This is my first book by M.J. Trow. I enjoyed the characters of Matthew Grand and James Batchelor very much and am looking forward to reading their previous adventures. Private detectives, Matthew Grand and James Batchelor of Victorian London, are headed to America to attend Matthew's sister's wedding. Not long after arriving at the Grand family's house a body is discovered. I did enjoy this story, the setting and characters. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Island is the latest episode in the eventful partnership between two gentleman detectives in Victorian London. James Batchelor is a former journalist, a ‘gentleman’ in manners and intelligence, if not by upbringing, while his colleague Matthew Grand is an American former soldier, and scion of a very wealthy patrician New Hampshire family. We first met them in The Blue and the Grey (2014), when Grand – who has recently served with the victorious Army of The Potomac – comes to London in pursuit of one of those who conspired in the murder of Abraham Lincoln on 15 April 1865.

It is now the spring of 1873, and Grand is treating his colleague to a holiday in American, in the shape of an invitation to his sister’s wedding. Poor Batchelor, however is, at best, an indifferent sea voyager but, after eleven emetic days on board the Frisia, the pair eventually arrive safely in New York, having left their London house in the somewhat clumsy hands of their housekeeper, Mrs Rackstraw, who is somewhat less discreet and high minded than another lady fulfilling a similar function to another pair of gentlemen a mile or so across town in the busy thoroughfare of Baker Street.

On their journey north to New Hampshire, Grand and Batchelor pick up Edward Latham, a New York Times hack, who has blagged a wedding invitation in order to track down a participant in the recent financial corruption scandal known as the Tammany Hall affair – and Grand’s Uncle Josiah, who is disturbingly rich, but often – and equally disturbingly – drunk. The wedding guests duly reach the settlement of Rye and the palatial house causes Batchelor to gasp in admiration, despite being assured by Grand that it is little more than a weekend retreat compared to their main establishment.

A few words in praise of the author. Meiron Trow is one of the most erudite and entertaining writers in the land. Over thirty years ago he began his tongue in cheek series rehabilitating the much-put-upon Inspector Lestrade, and I loved every word. I then became hooked on his Maxwell series, featuring a very astute crime-solving history teacher who, while eschewing most things modern, manages to be hugely respected by the sixth-formers (Year 12 and 13 students in new money) in his charge, while managing to terrify and alarm the younger ‘teaching professionals’ who run his school. I was well into the Maxwell series before I realised that MJ Trow and I had two things (at least) in common. Firstly, he went to the same school as I did, although I have to confess he was a couple of years ‘below’ me and would have been dismissed at the time as a pesky ‘newbug’. Secondly, and much more relevant to my love of his Maxwell books, I discovered that we were both senior teachers in state secondary schools, and shared a disgust and contempt for the tick-box mentality characterising the so-called ‘leadership’ of high schools.

I digress, so back to New Hampshire in the early spring of 1873. The guests begin to arrive, and the ‘downstairs’ staff under the stern eye of the enigmatic butler, Waldo Hart, are emulating the proverbial blue-arsed fly. Trow, at this point, gleefully takes the template of the traditional country house mystery, and has his evil way with it. Despite the title of the book, we are not quite in Soldier Island (And Then There Were None) territory, but Rye is far enough from Boston to make sure that when the first murder happens, the real policemen are too far away and too engrossed with their city crime to pay much attention, even when when of the possible suspects is a certain Mr Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

With Martha, Grand’s sister, well and truly hitched to a young man who may well be an utter bounder, and two hatchet-bludgeoned corpses lying in state in the stables, the Boston police eventually arrive in the shape of Chief Savage and Sergeant Roscoe. The amateurs and the professionals regard each other with ill-disguised suspicion, while Trow scatters a healthy basket of Rubrum Clupidae to keep us all guessing. Don’t be misled by Trow’s endless enthusiasm for verbal gags into thinking that this is a ‘cosy’ novel. Far from it. The finale is dark and bloody, and shadows real-life 1873 events on the remote and windswept Smuttynose Island.

THE ISLAND (Hist Mys-Grand and Batchelor-Maine-1873) – VG
Trow, M.J. – 4th in series
Crème de la Crime – Jan 2018
First Sentence: The quarter-moon did little to light Summer Street that night in Boston.
Investigators Matthew Grand and James Batchelor have travelled from England to Grand’s extensive family home on the coast of Maine for the wedding Grand’s sister, Martha. Friends and family gather, including the surprise appearance of a cousin who hasn’t been seen for 14 years. A greater surprise is the dead body found in an upstairs bedroom which leads to the question of what the tie is in to the family.
An interesting beginning informs one as to where the story is going; or does it? What is does, however, is provide introductions to the protagonists and their profession. One thing which is a bit rare, but is refreshing, is to show the vulnerable side of one of the men. The transition from Batchelor and Grand to their housekeeper, Mrs. Rackstraw, is nicely done. She is such a delightful character.
Trow’s style is subtle and often humorous. He slides in information, from location descriptions—“The docks at Southampton had not been conducive to chatting and Batchelor didn’t get a change to share something the Grand until they were in their laughingly called stateroom, in which a cat would be totally safe from being swung.”—to family structures—“My mother comes from a family of eight girls, thought I doubt they’ll all come to the wedding. Four of them are dead anyway, and one is in Wisconsin, so as good as. Auntie Mimi is as mad as a rattler and doesn’t travel.” The inclusion of Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) as a character is a wonderful touch.
It’s also a nice touch that, despite having been introduced to a myriad of characters, the murder victim is unexpected. Which also means the motive is as much a mystery as is the killer
The truest sign of an author with an exceptional voice is that one has a desire to quote nearly every page. Trow is one of the few authors who can write parallel conversations—conversation held by two sets of characters at the same time in different places, without any confusion as to the speakers—and get away with it. He has a wonderful way of evoking the senses—“He had never known it before, not in London, but it really was possible, he realized to smell the spring. There was a green smell in the air, the smell of sap on the rise, along side the sound of buds creaking with the effort of bursting. He felt he could almost smell the warmth of the sun…”
“The Island” is filled with humor, and excellent characters, plus there are murders; violent ones. It is a rare instance when one can call a mystery a delightful read.

M.J. Trow takes his inquiry agents to the home of Matthew Grand's family in the countryside outside Boston. Who murdered a maid and a rich Bostonian? Matthew Grand and James Batchelor leave their detective routines in London, England, to attend the wedding of Matthew's sister.. As a result they have to track through broken marriages, mangled family relationships and big city corruption. Meanwhile, Sam Clemens is a family friend here for the wedding. Lots of red herrings. The Island delivers red herrings galore and lots of scandal.

I love the various adventures of Matthew and James and this book was no exception. The author introduced new characters in this book that were both exciting and unexpected, including a rather famous individual that popped up unexpectedly.

As usual, MJ Trow has written a book that will keep you guessing at the heart of the mystery until the very last page, and has done so by telling a story with immaculate research and an understanding of the language of the period the book is set in. This one was particularly interesting because it takes place in both England and America during times of great upheaval and social unrest. It was the perfect setting for a book like this.

I loved the witty humour in this novel and look forward, as I always do, to seeing what this author comes up with next. If you like Victorian age stories, this one will do nicely.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Island is a compelling book with a nice enough story to spend a few nights in front of a fire with a glass of whiskey or two. This is exactly the atmosphere this story comes with. Sad enough I lack a fireplace and good whiskey, I still enjoyed the book though. However it definitely made me enjoy the story.
With a solid start full of humour and good writing the reader gets accustomed to Batchelor ad Grand, two private detectives in Victorian London. Rather than their usual work they travel to the US of A to attend the wedding of Grand's sister. He comes from a wealthy family which comes with its own sets of charms and burdens. However even during wedding parties people can get murdered so our detective duo will have a busy trip after all. However during this part the book the amount of characters suddenly grows so fast it was hard at some times to follow who is who, and who does what.

All in all this was an enjoyable experience, mainly because of the special atmosphere and the colourful main characters. A good read for anyone who enjoys Victorian detectives.

Matthew Grand and James Batchelor are partners in a London private detective agency (and in other ways?) but they've traveled to an island off the coast of Maine for a wedding. When murders occur, these two do the sleuthing while waiting for assistance from Boston (not sure why it would come from another state but go with it). Samuel Clemons has a plausible cameo as Matthew's uncle, which was a treat. I had not read the earlier books in the series so this was a standalone for me, which was fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is for fans of detective stories set in the Victorian era.

Matthew Grand, an American, and James Batchelor, a Londoner, are ‘Enquiry Agents’ living together as partners in London in the late 1800’s. They are a delightful ‘couple’ who is what is today known as private investigators. They are beautifully referred to as business partners, colleagues and partners, so one does not know what their relationship really is. Whatever it is, they are wonderful Victorian characters who unravel four murders amongst other interesting family diversions into finance.

James and Matthew leave their house in London in the care of their colourful housekeeper and travel by boat to the States for Matthew’s sister’s wedding. Matthew Grand hails from a wealthy Washington/Boston family, where Matthews’s father and uncle made their fortunes in property and railways. One of the guests’ maidservants is murdered while family and friends gather at the country seaside mansion before the wedding. In that era, the police were miles away and a telegram had to be sent to Boston informing them of the murder.

James and Matthew with their investigative experience are on hand to begin the investigation and questioning about the murder when Matthew’s uncle is also murdered using the same weapon. The investigation intensifies when two policemen arrive from Boston to take charge of the investigation.

M J Trow builds each character superbly. It is easy to get to know each one without becoming confused. I enjoyed the way M J Trow used conversations between both sets of investigators separately to work through possible perpetrators and motives for the murders. It builds the tension when James inadvertently gets lost in the forest and an SOS light signals trouble at Smuttynose Island not far off the coast from where the mansion is located. Therefore, the events divert in another direction only to be drawn back to the original set of tensions. Clever!

The descriptions, build-up of characters and intensity is superbly implemented. Matthew’s sister does get married by the way!

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

3.5 stars Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

In this Matthew Grand and James Bachelor adventure the partners in crime solving head to Boston, from London, to take part in the wedding of Martha, Matthews sister. The trip is uneventful, however the stay in Boston is filled with long forgotten family, very unusual friends, Samuel Clemons among others, and murders galore. The wedding does take place, between murders, but everyone is suspect.

Keeping you off kilter right to the very end, Trow has done a very good job of taking you back into the past and revealing what life in the late 1800's was like.

This is the 4th book of the Grand and Bachelor Victorian Mystery series published September 2017.

This offering from a prolific author is said to be loosely based on actual events that transpired on Smuttynose Island in 1873. Rather than that the main plot forms around the two "inquiry agents" Batchelor and Grand who have appeared in previous Trow novels. This turns out to be issue four in the series.
The two detectives are on another island close to Smuttynose for the wedding of Grand's sister but early in the piece there are two murders committed in that household. For interest, the mystery is complete with a household Butler (did he do it?) and none other than Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. Scenes are layered quickly, as this is a short novel, and we are rapidly taken to what is a rather obvious conclusion, and then left wondering about the correlation between the Smuttynose outrage and the tragedy at the Grand residence.
Not an effort that the more cerebral of thriller addicts will warm too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House.

I have read a few books by M.J. Trow and this one is the best so far! I have not read any of this series, however, but I enjoyed the characters of Matthew Grand and James Batchelor very much and am looking forward to reading their previous adventures.

This is an entertaining book with quite a few interesting characters who are entwined together in various ways, including the man known as "Uncle Sam," who most people know as Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain. Seeing Twain on the cover of this book was the impetus for me to want to read this book. Unfortunately, Twain is not a big character for most of the story, but his scenes are always amusing.

This wasn't a particularly difficult mystery to figure out for me, I got half of the answer right and suspected the rest. But I do read a lot of mysteries, so I feel that I'm pretty well in tune with them.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the ARC to read and review, free of charge. All opinions stated here are my own.

In this novel, Matthew Grand and James Batchelor, private detectives more usually at home in Victorian London, head to America for the marriage of Grand's sister. However, a body is soon discovered in the Grand family's house and the two detectives find they have a very sensitive murder investigation on their hands among the household.

This is the first Grand and Batchelor Victorian mystery I have read, although I understand there are four books prior to this. I didn't feel that coming late to the series was a problem as the book stands alone.

I did enjoy this, although I found it quite uneven. There were long periods in which not much happened, before a huge amount of action at the end. Although it didn't hang together completely, I did like the characters and the setting; I'd certainly try more titles by this writer.

In 1873 Matthew Grand and James Batchelor travel to Maine for the wedding, finally, of Grand's sister Martha. Only for the maid of Martha's best friend to be murdered. But she is only the first. But is there a connection with the fire that killed many, some months earlier, in Boston.
An enjoyable, easy to read mystery. I liked the book, but didn't love it. Easily read as a standalone story.

Thanks Severn House and netgalley for this ARC.

We get to learn more about our detectives past. It explains alot. Funny, down to earth, and a great mystery.

Investigative partners Matthew Grand and James Batchelor set off to the colonies for the wedding of Matthew’s sister Martha. Getting an education in the customs and ways of Americans as well as the Grand family keeps Batchelor on his toes. As the wedding guests arrive, Batchelor is thrilled to be introduced to a very distant Grand cousin, Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain. As the event draws near, the body of the lady’s maid who accompanied the Matron of Honor is found in her room with her head bashed in with what looks like an axe. Surely the murderer isn’t a guest. Could it be someone from one of the islands along the coast?

Trow fills the story with odd, quirky and some even likeable characters. As at any large family gathering, there are numerous names and places to remember and Trow manages to keep them all in line. To break up some of the more gruesome scenes are scenes that might just make you snigger. Side stories of family matters entwine with the ongoing investigation neatly and you feel like a participant in the events. Keeping Clemens part to a minimum makes his part in the story more realistic. An overall enjoyable and satisfying read.

Matthew Grand, a Civil War Captain from Maine and James Bachelor, a former journalist live in London with a formidable housekeeper. They travel to Matthew’s family home on an island off the coast of Maine for his sister’s wedding and find themselves faced with family scandals, the sudden appearance of a mysterious lost cousin, one drunk uncle, an investigative reporter, a dodgy bridegroom, a couple corpses and a famous relation, one Mr. Samuel Clemmons. This is a breezy mystery with engaging characters.

I love the way the author combines fact and fiction it's makes the whole experience of the book interesting . The book is full of twists and turns and leaves you guessing to the end I'm not going to make this review long as I don't want to give any spoilers my my final word is I recommend that you give this book a try.

A flicker of flame is all that is needed to set afire an old decrepit building in the warehouse district of Boston. It's 1873 and the fire wagons have been sidelined because of the horse flu that has been rampant in this section of town. Pity that. Now thirteen are dead and businesses have been shut down. Those businesses include the ladies of the night who no longer have a darkened doorway to hide their evening transactions.

The page turns and so does our story's setting. Matthew Grand and James Batchelor are partners as private detectives in London. Although this is the fourth book in this series, fear not, the author fills in enough backstory on these two gentlemen that the storyline flows gently in our direction. They have had plenty of run-ins with the local police with their sleuthing cases and even crossed paths constantly with Scotland Yard like marching ants at a picnic.

Grand and Batchelor are preparing for Matthew's sister's wedding. Their ship sails across the Atlantic towards the shores of Maine. The Grand estate is located in the small town of Rye that overlooks Smuttynose Island. What looks to be an upscale celebration of these nuptials turns out to be a multi-pronged experience with even the bride covering the tracks made by her bridal train. The topper on her wedding cake is now overshadowed by two dead bodies.......one found in the house itself and one on the stately grounds. The guest list seems to be dwindling, folks.

Since the local constable, who doubled as a blacksmith, had passed away and was never replaced, Matthew's father telegraphs Boston to send someone immediately. Meanwhile, Grand and Batchelor take over the investigation. Wedding roses and fine lace are set aside for the reality that both victims were bludgeoned to death. Now that's going to leave a mighty stain.

M.J. Trow adds a bit of mirth with the inclusion of Samuel Clemens as a delightful guest on the list. But ol' Mark Twain will bring something more to the storyline than just his mere presence. You'll come to know other guests seated as this table for snippets of their backstories as well. Many a suspect, indeed, like a good ol' Agatha Christie novel. Trow even throws in an actual unsolved murder that occured on Smuttynose (Yep, that's the name.) Island during this time period.

I found The Island to be an entertaining read with the smartly conceived barbs thrust between Grand and Batchelor to lighten the gore of the discoveries. You'll also wish to know how that awful Boston fire connects with Smuttynose. I do believe that I will give Trow's other offerings a spin starting with #1. Let's see how these guys took their first steps in crime investigation in the streets of Victorian London.

I received a copy of The Island through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to M.J. Trow and to Severn Publishing House for the opportunity.

Thank you Net galley. This was an engrossing read.with interesting characters and a good plot. I look forward to reading the backlist and future instalments..