Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. I love the Penny Green series and this book and has really set up a new series well. Its great having characters in there we know. Looking forward to book No 2.

I love a good mix of historical fiction and thriller, and The Whitechapel Widow delivered on both. Emma’s shift from grieving wife to determined investigator was so well done, and the backdrop of Jack the Ripper’s London added the perfect amount of tension.

I’d definitely read more of these characters' adventures. 4 stars and I’ll be keeping up with this series.

This is a Victorian murder / mystery. Our heroine is obviously the widow. After her husband is murdered, she finds out that he was not at all the man she believed. As the police force of that time were very busy trying to find a certain "ripper," they hadn't got time to help her find his killer.
This story is a fascinating look into the trials and tribulations of women in Victorian times. Our heroine is a lot more intelligent and brave than the men surrounding her believe. I didn't guess the correct killer, although there are a lot of villains to choose from.
It definitely kept me interested from the first to last page

This book took me quite a few weeks to read! I do like the author but a fairly new mom assisting in investigating did not sit right with me!
We have Emma Langley a very recent widow who did not know her husband at all or the company he kept!
She believed he was taking her to the country to start a family and a fresh start!
Emma was very naive and he definitely married her not only for her money but he has multiple women under his belt!
After he is murdered Emma has a wonderful couple who take her in! Emma starts to feel more like she is capable of finding the killers!
It is interesting to watch her use her brain and go from very fearful to an intelligent, wise young woman!
Clues are adding up and they put her in touch with Penny Green aka Penny Blakely who is very bored and wants to utilize her inquisitive investigative skills to aid Emma!
Thankfully her husband assists in many ways during this investigation!
Because these two are constantly getting into scrapes!
It is a story with several twists and turns and the suspects keep mounting along with the body count! Definitely keeps you on your toes! Bravo

First and foremost, thank you to the publishers for the e-arc of this book. I love a good mystery set in white chapel! I thought the author did a great job recreating the London setting. I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends! I loved the character arc and I am hoping for a sequel! I would give the book a solid 4 stars I could read it again and be happy to be back in the world the author created.

The Whitechapel Widow is a very well-plotted historical mystery set at the time of the attacks by Jack the Ripper in London. The author does a fabulous job of weaving the narrative through known events, and I really enjoyed the mystery elements. Emma is a great new main character, but I also enjoyed the inclusion of Emily's heroine, Penny Green.

I will certainly be reading more of the series.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

This was an interesting murder mystery that kept you guessing to the end. The characters of Emma Langley and her new found friend Penny Green were strong women of the time, who persevered in their conquest to find Emma's husbands murderer despite the attitude of the many men in this story. This history of London described in the book was a fascinating insight into life in London in the 1880's. The references to Jack the Ripper brought the fear and terror of the people of London alive without dwelling on it too much.

A great story that made me want to read the next novel in the series.

This was my first Emily Organ read and it definitely won't be my last! I can't quite put my finger on what it is that sets it apart from a lot of the Victorian mysteries out there but I'll try.

It was well written and the mysteries kept coming in twists turns and curves. The Victorian era was very well written and the research thoroughly done there. The history and facts that were woven into the story were spot on and cleverly inserted.

The characters were quite true to the era too which is, I think, what was different. Emma Langley, a lady of her time, had fainting spells, was scared and unsure of herself and didn't leap from one genius thought to the other. She wasn't a Victorian lady equivalent of Bruce Willis or the type of heroine who had thoughts beyond her time, even when most writers portray their characters with modern traits and thinking. The other characters who were genuine still had the 'A woman's place is in the home' attitude which was classic to the time. There wasn't a huge disaster when it came to apprehending the villains with scores of fighting and huge take-downs but it was genuinely what it might have been at the time.

It was a genuinely enjoyable book with some great characters and I'm delighted to think it may have been the first of a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you storm publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

I was sold the moment I realized this book revolves around Jack The Ripper.
The writing is superb and Mrs Langley is a character easy to like and root for.

Penny Blakely, née Green, is absolutely marvelous and the way she maneuvers societal expectations and misogyny; amazing!

This book cemented why I like historical mysteries; the slow, methodical investigation people had to do when they had no phones, fingerprints, google or CCTV etc… interviewing people, reading gestures and social cues, digging into unusual places, I eat it up every time. Bradshaw, the policeman, was so frustrating to read but I am glad he saw the light eventually.

I also managed to read while listening to the audiobook and Eilidh Beaton does a superb job capturing the voices, accents and ✨vibes✨ of all the characters.

I am now interested in reading Emily Organ’s backlist; I expect it to be a fun ride!

3.5 stars

An enjoyable atmospheric historical mystery series debut set during the Jack the Ripper era. Widow Emma Langley discovers her late husband is hiding a lot of secrets after his body is found. With the police being useless, she turns to ex-journalist Penny Green for help.

I am really hooked by this new book and enjoyed Emma's growth as she starts to realise she's worth more than just being a naive wife. At times she blunders about telling the wrong people too much information, but it’s believable. I really felt for her as she learns the truth about William and the realisations she comes to about women's place and how they're at the mercy of their husbands. At times though the pace did drag a bit and the tension to find the killer lost a bit.

It as also really great to see Penny Green, now married to Detective Jack Blakely with two young kids. Except it also really sucked that this fierecely awesome independent character sidelined and forced to quit her job. While era appropriate, Jack constantly reminded her that her duties her life was basically only important because of her service to their kids. That said the book explores Penny wanting to be more than a wife and mother and her tribulations trying to find herself something just for her. But I really hate that Emily Organ married her off to Jack when she didnt want to marry or have kids, and now her independence has been completely cut off from her. Jack is no romantic hero, especially when he knows Penny is a way better detective than him.

I can't wait for book two though.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Emily Organ for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading The Whitechapel Widow, because, for the first instalment of a new series, this (not so) little book read like a 200 page cozy.

To be completely honest, when I saw the words 'Jack the Ripper' my interest was immediately piqued. This unidentified serial killer preyed on women in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and private organisations such as the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee were actively involved in the search for the perpetrator or perpetrators. Despite extensive enquiries the murders were never solved. Ever curious, I had questions floating in my mind: Was the author going to incorporate this infamous serial killer into the story? Maybe, there was going to be some sort of parallel thread going on? Was Jack going to be a main focal point?

Whitechapel YAYS:

🔎 The timeline: London 1888. Many people faced harsh working conditions and low wages. Driven by poverty and a lack of opportunity, prostitution was a common reality for many women. There was social and economic unrest, but women found strength in unity, fighting back against poor working conditions. The author has done a noteworthy job with her attention to detail with this timeline.

🔎 The characters: Disclaimer – this is my first read by this author. Even though this is the first book in the 'Emma Langley' series, I didn't click that the character of Penny Green (who plays a secondary role to Emma throughout the mid to second half of the book) has her own mystery series. And indeed, in one of those stories, had helped solve the murder of Emma Langley's own brother. Although I don't think it marred my reading experience, I now find myself wanting to go back and source out that story and indeed, read Ms Green's series in its entirety. Our FMCs, Emma and Penny are sensible, inquisitive, intelligent, compassionate women, who are very likeable and very relatable.

🔎 The pace: At some 400+ pages, I flew through this one very quickly. My initial thoughts about a Jack the Ripper story were quickly replaced by a totally different historical-mystery that was well-written and deeply engrossing.

🔎 The story: Newly married, Emma Langley is on a train bound for a life in the country with her husband, William. Just before the train is set to depart, William rushes out of the carriage telling Emma that he just wants to buy a paper from the seller for the trip. The train whistle is blowing and the guard is yelling for last minute passengers to board and Emma is watching her husband run towards the paper seller. In the throng of the crowd, with passengers trying to board and loved ones waving to send off, Emma loses sight of her husband and in the next moment the train starts to pull away from the platform. That was the last time Emma sees her husband alive.

🔎 The page count is indicative of the slow release of suspects and motives but for this reader, did nothing to dampen the story's pacing – it moved well.

Whitechapel Hmms:

🔪 At the conclusion of this instalment, this reader thought that the mention of anything 'Jack the Ripper' was unnecessary. I don't think it hurt the story any, yet it didn't enhance it either. But I will acknowledge that it did draw me to pick the book up in the first place, so there is that.

It will be interesting to see how this series continues, but in the meantime, this reader is joyful in the knowledge that there is now a back catalogue of Emily Organ books to entertain me.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ
Emma Langley Victorian Mystery #1

Intriguing, intricately plotted, ingenious murder mystery ~ Great introduction to a new series

What I Liked:
* Emma Holland Langley: piano teacher, recently married, parents & brother deceased, husband disappears then is found murdered, curious, invested in finding her husband’s killer
* Penny Green Blakely: happily married with two young children, retired investigative reporter, puzzle solver, strong, works well with Emma on the case
* James Blakely: Penny’s husband, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector, loving father & husband, supportive, intelligent, protective, good man
* The Solomons: Landlords, took Emma in when her husband disappeared, good people
* The murder mystery of who killed William Langley and why he was murdered
* The way Emma and Penny went about their investigation
* The twists and turns along with some red herrings
* The plot, pacing, setting and writing
* The glimpse into life in this time period
* Being able to dislike the baddies and want them brought to justice
* Reading a new-to-me author and enjoying her work
* Wanting to say more but not wanting to give the plot away
* Wanting to know what happens next…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the criminals and the crimes they committed along with how many people were harmed

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun mystery novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Having read all of the Penny Green series I was exited to see a new series in which she featured. I was not disappointed. I felt quite nostalgic in the part where Penny went into the newspaper office where she used to work, and caught up with old friends.

This series is every bit as good as the Penny Green series, I can't wait for the next one.

Although I received a free copy of this book I am leaving a review voluntarily, with my genuine opinion.

A perfect mystery novel to read on a rainy weekend!

This is the first book in the Emma Langley Mysteries series. It seems it runs in parallel with another series by Emily Organ, with some characters appearing in both, although I haven't (yet) read the Penny Green Mysteries.
The plot is well thought out with some good twists and turns. I loved following Emma and Penny - two respectable 19th century ladies - down the dingy backstreets of Whitechapel.
The language used is easy which makes it a fun and enjoyable read.
I also loved the added bonus of the historical notes at the end of the book. I'll definitely be going round some of the historic places mentioned in the book next time I'm in London.
And I'll be keeping my eyes open for the sequel, The Poison Puzzle!

Thank you very much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. This review is now available on Goodreads.

In London 1888 during the reign of Jack the Ripper, Emma Langley and William not been married for any length of time decided to move to the countryside as William insisted it would be beneficial to Emma's health as London is full of smog.
While all set and seated on the train ready to embark on their new adventure William decides he has got time to get off the train and buy a paper leaving Emma on the train waiting.
Emma carry's on to his aunts place in the country where they will be staying for a while only to find nobody has heard of her and a fictious address so Emma returns to London the next day to find her husband only to find he has been murdered.
London not being safe for a single woman to roam around on her own looks to track down Penny Green a once journalist but now married herself, and ask for her help as she has helped her before.
Emma and Penny are hoping they can solve the puzzle for the police as to who killed Emma's husband and more to the point who was he?, as everywhere they turn they discover a different side to William.
This is different to the normal police procedures even this Victorian style thriller as the police never seem very good at their job so this is the start for womanhood in a man's world.
An enjoyable read very cleverly put together, it was clean well written and intriguing.

This book had me torn - at times it was a white-knuckle thriller full of twists and turns, but at other times it felt like a high school writing project. I really liked the premise - a woman's husband goes missing during the reign of Jack the Ripper - and felt it delivered, but it was kind of a slog to get there.

This is a 'spin off' of sorts from the Penny Green series, and introduces us to possible lady detective in training Emma Langley. Her husband, William, goes missing and with the Police kept busy with Jack the Ripper, it falls to Emma - and eventually Penny, now married with children - to figure out William's double life. Along the way there are shady characters aplenty, frustrating gender norms from the time period, and plucky heroines who will stop at nothing to find the truth.

My biggest issues with the book have to do with Emma's character development. She goes back and forth between naive Victorian housewife and strong, independent female in a way that makes her seem wishy-washy. The moments when she finds her backbone and stands up for what she feels is right are very good.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, and as it's the first in a new series, I have hopes Emma's character will continue to grow.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

A murder mystery set in late Victorian London at the time of Jack The Ripper. The beginning of the novel had me gripped. I felt Emma’s plight at being abandoned by her husband and the terrible secrets she uncovered. There was a lot of entanglement in the plot, and I was fully submerged in all the lines of enquiry.

I also thought the novel had a good feel of what Victorian London and the Whitechapel area must have looked like and felt at this time. I didn’t see that ending coming, and the way the story is set for the next book was interesting.

Emma Langley has questions. Why is her husband’s case missing? Why was her husband mixed up with a creepy picture framer? Did he really quit his job at a law firm? Why do some people call him by a different name? Who killed her husband?

In the first book of the Emma Langley series, “Whitechapel Widow,” the reader learns that Emma Langley thought she married the man of her dreams. However, when the couple decides to move to the countryside, she suddenly finds herself abandoned and, worse, after making her way back to London discovers that her husband has been murdered! She is determined to get to the bottom of her husband’s death and his betrayal. Emma calls upon Penny Blakely (formerly Green) for help. Penny, the star of her own series by Emily Organ, had previously helped Emma solve the murder of Emma’s brother. Together, the two uncover clues to get to the bottom of the mystery, but put themselves in danger in the process.

The story is action-packed and focused on uncovering the reasons for Emma’s husband’s death. Emma’s can-do spirit is delightful. I am looking forward to the second book in the series!

This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries, Victorian mysteries, or are fans of the Penny Green series.

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

This novel begins with Emily and her husband William leaving London, in the grips of Jack the Ripper murders, for a new life in Suffolk. At the last moment, William steps off the train, obstensively to get a newspaper, and disappears.

Emily moves from hope in finding her husband, to despair as she learns he was not the person she thought him to be, to desperation that he might actually BE Jack the Ripper, and then to sheer determination to uncover his killer. Along the way Emily acquires the help of Penny Green (who is the heroine of Organ's 12 book series "A Penny Green Victorian Mystery").

The book has good bones, but at 414 pages on Kindle, the plot is bloated and the pace very slow. I found myself moving ahead to see if the action picked up, but kept on snagging on dialog that filled pages but did not move the story forward. For example, Emily introduces Penny to her landlord (who does not figure in the plot in any way):

You have a delightful cat, said Penny.
Well, he's a bit of a nuisance really, but I love him all the same. I have to brush him every day otherwise his fur becomes all tangled up.
What's his name?
Laurence.
I have a cat, too, she's called Tiger. When I lived in a garret room in Cripplegate, she used to wander about the rooftops.
Goodness me, that sounds quite dangerous!
Fortunately, she was fine, and she has a little garden now.
How lovely. Now go and have you chat together, I'm quite sure you didn't come here to talk about cats with me!

We are given a lot of suspects, much intrigue and subterfuge, and for me, the conclusion felt anticlimatic. But, your results may vary. Personally, the story was too unfocused and didn't hold my attention. 3 stars.