The fourth book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series and the first book from Irina Shapiro I have read. Starting with actors playing Romeo and Juliet both found dead having been poisoned we are taken through a twisting plot to discover who the murderer was. For me as a lover of theatre the book had all the ingredients of a great read but it was a little drawn out in my opinion. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This is another good book in this series. It’s a good police procedural story. It was full of surprises and some twists I didn’t see coming. I’m ready for Gemma to be out of mourning so she and Sebastian can move on.in their relationship. I’m looking forward to the next one

Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate are at the theatre when the unthinkable happens. Romeo and Juliet are dead indeed at the end of the play. Though most of the audience leaves, unaware that two murders have taken place, Sebastian and Gemma are drawn into the mystery. Sebastian wants to keep Gemma safe, but she seems to learn much more than the police can. The murderer must be someone in the cast, but many had the motive and the opportunity to commit the crimes.

This is book 4 of the Tate and Bell series, though it would stand alone. I have read, and very much enjoyed, the other titles, and this one was enjoyable as well. Sebastian and Gemma's relationship continues to grow within the bounds of propriety while she is still in mourning for her brother. The two follow different clues that lead them to a totally unexpected outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Murder at the Orpheus Theatre in exchange for an honest review.

Fun little fact for you, Irina Shapiro’s first book in the Tate and Bell mystery series, Murder at Highgate Cemetery, was the first ever book I had the pleasure of reviewing on NetGalley. Fast forward almost exactly a year, and I am over the moon to say that I’ve been able to review all 4 of the Tate and Bell mystery series and I’ve come to somehow love each one even more than its predecessor, which I didn’t think was possible. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a fan of historical fiction, but Irina has created something so captivating with this series that I honestly hope it never comes to a conclusion.

I throughly enjoy watching Gemma and Sebastian’s relationship evolve throughout the series and Gemma’s character is truly something to marvel at, especially in Victorian London. She is the very definition of grit and tenacity and Sebastian could not ask for a better partner, even if she’s not exactly on the force.

Irina’s books pull you in from the very moment you pick them up and keep you guessing right up to the very end. Every time I have a suspicion that I’ve figured it out, I’m thrown a curve ball that sends me back to the drawing board. I just cannot say enough good things about this series, and I implore you to discover them for yourself!

Sebastian and Gemma are back! While attending a play of Romeo and Juliet, a murder occurs. The victims? The actors portraying Romeo and Juliet! The weapon is poison of course!

I was once again drawn into this Victorian world. Shapiro writes so well that the reader feels as if they are actually there with Gemma and Sebastian. It is dark and unsettling, but a realistic portrayal of life at the time. The mystery and investigation are cleverly plotted out. The characters continue to grow and evolve, which is one of the strengths of this series. I especially love how the author addresses the issues that Gemma faces as an unwed woman working as a nurse at this time.

Once again, I highly recommend this book/series to anyone who likes to go back in time!
Alas, now I have to wait for the next one!!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. THis is my honest and voluntary review.

"Murder at the Orpheus Theater," the fourth installment in Irina Shapiro's Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell series, once again transports readers to the captivating world of Victorian England. This historical mystery follows Constable Sebastian Bell of Scotland Yard and his friend, Gemma Tate, a nurse recently returned from the Crimean War and currently in mourning following the loss of her brother. Shapiro skillfully recreates the era, realistically portraying the challenges of investigation within the constraints of both limited forensic technology and the rigid social hierarchy of the time.

Gemma, now working as a nursing companion to Ann Ramsey, mother of Sebastian's friend, Dr. Colin Ramsey, finds herself embroiled in another intriguing case. While attending a performance of "Romeo and Juliet" with Sebastian and the Ramseys, tragedy strikes when both the lead actors meet an untimely demise. This latest mystery offers deeper insights into the complex relationships between Gemma and Sebastian, and between Sebastian and his superiors, even though their interactions are somewhat limited. There is a large cast of characters, many who have reason to have committed the murders.

While the pacing of "Murder at the Orpheus Theater" may be slightly more deliberate than its predecessors, the intricate plot and well-developed characters keep the reader engaged. Although this book can be enjoyed independently, reading the series in order is highly recommended to fully appreciate the developing romance between Gemma and Sebastian. Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Irina Shapiro for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

The mystery is solid and a great addition to the series and is probably best read in order, even though the mystery itself stands alone. There was a little more telling rather than showing when it came to Colin’s feelings and to Sebastian’s boss. I wanted more Gemma and Sebastian page time. They didn’t work together much let alone show progress on the relationship front. I’m still on board for more of these two!

Thank you for allowing me to review this book.. I have enjoyed the previous Tate and Bell nooks and this was no exception. The characters are developing nicely as they work together to dolve the murders of Esme and Christopher.. I was gripped by the storyline from the start. The culprit was unexpected and in many respects sad. However, it was well written and I like how the clues are unravelled to solve the crime. I look, forward to reading more in the series and highly recommend it to those who like historical crime fiction.

I have truly enjoyed the Tate and Bell mysteries and this one was no different. Sebastian and Gemma are at the Orpheus Theater when tragedy strikes: Romeo and Juliet are truly dead. Or the actors who play them are dead.

Sebastian and Gemma embark on an investigation to see what has truly happened. Sebastian is contending with a change in leadership at the Metropolitan Police and Gemma is settling into her new position helping Anne Ramsey, surgeon Colin Ramsey's mother. The theater and its troupe offers many suspects but a twist at the end brings the killer to justice.

I enjoyed this outing and seeing Sebastian and Gemma's relationship continue to develop. I will be back for the next one!

Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is quite the convoluted tale! Ms. Shapiro presents us with multiple suspects, red herrings, but really only one motive. Tate and Bell are at their best in this story, with their relationship steadily growing in spite of conflict and opinions of others.

Hearing about the wanton misbehavior of the murder victims was difficult, but it certainly moved the story along. Plus there was a sweet little mystery that was (mostly) resolved by the end of the book.

I am excited to read the next installment of Tate and Bell!

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

When a night at the theatre ends in murder, Inspector Sebastian Bell and his friend Gemma Tate are on hand to begin the investigation.
Delving into the world of theatre and those who work there, produces more suspects than expected, and Sebastian finds himself delving into the dark secrets of both suspects and victims.
As well as trying to solve the case, Sebastian is desperate to keep Gemma safe. But Gemma is her own woman and is determined to help in any way she can and what she discovers could put her in danger.
If you like your crime solved without the help of computers or mobile phones, with lots of twists and turns, this atmospheric thriller set in the Victorian era is perfect for you.

I cannot get enough of nurse Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell and 'Murder at the Orpheus Theatre' did not disappoint, in fact I think its my favourite so far.

Gemma, Sebastian, their friend (and Gemma's boss) Dr Colin Ramsey and his mother (whom Gemma now cares for) are at the theatre when the actors playing Romeo and Juliet are murdered onstage.

The mystery is full of twists and turns with Sebastian also navigating police politics. Meanwhile Gemma is soon coming out of mourning and is feeling the weight of her future bearing down on her. She's itching for more, but being a woman in 1858 London is limiting. There's a leap in the deliciously slow-burn romance between Gemma and Sebastian, though are there hints of potential trouble on the way given Sebastian's history? Or will they ride off to America to work for Pinkerton's which will accept female detectives?

I cannot wait to see where this goes. Encore! encore please Irina Shapiro.

Another compelling mystery enhanced by two compelling characters with a smoking hot chemistry.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have loved every moment of this series! I have really enjoyed following Gemma as she has come into her own as a strong independent woman, especially at a time when that was not encouraged by society. She does have a knack for getting herself in tight situations with killers which she should probably work on. I like Sebastian, but I am finding I like him a little less with each book. He is the kind of a "two steps forward, one step back" kind of guy. He encourages Gemma's help with investigations and the background she brings, but as soon as his co-workers give him a hard time suddenly he doesn't need her anymore. Lucky for him she continues her snooping because often without her he would miss out on key information. With the continued mentioned of his possible move to America I'm wondering if the series will end with Gemma and Sebastian going together to join the Pinkerton Agency, I guess only time will tell on that. They mystery here was again really well developed with plenty of suspects. When the killer was revealed I found I was actually a little sad about it - I had hoped that character would have gotten a better ending. I don't want to give anything away, but I found the ending for one of the suspects to be quite satisfactory (I'm sure you will know of whom I write when you read the book yourself). The only part of the book I didn't really like was Gemma's thought that Colin was in love with her and her dismissal of that - mostly because I do actually think he would be a better partner for her in some ways. As I said, that was really the only aspect I did not enjoy. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

*ARC REVIEW* Available February 25th, 2025.
MURDER AT THE ORPHEUS THEATRE by Irina Shapiro
Five stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (on five of course 😍)
Victorian detective mystery🕵️‍♀️
Slowburn romance/courting🔥❤️
Female lead : unconventional, intelligent, caring.
Male lead: courageous, overcame difficult events, has the biggest heart, cat-owner (Gustav!).🐱
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One more series I am obsessed with!
Tate and Bell have lived so much: she was a nurse in Crimea, he is a detective who overcame his wife and children's death... They are imperfectly PERFECT characters 💕 and together, they make a wonderful team.
This time, they are witness to a murder while enjoying a night at the theater.

I feel like this is a mystery easy enough to follow. You follow them both while they are digging around for clues and you end up drawing your own conclusions...but yes: I was gasping at who did what! The end was shocking (in a good way).
This is definitely more of a historical "who done it" mystery with hints of romance in the background than a "romance". Tate & Bell both have a heavy past and so the slow burn makes sense, every little step in their relationship is beautiful and well-written.
I really fell in love with those two characters, and I'm sure you'll do too.

Every time I finish a book in this series, I want the next one immediately. That’s the downside of reading a series when it’s still being written; you can’t binge it.

The mystery in this one was brilliant! Well-crafted as always, and a little different from the previous books. The crime happened on a stage, and the victims were actors, so a lot of the investigation had to be conducted at the theater. It was not a closed circle mystery, but because of that setup, it did have a similar vibe.

I love Gemma and Sebastian; their dynamic is great. I was hoping for more of it, unfortunately they only had a few scenes together. Don’t get me wrong, I’m here for the mystery, but as a romance reader, I want progress in the romance department too.

Again, kudos for the Victorian era realism; there’s no sugarcoating to appeal to our twenty-first century sensibilities. This series is as dark as the times it describes, which makes the happy moments shine and stand out even more.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. I really love this series, the characters are so well written and the plot is easy to follow and twisty. Looking forward to more.

4.5 stars

Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate are attending a performance of Romeo and Juliet when the lead characters die on stage. There is some tension between the two as Sebastian investigates and Gemma wants to help. Sebastian fears for her safety and has also been ordered by his supervisor not to let her take part in his investigations.

I continue to enjoy this series, especially the relationship between Sebastian and Gemma as they learn more about each other and how they can work together. The mystery was well thought out, opening with how two people are silently killed on stage in front of an entire audience.

There are a few things that carry over from the previous books in the series (which I also recommend), but most of the story, including the mystery, stands on its own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Another good historical mystery by Irina Shapiro. Fast paced plot that flows, solid mystery that kept me guessing
. Enjoyed it

5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Shapiro's Tate and Bell Mystery series, which is a Historical Mystery set in 1859 London, England and features an unconventional nurse and a troubled police inspector who work together to investigate the murder of two actors poisoned on stage and encounter a cast full of suspects all with secrets to hide. With plenty of twists and turns, Shapiro has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Written in dual POV, Shapiro's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Gemma and Sebastian. Gemma's tough, she's still mourning her brother and dealing with her experiences in the Crimean War but is determined live her life her way despite the restrictions of the time. Sebastian may be a recovering opium addict and is still dealing with his guilt over his wife and child's deaths but he's determined to work toward a future for himself and Gemma. Additionally, the secondary characters are engaging and well-rounded. With tact and sensitivity, Shapiro touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Highgate Cemetery Murder.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Interesting, well written characters and a complex murder mystery with red herrings a plenty. Fresh back from nursing in the Crimea, Jemma is now a live in nurse to a lady with dementia. Finding it hard to settle for a humdrum existence, she finds herself drawn into investigating the murders of young actors who die on stage in front of her eyes. Though she is in the socially obligatory mourning period for her brother, she has formed a romantic attachment to the investigating police officer Sebastian and contrary to the mores of the times, he welcomes her insights while wrestling with his chivalrous side which just wants to protect her. Different and enjoyable