Love all her books.
and this series.
Just awesome story, mystery,suspense,drama twists,a really good surprise.
If you like mystery and time travel try it.
Voluntarily reviewed.

In Disturbing the Dead , Kelley Armstrong combines a murder mystery and a time travel aspect in a historical setting in this third book in the Rip Through Time series. Modern day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is becoming more comfortable living in Victorian Scotland. She’s inhabiting the body of a housemaid who was attacked in the same Edinburgh alley as Mallory, but 150 years ago. Mallory is enjoying her job as assistant to undertaker and medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray and assisting him and Detective Hugh McCreadie in a variety of cases.

Mallory and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing, Gray and Mallary are asked to step in and do the unwrapping. All doesn’t go well.

Mallory is a character with plenty of depth. She’s hardworking, kind, relatable, loves puzzles, and is an idealist. She’s good at seeing clues and connections in people’s speech, mannerisms, and expressions. While she makes for a strong female protagonist that readers can cheer on, she flouts convention and is sarcastic as well as being an independent thinker unafraid to speak her mind, which isn’t normal for women in Victorian times. Gray is passionate about his work, enthusiastic, confident, occasionally relaxed and teasing. He’s a pioneer in the field of forensics, has an eye for detail, and has a scientific curiosity. Isla, one of Gray’s sisters, is a chemist who is brilliant, strong-willed, and kindhearted. McCreadie is clever, good-natured, and a bit of an adventure hound. The remaining supporting cast of characters are well-developed and provide insight into individuals in various roles in a Victorian household as well as those they interact with.

Kelley Armstrong has a fluid writing style that quickly brings readers into the well-paced story. They also get insight into the state of police forensics during this early era and a few insights into how investigations and searches occur in 1869 in Scotland. Other themes include family, relationships, friendship, racism, gender identity, poverty, helping others, how servants were treated, and attitudes toward, expectations of, and limitations on women.

The addition of two subplots adds another dimension to the story. There are some twists in the storyline with a large surprise about two-thirds of the way through. The ending has plenty of action and wraps things up nicely. There is a hint at a couple of potential romances, but nothing more. The world-building is wonderful and feels accurate for the times. Humor is sprinkled throughout the tale.

Overall, this is a moving, well-written, suspenseful, and entertaining novel with great characterization as well as some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. Understanding how Mallory gets to this time in history is explained in depth in book one so I recommend starting with it. The author’s writing style is engaging and draws readers into the story quickly. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be May 07, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

It was nice being back in Victorian Scotland in the gripping and shocking third installment in the "A Rip Through Time" series by Kelley Armstrong. As with the previous books in the series A Rip Through Time and The Poisoner's Ring) I was fully invested in this well written and well thought out mystery. I continue to be captivated by the relationships between the characters, the setting, and their detective work solving yet another mysterious case.

In Disturbing the Dead, Mallory, a detective from the 21st century who found herself transported into the body of a house maid in Victorian Scotland, is attending a mummy unveiling with Dr. Duncan Gray. Everyone attending the event is excited to see a real mummy but end up shocked when the body that is uncovered is not that of a mummy but someone, they all know.

This is such a great series. It combines many of the things that I enjoy in books: atmosphere, tension, a mystery to be solved, great characters, and suspense. Kelley Armstrong also carried off the time travel aspect of this book very well. Mallory was strangled in the exact same alley as was Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid in Victorian Scotland, 150 years ago. Can you imagine waking up in a different time where everyone is wearing different clothing, there are no modern conveniences, you are being called by a different name, and expected to perform the duties of a housemaid. Not to mention, having to cope with a different pecking order and the expectations placed on women at that time. While Mallory initially struggled being in a different time, she was able to make friends, be accepted, and find a purpose.

I enjoyed the mystery and how everything played out in this book. I also adore the characters, their banter, the situations they find themselves in, and their teamwork. Kelley Armstrong has another hit on her hands!

Well written characters with interesting chemistry between them all. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters, especially the flirtatious bantering between Dr. Gray and Mallory. The secondary characters worked well in the story, and were just as developed.

The plot was memorable which involved an unwrapping of a mummy. This plot element caught my attention right away. I thought it was ingenious to have Mallory still maintain her contemporary attitudes and resourcefulness of her time and yet, still fit in with the Victorian times.

The author kept the story moving when in the past, but the present felt stifled. This is where the difference between four and five stars was for me. The time travel storyline felt rushed and ungenuine compared to the rest of the book. I wish the author had fattened that part of the story up with more details.

This was my first book for the series and though I was able to follow along ok, I do wish I had read the other two books first.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Rating: 2.5
This was my first book in this series, and I thought it was ok. I enjoyed the premise of the book and some of the characters were enjoyable. However, for some reason, I wasn't clicking with the plot of the book. So, the novel is advertised as a standalone in a series of books, however, there were parts where it alluded to events in previous books that didn't make sense unless you read the previous books. The story doesn't seem like it is progressing well and I cannot seem to connect to Mallory at all. This book was not for me, sadly.

This is the third book in the Ripped Through Time series, and it just keeps getting better. Mallory was a 21st century Canadian detective in Scotland to be with her dying grandmother. She goes for a run and is mugged and killed, only to awake in Victorian Scotland, in the body of a teenage housemaid working in a medical examiner’s home. Dr. Duncan works with a local detective to look for the cause of death, with the aid of Mallory’s experience as a detective. In this book, they are invited to a mummy unwrapping, something Mallory finds offensive but attends with Dr. Duncan as they try to be respectful of the body they are unwrapping. To the surprise of everyone, the poorly wrapped body is actually the person who was hosting the event. This begins the investigation into the murder which goes in so many directions I never new what to expect. It was great fun.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Disturbing the Dead; this is my honest opinion.

This was the 1st book I have read in this series. I normally always love time travel stories & movies. However, this one just wasn't that great. Although a stand alone story, there were previous events brought up & left unexplained, that ultimately did not add to this story in any meaningful way. The dialog was a bit stilted. The story did not draw me in or keep me glued to the page. Something is missing from this story & writing style.

This is the third book in the time traveling mystery series about a woman who suddenly finds herself in Victorian Scotland. The series is so good however I do think it is best to start with the first book. You won't be disappointed especially if you love to read time traveling stories. There is a great twist in this book which really heightened things. I can't wait for the next book.

Mallory and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping party in this third book in the Rip Through Time series. She is settling in as Duncan Gray's assistant as he helps the police with their investigations and becomes one of the first forensic scientists.

When the host of the mummy unwrapping party disappears, Gray needs to step in and unwrap the mummy to prevent the well-healed guests from rioting. Unfortunately, the unwrapping leads to the discovery of Sir Alastair Christie's murdered body.

There are a number of suspects to the murder from a young suffragette protesting Sir Alastair's stand on women attending medical school to his sponsor for his Egyptological investigations to someone who wanted either the mummy for the production of medicine or who wanted the antiquities to enrich themselves.

Mallory, Gray and McCreadie explore lots of possibilities as they investigate the murder. Mallory even visits an underground market where suspicious items are routinely sold in the company of Queen Mab.

And all the while they are investigating, they are plagued by a series of broadsheets depicting the "adventures" of the mysterious Doctor Gray and his winsome assistant. Searching for the author of those broadsheets adds another task to the busy investigators.

Mallory, who has been trying to find a way back to her own time period since her arrival in Scotland in 1869, does find her way home in time to say goodbye to her beloved grandmother. But then she, with her parents' encouragement, makes the decision to return to 1869 where she has found a group of friends and a purpose for her life.

I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the modern young woman who is making her life in a time period that is not her own. I liked that she was concerned with "spoilers" - things she knew about the future which she couldn't share. I also liked the way the other characters accepted her. There was quite a bit of humor in this episode.

Once again, Kelley Armstrong puts us in 1869 Edinburgh, in Disturbing The Dead. This is the third book in the A Rip Through Time series, and now I can’t wait for book four!

Mallory, a 21st century Canadian detective, is in Scotland to be with her dying grandmother, and mysteriously finds herself transported not only to 1869, but in the body of a younger housemaid, Catriona! Mallory is the ultimate “fish out of water,” having to get used to 19th century clothing and customs, and with this being the third book, she’s doing a pretty good job of it. She’s also gotten very fond of the people in her household, who luckily are more progressive than the average Victorian. Dr. Duncan Gray is a biracial doctor who runs his family’s funeral business and does research on bodies when he can and helps the police on occasion. Gray’s sister Isla is a chemist and she’s a great character as well. They both know what Mallory’s story really is. The number of people who are privy to this information keeps expanding, gradually. Mallory is now being introduced to people as Gray’s assistant.

This time the mystery involves an unwrapping of an Egyptian mummy, for the delight of the upper-class folks in Edinburgh. When the mummy is unwrapped, though, it’s not an ancient Egyptian but a contemporary body, one that everyone there knows. A fun subplot involves finding out who is writing popular broadsheets about Dr. Gray’s and Mallory’s “adventures,” wherein Mallory is depicted only as a sexy, pretty sidekick.

There’s a delightful twist about 2/3 through the book, which was really well done.

You could read this as a standalone, but you’d miss a lot of backstory. You will simply have to accept the situation and enjoy the mystery story and the characters.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was well narrated by Kate Handford once again.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Book 3 of A Rip Through Time - has inspired me to read books 1 and 2 of this series by Kelly Armstrong.
Lover the characters and surprise twist. Malory has been transported to a life in the 1890s. Recommended reading for adults and a great opportunity to test your skills at figuring out who has committed the crime and why.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I may be biased but I love Kelley Armstrong. Her longest running series, the Otherworld, is actually the only thing I haven't read. Maybe one day. But I adore both the series in the Rockton world as well as this amazing Rip Through Time Series. This is book #3 (there also is a short in the series). I hope it doesn't end for a long while and I think with this newest installment, it will be around a little longer. A big plot point was resolved that should help us move on more comfortably for a bit. This book still was the fantastic storytelling I'm used to from Armstrong. Yet her strongest selling point is always her characters. She writes some amazing characters that readers can easily come to care about. In this book, we are back in time to a period where the Victorian elite would have mummy unwrapping parties where they literally unwrapped a mummy as the main entertainment. Obviously this is a dispicable practice now and then. I hate that it was so acceptable then. But this did take me down a research rabbithole learning about these parties via the internet. Armstrong did her research for this book and it shows. The mystery was plenty interesting. I don't even try to solve them as I read. I just enjoy watching them unravel. If you haven't tried this series yet, it is a good time. Start with book one. They don't ever disappoint.

Link to Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5881992302

This series is fascinating and I've enjoyed each installment of A Rip Through Time series. Mallory Atkinson, a present-day detective, has been thrust back into the past into the body of Catriona Mitchell, a maid in the household of Dr. Duncan Gray. It's interesting to see how Mallory deals with life in 19th century Scotland and the 21st century knowledge that she brings to her various experiences.

Definitely a series worth pursuing and I thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advance copy.

This book is historical fiction, time travel, a strong female lead, and a slow-burn romance.

The novel "Disturbing the Dead" is about famous Egyptologist, Sir Alastair Christie, who plans to unwrap a real mummy. However, Sir Christie fails to show up, so Dr. Gray and Mallory decide to proceed with the unwrapping. To their shock and horror, they discover a modern-day victim wrapped inside the mummy's bandages. Duncan and Mallory then take on the task of investigating the murder, and readers are in for an exciting and suspenseful ride.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

"All things are possible. Who you are is limited by who you think you are." (Egyptian Book of the Dead)

Kelley Armstrong creates another sharp-edged trek through the Victorian Era in her latest book in A Rip Through Time Series. Although this can certainly be read as a standalone, it's best to at least read the first book to get a sense of these intriguing characters and the high-interest storyline.

Mallory Atkinson is a Vancouver police detective who happens to be in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her grandmother, Nan, is on her deathbed and not expected to recover. After hours at Nan's bedside, Mallory decides to go for a run through the cobbled streets. Fate had other plans. Mallory is caught off guard and a rope is swung around her neck. She blacks out. Upon wakening, Mallory lays on a bed in a darkened room. It's 1869 in Edinburgh. How can that possibly be?

Mallory is no longer herself but a house maid by the name of Catriona. Catriona/Mallory slowly reveals just who she is to Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister, Isla, who is a chemist in her brother's residence. There is quirky dialogue and humorous circumstances as Mallory's true identity is revealed. She becomes Dr. Gray's assistant because of her knowledge of crime and forensics.

Disturbing the Dead is exactly that. A famous Egyptologist, Sir Alastair Christie, is set to unwrap a real mummy at a soiree at his home. When Sir Christie doesn't show, Dr. Gray and Mallory step in to take over the unwrapping. What is under the wrappings will result in gasps and screams. A more modern victim resides within. Duncan and Mallory flip the switch to investigation. And now we readers are hangin' tight for a wild ride.

I can't say enough about Kelley Armstrong's superb writing. She's allowed us to experience the flawed human side of these characters. Our minds automatically switch from modern times to Victorian times as Mallory tries to make sense of her new surroundings. But one thing for sure: Mallory's analytical skills are still intact as she works side by side with Dr. Gray. Smart, challenging, and skillfully written, Disturbing the Dead is certainly another winner in the hands of this talented author.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity.

This is the third book in the Rip Through Time series, and while with mystery series I don’t usually insist you read them in order, for this one I do. I love these books and this one is by far my favorite (so far). This book contained a twist I wasn’t really expecting, and at first I was not happy, but it was really done super well. I know, I shouldn’t have had doubts, but I am merely human. Mallory and Dr. Gray and Isla are invited to a mummy unwrapping party and while the thought kind of sickens her she can’t help but be swept there. Unsurprisingly at the unveiling is the discovery of a murder and Mallory immediately starts to held the Detective and Dr. Gray. What was unexpected is the discovery that the hosts for the party were familiar with them because someone has been writing a serial of their adventures giving Dr. Gray all of the credit and putting Mallory in the role of pretty side kick. This book frequently had me laughing and I truly love these characters. I am hopeful this will be far from the last in this series. I started this one with the audiobook and I loved the narrator, she truly brought Mallory’s voice to light and part of me wishes I could have been patient enough to finish it that way as some of the later scenes would have been so much better read to me in what I see as her voice, but patience has never been my virtue and I finished the second two thirds by kindle which is by far faster for me. I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up for catching me off guard with a twist.

This novel is both eerie and educational while infusing time-traveling and intrigue. The historical detail is engrossing. However, I confess—I occasionally veered off to Google for context since I had never heard of Mummia.

The third book in this series, Victorian Scotland has become less confusing to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson—a woman who, despite inhabiting someone else’s body, has found her place in this century. Her job as an assistant to undertaker and medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray offers insight into investigations even if she vexes those around her with her knowledge and strange word choices.

It appears that an invitation to a mummy unwrapping is all the rage so the well-to-do descend on the home of Sir Alastair Christie. My brain kept wanting to relate him to Agatha. But when their host goes missing, Mallory and Gray (with the help of two adorable children) step in, only to discover that the unwrapped “mummy” is a much more modern corpse.

Armstrong’s cheeky narrative had me laughing at parts that others might not find as funny. And then, a twist—one that made me gasp. Fear bubbled up as I wondered if this would be the series finale. But it’s not. There is so much more for Gray and Mallory as we continue the journey alongside these wonderful characters who blend history, humor, and heart.

“Disturbing the Dead” by Kelly Armstrong is the third book in the mystery series, A Rip Through Time, set in Victorian Scotland. The author effortlessly blends time travel, historical mystery, and romance; story elements I really enjoy.

In this installment of the series, Mallory, Gray and his sisters attended a mummy unwrapping at the home of a noted Egyptologist. As the mummy is unwrapped it becomes clear these were not ancient remains but the body of a victim of a very recent murder.

Besides the compelling murder mystery, the main character Mallory shines as a relatable and resilient character. Her modern-day skills in a historical setting add a unique twist to the story, making her stand out as a character worth rooting for. The exploration of women's challenges in the medical field adds depth to the narrative, shedding light on important historical struggles. I really enjoy the slow burn romance growing between Mallory and Dr. Gray. I look forward to them acknowledging their feelings.

Overall, this is an amazing addition to your must-read list. The author's ability to keep readers guessing made the novel an engaging and thrilling read. The unexpected twist in the plot not only adds excitement but also ties up loose ends from previous installments. Although “Disturbing the Dead” can be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the three other books of this delightful series.

I strongly recommend it for fans of historical fiction, time travel, strong female leads, and slow-burn romance.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Kelley Armstrong, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur books for the advanced reader copy ( ARC) in return for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The second I finished this book, I was already wishing for the next installment! Kelley Armstrong has a wide array of genres, and this one is one of my favorites of hers. Time travel to Victorian times with a modern-day detective trapped who is trapped in the body of someone from the past. While this could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting from the beginning. The character development and backstories are beyond intriguing. One of the best parts of this series, watching the relationships between the characters grow and change. This book was epic in that department!

Mallory and Duncan, once again faced with solving a murder. This time surrounding an Egyptian, mummy theme. And we get some answers on the returning home front for Mallory. I-love-this-series!!

5 stars

Twists and turns and strong interesting characters ensure a wonderful mystery. Six months after transporting back in time to the Victorian era, Mallory is working with Dr. Duncan Gray to solve the murder of an Egyptologist. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary given review. I love that it wasn't until the end of the book that I knew who the killer was. I also love that there was a second mystery to solve. Someone is chronicling their adventures and selling them. They're inaccurate and they're portrayed as caricatures of themselves. Mallory wants them stopped. I love how in each book of the series we get to know the characters and their back stories better.