⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Kat and Daniel’s story moves into more personal territory with a lot of changes coming their way.

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.

MY THOUGHTS

I just loved Kat and her insatiable curiosity. It led her along some dangerous paths, but she dealt with it with her usual aplomb. She and Daniel had so many things going on and through it all they had each other’s backs. Their love and commitment were as strong as ever and I would love to see their happy-ever-after.

There were several different mysteries and personal issues that required attention. The pace was steady throughout, with a few interesting scenes of Kat in action in the kitchen, and I was really eager to see how it all would play out. I particularly enjoyed the investigation into Daniel’s past. Kat had some good fortune and some heartbreak, but she had Daniel to lean on. This book put me through all the feelings.

I can highly recommend this series if you like a historical romance with mystery and murder and a very slow burn. It is best to read the books in order. I listened to this one and it took me a while to get used to the narrator, but I quite enjoyed it in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical
Published: August 11, 2026
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 9 in A Below Stairs Mystery