Death's Long Shadow is the third book in a series of Victorian Mystery novels. It follows land agent Matthew Rowsley and his wife Harriet, housekeeper, in the property where they work, Thorncroft House. Book 3 begins when the household, still grieving the death of the dowager Lady Croft, is surprised by the unexpected arrival of a guest, Lady Stanton.

Lady Stanton's is secretive and haughty. As days pass, heavy snowfall traps everyone inside. Then a young housemaid is found dead at the bottom of the stairs.

Matthew and Harriet are running the household between them, and at the same time trying to figure out this locked-room mystery of the housemaid's death. Tensions escalate and the atmosphere grows increasingly creepy

It's a nicely atmospheric novel with an intriguing storyline and good pacing, but I'm afraid that the anachronisms (such as staff having dinner with the upper class residents, and the interactions between them) just didn't seem believable to me. I suppose in this way it is indeed reminiscent of Downton Abbey, so fans of that series may enjoy this series too.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. My review is always honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire a book.

This is part of the Matthew and Harriet mystery series. I really struggled with this novel because it switched multiple perspectives and they all seemed to blend in together. The mystery itself is very predictable. Still, I recommend this for fans of the series!

Set during an unprecedented winter storm, Death’s Long Shadow, third in the Matthew and Harriet Rowsley mysteries, is a standalone without need for extensive backstories. In mid-Victorian times in the great house of the recently deceased Lady Croft, Matthew is the estate manager and his wife, Harriet, the housekeeper. With the death of Lady Croft and her son’s unpredictable ailment, it falls to Harriet to take over, carefully adjusting house protocols such as she and Matthew, and sometimes the cook, eating upstairs with the guests. The gentry are, for once, outnumbered by the staff, but their small numbers are soon offset by the arrival of an indignant Lady Stanton, three staff in tow.

The murder of a maid forces confinement on the houseguests, and the story takes on elements of a locked-door mystery. With narratives told alternately by Matthew and Harriet, someone inside the house is to blame, and there are many priceless treasures to safeguard. Harriet and Matthew must devise a scheme to prevent wandering bodies, eyes, and fingers. Harriet, in charge of all the staff including the butler, ensures the miles of corridors are freezing and that the bedroom fires are not lit until a guest retires. However, things still go missing, and doors are open when they are supposed to be locked.

With a large inventory of characters, all befitting the situation, it takes a short while to sort them out, but once underway the novel flows easily and fast. Circumstances are overshadowed by Lady Croft’s death, hence the ‘long shadow’. In this upstairs-downstairs mystery, one can’t help but associate Harriet with Julian Fellowes’ calm and elegant Mrs. Hughes. Appropriate Victorian manners of speech and behaviour are well-observed, and Matthew and Harriet’s marital relationship plays a starring role.

This is an excellent addition to an excellent historical mystery series.
I found it a bit darker than the previous instalments but it's as riveting and highly entertaining as usual.
I was happy to catch up with Matthew and Harriet, and the mystery kept me guessing.
The historical background and the characters are excellent.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sometimes when I am reading a mystery I stop and write my review when I am around 3/4 of the way done. Right before the ending is revealed. This way I figure I am less apt to leave a review that contains spoilers. Also, this far into the book I feel I have a pretty good sense of plot and character development and writing style. I choose to do this with this book. I am more than 3/4 of the way and feel it is time to review so here it is.
Starting out I was not aware that this is the third book in a series. This explains why when I first started reading, I was somewhat confused about who was who and what exactly their roles were. A big suggestion is, if possible read the first two in the series to avoid this happening to you. I am afraid it will make some not continue with the book and the story is worth reading. I would hate for you to miss out, only because of this simple task.
The lady of the house has passed away and everyone is returning to the manor, servants, estate manager, housekeeper, lawyers, and more. The story begins here. The weather turns bad, an awful snow storm is at hand. As everyone prepares to turn in for the night there is a knock at the door. Harriett and Matthew , the housekeeper and her estate manager husband, answer the knock. It is a stranger to them who claims to be Lady Stanton, her coachman and footman in dire need of medical assistance after being hours in the snow and elements. Lady Stanton has a snobbish attitude and does not reveal to Harriett and Matthew where she is coming from in such a storm, nor why she picked the manor to stop instead of an inn along the way. She stays secretive and secludes herself except when flirting with Matthew and other male guests.
After the lady of the house's will is read mysterious events begin to transpire. Harriett and Matthew's room has been disturbed, and even worse a young servant girl is found at the bottom of a staircase with a broken neck.
All guests are contained to the manor as Harriett, Matthew and the police inspector search for clues as to the murderer's identity.
After I figured out who was who and the role each played I enjoyed this way more. This is a well written, character filled Victorian mystery. It has quirky characters, that are at times funny in the manner in which the portray themselves and enough mystery and intrigue to hold the reader's attention, keeping one guessing right up until the end.
I am going back and reading the first two books just because I enjoyed this one and I have been on a Victorian, gothic mystery kick lately. The time and place are set very well, you get all the feels of an old eerie gothic manor, that is creepy and has things lurking in the shadows that we know not what they are.
Thank you to Canongate Books Severn House and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Judith Cutler has Death's Long Shadow cast over the grieving household after the death of their mistress. A mysterious Lady Stanton and her servants become snowbound with them. People die and the lady's identity is shown to be lacking in credibility. Whodunit? Who is the mysterious and imperious guest. Read and find out.

Lady Stanton, her maid, a groom. and a footman turn up on the doorstep of Thorncroft House in the middle of a blizzard. She's not the nicest- she complains a lot, making life difficult for the housekeeper Harriet and her husband Matthew the land agent. Then Mary,. a housemaid is found murdered and Harriet is in a race to find out what happened before more bad things occur. It's a slim volume and the mystery isn't too complicated (although there are a lot of characters.). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting historical mystery.

The Dowager Lady Croft has been buried and the household is in mourning when late one evening during a snow storm an uninvited Lady Stanton and her three employees arrive to add to the already few guests. Soon the household is marooned and the body of a young maid discovered. But what of the strange events that keep happening. Who is responsible. Can the Rowsley find the guilty parties.
An entertaining well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable characters.
Though I would have preferred that the characters were called by the same name throughout the story and not have their forenames and surnames interchangeable.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another delicious stay at
Thorncroft House among its various and quite often eccentric denizens. A new and highly entertaining addition to the Matthew Rowsley's Victorian Mystery Series set in Shropshire at the end of the 1850's. A sophisticated blend of murder mystery and comedy of manners where Matthew & Harriet Rowsley, the winsome duo acting as caretakers of the sprawling estate, are once again confronted with murderous shenanigans among the staff, very difficult weather conditions and the unexpected arrival of an overbearing and very manipulative stranger who could have easily given Lizzie Greystock an run for her money.....
A marvellous whodunit full of elegant shades very reminiscent of W. Collins,
A. Trollope & J. Fellowes that shouldn't be missed.
Finally I would also advise the potential readers to start with the previous titles in the series in order to get better acquainted with the various characters that live and work within the walls of Thorncroft House.
To be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canongate/Severn for this terrific ARC.

The third book in this series involving Matthew and Harriet Rowsley. This is a charming but unconventional storyline which makes it so interesting. I look forward to the fourth book in this series.

Atmospheric Historical Mystery….
The third in the Harriet and Matthew Rowsley mystery series and an unexpected guest may mean trouble ahead at Thorncroft House. Who exactly is Lady Stanton and what are her motives? When snow cuts the house off tensions erupt for the household. Another cleverly constructed, atmospheric historical mystery with several intertwined threads and a solid plot. Characters are engaging and well rounded. A satisfying read and a worthy addition to the series.

Matthew Rowsley is the estate agent for Thorncroft House and his wife, Harriet, is the housekeeper. The dowager Lady Croft has recently passed away and the whole household is in a state of mourning. Late one very, bitter cold night, the household is getting ready to retire for the evening when a stranger, a Lady Stanton, shows up on their doorstep with three servants in tow. She is mysterious about who she is, where she came from, and where she is going. Harriet Rowsley gives shelter to the strangers, but is taken aback by Lady Stanton's rudeness and arrogance. Until the weather improves, they must all get along the best they can. However, things get worse when a maid turns up dead.

This is the first book I read in this series and I would recommend readers start with the first. I was introduced to characters that I think were introduced earlier in the series. I didn't feel like there presence wasn't fully explained to a new reader and I kept wondering who they were. I also got confused with the names of the characters. Sometimes their first names were used -- sometimes their last names. If several pages went by, before they were mentioned again, I would forget who they were. That may be a sign of my mental state, but it kept me from enjoying the book as much as I might have.

All that being said, I did enjoy the book enough that I didn't give up. I wanted to find out who the murderer was. I wanted to see if the rude Lady Stanton would get her comeuppance. I would recommend this book because in the end, I liked it. The reason I gave it three stars was simply from my confusion as stated above.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced reading copy.

This novel was very well written but a bit heavy for me. I did enjoy the many characters and the historical details dispersed throughout the novel. I got halfway through the novel and just could not get into it. It’s a great book for those that like a lot of depth and language in their mysteries.