I wasn’t sure what to think about this plot at first. A lot of historical novels can get mired in details, but this was not one of them. It made perfect sense and didn’t try to overly explain things or over-describe the scene. It was interesting and a lot of fun! I love the characters, and I love how the author made them real with actual flaws instead of some perfect version. I also love that Mallory wasn’t some idealized hero. She was fun and interesting, but had her troubles and flaws just the same as all of the others, it was incredibly well written and it was a fun ride.

Homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has been inhabiting the body of a housemaid in Victorian Scotland
after both were attacked in a dark alley 150 years apart. Her employers are aware of her true identity
and she now assists undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Grey.
Invited to the unwrapping of a mummy at the home of Sir Alastair Christie, he is nowhere to found
when the time comes. It is decided that Duncan is qualified to perform the unwrapping in Christie's
absence. However, the unwrapping will reveal Christie's body. Mallory is now involved in uncovering
who killed Christie before the wrong person is convicted.
Strong likeable characters, third in the series.
#DisturbingtheDead #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

This series has been so enjoyable to read! The concept remains intriguing and the cases Mallory works back in time (while in the body of someone else) are always highly interesting.

Both Mallory and Dr. Duncan Gray are excellent characters - the entire cast of characters are fleshed out and realistic and the growing relationship between Mallory and Gray has been one of my favorite aspects of the books, along with the severe shock of what it must be like for a contemporary homicide detective to be thrust back to the 1860’s, and in an entirely different body at that.

In some ways this series reminds me of the 80’s series “Quantum Leap” - when will Mallory get to go home? In other ways it doesn’t - does Mallory really want to go back?

While these do work as stand-alones, I’d really suggest reading the entire series because you’re otherwise missing out on the growing relationships.

The writing is top notch, the plot well thought out, the banter between Mallory and Gray is perfect, and the pacing is terrific (can you tell that I adore these books?).

This series is definitely a recommendation from me and I can’t wait to read more titles in the future ❤️



Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC

This series combines some of my favorite components: dark and gritty mystery, time travel, and feminist female lead with male characters who respect women.

I adored the first two books, and this third in the series did not let me down. Still stuck in dark Victorian Edinburgh of 1869, Mallory is not longer having to work as the housemaid, but has been upgraded to ‘assistant’ to the wealthy family who is…quirky and odd, to say the least. That’s because they don’t act like people from the 19th century. The brother is a funerary direction but actually a forensic pathologist, the sister is a chemist of renown, and the wealthy oldest sister is just a hoot and surprises me at every turn.

This time around, the mystery involves Egyptology, a popular pastime of the Brits as they steal away another country’s treasures. It is filled with tension, violence, a little romantic tension, family drama, and humor. Can’t wait for book #4 to drop!

The characters are great, the setting is so realistic, but where the author shines is in plot development. A twist in the story makes the reader examine all that’s gone on and follow even more closely through the well-crafted story.

*SPOILER-FREE REVIEW*

Whoa! I didn't see THAT coming!!! Disturbing the Dead is a fascinating addition to the A Rip Through Time Series. I can't even imagine being invited to a mummy unwrapping party but that's how the book opens! It's a bit of a stretch even for Mallory, a detective from the 21st century who has just started adjusting to her life inhabiting the younger and curvier body of a house maid in Victorian Scotland. It probably helps that she's been recently promoted to assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray.

I see some reviewers are going into detail about the huge twist this book has. WHY??? All I will say is that I was stunned by the twist and that I'm very happy I went into it blindly, not knowing anything other than what had happened in the previous two books.

I suppose Disturbing the Dead could be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading all three books in this fantastic series in order.

Many thanks to both #MinotaurBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of DisturbingTheDead This book is #3 in the A Rip Through Time series, with the expected publication date of May 7, 2024. #KelleyArmstrong

Another great story in this series. There was a twist part way through that I wondered if it might be a possibility. It opened up a new avenue of sub-plot that has great potential for development and depth in Mallory's character in several different ways. Part of the resolution of that twist seemed to easy (it needed to happen, so it did), but it didn't bother me in the end.

Another great story that shows Kelley Armstrong's mastery of character development.

This is the third book in this excellent series, and I'd recommend reading it in order. Mallory was actually a police detective in the modern world who was visiting Canada when something happened: she heard a scuffle, went to see what was happening, and was assaulted by a man. The next thing she knew, she woke up in the body of a teenaged girl ... in 1860's Edinburgh.

Dr. Duncan Gray, his sister and Mallory are going to a dinner party followed by a mummy unwrapping. Oddly, the host does not appear during the dinner or after it, and it was decided that the unwrapping would continue without him.

Everyone gets a shock during the unwrapping. Their missing host is shrouded in the mummy's wrappings, and he has been murdered. Dr. Gray and Mallory interview the people present to try to ascertain who had motive and opportunity. As if the murder was not enough, Mallory has also been experiencing episodes where she was briefly back in her own time. Now she has to figure out what she would want to do - if she had the choice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope the next book comes out soon. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time #3)
by Kelley Armstrong, narrated by Kate Handford

In the present day, Mallory Atkinson is/was a thirty something police detective but something strange happened and she was thrown 150 years back in time and into the body of a younger housemaid, Catriona Mitchell. By this third book in the series, Mallory is settled in as Catriona and there are even three people who know that she isn't THE Catriona but someone from the future. This makes things easier since Mallory can be herself when she's with these three people, people she likes very much and is now working with closely.

Because her boss, undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, knows Mallory's real identity, he's promoted her to work as his assistant since he can use her professional detective skills in his line of work. Dr. Gray's police friend detective Hugh McCreadie also knows Mallory's real identity and willingly and humorously steps back when he knows that Mallory's more modern skills can help to solve a tricky case. Overall, other than the guilt of leaving her parents and dying grandmother in her past (actually future), Mallory has settled in very well into Victorian times and loves the works she is doing and the people she is working alongside.

The latest case of Gray, McCreadie, and Mallory arises when Gray and Mallory attend a mummy unwrapping. But things go wonky when the host of the unwrapping can't be found and Gray and Mallory must step in and unwrap the mummy. When it seems the mummy is wearing a modern day (Victorian modern day) suit, it's obvious something bad is afoot and off go Gray and Mallory to find the killer, the mummy body, and who is doing what to whom.

This entry in the series gives us some much needed closer that I wasn't sure we'd ever get since Mallory's time travel experience seems to be one way, one time, thus far. Mallory is so settled in with Gray and company that it now seems she belongs with them. At the same time, her otherworldly-ness needs to be hidden from any but those in the know. Being a modern woman squashed into corsets, layer upon layer of confining clothing, and the need to act clueless when she is anything but, can be very frustrating. Thankfully, Mallory is now introduced as being trained as Gray's assistant so she is able to let some of her modern knowledge shine through when necessary. This has been my favorite of the three books in the series as Malloy is more often able to be herself as she becomes better known as "not" Catriona. Kate Handford continues to do a great job of narrating the story and these diverse characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Somehow this series keeps getting better and better! I've been a fan of Kelley Armstrong since middle school when I read her Darkest Powers series and recently rediscovered her works as an adult, starting with the A Stitch in Time series. A Rip Through Time, not to be confused with A Stitch in Time, is more of a Victorian time slip mystery while A Stitch in Time is more gothic time slip romance.

Disturbing the Dead continues the story of modern-day Canadian detective Mallory Atkinson, who slipped through time only to wake up in Victorian Scotland in the body of grifter-turned-housemaid Catriona Mitchell, and her boss - consulting detective, doctor, and undertaker Duncan Gray. This time, they work to solve a murder of an Egyptologist whose remains are disguised in the wrappings of a mummy and unveiled in front of a crowd of the rich and privileged.

I really appreciate Armstrong's historical accuracy regarding the differences in gender roles as well as race/class during this time period and the use of her characters to condemn them.


*SPOILERS*




A couple things of note:
-While I like the focus on the mystery and character relationships over romance, the slow burn is soooo slow. I had hoped Mallory's brief stint back to modern day would spur some progression there, but alas, no dice. Eagerly awaiting the next book.
-Mallory's return to her own body was kind of glossed over in favor of the big mystery of the novel. I thought it was a missed opportunity for more character and relationship development.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

4 stars

What a delightful book!

This is my first novel in the series, so I am a little shaky on the history of Mallory and how she found herself in 1860’s Scotland. However, I truly enjoyed this book. The characters, for the most part, were delightful. I did discover that Isla has uncharted depths to her personality.

Scotland is depicted brilliantly. The high society men and women and, in contrast, the poor and more downtrodden areas. I felt as though I was walking the streets along with the protagonists. I saw what they saw. It was a trip to a place I had not visited before and I found it interesting and wonderful.

Mallory (a police detective from the present), and her friend Dr. Gray are invited to witness a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. This was all the rage in Scotland at the time. A social affair not to be missed. Dr. Gray has a difficult past with Sir Alastair, the host of the party.

When Sir Alastair does not appear to unwrap the mummy, Dr. Gray and Mallory are pressed to perform the task. Something does not seem right. As they press on, they are horrified to discover that the “mummy” is their host.

So begins an investigation into who could possibly have murdered Sir Alastair. Dr. Gray and Mallory are joined by Detective McCreadie. Together, they uncover dastardly deeds, thievery and murder.

An excellent book. It is seamlessly written and plotted. The characters are engaging and life-like. I could see them behaving true to their characters.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Title: Disturbing the Dead
Series: A Rip Through Time #3
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Time Travel Mystery
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 352

This is Book #3 in the series. If you missed the first two here is a quick recap.
Mallory Atkinson is a 21 Century modern day homicide detective but in this time-travel story she crossed over to 1869 Victorian Edinburgh into twenty-year old Catriona Mitchel who is Dr. Duncan Gray’s housemaid.
Dr. Duncan Gray is an undertaker/forensic scientist/medical examiner and he knows Mallory’s story. He is aware of when she crossed as she and Catriona both had ‘head injuries’. Catriona was left unconscious for days. Dr. Gray explains the personality change as ‘Peccadilloes- brain trauma and allows Mallory to be called Mallory and not Catriona. Mallory sometimes slips and mentions things from the 21 Century and excuses her misremembering as result of her damage to her brain.

She is embracing her new life m the Victorian. She has friends and likes her job. She is trying to understand the fascination with death and is looking forward to a ‘mummy unwrapping’ at the home of Sir Alastair Christie- a noted Egyptologist.
However, when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, the host is missing and the mummy has been replaced!
Gray and Mallory are asked to step in.

Aww love Mallory.- Should I stay or should I go? Yikes what a decision Mallory has to make when beloved Gran is on her death bed and wants to see Mallory.

This is only my fifth Kelley Armstrong story. Why it is took me so long to get on the Kelley train I have no idea. But I am there now .. looking forward to reading not only the next in this series and any of the other great options!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 7, 2024

My Thoughts

Again, into the past with modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson whose unfortunate accidental inhabitation in a younger woman’s body has caused her a few problems in the past two books.

Mallory has managed to overcome her employers’ misgivings by telling both Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister Isla the truth of her unique time travel experience.

Others however are still going with a different explanation as to why former housemaid Catriona Mitchell now has been elevated as the assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr.Gray.

When eldest sister Lady Annis Leslie brings her siblings and Mallory as her guests to a mummy unwrapping party at the home of Sir Alastair Christie no one expected the events that take place thereafter.

Book 3 had just as much danger, excitement, humor, mystery and twists as the first two.

What I did not expect to happen for Mallory at first threw me for a loop and then it worked out exactly as was best for the series as well as her character.

By books end when all was revealed and story arc concluded I was perfectly satisfied and happily there will be more adventures in the future as indicated by how things were left.

Not a stand-alone but a worthy reentry into these characters lives [ Lady Annis Leslie, Isla Ballantyne, Dr. Duncan Gray, Hugh McCreadie, Alice, Simon and even Mrs. Wallace] that I enjoyed from start to finish!
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I have always enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's writing and her ideas into a fine story line.

In this one, we are back in the past in Victorian Scotland. Mallory Atkinson is enjoying her time working as an assistant to Dr Duncan Grey as it fits her so well being a detective in modern times. The body switch took place between she and Catriona Mitchell in a dark alley as Catriona is being strangled. Mallory seemed to have stepped through a veil of time as she exchanges places with Catriona as both women are/were straggled in the same alley one hundred fifty years apart from each other.

She becomes accustomed to the times and is accepted in the household initially as a maid and then when her secret is out to the family becomes Duncan's assistant.

The fascination with mummies at this time begins this mystery as they are all invited to a mummy unwrapping and the identity of this mummy has resulted in a murder. Duncan and Mallory are asked to help with the case and their investigation brings many surprising results, as well as a trip into her own times for Mallory, and the developing closeness of both Mallory and Duncan.

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a cop of this book due out in May.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this copy of Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong! This is the third book in Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series and it's another brilliant story! It's so well-paced and that is something I really love when it comes to a mystery novel! After reading this latest installment, I have to say this is quickly becoming a favorite historical fiction & mystery series for me!

I am amazed with each book how well Victorian Edinburgh is brought to life. I can't imagine how much research is going into this series, but I hope Armstrong knows all her efforts are, in my opinion, well worth it!

Disturbing the Dead had me hooked from the opening line. I could not put it down at all, and when I finished I went and read it again (though this time with breaks). What a great mystery! I think the twists and turns were wonderful. I absolutely love the point that Mallory is at with Dr. Gray, Detective McCreadie, and Isla to start this book! The development of their friendship with Mallory from the previous books pays off and we see them at their best when they start working together on this new case. This especially true for the dynamic with Mallory and Dr. Gray, which I loved in this book!

I also really enjoyed the continuation of the plot line regarding Mallory being stuck in the past in Catriona's body. The previous books obviously really couldn't give us much development on that one without it feeling too soon, and so I was excited to get to that here. My jaw was on the floor a one point that dealt with this plot. I was so deeply in the moment with a conversation between characters that I was completely caught off guard by what happened next And then I started the following chapter and wow, again I was shocked, and the roller coaster of emotions I went through from that point on was so great. I don't think the stakes or the choices could've been done better! This was a riveting section of the story, and you couldn't have paid me to stop until I knew what would happen. I just loved every minute! I think anyone who has been following along with this series will be pleased with how it goes in this book!

I've always been so wary of books with time travel, but here I find the time travel aspect makes it all the more enjoyable and original! I love Mallory's 21st century perspective that she brings to 1869 Scotland. Especially when it comes to the differences in detective work! Mallory is definitely is making comparisons and trying to help her friends improve their efforts where they can, but she doesn't really ever think she or her time are better than the Victorians and their time just because she's from the future. It may seem silly to care about that, but too often people and characters seem to me to have disdain for the past. It's like they think progress and knowledge are linear and that by being from further on the timeline of human history they must automatically be better/smarter in all areas. It's an mean-spirited and disrespectful way to look at people from history that I'm so grateful isn't present in this book!

Mallory is such a great character, but truly there's no bad character in this ensemble. Dr. Gray is just wonderful as usual! He and Mallory make such a great team! I love where there relationship is at in this book and I definitely hope we get to see more of them. Isla is brilliant & kind and I just love seeing how much she's growing as a strong character. I was also pleased to see that Annis and Jack were both back! Detective McCreadie is still my favorite character I think. He is so fun & charming, and such a great friend to Dr. Gray. I love when he and Mallory get to talk because their friendship is really endearing! And I absolutely adore the growing relationship between him and Isla! They both deserve every happiness and I can't help but root for them. I will beg for more books just to find out what their future holds!

I can't recommend this book enough! If you've read the earlier books, you absolutely have to continue the series with this one. I think Disturbing the Dead will be enjoyed by all fans! I suppose it's possible that you could just pick up this book without reading the previous ones and be able to catch on to the main premise while enjoying the mystery, but I definitely don't think that is a good idea at all! There is so much from the previous two books (and the novella) that you'd be missing, like a lot of important world building & some necessary character and relationship information. This third book obviously can't give you everything that you'd learn from two books and a novella! If you're reading this review without having read anything from this series, please look at where I talked about the characters. If you see how much I care about them and want that for yourself, you have to understand that you can't get it from just jumping in at this book! I do 100% recommend giving this series a try though, and you absolutely have to get to Disturbing the Dead! It's so well-written and may actually be my favorite book in the series so far! If you like mysteries or historical fiction, I think you'll love how the two genres come together in this series!

K.A. is one of my favorite authors so I went into this book knowing I'd love the writing style and would very likely enjoy the book but still I was blown away. This was beyond anything I could've dreamed up.

Disturbing the Dead
by Kelley Armstrong
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1860s and the other in the present day. The Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.
Fans of time travel tales and murder mysteries set in the British Isles during the Victorian era will want to take a good look at Kelley Armstrong’s latest offering: “Disturbing the Dead," the third novel in her “A Rip Through Time” series.
This is the third in the series, and I’ve been lucky enough to read all three. I eagerly look forward to seeing the relationship between Mallory and Duncan progress as well as Isla and Hugh.
A definite must read for all mystery lovers!
4 stars

This latest novel is perfect for fans of time travel, mysteries, and all things related to Egypt. It's a continuation of the "A Rip Through Time" series, which starts with a murder that happens right under the nose of high society. Lady Annis Leslie invites Mallory, Dr. Duncan Gray, sister Ilsa, and the Edinburgh police detective Hugh McCreadie to a peculiar affair: an unwrapping mummy party. At the party, the host, an archaeologist, Sir Alastair, will be displaying and unwrapping a mummy from his latest Egyptian expedition. But the festivities take a sinister turn when the host goes missing, and the guests eagerly clamor for the unveiling of a mummy by any means necessary.

What follows is a nightmarish sequence of events, with Mallory and her friends navigating a labyrinth of deceit and danger to unravel the truth behind a murder and various kidnappings. The author skillfully peppers the narrative with tantalizing red herrings, keeping me on edge and craving more.

The strength of this novel lies in its meticulously crafted characters, each of whom draws readers into their world with a palpable sense of connection. Amidst the thrilling plot, profound themes of love and sacrifice resonate through the journeys of Mallory, Isla, Dr. Gray, and others, adding depth to the narrative.

Moreover, the elusive figure of the White Lady adds an extra layer of intrigue, leaving readers eagerly anticipating future revelations in the series. For me, as a loyal follower, the resolution of Mallory's time-traveling conundrum brings a poignant closure, tinged with heartbreak yet satisfying in its resolution.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and eagerly await the next installment, brimming with anticipation for what lies ahead in this captivating series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of time travel tales and murder mysteries set in the British Isles during the Victorian era will want to take a good look at Kelley Armstrong’s latest offering: “Disturbing the Dead," the third novel in her “A Rip Through Time” series.

Past novels have established the following (recapped in “Disturbing the Dead”): Mallory Atkinson is a modern-day, Canadian police detective. While visiting her dying grandmother in Edinburgh, Scotland, she is sent back in time to 1869 to inhabit the body of a housemaid to Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister Ilsa. Scion to a family that made its fortune in undertaking, Duncan is a medical school graduate and expert in forensics. Ilsa is a scientist. Mallory has not hidden her true identity from the Grays but has continued as their housemaid while using her experience to help them, and Edinburgh police detective Hugh McCreadie, solve various murders.

By the opening of “Disturbing the Dead,” Mallory, Duncan, Ilsa, and McCreadie are fast friends. Mallory has been promoted from housemaid to Duncan’s assistant. She and the Grays are invited to a reception at the home of highly respected physician and Egyptologist, Sir Alastair Christie, who has just returned from a “dig” in Egypt, bringing two mummies with him. His patron and financial backer insists that Sir Alastair unwrap one of the mummies before his many guests. Sir Alastair resents having to engage in such a spectacle, but he needs his patron’s funding if he is to continue his work and so has little choice.

Surprisingly, Sir Alastair completely fails to appear at his own reception. Nevertheless, the crowd demands the mummy be revealed. Duncan and Mallory undertake the task. Unwinding yards and yards of ancient materials, instead of a desiccated Egyptian corpse, they discover Sir Alastair’s body. Who has killed him and why? And what has happened to the mummified corpse and other missing artifacts? These are the questions Mallory, Duncan, Ilsa, and McCreadie must chase around 1869 Edinburgh attempting to answer—visiting some very interesting places along the way.

Ms. Armstrong has done a first-rate job with her research. We are given a very good sense of what 1869 Edinburgh was like, how Victorians behaved, and the limits on that behavior. Ms. Armstrong excels at imagining and describing the many challenges a modern-day woman caught in that time would have to deal with. That Mallory makes few concessions to Victorian sensibilities often makes for amusing results, as does her dry, sometimes acerbic wit.

I found the plot, pacing, and level of suspense not as compelling as they might have been. The hunt for the murderer and missing artifacts reveals many suspects, none of whom we get to know all that well. Nor do we get to know Sir Alastair all that well. And there’s no tremendous importance attached to the artifacts, beyond their antiquity. Indeed, I was never quite sure what, or how important, the stakes were. And I rarely, if ever, found myself on the edge of my chair. There’s also a fair amount of internal rumination by Mallory, some of it repetitive, that, for me, made the novel drag in places.

Of course, not every novel is, or is intended to be, a “nail-biter.” This novel excels at giving readers likable, interesting, and sometimes amusing characters set in a fascinating, well-described time and place.
My thanks to Net Galley, author Kelley Armstrong, and publisher St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

This marks the third installment in Kelley Armstrong's "A Rip in Time" series, blending historical mystery with elements of time travel.
I love how different this story is, right now its seems there are a lot of new books coming out that have similar plots or tropes. I loved a change of pace.

I absolutely adored it! This book left me with a bittersweet longing that still lingers. Mallory and Gray shine with intelligence and competence, even amidst challenging circumstances. Their interactions are utterly captivating, exuding charm as they blend their unique insights and backgrounds to navigate their journey together.

Mallory Atkinson, our formidable protagonist, is a skilled homicide detective unexpectedly thrust into Victorian Scotland. In a peculiar twist of fate, she inhabits another person's body, serving as an assistant to the esteemed medical examiner, Dr. Duncan Gray. Their journey leads them to an intriguing event—an invitation to a peculiar mummy unwrapping party? Sounds odd but it really works for the story.

Highly recommend and if you haven't started this series, please do!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kelley Armstrong for the eARC!