Search This Blog
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (3)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (3)
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (8)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Friday, August 24, 2018
Second Upstairs/Downstairs Mystery As Delightful As the First
7:30 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Scandal Above Stairs, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Death Below Stairs. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Kat Holloway has earned herself a reputation as the best cook in London, but that's hardly her only claim to fame. She's also become quite adept at sleuthing. It's natural, then, for Lady Cynthia—an unconventional member of Kat's employers' household—to ask for help with a puzzling mystery. Priceless paintings have gone missing from a baronet's home and his wife, Clementia Godfrey, stands accused of the theft. Although Clemmie's desperate for money to pay off her gambling debts, Lady Cynthia knows her friend wouldn't stoop this low. She begs Kat to help prove Clemmie's innocence.
Artwork, Kat soon discovers, isn't the only thing being stolen in Mayfair. To keep an eye on recent antiquity thefts, the always-enigmatic Daniel McAdams has stationed himself in a nearby pawnshop. When a man is killed on the premises, Kat becomes concerned for her friend's safety. She also needs his help, once again, because she's sure all the robberies are connected somehow. With the help of Daniel's Greek friend, Mr. Thanos, Kat is positive they can discover the truth and clear Clemmie's name. Even with her own neck on the line, London's best cook will not rest until she solves the case.
It may not be the most original string of British detective stories, but nevertheless, Jennifer Ashley's Kat Holloway series is entertaining and fun. I enjoyed the second installment, Scandal Above Stairs, just as much as the first. With natural upstairs/downstairs tension, plus a lively mystery afoot, it tells an engaging story. No-nonsense Kat is an understated, but alluring character, with a supporting cast that is no less intriguing. Although the mystery at the heart of the novel isn't anything I haven't seen done a million times, I still didn't manage to guess whodunit. All in all, then, I found Scandal Above Stairs to be a delightful, engrossing tale with plenty to keep me coming back for more. I've thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and can't wait to see what comes next for the indomitable Kat Holloway.
(Readalikes: Death Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley and A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredericks)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and vague references to sex and prostitution
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Scandal Above Stairs from the generous folks at Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House). Thank you!
4 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Compared6 hours ago
-
-
Monthly Round-Up: May 202412 hours ago
-
Wyrd & Wonder ~ Sunbolt Readalong Week #413 hours ago
-
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown14 hours ago
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!18 hours ago
-
-
-
-
First Lines Fridays: May 31, 202422 hours ago
-
Review: Ravensong by TJ Klune22 hours ago
-
-
You Are Here by David Nicholls1 day ago
-
May Reflections1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bookshelf Bounty6 days ago
-
I have been reading...1 week ago
-
-
The Mayfair Dagger by Ava January1 week ago
-
Sunday Post 5542 weeks ago
-
Reading Recap April 20242 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up1 month ago
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?7 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra11 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ▼ 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
Ugh! I hate when the author's name is bigger than the title of the book. That aside it sounds like a fun series. I think I’d prefer to see it on screen in a series though. This kind usually works better for me that way.
ReplyDeleteGlad the second book in this series is as satisfying as the first. :)
ReplyDeleteI love all things British, a good mystery, and the whole upstairs/downstairs phenomenon so this one sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteI skimmed this one since I haven't read the fist book! I like the cover but agree with Jenny -- The author's name shouldn't be bigger than the title. Haha! I like that the secondary characters are equally as important -- always a plus for me.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?