In this latest entry in the Mysteries of Old San Francisco series, Celia decides to solve a murder when her friend becomes a suspect. Detective Nick Greaves - her would be love interest- is the investigator on the case. There is some minor interaction between the two, as Celia has discovered her missing husband is still alive. Being noble and conventional people, they've decided not to get any further involved.with each other Each of them pursue parallel investigations, with Celia letting Nick know when she's found anything important. Their interactions are minimal, so there's no romance in this one. I had a problem with both of them as investigators. Celia's friend is considered a suspect by Nick because she was found at the scene of a murder with a concussion and a key to the building in her pocket,. She has amnesia regarding the events of the night, Those seem pretty silly reasons to suspect her of muder.. My first thought was she was another victim, especially since she had no motive. Nick is also OK with Celia, a nurse, running around investigating a murder it's his job to solve. Most cops would be a little annoyed and very concerned, Especially since it might expose her to a murderer.. Celia somehow gets people to accede to her presumptuous interrogations. although I couldn't understand why. Almost everything she discovers is information the cops should have been able to easily get themselves. There are also a lot of moving parts and characters which become hard to keep track of after a while. I just couldn't get much into this story. I did make it to the end. and it wasn't a terrible book, just not great.

No Darkness as like Death by Nancy Herriman. A Mystery of Old San Francisco #4. Beyond the Page Publishing 2021.

This book begins in 1867 San Francisco, with the apparent murder of a local politician. The Copperheads were a short-lived faction of the Democrat party during the US Civil War era. Celia, former Crimean War nurse now serving women otherwise without health care, becomes involved when a neighbour is implicated, her fourth such partnership with Nick, detective, and Civil War veteran.

I was interested in reading about racism and politics in San Francisco at this time, and about the photography processes of the era. I was distracted Celia’s impulsiveness and Nick’s sadness, by the number of past and current relationship triangles and by trying to keep track of supporting characters and the relationships between them. No doubt, I should have started with the first of this favourably reviewed series instead of the fourth.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of No Darkness as like Death free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NoDarknessaslikeDeath #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this novel. It’s a first for me from this author, but after reading this one I will definitely check out her other books. Since this is a novel set in a series already published I had no problem catching on to the various characters and their backstories. I loved how the chapters alternated between the two main characters never leaving me bored. It’s extremely well written, and the mystery is suspenseful and well plotted out keeping me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a great and solid historical mystery!!