An entertaining, albeit light. mystery set in 1905 London. Dr Margaret Murray and her police cohorts find themselves searching for a murderer among the mediums who were so popular at the time. Lots of characters and an easy answer led me to knock off a star. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I missed the first book but I don't think that hampered my enjoyment of this one.

This is the second book in the Margaret Murray series of Edwardian mystery novels, this one set in London in 1905. There was a real Margaret Murray who lectured in Egyptology at University College, London, which gives this time and setting a nicely realistic feeling. Some of the humor was a shade too light and casual for all the murder and physical attacks that were going on, but not having read the first book in the series I can't say if that is a new element in this series.

The story here concerns mediums who keep turning up dead with intriguing circumstances attached to each one. Margaret simply bulls her way through the door to join one of the established circles of mediums so she can investigate the murders from the inside. Scotland Yard is more than pleased to allow her and her friends to investigate for them. There are a lot of characters in this book, and I had quite a time keeping them all in their proper places. However, the number of characters didn't keep me from spotting the killer so that was a disappointment. The brainy ploy Margaret came up with for identifying the murderer was nothing new in mystery novels so that was also a disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for an e-galley of this novel.

The second in the entertaining series featuring Margaret Murray and her friends. Set in Edwardian London, this mystery involves the death of mediums. The writing is light and full of humour. An easy to read book with delightful characters.

Egyptologist Margaret Murray pursues a medium murderer in the second in this M.J.. Trow series.

It isn't necessary to have read book one, but all the richly described characters from the first book show up again: the police sergeant turned rich man and several other members of the force willing to collaborate with a woman in London in the early Twentieth Century.

Women trying make a not-so-honest living, the mediums have roused the rage of someone. Murray risks her life to find out who.

How far is Margaret Murray willing to go to solve a mystery? When she suspects that someone is targeting mediums, she joins a circle to try and figure out who is targeting them and why. If things don’t go well, it may very be Dr Murray who is need of a medium to share who the killer is.

This was a fabulous read and is a great book to kick off the new year! If you enjoy a solid mystery with a dash of paranormal to season it? You’re in luck! This is the book you’ve been waiting for!

Dr Margaret Murray is a great main character and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery with her. This did what I was hoping for from previous M.J. Trow books. It had a great mystery going on and I enjoyed what I read. I hope this series continues and am excited to read where M.J. Trow will go.

"It was hard in the gloom to see if Agatha Dunwoody’s eyes were showing a mad gleam or any other defining feature, but Margaret Murray was grateful that, indeed, the late Alexander was right on the money. She wouldn’t be coming back to the Bermondsey Spiritualist Circle. Not even if Hell froze over."