I always enjoy a Rachel Savernake thriller. Anything by Martin Edwards is good for me and this one is no exception. There's always good quality writing and great plot twists and characters. Even though this is the fourth in the series, there is no lowering of quality or mystery. I enjoyed the way this mystery all panned out and we got to visit Rye and romney marsh. Such historical intrigue there! Scene setting is second to none and just when you think this is cosy crime and you know what to expect...no you don't!

A mystery that keeps you guessing as to who will the killer is. Very intriguing premise. I really enjoyed how the murder in the beginning was set up. It very must so fit the mystery category, but also remained fresh and new.

This is the latest in Martin Edwards Rachel Savernake series in the style of the golden age of crime, this gothic offering, set in 1930s London, begins in a shocking way. The wealthy Rachel, an arts patron, has been invited to the aptly named Hades Gallery for the Queen of Surrealism, Damaris Gethin's private viewing of her latest macabre exhibition, a private viewing that has models emulating waxworks of notorious killers. Gethin makes an extraordinary request of Rachel 'I want you to solve my murder', and when Gethin takes to the stage as Marie Antoinette with a guillotine, the artist kills herself in a traumatising and horrifying piece of suicidal performance art in front of a small audience that includes Jacob Flint, The Clarion crime reporter.

Flint is there for different reasons, he is working on leads involving the beautiful and scandalous Mrs Kiki de Villiers, a married woman. Savernake and Flint find themselves looking into Gethin's life and her death to ascertain who is responsible, and into de Villiers, a more obstacle ridden inquiry as there are parties who have their their own plans, and will brook no interference. Part of the investigative team are longstanding series regulars, Clifford Truelove, his wife, Hetty, and his sister, Martha, members of Rachel's household. The mystery behind Rachel's character remains, and the dynamics between the characters are largely unchanged, with the reclusive Rachel in charge with her relentless determination, superior skills and abilities, Jacob is no intellectual match, and he is still in love with her. Could there possibly be any connections between the 2 cases?

This is a thrilling and twisted addition to the series with its dangerous inquiries that uncover blackmail, murders, false identities, assassins, government plots, ruthless and powerful criminals and more. Our protagonists once again work with Inspector Philip Oakes and visit the remote and desolate Romney Marshes in Kent and Rye in Sussex, the location of Sepulchre Street, both places are instrumental to this darkest of historical mysteries. Whilst I was entertained and engaged, I am hoping that Edwards goes on to throw more light on Rachel's background, and that there is more character development too in what is an enjoyable series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

'This is my challenge for you,' the woman in white said. 'I want you to solve my murder.' London, 1930s:
Rachel Savernake has been invited to a private view of an art exhibition at a fashionable gallery. The artist, Damaris Gethin, known as 'the Queen of Surrealism', is debuting a show featuring live models pretending to be waxworks of famous killers. Before her welcoming speech, Damaris asks a haunting favour of the amateur sleuth: she wants Rachel to solve her murder. As Damaris takes to a stage set with a guillotine, the lights go out. There is a cry and the blade falls. Damaris has executed herself. While Rachel questions why Damaris would take her own life - and just what she meant by 'solve my murder' - fellow party guest Jacob Flint is chasing a lead on a glamorous socialite with a sordid background. As their paths merge, this case of false identities, blackmail, and fedora-adorned doppelgängers, will descend upon a grand home on Sepulchre Street, where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems
This was a solid mystery with lots of twists and turns and the story flows well. I would have liked more character development as I didn’t feel I got to know them well
This is part of a series which I haven’t read but this is fine as a stand alone novel.
Overall I enjoyed the story and mystery as well as the writing which kept me page turning

Whilst I have read many prefaces by Martin Edwards to Golden Age Mysteries this is only the second time I have read any of his own books, although I have purchased them in Kindle format. I think that I must go back to the earlier ones as soon as possible.

London, 1930s: Rachel Savernake is attending renowned artist Damaris Gethin's latest exhibition, featuring live models who pose as famous killers. But that's just the warm-up act...

Unsure why she was invited, Rachel is soon cornered by the artist who asks her a haunting favour: she wants Rachel to solve her murder. Damaris then takes to the stage set with a guillotine, the lights go out – and Damaris executes herself.

Why would Damaris take her own life? And, if she died by her own hand, what did she mean by 'solve my murder'?

There are many questions to answer, and the clues are there for those daring enough to solve them...
.
I was troubled reading this book in that it was only my second introduction in the authors fiction writing and I don’t think he explained enough about all the various characters to new readers and I felt confused with who was who. As there were so many different characters perhaps a cast list would have helped me understand the various plot lines more easily.

This very experienced writes a very exciting story which had me really gripped until the very dramatic conclusion. I enjoyed reading this very much and will certainly look out for more of his previous books in the future. Well Recommended.

‘I want you to solve my murder,’ said the woman in white. Rachel Savernake gave a sardonic smile. ‘Quite a challenge.’ ‘Rumour has it that you seldom refuse a dare.’ ‘True,’ Rachel said. ‘But I anticipate difficulties. You’re flesh and blood, an artist who lives and breathes. Not a ghost.’ ‘Not yet.’“

Rachel Savernake is not one to turn down such a challenge. And since Damaris Gethin is dead by the end of the 3rd chapter, she doesn’t have long to wait to begin her investigation.

Very early into her inquiry, Rachel’s investigation appears to get sidetracked as she is drawn into Jacob Flint’s pursuit of a story involving a scandalous socialite. For the most part it’s an interesting plot, with a dark, almost claustrophobic atmosphere—mysterious government agencies and Very Important Persons not withstanding. But here is also where my issues with the book begin. Once the story moves on to this new plot line it tends to feel long, drawn out and overly complicated. Plus, Gethin’s challenge to Rachel is the impetus for all of the events that follow it, but that part of the story seems to get lost along the way. I wouldn’t normally take issue with that, except for one thing. When Rachel does present the solution to Gethin’s death, it’s done in, what felt to me like, a very off handed “oh, did I not tell you I solved that one” manner.

Martin also continues to portray Rachel and her “ménage” (the Trueman clan) as if they too are a mystery to be solved. But by doing so, they have become static characters, unchanged in any way. Every once in a while a statement will be made, always followed by a sideways glance at Rachel, hinting at something from their past. I’ve read every book in the series and, unless I’m missing something, these “clues” to the past are never followed up on. And after four books it’s all become a bit monotonous. They are really no longer the enigmatic group introduced in Gallows Court. It’s clear that their desire to involve themselves in investigating mysteries and murder is born out of their sole motivation, which is to court danger. That’s all well and good, but it’s no longer enough—for me at least. Plus it gives them an air of indifference that I now find off putting.

‘You think Damaris Gethin would be content that justice was done?’ Jacob asked. Rachel shrugged. ‘Who knows?’“

While I’m disappointed that Martin has done little if anything in the way of developing his primary characters, the strong plot and surprising ending made Sepluchre Street sort of worth reading.

The opening of an art exhibition turns to tragedy with a shocking death made more disturbing by the victim's request that Rachel Savernake solve their murder. This is the fourth novel in the Rachel Savernake series set in 1930s London.

I am new to this series and it is very much a standalone mystery that doesn't require you to have read the previous novels. Rachel Savernake is a fun main character and I really enjoyed her relationship with her household staff who are more like family than employees. I also liked the depiction of 1930s London.

The mystery itself was the let down. The main focus of the novel is not the death at the start and yet I found that death and the reasons for it much more interesting than the central story. I also felt that a lot of the conclusion was a stretch of the facts that we were given in the story. I don't feel that the resolution of the mystery could have been solved in the story and that for me is what I enjoy in a mystery. I actually don't mind guessing the ending if I enjoy getting there. That for me was the disappointment on this story.

"How can you solve a murder before it's happened?

'This is my challenge for you,' the woman in white said. 'I want you to solve my murder.'

London, 1930s: Rachel Savernake is attending renowned artist Damaris Gethin's latest exhibition, featuring live models who pose as famous killers. But that's just the warm-up act...

Unsure why she was invited, Rachel is soon cornered by the artist who asks her a haunting favour: she wants Rachel to solve her murder. Damaris then takes to the stage set with a guillotine, the lights go out - and Damaris executes herself.

Why would Damaris take her own life? And, if she died by her own hand, what did she mean by 'solve my murder'?

There are many questions to answer, and the clues are there for those daring enough to solve them...

Rachel Savernake faces her most puzzling murder yet in this glamorous gothic mystery from the winner of the CWA Diamond Dagger. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Richard Osman."

I mean, armchair detectives that we are, our blood runs hot at the idea of being asked to solve a murder by the victim themselves right?

Sepulchre Street is set in glamorous and glitzy 1930s London and is the fourth in the tongue-gnawingly addictive Rachel Savernake Mystery series. Rachel is the independent and tenacious daughter of a judge and is also a wealthy heiress, an heiress with a difference. Murder is her wheelhouse and there's nothing she enjoys more than sinking her teeth into cases as an amateur detective. This time she is in attendance at a waxworks display of past criminals at Hades Gallery when the "Queen of Surrealism" artist Damaris Gethin approaches Rachel to solve her murder case. It is clearly a tricky prospect as she's still alive. But not for long. She sticks her neck out and mayhem ensues.

Rachel's journalist friend and colleague Jacob Flint is another of the twenty invited guests on hand to witness the rather untoward and dramatic death. But death isn't the only crime on order. Rachel and her team get buried up to their gullets in the dark and disturbing case.

My, oh my, but this was a juicy murder story with hints of noir and the supernatural. One of my favourite aspects is the surprise at the end, a clever addition. Rachel isn't my favourite sleuth in the world but she is spunky and entertaining. The solution is quite satisfying.

If you like cozy mysteries which aren't too cozy you may adore this immersive series as much as I do.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this thrilling novel.

I've read all the books in this series by Martin Edwards, and found them very enjoyable. Sepulchre Street is an excellent addition to the series, and the character of Rachel Savernake is just as inscrutable, clever and witty as in the rest of the series. This is a must for fans of Golden Age murder mysteries, written by the supreme expert on the genre. Martin Edwards' books on the history of detective fiction are required reading for anyone wanting more information about the subject and neglected authors from the period.

Whenever I see a new anthology of crime short stories edited by Martin Edwards, I choose it without even giving it a second thought. I haven't had quite as much luck with his books that focus on a single story. Having said that, I was still very interested in the Rachel Savernake series once it came to my attention. This story has a very distinctive noire vibe to it, beginning with the breath catching moment in the opening and continuing throughout the novel. A dark and unusual novel for readers who want something in a category very different from police procedural, crime thriller or cozy. I gave this one a four star rating but find that I'm still vacillating between that and three stars depending on the mood I'm in at the time of thinking about the book. Rachel and both the Trueman's are mysterious characters who pretty much stay that way throughout the entire book. Jacob Flint is the journalist who stumbles around and bumps into clues and dangerous situations. So, I'm wondering how Mr. Edwards is ever going to have a romantic relationship develop between Rachel and Jacob. Maybe the answer is easy to see. For all its feelings of foreboding and sinister intentions the author shies away from the crime scene that would have presented itself after the first death in the novel. I kept getting the feeling that this book was trying to take off in a direction the author wasn't comfortable with, so he had to reign it in on many occasions.

If you want to read something a little bit different, you've found yourself a good candidate here. I have another in this series ready to read but I'm going to save it for a few weeks to give this one a chance to fully digest for my mystery novel appetite. Rachel Savernacke may be a little more than I bargained for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an e-galley of this novel.

Sepulchre Street is the fourth book by Martin Edwards (no relation!), featuring Rachel Savernake; her staff; and the journalist, Jacob Flint. The premise is that an artist, Damaris Gethin, asks Rachel, “Will you solve my murder?” When Damaris dies, a few minutes later, Rachel accepts the challenge.

There is a small cast and they are well delineated, so it’s easy to remember who each character is. Although it is possible to read the book without having read the other books in the series, I suspect a new reader would be somewhat bewildered and certainly wouldn’t enjoy the book as much as they would if they’d read the earlier books in the series. Martin Edwards is highly skilled, as befits the President of the Detection Club and recipient of the Crime Writers' Association's Diamond Dagger award.

I enjoyed the book (thanks very much, NetGalley and Head of Zeus, for my free review copy) but I felt a little dissatisfied when I finished it. I didn’t think the reasons for Damaris’s death were really adequate – although I accept we all have different perspectives. At one point in the book, Jacob tries to work without Rachel, which is understandable and laudable as he realises his dependence upon her, but is possibly out of character. Another strand of the plot was resolved in a dramatic way that I accept was completely consistent with the characters’ behaviour and was essential for the overall resolution of the tale, but which still felt over-convenient and manufactured. That said, no, I can’t think of a better way of tying up that sub-plot, but I’m still mumbling, “It was just too convenient.”

Only those who have followed the series will appreciate an almost throwaway comment that Jacob felt Rachel’s arm firmly around his waist. Does the fact that this sticks in my mind mean that I’m alive to the subtle characterisations and can identify with Jacob, or is it an inditement of the narrative that this one line resonates after I’ve finished the book? I, obviously, like to think it’s the former – but I would say that, wouldn’t I?

I definitely recommend this book, but I suggest you read the previous books in order first, as you will enjoy it so much more.

#SepulchreStreet #NetGalley

Thank you to Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was unable to really get into this book due to the fact that when I requested it, I was unaware it's a fourth book in a series. I felt like I needed to really read the first three in order to understand more in depth of the characters. Really unfortunate as the premise of this book sounded really promising.

Sepulchre Street is the second novel in the Rachel Savernake crime and can be read as a stand-alone, however I did struggle with the relationships between characters and the book jumps right in so it took me a while to grasp who was who and what was happening. Apart from being slightly confused in the beginning I really enjoyed the gothic style of writing and found this a very entertaining crime/mystery and I loved the clue finders at the end it was so unique and you get to see what hints you missed. This reminded me of an Agatha Christie style of writing and I would recommend.

The fourth of Martin Edwards' Rachel Savernake crime novels begins with a gem of an idea. Ms Savernake has been invited to the of opening of an exhibition at the Hades Gallery, entitled "Artist in Crime" , and is asked by the avant-garde artist to "solve my murder".

What transpires is a thrill-infused investigation into that murder and those resulting from it.

The author captures the spirit of genuine 1930's thrillers-there are two daring rescues by Rachel's chauffeur- and reminds us that the genre, even then, was far from "cosy", with references to extramarital affairs, gay and lesbian characters and abortion.

Despite some of these elements,and an aura of the macabre and vaguely outre, I found the plot slightly dull. Rachel's sidekick, Jacob Flint seemed here to be ineffectual and, indeed, superfluous most of the time, a development not to my liking.

While this was ever-entertaining, and always well-written, it was a little disappointing. However it is recommendable at 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, Head of Zeus, for the digital review copy.

'Sepulchre Street' is the fourth novel in the intriguing Rachel Savernake series, a gothic mystery with a decidedly unexpected twist.
Set in 1930s London, our protoganist in one Rachel Savernake, the daughter of the infamous Judge Savernake, known for his frequent sentencings involving the hanging of the accused. With such an unusual name, it is difficult for Rachel to deny her connection to the disliked man, but she keeps her background as secret as possible. And the frequent mentions by the author to life on Gaunt Island, and her loneliness, make me suspect that we may eventually learn of some tragic events in Rachel's past.
As always, Rachel is accompanied by her faithful servants, though they behave more as family, Cliff, Hetty and Martha. The trio acts as Rachel's sounding board, assistants and general support throughout each of her adventures.
And the final member of Rachel's team is Jacob Flint, a reporter for the Clarion. Jacob is very much is love with Rachel and hopes to impress her, but sadly cannot match her intellectual prowess.
As for the mystery, well the artist Damaris Gethrin invites Rachel to solve her murder and several minutes later, the artist dies in a pretty dramatic manner. Rachel immediately decides to resolve the mystery and readers soon find themselves in a fast-moving mystery with numerous storylines that are skillfully woven together.
All in all this is an entertaining and dark, gothic murder mystery. I would recommend reading the previous novels in the series in order to properly understand the relationships between the characters and the frequent references to previous events.
Also, I do not wish to give away any spoilers but I would warn potential readers that the topics of suicide and abortion are mentioned numerous times in the novel as these could be topics that some readers would prefer to avoid.

Martin Edwards writes very satisfying crime novels. The longer this series goes on the better it gets. I enjoy the plotting, his characterisation and world building. I even googled to see if there was a Sepulchre Street in Rye.

I had the pleasure of reading Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards before its release date, and overall, I found it to be a solid mystery novel. The plot was engaging, and the ending was surprising and satisfying. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which made the story all the more enjoyable.

However, I did feel that the character development could have been stronger. While the main characters, Rachel Savernake and Jacob Flint, were interesting, I didn't feel like I got to know them as well as I would have liked. This made it difficult for me to fully invest in their stories.

That being said, the mystery itself was intriguing and kept me guessing until the end. I especially appreciated the unique premise of the art exhibition featuring live models pretending to be waxworks of famous killers, which added a surreal and eerie element to the story.

Overall, I would rate Sepulchre Street 3.5 stars. While the lack of character development was a drawback, the strong plot and surprising ending made it a worthwhile read. I would recommend it to fans of mystery and suspense novels.

I've got the making series on the brain, and it's a perfect week to take on a new entry in the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards. Sepulchre Street is Edwards' fourth novel, and the fourth to feature his mysterious amateur sleuth, Rachel Savernake. Edwards is, of course, the premier expert on Golden Age / traditional mysteries, and I'd be excited to read this advance copy on his name alone. (Many thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the gift copy!) But I've also been a huge fan of his sleuth Rachel Savernake since I first picked up Gallows Court. The series is clever, compelling, and a dark contrast to some of my cozier "comfort" reads.

In this latest outing, Rachel and her crew pursue the alleged murderer of a dazzling contemporary artist. When Damaris Gethrin approaches Rachel to "solve her murder" - and then proceeds to execute on the same at her art exhibit - Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans ned to learn more. As they investigate further, they uncover and wrestle with layer on layer of conspiracy. It's an intriguing premise, and Edwards is known for delivering on his puzzles. But can he keep it up in Sepulchre Street?

Rachel goes on an adventure

Martin Edwards is the ultimate scholar on Golden Age crime fiction, and it’s clear he loves the intellectual challenge of a good fair play mystery. He has brought that appreciation and wit to all of the prior entries in the Rachel Savernake series. He continues with the rigor in Sepulchre Street, going so far as to include a clue-finder at the end to “prove” the solution. If you, like me, enjoy feeling intellectually challenged by a mystery, then you will appreciate this approach. It's nice to know that all elements of the ultimate solution are deducible with information fairly provided.

That said, Edwards has chosen to go a little closer to the modern adventure route than in prior entries. Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans stumble into a broad conspiracy, and their actions incite behavior that actually uncovers information. Not only that - the criminals are also prodded on by external factors, revealing additional clues. There's a larger element here of luck and/or conspiracy than in prior works - Rachel and the team have to be more reactive.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this, and it can be fun to see what happens when an intelligent and resourceful character is put in a tough spot. But when I think of the Great Detectives, I always imagine a sense of control - that they generally have an understanding of possibilities and probabilities that allows each new incident to give them information. It's the difference between the detectives leading the charge and simply deducing the outcomes. There's nothing inherently wrong with either approach - but I'm surprised to see this more reactive mode from Edwards' characters.

What makes a detective Great?

My first recommendation, should you choose to read this novel, is to quickly refresh yourself on the cast of the series. Edwards routinely references the team's past adventures, and spends little time reintroducing the characters and their stories. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to avail myself of this advice, and it took me a minute to refresh on each story and history before I could truly get into the swing of the novel.

Edwards continues to write Rachel with a vaguely mysterious past. While it was intriguing for a few novels, it's wearing thin in book 4. Rachel continues to have infinite wealth and intelligence. She can do no wrong when it comes to detecting - she's an effortless team leader and a great ally. But without enough of the personal touch, Rachel comes off as an in-story deus ex machina: there's no doubt she and her team will survive unscathed.

Of course, a mysterious crime-solver can still work when the surrounding stories and characters are sufficiently engaging. And while the story in Sepulchre Street is full of dramatic events, the characters themselves are a little thin. The victim dies in a truly shocking way - but we learn very little about her as a person. In my reading notes, I've noted one character gives off "Irene Adler in Sherlock" vibes - that is, shallow with the ongoing promise of depth.

My instinct is that Savernake could be great, if Edwards could commit to either approach. If Rachel's past stays vague, then the surrounding mysteries need to make up for it. Otherwise, it'll be important to dive deeper into her story (and her crew's). For the moment, Sepulchre Street fails to hit either mark.

Reader's notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐✨)

The above criticisms are in the context of a well-written traditional mystery / adventure novel. I gulped Sepulchre Street down in a single sitting and enjoyed the more dark, atmospheric vibe of the writing. This is definitely a good read, just a niche one - and one that feels like it could have been even better. I'd recommend this to anyone who's already a Martin Edwards fan - but if you're just looking for a great traditional mystery and not already familiar with the series, I'd suggest starting with Gallows Court first. Because it's so reliant on series attachment - 3.5 stars.

Read this if...

You love Rachel Savernake (and have recently read the other books in the series)

You appreciate the intellectual puzzle of a good fair-play / closed-circle mystery

You’re looking for something a little more on the dark side of mystery

Skip this if...

This is your first Rachel Savernake book

You need to empathize with either protagonist or victim in your mysteries

You’re looking for something cozy (like I often cover here)

Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards will be released on May 11, 2023.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for this e-ARC.

This is the second Rachel Savernake novel that I've read and the fourth book featuring her. If you have not read the other books there may be some minor character connections that you'll be missing, but overall it doesn't really effect the main story or mystery.

Rachel Savernake is at it again as she is tasked with solving the "murder" of Damaris Gethin. Who has set her on this road to mystery? Why, Damaris herself has tasked Rachel with solving her murder only moments before she seemingly takes her own life by guillotine.

Perhaps it's because I've read other Rachel Savernake novels, but I actually found this quite easy to solve. While there were a few twists and turns regarding the relations of several characters, I solved the main mystery pretty early on. While I did enjoy the overall plot, I just found the characters to be unlikable.

There is pretty much no backstory or interpersonal relationship building for Rachel or Jacob, both of whom are main characters that feature in other novels. Honestly I mostly was rooting for KiKi. I thought her story was the most humane and understandable. You could easily see how her story ebbed and flowed and her character flaws made sense. With Rachel you have a haughty rich lady who likes murder and everyone wants to screw. And Jacob is the puppy newspaper man who writes about murders. It's just too convenient.