Gemma Tate is not your typical heroine. She served with Florence Nightgale as a nurse in the Crimea War. It was a time when nurses were considered not much better than postitutes, especially those who served in the war. Her brother upon seeing a murdered woman, may have also seen the murderer. He dies shortly after. Gemma is certain that he was murdered as a result of who he saw. Sebastian Bell is not a storybook hero, by any means. He blames himself for his wife's murder, losing himself in an opium cloud most nights. However, he is an excellent detective, caring about the victims, not giving up until their murder is solved. Fortunately for Gemma, Sebastian listens to her and her theory about her brother's death. Sebastian recognizes Gemma's intelligence. Her perspective is valuable as the investigation takes many twists and turns before resolution. The author spends a lot of time in describing places, people, and setting up the relationship between the main characters. However, since this is the first book in the series it is important for the reader to know where the characters started. Gemma and Sebastian are wonderful characters, a little faulted, but certainly worthy of this story. I am looking forward to seeing how they develop in subsequent books. Worthy characters in a worthy read.

Well loved this start to a new series, I have read other books by Irina Shapiro and enjoyed them, she does very well with the time period as a kinda quiet character in her mysteries. Sometime it was a bit slow going but that's actually the point and it's written so well it once your into the story it doesn't feel that way. Definitely will continue the series

This is a great historical mystery full of great characters, atmospheric descriptive writing and a wonderful insight into the era. The story starts with a man scribbling words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.” Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth. Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. As the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
This Victorian mystery-the first in the Tate and Bell series-is fast paced and twisty turny in all the right ways. From the moment a young woman is found, murdered in Highgate Cemetery, until the mystery is solved in the last pages, the author keeps you spellbound, trying to figure out the who and why. I really enjoyed Gemma and Sebastian’s character development throughout, and can’t wait to see where the next tale takes them.

Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. I have never heard of this author before reading this book and i'm so glad i have found her; i really enjoyed everything, the story line, the characters, the atmosphere. I'm now going to see if she has written anything else and hope this turns into a series.

The Highgate Cemetery Murders by Shapiro has a brilliant storyline and is professionally written and has plenty of detail. An excellent story with well-developed characters, with enough twists and turns to keep you reading. Gemma and Sebastian have both seen their share of heartbreak and both long to find peace, what they find is a murder that Gemma’s brother may have been a witness to and the only clues after his untimely and gruesome death are the scribblings in his notebook.

This was the first book that I have read by Irina Shapiro, and it will not be my last. It had an exceptional story with some remarkably interesting characters. Liked the setting and the insight into the happenings of the 1800s. If you love a good historical crime fiction book, then you will love this book. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is a well written historical mystery series opener by Irina Shapiro. Released 29th Feb 2024, it's 383 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series is out currently, and is also available on KU.

This is a well written Victorian mystery series featuring an intelligent and driven female protagonist who's a nurse. She's practical, strong, honest, and determined to get to the bottom of her brother's murder after being fobbed off by the police. The prose flows very well, and although it's often melancholy, the author does a very good job of being historically accurate (classism, racism, drug abuse, misogyny, murder, prejudice, and corruption) without being completely unrelentingly depressing.

The clues are fair-play, and the denouement and resolution are shocking, but fair. It should be noted that this is emphatically *not* a cozy read. It is dark and quite often violent.

Four stars, with the emphatic understanding that it's not an easy light entertaining read. Fans of Andrea Penrose and C.S. Harris will likely find this series worthwhile.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

DNF at around 50%

I just couldn't get into this one. I really tried and I read about half but I just found myself bored and not caring about the ending. I think the problem is me tbh as I'm having the same experience with another historical mystery. I suspect I'm just very picky about them.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Russian-born British author, Irina Shapiro. It’s the discovery of a particularly brutal murder victim in Highgate Cemetery that brings Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate together. A young woman, the victim of a vicious and sustained personal attack, is found, tied to a graveyard cross, dressed only in a chemise, and adorned with a bloody heart.

Visiting the grave of his wife, Gemma’s twin, Victor stumbles upon this horrific sight and spots a hatted, cloaked man fleeing the scene. As any good journalist would, he scribbles down some notes, then summons a constable, but dies under the wheels of an omnibus soon after. When Gemma sees, among other cryptic notes jotted down just before his death “I’m being followed”, she becomes convinced her brother was murdered, most likely for what, or whom, he saw.

Persuading the police to take her seriously proves impossible, until she encounters pathologist, Dr Colin Ramsey, who assures her that his friend, Inspector Bell, will listen. Initially busy getting the first responder’s take on the scene and the victim, and Dr Ramsey’s post mortem opinion, Bell then has to break the awful news to a Viscount and his distressed family, all while battling withdrawal from the opium he resorts to in his grief over his wife’s loss.

When he calls on Miss Tate, he agrees with her conclusion, but begs her to allow him to do his job. Not one to be deterred, Gemma makes subtle enquiries under the (easily-adopted) guise of a grieving sister, while Bell tries to eliminate the Viscount’s family and staff from his investigation. He considers suitors, and others who might hold a grudge against the young woman or her family, but makes little progress.

With Gemma’s contributions, they come to understand that the young heiress’s ordeal is not an isolated incident, and that the perpetrators are not common ruffians, but so-called gentlemen who believe themselves immune to prosecution. But they’ve crossed paths with a very determined detective.

Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, her characters are appealing for all their very human flaws, and there’s some exceptional detective work done in the lead up to an exciting climax that reveals a shocking twist. There’s also a small cameo by a character from another Shapiro series. Fans can look forward to more of this cast in the follow-up, Murder At Traitors’ Gate. This is excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Historical crime at its finest. I absolutely loved this book. It is beautifully written. The murder mystery completely sucks you in and you cannot wait to unravel it. A very satisfying read with a great ending. You’ll never guess who did it! 5 stars!

Good mystery and good portrayal of Victorian England. I enjoy historical mysteries and this did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next story involving these characters.

"The Highgate Cemetery Murder" by Irina Shapiro it's a real page-turner. The story follows Gemma Tate, a no-nonsense nurse who's grieving the loss of her brother, and Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell, who's still reeling from the murder of his wife. Their paths cross when Gemma's brother's notes suggest he may have witnessed the murder of a young woman at Highgate Cemetery.
As I read the book, I was struck by Shapiro's masterful handling of the characters. Gemma is a force to be reckoned with, and her determination to uncover the truth is admirable. Meanwhile, Sebastian's struggles with his grief and addiction make him a complex and relatable character. Their interactions are tense and sometimes awkward, but it's clear that they're both drawn to each other despite their differences.
What sets this book apart, however, is its exploration of the social issues of the time. Shapiro doesn't shy away from tackling topics like classism, racism, and poverty, and it's clear that she's done her research. The novel is set in the late 1800s, and it's amazing to see how the author weaves these themes into the story without feeling heavy-handed or preachy.
The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns. I found myself racing through the pages to see what would happen next, and I was surprised by some of the revelations. The writing is descriptive and immersive, making it easy to picture London's dark streets and the wealthy's grand estates.
Overall "The Highgate Cemetery Murder" is for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries or stories about strong women. It's a compelling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. And I'm already looking forward to seeing what Gemma and Sebastian get up to next.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I enjoyed this story set in Victorian London. Sebastian Bell, a Police detective is given the task of solving a murder of a female found in Highgate Cemetery. His superior believes that it is probably a local prostitute and therefore needs not much time dedicated to the case and is a possible way of getting rid of Inspector Bell. Gemma Tate is the sister of the man who first saw the body and the possible murderer. He died shortly after before reporting the victim to the police. The two are bought together in their belief that this murder is a mystery to be solved. Miss Tate also holds clues left by her brother in his notepad which are important. They work together to solve the crime. Both main characters are grieving and this is well portrayed by the author. The local area and prejudices of the times are also well written. The story kept my interest to the end and I can look forward to reading more about this pair.

An interesting whodunnit which kept me turning the page! Love anything set in Victorian London although I did feel some of the description of the setting was a bit flat. Overall an easy enjoyable read.

Plunge into the captivating yet unsettling world of Victorian London. This story confronts the era's harsh realities, from the opulent estates of the gentry to the desperate slums. Brace yourself for encounters with ingrained prejudice, societal ills, and whispers of the macabre...

I love a good whodunnit, and this Victorian-set dual mystery didn’t disappoint. I loved the character development and the accurate depictions of social classes and how women were viewed in Victorian England. It’s clear that the author has done her research to make this book feel authentic.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Historical fiction is not my normal go to, however, the title caught my attention as it is an area of London I know well.

Shapiro set then scenes, the story was written well and the character brought to life.

I felt that the book started well, it was quite fast paced and kept me page turning for the first 100 or so pages. However, it then slowed and I felt the middle could have easily been condensed or focused on other characters. The last 100 pages though, they brought the stories in the book together, getting to the root of the crimes that had been committed and settling on a pleasing ending.

On the whole this book was good. It took me a lot longer to get through as the middle was slow, but I am looking forward to the next title is this series.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and crime writing, this is most certainly a book for you.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this and remind me of how much I like this part of London!

Two grieving people work together to investigate a two murders, and the connection to All Saints' Day.

Gemma Tate, a no-nonsense young woman and nurse is notified that her beloved brother, and reporter, Victor is dead. He had been at Highgate cemetery mourning his wife, when he saw a young woman hung on a cross. Fleeing in horror, he was soon after run over by an omnibus.

Gemma, though deeply grieving, does not believe her husband died of an accident, particularly as the notes he took upon seeing the dead woman hint at his being chased from the cemetery by the possible culprit.

Though it's been three years the murder of his wife, Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell is still drowning his grief in alcohol and opium. He's told by Superintendent Lovell that he must find who killed the young woman on the cross speedily. Once Bell determines the woman's identity, the case takes on a whole different level of urgency, as the young woman is the daughter of a very wealthy gentleman. The woman's family, despite their deep upset, are eager to keep things quiet, and the family and servants are dismissive and snobbish when Sebastian questions them.

Gemma and Sebastian finally meet through the coroner, Colin Ramsay, who urges Sebastian to speak with Gemma as her brother was a possible witness in Highgate.

Though Bell tells Gemma to sit tight and wait for information from him, as Lovell would boot him from the Yard if he discovered her activities, she decides to ask questions of people who would have been overlooked or dismissed usually by the police, and actually finds useful and critical evidence leading to the awful people who killed not only the young woman at the start of the novel, but grievously harmed several others.

This book was entertaining and engaging. I appreciated how Author Irina Shapiro used a terrible crime to comment on mores of the time, such as the expectations placed on women of different classes and the discrimination they endured, the lack of concern for the terrible conditions the poor lived in, racism directed at non-whites, as well as the complete disconnect in attitude, safety and finances between the bulk of London's populace and its wealthy.

Shapiro also carefully and sensitively built the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian in such a way that it made sense that they would develop a respect for each other. Though brought together by pain, they find a way through it and I am eager to see where they go next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing this ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved this book start to finish! Well done, Irina Shapiro! I couldn't put this down and absolutely loved the twists and turns. Five Stars!

The Highgate Cemetery Murder is the first book in a new series of historical based mysteries. I enjoy both of these genres and was very happy to start this series right from the beginning. While very interesting, this is not an easy or fun read. Rather than romanticize the Victorian era of London, this book shows how dark and gritty the times were. It doesn't sound like a very pleasant time to live through but the author did make it seem very realistic and compelling. I'm eagerly awaiting the next entry in what I think will be a very promising series!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Irina Shapiro for the chance to read, and enjoy, this ARC.