Chief Inspector Sebastian Bell was on the case of a murdered young girl at the Foundling Hospital, with Nurse Gemma Tate overwhelmingly grateful the dead girl wasn't Lucy, one she was particularly fond of. Gemma felt terribly guilty for that thought, as one of the other girls was dead at the hands of another. The Chief Inspector was having trouble with the Matron of the facility, as she guarded her records and charges fiercely, but the Inspector was investigating a murder, so needs must. The tub of water in the laundry on Boxing Day, which was where Amanda took her last breath, was now a crime scene, and Sebastian and Gemma were both determined to discover who had taken her life.

With little to go on, Sebastian struggled with his investigation, and once again his superior, Lovell, needed the case solved immediately. But gradually, and with Gemma's help, they found clues, found people to interview, formed opinions - but Sebastian needed factual evidence. Would he find it? Would they find it together before someone else lost their life?

Murder at the Foundling Hospital is the 3rd in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it was excellent! Once again Gemma put herself in danger, but she wouldn't be the great character she is, if she didn't. And Sebastian, in London 1858, didn't have the advantages of his current day Scotland Yard investigators. But he does a particularly good job of searching for the perpetrator. I'm very much looking forward to #4! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

Third in the series (but the author catches you up on past events so you don't need to have read the previous two - though I would recommend them!). This one's closer to home, because a girl is found murdered at the Foundling Hospital where Gemma works. The background is beautifully done (including the formidable matron and the children who grew up to become teachers and stayed there).

The supporting cast are great (particularly Sebastian's best friend) and it's lovely to see the relationship between Sebastian and Gemma developing; and it's also good to see Sebastian and Gemma's struggles to come to terms with their past, women's roles in Victorian society, and with internal politics in the police.

Thoroughly good read.

A whodunit after a young girl is found dead in a laundry tub in an orphanage. The detective works with a nurse on the inside to find out what happened.

This is quickly becoming a favorite series for me. I’ve enjoyed each one and look forward to future installments.

As evidenced by its title, this third in the series hits very close to home for Gemma. When a young girl is found murdered at the foundling hospital where Gemma works, her involvement in the case becomes both practical, as an insider to the facility, and personal, as she deals with the emotions of learning the truth about the girl’s death, while worrying about the safety of the other children, notably Lucy, who’s very dear to her heart. Constantly blocked by the formidable matron, who is determined to not bring any negative attention to the hospital, Sebastian relies heavily on Gemma’s help, while worrying for her overall safety and compulsivity. A fear which is shown to have good reason behind it, as Gemma puts her life and livelihood on the line to investigate.

While certainly not a cozy mystery, it does fall short of being oppressively sad or heavy. The plight of children, and unwed mothers, in Victorian London is sobering. You get a real feel for Gemma’s challenges as a single woman struggling to make her way in that time period also, as well as Sebastian’s ongoing internal conflict coping with his emotional demons. The supporting cast of characters was very enjoyable, as always.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love the Victorian period and how it influenced solving the murder of a young girl. Gemma is intelligent, well-spoken, observant, and cares deeply for the children at the Foundling Hospital. However, since she is a woman she must work within this status in society so not to draw attention to herself or possibly lose her job. The dynamic between Gemma and Tate is evolving and has made me want to read the first two books to see where things began. Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read this. I hope to see more of Gemma and Tate in the future.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of “Murder at the Foundling Hospital.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell do solve the case of who killed a young “inmate” of a foundling hospital in 1858 London, but it is a sad victory. For the directors of the hospital just want the case to go away, in fear that the benefactors will stop providing donations. But Gemma and Sebastian had no intention of letting someone get away with murder, and so the investigation proceeds apace, in which both will be threatened with loss of their jobs (Gemma works at the hospital), and Sebastian his own place in the police ranks. This will prove no deterrent, though, as readers of this series well know.

The ending is a bitter success, because even as one involved will see a better life, the death of a fourteen-year-old girl will haunt Gemma forever. Then there are changes in Gemma’s own life that she could not have foreseen, but perhaps, were inevitable as she determined to seek a killer. But author Irina Shapiro has given her a path to follow, and with Sebastian Bell at her side, the future has hope for both.

“Murder at the Foundling Hospital” does not have a “happy go lucky” spirit about it; you will be irritated and angry in turns at the account of life in the foundling hospital AKA orphanage, and the author does not stint in her description of the dismal surroundings or what happened to babies left behind by desperate mothers. But to counter that is the quietly budding relationship of Miss Tate and Mr Bell. These two people are still finding their way with each other, one mourning a beloved brother and the other his wife and son. The narrative does justice to every plotline, and I look forward to future books.

Another exciting installment of this excellent series. Very evocative of its time and place, with likable characters and an intriguing mystery. I was surprised by the denouement, which isn’t often the case - I’m generally pretty good at figuring out who done it. Highly recommended for all fans of the genre.

Nurse Gemma Tate works at the Foundling Hospital, which is the home of orphans. She is horrified to hear that one of the children has been killed. And, with the help of police Inspector Sebastian Bell will work to uncover the truth.
This is a tricky mystery and more than one life will be in danger as they try to find Amanda's killer. This is a a dark, moody and tense mystery. And normally is exactly the type of storyline that I would enjoy. It's well-written, and the characters are fleshed out. However, I found myself struggling to engage with the story.

While working at a foundling hospital Nurse Gemma Tate is heartbroken to hear about the death of one of her charges. When the death is deemed a murder Gemma decides to help the police get the person who did it before another death happens. She teams up with Inspector Sebastian Bell to help on the inside due to the head matrons disapproval. Putting her life in danger Gemma must be careful where she treads to make sure she causes no suspicions.
A good story filled with great characters and suspense. The ending is one of surprise and no one can guess the conclusion. A satisfying read.

"Gemma's boots slip on uneven ground and her black cape catches in the wind as she runs. "Please, not Lucy," she prays.

Nurse Gemma Tate is heartbroken when she hears that one of her young charges at the Foundling Hospital has been killed. She knows that police inspector Sebastian Bell will work tirelessly to uncover the truth, but obstructed by the curt matron, he'll need her help navigating the cloistered world of the orphanage.

The mystery thickens when Sebastian finds a small wooden doll clutched in the murdered girl's hand and Gemma hears whispers of a shadowy romance. But that isn't the darkest secret hidden behind the high hospital walls. As time runs down on the investigation, Gemma won't give up. But could the shocking discovery she makes be her last?

A gripping gaslit Victorian mystery, perfect for fans of Andrea Penrose, the Lady Sherlock mysteries, and Miss Scarlet and the Duke."

You know, blurbs need to keep up with the times, never mention Neil Gaiman again, and it's now just Miss Scarlet, thank you very much.

Set in 1858, this story follows Inspector Sebastian Bell of the Scotland Yard as he solves yet another case.

It is Christmas Day, and a young child is murdered in the laundry room of the Foundling Hospital. It is up to Sebastian to solve the case. He is assisted by Gemma Tate, a nurse at the hospital.

The plot thickens when a small doll is found in the corpse’s hand, and whispers of a forbidden romance begin to travel through the halls of the Foundling Hospital. Against the wishes of the overbearing Matron, Sebastian begins to interrogate members of staff and other children, as it is his suspicion that the murderer is on the inside.

I really enjoyed this book and I thought that the reveal of the killer was very well done. I did eventually figure out who the killer was, however, the book was nearing conclusion when I did. This was my first book of the Tate and Bell mysteries although this is the third book in the series and I look forward to reading the other two!

The third installment of the Tate and Bell mystery was as dark and as gripping as the previous two.

A child is murdered in the Founding Hospital. The matron is only interested in avoiding a scandal and Sebastian has only a few days to solve the case. Luckily the hospital happens to be Gemma’s workplace so she’s able to help.

I enjoyed this book but I wish Sebastian and Gemma cooperated more. It seemed like they were each running their own investigations and only sharing the findings from time to time. I like their dynamic and missed it a little in this book.

Otherwise it was just as good as the previous two books; a well crafted mystery, strong characters and again, the masterfully depicted Victorian London.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was in interesting read with lots of historical tidbits that I enjoyed. I did not read the first book in the series but I would certainly read more. I enjoyed the romance and appreciate the character arc. A solid read.

When one of the children at the Foundling Hospital where Gemma Tate works is found dead Inspector Sebastian Bell quickly realises the girl was murdered.
Sebastian is intent on finding the killer, but it seems that no one else is interested. The Matron of the hospital would rather sweep everything under the carpet and Sebastian keeps coming up against brick walls.
Against Sebastian's wishes Gemma decides to use her inside knowledge to help discover when happened.
But, uncovering things people want to keep hidden could put Gemma in danger, how much is she willing to risk for justice.
Full of intrigue twists and turns, this will have you hooked from the first page.

This is another entry in the series pairing Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell and former nurse from the Crimean War, Gemma Tate. The mystery involves the murder of a girl in the Foundling Hospital where Gemma now works. She pairs up With Bell to follow clues about the girl’s murder.

I really enjoy the author’s depiction of London at this time. She really gets the spirit of what the situation was like for people of different classes and how women faced such barriers.

I also liked seeing the slow progress in the growing romance between Gemma and Sebastian. The mystery kept me guessing as to who the murderer was though the backstory explaining the murderer’s motive was a bit surprising.

This is a great series and I’m already eager for the next entry.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This series is in the gaslight-gothic tradition in that it is very serious and somber. Not a cozy for sure. That said, it is a well paced, well-plotted murder mystery with well drawn characters. I have enjoyed this series and hope it continues for a long time.

Sebastian starts his day with news that a child at the Foundling Hospital Gemma works at has been found dead, drowned in a wash tub overnight. Knowing Gemma's attachment to young Lucy, he knows he must reach the hospital before Gemma does to determine the child's identity. Unfortunately, for him, the Matron is extremely uncooperative from the minute he walks through the door, refusing to even tell him the child's name until they are with the body. To his great relief, it is not Lucy, but he's 90% sure he is looking at a murder and once Gemma arrives, she confirms his suspicions. With a child murderer possibly running loose at the very hospital, Gemma works, Sebastian knows that he must solve this case quickly, before Gemma places herself directly in front of a killer.

I had no idea who the killer was, literally none until Shapiro drops the giant, obvious hint towards the end, I mean, this person wasn't even on my radar. Of course this could also be because I spent most of the book just furious over Matron Holcombe, the whole thing good have been solved probably the morning they found the poor girls body if she had cooperated even a little bit. I can understand the need to keep the reputation of the hospital sterling, but in the end, if she just cooperated, it would have been super easy to spin any negative press in their favor.

I also enjoyed the progression of Gemma and Sebastian's relationship, especially with Gemma acknowledging that they've both got baggage and just jumping into a relationship would be pretty much the worst idea ever. It's so nice to see characters make logical decisions.

Overall, I definitely recommend this series it's been excellent so far, and I can't wait for book four!

As always, thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eArc!

You can check out all of my reviews at my blog! <a href = "https://kellysbooknook.wordpress.com/"> Kelly's Book Nook</a>

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series and the author does a great job of continuing to develop the characters and their relationships with each new book. As with Gemma, I was relieved to know that the body at the foundling hospital wasn't Lucy and then bad for realizing that meant I was glad it was another child. The part of the story that kept this from being a 4-star review was that I didn't fully understand the murderer's motive - I don't want to say any more as I don't want to include any big spoilers, but suffice it say it still doesn't make sense to me even after I have had time to think it over since finishing the book. I really enjoy the way the author goes about having Gemma and Sebastian conduct their investigations and having so many possible suspects that the red herrings are not immediately obvious. And there are so many great twists and turns here! I felt bad for Gemma at the end when she lost her position and the matron basically blamed her for everything that went down - without a hint of responsibility or guilt for having been the one to hire the killer in the first place. I'm still holding out hope that there will be a way for Gemma to adopt Lucy in the near future and hope that doesn't all get forgotten now that Gemma's not at the orphanage any longer. I'm excited to see how Gemma's story continues now that she has new employment which will most likely provide her with a little more freedom and reason to get involved in future cases. I would also like to see Gemma and Sebastian explore their relationship further and if they truly have a future with Sebastian still haunted by the death of his first wife and their child.

This Third Book in the Tate and Bell Series is darker and sadder, to me. Life in Victorian England is really perilous if you aren't from the upper class, and this book really demonstrates how difficult it is. While the orphans at the Foundling Hospital aren't treated in a Dickensian manner, they still have so little joy or love. And the adults don't have much more to hope for!

I look forward to seeing the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian grow and hope that they will be able to beat the odds.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

This riveting, atmospheric series is most definitely in the gaslight-gothic tradition in that it is very serious and somber. If one of your requirements is wit and humor, you won’t find it in these books. However, what you will find is an excellently paced, well-plotted murder mystery with realistically flawed characters. Gemma Tate, the main female lead, is a nurse who trained in Crimea with Florence Nightingale, and Sebastian Bell, the main male lead, is a widower inspector with Scotland Yard.

Gemma has just enjoyed a lovely Christmas when she is summoned to the Foundling Hospital where she works. One of the children has been found – murdered. The staff members are forbidden to become attached to any of the children, but Gemma’s loving heart has become entwined with sickly little Lucy. During her mad dash to the orphanage, she is constantly whispering – “Please Not Lucy” “Please Not Lucy”. While it wasn’t Lucy, it was a lovely, kind, sweet fourteen-year-old young lady who never deserved such a violent end.

The Matron at the Foundling Hospital is determined to protect the institution from any scandal and therefore, throws obstacle after obstacle in Sebastian’s way – including her intention to petition the leadership at Scotland Yard to close the case as unsolved directly after the child’s funeral. Yes, she cared more for the institution – even if it housed a murderer – than she did for the life of one of her charges. Gemma has the access Sebastian needs and is determined to help solve the case and she does – even to her own peril.

Between them, they find many potential suspects, follow many leads, and uncover many secrets within the orphanage. The murderer – and the reason – will surprise you and make you very, very sad.

You won’t be able to put the book down once you start reading, so prepare yourself with all of the comforts before you begin. The story pulls you in from the first word and holds you until far past the last word with its compelling characters and superb mystery.

I love Sebastian and Gemma with all of their humanness – their flaws and their strengths. Sebastian has overcome so much in the last few months and you will be pulling for his continued success in defeating his personal demons. Gemma has suffered great tragedy with the murder of her twin brother and is working hard to recover emotionally and financially from that loss. You will root for her too, but you will also worry that she has more TSTL moments than she should.

I enjoyed this book and I hope you will as well.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.