Whereas the plot was really good and thrilling, I was not so sure about the characters. Particularly Penny's personality did not convince me. She is the narrator but I did not get the feeling she was really investigating or as that decisive. Her feelings did not feel genuine somehow as as friend of the murdered woman. It might get better in the next novel I will read anyway as I enjoyed the complexe plot.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

I haven’t read anything by Emily Organ before, but I absolutely loved Limelight. It’s a fantastic whodunit and perfect for fans of Victorian history, strong female protagonists, and murder mysteries. The plot kept me hooked, and the side characters were well-written and added depth to the story.

I did take one star off because the relationship between Blakely and Penny didn’t quite feel fully developed. The reasons behind his request for help, how she assisted him, and their chemistry were a bit lacking. However, overall, it was a great book that I read quickly and thoroughly enjoyed

In Victorian London, reporter Penny Green is stunned when her long-dead friend is murdered. Penny’s personal connection to the victim draws her into the case by Scotland Yard inspector James Blakely.

This is a rerelease of an older book so I’m not sure if it’s different from the original other than the new cover. Well-paced but predictable, but my main problem is there’s not much interiority. We rarely know what Penny is feeling when she’s watching the investigation unfold. It was at times like a narration of events. I never felt any tension and she doesn’t even investigate much.

James’s fiancée makes me fear Penny will be “the other woman” in future books and that’s not a trope I love so I’m undecided about continuing. He led her on the entire book. But the mystery is entertaining enough.

The early amphitheater scene was likely accurate for the time, but its racist undertone made me uncomfortable. Since it didn’t add anything to the story I’m not sure it was necessary.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. It is 1883 in London and an actress, Dixie, dies in the River Thames through drowning. However, five years later...she is also murdered. Enter Penny, a reporter that Scotland Yard seeks out due to her friendship with Dixie. Scotland Yard believes she can help solve this case, and has to work with one of their investigators, James. There is a twist during the investigation, however, when someone sets their sites on Penny in a threatening manner.

I enjoyed the setting of this book, and I felt the author did a great job of placing the reader within the Victorian era. I also enjoyed the general plotline of a second death, which was well-thought out, and the twists that went along with it. I also really appreciated that the "lead" investigator was a woman. And, since this book is the first in a planned series, I enjoyed getting to know James and Penny, knowing that their relationship will evolve into something more.

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

Murder in. Victorian London. An investigator who realizes the boys of the murdered woman is that of a woman who died years ago. Mystery and intrigue abound in this story. Red herrings and secrets…A new man in her life…first in a series of what sounds to be good mysteries. Curl up and enjoy this one. Thank you Netgalley

I loved this book..

Set in the 1880s London, female reporter Penny Green, discovers that her friend has been shot and killed in a nearby cemetary... the same friend who she knows died years before... She sets out with Inspector Blakley to find out what really happened.

Many twists and turns, and a brilliant and clever plot, makes this a fabulous read.

Historical fiction is a favourite genre of mine and this I hope is going to be a fantastic series..

This was a strong historical mystery novel, it had everything that I was hoping for from a opening chapter in a mystery novel. I was invested in the characters and how they worked in this story. It had that tense and suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for in a good mystery novel. I enjoyed the way Emily Organ wrote this and made the characters pop. It left me wanting to read more in the Penny Green Victorian Mystery series.

In 1880s London, life for a female reporter is rather precarious. We meet Penny Green, who is bewildered when she finds out that a friend she had died 5 years before had been shot in a cemetery. Aided by the rather charming Inspector Blakley, she seeks to find out what really happened. There are some red herrings and twist and turns, until the full story comes out. It is a clever plot, and the added historical background of suffrage, clothing, typewriters and other issues adds to the story. I would like to read the next book in the series to see what happens next to our main characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and review.

The first in a series im already a fan. The excitement of unraveling this mystery with press and police proceedure is undeniably good. The only thing missing was a romance but maybe thats planned. Our heroine is methodical and interesting and i loved the finale. It definitely does have you reading deep into the night, loved it.