No Refuge from the Grave Earns 5/5 Friends & Foes…Engaging Gem!

Two points of interest merge into the murder of a disreputable scoundrel: Detective Nick Greaves is looking at another incident of arson, not his usual purview, as a possible scheme to defraud an insurance company, and Celia has been approach by an acquaintance to help search for a missing locket without her husband’s knowledge (the same husband who was the agent at the insurance company). The rainy San Francisco weather and the fact it’s 1867 with the lack of modern techniques and methods impede the investigation, but Nick and Celia are not deterred with many avenues to explore, suspects to interrogate, secrets and lies to reveal, and a killer to bring to justice, all this while navigating a major change in their relationship. Celia thought herself a widow for the past three years, but her husband has returned from the dead, demanding money, and being a possible suspect. A mystery gem!

I love historical mysteries, and Nancy Herriman’s fifth book in A Mystery of Old San Francisco incorporates two of my favorite elements: a familiar setting like San Francisco and an upstairs/downstairs era. The murder is complex filled many characters from different social circles, yet Herriman’s style was easy to read, well-paced, and ended with a satisfying twist. The scenarios debated raise issues about money, a secret investment, possible fraud, a racetrack scandal, and multiple murders, of course. The dynamic between Greaves and Celia continues to be one of mutual respect and caring, but it’s obvious the appearance of Celia’s husband is disruptive to them both. Side stories are just as fascinating as the mystery and illustrate class, gender, and post-Civil War society: ins and outs of Celia’s clinic and patients as well as her home life and Greaves’ boarding house situation being set up with his landlady’s niece. The strong women assert themselves despite the limitations that existed. A well-described environment and era, cleverly devised crimes, realistic methods of investigation, well-developed characters, some nail-biting, and a strong female lead…Superb!

Part of a series featuring Nick and Celia,set in a young newly founded San Francisco. Arson for insurance,murder and mayhem. An enjoyable read.

Celia once again finds herself helping Nick solve a murder case and worrying about her back from dead husband. Griffin is found dead by Celia and the lady who set up a meeting with her that night at Jane’s home. Owen disappears when someone comes looking for him for the note Griffin left with him. Horse racing, a missing locket and two murders keep everyone busy trying to find the murderer.
Goodreads

5th in the Mystery Of Old San Francisco series, this book begins with an intriguing inciting incident, that shows Celia‘s feckless husband is back from faking his own death and eager to get her to bail him out of his current troubles yet again. His return complicates her previously budding romance with the handsome detective, Nick GREAVES. But soon enough both Celia and Nick are embroiled in investigating a series of suspicious fires, a suspiciously-behaving insurance inspector, and his wife who is evidently hiding something from him.

Series fans will find this familiar and comfortable ground. It’s not hard to get into if it’s your first, as there’s the minimum necessary amount of orientation to who’s who among the series characters, and what their relationships are to each other. There's minimal scene setting beyond some revolting olfactory cues. If you didn’t already know when the novel is set, you wouldn’t get a good sense of the era from the opening chapters beyond generic long dresses and gasolier lights. I am a sucker for a Shakespeare quote and there are some good ones sprinkled throughout.

#NoRefugefromtheGrave #NetGalley #mystery #traditional #SanFrancisco #marriage

San Francisco at the turn of the century - vibrant, young, brash and not altogether lawful. Arson and insurance - scam or accident. Detective Greave once again tussles with Celia Davies, nurse, when they are brought together to solve this crime. She talks to people and listens to people in a way that the detective can't. Their possible romance was stopped in the last book by the return of her husband, presumed dead for some years. A well-written and characterised story, felt appropriate for the time and a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read from this author and this series. I did feel it could be read on it's own but you might miss out on relationships building in earlier books. There were so many twists and turns and red herrings that I couldn’t figure out the who and the why until it was revealed which is slightly unusual for me. I did like the character's and found the book well written so will no be looking for the other's in the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Celia and Nick are back. Although Celia has vowed to stop investigating she is once again drawn into another case. It soon becomes clear that the arson case Det. Nick Graves is investigating is linked to the puzzling murder Celia is drawn into.
This was another great mystery with many twists and turns to keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoy this series and look forward to returning to old San Francisco.
Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a copy of this book for review.

I love Nancy Herriman's Mystery of Old San Francisco series and was excited to read this latest. There were twists, turns, red herrings and a dash of romance, what more could one ask for in a book.

San Francisco, 1867

From the first page I was intrigued and could not wait to read more! I have been reading and listening to historical mysteries and this story comes in right at the top!

Although this is the first book I have read by this author, it only makes me want to read more and start at the beginning of this series.

Mystery, murder, secrets and filled with intriguing characters, as the author creates the atmosphere of the time with her skilled pen!!

Once you start the first page, you will not be able to stop!!

If you enjoy historical mysteries then you don't want to miss this series. Set in 1867 San Francisco, it features Celia Davies and Nick Greaves. She is a nurse running a free clinic and he is a police detective and together they are a great pair of sleuths. With a fine group of supporting characters and a well plotted mystery to solve added to the vibrant setting of post Civil War San Francisco, it's a series that has a permanent place on my 'must be read' shelf.
Celia has an estranged husband who she has been certain died in Mexico. It turns out not to be the case when he shows up and is up to no good. His reappearance also complicates her relationship with Nick. After having promised to stay away from investigating murders Celia is faced with another murder when a dead body is found in the backyard of a woman she has becomes friends with. At the same time Owen, a young friend of hers, disappears and everyone is trying to find him. There are many leads to follow as she encounters crooked cops, insurance fraud and, of course, dealing with her estranged husband.
My thanks to the publisher, Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

No Refuge From the Grave by Nancy Harriman is part of her excellent Mystery of Old San Francisco series. It is 1867 and Celia Davies is reeling from discovering that her estranged husband, Patrick Davies, is alive and back in San Francisco, rather than dead in Mexico, as she had thought. His reemergence has curtailed her burgeoning romance with police detective, Nick Greaves, to the sorrow of both. She has resolved to stay away from murder and from Greaves but is drawn into it by discovering a body in the yard of a woman she has befriended. The investigation leads down many paths, one involving her young friend, Owen Cassidy who has disappeared and is causing Celia's entire household to worry. She has a knack for investigating and always shares with the police. This time there are so many leads and so many possible murderers that she doesn't know what to believe. She is a nurse and runs a free clinic, mostly for women, but her inheritance from her uncle doesn't stretch to other things, such as paying her husband's debts or paying for information so she can find Owen. For these things she must pawn her jewelry, the first time a gift from a grateful patient, the second, a gift left her by her mother. Still no Owen or any murderers.

This is a lovely historical mystery/police procedural featuring Celia Davies and Nick Greaves as the leads, but stretches to accommodate people in both of their lives. She is the guardian for her uncle's daughter, who is still almost a child and half Chinese, a sin in many people's eyes. We also meet her housekeeper/friend, Addie, as well as Addie's beau, Taylor, who worked with Nick. Addie had a bone deep hatred for Patrick Davies based on his treatment of Celia and was not incline to stay silent on the issue. Nick also had a housekeeper who was a lovely woman who worried about him and his marital prospects, arranging for a visit from her adult niece to remedy that situation. They are an endearing group of people as well as excellent at tracking down murders. It's a nice piece of historical fiction containing a good mystery, with many facets and interesting reasons for murder. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of No Refuge From the Grave by Beyond the Page, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #beyondthepage #nancyherriman #norefugefromthegrave

I'm fascinated by the history of Old San Francisco. This mystery follows a twisty plot involving murder, poisonings, race horses, and crooked cops. Celia Davies is still dealing with her newly returned from the dead husband, while fighting feelings for the young detective she finds herself entwined with. The mystery was great, and I didn't predict the correct killer at all!

Nancy Herriman's Mysteries of Old San Francisco is one on my must read series! This time Celia and Nick are investigating a murder with links to insurance fraud, murder, and horse racing.

Celia has promised her cousin, Barbara, and her housekeeper, Addie, that she would not put herself in danger again. With the reappearance of her husband, Patrick, Celia is no longer in frequent contact with Nick Greaves. That changes when her possible new client has a dead man show up at her gate just as Celia is dropping her at home. Celia and Nick have a plethora of suspects and a difficult time since no one is telling the truth about anything, let alone their relationship to the dead man.

I love the characters in this series and enjoy learning more about San Francisco in the post-Civil War era. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #NoRefugefromtheGrave. I am looking forward to Celia and Nick's next adventure!

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. This book is full of rich characters and vivid examples of life in old San Francisco. I love the relationship between Nick and Celia. I look forward to reading many more books about their adventures.

I have loved Nancy Herriman's A Mystery of Old San Francisco series and was excited to read the fifth installment, No Refuge from the Grave. I was not disappointed. Five stars.

Review posted Via GoodReads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4614917467
This novel is a part of and series containing some of the same characters. However, you can still read this without having read the others. Meet Celia, a nurse with her own clinic and a knack for solving mysteries. Celia has worked with Detective Nick Greaves previously and will need his help to unravel a strange death along with some questionable occurrences. Between a missing trinket, an odd murder weapon, and a growing list of suspects, can Celia and Detective Greaves find who is responsible before something else happens or hidden emotions can be revealed? I really enjoyed this story! It took me a while to remember all the characters and their roles but it did not take away from the story. This novel kept me guessing until the very end!

Another excellent Mystery of Old San Francisco from Nancy Herriman. There were so many twists and turns and red herrings that I couldn’t figure out the who and the why until it was revealed. The nuanced details made me feel like I was walking down those same streets, and the tiny advance in the on going romance warmed my heart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a great addition to the series, and I enjoyed it more than the last entry. These books are always well written, but this newest book had some progress on the romantic relationship that has been up and down throughout the series.

As always, the setting- both physical and the time period- are very well described without being distracting, and the alternating points of view between Celia and Nick helps carry the story along. The mystery itself is compelling and ties in several characters from earlier books in the series.

Loved this mystery novel. The writing is excellent drawing the reader into the story from the very beginning. Cecila is such a strong and likable character, and I loved the dialogue and interactions between her and Mr. Greaves. Lots of mystery and twists and turns gives this novel 5 stars from me and one I’d highly recommend to anyone who likes a great solid mystery novel that will keep your interest.