The discovery of a murdered woman sparks a nightmare that may destroy everything for Gemma and Sebastian…
In a respectable London neighborhood, nurse Gemma Tate and her fiancé, Inspector Sebastian Bell, are planning their future together. But their dreams shatter when they discover a murdered young woman, carefully arranged in a darkened alleyway behind her family home.
While Gemma unravels the woman’s final secrets in the postmortem room, Sebastian hunts among the living. And he soon uncovers reports of similar deaths, linked to a traveling carnival. But what connects those friendless victims to the beloved woman they found?
Refusing to be beaten, Gemma and Sebastian pursue every lead on the killer’s trail, desperate to prevent more deaths. But can they stop him before he destroys not just more lives but their own hope of happiness?
A gripping and atmospheric Victorian mystery for fans of Andrea Penrose, Anna Lee Huber, and the Lady Sherlock mysteries.
Readers love the Tate and Bell mysteries:
“So good I could hardly put the book down… Once you start, you may as well forget everything else.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Highly recommend this for anyone interested in historical mystery… and for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Andrea Penrose, and Anna Lee Huber.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was absolutely gobsmacked at who the killer was… I really couldn’t put the book down till the end, a real page-turner. I can’t wait to get the next book… must-read series.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely in love with this book and halfway through I bought another book by this author. Now to read all things Irina Shapiro!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Grips you from the very beginning and pulls you in… If you’re a fan of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Enola Holmes, then you will love Gemma Tate’s wits and tenacity.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved this one. The mystery was fantastic, and I read as quickly as I could to discover whodunit… I was shocked when the killer was revealed. I never saw it coming! The suspense really kept me on edge. As wonderful as the mystery was, however, it’s the characters in this series that will keep me returning for more.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was hooked… The story is so extremely gripping that it’s hard to put the book down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’m in this one for the long-haul folks and I cannot get enough of Tate and Bell!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Whew nonstop action!… Keeps you guessing until the end!… This was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and clues! Hold on and get ready for the ride and thrilling conclusions! Bravo.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Spellbound!… Shapiro’s writing is sublime, transporting you to the vibrant streets of Victorian London. You'll feel like you're accompanying Gemma and Sebastian as they track down clues and uncover the truth… A must-read… Five stars!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This was a fantastic read! I absolutely LOVED it!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“So gripping and twisted I could not put it down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The mystery was exquisite, the story flew seamlessly and was easy to follow despite its complexity.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pulls you in from the first word and holds you until far past the last word with its compelling characters and superb mystery… I love Sebastian and Gemma with all of their humanness—their flaws and their strengths.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
