining and light to read; I read it in one sitting. I think I would probably read some more books featuring this character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
I enjoyed this book. There was something quite cosy and comforting about it. I liked the protagonist, and the way she narrated. I felt a connection with Imogene, and felt that I got to know her quite well. I also warmed to some of the other characters.
This story was entertaining and light to read; I read it in one sitting. I think I would probably read some more books featuring this character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
December 3, 2022
1895 On his death bed Sir Reginald informs his son, Sir Finley Lowther, that he is adopted and tells him to trace his birth mother. The case is given to his brother-in-law policeman Lynch. On his death his wife Mrs Imogene Lynch takes over the case.
For me even for a cozy historical mystery there is not much of an investigation or even a mystery. For some reason Imogene is deemed by those who know her as a wonderful detective though this was not shown in this story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For me even for a cozy historical mystery there is not much of an investigation or even a mystery. For some reason Imogene is deemed by those who know her as a wonderful detective though this was not shown in this story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2022
This was an excellent book set in the 1800’s. I loved everything about it. Characters with much depth, descriptions of dress, travel and food set in this period. My favorite character was Mrs. Imogene Lynch, solving a case she promised him on his deathbed. She had a great dog to sooth her and her quirky maid Gertie who was good for much laughter! I’m very much looking for more to continue with a series including Mrs Lynch. Kudos to Hannah Byron for a great read all around.
December 8, 2022
I really enjoyed The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby by Hannah Byron. It was a nice, easy read with a little mystery and a lot of charm. I wanted to visit Dartmond and walk through the streets and meet all the characters in real life. I didn’t figure out the twist ahead of time and the ending scene is full of all the Christmas delights you are looking for at this time of year.
My true rating is 4 1/2 stars.
My true rating is 4 1/2 stars.
November 30, 2022
A charming start to a new mystery series about a Victorian widow with a talent for sleuthing. Imogene Lynch recently lost her beloved husband, Thaddeus, the Chief Constable in the Cotswolds. Imogene’s uncle Sir Reginald told her cousin, Sir Findlay, that he was adopted at his birth on Christmas day 50 years ago but gave no additional information. Reginald died leaving a cryptic will and lots of questions. Reginald asked Thaddeus to investigate but he was quite ill and near the end of his life. On his deathbed, Imogene promised Thaddeus that she would solve the mystery of Findlay’s birth…the Christmas baby.
Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
December 5, 2022
An interesting mystery book. I liked the setting and the main character! She has a lot of pluck! I was surprised by the ending!
I read this book by courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I read this book by courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2023
This was a much lighter from of crime fiction than I usually read, but from the very start I loved the feel of this book. It is set in the late 19th Century, and following the death of her husband Imogene Lynch sets out to take on his task and find out the true lineage of her brother-in-law, following a claim made on the death beforehand of his father.
As part of her investigation, and to keep eyes on who she believes could be his real mother, Imogene moves to Dartmond. This is a very cosy and light touch mystery, with the reader finding out a lot of Imogene’s thinking through her internal dialogue. However bit by bit she builds up the story of what she think happened and she just needs to get the right people to reveal their part in the story.
I found this a very enjoyable book, and whilst slow moving at points I still feel the book overall moved forward at a good pace and I enjoyed the way the book was structured and how the puzzle was put together piece by piece. Not my usual crime fayre but I will certainly be looking out for the next book in the story. If you enjoy cosy mysteries and historical mysteries I would recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As part of her investigation, and to keep eyes on who she believes could be his real mother, Imogene moves to Dartmond. This is a very cosy and light touch mystery, with the reader finding out a lot of Imogene’s thinking through her internal dialogue. However bit by bit she builds up the story of what she think happened and she just needs to get the right people to reveal their part in the story.
I found this a very enjoyable book, and whilst slow moving at points I still feel the book overall moved forward at a good pace and I enjoyed the way the book was structured and how the puzzle was put together piece by piece. Not my usual crime fayre but I will certainly be looking out for the next book in the story. If you enjoy cosy mysteries and historical mysteries I would recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2024
Special thanks to the author(s), publisher, Goodreads and/or NetGalley for the review copy. All views and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
Mystery isn’t my go-to genre unless it’s a sub-theme. So, I’m wrong for picking a book based on its cover, but I did like parts of this story.
The story follows Imogene Lynch who arrives in Dartmond to fulfill her late husband’s final wish to solve the mystery of the Christmas baby. The Christmas baby is her cousin, Finch, who was adopted into the household and to receive his inheritance needs to find his birth mother. However, this opens up many more intertwining events and stories.
Personally, this didn’t feel like a mystery to me. It felt more like a diary, going through Imogene’s life and thoughts many times unrelated to the mystery. There was no suspense or thrill reading this story. It was quite calm and the mystery was easily solvable and practically written out multiple times. The only hurdle was obtaining proof which seemed far too easily achieved at the end of the book.
The story is told from Imogene’s perspective which has its pros and cons. We got to be right in the midst of the mystery by experiencing the clues firsthand. However, Imogene’s motivation to solve the mystery is dampened many times so the clues become disjointed and randomly spaced. I felt that reading about the other towns folk that interacted with Imogene was much more enjoyable than the mystery element itself.
There are some disturbing events and mentions in this story such as possible murder, molestation, rape, death, pedophilia, and more. I strongly urge everyone to research the trigger warning before reading this book. Although these topics aren’t a large part of the story, they are still mentioned and hinted at.
The characters aren’t really my favorite but as the story went on they grew on me. Imogene isn’t a perfect character but she’s not a very likable one either, in my opinion. I don’t read many western historical stories so it’s possible her character is correct but her thoughts didn’t really sit well with me. I did like some of the other characters and found their fun personalities brought some life into the story.
Overall, this was a good read and I’m glad I finally got to it. I would classify this more like a general fiction read than a mystery. It has a little of everything really from romance and mystery to themes such as trauma, family and growth.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
Mystery isn’t my go-to genre unless it’s a sub-theme. So, I’m wrong for picking a book based on its cover, but I did like parts of this story.
The story follows Imogene Lynch who arrives in Dartmond to fulfill her late husband’s final wish to solve the mystery of the Christmas baby. The Christmas baby is her cousin, Finch, who was adopted into the household and to receive his inheritance needs to find his birth mother. However, this opens up many more intertwining events and stories.
Personally, this didn’t feel like a mystery to me. It felt more like a diary, going through Imogene’s life and thoughts many times unrelated to the mystery. There was no suspense or thrill reading this story. It was quite calm and the mystery was easily solvable and practically written out multiple times. The only hurdle was obtaining proof which seemed far too easily achieved at the end of the book.
The story is told from Imogene’s perspective which has its pros and cons. We got to be right in the midst of the mystery by experiencing the clues firsthand. However, Imogene’s motivation to solve the mystery is dampened many times so the clues become disjointed and randomly spaced. I felt that reading about the other towns folk that interacted with Imogene was much more enjoyable than the mystery element itself.
There are some disturbing events and mentions in this story such as possible murder, molestation, rape, death, pedophilia, and more. I strongly urge everyone to research the trigger warning before reading this book. Although these topics aren’t a large part of the story, they are still mentioned and hinted at.
The characters aren’t really my favorite but as the story went on they grew on me. Imogene isn’t a perfect character but she’s not a very likable one either, in my opinion. I don’t read many western historical stories so it’s possible her character is correct but her thoughts didn’t really sit well with me. I did like some of the other characters and found their fun personalities brought some life into the story.
Overall, this was a good read and I’m glad I finally got to it. I would classify this more like a general fiction read than a mystery. It has a little of everything really from romance and mystery to themes such as trauma, family and growth.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
June 3, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby is the first book in a Victorian cozy mystery series by Hannah Byron. Released 6th Dec 2022, it's 236 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is such an oddly written book that quite often, the choice of third person present tense overshadows the actual story. It does have many of the well-loved cozy tropes: deathbed confession, secret adoption, Victorian scandal, secret pregnancy, and holiday resolutions, but the pacing never really recedes sufficiently to make it an easy reading experience.
Although it's set in the Victorian era, there are lots of anachronistic phrases sprinkled throughout, for example "right on", the first registered usage of which wasn't for another 30 years. There are also some distractingly odd turns of phrase, for example calling her late husband her "benedict" no fewer than 23 times in the course of the book (his name was Thaddeus).
Sensitive readers should be aware that there are some unusually difficult themes for a cozy mystery including child abuse, infanticide, post traumatic stress (of a child), and suicide ideation.
All the oddities aside, this is a well written and engagingly constructed story with an interesting mystery and a worthwhile read. The second book in the series, The Peculiar Vanishing Act of Mr Ralph Herriot , is due for release in Aug 2023, and will also be included in the Kindle unlimited library according to the release info.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby is the first book in a Victorian cozy mystery series by Hannah Byron. Released 6th Dec 2022, it's 236 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is such an oddly written book that quite often, the choice of third person present tense overshadows the actual story. It does have many of the well-loved cozy tropes: deathbed confession, secret adoption, Victorian scandal, secret pregnancy, and holiday resolutions, but the pacing never really recedes sufficiently to make it an easy reading experience.
Although it's set in the Victorian era, there are lots of anachronistic phrases sprinkled throughout, for example "right on", the first registered usage of which wasn't for another 30 years. There are also some distractingly odd turns of phrase, for example calling her late husband her "benedict" no fewer than 23 times in the course of the book (his name was Thaddeus).
Sensitive readers should be aware that there are some unusually difficult themes for a cozy mystery including child abuse, infanticide, post traumatic stress (of a child), and suicide ideation.
All the oddities aside, this is a well written and engagingly constructed story with an interesting mystery and a worthwhile read. The second book in the series, The Peculiar Vanishing Act of Mr Ralph Herriot , is due for release in Aug 2023, and will also be included in the Kindle unlimited library according to the release info.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 24, 2022
“...the expression on his young, freckled face clearly states he has no interest in the background of this story and only wants the gory details. But that’s not how I tell a story.”
This actually sums up the experience of reading the book quite nicely.
Fifty-year-old Imogene Lynch has recently moved to the tight-knit community of Dartmond after her husband passed away. With the promise to solve his last case for him, she sets out to find the truth of her cousin's adoption.
Firstly, what you absolutely need to know, is that this story is mostly about vibes.
It's not a typical suspense novel where you're on the edge of your seat and want to turn the next page before you've even finished the current one.
Secondly, be prepared to remember a lot of names. Even if there is a cast list at the beginning, it can still feel overwhelming as the story progresses. (A family or character tree would have been fantastic...).
Oh, and also, the main character breaks the fourth wall, so either the story is written as a diary entry or she actually talks to the reader. I'm not quite sure which yet. And since the story is set in the 1890s and tried to accurately reflect the time, be prepared to read about the beliefs and portrayal of people from that time. Although I feel that the depictions were quite tame to what it could've been so as not to distract from the plot.
My biggest pet peeve is the way Jasper, her dog, was fed normal human food that he should never have been given. I could write a whole essay about how it's no wonder he looked unhealthy and couldn't move much. Hm. I WONDER WHY.
Every time he was mentioned, it physically hurt me.
In my opinion Imogene's character was not quite consistent, but since she's telling the story she's allowed to have a flawed view of herself and her surroundings.
All in all, this felt like a writing exercise that got published. A good one, but still.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hannah Byron Books, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This actually sums up the experience of reading the book quite nicely.
Fifty-year-old Imogene Lynch has recently moved to the tight-knit community of Dartmond after her husband passed away. With the promise to solve his last case for him, she sets out to find the truth of her cousin's adoption.
Firstly, what you absolutely need to know, is that this story is mostly about vibes.
It's not a typical suspense novel where you're on the edge of your seat and want to turn the next page before you've even finished the current one.
Secondly, be prepared to remember a lot of names. Even if there is a cast list at the beginning, it can still feel overwhelming as the story progresses. (A family or character tree would have been fantastic...).
Oh, and also, the main character breaks the fourth wall, so either the story is written as a diary entry or she actually talks to the reader. I'm not quite sure which yet. And since the story is set in the 1890s and tried to accurately reflect the time, be prepared to read about the beliefs and portrayal of people from that time. Although I feel that the depictions were quite tame to what it could've been so as not to distract from the plot.
My biggest pet peeve is the way Jasper, her dog, was fed normal human food that he should never have been given. I could write a whole essay about how it's no wonder he looked unhealthy and couldn't move much. Hm. I WONDER WHY.
Every time he was mentioned, it physically hurt me.
In my opinion Imogene's character was not quite consistent, but since she's telling the story she's allowed to have a flawed view of herself and her surroundings.
All in all, this felt like a writing exercise that got published. A good one, but still.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hannah Byron Books, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
December 3, 2022tl;dr
Less of a mystery and more of a story about a widow living with grief and finding healing by following her late husband's last case. Stream of consciousness style narration is intimate, but might not be for everyone.
Thoughts
There's a mystery in this book, but I struggle to classify this story as a mystery proper. Very little investigation is done, large portions of time pass with no progress, and most solutions are the result of Imogene being very easy to speak to rather than any deductive reasoning on her part. I think it'd more accurately be considered a story about Imogene's first year alone after the death of her husband Thaddeus. Narration is marked by frequent flashbacks to Thaddeus, bursts of grief, and a determination to solve the mystery rooted firmly in his last wishes. Even the ending is more focused on how she's taken the steps towards healing by solving the case, with less fanfare spent on the actual case. There's definitely a mystery at hand along with some serious reveals by the end, but don't come in expecting detective legwork and the unravelling of a web of clues.
Narration is done in first person present tense. As usual, present tense is really difficult for me, but I can understand the purpose here - The writing comes off as very stream of consciousness, as if Imogene is confiding the events of her day to a close friend over tea. There's a warmth to the confidentiality of it, but sometimes her own personal distractions distracted me as well. No one else seems to be bothered by this, so I'm going to assume that once again it's just the present tense problem coming for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hannah Byron for an advance copy!
Less of a mystery and more of a story about a widow living with grief and finding healing by following her late husband's last case. Stream of consciousness style narration is intimate, but might not be for everyone.
Thoughts
There's a mystery in this book, but I struggle to classify this story as a mystery proper. Very little investigation is done, large portions of time pass with no progress, and most solutions are the result of Imogene being very easy to speak to rather than any deductive reasoning on her part. I think it'd more accurately be considered a story about Imogene's first year alone after the death of her husband Thaddeus. Narration is marked by frequent flashbacks to Thaddeus, bursts of grief, and a determination to solve the mystery rooted firmly in his last wishes. Even the ending is more focused on how she's taken the steps towards healing by solving the case, with less fanfare spent on the actual case. There's definitely a mystery at hand along with some serious reveals by the end, but don't come in expecting detective legwork and the unravelling of a web of clues.
Narration is done in first person present tense. As usual, present tense is really difficult for me, but I can understand the purpose here - The writing comes off as very stream of consciousness, as if Imogene is confiding the events of her day to a close friend over tea. There's a warmth to the confidentiality of it, but sometimes her own personal distractions distracted me as well. No one else seems to be bothered by this, so I'm going to assume that once again it's just the present tense problem coming for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hannah Byron for an advance copy!
December 16, 2022
dnf on page 51
trigger warning
When a lord's father dies, he comes clean on his deathbed and tells him he is not related by blood, that he was adopted. And if he wants to sort out the testament, he has to find his biological mother and make amends.
What makes the lord sympathic is that he doesn't really care about his father's money, he just wants to take care of this mess in a dignified manner.
Interestingly, the protagonist is the lord's cousin. See, she is both a cousin to the lord and to his wife because aristocracy is weird. Her husband was a detective and set on solving the case, but was already deadly ill when the news was recieved and never got round to it. So his wife is taking up the mantle. She is rich and has nothing better to do if we're being honest, and it's what her beloved wanted. Also, she is curious and it's a family matter.
There really is no reason not to tackle this.
The writing style is very rich and it all feels very victorian, apart from one thing: We have a first person narrator who gives her all, a stream of conscious narration, which ultimately was the reason I dnf-ed this.
I really wish this would be taken into consideration when marketing a novel, because this style of narration is hugely inaccessible for neurodivergent people.
I settled on a three star rating because so far the novel did what was promised.
Some spiteful part in me wants to give it a 1 for not disclosing the way it was written.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
trigger warning
When a lord's father dies, he comes clean on his deathbed and tells him he is not related by blood, that he was adopted. And if he wants to sort out the testament, he has to find his biological mother and make amends.
What makes the lord sympathic is that he doesn't really care about his father's money, he just wants to take care of this mess in a dignified manner.
Interestingly, the protagonist is the lord's cousin. See, she is both a cousin to the lord and to his wife because aristocracy is weird. Her husband was a detective and set on solving the case, but was already deadly ill when the news was recieved and never got round to it. So his wife is taking up the mantle. She is rich and has nothing better to do if we're being honest, and it's what her beloved wanted. Also, she is curious and it's a family matter.
There really is no reason not to tackle this.
The writing style is very rich and it all feels very victorian, apart from one thing: We have a first person narrator who gives her all, a stream of conscious narration, which ultimately was the reason I dnf-ed this.
I really wish this would be taken into consideration when marketing a novel, because this style of narration is hugely inaccessible for neurodivergent people.
I settled on a three star rating because so far the novel did what was promised.
Some spiteful part in me wants to give it a 1 for not disclosing the way it was written.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
November 29, 2022
If I were to pick a quote from this book to adequately summarize its contents, it would be thus:
“As the trees are casting off their leaves, and the swallows are migrating southwards, I’m feeling as useless as a gun without a trigger, time-passing and ruminating.”
In my opinion, a cozy mystery truly shines through its main character’s amateur detectivism. How do they use their unique skills/job/relationships/etc to solve a crime the bumbling (or sexy ;) ) police force could not? Well let me tell you how the main character of this book, Imogene Lynch, does it: she has 1 conversation with her aunt who just reveals everything. No interrogation, sneaking, or general detective work required. One look at this woman and everyone is just falling over themselves to confess their secrets to her. For the vast majority of the book, she just sits in her shitty apartment, thinking about her dead husband or her porky dog, and looking out her window ��� making apparently zero unique observations or deductions. Seriously, she’s absolutely useless in this book. Things just happen, she has almost no part in moving the plot along. And yet everyone around her acts as if she’s the Hercule Poirot of the Victorian-era widows. Then, to top it all off, the “mystery” that is “solved” by Imogene isn’t even a crime. Literally it’s just someone’s tragic backstory. Oh, and the damn similes. ENOUGH WITH THE SIMILES. I can’t think of much to say in favor of this book except that it was a quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
“As the trees are casting off their leaves, and the swallows are migrating southwards, I’m feeling as useless as a gun without a trigger, time-passing and ruminating.”
In my opinion, a cozy mystery truly shines through its main character’s amateur detectivism. How do they use their unique skills/job/relationships/etc to solve a crime the bumbling (or sexy ;) ) police force could not? Well let me tell you how the main character of this book, Imogene Lynch, does it: she has 1 conversation with her aunt who just reveals everything. No interrogation, sneaking, or general detective work required. One look at this woman and everyone is just falling over themselves to confess their secrets to her. For the vast majority of the book, she just sits in her shitty apartment, thinking about her dead husband or her porky dog, and looking out her window ��� making apparently zero unique observations or deductions. Seriously, she’s absolutely useless in this book. Things just happen, she has almost no part in moving the plot along. And yet everyone around her acts as if she’s the Hercule Poirot of the Victorian-era widows. Then, to top it all off, the “mystery” that is “solved” by Imogene isn’t even a crime. Literally it’s just someone’s tragic backstory. Oh, and the damn similes. ENOUGH WITH THE SIMILES. I can’t think of much to say in favor of this book except that it was a quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2022
While it’s not unusual for Christmas cozies to begin and end on the holiday. The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby, however, spans two Christmases and two birthdays, actually four birthdays - two for our Mrs. Imogene Lynch and two for her cousin Sir Finley Lowther, the secret Christmas baby whose birth origin is under investigation after the deathbed confession of Imogene’s uncle that he is not Finley’s father.
Imogene sets up house, during her mourning, in a small apartment in the neighboring Cotswold town of Dartmond, taking up the investigation into the matter, honoring her late constable husband’s dying wish to find the answers that he could not.
There we meet an interesting cast of characters, as Imogene and Jasper, her Jack Russell Terrier, get to know the townsfolk and its colorful mayor, search for clues and uncover 50-year-old secrets while dealing with the grief over the loss of her beloved.
Hannah Byron brings us a satisfying Christmas cozy and leaves the reader anxious to see Imogene Lynch’s confidence grow and prepare to solve her next mystery. The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby is a relaxing holiday read snuggled up on the sofa with a cuppa and a kitty or pup at your feet during a snowstorm.
I received a free egalley courtesy of Hannah Byron Books, through NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.
Imogene sets up house, during her mourning, in a small apartment in the neighboring Cotswold town of Dartmond, taking up the investigation into the matter, honoring her late constable husband’s dying wish to find the answers that he could not.
There we meet an interesting cast of characters, as Imogene and Jasper, her Jack Russell Terrier, get to know the townsfolk and its colorful mayor, search for clues and uncover 50-year-old secrets while dealing with the grief over the loss of her beloved.
Hannah Byron brings us a satisfying Christmas cozy and leaves the reader anxious to see Imogene Lynch’s confidence grow and prepare to solve her next mystery. The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby is a relaxing holiday read snuggled up on the sofa with a cuppa and a kitty or pup at your feet during a snowstorm.
I received a free egalley courtesy of Hannah Byron Books, through NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.
January 13, 2023
2.5 stars. This was a different sort of mystery than I usually read. It was calm and cozy with a subdued undertone, as the protagonist is grieving the loss of her beloved husband. Mrs. Imogene Lynch is a delicate woman in her late forties, working to solve her constable-husband's final case: the parentage of her cousin, Finley. In between bouts of grief, and accompanied by her beloved dog, Imogene, sets out to fulfill her husband's dying wish and determine once and for all what exactly took place on Christmas Day some fifty years before.
The tone was more somber and drawn out than I'm used to, but the longer timeline allowed for greater changes between updates. I did enjoy seeing the townspeople over the course of the book, but I don't know that I found it compelling enough to seek out the sequel. Imogene keeps to herself quite often, so we see only bits of other folks as they cross her path. Much of the book is simply her internal ramblings. Her mourning seems to keep her from moving forward with her investigation in any sort of straightforward manner. I think I prefer a bit more warmth and wit with my mysteries, though the circumstances of Imogene's present life certainly make the tone understandable. As you can see by the date of this review, I did not prioritize it enough to get through it by Christmas, and I didn't really feel like it was a holiday book.
The tone was more somber and drawn out than I'm used to, but the longer timeline allowed for greater changes between updates. I did enjoy seeing the townspeople over the course of the book, but I don't know that I found it compelling enough to seek out the sequel. Imogene keeps to herself quite often, so we see only bits of other folks as they cross her path. Much of the book is simply her internal ramblings. Her mourning seems to keep her from moving forward with her investigation in any sort of straightforward manner. I think I prefer a bit more warmth and wit with my mysteries, though the circumstances of Imogene's present life certainly make the tone understandable. As you can see by the date of this review, I did not prioritize it enough to get through it by Christmas, and I didn't really feel like it was a holiday book.
December 7, 2022
The Unsolved Case of the Secret Christmas Baby by Hannah Bryon
This story starts out with the female investigators wife, Imogene Lynch and she's relocated to Dartmond to find more clues.
The case her spouse was working on before he died doesn't sit well with her, not being solved. She watches the local stores and people that come and go.
What I like about this story is that he's left notes for her to follow and ask questions from others to clarify points he had written down.
Around the Christmas holiday so we get to hear about all the festivities and decorations. Love how she gives us the clues from old newspapers and her step by step action and thoughts.
She talks to you as if you are right there in the room having a cuppa with her.
Such mysteries come to light but she keeps collecting the clues til she knows what really happened...
Fascinating that you could never think possible the events that take place. Love that her dog keeps her company
Like new words I learned along the way for that period of time. Really enjoying this series.
Excerpt from the next book is included at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
This story starts out with the female investigators wife, Imogene Lynch and she's relocated to Dartmond to find more clues.
The case her spouse was working on before he died doesn't sit well with her, not being solved. She watches the local stores and people that come and go.
What I like about this story is that he's left notes for her to follow and ask questions from others to clarify points he had written down.
Around the Christmas holiday so we get to hear about all the festivities and decorations. Love how she gives us the clues from old newspapers and her step by step action and thoughts.
She talks to you as if you are right there in the room having a cuppa with her.
Such mysteries come to light but she keeps collecting the clues til she knows what really happened...
Fascinating that you could never think possible the events that take place. Love that her dog keeps her company
Like new words I learned along the way for that period of time. Really enjoying this series.
Excerpt from the next book is included at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
December 8, 2022
a 2.5 stars read.
I love victorian cozy mystery, I was expected a sherlock vibes, but unfortunately this one is a bit underwhelming for me, but the last few chapters where everything is resolved is pretty entertaining, so I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
What I like: the plot, it's pretty entertaining.
What I don't like:
- Mrs Imogene. I don't like how she treated her maid and how she always judging everyone and everything, she's kinda rude sometimes like she's above the other and it's like she's always complaining.
- slow paced mystery, this book took forever, not much investigating happening here, just guessing and waiting and only when I reached the last few chapters everything is getting a bit entertaining.
- the revelation, again not much investigation happening here, so if she thought about it from the beginning the bok will be done in just few pages.
- lots of weird things that doesn't make sense for me.
Recommended: hmm I still enjoyed the last few chapters, but still underwhelming for me, so if you want to try it, go for it, maybe you will like it more than I do.
I love victorian cozy mystery, I was expected a sherlock vibes, but unfortunately this one is a bit underwhelming for me, but the last few chapters where everything is resolved is pretty entertaining, so I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
What I like: the plot, it's pretty entertaining.
What I don't like:
- Mrs Imogene. I don't like how she treated her maid and how she always judging everyone and everything, she's kinda rude sometimes like she's above the other and it's like she's always complaining.
- slow paced mystery, this book took forever, not much investigating happening here, just guessing and waiting and only when I reached the last few chapters everything is getting a bit entertaining.
- the revelation, again not much investigation happening here, so if she thought about it from the beginning the bok will be done in just few pages.
- lots of weird things that doesn't make sense for me.
Recommended: hmm I still enjoyed the last few chapters, but still underwhelming for me, so if you want to try it, go for it, maybe you will like it more than I do.
December 17, 2022
I don't know quite how I feel about this book. It picks up in the last four chapters but the first 65% of the book is an enormous struggle. First, the main character initially comes off as deeply unlikable: she treats her maid poorly and looks down her nose at other people. We come to realize later that this is because of grief, but I almost put down the book multiple times in the beginning. Secondly, this book is Just So Slow. At one point, I skipped forward four chapters and nothing had changed. Then once we find the solution, we get to hear it from person after person after person. Nothing changes-we just get to hear what happened again. It was actually kind of infuriating as a reader to read.
It's possible that, for another kind of reader, this would be a gentle meditation on getting over someone's death, so I hesitate to just give this one star and be done with it. If you like traditional mysteries where the detective actively searches for a solution, this is probably not the book for you.
It's possible that, for another kind of reader, this would be a gentle meditation on getting over someone's death, so I hesitate to just give this one star and be done with it. If you like traditional mysteries where the detective actively searches for a solution, this is probably not the book for you.
December 4, 2022
This was a good introduction to a new series. There were a number of characters but that tends to be the case with a new series but they should be more familiar as the series continues. Mrs. Imogene Lynch was carrying out her husband’s last request to discover the truth behind her cousin’s adoption. She did tend to speak to herself and her dog, Jasper a lot at the start but this wasn’t so noticeable once other characters came into play. This was a complex problem and it took some working out. There are a number of interesting secondary characters. Also, as they come towards the turn of the century the beginnings of change are seen, such as women’s clothing and people from a different race taking key positions. This was an engaging read and I’ve preordered the next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 9, 2022
What I liked most about this book was the wide variety of beautifully-drawn characters. From the astute widow of Thaddeus Lynch, Imogene, who was charged with finishing up this secret baby case, to the half-Indian, elegant, intelligent Mayor Banerjee, to Timmy Pocock, friend of Imogene’s dog Jasper—all were easily visualized as if I had just met them in real life. The adept characterizations, even of Jasper and his food preferences and occasional tummy upsets, drew me easily into the plot. I adored the description of “Aunt Kitty” and the kind asylum nurse.
The only slight negative for me was what I felt was a somewhat far-fetched plot, but overall I really enjoyed the story and characterizations.
The author provided me an ARC of her book, and this is an honest review.
The only slight negative for me was what I felt was a somewhat far-fetched plot, but overall I really enjoyed the story and characterizations.
The author provided me an ARC of her book, and this is an honest review.
December 15, 2022
I just finished this cozy Christmas mystery late last night. It was exactly that cozy. I felt like I was looking outside Imogene’s window at our colorful cast of characters right along side her.
This story is about a recently widowed woman who is looking to finish her husbands last case he was unable to finish on his deathbed. It involves one of their family trying to find their birth mother.
I loved the cozy towns this story takes place in and many of the characters in this story. Gertie the helpful? Maid. Jasper the roly poly, spoiled jack Russell and the major of this dear place.
There were twists and turns aplenty. In the final act of the story is a perfectly wrapped up (pun intended) ending.
This story is about a recently widowed woman who is looking to finish her husbands last case he was unable to finish on his deathbed. It involves one of their family trying to find their birth mother.
I loved the cozy towns this story takes place in and many of the characters in this story. Gertie the helpful? Maid. Jasper the roly poly, spoiled jack Russell and the major of this dear place.
There were twists and turns aplenty. In the final act of the story is a perfectly wrapped up (pun intended) ending.
January 12, 2023
The Unsloved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby by Hannah Byron is the historical cozy mystery.
The premise and the cover really drew me in and I was very excited to read this novel. but I am sad to say that I didn't enjoy it.
Truthfully it was too slow and static for my liking. The main character is mainly sitting and observing on certain individuals trying to solve a cold case.
While the case was quite intriguing and the beginning showed promise very soon all of it came to a stop and from there just continued in that fashion,
I expect my amateur detective to do some detecting which didn't happen here.
The ending was almost non existent and therefore pretty disappointing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The premise and the cover really drew me in and I was very excited to read this novel. but I am sad to say that I didn't enjoy it.
Truthfully it was too slow and static for my liking. The main character is mainly sitting and observing on certain individuals trying to solve a cold case.
While the case was quite intriguing and the beginning showed promise very soon all of it came to a stop and from there just continued in that fashion,
I expect my amateur detective to do some detecting which didn't happen here.
The ending was almost non existent and therefore pretty disappointing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2022
2.5 stars
This is a really cute cover which that, plus some of the description, drew me into requesting the book. I had to force myself to finish it because it just lacked luster. The main character talks most of the time rather than take action for a mystery. Plus, things were revealed by way of people talking, not uncovering most of the mystery side of the story. I've read other historical mysteries that kept my attention. I really wanted to like this book and I can see where the author could go with expanding it, but it just didn't wow me. I'm hoping others find enjoyment out of this story. Thanks to the author and the publisher for making it available.
This is a really cute cover which that, plus some of the description, drew me into requesting the book. I had to force myself to finish it because it just lacked luster. The main character talks most of the time rather than take action for a mystery. Plus, things were revealed by way of people talking, not uncovering most of the mystery side of the story. I've read other historical mysteries that kept my attention. I really wanted to like this book and I can see where the author could go with expanding it, but it just didn't wow me. I'm hoping others find enjoyment out of this story. Thanks to the author and the publisher for making it available.
January 14, 2023
This book caught my attention because of the title, the cover, and the general plot..
Here are my honest thoughts.
I liked it! I mean, it was a tad quirky, slower paced than I would have liked, but interesting. Victorian historical vibes kept my interest, as did Imogene. She's grieving and lonely, but becomes immersed in a mystery as she puts pieces together of an adoption and a murder that her late husband was working on. Also? I loved Jasper!
I did hope for more fast paced action, but I think the pace fit Imogene and the mood of the novel just right. She's a very likable character and I look forward to reading about her in the next book in the series.
Overall, I give this book a 3.5/5!
Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC!
Here are my honest thoughts.
I liked it! I mean, it was a tad quirky, slower paced than I would have liked, but interesting. Victorian historical vibes kept my interest, as did Imogene. She's grieving and lonely, but becomes immersed in a mystery as she puts pieces together of an adoption and a murder that her late husband was working on. Also? I loved Jasper!
I did hope for more fast paced action, but I think the pace fit Imogene and the mood of the novel just right. She's a very likable character and I look forward to reading about her in the next book in the series.
Overall, I give this book a 3.5/5!
Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC!
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