This anthology of stories by four different authors makes an entertaining read. The stories all revolve around a supposedly cursed watch. I was familiar with two of the authors.I love anthologies or series by different authors for the very reason that I can meet new authors that are similar to ones I know.

The characters in these stories are as different as the authors themselves. With strong heroines, I found it interesting to read how they each took a stand against societal norms and expectations of women of their individual eras, playing a key role in stopping fate or just a string of coincidence in stories filled with a trail of murder, spies and espionage. As they each followed the trail of havoc that accompanied the watch through the centuries, they sought a way to break the curse.

I have been a long time fan of Susanna Kearsley's and Anna Lee Huber's work, so definitely was happy to read novellas in which well-loved characters made an appearance. My favorite story was that by new-to-me author C.S. Harris and look forward to reading more of her works.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This anthology is an ambitious project, bringing together different authors with separate worlds to tell a continuous saga of a watch that leaves death in its wake wherever it goes. And while my main source of excitement was another story from Susanna Kearsley, I’m glad to say the other authors impressed me, even if they were continuing to work with characters/worlds I had issues with in the past.

“Weapon of Choice” by Susanna Kearsley

5 stars

More Jacobites from Susanna Kearsley?! Sign me up! Even though it is only a novella, it still packs a punch, reuniting us with fan favorite characters (most notably Hugh from A Desperate Fortune), while also working just as well for new readers as an intro to her world.

“In a Fevered Hour” by Anna Lee Huber

4 stars

While I ended up discontinuing my read through of the Lady Darby series due to issues I have, I was pleased with this story. In addition to the accidental relevance to today of dealing with an epidemic, I liked seeing Lady Darby and Sebastian more settled domestically, although the heat has not vanished, thus allowing for there to be a more singular focus on the case at hand. While I do recommend at least basic familiarity with the series, I was not lost having only read the first couple books.

“A Pocketful of Death” by Christine Trent

4 stars

I liked the ominous nature of this one, with the watch seemingly predicting the occurrence of the various murders that are taking place. While it also appears to tie in with Trent’s wider body of work, I wasn’t lost having only read this story.

“Siren’s Call” by C.S. Harris

5 stars

While I first expected something at least vaguely connected to the Sebastian St. Cyr series (another series I have mixed feelings about), I was pleasantly surprised with this World War II caper, bringing the escapades of the deadly watch to a close, amidst the undercover operations of MI5 against German operatives. Like the other stories (perhaps even more so), it seamlessly fits with real life historical events, and in this story, touches the life of a certain infamous historical figure of the period in a fateful way that left me aghast.

***

This is a fabulous anthology with a wonderful overarching story that will delight mystery fans, including any within each individual author’s fan base.

A fun anthology following a beautiful cursed pocket watch through time from the 1730s to the 1940s. I appreciated the way the authors fitted their stories together and it was a great introduction to the authors I hadn't read before. I liked Anna Lee Huber's story the most, but that could simply be due to the fact that I'm already familiar with her characters. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Deadly Hours.

I was drawn to this anthology of stories because of Susanna Kearsley, one of my favorite authors. I love how she winds past and present with bits of supernatural and was excited to see that she was revisiting several loved characters. The tale of a mysterious cursed gold watch, “La Sirène,” we follow its story through time, starting in 1733 and continuing until the 1940s. Causing death, destruction, loss and heartache, we learn the origins of this curse and the affect it has on the current owner.

I enjoyed each of these stories, with “ Siren’s Call,” by C.S. Harris being my favorite. Her books have been on my TRL forever and they are definitely moving to the top now. All four stories were interesting and well written, immersed in historical suspense, and while very different from each other, they were woven together well. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical intrigue!

La Sirène—the cursed gold watch engraved with the image of a mermaid—wreaks havoc on characters in each of the four stories contained in this anthology. The watch makes appearances in 1733 Italy, 1831 and 1870 Scotland, and 1944 England.

The first story, Weapon of Choice by Susanna Kearsley, is my favorite of the four. Newlyweds, Mary and Hugh MacPherson join forces with Anna and Edmund O’Connor to protect the Duke of Ormonde from assassination. There is intrigue and espionage afoot when the group is storm stayed in Portofino, Italy. This is not the type of story I normally read, but I was pleasantly surprised by my affection for the characters, and I will be seeking out more books by this author.

In the second tale, In a Fevered Hour, another newlywed couple is hired to find the watch by gangster Bonnie Brock Kincaid. He thinks it may be the cause of a mysterious and deadly epidemic. Kincaid has a deep Scottish brogue, and the way his dialogue was written frustrated me.

“I rid us o’ the pocket watch, though it didna go lightly, an’ no’ wi’oot exactin’ another pound o’ flesh.”

This novella is part of the Lady Darby Mysteries series by Anna Lee Huber, and I feel like I would have to read the novels to get a better sense of these characters. This story was more plot-driven, although the author includes an abundance of details about clothing, decor and furniture to fix the reader in the time period.

Christine Trent’s A Pocketful of Death features characters from her Lady of Ashes Victorian mystery series. References were made to characters that are not even in this story, so fans of the series are probably the intended audience.

The protagonist, Violet Harper, is an undertaker who is relocating the dead relatives of Lord Ashenhurst to the his family plot. Violet believes that being an undertaker makes her part of the family, and she has no trouble sticking her nose into everyone’s business. Maybe this is endearing once you get to know her, but I found it kind of irritating. The events of this story seemed random, and the character’s actions were bizarre at times. For example, Violet plans to keep a vigil in Ashenhurst parlour to frighten away an evil spirit.

“Sam was appalled by the idea. “You wish to sit all night in a lord’s house, waiting for a watch to stop ticking?”

The final story, Siren’s Call by C. S. Harris, was more cohesive than the previous one. I think Rachel Townsend-Smythe is my favorite protagonist of this anthology, but I didn’t enjoy this story as much as the first one. The chronicle of the watch’s curse comes to a satisfying conclusion, but the final story is too dark for my liking—xenophobia, Nazis, and police brutality bordering on torture. The tone of the last tale did not match the rest of the anthology.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

"A stellar line-up of historical mystery novelists weaves the tale of a priceless and cursed gold watch as it passes through time wreaking havoc from one owner to another. As the hours and years pass, the characters are irrevocably linked by fate, each playing a key role in breaking the curse and destroying the watch once and for all.

From 1733 Italy to Edinburgh in 1831 to a series of chilling murders in 1870 London, and a lethal game of revenge decades later, the watch touches lives with misfortune, until it comes into the reach of one young woman who might be able to stop it for good.

As much a book of curses as a book of destinies, The Deadly Hours is a breathtaking anthology rich with atmosphere and intrigue that encapsulates the exquisite destruction, heartbreak, and redemption wrought by fate."

This is a to die for lineup of historical mystery writers!

This anthology of four novellas by popular historical authors, based around a cursed watch, La Sirène as it travels through history, makes for a very entertaining read.

Starting in 1733 ('Weapon of Choice' by [author:Susanna Kearsley|486812]), a young Jacobite and his wife are travelling to Genoa by sea to meet the Duke of Ormonde and protect him from an assassin while escorting him to King James' court in Rome. When a storm forces them to seek harbour at Portofino, they are forced into company with a dangerous man who shows them an elegant gold watch with an outer case engraved with a ship tossed at sea and all manner of sea creatures among the waves. Inside the inner case is engraved with a beautiful mermaid (La Sirène) and an inscription "Je suis le seul maître de mon temps" (I am the only master of my time). He tells them the curse will only be removed once the watch has travelled through the four elements of water, earth, air and fire.

Before they resume their journey, a man will be dead and the watch will next turn up in Edinburgh in 1831 ('In a Fevered Hour' by [author:Anna Lee Huber|5775520]), where it is blamed for an epidemic sweeping the city. In 1870, the watch will surface again in Edinburgh ('A Pocketful of Death' by [author:Christine Trent|3033637]) and be linked to several deaths in a wealthy family and then finally it emerges in 1944 on the Kent coast ('Siren's Call' by [author:C.S. Harris|22067]) where a German spy is being sought by MI5.

All four stories were engaging, featuring strong, clever women working alone or alongside their husbands. Fans of [author:Anna Lee Huber|5775520] will recognise her unconventional sleuth Lady Darby and followers of [author:Christine Trent|3033637] will be acquainted with undertaker Violet Morgan. Mary, wife of inquiry agent Hugh Dundas has also featured in one of [author:Susanna Kearsley|486812]'s previous novels while [author:C.S. Harris|22067]'s museum curator Rachel Townsend-Smythe is a new invention in a story that nicely rounds off the anthology. Overall, these were four well written and engaging novellas each a suspense featuring danger and death, all solidly immersed in their own time period, with only the cursed watch to connect them.

Unfortunately I am unable to give feedback for this book as I could not finish it. I managed to read a few chapters before I realised that it was not for me.

This was such an amazing concept, to take an object and follow it through time with four different authors writing four different novellas...I loved it! I’m sure it was an intricate puzzle to get all of the facts straight and to affect a perfect hand-off to the next author.

This anthology contains four novella length stories that follow a cursed gold watch through four different time periods and locations. Each of the novellas is written by a different author and features a lady detective/amateur sleuth, which I really enjoyed!

The first story takes place in 1733, and involves a couple trying to save the Duke of Ormond from an assassin attempt. This story has pirates, a sleuthing newlywed couple, and introduces us to La Sirene, the cursed gold pocket watch.

The only author I had read before was Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby. I already knew I would enjoy the second story because I love the Lady Darby series and especially bad boy Bonnie Brock Kincaid. It was so fun to visit Kiera and Gage, newly married in 1831 Edinburgh.

The third story was written by Christine Trent and takes place in 1870’s Edinburgh. The story had the most interesting lady sleuth, an undertaker! It was fascinating to read about some of the rituals that went along with her profession in the Victorian era.

The last story, a The WWII novella written by C.S. Harris, was the only set of characters I believe are not tied to an established couple from a previous published novel. I really hope to hear more about Jude and Rachel, because I really enjoyed these characters. I believe they are strong enough to carry a full-length book.

I am not going to pick which novella I liked best because each one added important details to the plot and were equally enjoyable and essential to the success of the anthology.

Years ago there was the Detection Club, its members were mystery writers including Agatha Christie.  The group collaborated on several books.  In a way, The Deadly Hours and its authors remind me of that since this title involves four writers in an interlinked story.  The four have all written historical mysteries that have been popular and good reads.  Here, they work well together telling the tale of a gold watch beginning in the 1700s and moving forward in time through several locales in Italy, Edinburgh and more.  It is a unique read.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, the wonderful Poisoned Pen Press, for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This anthology is so engaging. Initially, I was just excited to get another Lady Darby story, but each author drew me in with her own storytelling, leaving me wanting to read more by each. I think C.S. Harris’ story, while not a Sebastian St. Cyr, may be my favorite. I’d happily read more about Rachel and Jude.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Four short stories set in different time periods that are all interconnected by a timepiece( Le Sirene) that is rumored to be cursed. The historical mystery novelists in this anthology are Susanna Kearsley, Anna Lee Huber, Christine Trent, and C.S. Harris. As is my practice when it comes to these collections, I do like to discuss and rate each story separately.

Weapon of Choice Susanna Kearsley 4 stars
Dedicated to her friend, Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley re-introduces readers to Scotsman Hugh and his wife Mary( A Desperate Fortune )during events in 1733. Once again, Kearsley weaves Jacobite history and brings the tale of an assassin named Douglas who wants to bring down the heavily guarded King James. Of course, a treasured watch might not be the best good luck charm.

I have read the majority of SK's titles and as I am most familiar with her work, I cannot deny that it is hard to be impartial. I love her characters, the way she recreates the atmosphere of the 18th century time period. I felt that the whole storyline really worked and I was sad when it came to a conclusion.

In a Fevered Hour: A Lady Darby Novella Anna Lee Huber 3 stars
Set in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1831, Lady Darby and her husband, Sebastian Gage are enlisted to track down a watch that could spell disaster for the entire city if not found as those who carry it have met their impending doom. The clock is ticking...

I have long wanted to read a Lady Darby mystery and I really enjoyed both her personality and that of her husband. Anna Lee Huber manages to create a chilling atmosphere and certainly made the cursed watch even more terrifying.

A Pocketful of Death Christine Trent 3 stars
Edinburgh: 1870, Violet Harper has been tasked by a recently appointed viscount to reunite the remains of a family long separated, and in the process discovers the haunted timepiece. Although she isn't yet aware of what horrors it can invoke, she's certainly going to discover it soon.

Another strong-willed Victorian protagonist that I quite enjoyed, I hadn't heard of this author and her historical mysteries before but call me intrigued.


< i>Siren's Call C.S. Harris 4 stars

England: 1944: Rachel Wellington and Jude Lowe must race to stop German spies from stealing a watch rumored to be cursed before it falls into Hitler's hands.

Obviously, I cannot escape this time period even when I try and make an effort. Haha! Although far fetched I couldn't help but fall hard for this intriguing culmination in the watch's history.

Expected Publication 01/09/20
Goodreads review 05/08/20

It’s not often that I enjoy interrelated short stories this much.

I originally wanted to read this because Huber and Harris are two of my favorite mystery writers, and they definitely delivered here (Huber even included some favorite characters from her Lady Darby series). But Kearsley and Trent did not disappoint either.

Interesting stories, centering around a cursed golden timepiece spanning from 1733 to 1944. Nicely drawn characters for short stories and great flow/connection between the time periods/tales. All-in-all a fun, well-done read. Recommended.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Always exciting to see additional work from these authors. While the stories are interconnected, each can be read as a standalone (or continuation of each authors' individual series).

What a great little story (times 4!) Loved them all. In all the novellas, the protagonists are all strong, intelligent women in times where they had very little power in their worlds. Very well done. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

The Deadly Hours is a box set featuring 4 stories that revolve around the infamous La Sirene watch, a gold watch that has been cursed since the moment it was made. These four interconnected mysteries take you from Italy in 1733 to 1944’s war torn England, each one full of murders that have been committed because of the watch. This was an interesting read, with characters who are well rounded, and a story line that will keep you intrigued. Each author presents a story in a different era from the others, but now and again, there will be a mention about the history of the watch, and characters from previous stories will be named.
Each author has done a good job with the suspense of the story, but I must admit that I was not as engaged in some of the stories as I was with some of the others. You can definitely see the different writing style from each author, yet they keep everything cohesive.
Due to the fact that I was not engaged throughout all the stories, I will be giving this box set 4 stars. I will, however, recommend the set if you’re a fan of these authors, or period mysteries.
**I was given an ARC of this title by the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a series of stories centered around a cursed watch made from stolen gold. I enjoyed the way the 4 authors strung together their tales through the various time periods. The voices are all different and the attitudes to the curse reflect their time periods. Enjoy!

I'm not usually one to read collaborative books like this. Not that I have anything against it, I guess I just don't really understand? This is four separate novellas strewn together as one, following a cursed pocket watch through the 1700s until the Great War.

Of all the authors involved, I am only familiar with Kearsley's work, and I am a big fan of hers. While this didn't give her the space to do what she does best, she still layered story into story and gave us a rich novella full of folklore and shady characters. There was a subtle Sherlock Holmes vibe, as well as strong feminist rallies, which I always enjoy.

I may be biased, but Kearsley's novella stood out to me most, though the rest were an enjoyable addition. The concept tying each novella together was intriguing and each story was rich with historical interest. It flowed fairly well between the four, but because each part was told from different perspectives and tones with a different feel to the overall story, there wasn’t a consistent atmosphere and I only ever felt half immersed in each story. I have this same kind of issue with short stories. I guess I am just not meant to be a reader of shorter work, it’s never enough for me.

The idea of a cursed watch slipping through time and through each story was fun, but it felt a little redundant by the fourth account of different characters discovering that the watch was cursed, and then experiencing the same wrath of vengeance, just under different circumstances.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Four interconnected short stories by four authors. This is hard to rate, I liked the first story by Susanna Kearsley but thought the following stories weren't as strong.

2 ☆

My thanks to the authors, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC of THE DEADLY HOURS.
A fabulous reading experience, four stories set in the 18th and 19th centuries, connected by one item, brilliantly observed and expertly written. Historical fiction at its best by four wonderful authors. I loved it. 5 super stars!