The Authentic William James by Stephen Gallagher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

1913 Sebastian Becker, Special Investigator for Visitor in Lunacy, is usually called in to determine whether a person is insane, but not in this case. William James has been accused of multiple deaths including Prince Max of Erbach-Schonburg, so the Crown needs to prove James sane so that he can hang and avoid a conflict with Germany.
An interesting and enjoyable well-written story which is not as straightforward as first seems.


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Dark Past by Catherine Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jill Fisher was due to have lunch with her sister Beth, but when she fails to turn up, Beth goes to her apartment. Unfortunately she finds Jill dead. Detective Charlie Cooper and his partner Joe Quinn investigate but they don't believe in the random intruder scenario.
Is her death connected to the research into the family history that got Jill killed. Beth is determined to carry on with the research
Interesting and well-written crime story

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The Events at Branxbourne by Caitlin Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this P&P variation, four years have passed since the ill-fated Hunsford proposal. Darcy is still unmarried, the Colonel has married Anne de Bourg, but she died in childbirth and Georgiana Darcy is now out. Elizabeth has fallen in love and married Viscount Lambert. Now at a ball Darcy and Elizabeth meet. How is it possible for there to be a happy ending.
An interesting and well-written variation

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An Unlikely Hero by P.F. Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ordinary, 50 year old Alfie Bowman lives in the quiet town of Tinton. Getting between a young lady and a thug with fists one evening, results, he believes in him beaten up and in hospital. But what is the truth.
An enjoyable novella, a good start to a new series

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A Fatal Finale by Kathleen Marple Kalb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

1899 Ella Shane, opera singer is performing as Romeo when her Juliet, Violette Saint Claire, actually dies on her death scene. The death is deemed an accident to save her reputation for her family from the taint of suicide.
In the following April, Gilbert Saint Aubyn, Duke of Leith approaches Ella for information on the death of his cousin, Lady Frances Saint Aubyn aka Violette.
This is an enjoyable historical cozy mystery though for me not enough of a mystery and not really enough suspects to make a complex storyline.
A NetGalley Book

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No Secrets in Creedence by Sarah Hall
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sense and Sensibility moves to Colorado in 1888. Moira and Ellie Dashwood are orphans and must leave their home of Norland Ranch to stay with their Aunt, Anne Middleton in Creedence, at her boarding house. Will the path to a happy ending for either sister be straightforward.
An enjoyable story, a quick and easy read

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The Figure in the Photograph by Kevin Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

1898. Juan Cameron's father, a photographer, is on assignment in Cuba to photograph the architecture, when he is killed during the war. In his last photographs his killer is revealed. But Juan travels to Scotland to deliver the remaining photographs. Having several weeks to wait for a meeting he invents a device allowing time lapse photography, which inadvertently helps solves a crime. On hearing of this Sergeant Macarthur involves him in the investigation of a series of brutal killings in Glasgow. Cameras placed in two locations with photographs taken at regular intervals may give the police a list of suspects to investigate
Quite a slow paced story but overall an interesting one with its plot and characters.
A NetGalley Book

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