Caffeinated Reviewer

I absolutely love the Below the Stairs Mystery novels & novellas and was excited for an early copy of Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley. When Daniel McAdam learns a man claims to know about his childhood, Kat and he set out to learn more. It soon leads to murder and a hunt to uncover what he knew. An addictive installment with suspense, touching moments and more.

In Victorian London, valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must help the man she loves solve the murder that will finally uncover his mysterious past, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Silence in Belgrave Square.

Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.

The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.

While each of the books in the Below the Stairs Mysteries contains a mystery for Kat Holloway, our Victorian London cook & amateur sleuth to solve with the help of her beau and friends you’ll want to read them in the order of their release. The characters and their storylines, including a slow-burning romance will pull you in as much as the mysteries.

An attempt to learn more about Daniel’s past puts them in the path of a murder and a dangerous faction of the city. While Daniel looks to solve the murder, Kat enlists the help of her friends, and a man of the cloth to uncover the secrets of Daniel’s past.

In the meantime, big changes are happening. Kat learns news that upsets her even as she takes steps to secure a better future for herself and her daughter. I loved all the threads and the unwavering love we see between Kat and Daniel. The story had some suspenseful moments and I found myself in awe of Kat’s fearlessness.

While this was supposed to be the last book, their story is far from over and whether Ashley continues the story through a traditional publisher or on her own, I will be there to gobble them up.

If you love historical mysteries, happens below the stairs, foodie books, and richly developed characters you will want to devour Murder in Blackfriars and the entire series.

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About Jennifer Ashley

NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards, have been translated into many different languages and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly.

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About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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