A solid entry in the Below Stairs mystery series. I appreciated the fact that we finally got a little more character development for some of the regulars in the series, and also met some new characters who are sure to add interest as the series develops.

There is no doubt about it, I am obsessed with this setting, this time period and these wonderful mysteries that keep me on my toes and eagerly turning the pages.
This series has quickly become one I can't wait to dive into next and see what will befall Kat and Daniel and James.

I have absolutely come to adore these characters and each new tid bit and secret we discover about them and their pasts is like a delicious morsels I want to both devour and relight.

I can't wait for more from this great group of characters. I adore that this isn't your average series about lords and ladies but rather the working class that so very few people paid attention to but yet really, ran all of London in one form or another. They knew everyone's secrets and did so much for those around them. I need more of these hardworking characters that really care for one another and those around them, high class or low class, and hopefully will see more of them all in the future working together solving crimes, kicking butt, and taking names.

Another satisfying Kat Holloway mystery. This time, Kat is recruited to find children missing from a foundling hospital, gets fired and learns more about her dear friend Daniel. The story does not lag, and doesn't skip important character moments to keep up the pace. It just moves and things happen and it's a very fun read.

Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley is the 4th book in her Kat Holloway Mysteries series. Brief refresher on this series: The story takes place in Victorian, England, with Kat Holloway, our heroine, who is a cook extraordinaire and a great detective. She is a smart, confident, independent, and very loyal and protective to the household staff, where she reigns. What I love about this series, is the Downton Abbey feel of above and below the stairs, as well as this being historical time.

In Murder in the East End, Kat becomes involved in a mystery involving missing orphan children. Daniel comes to Kat to ask for her help, as some children from the Foundling Hospital have disappeared. We get to learn more about Daniel, as we meet his brother Errol, who is a vicar, with a troubled past. One of the nurses at the hospital is also missing, which Errol pushes Daniel and Kat to help him find the girl and the children. In a short time, the nurse will be found dead, with everyone fearing for the lives of the children.

Kat continues to work around her full-time job as cook, with Tess becoming an excellent assistant. Cynthia, the niece of the lady of the house, continues to be a good friend to Kat, as well as wanting to help on the new case. We also get to meet a new character, Miss Townsend, an artist, who starts sketching the ladies in the kitchen; she befriends Kat, as she is also smart, and wealthy. It is fun to see Kat cook for the family, and all the delicious food she makes. I love the upstairs downstairs feel of this story, with housekeeper, cooks, maids, footman, butlers, etc.

In between, she visits the hospital to talk to other staff about the children, and finds that perhaps board members may be embezzling money. What follows is an interesting and intriguing mystery, which kept us unable to put the book down. It was a lot of fun to watch Kat and her friends work together in helping her find the children.

Murder in the East End was a nice cozy suspenseful mystery, with Kat in the forefront in solving the crimes. I also like that Daniel and Kat’s slow build romance is starting to heat up (though still in the background), with both having feelings for each other. If you enjoy Victorian stories, with a mystery theme, a Downton Abbey background, two very good leading characters and very well written by Jennifer Ashley, I suggest you start this series.

This is the latest title in Jennifer Ashley’s Kat Holloway. Series and it just keeps getting better! I enjoyed it very much, and look forward to more books about Kat and James. They make a very good detective team, now that they know something about each other, and I enjoyed how romance between them is definitely making its’ way into the series..

I always love entering Kat Holloway’s world. In Murder in the East End my favorite no-nonsense cook and amateur sleuth is on the hunt to find out what happened to children who have gone missing from London’s Foundling Hospital. She’s brought into this case by Daniel McAdam and his foster brother, a vicar who is more than he seems. As the trio and their unlikely band of allies (the bold and kindhearted Cynthia, adorable and brilliant Thanos, and mysterious newcomer Judith) delve deeper into the Foundling Hospital’s practices they’ll find themselves in the slums, where danger and heartbreak await.

Kat is the heart of the Below Stairs mysteries and she continues to be a fantastic heroine. She’s got a way of getting people to open up and I like watching her put the puzzle pieces together. And as you might guess from the introduction of a man from Daniel’s past, we do finally learn a bit more about the mysterious Mr. McAdam. I practically gobbled up these crumbs of information alongside Kat, though of course I still wanted more. I cannot wait until the day Daniel’s full history is revealed. As for the supporting cast, author Jennifer Ashley continues to flesh out these wonderful characters. Everyone’s voice is unique and their trials and tribulations make the world of the story feel rich.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the East End but I struggled with rating it because the mystery itself fell a bit short for me. Even though they’re hunting for missing children who are in terrible danger, there’s an almost meandering quality to this story that didn’t quite go with the dire situation. The mystery lacked intensity and wasn’t as well defined as I’m used to. And though I won’t spoil the plot, I will say I didn’t feel quite satisfied by the revelations that occurred. Of course, part of the reason for that is due to an overarching plotline that will continue in future books so I’ll be content to wait and see what happens there. Even with these issues, I love spending time with Kat, Daniel, and their friends and I am always sucked into their world and their developing relationships. I cannot wait to see where Ms. Ashley takes these characters next!

3.75 stars

Kat Holloway is back in another historical cozy adventure. Kat is a strong female character -- she is a cook for a wealthy peer but has been involved in investigating several crimes. She is a woman with a past, and she is intelligent and courageous. She has an almost-relationship with Daniel McAdam, who has some mysterious assignments from Scotland Yard. We learn more about Daniel in this book, and their relationship feels like it is moving along.

One of Kat's fellow servants has ties to the local Foundling Hospital, and so does Daniel's stepbrother. They are alarmed to hear that several children have disappeared and they fear the worst -- that some wealthy depraved patrons are adopting the children under false pretenses. A staff member from the hospital investigates and is murdered for her efforts.

I like this series and enjoyed hearing a little more background on some of the main characters. It's easy to cheer for Kat, who has a somewhat prickly attitude but is generous and caring nonetheless. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Murder in the East End" is a mystery set in February 1882 in England. This is the fourth book in the series. You do not need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

The main characters did a good job of spotting things that were going on and asking relevant questions. While the mystery was clue-based, the main characters progressively uncovered what was going on and narrowed down where the children were and who could be the murderer. Whodunit was not something that you could guess before the final clues were given, and the characters realized whodunit at the same time as the reader. The main characters were interesting and likable. The historical details (mostly about cooking, foundling homes, and acceptable behavior for women and servants) were woven into the story. There were no sex scenes. There was some use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.

Kat Holloway is investigating missing children and a missing nurse from a foundling home. She’s also meeting Daniels’ brother (not by blood), who is on the board of governors of the home and vicar of an East End church. When he discovers that the children have been adopted into homes that don’t exist, he fears they have been taken for horrible reasons. A nurse at the home feared the same and has gone missing as she looked into it.
The mystery in this book is quite tense because the nurse is beaten so badly she is murdered and there are no signs of the children. Kat and Daniel are looking into if it’s someone in the foundling home who is involved or external people who are posing as families. The children could be anywhere, and there's very little evidence to point them in a direction amoungst the urgency of the situation.
Kat is doing this while balancing her workload and seeing her daughter Grace on her days off. It’s so hard to have hope for a change for Kat’s future. Her daughter is already eleven. Her and Daniel have no signs of being able to be together. After four books, I admit to wishing for more personal and relationship development, but I appreciate the realism and still hope they find their HEA.
Murder in the East End is a solid installment to the Kat Holloway series that kept me engaged and up way too late to find out what was happening.

Once again Ashley delivers an installment of this series that intrigues and tugs at heartstrings. The gradual growth of characters, their relationships and their interactions continue to be the engine of the mystery more than the mystery itself. I love how we see the working of the house Kat works in and what she makes for each meal and party. Honestly I could read a book about that and I'm not sure how she travels so much around London solving mysteries and keeps her job but that is besides the point i suppose. I'm enjoying the gradual reveal of Daniel's past - although i keep thinking we'll discover someone is the bastard child of a rich aristocrat and the story changes completely but I digress. Seeing Kat and Daniel do the mating dance more than ever before and communicating more than before is wonderful for the reader but it hurts my heart that I will have to wait to discover the truth of what Daniel is mixed up in! The supporting characters continue to be my other favorite part of the series. The author does a great job at giving them all something to do and having them grow just as much as Kat and Daniel. The mystery was darker than expected but the mystery moved at good pace and was full of unexpected twists and turns and a few fun, red herrings. I will make sure all lovers of historical mysteries and Downton Abbey know about this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Ashley's, and I have been a big fan of the Kat Holloway series. This latest installment is no exception. We get some great cooking, some tenacious (but realistic; Kat is hampered by few days off and her station) sleuthing, and some more layers peeled away from the onion that is Daniel McAdam. And we FINALLY get some advancement in the relationship between Kat and Daniel. Not a lot, granted, but maybe in #5 things can really get moving?

The mystery in this series is usually pretty decent but can take second seat or even third to other storylines. For me the Daniel/Kat storyline is always near or at the top; the household politics are also fascinating. Crusty old Mr. Davis is the best!

4 full stars. Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy an intriguing historical mystery and who might enjoy a different viewpoint (i.e., a domestic's POV) than your standard middle/upperclass amateur detective.

I'm a huge fan of these series and recommend it often. So I have nothing to complain about with this book except.... the mystery was a bit... low stakes? Thin? It just didn't allow the reader to try to puzzle out the solution but I still loved getting back together with Kat, Tess, Lady Cynthia, Thanos and Daniel and hearing more about Daniel's secrets.

I enjoyed this installment in the series. I really like Daniel and most of the other characters who help solve this mystery. The mystery kept me guessing and I can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another winning entry in the series. A high-stakes mystery and lots of historical details, as well as the development of relationships, make this a treat for fans.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Kat Holloway is a live-in cook in well-to-do Victorian household, and is doing her best to keep herself and her daughter afloat. When Kat is beckoned by her 'friend' Daniel, who mysteriously works for Scotland Yard in some unofficial manner, for Kat's help to finding missing, orphaned children she can't say no.

This is this first book I have read in the Kat Holloway series. The book did a good job of drawing the reader in and providing enough information so the reader doesn't feel left in the lurch for not having read the previous books in the series. Also, I noticed her using places and settings mentioned in her previous works, which is always appealing. The story was well paced and engaging, but ending fell flat for me. I still enjoy Jennifer Ashley's work and look forward to reading more by her. However, I'm not sure if this series is my cup of tea.

CW: [murder, child kidnapping, child molestation/prostitution (hide spoiler)]

I was in the mood for something that would scratch my Lady Sherlock itch and thought I’d try the upcoming Kat Holloway Victorian mystery. I was liking the book in the first half until it all came crashing down with the reveal of a [child molestation/prostitution (hide spoiler)] storyline.

Y’all. Why is it that every UK historical mystery series MUST have this subplot? I hate it. I hate it so much. I never want to read it, and I’m especially sick of it because of the ubiquity. Even before the reveal, the mystery was kinda meh. I only liked the focus on Kat’s life as a cook in a grand house. I like the idea of a mystery series that doesn’t cover the nobility, but this book did not work for me at all.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What? Kat Holloway dismissed from her position? To be homeless and unable to support her daughter?

The Kat Holloway Mysteries make up an excellent series, with a structure that is unique in my experience: The action, suspense, and mysteries are experienced through the viewpoint of a unique character, a young, single and highly-competent female cook for the upper levels of British society. These books are not a comfortable "cozy," but offer genuine suspense and threat. A realistic look at the lives of the un-rich and famous of these times.

In this fourth release in the series, Kat again finds herself working with Daniel McAdam and her network of friends and supporters. She is called on to locate missing orphans, and in doing so, she comes up against murder, threats against herself and her family, and the secrets of strangers, including her own and those of her friends. And for some come-uppity minor aristocrat to fire Kat? Yes, it happens!

Whenever there is a new release in this series, I try to immediately read it. So far, each book merits this focus! Murder in the East End releases August 4, 2020, and you'll want to pre-order or be on your local library's wait list. Another cxcellent read.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.

Children are disappearing and a nurse is in danger at London’s Foundling Hospital in Kat Holloway’s latest mystery.

In Murder in the East End we learn more about Daniel’s past when we meet his foster brother. We also get to hear some of Daniel’s feelings about Kat. Their relationship moves forward in this book, but it’s still slow going for these two with all the uncertainty that surrounds their personal lives.

Like in other books, the secondary characters play a prominent part in this mystery and also with the Upstairs/Downstairs household drama.

I continue to be so impressed with the writing skill of Jennifer Ashley. She excels with historical romance, with paranormal romance and with this historical mystery series.

I would love to have a cook like Kat. The description of what she prepares for a tea make my mouth water.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC

Pretty good mystery but I was lost a bit because I hadn't read previous books. The writing is excellent and well paced, just wish there was more of a romance arc as I'm a fan of the author's romance novels.

Jennifer Ashley's Death Below Stairs series is hands-down my favorite Victorian mystery series right now. I love Kat Holloway's no-nonsense manner, along with her competency at her job, and I love how her relationship with Daniel McAdam upends her calm demeanor. While I always enjoy each installment's new mystery, I love reading about Kat's life as a cook, and her relationships with those around her. Well-written, well-researched (with excellent, accurate period detail!), without feeling too anachronous, and completely enjoyable.