Book Review: "Murder at the Foundling Hospital" by Irina Shapiro

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Irina Shapiro’s "Murder at the Foundling Hospital" is a stunning debut that plunges readers into the dark, gaslit alleys of Victorian London, combining a gripping mystery with richly drawn characters and a captivating setting. As an ARC reader, I found myself utterly absorbed from the very first page.

Nurse Gemma Tate is a compelling protagonist whose determination and compassion shine through even in the face of tragedy. When a young girl at the Foundling Hospital is murdered, Gemma’s heartache and resolve to seek justice propel the narrative forward. Her partnership with Inspector Sebastian Bell adds a delightful tension, as they navigate the strict confines of the orphanage and the secrets hidden within its walls. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their banter brings a refreshing spark to the story.

The plot thickens with the discovery of a wooden doll clutched in the victim's hand, hinting at a shadowy romance that intertwines with the dark secrets of the institution. Shapiro expertly weaves together elements of mystery and suspense, leading readers down a twisting path of clues that kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the revelations left me absolutely gobsmacked!

Shapiro’s prose is lyrical and immersive, painting vivid pictures of Victorian life while capturing the nuances of Gemma and Sebastian’s investigation. The atmosphere is rich, drawing you into a world of whispered secrets and hidden motives, where every character feels fully fleshed out and integral to the unfolding mystery.

What truly stands out is how Shapiro explores themes of loss, loyalty, and the hidden lives of those within the orphanage. The emotional depth of the story elevates it beyond a mere whodunit, making it resonate long after the final page is turned.

"Murder at the Foundling Hospital" is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads, and it stands alongside the works of Andrea Penrose and the Lady Sherlock series. I’m already eagerly anticipating the next installment in this promising series! If you’re looking for a page-turner that combines intrigue with heartfelt storytelling, this book is not to be missed. Irina Shapiro has truly created something special here!

Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate return in another compelling mystery set in 1858 London. Sebastian is called to Gemma’s workplace, the Foundling Hospital, after the body of a young girl is found. Gemma is determined to find the killer, despite Sebastian’s warnings that she’s putting herself in danger.

I was devoured this book quickly with its twists and turns that had me wrongly guessing. As always, these books skilfully weave in gender, class and race politics. For me, though, the highlight is the growth of Sebastian and Gemma and seeing them develop a real partnership. Sebastian views and treats Gemma as his equal and each recognises in the other their grief and trauma. This book they dance closer to the precipice of starting something but recognise it’s precarious. Gemma lives with the ever-present threat of poverty due to her vocation and society’s rigidly narrow rules for women. Sebastian is newly sober (I really hope that little brandy slip is not a sign of anything bad to come) but hasn’t forgiven himself regarding his wife and child’s murder. Coupled with the politics of his job, moving to American to work for Pinkerton’s detective agency might be an enticing solution, so I hope they can get it together.

I am greedy for the fourth book and hope it comes soon.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

The third book in this series and unfortunately I somehow missed book two! I still enjoyed this one.

In Murder at the Foundling Hospital a young girl is found murdered at the hospital of the title. Inspector Sebastian Bell is called to investigate the crime and of course he calls on his friend Gemma Tate, who is a nurse at the hospital to help him.

The author writes about this period of English history really well. She describes life at the Foundling Hospital very convincingly and indicates that although it was not perfect it was better than many other places. Life was hard and if you were poor it was even harder.

The mystery is handled well and the added Russian intrigue made it even harder to guess who the murderer was going to be. I enjoyed it all.

This is an intriguing thriller based at London's Foundling Hospital. The storyline is excellent and keeps you guessing who the murderer is. A really enjoyable thriller.

Gemma Tate continues to come into her own as she and her “friend”, Inspector Sebastian Bell, attempt to solve the murder of a young girl at the foundling hospital where Gemma is employed. Gemma is more hands on this time and uses every opportunity to help Sebastian despite his pleas that she stay out of it. It’s always fascinating to read about how investigations work within the limitations of 1850’s England. Policemen are considered only slightly above common unskilled labor and definitely below butlers and head housekeepers. Without fingerprinting and only minimal autopsies, murders were often solved via interviews and intuition. With his job once again on the line, Sebastian is given a time limit in which to solve the murder. He must deal with politics and the ever unhelpful matron of the foundling hospital. There is much to be continued with this duo and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. Please let it be something with little Lucy. “Murder at the Foundling Hospital” is a worthy addition to the series and definitely a great way to spend the afternoon. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy.

Part of a series featuring Gemma and Sebastian. One of the girls at the foundling hospital is murdered and they must unravel the secrets to solve it.

This was another brilliant Victorian mystery by Irina Shapiro. It is the third book in the series featuring Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate but could easily be read without having read the earlier books.
For those who have the previous books, Murder at the Foundling Hospital begins right after the ending of the second book when one of the foundlings is discovered dead in the laundry room of the hospital on the day after Christmas. Sebastian is called to investigate and gets Gemma to give her views on what has happened.
This is definitely not cosy crime and the Victorian society depicted by the author is a long way from the aristocratic one found in romance novels. We see very clearly how hard it is for many people who don’t have family money to live comfortably. Even Sebastian as a police inspector only has a room in a boarding house. It’s even harder for women and all of the women in this novel are constrained by the restrictions of society and have to act in ways that they might not wish to. There is a lot of historical detail contained within the story but for me, it added to the enjoyment.
I loved the mystery and the way that it gradually unfolded with Sebastian being completely without any idea of who committed the crime or why for much of the book. All of the characters felt very real especially Inspector Tate who actually came across as quite unlikeable on a couple of occasions as he almost bullied people to get the information that he needed. I like the growing relationship between him and Gemma and hope that there is a happy ending for the two of them at some point in this series.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book 3 focuses on the tragic murder of a young girl at an orphanage where Gemma Tate works. Inspector Tate is assigned to the case and they must secretly work together to solve the crime without the Matron realizing Gemma is involved or she could lose her job and reputation. While Book 3 picks up where Book 2 ended, right after Gemma and Sebastian share a kiss, their relationship continues in a rather stilting way with no discussion of the event, both of them questioning what they want to happen, and Sebastian revisiting his previous loss without the full details and I couldn’t remember exactly what had happened. The allusions to the loss of his wife and son felt a little repetitive. Despite Sebastian’s worries about Gemma’s safety and involvement with the investigation, I loved that he gave her credit for her skills when he was praised. Even with the murder solved, there were no happy endings in this book, which was fairly dark and gritty but I look forward to hopefully more involvement and character development of Colin & Mabel in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book

Death, mysteries, and following the clues

I loved this historical whodunit staring Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. It had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, tantalizing suspense, and interesting historical background. I was pulled into the story from the first page and couldn’t put it down until they solved the case. Gemma and Sebastian are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Gemma is a nurse in 1858 London who now works at the Foundling Hospital and lives in a boarding house. She is still struggling with the grief from her brother’s death. Sebastian is a Scotland Yard detective and a widow who is still recovering from a shoulder injury. When a child is murdered at the Foundling Hospital, Sebastian seeks Gemma’s help but is afraid to let her get too involved since she may be working where a murder is still present. Despite this, Gemma get involved anyway and the pair once again form a quasi-partnership as Sebastian investigates the murder. The investigation leads them to unlikely and surprising places and suspects that all lead back to children raised in the state sponsored orphanage. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters, and a captivating storyline. I am addicted to this series.

Thoroughly enjoy the adventures of Tate and Bell! Well paced, full of twists and turns and keeping the suspense to the last minute! I look forward to the next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Murder at the Foundling Hospital (A Tate and Bell Mystery #3) in exchange for an honest and independent review.

I have been waiting to get my hands on this third installment of the Tate and Bell Mystery series since it was leaked on Goodreads months ago! Irina Shapiro has created something beyond the imagination that transports us back in time to Victorian era London in this gripping investigative series staring Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell.

Book three picks up right where book two left off (and yes, you should be reading these in order in order to fully immerse yourself in the storyline) when Sabastian is called off to the Foundling Children's Hospital, where Gemma is employed, to investigate the murder of a 14 year old girl. Although Sabastian strongly encourages Gemma to stay under the radar in hopes of ensuring her safety since in all likelihood, the killer is still at large within the hospital, Gemma once again proves indispensable in solving yet another Tate and Bell mystery with her insider knowledge and cunning ability to always get to the heart of the crime.

In the three books that have released so far, Murder at the Foundling Hospital has to be my favorite yet! Gemma has really come out on her own in this installment and proves to be an outstanding detective, something completely unheard of at the time for women. Her independence is empowering and her creativity abounding. I love that Sabastian shows her the respect she deserves and recognizes her role in his life and her assistance with his career, even though all of society would not give her such favor. This installment was gripping and fast paced and kept the reader guessing until the very end.

With the conclusion of this book, I am even more excited to see what Irina has in store for Tate and Bell next! I have to say, I'm rooting for them both to find their ultimate happiness in each other in hopes of a second chance at life and love. They seem to be dipping their toes in the water, but I vote it's time to take the plunge already! It really is hard to believe that only 4 months have passed in Gemma and Sabastian's world since the release of the first installment, but they've both already come so far in both their personal lives and their career. I'm in this one for the long haul folks and I cannot get enough of Tate and Bell! Bring on book four! In the meantime, if you have not yet read books one and two yet, run out and pick those up and then dig on in to Murder at the Foundling Hospital, just in time for Halloween (out Oct 21st!).

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Irina Shapiro for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for October 21, 2024.

Shapiro’s Tate and Bell Mystery series revolves around the lives of two main characters, Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard; and nurse, Miss Gemma Tate. The pair first met in the first book when Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell investigated the murder of Gemma’s brother, Victor. Since that time the pair have become firm friends, which each having a healthy mutual respect for the other’s abilities.

In Murder at the Foundling Hospital - Shapiro has our female mc, Miss Gemma Tate situated firmly in the thick of it - front and centre in the story.

Boxing Day - December 26, 1858, and the story opens with the body of a young girl being found in the basement laundry of the Foundling Hospital. Horace Fletcher was making his early morning rounds, refilling coal buckets and oil lamps. Heading down to basement to open the coal chute he noticed the laundry room door was left open. Thinking that it was odd for the laundry to be open at this time of the morning, he headed in to check there was nothing amiss. A cursory glance told him all was well, but, as he turned to leave, he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. On closer investigation, Horace saw it was the body of a young girl. The body, which was submerged in a tub full of water had frozen overnight and the look on the young girl’s face was enough to make the old man scream.

"The Foundling Hospital was not a hospital in the modern sense. It was a place of hospitality for unwanted children, founded more than one hundred years ago and reserved for the illegitimate offspring of mothers deemed deserving. It was more than an orphanage. The hospital was an institution that not only looked after the children but also educated them, taught them valuable life skills, and prepared them for life beyond its walls."

Gemma knew that working as a Nurse in the Infirmary of the Foundling Hospital, she was not supposed to have ‘favourites’ or create personal attachments to any of the children. For the most part, she observed this rule strictly, but, she was only human after all, and there was one small five year old girl she had grown particularly fond of.

When alarm bells started ringing about the incident in the laundry room, and the Matron had summoned Detective Inspector Bell to come at once, Gemma fervently prayed that it wasn’t Lucy lying frozen in that tub in the laundry.

The Matron, fearing her job might be on the line and questions raised by the Hospital’s wealthy benefactors, she was quickly closing ranks. DI Bell has a limited open window in which to solve this crime before Matron cuts of his access. Thankfully, he has insider help, in the form of Miss Tate, who is able to covertly assist the Inspector with his enquiries.

Shapiro's writing is rich and full of descriptive text. The mystery threads are creatively plotted and historically accurate. This author does not make it easy to guess the culprit, with plot twists and red herrings to throw you off track. There are several threads - most run cold, and only one will lead you to the killer.

Very much enjoying how the author is growing these characters, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for the pair next.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Book 3 in the seies and a child is found murdered in the Foundling Hospital where Gemma Tate works as a nurse. Inspector Sebastian Bell is called in to investigate but finds his questions blocked by the Matron of the hospital. Not wanting to risk Gemma's safety he asks her refrain from her usual input but as she is on the scene every day its almost impossible.
If you're a fan of mystery novels and books set in Victorian London then this series is a perfect match for you

I have been unwell and have to have complete bedrest and to be honest I have read so many good reads lately I don't want to get well too quickly.
This is one of those good reads and I loved it.

A child is murdered at a foundling hospital and Gemma taks herself with finding clues and solving the mystery.

This book is so well written you will not guess the outcome. It's that good.

There are mysteries and then there are mysteries that don't want to be solved and there are so many that want to keep this hushed up it's just madness.

It is drama filled and pacy. I loved the atmospheric descriptive writing, it gave this a really moody and dark vibe.

I want more to read this .. it's amazing

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Though I had never read any books in this series previously, I felt that the author did a good job of ensuring that was not a requirement, and I followed along with the plot seamlessly. A child is killed at an orphanage, and Inspector Bell initially tries to solve the crime, but is met with difficulties from the matron of the orphanage. He then must rely on Nurse Tate to assist him. Soon secrets are unraveled, as the investigation goes down many pathways.

This was very fast-paced and I really enjoyed the scene that was set; it seemed real, and I liked that there were many possibilities about who committed the crime. I was guessing until the truth became known, so that was fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel very much! I loved being immersed in the atmospheric descriptions of the Hospital, London. I loved reading about the characters even though reading about women' s social status and how they are viewed by men at this time made my skin crawl! Nevertheless, that is how it was and the author perfectly reflected it in his writing. A good and compelling plot which left me guessing... I can't wait for the next mystery investigated by Sebastian and Emma , nor can I wait to see how these two characters develop...
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

This is such a great series. Set in 1852, this time a teenager is murdered in the Foundling Home where Gemma works. With no DNA, CCTV, mobile phones etc, old fashioned police work solves the case. And what a back story there was. Once again, the precariousness of people’s lives comes to the fore, as people seek to hold on to their positions as life is very tough when you don’t have a job. While very sad in places, there is some hope as Gemma and Sebastian work on finding their respective ways in this world. I eagerly look forward to the next book to see what happens next. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a chance to read and review this book.

Whew nonstop action! Who knew a foundling hospital had so many secrets and people willing to kill to keep them!
This one keeps you guessing until the end! There are several trails that lead to suspects who had a part in the deceased girl Amanda Carter only 14! Gemma works at the hospital and does her own in house investigation to assist Sebastian.
Some trails run cold and would have ensured the victim would have had a different future had her existence been known!
But Sebastian endures his own scrutiny at work with the infamous new boss possibly taking over! He’s under pressure to solve the case as the benevolent trustees want answers!
What if the perpetrator is much closer than they think and is connected to an obscure train wreck! This was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and clues! Hold on and get ready for the ride and thrilling conclusions! Bravo

This third in a Victorian mystery series features Inspector Bell and Crimean nurse Gemma who are drawn into a child’s murder. I read book 2 but new readers could easily jump in. I liked the more balanced points of view and overall better pacing of this book than the last. Some of the history lessons went long but at least they were interesting. If you’ve read 1 or 2 and aren’t sure if you want to continue, I recommend keeping the series.

Just when I thought this series could not get any better, Murder at the foundling hospital comes my way!

A great addition to the Tate and Bell mystery series, so twisted and gripping it is really difficult to put it down.

What to do with that wide array of possible culprits? I have changed my mind several times but still could not find the perpetrator out until the very end.

The couple dynamics is so well balanced and the plot so well thought out that I was constantly wondering what was going to happen and to try and solve the puzzle.

I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for Gemma and Inspector Bell!

I have received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.