I loved this. If you liked the Alienist, but not all the gore...this one is for you. Set in Victorian England, Genevieve is high society but really wants to be a journalist. When she stumbles across the Robin Hood mystery, she encounters Daniel, another high society misfit. They form an unlikely team to solve the robberies that have turned into murders. AND there's chemistry. The book ends with a fabulous cliff hanger. So good.

Apparently I'm in the vast minority, but I just could NOT find my way into this one... It felt implausible and forced to me, like it was trying too hard to be witty and light yet still serve up a mystery (and not just a blooming romance, or at least some Moonlighting-level sexual tension). But I may just not be the right audience - other readers seem to have uniformly enjoyed it, so definitely check out other reviews - particularly if you like your mysteries lighter...

The first half of this book was slow for me and I struggled to figure out whether it was a romance or a mystery. It wasn’t strongly checking the boxes for either genre but had some elements of each. The action picked up in the second half, however, and I felt like it edged over into a mystery where the main characters had a romantic spark. I enjoyed the second half and read it quickly. There is a cliffhanger ending that sets up the sequel and I look forward to reading it.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All right mystery, well written, but too many "that doesn't quite make sense" moments to make it an un-put-downable read. For instance: Genevieve suspects Daniel of being Robin Hood because of his mysterious background and because she has heard him speak of Robin Hood in the street. What? Another is <spoiler> Genevieve is attacked and she (and Daniel) assume it is because someone wants to stop her from uncovering the truth, But Genevieve has not shared with anyone (besides Daniel) what she is investigating. So how would the attacker know about it, much less be threatened by it? </spoiler>

I liked the historical setting, but I didn't like that both Genevieve and Daniel were both quick to anger and show this emotion in their body language. Most people hide their anger much better. Also, I didn't care much about Daniel's point of view in the story, as it mostly seemed to consist of reflection on his attraction and admiration of Genevieve. A point of view better suited for a romance novel.

Genevieve Stewart and Daniel McCaffrey are considered members of the wealthy 400 of New York; both, however, are considered different from the others. She comes from an eccentric and liberal thinking family who already cost her an engagement. He is a former gang member from Five Points, Eton and Harvard educated, who inherited his money. She is a newspaper reporter of fluff pieces on the tail of the Robin Hood thief who violates the very wealthy of her set. While trying to discover his motive and identity, she suspects the handsome Daniel. When theft turns to murder, her investigation becomes treacherous and she is forced to accept his help. Steeping her novel in NYC landmarks, events and recognizable characters, Kate Belli has established a likable duo to work through their personal issues and cooperate in solving future mysteries. I look forward to the next.

I am never one to pass by an intriguing book cover, or a historical fiction mystery. Needless to say when I came across Deception by Gaslight on #netgalley and read the description I knew this was a must read for me.

I've always greatly enjoyed reading historical fiction, but have found myself picking up it quite a bit during this #quarantinelife. For some reason it is comfort reading at it's finest for me. And this book keeps the streak going. I absolutely loved the 1888 NYC setting, and Genevieve's hunt to discover who the Robin Hood of the Lower East side is. Speaking of Genevieve, I so admired her ambition and dogged pursuit of the truth and as well as the opportunity to be a hard news reporter. At times I questioned her ability to understand the danger she put herself in but did appreciate that she felt she was doing the right thing.

Now with most historical mysteries there is an element of romance and Deception by Gaslight is no exception to this tradition. However, it is rather more of a side plot and a slow build of one at that - which to be honest, is exactly how I like them. The ending between the couple left me a bit confused , particularly as you could tell they truly cared for one another. I was therefore happy to read the epilogue and better understand there are more adventures to come!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for my DRC.

A thief lurks, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Suspence and suspicion wind through this novel, with a female journalist at the heart of the telling. Struggling to balance societal convention and expectation, dodging rumor following a broken engagement, and tailing a man who is part attraction and part enigmatic possible suspect, this heroine quickly becomes a part of your reading life and you won't want to put this book down. I am so excited that this book is listed as "A Gilded Gotham Mystery #1" as it implies that #2 is in the future and I, for one, cannot wait.

This book was provided as a digital ARC by NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

5/5 stars

I loved this book! Set in the Gilded Age in New York City, Deception by Gaslight follows Genevieve Stewart, a member of New York's high society and journalist for the local newspaper. Genevieve tries to unravel the truth about mysterious thefts and murders along with Daniel McCaffery, who has a mysterious past himself.

This book was a great read and one I found I couldn't put down. There were so many aspects I enjoyed - the unfolding of the character's pasts, the details of life in the city's elite versus life in the slums, and the development of the relationship between the two main characters. The author did a great job bringing in so many different aspects of life in New York in the 1800s - tenements, rival gangs, old versus new society, and more. This book would be an excellent read for so many people. The epilogue left with a bit of a cliff hanger, so I can't wait to see what is in store next!

This was a fun read.... a great Victorian era mystery. All of the characters were very likable. The plot was moderately paced. I was sad to see this one end.

This Victorian-era peeks into New York High Society and introduces us to a delightful heroine. An aspiring journalist gets swept up in a mystery and winds up in a compromising deception while trying to stop a murderous plot.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this mystery with Geneievie and Daniel set in NYC in the late 1800's, someone is stealing jewelry from the Astor 400 and Geneive wants to find out who is Robin Hood! She meets Daniel when investigating and they become partners. I hope that the author writes more novels with this pair! I won't spoil the mystery!

Genevieve Steward is a young woman who aspires to be a top reporter in a time when women, especially women who come from the Astor 400, are thought of as merely pretty faces. While trying to find out who is robbing from the rich, she runs into Daniel McCaffrey. Daniel's history is unknown but what is known is that thanks to a benefactor he now is one of the richest in the city. Genevieve and Daniel's paths continue to cross as she stumbles through society while trying to solve who is stealing the jewels and murdering those who get in their way.

I would definitely call this a traditional cozy mystery. I've read similar stories, but this one seems to have some new twists. Genevieve's family, while part of the Astor 400, are eclectic and seem to approve of her choice to become a reporter. Daniel's past and history are a fun twist. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of someone who grew up with all the riches and someone who grew up poor. They both have very different backgrounds, but together they have to solve the mystery. It takes both her knowledge of the elite and his knowledge of the streets to figure out exactly who is stealing from the rich.

This was a great, hard to put down murder mystery set in Gilded Age New York, seemingly pretty accurate to time and place and atmosphere.

Genevieve was a wonderful character, full of determination to find out why her friends were victims. The budding romance between Genevieve and Daniel hit all the right points for me - not the main focus but well done.

The writing style flowed well which made it an enjoyable read for me, along with the well thought out twists and turns, impressive for a first book. I’m looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out!

Lots of tension, many threads and twists and turns!

The lead is a committed professional who doesn’t appreciate the double standards of the times. Like her colleagues, she wants to write stories that are relevant and be given recognition for a job well done. She is brave, intelligent and inspiring. Understandably, she drives the men in her life to distraction. This includes her ‘partner’ in solving the murder mystery. She takes some at times life-threatening risks and when challenged struggles to understand why her being a woman is the issue quoted back to her!

The storyline was complicated, the characters have such depth. I enjoyed the contrast between the upper and lower sides (the rich and the poor), that the story was more than a murder, rather it was also about the mores of that society, expectations, greed and corruption.

The story was rich, it was just brilliant and had such an unexpected ending.

Well done indeed. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I am so looking forward to picking up the next one.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.

After putting in a long day of work and being shut up duing COVID-19 , this was what I really needed to provide for some rest and relaxation. I thought the story was very well-written and a nice change to see a woman's position as more than just becoming married and wife. The mystery was good and I thought the twists and turns were done very well. Not much into mysteries but this one captivated my attention on finding out who was robbing the wealthy and "who dunnit" on the murder aspect.

Adored Genevieve's character and determination to finding out who harmed her friends and showing her bluestocking side as a journalist. I always love a good romance and liked the attraction between her and Daniel. This was a very entertaining and enjoyable read for this reader by first time author, Kate Belli.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions herein are my own.

This was a perfect entertainment read during quarantine for Covid 19. As I started it, I thought it might be a sort of regency romance updated to the Gilded Age in New York, but it was more. It's a good mystery. Who is robbing wealthy folks of their jewels? The robberies have recently escalated into murder. Genevieve wants answers because the victims are among her friends and acquaintances. Also, as an aspiring journalist, she wants the scoop. Mysterious Daniel comes into her life very early in the book, and yes, romance is a factor. The plot twists and turns, surprising me several times.
I like this novel well enough that I did a little research. Because it's so expertly written, it's a little hard to believe this is the novelist's first publication, but apparently that's true. Also it's meant to be the first in a series. Hurray! I'll be looking for the second one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new entry in the popular genre of period mysteries. All the elements of a good suspense story are present - an entertaining setting of New York City in the late 1880s when society is quickly changing; a fesity main character who is forging her own rebellious life as a young and untested reporter; and a mysterious and handsome man who is navigating immense and unexpected wealth and a hardscrabble gangs of New York youth. Readers will enjoy this well written, fast-paced story and will hope that it is the first of many adventures to come.

It is a really nice not so bloody crime novel.
Set in New York at a time where Women got to two options.
Get married, or get married.
The heroine in this book, the daughter of a wealthy family was close befor becoming a wife but got stood up in front of the alther and decided to become a journalist instead.
So she caught up on a story of a robber who called himself Robin Hood.
Stealfrom the rich, give to the poor.
And there the fun begins.
Our heroine stumbles upon a conspiracy in the highest ranks of the city and meets a very handsome millionaire with whome she starts to investigate.

It is a nice book, not to cruesome with well written characters.

And I liked the ending because we may see a little bit more of Genie and Dani Boy.

Thanks for giving me the chance to read this book.

Deception by Gaslight is a cosy mystery novel, although it is not one in which there appears no violence. Indeed, there are moments of brutality that a prospective reader must be aware of, but they are neither gruesome nor gratuitous in nature.

It is a fast paced book is set in the late 1888 in the growing metropolis of New York, making it set in the Victoria era, a period of history that is close enough to be well known and yet far enough away to make the time seem murky in our collective consciousness.

We are introduced to the main characters almost immediately. We see the well-heeled socialite Genevieve stumbling into a dangerous situation and the enigmatically dressed Daniel who saves her from certain ruin, but not before she witnesses the unsavoury sight of a decomposing body at the end of the alleyway.
Genevieve and Daniel both move in what is known as the Astor 400, which was a list of the best that New York society has to offer during the Gilded Age. The so-called list was published in The New York Times on February 16th, 1892, making both characters well respected and much fawned over.

Genevieve is considered at advanced age of 26 to be a probable old maid, stood up at the aisle by her fiancé because her mother had been arrested for protesting for the rights of women to vote and she now, with the blessing of her forward thinking parents, concentrates on building a career as a journalist. Daniel, with his questionable past which queried just why he was made the unrelated heir to an affluent socialite and his vast fortune, with his penchant to shift his living arrangements from America to Europe on a regular basis and has shown no known interest in the opposite sex. Of course, it goes without saying that this does not run true for the course of the whole novel, which an enjoyable love story brewing underneath the mystery between the two main characters as they search for clues to solve the puzzle that was befuddling society. At large is a thief who openly markets himself as Robin Hood is stealing items of great worth from the rich and purporting to give the proceeds to the poor after explaining his crimes in letters that are sent to Genevieve’s newspaper, making him a local folk hero with the teaming masses of New York. But this is not the only mystery that Genevieve and Daniel find themselves trying to unravel as a shadowy paper company seems to be undermining the said goal of the city of better housing for the poor under the veneer of respectability.

The characters are drawn well enough over the course of the novel to make them engaging and likeable, but also left open enough to expect new information revealed further in novels yet to be written, which the reader can gauge the likelihood of to be strong with the final chapter alluding to the next mystery that will be tackled by the unlikely heroes. The story is well written and enjoyable, It does not require great detective skills to work out where the mystery is leading, but that doesn’t take away from the pleasure of reading the novel.

Originally I wondered if the gaslight in the title was a reference to the actual gas-light of that era, or was a story about being gaslighted. Either way, I knew it was a story that I would be intrigued by, not to mention it having a terrific cover.

Set in the times of the Astor 400, which was a fun fact to learn about and look up on the Internet, Genevieve Stewart is a young journalist attempting to track down information about the famed Robin Hood – a jewel thief who has been stealing from the wealthy. During her hunt for information she runs across a handsome Daniel McCaffrey and he immediately becomes a potential suspect or a potential romantic interest. Inbetween times of journalist pursuit she also is a welcome addition to the high society parties and balls since her family is also included in the Astor 400 list. As Genevieve continues tracking down her story, she finds that additional deaths may be related, but what is worse is that Daniel, whom she has started getting close to, may be the culprit.

There are books that you enjoy, but slow read and then there are books that you can’t read fast enough. This was the latter because it was just so likeable. The writing was quick and flowing and there always seemed to be something to keep me interested – be it the investigative work and the danger it brings, the balls, or the potential romance. There truly was never a dull moment. I did, however, wonder about some of the choices Genevieve makes concerning her safety. There are times in the book where you want to go “No! That doesn’t sound like a smart idea considering what has been going on,” but it never kept me from enjoying the overall story. The very, very end also felt a little Hollywood-ish and while I was emotionally satisfied, I also knew that logically it probably would not have happened that way.

Recommended for those who enjoy the 1880 American Gilded Age era society stories, and light reads with fast-paced action and story that includes a dash of romance.
Rating: 4.5

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.