Emma Langley is trying to uncover what the mysterious symbol that she has discovered in her late husband's diary means. Along with her frind Penny they follow cryptic clues racing against a killer.
I was quickly drawn into this story, the characters were engaging and the plot pacing at a pace I liked. With twists and suspense the story was both enjoyable and engaging.

Emma, recently widowed, is still uncovering secrets that her husband, William, had kept from her. Intrigued by a strange symbol in his diary for a meeting at a sinister house Emma, and her friend Penny, observe those attending this meeting and have a chance encounter with a gentleman as he leaves. The next day he is dead, apparently from suicide, and Emma is quickly pulled into another mystery concerning her dead husbands clandestine activities.

The mystery unfolds with a good blend of misdirection, suspense and intrigue. The descriptions of Victorian London are rich in detail. Penny is reigniting her journalism interests and writing about the societal challenges faced by women which adds a nice dimension to the story.

Overall a very engaging and atmospheric murder mystery.

The second novel in the series. It could be read as.a stand-alone but I think it was good to have a bit of back story from the first novel. It was a quick, enjoyable cosy read that I couldn’t put down. The characters have started to develop a bit from the first story and it was an interesting mystery that moved at a great pace. Would recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to this book.

I’m enjoying this series in which a newly widowed, rather naive young woman, Emma, teams up with a former newspaper reporter, Penny (who was the heroine of a previous series) in late 19th century London. Emma’s cad of a husband was murdered in the first novel of this series and now Emma is investigating one remaining mystery from her husband’s papers when she becomes involved in another murder mystery. I like the way the two women work together to follow clues while also navigating the barriers that women faced in this time period.

There is also some humor in what the titular puzzle reveals as well as Penny’s editor’s confusion when Penny pitches a series of articles about the difficulties that new mothers face. He just can’t conceive of why they might be tired since doesn’t every young mother have servants to take care of everything?

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book just as much as the first one.

Penny and Emma are involved in something like a treasure hunt, where they have to solve the clues they come across that Emma’s husband who passed away has left.

I loved the story which had you turning the pages and when you read the notes at the end, they were a bonus for the story that was well-written.

I highly recommend this book.

This was another really good book featuring Emma and Penny. It’s a well thought out mystery. The story was full of some twists and turns. I like both Emma and Penny, both strong women . Looking forward to their next mystery

Emma Langley is determined to find out what strange symbols in her late husband's diary mean. With her friend Penny, she uncovers a mysterious group that seems to be hunting for treasure. When a member of the group, a lord, dies in their presence in a hotel room. Emma and Penny are not convinced of the official suicide ruling. They encounter danger as they investigate the so-called suicide, and seek to learn what the treasure is that so many are trying to find.

I found the writing of this book somewhat tedious and not as complex as I normally prefer. The plot was good and the characters interesting, but the writing style caused me skip over several chapters here and there and not enjoy the book at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Another story of Emma Langley.Emma is friends with Penny Blackley who used to work as a newspaper reporter .They are both trying to find out what the symbol meant that they found in Emma’s late husbands diary.While on this search they meet Lord Harpole who is then found dying having left a suicide note .They then both go on a journey following a trail of cryptic clues starting at St. Paul’s Cathedral.Where will they lead and will they find out how poor Lord Harpole died? Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing.

The Poison Puzzle is a cozy mystery set in Victorian London, where two women team up to go on a treasure hunt in hopes of finding out what happened to Lord Harpole. It is steadily paced and has enough going on to hold one's interest. I'd definitely recommend to anyone interested in cozy historical mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Emily Organ for this ARC.

Set in Victorian, England, Emma, Langley, and Penny Green find themselves in another murder investigation. This time it involves the death of Charles. Harpole. Not only do they find themselves as suspects since they found his body, but they stumble upon many people who would have killed Charles. Why would they want him dead?? Who else can be involved? One person we know for sure is Emma‘s late husband. She knows this once she stumbles upon a diary among his things. Along with that she finds out that there is a secret society that involves treasure hunting. How was Charles connected to Emma‘s husband? As always, Emma and Penny start investigating because they come up against clues that have them in the middle of Charles‘s murder. Once they start investigating terrible things start happening around them. Emma has to solve this puzzle before the killer strikes again and she herself could become a victim

I love the setting for the story old Victorian England. I can just pick Emma and Penny running through the streets of England and their surrounding areas trying to figure out this puzzle. I love the twist and turns in the story and I really could not figure out who the killer was until the very end. I like the friendship of Emma and Penny. Emma is a piano teacher while Penny is a mother of two married to a Scotland Yard detective and is missing her job at the newspaper. I liked seeing Penny get back into her writing and also trying to balance her writing with motherhood. They become closer when an unfortunate incident happens to Penny’s husband. I truly enjoyed the plot the story and the way it was written. It truly is a very good mystery and I would recommend it to my fellow mystery readers.

So thank you NetGalley and StormPublishing for the ARC. Since this is book 2 in the series, I really look forward to reading more about Penny and Emma‘s adventures. So thank you Emily Organ for a well written mystery..

Emma Langley is still trying to figure out what her late husband was up to before his death. She again enlists her friend Penny Green Blakely. As they surveil a mysterious house associated with her late husband, they encounter Lord Charles Harpole, but he ends up dead the next day. Emma and Penny are the ones to discover the dying peer, but no amount of help can save him. While the man may have been a cad, who had the motive to kill him and what is going on with this map everyone keeps hinting at? Emma and Penny are on the case and soon in possession of the map. The clues are vague, but the killer is getting closer than ever.

Emma is developing into a confident, savvy investigator who is taking control of her life. She is stepping up to ask tough questions of witnesses and suspects and is making connections at Scotland Yard. Ancillary characters are delightful and may provide Emma with a future love interest. Though her financial circumstances are still less than desirable, she has a good social circle of support and a job as a piano teacher. I am enjoying getting to know Emma and look forward to the next story in the series!

“The Poison Puzzle” is the second entry in the Emma Langley Victorian Mystery series by Emily Organ (author of the Penny Green series). It can be read as a standalone.

This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries set in the Victorian era.

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

When Emma Langley discovers a mysterious symbol in her late husband’s diary, it leads her to a secret society seeking treasure. After one of its members is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Emma and her friend Penny Green begin unraveling a trail of clues across London. With danger mounting and powerful enemies closing in, Emma must uncover the truth before another life is lost.

Emma and Penny have teamed up once again, though it felt more like Penny’s case than Emma’s. This was a mix of murder mystery and treasure hunt. Sometimes they decipher the clue, and sometimes someone else provides the next jumping point. Until the end, which felt...a bit anticlimactic.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, which was the same problem I had with the first book. When the narrative jumps from person to person with each new chapter, it makes it difficult to really know any of the characters. I don’t feel as though I know Emma any better than I did before.

Overall, it was an entertaining book. Readers who enjoy a fast paced, historical mystery will probably enjoy this one.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Emily Organ for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After reading The Whitechapel Widow, (the first book in this series), earlier this year and loving it, when I saw that NetGalley had book #2 up for request I couldn't hit that button quick enough.

This historical mystery series is fast becoming one of my favourites, and if the rest of this author's works are of the same calibre, I'm going to have to empty out my social calendar pretty quickly so I can have time to read her back catalogue.

The character of Emma Langley reminds me (a little) of Miss Eliza Scarlet, one of the main characters in the British-American period television crime drama, "Miss Scarlet and The Duke". Quick plot summary: In Victorian London, 1882, Eliza Scarlet is left almost penniless when her father, Henry, unexpectedly dies. Although marriage would appear to be her only option for financial security, Eliza resolves to take over her father's detective agency alone, working under his name. Struggling to build her reputation in the male-dominated world of crime-solving, she frequently calls on her childhood friend William Wellington, a gruff Scottish detective inspector of Scotland Yard, for assistance.

Similarly, in this series, the character of Emma Langley was left penniless when she discovered, after the death of her husband William, that he had been systematically siphoning off her wealth without her knowledge and had left her with nothing but huge debts. WILLIAM YOU CAD!

In The Poison Puzzle, Emma has again joined forces with her good friend and confidante, former journalist Penny Blakely. When a good Samaritan offers her his coat, after she had been thoroughly drown by a passing hackney one evening, Emma had no idea that returning the coat the next day would be the catalyst to a whole new mystery to solve.

When Emma and Penny arrive at the Hotel room of society member, Lord Charles Harpole, little did they realise that they would be the last two people to see him alive. With his dying breath, whispering "help", Emma and Penny realise that Charles Harpole's death was not accidental.

Book #2 Highlights:

🔎 Both Emma and Penny are sensible, inquisitive, intelligent, compassionate women, who are very likeable and very relatable. I'm enjoying how the author is developing their partnership and growing these characters.

🔎 The author's use of real Victorian London landmarks as significant plot clues in this mystery only adds to the authenticity of the story.

🔎 Another highlight for this reader is the mystery itself; refreshingly new and not overwritten; plenty of plot twists and red herrings.

If you enjoy reading period mysteries I'd highly recommend this series.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 23, 2025.

Another great addition in the story of Emma and new friend Penny. Full of adventure, secret societies, mysterious deaths, a scavenger hunt of sorts, and new potential love interests for Emma. I loved this story and can't wait to keep reading.

This was the perfect sequel for setting up Emma Langley in her own right and continuing the Penny Green mysteries.

I must say that the characters used all had their secrets and downfalls and although the list of characters wasn't large, they certainly kept you guessing throughout as more of themselves came out as the book progressed.

I like the mix of heroine being one from a previous series and 1 in her own series. The ladies are very different and yet, work extremely well together.

Victorian London was thoroughly researched and with such detailed writing, the author is certainly on my list of ones to keep track of.

I like the steady pace of the book and the timing of the discoveries throughout.

No spoilers here, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the series, and can't wait for the next one.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I liked this well worked murder mystery for its intricate plot. Emma and Penny find an opportunity to investigate a secret society who lied to explore lost treasure from the past only to find that one of its members apparently commits suicide under suspicious circumstances. The plot intertwines two stories, the search for treasure and the investigation of a murder. The book has a focus on the role of women in society, how being a mother and housewife is not easy but also that women do not get fair opportunity in the workplace, making this an engaging read

I enjoyed this more than the previous Emma Langley mystery. This book stands on its own merits and without the distraction of Jack the Ripper stalking the pages, the mystery is able to blossom and really come to the forefront. A man dies almost in their arms and they are left with a series of clues that promise to lead to a treasure and answers.

A treasure hunt across London ensures as Emma and Penny race to be one step ahead of the villains. I really enjoyed the dynamic the two female characters had, each supporting and uplifting the other. Penny is maybe a little too 'modern' for her setting but I found her chapters where she's struggling with motherhood, and all the guilt that comes with being a mother but wanting to remain her own person, incredibly powerful. Penny is going through so much, and well done to her for still trying to carve a little bit of herself back. Emma is growing in confidence, but still has the fear you'd expect of her - she didn't choose this life and her reactions are pretty spot on.

There are also two male characters introduced, and I suspect its going to be a love triangle there. Not really sure how I feel about it, because they both need a lot more development - one of them is from the previous series by this author, but I've not read any of those, so it was like meeting him new. They both seem nice but at the moment rather bland.

As with the previous book, you have chapters which are from different characters PoV's and they offer a nice break while also giving the reader tantalizing hints about what is going on. There are clues scattered across the book as to who did it, which I always like.

A very entertaining read.

pleasant, fun, murder mystery with some interesting ideas and some good writing. the twists are interesting, too. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

A excellent book I would recommend to all who are interested in Victorian crime .well researched with the times it was st I'm
A good book to.read

The Poison Puzzle keeps you guessing from the start. Who or what is this shadowy organization and how does it connect with Emma's deceased husband? On top of that, why are so many people being killed and for what reason?

The Poison Puzzle grabs hold and doesn't let go until the final chapter. Filled with well-paced tension and some familiar characters, Ms. Organ spins a tale that keeps you guessing and rooting for Emma, Penny, & James all the way to the end. I really enjoy how Ms. Organ wraps her stories in history. It feels very much like it could have happened to people you would want as your friends or who could be seen as an enemy.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.