Huge fan of murder mysteries and this book was amazingly delectable. Gemma embarks on a journey to find out who killed her brother Victor, with whom she was very close to. Victor was killed after he witnessed a murder and could most likely describe the killer if he had ever made it home alive. Inspector Sebastian Bell must prove his worth by solving a murder that is hard to decipher because of where the body was found , who the victim is and why she was killed in that manner. I loved this book from the beginning and I really adored Inspector Bell. I can’t wait to read more books with Inspector Bell and Gemma.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Irina Shapiro for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 29, 2024.

This was my first read from author, Irina Shapiro, but it will by no means be my last. A prolific author, Shapiro's literary works comprise six series and a collection of standalone novels and novellas. I'm going to have a feast of a time with this back catalogue!!

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first instalment in a brand new historical mystery series which is set in 1858 and features protagonists Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell.

The story opens on All Saints' Day - November 1, 1858, and Gemma Tate is at home reading, waiting for her journalist brother, Victor to return home from work. "Gemma Tate set aside her book and peered at the carriage clock on the mantel." Victor was late, and Gemma was trying hard not to worry. But when a knock on the door confirmed her worst fears - Victor had met with an unfortunate accident and died at the scene - she becomes determined to help the police with their investigation.

Inspector Sebastian Bell had a promising career as a Scotland Yard detective. I said 'had', because since the death of his beloved wife he's been consumed with grief and has taken to abusing a range of intoxicating drugs to mute his pain. When one of his colleagues found him at Mr Wu's opium den (a place he frequented often), roused him from his opium induced stupor, and informed him he had a case to investigate, Bell had no idea that his future was to include a pretty, young, courageous and headstrong nurse.

There was so much to enjoy with this story. Let's start with the setting, London 1858 - it wasn't the most picturesque of times. 1850s London was the world's most powerful and wealthiest city. But it was also the world's most crowded city, with growing problems of pollution and poverty that threatened to overwhelm its magnificence. There was also a continuing growing gap between the social classes, and the gap between the nobility and the underclass was chasmal. There is a lot to learn. The author's research into the setting became obvious very early on, and her use of descriptive prose throughout was captivating. "Clerks disgorged by their places of business were heading home, their caped coats and black hats making them look like a colony of bats fleeing dark cave."

Here are a few of my favourite words and phrases - omnibus, catafalques, and liminal hour. Then, of course there's - Viscounts, Earls and Lords!

Back to the story and the mystery, or should I say, mysteries - for there are two, and both are entirely intertwined. Solve one and you solve the other. But the road to solving these crimes is hard to navigate and Bell must tread carefully if he is to catch the killer. To fail would not only mean he lets a killer roam free but he's also looking at the possibility of losing his job.

A highly engaging plot, with a richly atmospheric almost gothic like setting and compelling characters, you'll want to read this in one sitting. A must read for historical mystery fans.

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first, promising, part in what will undoubtedly be an interesting series about the unconventional nurse Gemma Tate and police inspector Sebastian Bell.
Gemma's brother, an up-and-coming journalist, falls for the horse bus after seeing a dead young woman tied to a cross like an angel at Highgate Cemetery. The police initially think it was an accident, but Gemma is immediately convinced that her brother has been the victim of an assassination attempt.
Very slowly she manages to convince the police inspector that this is actually a crime. Together they track down the murderer of both her brother and a number of young women.

Very interesting setting and a couple of promising sidekicks. Of course it is really a coincidence, but this was the second book I read in a row where the brother of the female protagonist is killed by being thrown in front of the bus, even if one of those was drawn by horses and the other a modern bus.

I really liked this book and am looking forward to more books about Gemma and Sebastian .

Thank you Netgalley and Storm publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was an interesting start to the series. I liked Sebastian, Gemma, Colin, and the other supporting characters, and the mystery was intriguing. Sometimes it felt like there was a bit too much detail (I do recognize the importance of following up with the brothers who were targets of attacks but don't know if it needed to result in the entire chase scene, as an example). However, I'll definitely pick up the next in the series.

A great way to kick off a new historical mystery series. I loved the twists and turns
and the characters were absolutely dynamic! It's set in Victorian London which only
adds to the dark vibes it gives off! I would recommend this book to all of my
history buffs who love a good mystery!

Set in Victorian London, this somewhat graphic murder/mystery had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed getting to know Sebastian Bell and Gemma as they worked to get the case solved.

I found it enjoyable and entertaining

I have enjoyed reading this author’s Redmond and Haze Mysteries series, so I was happy to see another series. I do hope that a new series doesn’t mean that Redmond and Haze hasn’t ended.

Gemma Tate is a strong, resilient young woman who served in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale. The horrors she saw there did not prepare her for the news she received on November 1, 1858. Her twin brother, Victor, had fallen and was crushed beneath the wheels of an omnibus. Accident or murder? Gemma is quite sure it was murder, but will the police pay any attention to her?

Inspector Sebastian Bell is walking a very thin line at Scotland Yard and he knows the high-profile case he has just been given could very well be his last. A beautiful young woman was discovered in Highgate Cemetery – hanging on a cross with a heart hanging around her neck. Who is she? Whether a prostitute or a Lady, she is referred to as The Angel. Her death was not an easy one – and Sebastian could only wonder what sort of monster could do such things to another human. He desperately wants to solve this case – not to save his career, but because he wants justice for the victim.

I really liked Gemma and Sebastian and look forward to seeing them work together to solve future cases. Sebastian has many demons and it will be interesting to see Gemma help him cast those demons out. The antagonist in this book was one of the nastiest I’ve read and I was gleeful when they were apprehended – along with the accomplices.

If you enjoy a good mystery, this is an excellent selection and I hope you will try it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is book 1 in the Tate and Bell Mystery Series. The story starts off with a gruesome murder of a female hanging from a cross in a cemetery, with a pigs heart wrapped around her neck. Pretty intense for an opening to a mystery. I thought maybe this was a cozy mystery series, but it was quite graphic at times. Our two main leads are: detective Sebastian and Nurse Gemma. Gemma’s brother is found murdered and it is believed he is connected to the murder in the cemetery. Sebastian and Gemma work together to solve the murder. I liked the two of them and I definitely felt some chemistry between the two, I am curious to see if the author will link them up in future books.

This was the second book I have read from Irina Shapiro and I have to say I enjoyed this one as well. I was worried because I thought it seemed long, but the writing was done so well that the book flowed quickly. I would continue this series, but would warn that there is trigger warnings for violence against women and rape. Some scenes were tough to read, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.
#TheHighgateCemeteryMurder #NetGalley

This was my first novel by Irina Shapiro and somewhat outside of my usual genres. I have been truly missing out!

I loved how the historical setting came alive and swept me away into a world of horse drawn carriages, betrayal and deceit.

The characters were intriguing and well developed.

I am excited to see what is in store for Sebastian, Gemma and Colin in the future, what an interesting trio.

Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enjoy a Historical Mystery Thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for access to an advance copy of this novel.

A young female aristocrat is murdered and left in a comprising position in Highgate Cemetery. Sebastian, a disgraced Scotland Yard Inspector, is assigned the case. By a seeming coincidence, Gemma’s brother was killed near the same location. She asks for Sebastian’s assistance as she is convinced her brother was murdered. During the course of their investigation they discover the two seemingly disparate cases are linked not only to each other but to previous suspicious deaths and assaults.

Gemma and Sebastian struggle during the course of this novel and I appreciated the support they offered each other through their burgeoning relationship. I thought novel was easy to read and enjoyed the slowly building suspense it contained. Even better, I was unable to identify the culprit despite the clues dropped during the course of their investigation.

I’d recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys police procedurals set in Victorian England.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All of the opinions offered in this review are solely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoy Irinia Shapiro's other series - her Redmond and Haze series and her Timeslip series - so I was very excited to receive an arc of the first book in her newest series and my expectations were HIGH going in.

And, while I did very much enjoy the novel and can't wait to see where this series goes next, something about this first volume fell slightly flat for me, possibly because my expectations were so high.

The main female character - Gemma Tate - is delightful, and I love her intelligence and determination to solve her brother's murder. I just never felt the level of tension between her and the main male lead - Sebastian Bell, a police detective - and didn't feel quite as invested in their relationship as I'd hoped to. This is my only gripe, however, as the pacing was great, the prose eminently readable, the plot suitably twisted enough that I felt drawn right into the mystery along with the characters.

I highly recommend this for anyone interested in historical mystery, particularly set in Victorian England, and for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Andrea Penrose, and Anna Lee Huber.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

I enjoyed the characters, character development, the pacing and I thought it was very well written. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I really enjoy Irina Shapiro’s Redmond and Haze mystery series set in Victorian England. This new series is set in the time period and Daniel Haze shows up for a brief moment. But this new series looks like it is also going to be an absolute winner! The mystery is suitably difficult to figure out who the murderer is and what the motive is. Scotland Yard inspector, Sebastian Bell has to investigate this grizzly murder in a high pressure atmosphere as his boss and the London journalists along with the high-class family of the victim hound him to solve the case. He ends up working with the sister of another murder victim whose death seems oddly connected to the other murder. That woman is Gemma Tate, a nurse who served in the Crimean War and is now trying to make her way as a single woman in Victorian England.

Both Sebastian and Gemma have suffered similar terrible tragedies and are trying to cope as they share notes on the murders. They make great partners and are each interesting main characters. I can’t wait for the next entry in this series!

A mystery set in victorian London. A nurse, Gemma Tate, seeks the assistance of police inspector Sebastian Bell after the death of her brother, which could be linked to his assigned case.
The story telling had me gripped from the first page. The descriptions of victorian London really set the scene and a plot twist I didn't see coming!
Would definitely read more Tate and Bell mysteries.

Gemma Tate’s brother is dead. Cryptic messages in his pocket journal suggest that he might have been murdered. Inspector Sebastian Bell is trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his supervisor. He’s been handed a murder case where a young aristocrat was murdered then put on display in Highgate Cemetery. Gemma brings her concerns to the police and soon she and Sebastian realize the two cases are definitely connected. Danger seems to lurk everywhere as the pair try to bring the killer to justice.

“Murder at Highgate Cemetery” is a great start to a new series by Irina Shapiro. Mid-19th Century London is brought to life with a lively cast of characters. Both Gemma and Sebastian have trauma in their pasts and find sympathetic ears in each other. It is a quick read when you’re looking for an atmospheric mystery.

This book is great for those who like historical mysteries and historical mystery series.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Storm Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This historical mystery set in Victorian London begins with a dead woman hanging from a grave with a pig’s heart around her neck. The only witness of the potential murderer falls (or is he pushed?) beneath a horse-drawn cab and dies immediately, but he leaves behind some mysterious notes.

The sleuths—a grief-stricken Scotland Yard detective who can often be found in the opium dens and an unconventional nurse whose brother was the eyewitness to the crime—are excellent together. The author does a wonderful job bringing the sights, sounds and even smells of the setting to life, placing the reader directly into the story. She showcases the realities of class and gender limitations and privileges, and the case proceeds at a compelling pace.

This book is an excellent choice for historical fiction and mystery fans!

This was my first book by Irina Shapiro. Not knowing anything about her back catalog, I expected more of a cozy mystery. However, that may be more of my fault and "operator error". However, now I know. She is a great writer and you really feel the dark and dreariness of the setting. Both the mcs, Sebastian and Gemma are lonely and I really hope some kind of relationship develops with future books. Please let their be at least a little romance. They both deserve love!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC

This was a riveting, but gut-wrenching tale that captured my attention almost immediately. This author is really fantastic in portraying Victorian England in all its stark realities, including some very heartbreaking moments.

The story began with the discovery of the body of a murdered young woman who was affixed to a cross in a graveyard plot. The man who discovered this was visiting the grave of his dead wife, when he sees a suspicious character near the hanging body, and is frightened away. He is killed minutes later after being hit by an omnibus, His grief-stricken twin sister later began to suspect his death was murder, and went to Scotland Yard,and is dismessed, Through a series of events she is introduced to Sebastian Bell, who is in charge of the murder nvestigation of the unidentified woman, Bell is also fighting an opium dependency that began after suffering a devastating and horrific loss. In spite of this, he is committed to seeking justice for all, no matter the social status, in this vein, he and Gemma form an alliance of trust and compassion for the other. Not sure if this will lead to romance, but they care about each other's well being.

I wish the epilogue was longer and included more details about the arrests, as the crimes were despicable. I can't wait to read more about Sebastian, Gemma, and their friend, Colin, the coroner. Two characters from another series make brief cameo appearances.

Victor Tate is visiting his wife’s grave when he discovers the body of a young woman and sees a man running from the scene. Shortly after Victor is on his way to his office when he dies under the wheels of a carriage. Victor’s sister Gemma is distraught at the death of her brother, he was all the family she had left. Claiming his possessions Gemma finds his notebook. He had scribbled facts about the body he found, the man he saw fleeing and the words “I’m being Followed”
Inspector Sebastian Bell is given the task of solving the young woman’s murder. When Gemma points out the connection to her brother’s death, and the notes he made, Sebastian takes her seriously. Reluctantly he agrees to let Gemma help him but the case will take them to far darker places then they could imagine.
Set in Victorian London this is an atmospheric, intriguing story with strong characters and a good plotline.

Gemma Tate - a nurse, smart, independent and brave in a time where women were not equals to men. I enjoy her wit and practicality, her courage and grit.

Sebastian Bell - a detective with Scotland Yard. Observant, intelligent and open-minded in a field where others closed cases by picking a suspect and planting evidence needed to convict them. A widower struggling with the vice of an opium addiction to mask the pain of a tragic loss.

I love period pieces and the glimpse into history they give you. Small details like stopping the clock in the house when someone dies, the fact that women weren’t supposed to be reading newspapers added color to the story, immersing me completely in place and time.

I found myself pausing from the story only to google image words like “reticule” & “omnibus”, allowing me to more vividly picture the world that Gemma and Sebastian inhabited.

Absolutely in love with this book and halfway through I bought another book by this author. Now to read all things Irena Shapiro!

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC!