I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. It didn't seem fair for me to review a book that I didn't finish.

I had this book with me for a while before I picked it up. Once I started, though, it was a surprisingly quick read. I say surprisingly because it is a historical mystery with heavy tones of espionage and treason mixed in.
It begins with a very dramatic murder but quickly moves on to a sedate house party in England. This select group of people are going to be shaken up plenty before the party is disbanded. We are introduced to all the people in the house, and for once, I have come across a book with strained relations between the downstairs staff (the ones I have read usually shows them as a team against the upstairs). There are harsh words exchanged, and many people show their ugly side before the actual incident(s) occur.
The detectives come into the picture quite late in the narrative and then move quickly to safeguard the people involved and wrap it all up in a day or two! The logical analysis and the characters introduced seemed very fleshed out and unique (from each other) given the short introductions we had to them all. Once the investigation began, I found it hard to find a point to set it aside and ended up reading it in longer sittings. There is a more subtle love story sort of thing in the background that seemed a little off for the theme here, but I think it would have been better brought into focus in the second book.
I must warn the reader that it is more graphic than others I have read based on that time (almost akin to the more contemporary thrillers) but other than that made for interesting reading. I wavered between making the right guess and the wrong but never settled on the culprit till the revelation.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley, the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this book.

I would gladly read and review your book BUT I cannot download via Amazon. I would read/review if a copy were available.

1889, in the city of New York, a young girl is savagely murdered in her home. 1891, in Constantinople a murder victim is placed into an ornate iron bound chest. And in 1899, at the country estate of Lord Foster Marmis, two savage murders bring a weekend gathering to a horrifying end. Are the incidents tied in some way? It will be up to Detective Chief Inspector Elliot Caine and Detective Sergeant Thorne to investigate and determine the answers.

With its hints of international intrigue and the supernatural, this is so not the typical style of mystery that I read. But with its traditional country house setting and the Victorian era I was willing to give it a try. I’m very glad that I did because this book drew me in from the start.

Garland has created a complex plot with a number of elements. In addition to the murder, there is the return of individuals thought long dead, complicated relationships, treachery, and treason, just to name a few. But there is logic to it, and no one element overwhelms the story. And, it all dovetails quite nicely in the end.

The characters are a diverse, complex group. Garland introduces us to Lords and Ladies, politicians, butlers, maids, and an enigmatic, yet very personably detective team. And all have an important part to play in the story. I will say that there are so many characters introduced at the beginning that it was at first confusing. But the significant characters establish themselves, and all becomes clear fairly soon.

The atmosphere that Garland creates is suitably dark and intense. She quite deftly inserts a faceless murderer who comes and goes, seemingly at will. And with imagery alone creates a feeling of unease and imagined horror that permeates the entire story.

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book. With a mix of several mystery genres, and a bit of the paranormal, Garland has written a sharp, complex mystery that I enjoyed. Very much recommend.

A country manor murder with some twists. First, the murders are gruesome. Second, the appealing detectives aren’t exactly who they seem to be. Third, a touch of the supernatural—hinted at in the prologue—is tied up at the end.
This is a superior mystery, extremely well written with deftly sketched characters and a sinister undertone
I read it in one day—I highly recommend it!

It's very gritty and violent but it's also an engrossing and entertaining historical mystery.
I liked the historical background, the characters, and the solid mystery.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

As a reader, be prepared for the abundance of gore and violence you will be hit with by picking up this book. I tried my hardest to make it through, but I knew after finishing Prologue 1 that this book probably wasn’t meant for me. After Prologue 2, only the desire to be able to leave a review in exchange for access to the book kept me going. I got far enough that I feel completely comfortable leaving my honest impressions of the book. The characters are well done, as is the plot. It is definitely a more gruesome interpretation of this genre then I am accustomed to, so again, be prepared. If you can handle that, and enjoy turn of the century historical mystery and detection, then give this a shot.

Two deaths, one in 1889 and 1891. But what could be the link to 1899. Now there is a weekend house party in Marmis Hall, in south-west England, home to Lord Foster and Lady Rebecca Marmis. The party is being held to disguise a covert government meeting on the South African situation.
But when another two murders occur one, of the guests, Lord Vivian Lapotaire calls in distant cousin DCI Elliott Caine, and DS Abernathy Thorne to investigate. These two men seem to have a mysterious past but we are told very little concerning this.
An enjoyable and well-written Victorian murder mystery with just a touch (thankfully) of the paranormal. With a selection of interesting characters. A good solid start to the series.

What a visceral punch in your gut, a completely over the top murder mystery! I adored it and I'm not normally drawn to murder mysteries like this, when guests show up for an ordinary weekend party and a double homicide is the very last thing they expect to have. Instead of getting his promised for vacation, Detective Chief Inspector Elliot Caine gets called in to investigate gruesome murders. As suspicions and grotesque murders begin to count up, they have a murderer and a past that connect. There's a slight bit of the supernatural in this book, but not enough that would turn away those that don't like that in their novels.

The writing was superior! The novel is set in the late 1800s, and throughout the book, the author keeps us totally captivated and set firmly in the Victorian era, specifically, 1899. The writing is top notch, extremely descriptive and I felt like I was there in those settings and the situations that were so eloquently described by the author. The clothing, the servants, the dinner parties, even the murder. What more can a murder mystery enthusiast want?

I felt that Rhen Garland created an entire ensemble cast of enthralling characters. While I wasn't able to relate to each and every one of them, I enjoyed all of them. They were true to their era and I felt submerged in the book. This book would make a splendid movie. The murders are gruesome, but the author is good about keeping the details not so graphic as to turn anything gory. Bravo to Rhen Garland! I look forward to reading more from you.

I would like to thank Rhen Garland, her publisher and Netgalley for an exceptionally well written novel that I had the privilege to read in return for a fair and honest review.