I was excited to see not just one new Pentecost and Parker mystery this year, but two. I'll be reviewing Murder Crossed Her Mind, Book 4 in the series, shortly - but before that, what did I make of Secrets Typed in Blood?

Well, this is a clever, sharp detective novel that nicely explores the 1940s scene around the writing and publication of pulp detective novels while - at the same time - being a rather superior example of the genre, and indeed one with a distinctly noir-ish twist. But all that apart it's a real pleasure to welcome back Lillian Pentecost and Willowjean Parker.

The two sleuths - or perhaps I should say, New York's foremost private detective and her assistant - are called in by Holly Quick, a writer of hard-boiled murder tales for half the pulp magazines in the city, when her scenarios begin playing out in real life. Bound on her honour to keep Holly's secrets - Holly has her reasons for these - Lillian risks souring her relationship with the New York police as the bodies pile up. There's also tension between Lillian and Will and, as ever, the latter doesn't take it well when Lillian tries to keep her away from the action.

I simply loved this book. Its gallery of smart women who know what they're about - not just Lillian, Will and Holly, but others besides - are a formidable counterpoint to the somewhat patronising NYPD. The introduction of Holly - a chain smoking, reclusive writer who spins out her stories paid by the letter - is a masterstroke, as is the involvement of a gumshoe Lillian brings in (to Will's disgust). We also learn more about how Will and Lillian support the women of the city, whether it's running self-defence classes, giving pro bono advice or tracking down missing relatives. (The background there is a clearly darkening climate for womens' rights, as they are squeezed out of "mens'" jobs and pushed back into the home, their behaviour policed and deviancy increasingly not tolerated).

Best of all though we see Will playing a lead role in things, and how far she's come since the first book. Juggling an undercover role on a separate case with investigating Holly's problem and discreetly supporting Lillian who (as regular readers will know) isn't in good health, she provides a running commentary (often a frustrated commentary) on progress which keeps the book moving at a brisk pace and hints at what is to come.

At the heart of things though is as classic a mystery as you could wish, the what and the why teasingly elusive even as Pentecost and Parker get further into the detail. It's all here in plain sight but also, it's fiendishly difficult to decode - just as a detective mystery should be.

All in all, another cracking instalment in this series which, to my mind, just gets better and better.

I'll be back with a further update when I've finished Murder Crossed Her Mind. You'll forgive me if I sign off now to do that...

This is the third book in the series featuring Pentecost and Parker and is a 1940s gum shoe mystery set in New York, with a difference, the detectives are women.

Three particularly gruesome murders have happened, and each one is based on a story written by crime writer Holly Quick. Who turns turns to Ms Pentecost and Will Parker, the foremost detectives in the 5 boroughs to solve them. Why is Holly so insistent on anonymity and why does she refuse to go to the Police ? Holly has her own secrets, secrets that she wants to keep, but will be revealed. Whilst the private detectives are trying to solve the copycat murders, they are also investigating a long running and personal case of deaths of businessman by a woman they’ve met before. One of the mysteries is solved in the book, the other continues Into the next (which I’m about to read).

I really enjoyed this book, from page 1 is it incredibly atmospheric, the epitome of 1940s and 50s crime, dark and brooding, like an old black and white film. Ms Pentecost is principled and a deductive genius, Will Parker is feisty, go getting and determined and Holly changes from birdlike (holding her secrets close) to a charming companion as the tale develops. Sometimes a book grabs you from the first page, other times it’s a slow burn. I’m happy to say for me it was the former. It reminded me of reading my father’s Raymond Chandler books as a young teenager and Will Parker is Philip Marlowe in a skirt. I would thoroughly recommend this book and eagerly await reading the next one

Secrets Typed in Blood is the third excellent mystery in the Pentecost and Parker 1940's New York private investigator series.

Pulp fiction writer Holly Quick has visited the detective duo to ask them to investigate some real-life murders that seem to have drawn inspiration from her works of fiction. What's going on? Is Holly herself in danger? There's plenty of thrills and spills in this one, with a steadily increasing body count.

I found this an enjoyable read and a good follow-on from the first two books. You really need to read this series in order to get the character arcs.

I love this series! There is so much great things about it, and this latest instalment does not let down. I love that Parker is bisexual (I love that in the last five years we are getting more representation of biseuxality--although sadly I can still count on one hand including this series, the number of series that have bisexual characters let alone as main characters), and Pentecost has MS (a quite accurate representation too!) making this series one of the more diverse I have seen in a good long while. And I love it. And who doesn't love an ex-circus woman using her circus-y skills to fight crime? Also Pentecost's cane is cool af.

I also love that the plots are always so intriguing-- I mean a author who suspects there is a killer killing people according to her written deaths is always engaged and it was done in quite a unique way (no spoilers!)-- and I'm really enjoying the meta-plot (which lets be fair I usually hate in a series so when I find I love it, that makes it all the more outstanding to me!). When I got to the end I went 'next, please!' and am ready to inhale that one too!

This is the latest in Stephen Spotswood's marvellous historical crime fiction series set in New York, featuring the famous PI Lilian Pentecost, suffering the debilitating effects of MS, and her streetwise assistant Willowjean Parker. It is 1947, Holly Quick writes pulp detective fiction for various crime magazines, like Strange Crime, under various names. She is horrified to discover that someone is 'stealing' her murders, 3 so far in total. There is no apparent connection between the gruesomely murdered victims, a city health inspector, an army vet and unemployed machinist, and a art/antiques dealer. Holly goes to Lilian, wanting the serial killer caught, but stipulating that the police be kept out of their investigation, which Lilian agrees to, but Will is not happy with this decision.

Will is bursting with resentment as her boss employs PI Darryl Klinghorn to make inquiries on their behalf, whilst she is stuck working undercover temporarily in the offices of Shirley and Wise, chafing at the restrictions placed on her as she works for the senior partner, in an effort to get a lead on Dr Olivia Waterhouse from a previous case. There is an urgency to finding links between the 3 murders to prevent another killing, whilst trying to keep Klinghorn in the dark as to why he is delving into the lives of the victims, and Quick herself is a woman keeping secrets. Will insists on muscling her way into the investigation, as she looks into Quick's editors, Brent and Marlo Chase, those working for them and a murder obsessed billionaire, Jessup Quincannon, with his prized murderabilia collection, and the repugnant Black Museum Club. Matters are exacerbated when death turns up on their doorstep, and what price will they have to pay for deceiving NYPD?

Spotswood has created a brilliant set of characters in Will and Lilian who he continues to develop with verve and style, whilst expertly drawing readers into 1940s New York and its culture. There is wit and humour in the storytelling to balance the horrors of the murders, along with tantalising glimpses into Will's personal life. This is an engaging and delightful addition to the historical crime series that has me looking forward with great anticipation to the next in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for a review copy of Secrets Typed in Blood, the third novel to feature PI Lillian Pentecost and her assistant Willowjean Parker, set in New York City in 1947.

Someone is using Holly Quick’s pulp fiction stories as a template for murder. Three people have been murdered in different ways, as she wrote in her stories. Reluctant to go to the police she hires Ms Pentecost and Will to investigate and prevent more bloodshed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Secrets Typed in Blood, which is an old fashioned murder mystery with a modern twist. It is told entirely from Will’s perspective in both her spoken and written voice, i.e. a recounting of events interspersed with written reports. It works well as Will has a rather cynical approach to life and its inhabitants and that gives the novel a modicum of humour.

The plot is quite convoluted. Will suspects Holly of keeping secrets and when they’re revealed they are absolute crackers - I didn’t see either of them coming. At the same time, at Holly’s insistence, they have to investigate the murder of three unrelated men with unrelated causes of death without the police finding out and they have to do it fast before there’s another murder. Talk about investigating with one hand tied behind your back. There is another murder, some lying to the police, an unrelated investigation and more crimes found. In between all this they have to mingle with some unsavoury characters. It’s all go.

There is a lively tone to the novel and a plot that holds the interest, so I found the read immersive. I like the old fashioned nature of the plot paired with Will’s more modern commentary and more adult themes (mostly relating to sex) that would never have seen the light of day at the time. It’s a potent mix.

Secrets Typed in Blood is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I absolutely loved this story! I must admit, I do normally guess whodunnit quite early on with mystery novels, but this kept me guessing right up until the end. It was a clean read, with no expletives or sex scenes, so suitable for all ages. It kept me hooked throughout, so I was racing towards the finish to see whodunnit, and it all ended so satisfyingly. The epilogue also helped to keep interest levels up for the ongoing story which it’s assumed will be picked up again in the next book. I’m definitely going to be looking out for more stories in the series