I'm so bummed! This book was the oldest in my TBR pile so I dig into it. It was such a funa nd quick read that I immediatley looked in to the previous two books in the series and to see what came after. Did you know that this book was published posthumously? Unfortunately, Sheila Connolly passed away in 2020. While we can't expect anymore books from her, I recommend picking up this one and her others. They're well worth the read.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6417737611

This was a book I struggled to get into and to read. Still a mystery but not one of my favorites. Thank you netgalley for complimentary copy.

Normally I don’t like thrillers but this was such a fun and quick read with lots of potential for more stories. Great pick up for your thriller friends!

Easily read as a standalone even though I believe several of the characters are found in previous books...which now I must go and read. A nice clean mystery with some interesting characters and a great story. The cover gives t good description so I won't repeat or give spoilers. I was provided an advanced reader copy at my request and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This is the 3rd book in the Victorian Village Mystery series. I believe this can be read as a stand-alone I had no trouble with the storyline or plot and this is my first book of the series.

The book starts off a bit slow as characters are introduced but the pace picks up after a few chapters and becomes quite engrossing and I couldn’t wait to see how the mystery played out. Not a bad read.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an ARC of this book.

This is the 3rd in Sheila Connolly's Victorian Village Mystery series. While this can be read on its own, it might be more engaging to first read the other two books in the series. Connolly also writes the County Cork Series, which is one of my favorites, so I was anxious to get this one!

The beginning is a little slow, but I think that might have been to acquaint us with the characters, especially if the reader is coming to this series for the first time. As the book progresses, the pace picks up and I became more and more invested; I couldn't wait to get to the end to see "who done it."

This is a good entry into the series. If you like Connolly's other work, I think you'll enjoy this too. Start with the first, though, and work up to this for the most enjoyment of the series!

I'm glad this book was still released, even after the death of a beloved author. I liked this series a lot and certainly wish there would be many more. The idea of the Victoria Village is so good for the town and Kate's involvement remains relevant. I also liked the intertwining of the past and present with dual murder cases.

When I accepted this book I didn’t realize it was the third book in a series. However I was still able to enjoy the story and I got the first two books to catch up and follow the series from here.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the Victorian Village Mysteries series and I still really like this series. Kate Hamilton is a really fun MC and I love the fact this series is set in Maryland, where I spent much of my life. This time Kate stumbles across a dead body in a hidden staircase, and then another body turns up when she starts investigating what happened. I love the town and Kate's efforts to continue to turn the economy around for this little village. I look forward to reading more in this continuing story.

I received an e-arc copy of this book by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Asheboro, Maryland, is a dying town. In an effort to revive the area, Kate Hamilton has a plan. She’ll make over the entire town to resemble a Victorian village. There’s a mansion the town owns. It needs the usual improvements: plumbing, electric, heating and cooling, check the roof, and more. Kate’s in the middle of searching for a contractor to renovate the mansion without destroying its character.

One man seems to be on the same wavelength. He has a feel for the old buildings and doesn’t want to modernize them, just update. Because he has an eye for how houses were generally laid out a hundred years ago, he’s able to point out there’s a discrepancy in the kitchen measurements. There’s a false wall.
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The wall is not the only surprise. He can make a small hole in the wall, insert a special gadget, and look at what’s inside before tearing out a wall. The shocker is, there’s a staircase behind the wall—and the mummified body of a man on the stairs.

Since forensics prove the body has been there since 1880, that’s a relief, but there’s no explanation or way to identify him. Other bad news is he was murdered. Who would kill a man and then build a wall around the body, especially when there’s a whole forest as part of the grounds?

Meanwhile, one of the workers turns up when he’s not supposed to be in the house, is mouthy, and doesn’t share Kate’s vision for the renovation. Before she can voice her opinion on his behavior, he’s found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. Did he fall or was he pushed?

This is book three in the series. Kate’s vision for the town is on a grand scale but most of the residents are in favor of it. If going Victorian will bring tourists and their dollars, it’s worth a try. Kate and her side characters are likable, including her new contractor. The village, when done, will be a great place to visit. Don’t dawdle too long, Kate will put you to work on her next project!

Sadly, Sheila Connolly passed away from cancer on April 20, 2020, while living in Ireland where she felt most at home. A prolific writer, at one point she wrote five books a year, spanning several series. In all, she published more than forty books: a Glassblowing series, Museum mysteries, Orchard books, paranormal tales, her most popular County Cork mysteries, and this Victorian Village series.

The Secret Staircase is the third book in the Victorian Village mystery series. Kate Hamilton returned to her small hometown to help revitalize it and improve tourism. Along the way, she’s been involved in solving some mysteries.

Kate’s latest project is to renovate the Barton Mansion. During the renovation a secret staircase is found. Unfortunately, there’s a dead body in the stairwell. While the death was not a recent one, it is unknown who the deceased. Kate’s interest is peaked, and she’s on the case.

I have read the first two books this series, and enjoyed them both. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but Kate and the other character’s personal story arcs progress through the books. I recommend reading the series in order.

Realistic characters in a charming setting. An enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What could more mysterious than a body in a wall? What starts out as a challenging historic renovation becomes a case of double homicide. The story did a good job shoring up some history from the past and the present to keep the reader from being lost. Secrets abound and not just in the wall, plenty of clues and suspects to choose from. I was a little confused; however, when it came to the relationship between Kate and Josh and what exactly she wanted it to be, project related or romance related.

The Secret Staircase is the third book in A Victorian Village Mystery series.

Kate Hamilton is in charge of refurbishing the Barton Mansion in Asheboro, Maryland. Her contractor discovers a hidden staircase in the kitchen with a body laying at the bottom. It turns out that the man has been there since the late 1800s and was probably murdered.

More questions than answers leads to a lot of speculation, and what seemed to be a very long book. Fortunately, all questions were eventually answered.

It's told in the first person, so we are subject to Kate’s many thoughts. She seems to have an endless list of questions and list of items to accomplish. She also goes on endlessly about her self-doubts. The story moved at a slow pace and many details were repeated multiple times.

On the positive side, I loved the author’s descriptions of the mansion. They allowed me to visualize this beautiful Victorian home.

Ms. Connolly writes five series, and this is book three in the Victorian Village series. The premise is intriguing, but the execution leaves much to be desired. Kate Hamilton has left her job and returned to her hometown because her childhood friend has convinced her to help resurrect the dying town. Asheboro had only one real industry, and when that folded, a long, slow economic decline began. But because no other industry was present, the Victorian houses that were built during the town's heyday are still intact, if in need of remodeling. Kate's idea is to start with a remodel of the home of the town magnate who'd become a recluse in his home for years, and create a living history village that would attract tourists. After finally finding a contractor who shares her vision of remodeling the mansion, the murder of a sub-contractor and the discovery of a skeleton hidden behind a wall threaten to derail the project before it has even begun. Full disclosure--I've worked in an industry that includes historic preservation, and Kate getting a huge grant to finance this, without any background in historic preservation or conservation, is, frankly, not realistic, but I try to suspend my disbelief when reading mysteries. But even someone without any background in preservation would recognize instantly that the timeline Kate sets is utterly fantastical, and she is a terrible project manager. There are a thousand things to do, the reader is told, yet she spends hours reading a diary because she feels an intense connection with and fascination about the late owner. And that is part of the rub of why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked: Kate is in love with the idea of the project and the romance of the project, but she (and the author) have no idea of how such a project would be actually unfold, and so therefore neither does the reader become invested in this project. Perhaps the author has too many series that she's responsible for, and the quality may be suffering from her scattered attention. But I doubt I'll return to Asheboro to see what happens with this project. The title reminded me of Nancy Drew books, which I loved as a girl, but I can only recommend it with the caveat that it's not dreadful, it's just not great. Recommended

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

A skeleton is found in the 100 year-old house that Kate has been hired to restore. She sets out to find who this skeleton is. A great cast of characters. Also has some romance involved. Many twists & turns. I recommmend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

THE SECRET STAIRCASE is the third book in Sheila Connolly’s “Victorian Village Mysteries” series. I like a book with more than one mystery to solve – especially in one of them is something that happened eons ago. THE SECRET STAIRCASE has all that and more. Kate Hamilton wants to restore some of the buildings around Asheboro, Maryland by making the old look new again. She starts with the Barton Mansion. She gets her financial backing together, assembles a team of locals and friends, and prepares to get to work. Unfortunately for Kate, this process involves finding two dead bodies. One of some unknown man from Victorian times, and one that recently passed away. Having these two bodies on the property she’s trying to renovate gives Kate motivation to try and find out what happened in both cases.

I Kate as a businesswoman and amateur sleuth. Most of the characters in THE SECRET STAIRCASE are realistically flawed and complex. Because of the construction work, a mummified body from the Victorian era is discovered walled in. I love this Edgar Allan Poe touch. While there are no gory bits with this find, it’s unnerving to some people because of how it was hidden away for so many years. The history buffs associated with this restoration project are naturally interested in finding out more about who the person was and what happened, but Kate also takes an interest in order to clarify the history of the house. Sheila Connolly does a fantastic job of mixing history and fiction to create an absorbing account for the reader. The more recent death in the house involves a character that nobody was that sad to see go, but leaves people freaked out by an unknown killer in their midst. The forensic tidbits used to determine where and how the person died are fascinating, and you don’t get that with every mystery novel.

THE SECRET STAIRCASE is an engrossing tale of two murders with the past impacting the present in a huge way. A minor secondary story in THE SECRET STAIRCASE involves Kate and the evolving relationship of her off and on love interest. I found this to be an interesting side note but wasn’t sure throughout the book whether I wanted the relationship to thrive or end. I look forward to reading the next installment in Sheila Connolly’s “Victorian Village Mysteries” series.

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly is book three in the Victorian Village Mystery series. This was the first one I have read but was able to get current quickly.
This well written Cozy is prefect for history buffs. It has plot twists and plenty of suspects. The main characters are likeable. There is a hint of romance and friendship.
I was given an ARC by ST. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

I have never read anything by this author. However, that is about to change. I've ordered the first 2 books in the series from the library so I can catch up and continue reading this series going forward.

I am a history buff so this series really appeals to me. First, the characters are well developed. I can easily visualize them. Second, the story really held my attention! And third, I simply couldn't put it down! I look forward to reading the previous books and the upcoming books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

The Secret Staircase is the third Victorian Village cozy by Sheila Connolly. Released 21st Aug 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an appealing small town cozy mystery with a small (easy to keep track of) ensemble cast. The usual eccentric characters are present along with a historic mansion renovation as part of a Victorian living history village along the same lines as Williamsburg or Jamestown. When an unexpected long dead skeleton is found hidden in an unused area of the mansion, the ensuing long ago murder mystery threatens modern day dangerous repercussions. The pool of suspects is small, and although the denouement and resolution are fairly easy to guess beforehand, they're well written and mostly satisfying. Even though it's the third book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. The language is clean, there's a strong romance element, and little on-page violence.

This would be a good choice for lovers of light cozies. There are some potentially triggering plot elements including death of a child, infertility and loss, and threatened rape.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.