The Poisoner's Ring, the second book in the A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong, is an absolutely stupendous and brilliant read!
It's as though someone said that Armstrong couldn't possibly top A Rip Through Time, the first book in the series, and upon hearing that she said, "Hold my tea", cracked her knuckles and started writing.
It's not only the intriguing and complex mystery of men being killed by poison in Victorian Scotland, causing the police to instantly suspect the wives of the diseased, or the fast pace of the superbly written tale that is the appeal of this book. It's the characterization of the women within the pages that had me entranced.
From the main character Mallory, a modern day detective trapped out of time and in a maid's body, to her employer Isla, an accomplished chemist, her widow sister Annis and her best friend, the cook and maid of the household, the women supplying herbal remedies to other women, running a fight club, or dressing as a boy to earn her living, and of course the women accused of murdering their husbands, Armstrong presents strong, intelligent, cunning, and capable females where and when they were seen as nothing more that a man's possession to do with as he pleases. Watching Mallory and all of the other women use everything they have at their disposal to navigate the mine field in which they live is fascinating.
The relationships within the book also progress, and we learn more about the main characters that will surely come into play in future instalments of the series.
#ThePoisonersRing is an excellent historic thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages to the very end. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I adored A RIP THROUGH TIME. This is what I said about it in my review:

I'm already a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's crime novels, but I have to say, she outdid herself with A RIP THROUGH TIME. Of all the novels I've read by Armstrong, this one is my favorite. Why? It's just SO MUCH FUN. Seriously. The premise is intriguing, the characters are likable, the prose is engaging, and the plot is engrossing. What more could I ask for? How about humor? Check. A light, flirty romance that makes for a charming subplot without distracting from the mystery? Check. A PG-13 rating that lets me enjoy a crime novel without feeling nauseated or afraid to be in the house alone? A bada$$ heroine who's also down-to-earth and relatable? A cast that includes several strong women and decent men? Check, check, and check. For all these reasons and more, I thoroughly enjoyed A RIP THROUGH TIME. Considering this glowing review, it won't surprise you a bit to know that I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in this very promising new series. Too bad it won't come out until next year at least...

All of these statements are true about THE POISONER'S RING as well. In addition, we get more backstory on the Gray family as well as deepening relationships between Mallory, Isla, and Grey. A couple intriguing new characters are added in this installment as well. I enjoyed this second outing just as much as the first. Needless to say, I can't wait for a third.

Still stuck in Victorian Edinborough, Mallory (aka Catriona) continues to use her modern day detective stratigies to assist her boss and friend Duncan Gray solve local crimes.
In, "The poisoner's ring" , Mallory,Duncan, and their constable friend McCreadie find themselves involved in a series of murder investigations involving poison. It is thought that there is a local "ring" of ladies purchasing poison on the black market to secretly poison their husbands. The case becomes personal when Duncan's older sister, Annis, becomes the main suspect in the poisoning death of her husband. Duncan and Mallory begin a pursuit for evidence which will ultimately exonerate or implicate Annis of Lord Leslie's death and perhaps the death of three other local men. ( I did guess the guilty party but I certainly did not guess the twist involved - bravo!)
I was thrilled to see the continuation of the series with this second installment. I am truely enjoying the relationships that are forming between all of the main characters , while I eagerly await insight into how the persona of a modern day detective took a time slip and ended up int he body of a Victorian era housemaid.

While I look forward to seeing how Armstrong resolves THIS mystery, I hope it requires several more installments :)

Time traveling homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is still stuck in Victorian Edinburgh in the body of a early-twenty-something housemaid Catriona as a serial killer poisons men, casting suspicion on their wives, and fear that a poisoner’s ring exists in Kelley Armstrong’s The Poisoner’s Ring.

Rip Through Time has moved up to the top of the list of my favorite Kelley Armstrong’s series–probably in the top five of all mystery series that I follow. In The Poisoner’s Ring, Armstrong gives us a very credible main character in Mallory who is navigating a world in which she’s familiar (homicide) and one in which she only has scant knowledge. She’s also navigating relationships with Duncan and his sister Isla, trying not to become too close, while wondering how her own family is, whether they’ve noticed that Catriona is not her. Whether her beloved grandmother has passed alone.

The mystery, again, is top notch, well-thought-out and gripping. Despite often knowing who the murderer is chapters ahead in a lot of novels, in The Poisoner’s Ring I had no idea, but not because Armstrong wrote something implausible. Every bit was plausible and I was on the path with Mallory trying to figure out whodunit–although Mallory is always 20 steps ahead.

I love the addition of adventurous Jack and sharp-tongued older sister to Duncan and Isla, Annis, as well as discoveries about housekeeper, Mrs. Mitchell.

Because I am enjoying this series so much, I do hope that Armstrong keeps Mallory and Duncan apart for a while as I like the tension between them and permanent coupling frequently ruins too many series. Not that can happen here because there may just be a deadline in the future caused by Mallory’s return home . . . and then what? It will be interesting to see.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves smartly written mysteries with time travel thrown in.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ps The Poisoner’s Ring will be published on May 23, 2023 but you can pre-order from the above links and, if you haven’t already, read the first novel, A Rip Through Time.

A part of series about time travel setin the Victorian era with Mallory in a different body trying to sove murders with DR Gray and the rest of the charcters.
Good drama,twists,mystery humor
A intriguing time travel story.
Enjoy the series.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Huge thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's the second occasion I've not thoroughly enjoyed the writings of Ms Armstrong. It was a good story but I found it was a little difficult to get through til about three quarters through. I do look forward to the next!

Just finished poisoners ring by Kelly Armsrong. I read the first one and loved it , this sequel didn't disappoint. It is refreshingly different since it takes place in the Victorian era and involves time travel. Looking forward to more in this series. Great characters and plot.

I'm a sucker for time travel books and the idea of a police detective inadvertently finding herself in the body of a Victorian era housemaid from Edinburgh who works in a house with a hot South Asian doctor and undertaker and his amazing widowed chemist sister and who helps them solve crimes? Yes please.

At this point, Gray and his sister Isla know that Mallory is inhabiting the body of Catriona, their gorgeous and formerly untrustworthy and duplicitous maid. Mallory is what they call her and the fiction is that "Catriona" was hit on the head, has amnesia, and would like to be called Mallory to distinguish her from her previous personality. Mallory wants to go back to her own body and time but has no idea how to do this. No progress is made in this area in this book, despite my hopes that the thallium poisoning deaths would lead to someone who knows 21st century poisons. The thallium connection is never actually explained, unfortunately.

A "poisoner's ring" is a circle of women with tenuous connections who all have found the same way to murder their husbands. When I explained this circle to my husband, he said "It's like the Horrible Bosses movie!" and it is, if that helps you understand what I'm talking about. It's an old wives tale but when several men end up dead of poison, that's the theory that starts making the rounds in the broadsheets and papers.

I figured out the murderer but the author had me doubting myself several times. I am a sucker for historical detail and loved that part of the book. There's a character or two that I'm pretty sure will make future appearances. Part of the theme of this series is how women find agency for themselves in different ways even in societies that give them very few rights, and I like that too. I'm happy to keep going with this series.

I love this series! It is the best book I've read this year, and last year was the first in the series, A Rip Through Time.
The 2nd book was every bit as good as the first. It's time travel on a whole new level. She was a cop in Canada the 21st century, and is now a housemaid in Victorian Scotland in 1800's. But not just any housemaid, she assists the police and her employer, Dr. Gray, a medical doctor and surgeon, and helps the police. His sister is a chemist, together they solve mysteries, and include the housemaid/cop. They are the only ones who know that she is from a different time. And all that happened in the first book, so be sure to read it first! Love these books!
Highly recommend.

Mallory is a modern day detective who found herself in the body of Catriona, a housemaid in Victorian Scotland. This book finds Mallory still a housemaid with Dr Gray, an undertaker. She works as his assistant. The police are investa number of poisoned men, seemingly poisoned by women, especially their wives. We are introduced to Annis, another member of Dr Gray’s family. I enjoy watching the relationship between Dr Gray and Mallory develop.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Poisoner's Ring by Kelly Armstrong is a great follow-up to the first book, A Rip Through Time. This second installment in the series builds on the intriguing world and characters introduced in the first book. I highly recommend reading A Rip Through Time first as it will enhance your enjoyment of The Poisoner's Ring. While both books are enjoyable, I personally found the first book to be more so. Overall, The Poisoner's Ring is a well-written and captivating novel that fans of Kelley Armstrong will love. It's a excellent mash up of police procedural, time travel, and mystery, in a Victorian time.

Rated 4.5 stars. I really enjoy time travel books and this was no exception. Since this was the second book of a (so far) two-part series, I liked this book so much that I will read the first one too.
The story was intriguing and I wasn't able to determine who the killer was until almost the end of the book. There was Sapphic love and cross dressing included in the storyline which made it more enjoyable. I thought the protagonist was sassy, funny and irreverent. Her 21st century detective skills were shown in how she was able to question suspects. What I did not care for was her frequent use of modern language including lots of swear words which were not in use in Victorian times. What was especially grating was her continued use of the word "vibes" which, of course, not of the other characters in the book understood.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing the ARC. I truly liked this story and will read the first book in the series.

The Poisoner’s Ring is the second book in the Rip Through Time series and I have eagerly awaited it! The book delivers and is even better than the first book which had me riveted. I absolutely loved the first book and Mallory. Her ability to adapt overcome and dare I say find a new family despite missing her own fiercely is courageous and inspiring. Now as far as plot and storyline it plays out beautifully it is well written believable and haunting as Mallory is brilliantly crafted in a fascinating mix of past and present as she helps to solve crimes in the past using her unique understanding of the future and criminal advances in science. Mallory seats to help without altering the natural course of scientific criminal justice and still use her knowledge to catch the killer. In this book the stakes grow ever higher as Dr. Gray’s family is linked to horrific crimes of Poisoning with layers of false trails and speculation surrounding the deaths. Can Mallory save Dr. Gray’s family name or will they forever be tied to the Poisoners Ring…

This book is fast paced, intricately paced and written. It had me on the edge of my seat with twists at the end that shocked and awed me. The series is absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend it!

Second Book in the Series..... Not usually my cup of tea, historical fiction, but it was something different and new from one of my favourite authors, what a wonderful surprise, I could not get enough of the first book so expectations were high for the second. and it did not disappoint.
We once again follow the storyline thru main character Mallory's eyes. (Mallory a modern day detective who has time traveled back in time to 1869 as a 19 year old maid with a shady past). The story takes us an adventure of adding the older sister in to the plot and men being poisoned by their wives. There is so much going on this book that you do have to pay attention of who and what is being said.
Who I thought was the person behind everything in the end was totally wrong and I was very excited where and how the book took me to the end.

What a rollercoaster ride thruout this book!!! I am excited to see where the next one takes us......All the questions going unanswered in my head......................

Kelley Armstrong has been one of favorites authors for a long time her books are what initially got me really into reading and I haven't stopped since. the poisoners ring does not disappoint in this book. I loved the story and I loved that we got to get to know and understand the characters a bit more than in the first one. I really like mallory and grays relationship hopefully we get to see that development more in the next book.

A Rip through Time was one of my favorite books last year and I could not wait for the opportunity to read the second book in this series. Mallory is an amazing protagonist; I love the way her mind works and how she has a clear idea of her strengths and weaknesses. Her relationship with Duncan also only got better in this book. The banter between the two was flawless! With Duncan, it was really interesting to see his relationship with Annis, and to get to know more of the Gray family through her introduction. While I would have enjoyed a touch more focus on the time travel element, and how Mallory might possibly return home, I loved every bit of this book and would not substitute any part to see more of that. I don't know how many books are planned for this series, but I am eagerly waiting for them all!

The second book in Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series, we meet back up with Mallory, who has time traveled-into a different time AND body.
I am a sucker for stories of smart, opinionated modern day women who are some how placed in a time that is not their own. This is a tricky line to walk, though, and I feel like Armstrong does a great job of it.
I am eagerly looking forward to more of Mallory's story. Will she stay in 1869, or will she ever get back to her time and body? And if yes, then how? What about her budding relationship to Gray?
So many questions. :)

A great follow-up to one of my favorite new mystery series. This one was fun and exciting. I highly recommend reading the series to get the most out of book 2. I do recommend and enjoy this series whole heartedly

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.

I was so incredibly excited to receive an e-ARC of The Poisoner’s Ring because I really enjoyed book one in the series, A Rip Through Time, and I was thrilled to be able to find out what Mallory and Duncan got up to next.

The story begins with Mallory going undercover with police officer Hugh McCreadie to a pub in Old Town to listen for information regarding a poison ring. Two recent poisoning deaths in the city have led the police to believe that women are poisoning their husbands to be free from them.. but could the answer be that simple?

I found the murder mystery of this novel to be fascinating and exciting. When someone very close to Isla and Duncan Gray is accused of murdering her husband, the need to discover the murderer becomes overwhelming. I absolutely love the setting of Edinburgh in 1869. I’ve never really been one for historical fiction but I find this series brings the present day into the past quite naturally as Mallory struggles to learn the ways of the world in 1869 and also keep her identity as an accidental time traveller hidden.

This series so far has been an exciting rollercoaster ride and I cannot wait to continue it. If you enjoy mysteries with a dash of time travel, this is the novel for you!

I had to read this after the first one. This was a great addition to the Mallory storyline. Mallory is still unbelievable as a 19 year old.