FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION
SCANDAL ABOVE STAIRS continues Jennifer Ashley's dazzling historical mystery series, Below Stairs. While readers don't need to have read book one in the series to understand what's going on, I do think it would enrich the overall reading experience. Kat Holloway is a stalwart heroine, and while she can be a reluctant amateur detective, she is always willing to stand up for what is right. Daniel McAdam is as mysterious as ever, but readers are treated to some insight into his past, and Kat begins to understand more about Daniel's motivations, as well as feeling closer to the man she has come to care for deeply. New characters, like Kat's kitchen assistant, Tess, are a treat to get to know and checking in with recurring characters like Daniel's son James, his friend Elgin Thanos, and of course, the unusual Lady Cynthia is like catching up with old friends. As always, the upstairs/downstairs aspect adds another layer of intrigue while Kat is trying to find her way through these mysterious events. I'm looking forward to many more mysteries to be solved by Kat Holloway!

Kat and Daniel find themselves working on the same case separately. Kat with the aid of her new assistant Tess and Lady Cynthia are looking to find out who stole the missing paintings while Daniel is working in a pawn shop trying to find out who is bringing stolen items to the pawn shop owner. Enjoy the characters and the setting in this series.
Goodreads

At the request of her employer Kat Holloway is looking into the disappearance of some artwork from a wealthy peer’s home. However, as more priceless pieces of art and antiquities go missing Kat realises there may be more going on than first appears. Calling on the assistance of Daniel MacAdam she finds that he is already undercover in a seedy pawnshop and working on the case. The stakes are raised when a man is found murdered, a man who looks suspiciously like Daniel MacAdam…

This series is fast becoming one of my favourite series, it draws you in with a good mystery and then keeps you there as you become more entwined with the characters’ lives. In this book we are introduced to a new character, Tess, a teenager who just needs someone to take a chance on her. Although she quickly charmed me it was the development of Kat Holloway our cook/detective that kept me captivated.

As someone who loves a romance it wasn’t just the mystery that I loved about this book, it was the continuing evolution of the relationship between Kat and Daniel. Kat has been burned by romance before and has made herself a strong and independent woman who doesn’t want or need a man. However, she can’t deny the regard she has for Daniel and the increasing attraction between them. I love the way Ashley has developed their relationship; the friendship and respect between them burns brightly, blazing the trail for their romance. Their friendship was further aided by the revelation of some of Daniel’s mysterious past, something I hope will be explored in a future book.

However, although the characters development was an important aspect of this book, so was the mystery. In this book we have the dark world of antiquities and art theft to explore. I was happy to come along for the ride and admit that I didn’t guess who was behind it until it was revealed at the end. The mystery also allowed us to take a glimpse into the life of a domestic servant as Kat had to juggle her place as a Cook in an aristocratic household and her sleuthing. It was an extra aspect to the book which I really enjoyed and added some depth to the story; Ashley had clearly done some research

If you are after a mystery then you need to give this series a try, it has a host of excellently wrought characters, a little romance and an interesting mystery to dive into.

This was an excellent mystery. I loved that Kat used more of her sleuthing skills. However, I was a bit disappointed that we still don’t know about Daniel’s identity. Still, I’m looking forward to the sequel. Hopefully, Daniel’s origins will explained.

Intrigue amongst the upper classes!

An engaging read following the exploits of seemingly mild mannered, intelligent cook for a well-to-do household, Kat Holloway and her mysterious friend Daniel McAdam.
Valuables and priceless artifacts are being stolen from wealthy neighboring homes, and it seems even the British Museum is not immune.
Kat and Daniel find themselves once more at the crossroads of doings above and below the stairs of the mansions of Mayfair.
I still have not built a mental image of Kat, although my emotional image is that of a strong, determined woman.
We find out a bit more about the enigmatic Daniel, but he's still shrouded in a veil of secrecy. The where's, why fore's, and who's are definitely up for grabs. And what is the relationship between Kat and Daniel?
Another captivating murder mystery showcasing the upstairs downstairs relationships of Victorian England.

A NetGalley ARC

Stevie‘s review of Scandal Above Stairs (Below Stairs, Book 2) by Jennifer Ashley
Historical Mystery published by Berkley 03 Jul 18

I utterly adored the first book in this charming late-Victorian detective series and was keen to find out what crimes in need of investigation cook Kat Holloway and man-of-mystery Daniel McAdam would stumble upon next. Kat is still working in the same household, although her employers are somewhat different; the former man of the house has retired to his country estate, leaving his eccentric sister-in-law behind with her aunt – as chaperone – and uncle – as man of the house – in residence. Lady Cynthia still spends much of her time dressed in gentleman’s clothing, much to the disapproval of her relatives, but now she has a protector in the shape of Kat, who ensues there’s always a route by which she can sneak back into the house after escapades with her cross-dressing chums. And it’s Cynthia – who else? – that drags Kat into yet more intrigue.


One of Cynthia’s friends has been accused of art theft by her ostensibly wealthy husband and turns to Cynthia and Kat for help in clearing her name. Kat suspects the crime is not an isolated incident or incidents – several paintings have gone missing from the house at infrequent intervals – but is connected to whatever crimes have led to Daniel posing as a pawnbroker and possible dealer in stolen antiquities. As Kat and her companions investigate, it becomes clear that at least one of the criminals is prepared to kill in order to conceal their misdeeds and that both Daniel and Kat are in danger of becoming the murderer’s next victims.

This book was every bit as wonderful as the previous one. We get to see far more of Kat’s daughter and to follow the pair of them as they enjoy the museums and tea shops of London on Kat’s days off. We also see something of Daniel’s home life, along with his son and good friends, and there’s also the possibility of romance for Lady Cynthia, who – unlike some of her set – is attracted to men as well as being envious of their clothing and other freedoms. Some of the overarching mysteries of the series remain: who is Daniel really? What is his connection to the police? And just how does he know so many different tradesmen and also possess the skills to imitate a great variety of them?

Kat’s descriptions of her day-to-day tasks continue to enthrall, and her new helper in the kitchen provides a perfect opportunity for her to explain what she does, along with how, why and when, as well as to provide introductions to the staff of other households. This book would work well as a standalone, but is even better as part of a series. I’m greatly looking forward to the continuation of the stories and all the adventures that will bring for Kat and Daniel as well as for their families and friends.

Grade: A

I'm not rating this title as I DNF. The writing was good. I just couldn't get into the story. I've loved her other books but for some reason this didn't hold my attention.

Jennifer Ashley’s latest who dun it is an intricate dance of drama and humor with a light sprinkle of romance. Set in the 1800s, Ashley’s heroine is a no-nonsense cook in a fine household with a solid constitution and a marshmallow heart. A complicated woman whose own life has been a series of trials, Kat welcomes all into her kitchen with a stern word and a warm hug. A hardy cast of personable cast adds to the humor with the intractable Lady Cynthia whose only crime is wanting freedom from her gender to the newest addition, Tess, a former child thief whose own issues appeal to Kat’s maternal instincts. The faint romance that started in book one advances alongside the action-packed mystery though fans may have to wait a little while longer to see what fruit will bear from this liaison. Once again, Ashley proves welds her craft with precision no matter the genre.

Grade: B

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Scandal Above Stairs, the second installment in the Below Stairs Mystery series, definitely does not suffer from a sophomore slump. Full of fabulous characters, an authentic Victorian setting, and a couple of mysteries to solve, it is a well written, entertaining escapade.

The Below Stairs Mystery series is quickly becoming a favorite historical series. This installment picks up a few weeks after the conclusion of the last book, Death Below Stairs, and cook Kat Holloway is busy with her own duties and those of the vacant housekeeper, all under the direction of a temporary master. Lord Rankin has escaped London and leaves his deceased wife’s aunt and uncle serving as chaperone to his sister-in-law Lady Cynthia. Lady Cynthia is nothing if not eccentric, preferring gentlemen’s dress and secret late night excursions, but she has become something of a friend to Kat. She asks Kat to “investigate” an art theft at her friend’s Mayfair residence. Quickly resolved, Kat is soon distracted by the ever enigmatic Daniel’s sudden appearance as a pawnbroker. It seems art is not all that is going missing as of late, historical artifacts are also being stolen from museums and private collectors. When someone is murdered, the stakes rise, and Kat finds herself involved in a twisted, baffling investigation.

The mystery here is solid, if a little light, and the characters really shine. Kat is an intelligent, practical sleuth. Lady Cynthia, Thanos, James, and new character Tess are all so different yet believable and intriguing. But, of course, it is Daniel who keeps me turning pages. He is so very secretive about his past and his employer that I found myself reading in hopes of learning something, anything, more about him. However, I wish he had been featured here more. He is pivotal to the mystery just not around much. He does appear to be a genuinely good man, and he and Kat seem like a wonderful match. Their relationship is definitely a slow burn. I enjoyed the emphasis on the antiquities, and there are a few twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the tale. I admit it, I did not see the ending coming. I enjoy being surprised.

Scandal Above Stairs is a wonderful read. Highly recommended.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

This is a fun-to-read cozy mystery series. The workings of the downstairs kitchen are very descriptive and interesting. Kat is a professional cook as well as an amateur sleuth. She is also pragmatic and loving. The question is: what will happen between her and Daniel?

Great mystery series that will appeal to fans of Downton Abbey and Dickensien. My mouth waters from the appetizing food descriptions sprinkled with a genuinely intriguing murder mystery.

My review of Scandal Above Stairs (A Below Stairs Mystery) by Jennifer Ashley appears in the July 2018 issue of Gumshoe Review. You can read it at: <http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6186>.

After delving into the Downstairs world in a Victorian era Upper class household with a mystery solving cook, I was eager to press forward with the next installment in the series.

Scandal Above Stairs is book two in the Kat Holloway series. For those new to the series, I would recommend starting with the prequel if you can where Kat and Daniel are introduced and they have their first murder investigation together.

Following not long after the last venture into detecting, Kat is content with her place cooking for quirky Lady Cynthia and her parsimonious aunt and uncle, but then Lady Cynthia coaxes her out of the kitchen for help with robberies going on in her friend's home and her friend getting accused of the theft. Meanwhile, Kat has the training of a new kitchen maid that Daniel sends along and mixes herself up into Daniel's undercover work.

These move along at a gentle pace and have the feel of a historical blended with cozy mystery. The time spent with Kat doing her culinary magic in a Victorian kitchen and the world of the serving class below stairs is as fascinating to me as the mystery elements. The details are lavish and add to rather than get in the way of the story.

Kat is a wonderful lead character and I enjoyed getting her first person perspective on her work, the people around her, and her curiosity for solving mysteries. Kat sees women as Lady Cynthia and others as movers and shakers and brushes off Daniel's fulsome compliments and admiration because she can't see just how special she is. She raised herself from a char woman's daughter who got deceived into a bigamous marriage to an educated cook and a mother with ambitions for her daughter. She doesn't wallow in her past, but she does have a wary attitude toward men, now. Daniel is slowly getting past her guard as they share each new detecting venture. His work is dangerous and his life is exciting. She doesn't want to admit she cares.

The mystery wasn't particularly difficult to figure out, but I did enjoy being along while Kat and Daniel work it out and solve it in an exciting finish. It's a fun series and I will definitely picking up the next one when it comes.

I rec'd this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review and had the good fortune to win a copy through GoodReads.

Jennifer Ashley’s Kat Holloway mysteries standout as a fantastic series. The heroine is a professional cook. It’s not a hobby; it’s her livelihood. Her status in the aristocratic Victorian household where she works is on par with the butler and the housekeeper. As a professional courtesy, she is referred to as Mrs. Holloway. When she dines, she’s waited upon by the household staff. Why is this important? It means Kat has more autonomy than most Victorian women. She controls a budget, leaves the house to purchase comestibles, and unusually (but vital to her), has two sacrosanct days off—half-day Monday and all of Thursday. Independence indeed. Kat treasures her time off because it allows her to see her daughter Grace.

My daughter and I always made a special outing when I visited, and that day we’d gone to look at exhibits in the British Museum. Quite a few antiquities had been flowing back to London these days from archaeological digs in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Near East, and ladies and gentlemen flocked to see them—mummies, sarcophagi, and little dolls that had accompanied the ancient Egyptians into their tombs; as well as more cheerful things like vases, jars, and combs from the civilizations of Greece and Rome, and tablets of writing only scholars could read.

While we’d stood waiting to enter the building, I’d sworn I’d seen the face of a man I knew. His name was Daniel McAdam, a gentleman I’d come to look upon as a friend—a very close friend.

A couple of big clues here to the plot: Egyptian treasures and Daniel McAdam will figure prominently. Continuing with the allure of Ashley’s mysteries, Kat Holloway’s circle expands to include new characters. As in Death Below Stairs, they come from all walks of life. There’s Tess, a destitute, street-savvy young girl whom Kat takes on and trains as a kitchen assistant. Then, there’s Kat’s professional circle: the cooks at other aristocratic houses. Plus, the friends of her unmarried employer, Lady Cynthia, who champs at the bit to throw off the shackles that restrain the wives and daughters of the aristocracy. Even with new faces, the focus of Scandal Above Stairs remains firmly below stairs.

Lady Cynthia’s dear friend Clemmie is accused by her baronet husband, Sir Evan, of arranging for precious artwork to be stolen from their house. Lady Cynthia begs Kat to solve the mystery, immediately! She implies that Clemmie will be eternally grateful.

The thought of extra was always welcome, of course, something to put by for my daughter—but that was not why I nodded in agreement. The puzzle did make me curious. Besides, looking for missing paintings seemed far less dangerous than hunting murders or chasing Fenians.

Sometimes I can be a foolishly confident woman.

Kat’s knowledge of best-practice cooking techniques, her ability to sally forth and investigate—these characteristics are essential components of her crime-solving casebook. Spoiler alert: a gentleman is poisoned during a dinner party, and Kat happens to be below stairs. The police are ready to arrest the cook. Hold on. Kat shouts at Detective Inspector McGregor from Scotland Yard that “the meal was not to blame.” Not surprisingly, he asks her how she knows that.

“Because I was here,” Might as well stick my head into the lion’s mouth. “I made most of the meal in question, and there was no harm in it. You should be looking for the culprit above stairs, not below.”

Scandal Above Stairs is anchored by the practical and mundane. Kat’s job is to ensure that everyone in the household is fed. Nutritious, delicious meals must appear like clockwork or else she is out of a job. Her strategies are quick-witted and endearing; she is competent to the core. Even distracted by a corpse discovered in a seedy pawnbroker’s shop (Daniel McAdam has gone undercover as a pawnbroker), Kat tells Tess that they’re “really going to the market,” even though they’re very worried.

“By a dead body?” Oh aye, missus, I’d say that was distracting. What are we going to do about Mr. McAdam?”

“Everything we can.” I shivered, and not because of the wind. I wanted to find Daniel, make certain he was all right. “But if we wish to keep our places, we will get the master and mistress their midday meal.”

Jennifer Ashley’s plots expand readers’ familiarity with the important issues of the day. Scandal Above Stairs finds Greek antiquities disappearing from the homes of the upper-crust and from museums. Ashley references the dispute over the Elgin Marbles, a bone of contention between Great Britain and Greece to this day. The Kat Holloway mysteries capture the roiling social changes in Victorian London through the intriguing lens of a woman chef and sleuth. Kat is marvelously adept at both roles.

The latest Kat Holloway mystery does not disappoint. Cynthia, the sister-in-law of her employer, asks Kat to look into the missing paintings at her friend Clemmie’s house. Clemmie’s husband has blamed her for the thefts because he assumes she sold them to pay off her gambling debts. But Clemmie’s debts are paid off and she didn’t use the paintings to do so.

Kat also takes on a new assistant, Tess, after Daniel sends her to Kat’s kitchens. Kat hasn’t seen Daniel for a few months but he’s been undercover in a pawn shop and once she does run into him, of course, she keeps seeing him. Until one morning in which the butler informs her an unidentified man has been murdered in the pawn shop. Is it Daniel? What is going on with the missing antiquities and is it connected to the missing artwork?

Once again we get a glimpse at the differences between upstairs and downstairs life. And the food! The wealthy ate so many courses and you can see how Kat spends her day at the stove – when she isn’t nipping out “to the shops” in order to keep investigating. Ashley does an excellent job of giving the reader the full picture of life in the time period, right down to purchasing food and how households could be ripped off.

Kat’s motivation for solving mysteries is rooted in helping others and it’s refreshing to have such a common-sense heroine who can see the big picture of what’s going on around her. Ashley has a deft hand with the twists and turns of the various mysteries and bringing them and the characters all together. Recommended for all mystery lovers.

Ever since I read DEATH BELOW STAIRS, Book 1 of the Kat Holloway Mystery series, I have been anxiously waiting for another of these fabulous novels by Jennifer Ashley. I was thrilled to be approved to read an ARC of this new book!

Downton Abbey fans will love this series. Kat Holloway is a cook for the grand Mayfair house and has to deal with scullery maids, footmen and Mr. Davis, the butler. In addition to the other lovable characters introduced previously, which includes Lady Cynthia who likes to dress in men's clothing to gad about town, and Daniel McAdams, the elusive and secretive cohort to Mrs. Holloway's sleuthing, we are introduced to Tess, a street urchin who becomes Mrs. Holloway's assistant cook. I love these characters!

The mystery this time involves stolen antiquities and works of art. And murder. Yes, we are dropped head first into another murder. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this one caught me off guard!

Fabulous writing and fabulous characters! I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Oh! And when a few more of these books are written, I would love to see them all on Masterpiece Theater. Please?

In the second installment cook and hobby sleuth Kat Holloway is intrigued by a series of burglaries in noble houses where antiquities have been stolen. At her side again her merry band of sidekicks. I love every single one of them. They are colorful, unique and a little eccentric.

In Scandal Above Stairs we are being introduced to a new character, Tess, who fits well into Kat's group of friends. Although Tess was a little prickly in the beginning I enjoyed the developing friendship between the cook and her new assistant. Kat has a couple years on Tess and is always there for her with her inherent kindness but also leads young Tess with a firm hand.

While I enjoyed the mystery I would have liked to see more of Daniel. I don't mind a slow burn romance but I need the page time with the hero to see the relationship develop. I'm aware that this series is more a mystery than romance but I'd still like to see a little more of the developing feelings between Kat and Daniel. Kat is a very rational woman with a clever head on her shoulders but it is obvious that she's come to care deeply for him and his son.

***I could have told him that nothing short of a hurricane could make me leave at this moment, and then it would be only to seek shelter with him where we might carry on kissing.***

We get a little more details about the cook's love interest. Daniel is one of those deep waters that hides a lot of secrets. I am very much looking forward to discovering more about him. He is such a sweet man with the heart of a lion and a protective streak to boot.

“These men have no honor, Kat. I do not want them to grow angry with me and use you to punish me.”
I regarded him in surprise. “Would it punish you?”
His voice softened. “Indeed, it would.”

Jennifer Ashley shows us once more that she's pouring all her knowledge of Victorian England into these stories. I love her descriptions of Kat's food although they might get little too much sometimes. Overall this was an enjoyable new book in the Kat Holloway series and I'm looking forward to solving her next case! Hopefully with a little bit more romance and Daniel!

There’s no rest for Kat Holloway, the most talented cook in Mayfair. Not only has her kitchen assistant quit to be married and thus left her shorthanded, Lady Cynthia has a request: she wants Kat’s help to solve a mystery and clear her friend Clemmie’s name. Valuable paintings have gone missing from her household and Clemmie’s husband is blaming her for it. One mystery begets another and another as first Kat learns that antiquities are being stolen from multiple residences, then she finds out that her friend Daniel McAdam is undercover in in a seedy pawnshop. With her curiosity piqued, Kat will have to use all her detective skills above stairs and below to uncover a mastermind willing to kill to protect his secrets.

I love falling into Kat Holloway’s world. In Scandal Above Stairs Jennifer Ashley drew me in from the start with a seemingly simple mystery that leads to something far more complex and I did not want to put the book down.

Kat is the heart and soul of the story and she’s a fantastic heroine. She’s clever, observant, loyal, talented, and kind, but Ms. Ashley keeps her from feeling too good to be real. Kat has a no-nonsense attitude, but she also draws people to her, which is how she finds herself in the middle of this latest mystery. Cynthia trusts and respects Kat, which is why she asks for her help in the first place and I love the unlikely friendship between a rather unconventional lady and an equally unique cook. The characters are what makes Scandal Above Stairs shine. Familiar characters and those newly introduced are all incredibly well-crafted and are like puzzle pieces who fit together perfectly. My favorite relationship is definitely the one between Kat and Daniel. This time around, we learn more about Daniel and the past he keeps secret. I was thrilled to learn more about him and I was excited that he opened up to Kat when he doesn’t trust most people. The romantic tension between Kat and Daniel continues to build and I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses.

Scandal Above Stairs is the second full-length book in the Kat Holloway series and it can be read as a standalone. However, for a more complete reading experience I recommend first reading the prequel novella, A Soupçon of Poison, and the first novel, Death Below Stairs, in order to get a better understanding of the characters and their relationships (Daniel and Kat’s in particular). I hesitate to say any more about this book because mysteries lose their excitement when you talk too much about them. Suffice it to say that Ms. Ashley never fails to entertain and her blend of fact and fiction, of murder and mystery is wonderful. Kat and her friends are endearing, the story moves at a quick pace, I was thoroughly entertained, and I cannot wait to read the next Kat Holloway book!

Jennifer Ashley is so good at creating lovable and fascinating characters, I just want to eat them up (pun intended). Kat is much more astute than her profession as head chef requires, her observant and inquisitive mind is always looking for puzzles to solve, and one of her employers, Lady Cynthia, is more than happy to provide her with one. Asked to look into the disappearance of a few paintings from the wealth household of one of Lady Cynthia's friend's, it only takes Kat mere moments to sort out what's been going on. But more significant thefts have been happening around London too, in the dark underworld of the antiquities black market, and the mysterious and elusive Daniel McAdam is, of course, right at the heart of it.

Kat thinks herself too sensible to get involved with someone who jumps in and out of her life, someone she knows precious little about, but when a man turns up dead in the pawnshop Daniel is working undercover in and she's overwhelmed with concern for him, it's difficult to deny her feelings. We learn a little bit more about Daniel, but each morsel of information leaves us wanting second helpings.

Clever plots, witty dialogue, compelling characters, yummy food descriptions - what's not to love? I didn't want it to end.

Advanced review copy from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed the variety of genres Jennifer Ashley writes in, but I'm REALLY digging her historical mysteries right now. I mean, we're being given a badass Victorian cook who not only slays in the kitchen, but also solves crime with her cadre of loyal friends. I SERIOUSLY love that.

To begin my swoony love affair, we have Kat. She can cook. She can run a kitchen with military precision. She's smart and confident enough in herself enough to look deeper into something fishy that other people might gloss over. Considering the strict gender and societal roles of Victorian times, that's pretty awesome in itself. Throw in her willingness to judge a person on their actions instead of their standing and we've got a winner.

Kat also has layers. She has an illegitimate daughter who she adores. She makes friends with the sheer force of her competence (although there are some who aren't enamored of a woman who knows what she's doing, but we don't need those people, do we?) and she's well aware of her place in society. Somehow, she finds a way to work within the narrow confines she's given and do great things.

Stolen goods, a dead body or two, and a few harrowing instances made this book a winner. I like Kat. I like Daniel despite the secrets he has to keep. I like the lengths Kat is willing to take to protect those who are important to her. *thumbs up*