⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. This whodunnit mystery leads the reader in the right direction with well-executed subtlety.

Kat Holloway is distressed to learn that Samuel Millburn, husband of the woman who looks after her daughter, has been accused of embezzling funds from the bank where he works as a clerk. The accusation is absurd, and Samuel’s wife fears that her husband will not only lose his post but be imprisoned. Kat vows to uncover the truth.When she discovers the bank is involved in shockingly murky business dealings, Kat realizes she’s treading in dangerous waters. She turns to her confidante and handsome suitor, Daniel McAdam, for help. To exonerate Samuel, Kat and Daniel may have to expose the unseemly financial dealings of prominent aristocrats and government officials, and even those working to bring down the royal family. Kat will risk everything to protect the man who has sacrificed so much for her daughter, even if it means endangering herself and the friends she has come to love.

MY THOUGHTS

I love Kat for her fortitude and take-charge attitude. Her best friend’s husband was being framed just because he made an obvious scapegoat and Kat was not going to stand for it. She made excellent use of her extensive connections and her ability to uncover the truth. Kat has come a far way from when we first met her and her stable and reliable support network stand as testament to her loyal and genial character.

Daniel and Kat are adorable and they’re making great strides in their relationship. I can’t help but wonder how it will unfold for them. The situation with Kat’s friend and her family made Kat’s own precarious circumstances with her job and her daughter even more obvious. And, as always, Kat’s kitchen experiences add another interesting dimension to the story.

I’m giving it 4 stars because there were some slower moving sections that took me out of what was otherwise a very immersive experience.

This series comes with outstanding characters and clever mysteries to be solved and I can highly recommend it for any lover of historical fiction with a little bit of romance added.

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: March 5, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: A Below Stairs Mystery