Third Victorian Mystery Another Entertaining Installment In An Always Enjoyable Series

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Note:  While this review will not contain spoilers for Death in Kew Gardens, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Kat Halloway mysteries.  As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Although Kat Halloway doesn't run into a lot of Chinese people in her neighborhood, the London cook thinks little about a chance encounter with "Mr. Li" on the streets of Mayfair.  It's only when her next door neighbor is stabbed to death in his bedchamber that she realizes she may have come face-to-face with his killer.  As an "Old China Hand," Jacob Harkness claimed to be an expert on China.  His posh home is filled with treasures he's purloined from the Orient.  Was Mr. Li trying to reclaim a stolen relic?  Or was his motive more sinister?  Did Mr. Li truly murder Mr. Harkness as everyone believes?

With more sympathy toward Mr. Li than Mr. Harkness, Kat sets about to prove the Chinese man's innocence with the help of her enigmatic friend Daniel McAdam.  She's sure Mr. Li didn't kill Mr. Harkness.  But if he didn't, who did?

I've enjoyed every installment in Jennifer Ashley's Victorian mystery series starring Kat Halloway.  Death in Kew Gardens—the third book—is no exception.  Kat and Daniel make a fun detecting duo.  They're both kind, likable, and always up for an adventure.  The mystery at the heart of Death in Kew Gardens isn't super original and the killer isn't much of a surprise, but still, this is an enjoyable mystery.  There's enough suspense to keep the story moving and the upstairs/downstairs dynamic adds a layer of intriguing tension to the tale.  As with the previous books in this series, Death in Kew Gardens is clean, upbeat, well-written and entertaining.  

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for mild language (no F-bombs) and violence

To the FTC, with love:  I received a copy of Death in Kew Gardens from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!