I haven't read the original trilogy of books, but I didn't feel that it was of any detriment to enjoying the stories here. Hester Lynton & her assistant, Ivy Jessop, are two clever & spirited women in Victorian London & seem to be the female equivalent of Sherlock Holmes & Dr Watson. The cases themselves are fairly easy to work out, but they are written in a delightful way & I really enjoyed them. I recommend the book if you like historical mystery fiction with a female focus.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Lume Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

The Return of Hester Lynton is a historical mystery book with 10 short stories, narrated by Hester’s assistant, Ivy Rogerson (née Jessop). The main characters are two female consulting detectives based in Victorian London. In the story timeline, Hester is already retired, but she is called to assist Her Majesty’s Government and Ivy undertakes the task of publishing a few more cases they had solved together, per request of their publisher and the public.
This was the first book I’ve read in the Hester Lynton series and I really enjoyed the certain parallel to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. I’ve found the resourcefulness and the analytical capacity, but there’s also an added kindness both in Hester and in Ivy. Two of the stories feature literary personalities such as Bram Stocker and Oscar Wilde, which also added historical dimension to the cases.
The writing style, the characters attires, mannerisms and behaviors feel accurate.
My only remark is that I wish some cases were a little more developed.
Despite that, I’ve found this book to be a light and entertaining reading.

Lovely homage to Sherlock Holmes with female detective Heston Lynton and her female "Watson", Ivy Jessop, as Ivy recounts ten cases that the two undertook..

I love how the Sherlock Holmes and Watson dynamic is so malleable as to sustain so many interpretations of it. In this case, we have Companion Ivy Jessop (also the narrator of these stories) and Consulting Detective Hester Lynton.
Ivy is recounting some of their previous cases (I have not read the original collection of Hester Lynton cases, but I am intrigued).
Hester Lynton has a love of the dramatic, but isn’t given to playing the violin when cogitating, or doing any drugs more nasty than cigarettes, but she like Holmes, is called on by individuals when cases are a little bit out of the ordinary, or the police cannot devote resources to the case.
Ivy is intelligent, and while not given to the same level of observation or analysis as Lynton, is no slouch. Together, they make a powerful detection team as they are sometimes underestimated, because they are women.
The cases here run the gamut from art or government document theft, to murder, with each in the pair figuring out different pieces of each puzzle.

I enjoyed these stories. I was able to figure out who the perpetrator was in each of the mysteries, and liked the way the short cases allowed me to get to know each of the detectives. I particularly liked the respect between both women, and how each relied on the other, even though Hester was responsible for the breakthroughs (she is the lead, and the brainiac of the pair).
I am certainly interested now in checking out the original collections of the Lynton and Jessop cases, as this was a pleasantly diverting short story collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Lume Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this collection of short episodes featuring the lady consulting detective Hester Lynton and her sidekick Ivy Jessop. easy to read and cozy, this was a perfect collection for a cold Autumn evening. Great fun and highly recommend.

3.8 Stars

One Liner: Breezy and light cozy mystery collection.

The Return of Hester Lynton is a collection of ten cases Hester solved during her time as a detective. Ivy is her assistant and the author of the book (yep, a Watson to the lady Holmes).
The cases are all different from one another and keep the interest sustained. Some are dangerous, while others are easy to deal with. The clientele includes people from all strata of society, ranging from a school teacher to a military head.
Most cases are straightforward and don’t have any unexpected twists. This works for some and makes a couple of too bland. Still, the overall result is above average. I went with minimum expectations, and that helped me enjoy this book a lot more. I could guess a few cases, but that’s fine too. I like to solve cases on my own.
My top three cases from the book:
The Case of the Fanshaw Inheritance: Who doesn’t like cryptic codes?
The Mystery of the Locked Room: I’ll admit I like women who can handle a gun with ease. ;)
The Puzzle of the Whitby Housemaid: Nothing like a grumpy doctor and a mysterious house to create interest.
To conclude, The Return of Hester Lynton is a lighthearted cozy mystery from the Victorian era and a nice tribute to Holmes. Hester isn’t Holmes, though. Remember that, and you’ll like the book even more (personal experience).
Thank you, NetGalley and Lume Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The link to the full review has been updated.

Victorian England, a lady detective and more murders and mysteries to solve.

A great book of 10 cozy mysteries solved all with a different aspect so they didn't get boring or repetitive. It made for easy reading, they are enjoyable to read, light-hearted and it is a great era and a great lady detective which makes it quite fun.

A good book to read in between more in-depth books and I like that. The two main characters are Holmes and Watson like but have their own personalities and quirks. Love the historical aspects as well as it makes for interesting reading.

Pure delight! Inexplicably, this is my first foray into writing by this author but after reading The Return of Hester Lynton will certainly remedy that. Set in Victorian London, female detectives Hester Lynton and Ivy Jessop are the female versions of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. But it doesn't stop there...Mrs. Hudson has an equivalent as well! The intrepid detectives are known all over London for solving cases and aiding the police. In the interest of justice they are not above deceptions of their own. The ladies are independent, clever, unnerved and exhibit a touch of playful mischievousness. Ivy records their cases and the ten short stories here are some of them.

So much to enjoy about this clean book. Amongst the most winsome aspects are the method of Doyle-like storytelling, historical details and vocabulary as well as the inclusion of infamous real-life people. Though the mysteries are fun, to me these stories are more than theft and cudgels. The ladies' characters are splendid. Hester is supremely direct yet compassionate and adept at putting clients at ease.

My favourite stories are those which contain a secret code, da Vinci art, hidden documents and a certain...Wilde side. The letters are delightful, too, as are locked-room scenarios. It was wonderful to get cozy while the snow fell and utterly immerse myself in true escapism.

Those who enjoy Golden Era Mysteries, Historical Fiction and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will love this.

My sincere thank you to Lume Books and NetGalley for introducing me to this marvelous author! Reading this book was such a pleasure. I'm addicted!

Welcome to 12 Newcome Street!

This is a collection of short stories about Hester Lynton, a brave and outstandingly witty detective, very much resembling Sherlock Holmes. She loves solving mysteries and puzzles and she is ready to help those who are in pursuit of finding the answers to some challenging questions.

I am very much in love with detectives as Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and reading something which could slightly remind me of these two magnificent characters, it is quite a challenge. I wanted to read this novel with fresh eyes and to try immersing myself in the story with as much passion as I could. The Return of Hester Lynton is the fourth part in the series, and although I haven't read the previous parts, I got the feeling I am familiar with her character. Of course, she has her own help on the way, but she also finds cunning ways to overcome the obstacles in the way.

I was so cozy while reading this book, and find it enjoyable very much because of the situations within the book and the stories. I would like to give other books in the series a chance, and enjoy the world of Hester Lynton's mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC.

This book was reminiscent of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. It contained clever plots in each of the Hester Lynton cases denoted in the book. I look forward to reading more Hester Lynton mysteries. I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

Comprised of ten short stories, this book follows private detective Hester Lynton and her secretary, Ivy. The stories range from burglary and forgery to kidnapping and murder. In each story, Hester is approached by someone who needs both her talents as well as her discretion.

Hester and Ivy gave me major Sherlock Holmes vibes, which was great. I don’t read short stories often, but I found myself drawn from story to story. Each story felt well thought out and well executed. While I managed to know who the culprit was in many of the stories, it was enjoyable watching Hester and Ivy figure it out. The author included any notes and riddles that Hester received for the reader as well, giving the reader the ability to put themselves momentarily into the story. I am always interested in a book that involves riddles and this book added them in quite well. The nod to classic literature in both style and characters was fun. I never knew who I might get to see from one story to the next.

My favorite parts of the stories were Hester and Ivy themselves. The two women were resourceful, independent and just generally good people. In every situation, Hester put a great deal of thought and energy into making sure that as few people as possible got hurt. There are many stories where there is a detective and an assistant and the assistant is treated with little care. In this case, I felt that Ivy was every bit as capable as Hester. She may not have been quite as clever, but she held her own in each story. Her character was fully fleshed out with her own motivations and abilities.

My only complaint is a small one. While I liked a majority of the stories, there were one or two that just dragged on for me and I almost lost interest in the entire book. I felt that there were lags where there was no new information on the case, no character development and no action. I can appreciate the fact that it was adding a sense of drama to the reveal, but it really made me question if I was missing a key plot point. The stories after were lovely and interesting reads.

3.5/5

Thank you to netgalley and Tony Evans for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

These are very entertaining short stories with good mysteries in each of them. Good period settings and an inspiring female detective and female sidekick.

'The Return of Hester Lynton' was exactly as expected: an entertaining exploration of a handful of cases set in Victorian England similar in style and substance to the work of Arthur Conan Doyle. The fact that the author, Tony Evans, was able to recreate the world of Victorian London, without the added benefit of living and writing during the time period in question, is incredible in and of itself. A lot of work undoubtedly went into researching the historical city.

Each chapter represents a different mystery. No two were alike, which was wonderful and kept me reading and guessing from beginning to end. Overall, I would highly recommend to any reader who is a fan of Victorian mysteries.

#IndigoEmployee

For anyone who is looking for a fun collection of mysteries complete with a dash of danger, splash of witty banter without meanness, and feisty women, you NEED to read this book! Written from the perspective of Hester Lynton's friend and former employee, Ivy Rogerson (in a similar vein to the tales from Sherlock Holmes accounts laid bare by his friend John Watson), this collection of tales told from the perspective of a trusted friend are a delightful read from the moment you crack open the first page.

Where novels and stories of Sherlock Holmes continue to remind the reader that working with others is something to be merely tolerated in the presence of brilliance, the main character in Tony Evan's Hester Lynton Mysteries includes her assistant and shows that collaboration makes for better reading and more engaging storytelling. The individual cases are short enough to be read in small bursts but don't leave a reader confused or unsatisfied that each case has come to an end.

Having first read this book before the Early Hester Lynton Mysteries, my interest is thoroughly peaked to seek out more of these tales. I highly recommend this for readers who love the genre or those just "dipping their toes" into mystery stories.

Evocative of Sherlock Holmes this collection of ten short stories was well written and very enjoyable. Set in Victoran England these short mysteries involving Hester and her sidekick Ivy were entertaining and convincing of the era.

I enjoyed the beginning stories of "The Return of Hester Lynton" by Tony Evans but felt my binge reading of it, did not do it justice. This book is essentially 10 short stories about female detective Hester Lynton and her sidekick Ivy. The stories are really well written in the same vein as Sherlock Holmes. However, they are to be savoured and not binged!

Taking such iconic characters I was intrigued by this collection of short stories and it did not disappoint. A really enjoyable read.

A very different book for me to read but I liked it just the same! Will definitely be reading more like this and by the same author. Well done.

This is a very enjoyable collection of short stories involving the lady detective, Hester Lynton and her sidekick, Ivy. . These are Victorian-era mysteries but the historical accuracy is somewhat lacking and making a comparison to Sherlock Holmes is also inaccurate. These characters are nothing like Holmes and Watson but they are interesting and fun in their own right. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

A detective who lives in a London apartment with their assistant and side-kick, who can look at a person and deduce their life history in seconds, who finds the tiny clues overlooked by the police and thereby solves the case...no, it isn’t Sherlock Holmes but Hester Lynton. In this book, Tony Evans re-introduces readers to Hester Lynton (this is the second book featuring Hester), a Victorian ‘lady’ detective who solves mysteries which have left the police baffled.

I enjoyed how Evans turned the Holmes & Watson stories on their head by making his detective, and her assistant, women. They are able to exploit Victorian ideas about the ‘weaker sex’ to find information: for example, her assistant Miss Jessop notes that her friend’s “natural good manners and thoughtfulness” allow her to gain witnesses’ trust. The short stories are nicely arranged and varied. Some of the mysteries are stronger than others but they’re all satisfying and, if you’re a careful reader, the clues to the mysteries are all within the text.

I enjoyed reading this book on rainy and chilly October afternoon: the victims are sympathetic, the plots tight and each short story is the perfect length if you're a commuter or lead a busy life! If you're troubled by historical accuracy however, these stories might frustrate you slightly. A doctor in one of the short stories admits that “Normally, that would be out of the question. I would not be willing to expose two refined ladies such as yourselves...to the autopsy room”, however he acknowledges that Hester Lynton is a renowned detective and invites her into view the body. Unfortunately this doesn’t ring true given what we know of Victorian attitudes towards women. Evan's female detectives encounter very few challenges considering that they were operating in an entirely male sphere. In fact the police force, aristocrats and medical experts all step back to allow these two women to take charge! However if you’re willing to put historical accuracy aside and simply enjoy the experience, this is a fun read for all fans of historical crime fiction.