3.5 this isn’t a cozy mystery and I was expecting a little more romance but it was an interesting start. Both our MC have person mysteries/battles that they are dealing with which I believe will be multiple book arcs in addition to our main mystery. I think that this was a realistic mystery with out being “gritty” there was acknowledgment of class/society differences without being overly detailed (which I did appreciate). I liked that the MFC had a unique job for a woman in the morgue. I think that the ending felt a little dramatic and messy for a book that really seemed grounded in realty and didn’t seem over the top. But I’m very interested in what’s next. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Shadow at the Morgue” is a gripping start to the Spencer & Reid Mysteries series. This historical mystery had a dark and atmospheric vibe, with a great female lead, that reminded me of the TV show “The Alienist”, with its vivid depiction of Victorian London and the unsettling underbelly of society.

Leonora (or Leo) Spencer is the sassy and determined main female character and, in my opinion, is the standout of the book. I loved her sharp wit, resourcefulness, and the way she blatantly defied societal expectations to get to the truth and be herself. Her banter with Detective Inspector Jasper Reid added a layer of humour and tension that kept me hooked….and giggling. The chemistry between the two of them promises even more intrigue and laughs in future books.

I thought the plot was cleverly crafted, with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. From stolen lockets to sinister blackmail plots, the story unfolded at a satisfying pace, although I would have loved a bit more backstory in a couple of places. I guess that’s what the future books are for!

Overall, an exciting mix of mystery, strong characters, and some history. Looking forward to seeing what’s next for Leo and Jasper.

If you like a good mystery, or if you’re a fan of The Alienist, you’ll likely enjoy this one!

I'm giving this title three stars as a way of saying I'm withholding judgement.It's the start of a new series that may or may not go somewhere.

What I Like:
• The lead female character who has a photographic memory and helps her uncle do autopsies, which is not high on the list of "ladylike things for Victorian women to spend time doing"
• The honesty (so far as it goes) about the lack of choices for women and the difficulty they have supporting themselves and family
• The complex relationships among multiple crimes and the changing ways the leads view these connections over time

What I Didn't Like
• The leads have complex back stories, which may prove to be a plus in the future, but at the moment it means readers can feel like they're playing catch-up, even though there are no previous titles in this series
• The relationship between the two leads suggests that this series will have a romance arc, as well as a mystery focus—and I am so freaking ready for a series where a man and woman work side by side without playing out the whole dislike-to-love sequence
• Some predictable moments in the last part of the book

What this all adds up to is that I'll have an eye out for the next volume, which I will read, and I think I'll have a better idea of how I view this series afterwards.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

This was an entertaining start to a new mystery series. Set in Victorian England with a variety of different sorts of characters, the author has created an intriguing world that promises to provide future interesting sequels.

Leonora survived the brutal murder of her entire family when she was a child and is now living with her aunt and uncle who is a coroner. She helps him with his work on corpses even though he might lose his job if anyone knew he let her help. While sewing up one corpse, a man breaks into the morgue and sets off a fast-paced mystery. The Scotland Yard inspector, Jasper Reid, investigating the murder is an old-time acquaintance of hers, and he really wants her to stay out of the whole business of tracking down a murderer. But she has a lot of curiosity and is quite plucky.

I suspect that they’re going to be unwilling partners investigating future murders while fighting their attraction to each other. And we’ll probably find some more clues to the unsolved murders of her family. I look forward to following along with this new series.

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.

Shadow at the Morgue is the first book in Cara Devlin’s Spencer and Reid Mysteries series, and it is off to a great start.

Leonora Spencer helps in her uncle’s morgue, although much of her work she has to do in secret because society doesn’t think women should be part of autopsies and such. When something is stolen from the morgue, Detective Inspector Jasper Reid becomes involved. As the mystery unfolds, Jasper tries to follow the letter of the law while Leo does her own investigating (much to Jasper’s dismay).

Leo and Jasper have known each other since childhood, and each have their own childhood secrets and pains. Now as adults, there is some workplace tension, but also a building tension that is sure to develop into something more as the series continues.

I was immediately drawn into this book! The writing style made it easy to read and the characters were wonderfully developed. The mystery stands on its own, but there are some lesser storylines that will have me (impatiently) waiting for the next books in the series.

This was my first book by Cara Devlin, and it certainly won’t be my last.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for making this book available. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this fast paced novel!! Even though I sometimes resented Leo's recklessness as I found it rather stupid, I liked the way she goes on about her work in the morgue. I also liked the strong sense of family irradiating from Leo and Jasper. I found a positive point that the novel mostly focuses on the mystery to be solved rather than romance. I will definitely read book two!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley, and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

This is the first book that I am reading written by the author, Cara Devlin. Shadow at The Morgue is a historical fiction thriller that will keep you on your toes. Our main FMC, Leo lost her entire family as a young girl in a mass murder and it remains unsolved. She is soon taken in by by her aunt and uncle. Leonora soon assists her uncle with his autopsy duties. This was a time when women were not allowed to work in a morgue. This is something she is reminded. There are secrets that will be unveiled. I appreciate that we get a backstory. I think that the character and world building were well written. I like that Leo was written as a strong character, sharp, independent, and feisty. Not only that, but I also enjoy that this historical fiction gives you dark and gothic vibes. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I also enjoyed the banter between characters! If you like slow-burn, you'll definitely enjoy it in this book. Overall, this was such a fun and thrilling book, and I will absolutely love to read the next installment.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Cara Devlin is an auto-buy for me. Her other 2 series are phenomenal examples of historical fiction with a bit of romance, and this one promises to be just as captivating and addicting as the previous.

The premise of this series opener is unique: a young woman (Leo) who helps her elderly uncle in the morgue must join forces with a newly-minted Detective Inspector in the Metro Police (Jasper) to help solve a series of murders. Leo and Jasper have a complicated, intertwining history as well as traumatic childhoods (about which we learn very little in this installment, but future installments will be sure to flesh out fully). There was plenty of tension and sniping between the two, and moments - little hints, really - of a future romance to come. This promises to be a slow burn, indeed, and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

Highly recommend!

What a captivating start to a series! Admittedly, I'm a Cara Devlin fan and am predisposed to liking her work. I can already tell that this is a series I'll be devouring as each story comes out.

Once again, we have a fascinating backstory unfolding here. Our main characters are connected through a father/father figure and past tragedy. Leonora Spencer is the sole survivor after her family was killed and has a photographic memory that helps her assist her uncle, a medical examiner. Jasper Reid is a police detective at Scotland Yard who begrudgingly accepts Leonora's assistance, but would prefer her to stay far away from danger.

While the backstory is explored, there's definitely more to be revealed, which makes me eager for the next book! The investigation is compelling and I'm excited to see how Leo's abilities help Jasper in the future. You know there's a slow burn romance in the works here, but there's a long way to go before things are settled.

As usual, I'll be reading this again when my physical copy shows up. I love Devlin's work and always find myself wanting a physical copy of her books!

“Shadow at the Morgue” kicks off a new series from Cara Devlin. Leonora Spencer works with her uncle at a morgue and Scotland Yard’s Jasper Reid solves crimes. They each have secrets and a past, but it’s not exactly what you might think.

When Leo is locked in a broom closet by a knife-wielding burglar she realizes there is more to the story than the burglar wanting a worthless bag from one of the bodies in the morgue. Her suspicions are confirmed when another body in the morgue is suddenly missing a locket. At first Jasper is unconvinced that there’s anything truly sinister going on, but then the bodies start piling up. Are these murders related or are there just unfortunate connections between the victims?

Leo is a smart and bold heroine who will do what it takes to get the answers to the mystery. Jasper is an excellent detective who respects Leo’s knack for ferreting out the truth, but is also terrified that something bad will happen to her.

Like Devlin’s previous Bow Street Duchess series, the Spencer and Reid Mystery series promises to be twisty, turny, and fabulously entertaining. I can hardly wait for the next one!

This book is great for readers who like slow-burn romance historical mysteries and/or mystery series.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and BooksGoSocial, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.