It’s 1774, and Susan Bell is the daughter of the Dean of Westminster Abbey, spending her days with a little maidenly needlework and a lot of unmaidenly nosiness about the affairs of the Abbey and the many people who work there and live in the Abbey’s houses. So when a group of antiquaries get permission from the current King, George III, to open the tomb of Edward 1, Susan makes sure she’s on the spot. And later, when a ghost walks the Abbey (is it Edward Longshanks, objecting to his tomb being disturbed?), Susan is there too. And when later still the body of one of the antiquaries is discovered, violently murdered, Susan is determined to be involved in the investigation. The King has ordered that the investigation be carried out quietly, to avoid scandal, so the Dean is put in charge, but in reality it’s Susan, her cousin Lindley, and one of the antiquaries, Mr Delingpole, who do all the investigating, helped and sometimes hindered by Susan’s talkative parrot, Cuthbert.

This is at the light entertainment end of crime fiction, with the gentle humour being more important than the plot. Susan is a likeable heroine, full of spirit but not so unmaidenly that she feels anachronistic. She accepts that there are only two life paths for her to choose between – marriage or spinsterhood. And while she declares she has renounced marriage, she’s fooling no one, not even herself. The question of who among the male characters will eventually become her husband is part of the fun, with her eyeing each man and judging him as potential husband material, complete with pros and cons.

The plot itself is convoluted, which in this instance is my polite euphemism for messy. It involves lots of the history of the kings of England, though not in any weighty academic way – Susan makes fun of them all, indiscriminately, including the current King who is shown as a kind of egotistical simpleton who uses the language of the more foppish characters in Heyer’s Regency romances. William Blake, the poet, puts in an appearance, grabbing people like the Ancient Mariner and quoting his poetry at them, and several of the other characters are apparently based on real people, though less well known ones. And (to my dismay) the Jacobites show up! (Am I never to escape those pesky people, even in English books??). It’s all quite fun, though I admit that by about two-thirds of the way through I was getting impatient for new twists to stop being added and for elucidation of the very many clues to begin. When this eventually does happen, it takes nearly the last twenty per cent of the book for everything to be explained, mainly by all the characters telling things they’d always known but hadn’t thought to mention until now.

The Abbey itself is a main character in the book, and Nattrass does a great job of showing it as crossover between a kind of royal mausoleum and its real function as a place of worship. Susan describes it as a village and this seems very apt, with all the clergymen and the clerks and the workmen on the never-ending task of keeping the fabric of the building in order. I longed for a floor plan so that I could get a better idea of where all the various chapels and tombs were in relation to each other, and was happy to see in the acknowledgements in my advance copy that there will indeed be a plan in the final version.

There’s also a nod to the contemporary fascination with the new scientific discoveries of the day, and again Nattrass makes this interesting without getting too heavy about it. I still have no idea how electricity works, then or now, and I’m happy to maintain my blissful ignorance on the subject. But Nattrass explained well enough for me to get the necessary gist for understanding the plot.

Overall I enjoyed this one, although I felt the murder plot was too messy and had a rather unsatisfactory, anti-climactic ending. My own feeling was that it would have worked better as a romance, concentrating more on Susan’s various potential husbands rather than trying to make her into a kind of amateur ‘tec. But that’s a subjective view. I enjoyed the picture of the life of the Abbey, and I became very fond of Cuthbert the parrot who added much to the humour. An entertaining read.

Susan Bell is the daughter of the Dean of Westminster, a clever woman but with few prospects except marriage to her disagreeable cousin. When the Society of Antiquarians get permission to open the tomb of Edward I, Susan joins them. However a subsequent murder, the sighting of a ghost, a missing gold sceptre and a worry about her father's proposals to widows mean the peace of Westminster Abbey is shattered.
I've really enjoyed Nattrass' previous books but found this a real change of pace. It's a lightweight and rather fun little trifle. Based on a few true tales of the Abbey, Nattrass has created a lovely little piece of historical fiction which scans authentically and really entertains.

The Bells of Westminster is an entertaining historical mystery that cleverly blends fact and fiction to create an unusual and memorable story.
The story is told in by the likeable character of Susan Bell daughter of the Dean of Westminster. Susan is an unusual and engaging character whose spinsterly life changes when the society of antiquaries arrives with a letter from the King demanding to open the tomb of Edward l. What follows includes murder and ghostly goings-on with some romance thrown in too.
The atmospheric story is loosely based on real events and is very well-researched. The immersion in time and place is impressive.
I have to confess that towards the end, I found it hard to keep up with what became a fairly complex tale, but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC.

Set in 1774 and inspired by true events, The Bells of Westminster was an energetic and intriguing historical mystery.

When the Society of Antiquaries open the tomb of Edward I in Westminster Abbey, a murder and theft quickly ensues. It is up to Susan Bell, with the help of her cousin, father and parrot Cuthbert to unravel the mystery…

This was the first book I’ve read by Nattrass, and I really enjoyed the pace, characters and location of this story.

Susan, the protagonist and narrator, is a lively, unconventional and independent young woman who writes the events of the story with wit and intelligence. She’s instantly likable and her voice is engaging, helping the reader to get swept up into the plot. Despite witnessing murder, theft and facing novel romantic experiences, she's stalwart and doesn’t fall apart as the 18th century men of the story assume she would, being the weaker sex.

The story takes place within the grounds of Westminster Abbey, from the soaring ceilings to the shady vaults and to the comfort of the Deanery (Susan’s home). Although this novel is set in a confined space, it feels like its own microcosm. I love the power and majesty of cathedrals, so I absolutely loved living in this world and discovering some of the secrets and history to be found in an abbey. The limited setting also enhanced the action and themes of the story such as suspicion and trust, as blame falls on those who live and work within its walls…

The reveal at the end spun out over a few pages, and was heavy with information, rather than driven by action. However, the ending ties up the mysteries of the story coherently, filling in gaps to leave the reader satisfied.

Reading the author’s historical note at the end, it was fascinating to learn this was based on the true events that happened in 1174. Nattrass brings awareness to this historical event whilst weaving it into an engage plot, leaving the reader feeling like they know more about this lesser-known event of Westminster Abbey’s past.

Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced, entertaining and historically fascinating read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

A well written story that includes not just murder but also a theft, and sightings of a ghost so there is plenty going on to hold the interest with some twists and turns that were unexpected. The characters are especially interesting in this story as some are taken real life and not just the usual fictional one's you would expect. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Bells of Westminster by Leonora Nattrass
This book though set in a similar time period to her previous novels introduces a range of new characters. The book is loosely based on a real event when the tomb of Edward Longshanks was opened. The main protagonist is Susan Bell whose father is the eponymous Bell of the title, Dean of Westminster. He is a pleasant but quite ineffectual man and Susan or Nasus as she calls herself in her memoir is left to solve the mystery on her own.
The story is very well written and the various characters are well described but the way in which the murder actually occurred and other events border on the farcical. I quite enjoyed it but would not say it is a must read as her previous novels have been. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The tone is light enough to make it easy reading but definitely not so 'cosy' that it doesn't feel worthwhile. It did take me quite a while to read, but that was only because I kept going down rabbit holes of researching the history of Westminster Abbey and ecclesiastical nomenclature! I liked the characters and felt that they were sufficiently described in order to allow me to form a vivid picture in my mind. Lots of red herrings, a semi-surprising denouement and a lovely ending all serve to keep the reader happy until the very end. The historical notes were also really interesting.

I’ve enjoyed all three books in Leonora Nattrass’ Laurence Jago series (Black Drop, Blue Water and Scarlet Town) and was hoping for a fourth, but it seems she’s moved on to other things, at least temporarily. Like the Jago books, The Bells of Westminster is set in the 18th century but is a completely separate story with a new set of characters to get to know.

It’s 1774 and King George III has just given his permission for the Society of Antiquaries to open the tomb of Edward I, who rests in Westminster Abbey. The Society wants to discover whether Edward’s body was embalmed, according to his wishes, and whether he was buried with any valuable artifacts. However, the opening of the tomb sets in motion a series of bizarre events: first, a ghostly figure is seen wearing the dead king’s crown, then one of the Antiquaries is found dead and Edward’s body is stolen. Mr Bell, the Dean of Westminster, is given the job of investigating, but his daughter Susan knows he’s not capable of solving the mystery and it will be up to her to solve it for him.

The novel is narrated by Susan Bell who, at twenty-three, is already considered a spinster. Her father would like her to marry her cousin Lindley, an aspiring scientist who is staying with them at the Deanery, but Susan isn’t sure what she thinks of him – and anyway, she’s quite happy with the company of her talking parrot, Cuthbert. Susan’s narration takes the form of diary entries, through which we see the mystery unfold as well as gaining some insights into life within the confines of Westminster Abbey.

I’ll be honest and say that at first I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book. I had trouble connecting with Susan’s narrative style, peppered with notes and asides, which seemed to be trying very hard to be clever and witty. It also took a long time for the story to really get started, but once the murder happened about a quarter of the way into the book, I became drawn in. Susan’s narration also grew on me after a while and I found I liked her much more than I thought I would at the beginning.

Nattrass explains in her author’s note which parts of the book are based on fact and which are invented. The opening of Edward I’s tomb in 1774 really happened, for example – although the body wasn’t stolen and a ghost didn’t really appear! The characters are also a mixture of real people and fictional ones (Susan Bell is one of the latter). One thing that’s completely real, of course, is the setting: with the whole book being set within Westminster Abbey and its grounds, there are lots of detailed descriptions of the chapels, arches and galleries as well as the various tombs and shrines.

The eighteenth century was also a time of major scientific developments and Nattrass is able to explore some of these through Lindley’s interest in science. In particular, we see how a knowledge of science can work along with – and sometimes in conflict with – superstitions, religion or fear of the supernatural. This is a fascinating novel, then, and although I would still have preferred another Laurence Jago book, I did enjoy this one once I got past the slow, uncertain start!

I adored the setting of this book, an Eighteenth-century Westminster Abbey stuck firmly in the past, with modern Newtonian science knocking at the door. Imagine if you crossed Bridgerton with The Name of the Rose - not a combination I could have imagined working, but it certainly does!

Susan, the narrator, has a wonderful dry sense of humour that perfectly compliments the setting and tone of the book, and the plot is intriguingly twisty.

Susan Bell is the daughter of the Dean of Westminster. At the ripe old age of twenty-three, she is considered a spinster. Not that Susan minds too much. Her life revolves around her father and the abbey. Life is good, if not rather uneventful. Until the Society of Antiquaries arrives with a letter from the King himself. They have his permission to open the tomb of Edward I. This seemingly innocent undertaking sets in motion a whole slew of events. A ghostly figure is seen, there shall be a murder, the corpse of Edward I will be stolen, and scientific demonstrations might just play a bigger part than planned.

Obviously, Susan will have no choice but to investigate all these odd occurrences. Not least because the King has told her father to do so and his position as Dean might very well be under threat. However, Susan knows very well that her father, who comes across as somewhat foolish, is not the right man for the job so it is up to her to figure out what’s going on. In doing so, Susan gives the reader a glimpse of what her life is like as a clergyman’s daughter in the 18th century. Tea parties, sewing, and batting away the unwanted attentions of an admirer seem to fill most of her days. Despite having had a proper eduction and being incredibly intelligent, there are places where a woman isn’t allowed to go. Being underestimated gives her an advantage though, and she hears, sees and knows more than she probably should.

The story is told through Susan’s writings in her diary. She is the most fabulous protagonist ever. It seemed to take a while for her to set the scene, for she has to start at the very beginning after all, but that didn’t bother me at all. I found her incredibly engaging and often delightfully witty. Her writing drew me in immediately, and her descriptions of her surroundings and the various people she meets in the abbey nearly made it feel as if I was right there trying to solve all these mysteries.

These mysteries are intriguing for sure. Who is this ghost wandering around the abbey? Where did the body of Edward I disappear to and, more importantly, who took it and why? What does this murder have to do with anything? And what can Susan do to keep a rather insistent admirer at bay? But far more terrifying is the thought that one of the abbey’s own might just be a killer. I didn’t have a clue about any of it, but I had a great time trying to figure it out.

I very much enjoyed ‘The Bells of Westminster‘. It seemed to me that a whole lot of research went into this one and Leonora Nattrass delivers a lovely blend of fact and fiction. It has the most wonderful and atmospheric setting, a fabulous cast of characters, mysteries to sink your teeth into, a superbly entertaining parrot, and an absolutely amazing protagonist in the name of Susan. Full of delicious dry humour, she and the shenanigans at the abbey definitely kept me entertained.

Susan Bell is a bright, inquisitive young woman and makes a witty narrator of this gentle whodunit story, set within the confines of a Georgian Westminster Abbey. Jane Austen-like characters with a more modern slant makes this an enjoyable read.

Set in London in 1774, and loosely based on a factual event, this is Susan Bell’s telling of life within the confines of Westminster Abbey where her father is the Dean of Westminster. The normally quiet existence she enjoys is rudely interrupted when the Society of Antiquaries arrive to open the tomb of Edward I ‘Edward Londshanks’ on the orders of the current king, King George III. This one event sets of a chain of events that affect everyone living within the Abbey and others. A slow paced read but I think that’s fits the story perfectly.

Briefly, shortly after opening the tomb there is a ghostly apparition and everyone runs away returning to find the body and shroud missing. Susan meanwhile is being hounded by church deacon Mr Suckling, who has set his cap at her, an odious character if ever there was one and her father seems to be starting up a relationship with a wealthy widow, much to Susan’s chagrin. And on top of all this a body is discovered in the abbey and Susan starts to investigate.

Susan is writing a journal with the intent of publishing it but under a male pseudonym as it would not be seen as proper to publish under her name. I thought she was a good character and I could see how easy it would be for her to hear and see things not meant for her. But my favourite character was Cuthbert - “God save the king. Hear hear!” The story is actually more complex than I at first thought and I was quite surprised by the conclusion. A very enjoyable, entertaining and slightly eccentric historical fiction novel.

Susan Bell is the narrator, her father is the Dean of Westminster Abbey. He worries about his daughter, his stipend is not great, but her late mother has left her money, she will have a modest income to live upon, but he would prefer her to marry her cousin Lindley, he is rich and has an estate in Leicestershire, and Susan is 23 years old, and in 1774, that qualifies her as old enough to be considered “ left on the shelf.”
Susan is content to have no great expectations in life, she loves living in the environs of the great Abbey. All is peaceful and quiet, until The Society of Antiquities arrive with a letter from The King, giving them permission to open the tomb of King Edward the first, AKA The Hammer of the Scots, so they can check the tomb, the embalming process and to check if the original Crown Jewels are hidden there.
The coffin is opened, the body partially examined, then a shout of panic distracts everyone as they run to safety.
The next day, a different, more recent addition is discovered in the tomb and the original occupant has vanished.
What a cracking start to a detective story! A wonderfully researched piece of historical facts combined with fictional events. There are numerous clues for the budding armchair sleuths, and we are bewildered by strange scientific experiments, thieves, traitors, murders, and all mankind is involved.
The expectations placed upon females at that time are now considered extremely dull and condescending, but Susan is a strong lead character, being well educated, practical and doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
I have never been to Westminster Abbey, but I was so amazed by the descriptions of the Chapels and the Tombstones, that I fully intend to attempt a trip next year. I learnt so much from this wryly amusing and slightly acerbic novel, lighthearted and serious all in one.
A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Serpent’s Tail, Viper, Profile Books for my advance review copy, freely given in exchange for my honest opinions. I will leave a review to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

Lived up to everything it promised: a witty, interesting heroine who Jane Austen would have been proud of, paired with an exciting and brain-scratching mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. I can't wait to buy a physical copy!

Good to realise that this is partly based around real life events. Not sure it works that well as a novel for me, there is just a disconnect with the whole thing. The characters are reasonably well drawn but the narrative has little flow and is odd. I won't read another by this author but the historical period is interesting.

This follows the story of the Dean of Westminster Abbey and his daughter Susan who are there when one of the old King's tombs is dug up and exhumed. Events that follow embroil them in a murder mystery and grave robbing plot. I found the pacing of the book to be very slow and not much actually happened for most of the story. However the characters were endearing in their own ways and that is what kept me reading. I liked reading about the Abbey but the setting did get a bit repetitive as nothing really happens outside of this world.

This great novel is published in mid October as Halloween beckons and there are some ghostly goings-on within the walls of the majestic Westminster Abbey in the 18th century. In fact his Majesty King George III ('what, what') enjoys the unravelling travails of Dean Bell and his clergy in what was known as his own Royal Peculiar (his own local church) at the time of this tale in 1774.
It was interesting to discovery that in reality the tomb of King Edward I was opened and that Antiquarians were desperate to discover the mummified royal body.. But the author has fictionalised the truth with a mystery murder and the theft of golden royal sceptre and crown.
The characters are brilliant - all names very Dickensian - eg Mr Suckling, Robert Delingpole and the parrot Cuthbert is great fun.
The Dean's daughter Susan is our narrator and within the plot the author of the tale - as NASUS BELL! She is both inquisitive and likeable as well as of the time suffering the attentions of the Deanery who view her spinster status with gossip.
The Abbey is a character in itself and wonderfully described with its soaring architecture. I love a novel about a magnificent religious building! But there is also discussion of science (the new electricity) magic lanterns and with murder- tricks and exorcisms as religion clashes with new ideas.
The 'ragged regiment' of bodies stored in such places - especially at Westminster Abbey is still there for us to see still at the heart of English history. Restoring and recording those statues added to the whole novel - Blake is based on William Blake the poet/artist and is a lovely character but the plot takes many a turn with red herrings until the dramatic reveal of the culprit (s).
Loved it as a read. Leonora has produced another historical gem here and I'm sure readers will delight in entering those lofty heavenly walls of Westminster.

Unusual and quirky 'Whodunnit'. Centred in Westminster Abbey 1774 our Narrator, Susan Bell the 23 year old unmarried daughter of the Dean is compiling her journal with a view to publishing it under a male pseudonym. She writes while quietly observing all that goes on within her enclosed world of the Abbey, her presence unseen and unnoted most of the time.
An antiquarian society gets permission from the King George IV himself to exhume Edward 'Longshanks'' tomb with a view to seeing if he was indeed mummified and discover which if any, Crown jewels he is buried with; much to the Deans discomfort. Will they find Edward the Confessor's crown and sceptre there, having been hidden from Cromwell? But then there's an accident. A body is discovered, and worse!
The King decides the Dean is to furnish the explanation! Luckily it becomes a joint effort and the sources they have to draw on are basic and few and far between, but it is enchanting how they put things together.
There's lots of interesting locations, tombs, people (and a wonderful parrot), chapels, balconies, monks' resting paces and architectural details and it is superbly evocative of the huge, dark Abbey of the 18th Century. Including the 'Ragged Regiment' of past royalty. Also some wonderful early scientific experiments and equipment demonstrated and explained by Susan's cousin Lindley, just returned from Europe and his Grand Tour.
My reason for deducting a star is that in places it is incredibly 'wordy' - mainly due to the 'chatty' nature of Susan's journal which at times was quite hard going. (Plus the king saying 'What, what' after EVERYTHING was so irritating). But overall a fun, unusual read which definitely brought the historical Abbey to life. I enjoyed the author's notes at the end, too.

Loosely based on the true event of the opening of Edward Longshank’s tomb in Westminster Abbey in the late 1700s, this book follows Susan Bell, the Dean’s daughter, telling about her life in the Abbey: “What with the vergers and the clergymen, the sweepers and the gardeners – along with the abbey watchman, the searcher of the sanctuary and the army of workmen who keep the ancient fabric from falling on our heads – Father has the care of what amounts to a large and thriving village.”
The vast cast of characters can sometimes become confusing, but a gentle humour and mild suspense is prevailing and the reader will learn a lot about the many cogs needed to make the abbey’s days run smoothly.
Throw in a mysterious death, a disappearing mummy and the squabbling between the various authorities responsible for the abbey, this is an engaging story with a naïve charm, reminiscent of the old TV series “All Gas and Gaiters”.

There is a good cast of characters which provides possible suspects and motives and there is humour.. The story is atmospheric and has a few unexpected moments but doesn’t fully keep the reader’s attention.
This is a historical novel set in 1774 and a fictionalised version of some events which did take place at Westminster Abbey. The Bells refer to Susan Bell and her father the Dean of Westminster. She is a young woman with a sense of humour whose life exists mainly in the confines of the Abbey but it becomes more exciting for her upon the arrival of her cousin Lindley , a would-be scientist and possible marriage prospect, and members of the Society of Antiquaries. The Antiquaries wish to open the tomb of Edward I to inspect the contents but this leads to murder.

I would recommend this as a cosy historical crime and would like to thank the publishers for the ARC.