Long paragraphs of introspection and unnecessary description slowed the pace. SHOW me how characters are feeling, SHOW me relevant backstory details, SHOW ME historical details, don’t TELL me. I kept putting it down and coming back to it because I was bored with the telling.

The mystery itself was good. There were a few obvious things Bell should have seen, given that we’re told he thinks he has a “well-trained mind”. The development for Bell and Gemma is progressing nicely. Gemma still isn’t an equal POV character as far as progressing the plot. I did cringe when Gemma literally thought to herself “she was not like other women”. None of that thinking about domestic affairs or a love interest for our nurse. Even though she does think about Bell.

New readers of the series could enjoy the mystery, but this might not be the book to reel them in. That said, I’ll give the next book a try.

What a fabulous story again from this author. I loved every chapter and found it so interesting. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Crime solving the old fashioned way. Inspector Sebastian Bell is at the railway station to meet his estranged brother Simian. But crime follows him around and despite it being his time off, he's caught up with the discovery of a woman's body in a travelling trunk.
His investigation leads him to many suspects, and its with the help of tenacious Gemma Tate that the perpetrator is brought to justice.
I love this series, the crime and mystery are the big part of the storyline but its the development of the characters that brings it to life, as each novel unfolds we're treated to further involvement in their lives

Whew another wild ride with an unexpected ending! I keep waiting for Bell and Tate to grow closer then it all takes a turn!
We have Inspector Bell arriving at platform 4 to meet his estranged brother Simian! While waiting a body is discovered in the trunk and Sebastian immediately takes charge and has the body sent to Colin’s for autopsy!
He is unaware that both Colin and Anne his mother are Ill and Gemma has been nursing both of them! Gemma is appraised of what appears to be the murder and takes an initiative of her own that later has Colin furious with her!
There are several leads but all seem to go in different directions until one brilliant surgeon steps in to assist Colin who is still recovering!
I was pleased that with all the interruptions to Sebastian and Simian’s finally meeting and having a heart to heart conversation they do mend their fences!
Gemma can be hard headed and very stubborn to the point of naivety! When she corners a vicious killer who has murdered twice it appears she is a bit foolish!
When three people are injured Colin needs more help than ever so Sebastian romantic intentions are again delayed!
Do they kept their man? It will definitely keep you on your toes until the last page! Bravo

Another cleverly put together plot, plenty of potential suspects and determined sleuthing eventually gets the result. By being observant and asking questions, both characters work together well to get justice. This was a sad story for both the victim and the murderer. It was lovely to see Gemma and Sebastian's personal lives move on, and I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next for these two wonderful characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This series is just great, it has the old fashioned and yet somehow quite pure mystery about it - no phones, gentle courtship and pretty gruesome murder. The dead body this time is dumped at the train station and the hunt is on to find out first who she is and then who and how she was killed. Gemma and Sebastian - nurse and policeman - separately look into clues and pool their resources. All happens around the boarding house that Sebastian lives in and the home where Gemma is a carer with people coming and going and chance meetings Stirling things up. There is always the whiff of romance between Gemma and Sebastian in the air, which adds a lovely touching feel to the plot too.

A well crafted mystery with several possible culprits, a family member from the past and a couple that is starting to dream of a life together are the key ingredients of this riveting new book by Irina Shapiro.

With both Sebastian and Gemma investigating, we get to see the mystery from two different points of view and we dive into a challenging research for the identity of a murder victim found in a trunk.

I was not sure about the culprit until the very end and the story kept me alert and always looking for clues, exactly how I like my mystery books!

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Murder and secrets

I love this series and this installment of the historical whodunit series staring Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. Like the other books in the series, it had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, surprising plot twists, and suspense which made it hard to put down once I started. This author always manages to take simple ink on paper and create a living breathing place full of three dimensional beings that feels real. This type of immersive reading that involves my brain, my heart and my soul is the best kind. Sebastian and Gemma are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Still in mourning for her brother, Gemma is a nurse in 1858 London who now works as a live in nurse/companion for Dr Colin Ramsey’s mother who suffers from dementia. Sebastian is a Scotland Yard detective and a widower. Sebastian and Gemma enjoy puzzling out a case together and have recently admitted they want to court once Gemma is no longer in mourning. At the train station to pick up his brother, Sebastian is in the perfect place just when a dead body in a trunk is found and he is once again involved in a murder with an over abundance of suspects and a messy investigation. The investigation leads Sebastian - and to some extent Gemma - to unlikely places, dead ends, plot twists, secrets, and surprising revelations. As always, there are smaller personal story arcs and social commentary which enrich the main plot line and give the characters even greater dimension. I love these characters and this series.