This is a readable, thoughtful murder mystery. Set in late Victorian London, it follows an intrepid reporter, Penny as she delves into the reasons why one of her friends was shot in a cemetery despite being confirmed deceased 5 years previously in a shipping accident on the Thames. The book has a focus on the status of women and the growing suffrage movement and there is a hint of romance tied into the plot. There are plenty of read herrings including a Fenian plot and involvement of politicians, making this a novel wit( some 8nteresting twists and turns. An enjoyable read.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of Limelight.

James an Inspector approaches Penny a reporter on the street to speak to her about a friend of hers named Lizzie who was just found murdered. But the real shock is that Lizzie supposedly died five years ago. How does one person die twice? That is what James and Penny intend to find out.

This book was kind of boring until the last section. I was not a fan of the writing and I felt like it was difficult to connect to the characters.

I really wanted to love this.
Such an interesting premise for a mystery: a woman who died twice. But ultimately it failed to deliver, and while the characters appeared to have good potential, none of them lived up to it.
I don’t feel moved to continue the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Highly entertaining plot and great lead character Penny Green.
We were soon immersed into Victorian London and although I thought the story would only revolve around theatre world, it was interesting to hear the connections with the women's suffrage movement (and trousers for ladies!) plus the Fenian bombings and how all this seemed to link to the second murder of actress Lizzie Dixie.
Penny's efforts to assert herself in Fleet Street- and the added introduction of the new typewriter- showed how challenging it was for a woman to succeed in the world of newspapers.
This was the debut novel in a series and I am certain they will prove to be very popular. The growing love interest with the young detective James Blakely also has some way to evolve.
Overall great read for a murder mystery with atmospheric Victorian backdrop.

The pacing in this book was very slow. Super interesting concept but it was difficult to finish due to the repetitive actions by the main characters. It just seemed like they were super inefficient and some of the extra plot points such as the bombing didn’t really make sense with the story.

First off a big thanks to the publisher for the invite to read Limelight as well as for helping me find a new to me author and a new historical mystery to start . And after reading this I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens, because this story comes to life off the pages ,the entire time your reading it.

An absolutely fascinating read. A real page turner and difficult to put down. Very atmospheric with great description of the local weather especially the fog which must have been dreadful to live through. Emily is a wonderful author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Penny Green is a news reporter who is called to help investigate the murder of one of her friends - one who had supposedly died five years before in a boating accident on the Thames. She assists Scotland Yard inspector James Blakely and together they try to find out what had happened and who was guilty of the murder.
I loved this book, it managed to recreate the smoky atmosphere of Victorian London - I was unfortunate enough to experience smog back in the early 60s and it was exactly as described here. It highlights the misogynistic nature of the era as well, with Penny not being taken seriously as a journalist. The actual murder mystery kept me guessing all the way up to the end, plus the nascent romance between Penny and James adding to the interest. Highly recommended to those who enjoy historical murder mysteries that aren't too graphic.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Organ for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Limelight coming out November 4, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I had this book already, but I hadn’t read it yet. I’m not sure if this is a rerelease of the book. But I was definitely excited to read this book. I love Victorian mysteries! I think Penny is a really strong character who goes after the truth. I loved the characters. I would love to see more of James. I think the writing and the mystery was really interesting. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Victorian mysteries!

I thought this was a good police procedural mystery.
I liked Penny and James together and can see them being a good team. The book was full of surprises!
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC of Limelight in exchange for my honest review.

Set in the gritty, fog-shrouded streets of 1883 London, Limelight introduces us to Penelope "Penny" Green, an intrepid journalist with a knack for finding herself in the midst of unusual mysteries. Penny is stunned when Lizzie Dixie, an actress and old friend thought to have drowned five years earlier, is discovered murdered in Highgate Cemetery. This chilling revelation pulls Penny into a complex investigation alongside the charming yet enigmatic Scotland Yard Inspector James Blakely.

Emily Organ skillfully creates an atmospheric depiction of Victorian London, from the bustling newsrooms of Fleet Street to the eerie, shadowed corners of the city’s underbelly. Through Penny’s eyes, readers experience a rich tapestry of life in this historical era, including advancements like the typewriter and the struggles of women pursuing careers typically reserved for men. Penny’s role as a journalist is both compelling and challenging, especially as she tries to unravel Lizzie’s secrets while facing obstacles from those around her who doubt her capabilities.

Organ’s mystery unfolds with surprising twists, as Penny discovers that Lizzie’s death may have ties to powerful individuals with secrets worth killing to protect. Penny’s interactions with Inspector Blakely add an intriguing layer to the story, with hints of romance amidst the secrets he holds. The suspense builds as Penny receives threatening notes, underscoring the danger she faces as she delves deeper into the mystery.

The pace, setting, and dynamic characters make Limelight an engaging start to the Penny Green Victorian Mystery series. Penny’s determination and wit shine through, and readers will find themselves rooting for her to solve Lizzie’s murder and overcome the societal limits placed on her. An absolute must-read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female protagonists. I’ll certainly be picking up the next book in the series!

Limelight is quirky historical fiction set in Victorian London. Penelope (Penny) Green's reactions to her situation looking into the murder of her friend Lizzie Dixie, an actress, seem rather muted. I frequently wanted Penny to show a bit more emotion although it might have mitigated the personality created by Emily Organ, the author. Apparently the book is a second and slightly different edition of the book which I found a bit puzzling.

The plot of the book includes a number of interesting foci, including Penny herself who is a female journalist for the Morning Express, not exactly a common profession for females during this time. She also works closely with James Blakely, a Scotland Yard detective, and Penny's sister is an important member of the women's suffrage society. The introduction of the typewriter is also interesting, and there is no doubt that Organ has done extensive research on the period and the roles of women in particular.

I did find the recondite relationship between Penny and James to be a bit odd. Clearly she is enamored of him, and he seems to return her interest in him, but more than once he mentions his fiancee, the future Mrs. Blakely. Perhaps the mutual interest of Penny in James and visa versa is part of a future book, but it seemed somewhat fanciful in this book.

The murder of Lizzie (thought to have died five years earlier), and then an assault on her daughter, Annie places a focus on Annie's stepfather, but the ultimate revealing of the murderer is a surprise.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a fun new historical mystery series. Penny Green is a reporter who has lost and now regains her journalism job. She works with a Scotland Yard inspector to figure out how a famous actress who supposedly died five years ago was just found murdered in a cemetery in London. Penny had known her before and so Inspector James Blakely seeks out her help.

The mystery was well done and I was rather surprised to find out who did it. Penny and James are clearly forming a romantic interest in each other. However, I suspect it’s going to progress slowly over the course of future entries in the series. I’m looking forward to reading them.

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 was absolutely amazing! I was totally enthralled with this story from beginning to end, I could barely put it down, and when I finally read the last page, the house was dark, I was hungry, thirsty, needed to pee and my neck was stiff. But damn, it was worth it!

Wow what a wild ride! Just when you think it’s figured out the story and the suspects change their stories!
We have Inspector James Blakely and Penelope aka Penny Green form a reluctant partnership! Penny was friends with Lizzie Dixie who drowned 5 years earlier but was found murdered in Highgate Cemetery!
So how was a woman presumed dead and drowned 5 years ago found murdered? Lizzie was Penny’s friend and helped her try to secure her father’s last belongings in the Amazonia jungle! When Penny is approached for her assistance since she was close to the victim and her daughter Anne.
But things don’t add up and Penny keeps getting warned off the case!
But the truth is much uglier than even imagined! What if is a suspect that was free was not the killer but definitely knows and was actually in favor of it! Penny won’t stop until she finds the truth and she draws James also into danger!
Just when I think Penny and James might have a future he announces a future Mrs Blakely? When the both confront the killers will either survive to testify? Bravo definitely love this series! Have a new author to add!

Limelight by Emily Organ has a plot loaded with twists and turns. Just as I thought I had it figured out, another twist changed my thoughts. Although the ending wasn't completely what I hoped, the suspense kept me turning the pages.
 
Releases Nov. 4th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

London, 1883.

Penny Green is a reporter always looking for a good story. When an old friend of hers, Lizzie Dixie, is found murdered, Scotland Yard comes to Penny in hopes that she can help solve the case.

Inspector James Blakely is the man assigned to the murder case, and he and Penny scour London for clues. Lizzie was widely believed to have died in a tragic accident five years earlier, so how was her body discovered in Highgate Cemetery?

As the unlikely duo continue to gather evidence, Penny begins to receive mysterious objects and threatening letters. It is only after others are drawn into the lies afoot that the true murderer is revealed.

Overall this was a cute story, but I didn’t feel like there was much substance to it. I was able to figure out who the killer was towards the end of the book. The details were well done, however, I would have liked a bit more atmosphere. I think the biggest thing that makes this book a three star for me is the fact that the partnership between the two main characters is not entirely plausible in my opinion. It seems unlikely a Scotland Yard detective would seek out a reporter to assist with an investigation.

Nevertheless, it was an entertaining read for a rainy afternoon. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a good read, atmospheric of the times and the struggle of women to be seen as useful and able to do a job. The plot was good and the characters all varied and interesting to the story, which kept a good pace and didn’t give away the murderer until the end and at the end there was still a little something left of the main characters story to make you want another book to see what happens. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Limelight

I came across Limelight on Netgalley and as someone who reads historical fiction mysteries I knew it was one I wished to read. Having just finished it - I realized it a re-issue and one that I had previously read.

The story felt vaguely familiar as I was made my way through it. When I reached the end it finally clicked that this was my second time having done so. It is an entertaining tale featuring a newspaper woman and a detective inspector trying to solve the murder of an already thought dead woman.

Penny, is lead character and I enjoyed her but did get frustrated at times with her choices. However, living and working in the time period of the book could certainly prove frustrating.

The mystery was well plotted and I appreciate the set up for the future books. If I remember correctly I ended up reading six or seven of them. Overall a pleasant start to a series.

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my DRC..

This was such a great read full of mystery and sights and smells of London. When an actress thought dead five years before is murdered it sets off lots of other smaller events. Penny is resourceful and despite losing her job as a journalist still fights to get the murder her of her old friend properly investigated. The power of women was limited and access to a newsroom hard as the rights of women were being fought on the streets. The family relationship between sisters, between stepdaughter and stepfather and between old lovers is at the heart of this book. Some beautiful descriptions of the care people had for each other as well as the every day sites and smells that are brought to life.