What do you think?
Rate this book
Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries #3
The Spanish Diplomat's Secret
In The Spanish Diplomat's Secret, award-winning author Nev March explores the vivid nineteenth-century world of the transatlantic voyage, one passenger’s secret at a time.
Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are embarking to England in the summer of 1894. Jim is hopeful the cruise will help Diana open up to him. Something is troubling her, and Jim is concerned.
On their first evening, Jim meets an intriguing Spaniard, a fellow soldier with whom he finds an instant kinship. But within twenty-four hours, Don Juan Nepomuceno is murdered, his body discovered shortly after he asks rather urgently to see Jim.
When the captain discovers that Jim is an investigator, he pleads with Jim to find the killer before they dock in Liverpool in six days, or there could be international consequences. Aboard the beleaguered luxury liner are a thousand suspects, but no witnesses to the locked-cabin crime. Jim would prefer to keep Diana safely out of his investigation, but he’s doubled over, seasick. Plus, Jim knows Diana can navigate the high society world of the ship's first-class passengers in ways he cannot.
Together, using the tricks gleaned from their favorite fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, Jim and Diana must learn why one man’s life came to a murderous end.
Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are embarking to England in the summer of 1894. Jim is hopeful the cruise will help Diana open up to him. Something is troubling her, and Jim is concerned.
On their first evening, Jim meets an intriguing Spaniard, a fellow soldier with whom he finds an instant kinship. But within twenty-four hours, Don Juan Nepomuceno is murdered, his body discovered shortly after he asks rather urgently to see Jim.
When the captain discovers that Jim is an investigator, he pleads with Jim to find the killer before they dock in Liverpool in six days, or there could be international consequences. Aboard the beleaguered luxury liner are a thousand suspects, but no witnesses to the locked-cabin crime. Jim would prefer to keep Diana safely out of his investigation, but he’s doubled over, seasick. Plus, Jim knows Diana can navigate the high society world of the ship's first-class passengers in ways he cannot.
Together, using the tricks gleaned from their favorite fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, Jim and Diana must learn why one man’s life came to a murderous end.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2023
70 people are currently reading
4708 people want to read
About the author
Nev March
6 books457 followersNev March is the first Indian-born author to receive the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Award for Best First Crime Fiction. Nev is 2024 NY Chapter President for Mystery Writers of America.
Her debut novel, Murder in Old Bombay was a finalist for Edgar and Anthony Awards as well as Macavity, Barry and Hammett Awards for Crime Fiction.
She has appeared in radio and podcast interviews including NPR, and been featured in Mystery Tribune, Mystery Scene Magazine, CrimeReads, The History Reader and other publications. Murder in Old Bombay was an Amazon’s Editor’s Pick. The New York Times listed it as one of the “Best crime novels of 2020”.
After a long career in business analysis, she returned to her passion of writing fiction and now teaches creative writing at the Rutgers-Osher Institute. A Parsi Zoroastrian, she lives in New Jersey with her family.
Visit her website at www.NevMarch.com
Her debut novel, Murder in Old Bombay was a finalist for Edgar and Anthony Awards as well as Macavity, Barry and Hammett Awards for Crime Fiction.
She has appeared in radio and podcast interviews including NPR, and been featured in Mystery Tribune, Mystery Scene Magazine, CrimeReads, The History Reader and other publications. Murder in Old Bombay was an Amazon’s Editor’s Pick. The New York Times listed it as one of the “Best crime novels of 2020”.
After a long career in business analysis, she returned to her passion of writing fiction and now teaches creative writing at the Rutgers-Osher Institute. A Parsi Zoroastrian, she lives in New Jersey with her family.
Visit her website at www.NevMarch.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
July 27, 2023
The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret is an historical cozy mystery, reminiscent of an Agatha Christie locked room murder. It’s the third in the James Agnihotri series but works fine as a stand-alone.
It’s 1894 and Jim and his wife, Diana, are sailing to England on a luxury liner. The second day at sea brings the murder of a Spanish gentleman and Jim is asked to conduct the investigation.
March does a good job of providing a detailed setting, true to the period. The book is also a throwback in terms of its pacing, which moved at a languid pace and became almost torpid in the middle. Jim seems to spend a lot of time ruminating over what he’s learned about each character. March offers up plenty of false leads and red herrings. The pace did pick up for the last quarter and I became totally engaged at that point. I figured out the murderer before Jim did, but that’s not saying much.
March spends a fair amount of time fleshing out both Jim and Diana. But Diana for some reason felt especially two dimensional here.
This was decent entertainment but a little too tepid for my taste.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
It’s 1894 and Jim and his wife, Diana, are sailing to England on a luxury liner. The second day at sea brings the murder of a Spanish gentleman and Jim is asked to conduct the investigation.
March does a good job of providing a detailed setting, true to the period. The book is also a throwback in terms of its pacing, which moved at a languid pace and became almost torpid in the middle. Jim seems to spend a lot of time ruminating over what he’s learned about each character. March offers up plenty of false leads and red herrings. The pace did pick up for the last quarter and I became totally engaged at that point. I figured out the murderer before Jim did, but that’s not saying much.
March spends a fair amount of time fleshing out both Jim and Diana. But Diana for some reason felt especially two dimensional here.
This was decent entertainment but a little too tepid for my taste.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
August 12, 2023
Book 3 in this marvelous series by Nev Marsh follows Captain Jim and Lady Diana as they take a relaxing ocean cruise to England only to have their vacation trip interrupted by Jim's seasickness and eventually the gruesome death of a passenger onboard. The ships captain enlists Jim, who has become a detective in America after his life in the British/Indian army, to lead the investigation into finding the murderer among the ships passengers and before they reach England. The book is set in the 1890's and even then there were cruise liners that plied the seas in luxury as it the case today, and while the ships were smaller back then there were still over 500 passengers or crew who could be the murderer. As always Lady Diana is a silent and reassuring presence and, in my opinion, has much more intuitive understanding of people, and solving clues. There are only 6 days in which to solve this murder, and along the way we meet many of the wealthy first class passengers, their aides, nurses and assistants, as well as many of the crew. Making this more intriguing is that the murder took place in a locked meeting room onboard this moving ship so there is nowhere for the assailant to hide.
And, as with all great mysteries, along the way we have people falling overboard, suicides, attacks on other passengers, and even an attack on Captain Jim! What elevates this novel is the wonderful use of history as part of the overall plot. Spain is in their usual state of civil war, the Spanish diplomat used to be the Spanish governor of Cuba, we learn how the Bases de Manresa situation fits into the plot, as well as the infamous Virginius affair in Cuba also is a driving force in the plot. As the author so eloquently puts it, "A murder and a suicide, occult sightings and stolen treasure. All on one ship." It is all here in a well written, well designed book that keeps us guessing until the very end!
And, as with all great mysteries, along the way we have people falling overboard, suicides, attacks on other passengers, and even an attack on Captain Jim! What elevates this novel is the wonderful use of history as part of the overall plot. Spain is in their usual state of civil war, the Spanish diplomat used to be the Spanish governor of Cuba, we learn how the Bases de Manresa situation fits into the plot, as well as the infamous Virginius affair in Cuba also is a driving force in the plot. As the author so eloquently puts it, "A murder and a suicide, occult sightings and stolen treasure. All on one ship." It is all here in a well written, well designed book that keeps us guessing until the very end!
May 31, 2025
*3-3.5 stars. Book three in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana historical mystery series finds the couple onboard a ship heading to England in the summer of 1894. After an important dignitary is found murdered in a locked room, the ship's captain asks Jim to investigate. He has eight days to solve the crime before they arrive in Liverpool.
This is an entertaining mystery but I felt the pace of the novel seemed to drag a bit. I always enjoy these two characters however and look forward to more in this series.
This is an entertaining mystery but I felt the pace of the novel seemed to drag a bit. I always enjoy these two characters however and look forward to more in this series.
December 13, 2023
Review to come.
August 19, 2023
Nev March's Captain Jim Agnihotri mysteries are among several interesting series that have cropped up in the last few years providing good reading from the mystery point of view and also examining historical issues of class, race, and gender in India during the colonial and early post-colonial period.
In the case of the Captain Jim Agnihotri mysteries, set in the late 1800s, all three of these topics come into play. Agnihotri, now using the name O'Trey, a corruption of his original last name, is the illegitimate son of an English father and Indian mother who was raised in a an orphanage. Having work as a soldier and then being invalided out, he has come to work as a private investigator, first in India, then, after his marriage to the sister of one of his wealthy clients, in the U.S., where they hope their relationship will attract less opprobrium than it does in India. He's triply marked: visibly "native" and from the lower classes and conscious of the way in which his wife has "lowered" herself through their marriage.
In The Spanish Diplomat's Secret, O'Trey/Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are sailing from the U.S. to England. Their marriage has become strained and O'Trey/Agnihotri has been unable to discover the issue that is clearly causing his wife a great deal of pain and vulnerability. Nonetheless, he's certain that whatever is happening must be his fault. This issue plays out alongside the mystery over the course of the bovel.
During his first night on the ship, O'Trey/Agnihotri is struck by seasickness, to which he is subject. While fighting his nausea on the open deck, he meets the Spaniard Don Juan Nepomuceno. The two quickly recognize one another as former soldiers and realize that they each are carrying burdens with them based in their military service, but they don't discuss specifics.
When Nepomuceno sends a note to O'Trey/Agnihotri requesting help, O'Trey/Agnihotri arrives too late: Nepomuceno has been murdered. Nepomuceno represents his country, which is engaged in a civil war, as a diplomat, and tensions are high between England and Spain. As a result, the ship's captain requests that O'Trey/Agnihotri try to solve the murder during the ship's remaining days at sea. If this can't be done, passengers will be held as potential witnesses when the ship arrives in port and tensions between England and Spain will almost certainly worsen.
Nepomuceno's death is a sort of locked-room mystery. He's discovered in the ship's music room, with the door and all windows are locked from the inside. He's also sitting in a chair that has been positioned directly in front of a mirror. Clearly the murderer, who strangled Nepomuceno, wanted to watch Nepomuceno die and wanted Nepomuceno to witness his own death as well.
O'Trey/Agnihotri is simultaneously facing a lack and a plethora of potential killers. He has no idea who may have had such hatred for Nepomuceno, so he can't eliminate any of the ship's passengers or crew from his list of suspects.
The novel is populated by the kind of cast one expects in a mystery set in this particular historical moment. There are the two wealthy brothers—the older formal and controlling; the younger rash and disinterested in social niceties. There's a wealthy older woman in a wheelchair who is sharp of tongue and continually dissatisfied with her two servants; a wealthy American businessman; his much-younger wife; a wealthy couple, very concerned about social hierarchies and easily offended, with small children; a wealthy young woman traveling on her own; and the ship's captain and crew.
March does quite a solid job of laying false trails, which leaves readers wondering about the solution to the murder through the entirety of the novel. There are several issues—personal, financial, and political—that might have triggered the murder, and none can be easily dismissed.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those that examine issues of social equity and diversity, you'll find The Spanish Diplomat's Secret an engaging and rewarding read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
In the case of the Captain Jim Agnihotri mysteries, set in the late 1800s, all three of these topics come into play. Agnihotri, now using the name O'Trey, a corruption of his original last name, is the illegitimate son of an English father and Indian mother who was raised in a an orphanage. Having work as a soldier and then being invalided out, he has come to work as a private investigator, first in India, then, after his marriage to the sister of one of his wealthy clients, in the U.S., where they hope their relationship will attract less opprobrium than it does in India. He's triply marked: visibly "native" and from the lower classes and conscious of the way in which his wife has "lowered" herself through their marriage.
In The Spanish Diplomat's Secret, O'Trey/Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are sailing from the U.S. to England. Their marriage has become strained and O'Trey/Agnihotri has been unable to discover the issue that is clearly causing his wife a great deal of pain and vulnerability. Nonetheless, he's certain that whatever is happening must be his fault. This issue plays out alongside the mystery over the course of the bovel.
During his first night on the ship, O'Trey/Agnihotri is struck by seasickness, to which he is subject. While fighting his nausea on the open deck, he meets the Spaniard Don Juan Nepomuceno. The two quickly recognize one another as former soldiers and realize that they each are carrying burdens with them based in their military service, but they don't discuss specifics.
When Nepomuceno sends a note to O'Trey/Agnihotri requesting help, O'Trey/Agnihotri arrives too late: Nepomuceno has been murdered. Nepomuceno represents his country, which is engaged in a civil war, as a diplomat, and tensions are high between England and Spain. As a result, the ship's captain requests that O'Trey/Agnihotri try to solve the murder during the ship's remaining days at sea. If this can't be done, passengers will be held as potential witnesses when the ship arrives in port and tensions between England and Spain will almost certainly worsen.
Nepomuceno's death is a sort of locked-room mystery. He's discovered in the ship's music room, with the door and all windows are locked from the inside. He's also sitting in a chair that has been positioned directly in front of a mirror. Clearly the murderer, who strangled Nepomuceno, wanted to watch Nepomuceno die and wanted Nepomuceno to witness his own death as well.
O'Trey/Agnihotri is simultaneously facing a lack and a plethora of potential killers. He has no idea who may have had such hatred for Nepomuceno, so he can't eliminate any of the ship's passengers or crew from his list of suspects.
The novel is populated by the kind of cast one expects in a mystery set in this particular historical moment. There are the two wealthy brothers—the older formal and controlling; the younger rash and disinterested in social niceties. There's a wealthy older woman in a wheelchair who is sharp of tongue and continually dissatisfied with her two servants; a wealthy American businessman; his much-younger wife; a wealthy couple, very concerned about social hierarchies and easily offended, with small children; a wealthy young woman traveling on her own; and the ship's captain and crew.
March does quite a solid job of laying false trails, which leaves readers wondering about the solution to the murder through the entirety of the novel. There are several issues—personal, financial, and political—that might have triggered the murder, and none can be easily dismissed.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those that examine issues of social equity and diversity, you'll find The Spanish Diplomat's Secret an engaging and rewarding read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
September 21, 2023
Thank you to the author, Nev March, and Minotaur Books and #SMPInfluencers, and as always NetGalley for an advance digital copy of the book. All opinions are mine.
This was a beautifully written mystery full of rich characters. But I struggled with this mystery. I also struggled to keep track of the large cast. But I loved the setting, everything having to do with the ship itself.
A fun read!
This was a beautifully written mystery full of rich characters. But I struggled with this mystery. I also struggled to keep track of the large cast. But I loved the setting, everything having to do with the ship itself.
A fun read!
January 31, 2025
Read to 30%.
Perfectly good Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery (and Captain Jim is a Sherlock Holmes fan.)
Sadly, it’s just not holding my interest. I think what’s missing is an exotic locale - the cruise ship itself just isn’t quite doin’ it. A bummer because I loved the first in this series, A Murder in Old Bombay.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
January 30, 2025
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Perfectly good Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery (and Captain Jim is a Sherlock Holmes fan.)
Sadly, it’s just not holding my interest. I think what’s missing is an exotic locale - the cruise ship itself just isn’t quite doin’ it. A bummer because I loved the first in this series, A Murder in Old Bombay.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
January 30, 2025
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
September 20, 2023
Early into a trip from the US to England, we find Jim O’Trey (Agnihotri) spewing his meal overboard. An elder Spanish gentleman sits with Jim as Jim recovers, and reveals that he, too, was a soldier, and has a regret for some past action.
Jim and Diana are on a six-day trip, hoping to relax and have some fun before they meet up with Diana’s brother Adi, who awaits them. Jim knows something is bothering Diana, and there is tension between them, which they set aside when the Spanish gentleman is murdered. The Captain appoints Jim to determine who the killer is before they land in Liverpool, and the transport company penalizes the Captain.
Jim is between a rock and a hard place; there are several hundred passengers to question, though because this happened in First Class, the pool of suspects is thankfully somewhat reduced. Also, the man was killed in a locked music room, and there are conflicting stories of what people saw around the time of the murder, and conflicting alibis.
Diana uses her charm to suss out some information and motives, while Jim struggles at times to get anything out of those he questions (his own past is a factor in these situations, as the years of abuse he received because of his biracial parentage means he never feels the equal of these potential suspects, despite his successes.)
Jim interrogates many, and the more he learns, the more confusing things seem. He eventually finds out that the diplomat’s death is linked to a terrible 20-year-old incident, and unless he finds the connections, and the murderer, the current political tensions between Britain and Spain could result in a serious international incident. So, no pressure, right?
I love Jim and Diana. Jim is still plagued by memories around the time of his serious injury, which, though terrible for him, I liked, because of how the effects of his trauma linger believably, and continue to affect him.
And Diana remains the vital, intelligent and compassionate woman we met in book one, easily managing hunting for clues while always finding the right outfit,for dinner, but with more experiences to temper her understanding of the world.
And frustrating as I found it, I think Jim began the voyage overly protective and still in some awe of the intelligent and highly capable Diana. I could see him sending her out of the room repeatedly for what could have been important or relevant conversations to the investigation, without thinking how Diana might react. Or remembering how well Diana had fared when tracking him down in Chicago. I was also concerned that despite realizing he would have to reveal to Diana that Adi had a specific reason for coming to England, he still said nothing to her by the end of the book.
But, I have hope for Jim, as he had grown somewhat by the end of the book, and was more cognizant of what he had been doing to his partner. And of course he figured out the frustrating murder case using his favourite fictional detective’s methods.
I like this series. Its gentle, kind main characters (yes, I know Jim boxed and can be violent when needed) who want to right wrongs are enjoyable to spend time with. Plus, I love all the history author Nev March weaves into this series. I’ve learned things with each book, while also having fun trying to solve each case, which I did again in this entertaining instalment.
I look forward to more Diana and Jim adventures.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Jim and Diana are on a six-day trip, hoping to relax and have some fun before they meet up with Diana’s brother Adi, who awaits them. Jim knows something is bothering Diana, and there is tension between them, which they set aside when the Spanish gentleman is murdered. The Captain appoints Jim to determine who the killer is before they land in Liverpool, and the transport company penalizes the Captain.
Jim is between a rock and a hard place; there are several hundred passengers to question, though because this happened in First Class, the pool of suspects is thankfully somewhat reduced. Also, the man was killed in a locked music room, and there are conflicting stories of what people saw around the time of the murder, and conflicting alibis.
Diana uses her charm to suss out some information and motives, while Jim struggles at times to get anything out of those he questions (his own past is a factor in these situations, as the years of abuse he received because of his biracial parentage means he never feels the equal of these potential suspects, despite his successes.)
Jim interrogates many, and the more he learns, the more confusing things seem. He eventually finds out that the diplomat’s death is linked to a terrible 20-year-old incident, and unless he finds the connections, and the murderer, the current political tensions between Britain and Spain could result in a serious international incident. So, no pressure, right?
I love Jim and Diana. Jim is still plagued by memories around the time of his serious injury, which, though terrible for him, I liked, because of how the effects of his trauma linger believably, and continue to affect him.
And Diana remains the vital, intelligent and compassionate woman we met in book one, easily managing hunting for clues while always finding the right outfit,for dinner, but with more experiences to temper her understanding of the world.
And frustrating as I found it, I think Jim began the voyage overly protective and still in some awe of the intelligent and highly capable Diana. I could see him sending her out of the room repeatedly for what could have been important or relevant conversations to the investigation, without thinking how Diana might react. Or remembering how well Diana had fared when tracking him down in Chicago. I was also concerned that despite realizing he would have to reveal to Diana that Adi had a specific reason for coming to England, he still said nothing to her by the end of the book.
But, I have hope for Jim, as he had grown somewhat by the end of the book, and was more cognizant of what he had been doing to his partner. And of course he figured out the frustrating murder case using his favourite fictional detective’s methods.
I like this series. Its gentle, kind main characters (yes, I know Jim boxed and can be violent when needed) who want to right wrongs are enjoyable to spend time with. Plus, I love all the history author Nev March weaves into this series. I’ve learned things with each book, while also having fun trying to solve each case, which I did again in this entertaining instalment.
I look forward to more Diana and Jim adventures.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 2, 2023
Fantastic Who-done-it historically accurate and based on the old time Sherlock stories. This is the third in a series and features
Captain Jim and his wife Diana as they are on board to cruise to England from America in the late 1800's Jim is worried that there is an issue between he and Diana and hope the cruise will help. Before the end of the first day, and elderly ex military man that Jim meets is murdered in a seemingly locked room situation. The boat captain begs Jim to assist and we are off!
Plenty of information about the times and tons of interesting characters. There is no need to read the first two in the series - but book one includes a lot of detail regarding Jim and his wife's class differences and Indian heritage and is incredibly interesting. If you are hoping for a cruise, a cozy historical mystery or are just a fan of the old time detective days, The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is for you! #Matador #Thespanishdiplomatssecret
#NevMarch #StMartinsPress
Captain Jim and his wife Diana as they are on board to cruise to England from America in the late 1800's Jim is worried that there is an issue between he and Diana and hope the cruise will help. Before the end of the first day, and elderly ex military man that Jim meets is murdered in a seemingly locked room situation. The boat captain begs Jim to assist and we are off!
Plenty of information about the times and tons of interesting characters. There is no need to read the first two in the series - but book one includes a lot of detail regarding Jim and his wife's class differences and Indian heritage and is incredibly interesting. If you are hoping for a cruise, a cozy historical mystery or are just a fan of the old time detective days, The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is for you! #Matador #Thespanishdiplomatssecret
#NevMarch #StMartinsPress
July 12, 2023
The historical aspect is well done, the plot is interesting and the pacing is good but the writing is choppy which prevented me from actually getting into the story. I found the characters rather flat and I feel no desire to read the other books in the series.
Thank you to whatever nice publisher it was who sent me the ARC for review.
Thank you to whatever nice publisher it was who sent me the ARC for review.
October 4, 2023
This was book three in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana series, and it was a nice addition. I enjoyed it and found it very interesting. The mystery kept me guessing all the way through, and I enjoyed the dynamics between Jim and Diana in this book. It was really the first book that they were together for the entirety of it.
I love that it all took place aboard a ship. It was a fantastic concept for a locked door mystery.
I look forward to more to come from Jim and Diana.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I love that it all took place aboard a ship. It was a fantastic concept for a locked door mystery.
I look forward to more to come from Jim and Diana.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 26, 2023
I love Jim and Diana as a sleuthing duo. I love that Jim is still such a wreck, constantly thinking he’s so lucky to have Diana and that she’s going to drop him. Always, Jim, always.
The mysteries here pile up a little and the investigation was slow, but it was entertaining!
The mysteries here pile up a little and the investigation was slow, but it was entertaining!
September 20, 2023
We follow Jim and Diana across the ocean. On the way Jim is ask to investigate an onboard murder. In between being seasick he searches for answers. It’s a good little mystery with an unexpected ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
October 1, 2023
When an important Spanish diplomat is brutally murdered on a steamship from the US to the UK, the captain is desparate for someone to help him solve it before they reach the shore. On board is Captain Jim, an Indian ex-pat detective and his clever wife. They swoop into action interviewing passengers and trying desparately to put together the puzzle pieces
I wanted to enjoy this one more than I did. I almost gave up on it a few times. I'm not sure whether it was the characters or just the pace. I forced myself through and found myself interested by the culprit but not enough I'd go out of my way to recommend this one. I actually felt the red herrings would have been more interesting if they had panned out.
Thanks to St Martins Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
I wanted to enjoy this one more than I did. I almost gave up on it a few times. I'm not sure whether it was the characters or just the pace. I forced myself through and found myself interested by the culprit but not enough I'd go out of my way to recommend this one. I actually felt the red herrings would have been more interesting if they had panned out.
Thanks to St Martins Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
January 19, 2024
Jim and Diana encounter murder on the high seas when a fellow passenger is killed and the captain asks Jim to solve the crime before their ocean liner docks. The clock’s ticking on a locked door mystery with international ramifications that has everyone baffled. I was so glad to see this third book in the series release since I’ve enjoyed seeing Jim sleuth like Sherlock and Diana show her brilliant wits, too.
The Victorian Era series works best in order because of the personal side of the story introduced and developed through the books.
The book starts with Jim and Diana preparing to enjoy the perks of a luxury cruise across the Atlantic. It isn’t long before metaphorical dark clouds drift in. Jim knows they’ll be meeting Diana’s brother Adi and needs to tell her about the situation meanwhile he senses an emotional distance in Diana. He’s still struggling with being the child of a British soldier father and an Indian poor woman and how it caused him so much misery growing up in British Colonial India and he still feels unworthy of Diana whose family are Indian aristocracy and Parsee Zoroastrian.
But, then a fellow passenger Jim encountered while dealing with his bout of seasickness is murdered. Jim’s investigation is a hard grind there in the middle and the story does drag a bit, but there is progress as Jim speaks with First Class passengers and their entourages and ship staff. I wanted to bop Jim for being overprotective of Diana and keeping her away during witness interviewing and the prime bits of investigating especially when he really needed her help. I felt she proved herself when by herself she came to Jim’s aid in the previous deadly Chicago situation. In truth, Jim is still mentally recovering from that previous case and I was glad to see the author didn’t brush over that or his sensibilities about race and social status. But, Jim learns and by the end, he’s encouraging Diana as his equal detecting partner.
Delving into the Spanish Cuban former governor’s life led to a part of Cuban history I didn’t know and was at the heart of this case. I appreciate how the author chooses lesser known historical incidents to mesh with her murder cases and I learn a great deal from them. And, it’s fun to see Jim employing what he learned from Sherlock Holmes’ stories.
While this one was slower in the middle, the end more than made up for it and left things set up nicely for book four. I encourage historical mystery lovers who enjoy a cultural and international historical emphasis to give Captain Jim and Lady Diana a go.
I rec’d an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Jan 17th.
The Victorian Era series works best in order because of the personal side of the story introduced and developed through the books.
The book starts with Jim and Diana preparing to enjoy the perks of a luxury cruise across the Atlantic. It isn’t long before metaphorical dark clouds drift in. Jim knows they’ll be meeting Diana’s brother Adi and needs to tell her about the situation meanwhile he senses an emotional distance in Diana. He’s still struggling with being the child of a British soldier father and an Indian poor woman and how it caused him so much misery growing up in British Colonial India and he still feels unworthy of Diana whose family are Indian aristocracy and Parsee Zoroastrian.
But, then a fellow passenger Jim encountered while dealing with his bout of seasickness is murdered. Jim’s investigation is a hard grind there in the middle and the story does drag a bit, but there is progress as Jim speaks with First Class passengers and their entourages and ship staff. I wanted to bop Jim for being overprotective of Diana and keeping her away during witness interviewing and the prime bits of investigating especially when he really needed her help. I felt she proved herself when by herself she came to Jim’s aid in the previous deadly Chicago situation. In truth, Jim is still mentally recovering from that previous case and I was glad to see the author didn’t brush over that or his sensibilities about race and social status. But, Jim learns and by the end, he’s encouraging Diana as his equal detecting partner.
Delving into the Spanish Cuban former governor’s life led to a part of Cuban history I didn’t know and was at the heart of this case. I appreciate how the author chooses lesser known historical incidents to mesh with her murder cases and I learn a great deal from them. And, it’s fun to see Jim employing what he learned from Sherlock Holmes’ stories.
While this one was slower in the middle, the end more than made up for it and left things set up nicely for book four. I encourage historical mystery lovers who enjoy a cultural and international historical emphasis to give Captain Jim and Lady Diana a go.
I rec’d an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Jan 17th.
September 18, 2023
too long and slow
Lacks the drama and emotional weight of the prior two books. Characters lack depth. The first three quarters of the book could be much shorter. It took far too long to get to a quite obvious solution to whodunnit.
Lacks the drama and emotional weight of the prior two books. Characters lack depth. The first three quarters of the book could be much shorter. It took far too long to get to a quite obvious solution to whodunnit.
September 21, 2023
I have loved this series from book one and was so excited to see book 3 was coming out [and even more so when I got accepted for both the eBook ARC and audiobook ARC] and I am so glad that this one, like the two books before it, absolutely did not disappoint [and I will admit to being relieved. LOL].
Jim and Lady Diana, after their crazy adventure in Chicago, are now on a luxury liner, heading to England to see Diana's brother Adi [and for Jim to do a job when he is there] and they are trying to relax and find some peace and also to try and mend a rift that has sprung up between them [you can see just how much they still love each other, but it is obvious from the beginning something is very wrong between them; while it is resolved by the end, I think it will rear its head again before all parties figure stuff out]. Unfortunately, between Jim's violent sea sickness [which introduces him to an elderly gentleman, who both commiserates with the sickness and shares his knowledge of the military when finding out who Jim is] and his inability to see Diana as anything but a fragile creature, the resolution to that doesn't come until near the end of the book, simply because, well, murder. Naturally. ;-)
When the kind gentleman who helps Jim when he is sick is found dead, in a locked room [this seems to be a fun trope amongst mysteries these days] no less, it comes out that he is not only a Spanish diplomat, but also the uncle to the King of Spain and his death could cause all sorts of a ruckus [naturally] if the killer isn't found before landing in Liverpool. Jim is then drafted into service and the game is...ahem...afoot.
This is not a quickly solved mystery however [readers need to be prepared for slow burn of a mystery - you will learn a lot about Spain and Cuba and jewels and the hierarchy that occurs everywhere, including an ocean liner in 1894, and the red herrings will abound right up to the end and the reveal [which was surprising to me - since it was so obvious to other reviewers, I am afraid I am losing my touch in figuring mysteries out. Of course, I was still caught up in some of the amazing {and not always amazing in a good way} Spanish history and probably missed some thing], and even as the book ends, you are left wondering just what happened in the end [this is not a bad thing, and it means you either have to assume, or it sets it up that something from this trip will come back in a future book] all while wondering why Jim is still keeping secrets about himself and Adi and why they are really in England to himself and that is a story I cannot wait to read [so Ms. March, please write faster?? LOL].
If you love a good mystery and lots of interesting history interspersed, this is a series for you!!
I was able to request and receive the audiobook ARC for this book and once again, the narrator, Vikas Adams did not disappoint [I did miss the female narrator from the previous book, but not enough to complain] and really brought the book [once again] to life. I love when I find a book that he is narrating because I know at least the narration will be awesome; thankfully, in this case, both the book AND the narration were really, really, good. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nev March, Vikas Adams - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
Jim and Lady Diana, after their crazy adventure in Chicago, are now on a luxury liner, heading to England to see Diana's brother Adi [and for Jim to do a job when he is there] and they are trying to relax and find some peace and also to try and mend a rift that has sprung up between them [you can see just how much they still love each other, but it is obvious from the beginning something is very wrong between them; while it is resolved by the end, I think it will rear its head again before all parties figure stuff out]. Unfortunately, between Jim's violent sea sickness [which introduces him to an elderly gentleman, who both commiserates with the sickness and shares his knowledge of the military when finding out who Jim is] and his inability to see Diana as anything but a fragile creature, the resolution to that doesn't come until near the end of the book, simply because, well, murder. Naturally. ;-)
When the kind gentleman who helps Jim when he is sick is found dead, in a locked room [this seems to be a fun trope amongst mysteries these days] no less, it comes out that he is not only a Spanish diplomat, but also the uncle to the King of Spain and his death could cause all sorts of a ruckus [naturally] if the killer isn't found before landing in Liverpool. Jim is then drafted into service and the game is...ahem...afoot.
This is not a quickly solved mystery however [readers need to be prepared for slow burn of a mystery - you will learn a lot about Spain and Cuba and jewels and the hierarchy that occurs everywhere, including an ocean liner in 1894, and the red herrings will abound right up to the end and the reveal [which was surprising to me - since it was so obvious to other reviewers, I am afraid I am losing my touch in figuring mysteries out. Of course, I was still caught up in some of the amazing {and not always amazing in a good way} Spanish history and probably missed some thing], and even as the book ends, you are left wondering just what happened in the end [this is not a bad thing, and it means you either have to assume, or it sets it up that something from this trip will come back in a future book] all while wondering why Jim is still keeping secrets about himself and Adi and why they are really in England to himself and that is a story I cannot wait to read [so Ms. March, please write faster?? LOL].
If you love a good mystery and lots of interesting history interspersed, this is a series for you!!
I was able to request and receive the audiobook ARC for this book and once again, the narrator, Vikas Adams did not disappoint [I did miss the female narrator from the previous book, but not enough to complain] and really brought the book [once again] to life. I love when I find a book that he is narrating because I know at least the narration will be awesome; thankfully, in this case, both the book AND the narration were really, really, good. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nev March, Vikas Adams - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2023
THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT’S SECRET by Nev March
Publication: 9/ 12/ 2023 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 400
Also: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Meet the progenitor of James Bond in 1894 British India .. Captain James Agnihotri (aka Jim O’Trey)… now recently married to Lady Diana. Jim is a half-caste orphan and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family. Jim become endeared to the family will his previous sleuthing to clear up a family mystery - dilemma. Once Diana set her sights on him , he was easily won over. With Diana’s social skills in high society, and Jim’s investigative skills and army background they make a formidable couple, and have a penchant to apply the deductive skills of their hero, Sherlock Holmes.
In the Summer of 1894 they have embarked on a transatlantic ocean voyage from Boston to Liverpool, along with an international list of a thousand passengers. Jim is sensing some underlying current of dissatisfaction in Diana’s mood … the trip will be an excellent time to root it out. Jim is aware that almost more pressing will be his penchant for sea-sickness. True to form he finds himself on deck and vomiting over the side. He is approached and offered comfort by a Spanish gentleman, who identifies himself as Don Juan Nepomuceno… a fellow soldier and comrade in-arms. The next day Jim received a note from Don Juan urgently requesting his presence in his stateroom. Before he can comply, the gentlemen is found garroted in his locked stateroom. The ships Captain Hawley, once he’s aware of Jim’s background, enlists his aid in solving the crime … hopefully before they reach Liverpool, and avert an international crisis. Jim undertakes the investigation with the aid of Lady Diana. There are literally a thousand suspects and no witnesses. Using their Sherlock Homes-like skills they relentlessly pursue an extensive and all encompassing investigation … all the while realizing their time clock mercilessly is winding down. They soon learn that the Don was certainly not a beloved person with his checkered past history. There is an abundance of those onboard who hold malice. The fact that Don Juan is a highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international calamity.
Nev March proves to be a master storyteller, weaving a narrative with ever increasing tension and suspense as the facts and clues are teased out, while incorporating relevant Indian history and customs into this marvelous soufflé. I look forward to the further investigative adventures of Captain Jim and Lady Diana. This can be devoured as a standalone as the author expertly weaves an necessary backstory into the narrative. I personally switched back and forth between my kindle and the audiobook, narrated by the marvelous Vikas Adam. Hi wonderful narration brought this complex tale alive in the theatre of my mind. Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance AudioBook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: 9/ 12/ 2023 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 400
Also: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Meet the progenitor of James Bond in 1894 British India .. Captain James Agnihotri (aka Jim O’Trey)… now recently married to Lady Diana. Jim is a half-caste orphan and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family. Jim become endeared to the family will his previous sleuthing to clear up a family mystery - dilemma. Once Diana set her sights on him , he was easily won over. With Diana’s social skills in high society, and Jim’s investigative skills and army background they make a formidable couple, and have a penchant to apply the deductive skills of their hero, Sherlock Holmes.
In the Summer of 1894 they have embarked on a transatlantic ocean voyage from Boston to Liverpool, along with an international list of a thousand passengers. Jim is sensing some underlying current of dissatisfaction in Diana’s mood … the trip will be an excellent time to root it out. Jim is aware that almost more pressing will be his penchant for sea-sickness. True to form he finds himself on deck and vomiting over the side. He is approached and offered comfort by a Spanish gentleman, who identifies himself as Don Juan Nepomuceno… a fellow soldier and comrade in-arms. The next day Jim received a note from Don Juan urgently requesting his presence in his stateroom. Before he can comply, the gentlemen is found garroted in his locked stateroom. The ships Captain Hawley, once he’s aware of Jim’s background, enlists his aid in solving the crime … hopefully before they reach Liverpool, and avert an international crisis. Jim undertakes the investigation with the aid of Lady Diana. There are literally a thousand suspects and no witnesses. Using their Sherlock Homes-like skills they relentlessly pursue an extensive and all encompassing investigation … all the while realizing their time clock mercilessly is winding down. They soon learn that the Don was certainly not a beloved person with his checkered past history. There is an abundance of those onboard who hold malice. The fact that Don Juan is a highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international calamity.
Nev March proves to be a master storyteller, weaving a narrative with ever increasing tension and suspense as the facts and clues are teased out, while incorporating relevant Indian history and customs into this marvelous soufflé. I look forward to the further investigative adventures of Captain Jim and Lady Diana. This can be devoured as a standalone as the author expertly weaves an necessary backstory into the narrative. I personally switched back and forth between my kindle and the audiobook, narrated by the marvelous Vikas Adam. Hi wonderful narration brought this complex tale alive in the theatre of my mind. Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance AudioBook in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2023
THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT’S SECRET by Nev March
Publication: 9/ 12/ 2023 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 400
Also: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Meet the progenitor of James Bond in 1894 British India .. Captain James Agnihotri (aka Jim O’Trey)… now recently married to Lady Diana. Jim is a half-caste orphan and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family. Jim become endeared to the family will his previous sleuthing to clear up a family mystery - dilemma. Once Diana set her sights on him , he was easily won over. With Diana’s social skills in high society, and Jim’s investigative skills and army background they make a formidable couple, and have a penchant to apply the deductive skills of their hero, Sherlock Holmes.
In the Summer of 1894 they have embarked on a transatlantic ocean voyage from Boston to Liverpool, along with an international list of a thousand passengers. Jim is sensing some underlying current of dissatisfaction in Diana’s mood … the trip will be an excellent time to root it out. Jim is aware that almost more pressing will be his penchant for sea-sickness. True to form he finds himself on deck and vomiting over the side. He is approached and offered comfort by a Spanish gentleman, who identifies himself as Don Juan Nepomuceno… a fellow soldier and comrade in-arms. The next day Jim received a note from Don Juan urgently requesting his presence in his stateroom. Before he can comply, the gentlemen is found garroted in his locked stateroom. The ships Captain Hawley, once he’s aware of Jim’s background, enlists his aid in solving the crime … hopefully before they reach Liverpool, and avert an international crisis. Jim undertakes the investigation with the aid of Lady Diana. There are literally a thousand suspects and no witnesses. Using their Sherlock Homes-like skills they relentlessly pursue an extensive and all encompassing investigation … all the while realizing their time clock mercilessly is winding down. They soon learn that the Don was certainly not a beloved person with his checkered past history. There is an abundance of those onboard who hold malice. The fact that Don Juan is a highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international calamity.
Nev March proves to be a master storyteller, weaving a narrative with ever increasing tension and suspense as the facts and clues are teased out, while incorporating relevant Indian history and customs into this marvelous soufflé. I look forward to the further investigative adventures of Captain Jim and Lady Diana. This can be devoured as a standalone as the author expertly weaves an necessary backstory into the narrative. I personally switched back and forth between my kindle and the audiobook, narrated by the marvelous Vikas Adam. Hi wonderful narration brought this complex tale alive in the theatre of my mind. Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance AudioBook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: 9/ 12/ 2023 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 400
Also: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Meet the progenitor of James Bond in 1894 British India .. Captain James Agnihotri (aka Jim O’Trey)… now recently married to Lady Diana. Jim is a half-caste orphan and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family. Jim become endeared to the family will his previous sleuthing to clear up a family mystery - dilemma. Once Diana set her sights on him , he was easily won over. With Diana’s social skills in high society, and Jim’s investigative skills and army background they make a formidable couple, and have a penchant to apply the deductive skills of their hero, Sherlock Holmes.
In the Summer of 1894 they have embarked on a transatlantic ocean voyage from Boston to Liverpool, along with an international list of a thousand passengers. Jim is sensing some underlying current of dissatisfaction in Diana’s mood … the trip will be an excellent time to root it out. Jim is aware that almost more pressing will be his penchant for sea-sickness. True to form he finds himself on deck and vomiting over the side. He is approached and offered comfort by a Spanish gentleman, who identifies himself as Don Juan Nepomuceno… a fellow soldier and comrade in-arms. The next day Jim received a note from Don Juan urgently requesting his presence in his stateroom. Before he can comply, the gentlemen is found garroted in his locked stateroom. The ships Captain Hawley, once he’s aware of Jim’s background, enlists his aid in solving the crime … hopefully before they reach Liverpool, and avert an international crisis. Jim undertakes the investigation with the aid of Lady Diana. There are literally a thousand suspects and no witnesses. Using their Sherlock Homes-like skills they relentlessly pursue an extensive and all encompassing investigation … all the while realizing their time clock mercilessly is winding down. They soon learn that the Don was certainly not a beloved person with his checkered past history. There is an abundance of those onboard who hold malice. The fact that Don Juan is a highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international calamity.
Nev March proves to be a master storyteller, weaving a narrative with ever increasing tension and suspense as the facts and clues are teased out, while incorporating relevant Indian history and customs into this marvelous soufflé. I look forward to the further investigative adventures of Captain Jim and Lady Diana. This can be devoured as a standalone as the author expertly weaves an necessary backstory into the narrative. I personally switched back and forth between my kindle and the audiobook, narrated by the marvelous Vikas Adam. Hi wonderful narration brought this complex tale alive in the theatre of my mind. Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance AudioBook in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
Goodness, I love the relationship between Jim and Diana and their romance is especially adorable on this crime-riddled cross-ocean voyage in The Spanish Diplomat. This one’s basically a locked-room mystery, meaning all the culprits Jim investigates must exist aboard the ship, making the mystery that much more entertaining and intriguing. There are a lot of cultural and historical references, too, and the cast of characters was interesting.
I’ve physically read (and enjoyed) the first two in this series, but this 3rd I mostly listened to on audio and throughly enjoyed. Admitting, it took some time to sort all the people out, but once I had that figured, I was totally hooked on all the twists and turns Diana and Jim encountered during their investigation - Diana is such a charming and clever sidekick.
I definitely recommend this series, but this book could certainly be read as a standalone. It gives Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes vibes and I really enjoyed it.
I’ve physically read (and enjoyed) the first two in this series, but this 3rd I mostly listened to on audio and throughly enjoyed. Admitting, it took some time to sort all the people out, but once I had that figured, I was totally hooked on all the twists and turns Diana and Jim encountered during their investigation - Diana is such a charming and clever sidekick.
I definitely recommend this series, but this book could certainly be read as a standalone. It gives Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes vibes and I really enjoyed it.
August 22, 2023
A wonderful setup and a richly imagined setting
Former Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife, Lady Diana Framji, are on a transatlantic cruise to England in 1894. Jim meets a retired Spanish military officer who is now a diplomat and later receives a note from the man asking him to meet him urgently. When Jim rushes to see what the gentleman needs, he finds he has been murdered. The situation is especially delicate because of Spain’s currently fragile international relationships, and the captain asks Jim, who is a private investigator, to help find the killer before the ship docks. Diana is in the background, as would be proper for a lady, but offers her usual sage advice.
This is a locked-room mystery with nice echoes of Agatha Christie and specific allusions to Sherlock Holmes, whom Jim and Diana admire, but the “room” is rather large, considering that there are about a thousand people on board the ship. Among the fun and interesting details the reader learns during the book are the techniques used to keep the various strata of passengers separated (Heaven forbid someone from first class might encounter someone from a lower class of passenger!). As a result, the actual likely suspect list is much smaller.
As part of his investigation, Jim must get to know the environment of the ship so he can understand how the murderer was able to approach the victim and kill him. The setup of the ship, including both the physical layout and the roles and placements of the numerous crew members required for such a large vessel , are explored in great detail. There are also references to historical events, like the Spanish civil war and rebellion in Cuba, where the murder victim had served as governor, that could provide a motive for the murder.
This setting and Jim’s preliminary explorations were interesting, but it gave a feeling of a slow pace on the plot, and I was glad when it finally picked up steam. Jim discovers that several passengers have secrets that add to the complexity of the problem. One passenger apparently commits suicide, and someone attacks Jim before he finally identifies the killer and provokes a very dramatic climax.
A reader can enjoy this book without having read the first book, but I highly recommend reading them in order. Jim and Diana have unusual personal and ethnic backgrounds that are not fully explained but are alluded to and certainly affect how they are treated in society, and it helps to know more about them.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
Former Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife, Lady Diana Framji, are on a transatlantic cruise to England in 1894. Jim meets a retired Spanish military officer who is now a diplomat and later receives a note from the man asking him to meet him urgently. When Jim rushes to see what the gentleman needs, he finds he has been murdered. The situation is especially delicate because of Spain’s currently fragile international relationships, and the captain asks Jim, who is a private investigator, to help find the killer before the ship docks. Diana is in the background, as would be proper for a lady, but offers her usual sage advice.
This is a locked-room mystery with nice echoes of Agatha Christie and specific allusions to Sherlock Holmes, whom Jim and Diana admire, but the “room” is rather large, considering that there are about a thousand people on board the ship. Among the fun and interesting details the reader learns during the book are the techniques used to keep the various strata of passengers separated (Heaven forbid someone from first class might encounter someone from a lower class of passenger!). As a result, the actual likely suspect list is much smaller.
As part of his investigation, Jim must get to know the environment of the ship so he can understand how the murderer was able to approach the victim and kill him. The setup of the ship, including both the physical layout and the roles and placements of the numerous crew members required for such a large vessel , are explored in great detail. There are also references to historical events, like the Spanish civil war and rebellion in Cuba, where the murder victim had served as governor, that could provide a motive for the murder.
This setting and Jim’s preliminary explorations were interesting, but it gave a feeling of a slow pace on the plot, and I was glad when it finally picked up steam. Jim discovers that several passengers have secrets that add to the complexity of the problem. One passenger apparently commits suicide, and someone attacks Jim before he finally identifies the killer and provokes a very dramatic climax.
A reader can enjoy this book without having read the first book, but I highly recommend reading them in order. Jim and Diana have unusual personal and ethnic backgrounds that are not fully explained but are alluded to and certainly affect how they are treated in society, and it helps to know more about them.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
July 18, 2025
I enjoyed the historical details of the luxury Cunard liner, but the story dragged on and on to the point where I mostly skipped the last third of the book. I am done with this series.
March 12, 2024
I couldn’t finish this book fast enough. The reveal of the murderer takes a twist that felt like it wasn’t intended when the author started the book; maybe someone else was supposed to be the murderer.
August 30, 2023
Murder on the high seas!
Nev March is killing me with this splendid series
It’s 1894 and Lady Diana and Captain James O’Trey are bound for England on a luxury Cunard liner.
They’re no sooner settled in than a murder is committed. Don Juan Nepomuceno, a Spanish diplomat, but more than that, a nobleman and a general.
Jim offers his services to investigate and is given free rein. He’s become an American, and is seen as a neutral party in what could become a volatile diplomatic occurrence between Spain and Britain.
The thing is Jim had had interaction with Don Juan the night before. A message from the Don was sent to Jim to attend the Don, but had arrived too late.
Eight days to find the killer. Can Jim and Diana do it?
There’s plots within plots, diplomatic and personal.
A young woman drowns, another’s life is threatened.
Then there’s the dark history of the Don Juan. Trouble in Cuba when the US ship Virginius was captured by the Spanish. A military tribunal executed fifty-three men. That tribunal was led by the General.
The pace is relentless and I was on the edge of my seat during the whole of my reading sprint!
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Nev March is killing me with this splendid series
It’s 1894 and Lady Diana and Captain James O’Trey are bound for England on a luxury Cunard liner.
They’re no sooner settled in than a murder is committed. Don Juan Nepomuceno, a Spanish diplomat, but more than that, a nobleman and a general.
Jim offers his services to investigate and is given free rein. He’s become an American, and is seen as a neutral party in what could become a volatile diplomatic occurrence between Spain and Britain.
The thing is Jim had had interaction with Don Juan the night before. A message from the Don was sent to Jim to attend the Don, but had arrived too late.
Eight days to find the killer. Can Jim and Diana do it?
There’s plots within plots, diplomatic and personal.
A young woman drowns, another’s life is threatened.
Then there’s the dark history of the Don Juan. Trouble in Cuba when the US ship Virginius was captured by the Spanish. A military tribunal executed fifty-three men. That tribunal was led by the General.
The pace is relentless and I was on the edge of my seat during the whole of my reading sprint!
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
September 20, 2023
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, author Nev March, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Spanish Diplomat's Secret of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion on this work. I always thoroughly enjoy works by Nev Martin and happily recommend her work to friends and family. She writes a fine mystery, and this one is no exception.
We are asea on the HMS Etruriam in the summer of 1894, with former British Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji when Spanish Diplomat Don Juan Nepomuceno is brutally murdered in the ship's music room. In the next few days, still isolated at sea, Jim will attempt to solve the murder before they dock in London, to hopefully avert war between England and Spain and keep the ship's captain from rack and ruin. A good mystery, a wonderful look into life on a pre-20th-century luxury liner, and a fine peek into the mental synopses suffered by soldiers of war. I couldn't put it down.
pub date Sept 12, 2023
St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Reviewed on September 14, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
We are asea on the HMS Etruriam in the summer of 1894, with former British Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji when Spanish Diplomat Don Juan Nepomuceno is brutally murdered in the ship's music room. In the next few days, still isolated at sea, Jim will attempt to solve the murder before they dock in London, to hopefully avert war between England and Spain and keep the ship's captain from rack and ruin. A good mystery, a wonderful look into life on a pre-20th-century luxury liner, and a fine peek into the mental synopses suffered by soldiers of war. I couldn't put it down.
pub date Sept 12, 2023
St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Reviewed on September 14, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
November 10, 2023
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest opinion. While I was disappointed in the second installment of this series, this one gets five stars from me.
In this third installment, Captain Jim and Lady Diana are on their way to England on a transatlantic voyage. Nev March has placed the action in the summer of 1894. The narration is from Jim’s point of view. This is a plus in my opinion.
Lots of mysterious things happen while they are on their way to England. It is basically a locked room mystery since they are on a boat and the suspects are limited. Jim and Diana encounter a murder, a suicide, and missing jewels.
While this is the third one in the series, you could start here although I would recommend that you go back to the beginning. The attention to the historical details is fantastic. I highly recommend this book.
In this third installment, Captain Jim and Lady Diana are on their way to England on a transatlantic voyage. Nev March has placed the action in the summer of 1894. The narration is from Jim’s point of view. This is a plus in my opinion.
Lots of mysterious things happen while they are on their way to England. It is basically a locked room mystery since they are on a boat and the suspects are limited. Jim and Diana encounter a murder, a suicide, and missing jewels.
While this is the third one in the series, you could start here although I would recommend that you go back to the beginning. The attention to the historical details is fantastic. I highly recommend this book.
August 17, 2025
I loved Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay but waited too long to read the excellent Peril at the Exposition, so didn't want to wait to continue on the series with The Spanish Diplomat's Secret.
I loved how Diana star shown in Peril and hope to see that continue in The Spanish Diplomat. Sadly this wasn't the case as it was told from Captain Jim's perspective.
It is a locked room mystery the locked room being the RMS Etruria one of the flagships of the time. It contained both sails and was powered by an engine. It is 1894 and Captain Jim and Diana are traveling to London to meet with Adi, Diana's brother.
As with her other mysteries March does a great deal of research to make the book authentic and timely. I really appreciate this.
Something seems a bit off with Diana in this one and Captain Jim is baffled over it. This is the part of the book, I wasn't really crazy over and felt it was quite unnecessary and detracted a bit from the story. There are indeed other families within the book which also have a great deal of family drama.
The last several chapters of the book brought it up in my rating. I am hopeful that the next one will be at the same level as Peril at the Exposition.
I loved how Diana star shown in Peril and hope to see that continue in The Spanish Diplomat. Sadly this wasn't the case as it was told from Captain Jim's perspective.
It is a locked room mystery the locked room being the RMS Etruria one of the flagships of the time. It contained both sails and was powered by an engine. It is 1894 and Captain Jim and Diana are traveling to London to meet with Adi, Diana's brother.
As with her other mysteries March does a great deal of research to make the book authentic and timely. I really appreciate this.
Something seems a bit off with Diana in this one and Captain Jim is baffled over it. This is the part of the book, I wasn't really crazy over and felt it was quite unnecessary and detracted a bit from the story. There are indeed other families within the book which also have a great deal of family drama.
The last several chapters of the book brought it up in my rating. I am hopeful that the next one will be at the same level as Peril at the Exposition.
September 20, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one but not as much as the previous story. The story takes place on a luxury liner as Jim and Diana sail from NY to England, in part to meet up with Adi. Shortly after they leave, a Spanish diplomat is murdered, and the captain begs Jim to solve the mystery before they land, partly to avoid letting the culprit get away and partly to avoid a scandal and political ramifications.
I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, and was able to follow Jim down red herrings, and I figured out who had to be the murderer before Jim did, but it wasn't that much sooner than him, lol. I also liked being in Jim's head as he tried to figure out what was going on with Diana (that part I definitely figured out before he did and to some extent, I was a bit frustrated with her because (and here I'm trying to choose my words carefully to avoid spoilers) it felt like in some ways she was minimizing herself. Another reader called it making her feel two dimensional and that's not quite what I'm trying to say but it is in the same realm. As is seen later, Diana helps Jim put some clues together precisely because she's a woman, and while he is definitely the detective and not her, I find her to be an extremely intelligent, well-read, and capable woman.
The pacing was also such that there were moments in the middle that really slowed down and I felt myself wanting the author to pick up the pace--which she did towards the end. As is the case with her previous books, I hit a point and suddenly couldn't put the book down. She ended the story strong, and included a taste of what we are to expect in the next book.
I enjoyed this one but not as much as the previous story. The story takes place on a luxury liner as Jim and Diana sail from NY to England, in part to meet up with Adi. Shortly after they leave, a Spanish diplomat is murdered, and the captain begs Jim to solve the mystery before they land, partly to avoid letting the culprit get away and partly to avoid a scandal and political ramifications.
I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, and was able to follow Jim down red herrings, and I figured out who had to be the murderer before Jim did, but it wasn't that much sooner than him, lol. I also liked being in Jim's head as he tried to figure out what was going on with Diana (that part I definitely figured out before he did and to some extent, I was a bit frustrated with her because (and here I'm trying to choose my words carefully to avoid spoilers) it felt like in some ways she was minimizing herself. Another reader called it making her feel two dimensional and that's not quite what I'm trying to say but it is in the same realm. As is seen later, Diana helps Jim put some clues together precisely because she's a woman, and while he is definitely the detective and not her, I find her to be an extremely intelligent, well-read, and capable woman.
The pacing was also such that there were moments in the middle that really slowed down and I felt myself wanting the author to pick up the pace--which she did towards the end. As is the case with her previous books, I hit a point and suddenly couldn't put the book down. She ended the story strong, and included a taste of what we are to expect in the next book.
March 19, 2024
While I am new to this historical fiction mystery series, I found it easy to dive in and get acquainted with Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji as they crossed the Atlantic and tried to discover the identity of a Spanish dignitary's murderer before reaching shore. This locked door mystery is chockfull of suspense and political intrigue, with a seemingly impossible number of possible suspects and a dearth of viable leads. While Jim is an able private investigator, he cannot help but feel that he has been tapped to solve the crime because he will be an easy scapegoat if the crime is not solved before the cruise ship reaches England. He is given an impossibly short timeline to solve the crime, but he is determined to do so.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Captain Jim and Lady Diana, who played a pivotal role in helping Jim investigate. They each bring strengths that complement each other and allow them to pursue different angles in different social circles. While the two worked well together as they used Sherlockian techniques, there is an underlying tension between them. Jim seems just as eager to solve this marital mystery as he is the crime. I really liked how much he seemed to respect his wife's abilities and his desire to be the husband he believes she deserves. They both seemed to be progressive for their time, which made it easy to connect to both of them.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that harken back to the Golden Age, this would be an excellent pick. The author played fair with the reader in this locked-cabin-room-mystery and incorporated historic elements in a way that transported me back to the 1890s.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for providing this NetGalley copy and introducing me to this engaging series! I look forward to catching up with earlier installments soon and finding out how Captain Jim and Lady Diana made it from India to the U.S. and ultimately heading to England aboard that fateful cruise ship.
I selected this as my pick for the 2024 POPSUGAR Ultimate Reading Challenge advanced prompt "a book with 24 letters in the title" (since it had more than 24 letters).
I enjoyed the dynamic between Captain Jim and Lady Diana, who played a pivotal role in helping Jim investigate. They each bring strengths that complement each other and allow them to pursue different angles in different social circles. While the two worked well together as they used Sherlockian techniques, there is an underlying tension between them. Jim seems just as eager to solve this marital mystery as he is the crime. I really liked how much he seemed to respect his wife's abilities and his desire to be the husband he believes she deserves. They both seemed to be progressive for their time, which made it easy to connect to both of them.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that harken back to the Golden Age, this would be an excellent pick. The author played fair with the reader in this locked-cabin-room-mystery and incorporated historic elements in a way that transported me back to the 1890s.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for providing this NetGalley copy and introducing me to this engaging series! I look forward to catching up with earlier installments soon and finding out how Captain Jim and Lady Diana made it from India to the U.S. and ultimately heading to England aboard that fateful cruise ship.
I selected this as my pick for the 2024 POPSUGAR Ultimate Reading Challenge advanced prompt "a book with 24 letters in the title" (since it had more than 24 letters).
September 13, 2023
The Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March is a downright delightful historical mystery, the third in the series, which takes place on a luxury liner on the Atlantic in 1894. Captain Jim O'Trey and his wife Lady Diana Framji are aboard and when murder happens early in the story they are on hand to investigate, Jim with his detective expertise and Diana with her ingenuity. Spaniard Don Juan and Jim met the evening before so when Don Juan is found dead, Jim is taken aback. Not only that but he is given only the eight days to solve the crime so is under intense pressure as he questions fellow passengers.
If you seek a fascinating series with cultural bits, do add this to your list. The historical detail is described in such a way that I felt I was on the ship, too. Mysteries which take place on the sea with nowhere to go intrigue me. I really like the husband/wife duo's relationship with its realistic ups and downs.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with with a digital copy of this rewarding novel.
If you seek a fascinating series with cultural bits, do add this to your list. The historical detail is described in such a way that I felt I was on the ship, too. Mysteries which take place on the sea with nowhere to go intrigue me. I really like the husband/wife duo's relationship with its realistic ups and downs.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with with a digital copy of this rewarding novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews