This is a fictional mystery using real historical people. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros

- I enjoyed reading about the work Florence did in the hospitals.
- I like reading books about strong women and this fit that bill.
- Mary is a nervous but competent sidekick for Florence.
- It is a solid mystery, albeit a tad convenient at times.
- The afterword provided by the author was informative and interesting. It provided some real history about the people she used in the story.
- Yoda makes an appearance… okay, not really. One character in the book – Oswyn Davis – speaks like Yoda! “I’ll say that taking your money I won’t be.” “Difficult it’s not.” “Burning them maybe I should be.” I have read a lot of Victorian-period novels and I’ve never come across such obvious Yoda-speak before. I found it amusing.

Cons

- Seems a little strange to me that Florence Nightingale would willingly become an amateur detective with everything else she was trying to accomplish. It seems like a strange direction to take Nightingale.
- Some of the plot points were just a tad convenient (i.e., chance meetings with just the right people, being in exactly the right place at the right time, etc.).

Summary
There usually isn’t a lot I can write about a book like this. I enjoyed the story and the history. It was straightforward and a generally likeable book. I’m not sure this book will be memorable to me as time goes on; however, it was a nice read for a weekend. This book is part of a series and with my TBR list as long as it is now, I’m not sure I would actively try to squeeze in future books in this series. However, I would recommend this book (this series) to anyone looking for a solid historical mystery, an easy read, and a nice distraction.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Florence's best friend Liz is attacked in her carriage while traveling through the dilapidated neighborhood of Soho, her coachman is killed. Victorian nurse-turned-sleuth Florence Nightingale is enlisted to find out who was involved and why. Liz's father, a general in the Afghanistan War, seems to be hiding something, and his callous indifference to the domestics speaks little in his favor. On the other hand, Liz's husband, the minister of war, is equally dodgy about the incident, leading Florence to wonder if some old connections of his might be the reason for the attack.

While investigating events in Soho, Florence comes face to face with a deadly cholera outbreak and is forced to split her time between hospital reform and murder investigation. Is it the miasmas in the air that spread cholera, or could an original new theory about polluted water be correct? In the end, both cholera and murder combine to create a deadly atmosphere, and Florence must solve the mystery in the nick of time before succumbing herself. 

The second book in Trent's Florence Nightingale series (see my review of book #1, No Cure for the Dead), this story continues the tale of the medical crusader who pioneered nursing as a hygienic and respectable field. The radical difference between Florence's upper class life and the tenements in Soho is emphasized as well as Florence's bravery in entering the homes of those many would consider "untouchable." Some of the extra historical info felt like a bit of a rabbit trail, but I appreciated learning more about the cholera epidemic. The ignorance surrounding the deleterious effects of raw sewage is astounding, given that civilizations as old as the Minoans had sewer systems and 19th century London did not. This was an enjoyable mystery that shines a light on the unhealthier side of Victorian London and the varying ways that the upper class treated their more unfortunate neighbors. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's a sweltering August in 1854 when "King Cholera" strikes London, not for the first time. The deadly disease is no respecter of persons, affecting rich and poor alike, strikes unannounced and can disappear as quickly as it came. This time it seems to afflict the notorious slums of SoHo. The common wisdom says that the disease is airborne, occurring in the form of "miasmas," a theory that Florence Nightingale subscribes to. Even though she is fully involved with her hospital for women, Florence would become involved in the current outbreak no matter how busy, but a call from her friends, Sidney and Elizabeth Herbert sends her to SoHo on a different mission. Elizabeth and her father, a retired General, are attacked in their carriage, resulting in the death of their coachman. When Sidney sends a second servant into SoHo, the man returns suffering from cholera and dies quickly. Based on Florence's success with her first case, Sidney is frantic for her to investigate. The General, however, is less than forthcoming. The search for answers will bring Florence and her assistant, "Goose," into contact with many historical figures and the lowest residents of the London slums. It also shines a spotlight on British Army conduct in Afghanistan.

I admit to only the most superficial of knowledge of Florence Nightingale, other than her history as "The Lady of the Lamp" during the Crimean War. While I doubt that she ever had the time or energy for detecting, she was close to the center of current events and associated with the movers and shakers of the era. The mystery, in this case, has plots and
sub-plots that were sometimes difficult to follow and the solution eluded me. I did like Florence and her dogged persistence in leading the life she wanted for herself. A number of the characters are well documented historically, and Trent provides appendices of their lives and works. There was a fascinating short history of the last 200+ years of Afghan history; one that clearly indicates the utter futility of imperialist designs on that country. The next book will take her to her most significant triumphs in the Crimea, and I look forward to that.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy. Thee opinions are my o

I really, really loved the first book in this series. And, that makes writing this review a bit tough because I found the mystery in this book was just not on the same level as in No Cure for the Dead. Don't take me wrong, it's an interesting book, but I was more invested in the story in the first book because of Florence Nightingale's own trials and tribulations to solve the case. She just had to solve the case since the murder had happened in her own hospital. This time, her best friend Elizabeth Herbert and her father are attacked while they are traveling in a carriage in London. They survive, but the coachmen die. And, now Elizabeth husband is worried that there is someone out there who wants to kill Elizabeth and he wants Florence to investigate.

Now I'm all for Florence playing amateur detective, but writing this review can't I help be a bit skeptic to why she of all people should take on this role. I mean sure she solved a murder, but she's not a detective. If Elizabeth had wanted Florence to investigate this event would it make more sense, but her husband Sidney? I would have thought someone with a bit more experience would have made a better choice. Anyhow Florence accepts and then the hunt is on for the truth. Personal the side story about King Cholera was way more interesting to read about. All and all, this story was not bad, the case may not have enthralled me the same way as the first books case did. However, I did enjoy reading about Florence and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Florence Nightingale Intrigue. An Intelligent Victorian mystery!

Once again a captivating Florence Nightingale mystery, embedded around the happenings of the First Anglo-Afghanistan War Disaster of 1839-1842 and the cholera epidemic, the Broad Street Outbreak. in 1854.
Florence's friend Liz à Court, wife of Sidney Herbert, the War Secretary and daughter to General Charles à Court-Repington has been shot at and her carriage driver killed whilst she and the General were on their way to the British museum. The question is who would want to harm Liz? For reasons not easily discernible, Sidney has chosen not to involve the police. Instead he asks Florence to find those responsible.
The chase leads Florence from Sidney's home to the desperate slums in the notorious Seven Dials area.
Florence investigations uncover a lady's maid obsessed with Liz's brother, a servant of Sidney's dying from cholera, a mad woman dying from the same disease and a mysterious set of dice, engraved with symbols and letters, "One was a “D,” the second a “G,” and the third a “5.”"
Throughout the investigation Florence's maid Mary is by her side, mostly reluctantly.
Florence also meets physician, John Snow and assistant curate in Soho, Henry Whitehead. Together they trace the progress of the cholera outbreak, eventually deciphering the cause.
We leave Florence, having solved the cause of the attack on Liz's carriage and murders along the way, on the eve of a decision to go to the Crimea to organize "medical care into something humane and competent."
Interestingly, as the plot thickens, we learn more of the British presence in Afghanastan and the resentments that are piled up against the British as their outré behaviours offend the Afghani religious and cultural practices.
Trent has based her writing in solid research of the times, which is flawlessly and competently included to give the novel a true sense of Victorian England and the challenges not only Florence, but many women faced. Of particular note is the inclusion of Mrs Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Sheridan Norton, Sydney's ex lover who is publicly fighting her own battles on the topic of divorce and the rights of women.
I thoroughly enjoyed this intelligent Victorian mystery, mixing fact and fiction, adeptly weaving its way through the political and social mores of the time giving solid background to an all encompassing and captivating read.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley

An intriguing historical mystery starring Florence Nightingale. Christine Trent brings a number of historical people and events into play in her latest Nightingale story. She does a great job of bringing “The Lady in the Lamp” to life. Interestingly both Nightingale and Dr John Snow, a bit player in the novel, were both early practitioners of data science and visualization.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second entry in Trent’s Nightingale series. In this outing, Florence is asked to investigate an attack on the Secretary at War’s carriage where his wife and father-in-law were on their way to a museum. His driver is killed, but no one else is hurt. Unfortunately, Florence has no clues to go on. In the meantime, the Secretary’s valet shows up at Florence’s hospital blurts out a few cryptic sentence fragments and dies. Florence must somehow connect the two deaths, figure out who the target is and why, and who is murdering people.

This mystery almost stalled out, it moved so slowly. It seemed that a great deal of it was about the social history of London in the mid-1840s. The author gave little or none of Florence’s background and thereby failed to develop Florence’s character. It seems she assumed everyone who picked up her book had read the first book and already knew Florence. The writing felt dense and unengaging, almost ponderous. The publisher compares Trent to Charles Todd, I saw no such comparison.

Interestingly, the author decided to put the events that were shaping Florence’s world into a “From the Author” chapter in the back of the book rather than put references to the events and people she includes in this final chapter in the body of the book.

While definitely not a stand-alone entry in the series, it is a cozy and thus takes it time getting to the end. If you love historical series, you might want to start with the first book in the series.

Florence Nightingale is investigating the attempted murder of one of her friends while there's a cholera outbreak in Soho - which just happens to be the neighbourhood this attempted murder took place in.

The good: the author took the time to research the period and give insight into a conflict most of us wouldn't have known much about otherwise (Anglo-Afghan wars in 1848). All the story threads came together at the end even if there was no way for the reader to figure out who dun it themselves.

The frustrating: Ok so this might just be me. It might be a historically accurate way to describe them, but calling the ladies in the 'Establishment' i.e. a hospital 'inmates' made me think of them as prisoners instead. On a similar note, I don't know of anyone in the UK who uses the word stoop which is used on multiple occasions in this. Just grated to me.

So my criticisms are quite picky and my enjoyment of this probably wasn't helped by the fact my family and I all had stomach bugs while I was reading it (thankfully not cholera!); it was a well thought through mystery plot with a lot of historical figures and details.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC

Florence Nightingale sallies forth into the cholera-ridden streets of 1854 Soho, simultaneously seeking the individual responsible for the apparently senseless attack that left a close friend's coachman dead and fighting the growing epidemic.

In this well-researched novel, we meet real people dealing with genuine situations and discussing authentic historical events, all of which provides a solid framework for the story. The attributes manifest in the portrait it paints of Miss Nightingale — her forthrightness, her clarity of purpose, her busybodiness, her fondness for well-ordered charts, her willingness to endure opposition and even scorn in her treatment of those under her care — make her a natural amateur detective. Unfortunately, the crime-solving element is too frequently drowned out by the emphasis given to cholera and by scenes that add nothing to the rather lackluster plot or to the flavour of the era. While I commend the author for crafting such lifelike vignettes of the London slums, the characters' language and behaviour time and again strike discordant notes in the context of Victorian society, which "actually" spoilt my enjoyment of this book.

In the second book of the series, Florence Nightingale has to fight cholera (a disease that much was not known about) while find out who tried to kill her friend but ended up killing a servant. The two events are woven together as finding the killer leads her to a cholera outbreak. Towards the end this also leads her to the path that will take her to the Crimea War. Hopefully that will be the setting in the next book.

The thing I love about this series is that Florence Nightingale isn't shown as having all the answers. She is incorrect at the cause of the outbreak of the cholera in London. She can't know everything. She makes observations over what helps or hinders patients and applies that knowledge with a hammer. It's endearing to watch her cause order in chaos.

The mystery was fine. I was more interested in the medical mystery then the murder mystery but that is a personal preference.

Florence Nightingale is one of my heroes so I was thrilled to read what I gotta term fan fiction which mergers her real life as a nurse in London during the cholera epidemic and what I think is probably an imagined life as a crime solver. Well written and engaging, this has lots of great atmospherics (yuck re London in this period) as well as terrific characters-starting with Florence. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. I'm sure some will quibble with me for a variety of reasons but to me this was historical mystery at its best.

This is an interesting mix of historical fiction and mystery, based loosely on actual people, like the main character, Florence Nightengale. In the story, we get some insight into nursing care as she tries to improve the lives of the patients and make much needed reforms to the profession. She is faced with a cholera epidemic and also becomes involved in helping to solve several murders. This is the second book in the series, with plans for another adventure for Flo. I should go back and read the first one!

This book had me captivated from beginning to end. My heart broke for the poor poverty stricken souls living in the slums of London. I also marveled at Florence’s strength and resolve. Her desire to help the hurting at risk to herself and those she loved is inspiring. Even though this is historical fiction, the fact that the author takes great care to stay true to Florence is evident as you read. There is also a nice section in the back of the book where the author gives you some additional historical facts and details about what was really taking place at this time in the life of Florence Nightingale.

Fans of novels set in Victorian times and, in particular, fans of mysteries will enjoy this easy read. Never having thought of Miss Nightingale as a criminal investigator I was interested to see whether Trent could carry this off.
With Florence Nightingale attempting to solve the murder, we're given plenty of insights into medical and living conditions of that time. At times I felt Nightingale's character was a bit weak, despite the horrors she faced in her work and her friend's father also sometimes failed to come across as strong enough to be so hated.
However, 'A Murderous Malady' was very enjoyable and I would certainly like to read more of Florence Nightingale's investigations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Florence Nightingale is back! And she's got another doozy of a mystery to solve. When her friend Liz is attacked by a man with a gun while riding in her carriage, Florence is asked by her husband Sydney, to investigate and try to determine who did it and why. Trouble is, the carriage was traveling through SoHo at the time and there's an outbreak of cholera in the district. Florence can't help but get involved at a local hospital in spite of the risk of contracting the disease herself.

So what keeps drawing me to this series? First of all, the mysteries are intriguing but I think what I like best is the historical aspects of the stories. Not only is the author following the progression of Florence's career by using real events from her life in the stories, but she is also using the story to relate pieces of history that the reader might not otherwise come across. In this book, the plot focuses on events that took place in Afghanistan when the British tried to take over control of that country in the 1800's. I found that reading about that war really helped me to understand the current difficulties in that country and their resentment of western countries. In this story, I also enjoyed how the author incorporated the work of Dr. Snow into the story. I have come across parts of his story and his impact on the fight against cholera before and it was fun to find him in this story. Ms. Trent's Florence Nightingale is lovely, likable, and very committed to the work of improving the standard of nursing wherever she found herself. I think this series is a wonderful addition to the genre of historically based mysteries and suggest that you waste no time checking it out.

I did not read the first book in the Florence Nightingale series, the preceding book to A Murderous Malady, and I have SO many regrets! This was such a fun read! It was a quick & easy read. It kept me engaged the entire time & I flew right through it! It was so neat seeing how the author was able to take a piece of history & a woman in history & turn it into a fun Sherlock Holmes-style mystery!

3.5 stars

Historical mysteries featuring actual historical figures can be tricky. This series is very rich in informative background about not only Florence Nightingale, but in this book the early Afghan wars and Britain's horribly backward divorce and child custody laws in the 19th century.

Florence Nightingale comes across as an admirable, if not likable, character. And the British aristocracy and Nightingale's friends are self-centered and clueless about London life for the lower classes. Nightingale is not a particularly convincing sleuth given her overwhelming schedule and medical work.

This offering features a carriage attack on Nightingale's friend Elizabeth, wife of British Secretary of War Sidney Herbert and daughter of General Charles A Court. A coachman is killed and Herbert asks Nightingale to find out who was responsible without endangering the conduct of the Crimean War.

Interesting history and view of Nightingale's monumental contributions to medicine. The mystery part isn't as successful, but it's not a bad read. And yes, there is foreshadowing of her Crimean involvement which must surely be the next book. Thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Florence Nightingale is called upon by a friend to find a murderer. When the Herbert's coachman dies in an attack that seems aimed at either Elizabeth Herbert or her father, Secretary at War Sidney Herbert enlists Florence's aid in finding the killer and learning what caused the attack. While trying to maintain health standards in her hospital and battling a deadly outbreak of cholera, Florence tries to solve the murder only to discover secrets from the past. An excellent mystery.

The Florence Nightingale Mystery series is awesome. I have read the first book and was hooked! This second novel, A Murderous Malady, was more intriguing. The guess-work was larger. So many suspects...and so little time. One murder after another, Florence is under high pressure to find the killer quietly. Her friend may be in danger. And as I read on, yes, her friend was indeed in danger. I never predicted who the killer was, until Florence revealed what she knew. That is one of the main reasons I loved this series. The writer, Christine Trent, is talented. The plot was juicy with gossip, ripe with suspicions, and packed with deadly intentions. Overall, I recommend this novel to all readers. Mystery and suspense, are definitely found here.

I never knew Florence Nightingale to be a private investigator as well as a nurse, but alas, in this book she is.
While part of London suffers from a deadly cholera outbreak, and Florence does all she can to help the victims and their families, she's also asked to find out more about a violent attack on her friend Liz in the slums of London's Soho. With just a small group of characters to get familiar with, the story moves at a great pace through busy streets full of dirt, horrific smells and any other ugliness you can imagine. Entertaining historical fiction..