I love this series! This second book in the series was so good. I feel bad that she's stuck in the old days, but, she is smart and she brings a lot to the investigations of the murders. It's fun to see how the old timers handle the 'new' technology, and how the cases eventually are solved. I highly recommend this book.

I received this ARC for an honest review. I love how Kelley Armstrong’s mind works! Her world building is magical and her characters feel real. You are immersed in the story, and the world falls away. This is the second story in the Rip Through Time series.
This series follows detective Mallory Atkinson in 1869 Victorian Scotland. Mallory found a rip accidentally and was brought back in time to 1869 from 2019. Mallory is still adjusting to the new life and body, but is still trying to go home.
Luckily, she works with a forward think Dr Duncan Gray. Who is educated to be a medical doctor and surgeon, but he inherited the mortuary from his father, so he must work as a mortician. Luckily, he has a friend with the police Hugh Mcreadie, and Dr. gray has earned the respect of the other officers to help with some cases.
Dr. Gray knows the truth about Mallory and agrees to have her help him with the cases.
This story is about Dr. Gray sister Annie Leslie, who is under suspension of poisoning her husband. But there are two other men who was poisoned in the same matter. How are they related? Why is this happening? What is the motive? I’m not telling. I love this series. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!

The first book in this series, “A Rip Through Time” began in May 2019 in Scotland.

Canadian police officer Mallory Atkinson, aged 30, had traveled from Vancouver to be with her dying grandmother in Edinburgh, and took a jogging break from her hospital vigil.

In the Grassmarket, former site of executions, she was attacked by someone who showed signs of being the serial killer recently reported about in the papers. She only escaped death by somehow falling through a rip in time. She ended up in May 1869 in Victorian Scotland in the body of 19-year-old Catriona Mitchell, a maid in the house of an undertaker, Duncan Gray. Catriona had been strangled and left for dead exactly one hundred and fifty years before Mallory was strangled and left for dead in the exact same spot.

Mallory now passes as Catriona, but she has convinced Duncan, who is 31 and quite handsome, his sister Isla, and a few others, including a police detective Hugh McCreadie, that she is actually Mallory, and that Duncan can benefit from using her as an assistant in solving crimes. (To help her adjustment, they agree she should go by the name Mallory Mitchell.). Although Mallory wants to get back to her own time, she is growing closer to Duncan and Issa - especially Duncan, and he is growing closer to her.

In this book, several men have died of poisoning, and the people of Edinburgh are panicking over the possibility of a “poisoner’s ring” of women getting rid of unfaithful husbands. Even Duncan’s older half-sister Annis gets accused after her husband, Lord Leslie, dies unexpectedly in a similar way.

Armstrong conveys a lot of interesting information about the state of knowledge in science and medicine in that era, as well as how policing was done. Working together, Mallory, Duncan, Isla and Hugh solve the crimes and cement their interrelationships even further.

Evaluation: This book is very entertaining, and chock full of romance as well as suspense. Armstrong always tells a good story, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

This is the second in this series, and though you do not have to read the first before this one, I would highly recommend it as it is a very good read and gives the background on how Mallory ended up in 1800's Scotland. Mallory inhabits the body of a 19 year old maid to Dr Duncan Gray, he owns a funeral business but also does work with a detective for the Edinburgh police. After him and Mallory went out to do some undercover type of work, which did not end as they wanted, they are called to the house of Dr Gray's sister, Annis. Her husband is sick and she proclaims that she's going to be charged with his murder. Her husband does die and she is the prime suspect, accused of poisoning him. Gray and Mallory pursue a number of promising leads which also provides the reader with a feeling of what living in Victorian Scotland was like, for the most part, dirty, unless you were wealthy most people lived in deplorable conditions. Gray and Mallory think at first there is a group of women who are sharing information on who can provide poison to off a troublesome husband, a poison ring. There are a number of red herrings in this story and I very much enjoyed the character development, especially with Gray and Mallory, I'm not sure how this will end, but I hope it ends well for them. I would high recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur for the ARC.

Mallory returns in the second novel in Armstrong's new series about a woman trapped in time. Now that Dr Gray knows the truth about Mallory, she is free to assist him in his police consulting. When a series of deaths by poison becomes popularized in the papers, Dr Gray's older sister becomes a suspect. Mallory can identify the poison, but finidng a way to prove it might be beyond current science.

I really enjoyed this novel. Now that Mallory has been revealed as a time traveller, she can be much freer with her opinions and ideas - which lets her humour shine through. I very much anticipate the next novel in this series.

4.25/5 stars! Really enjoyed this sequel in the 'A Rip Through Time' series. Kelley Armstrong has been one of my favorite authors since reading her Darkest Powers trilogy as a kid. Here she shows she can write in an adult fantasy context as well. I loved how the historical aspect is interwoven with time travel in this book. Malory was a likable character. Overall found this to be an enjoyable read and will definitely read the following books in the series as they come out.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This is the second book on the series but it could be read as a standalone. If you enjoy time travel stories you will love this series. Set in 1868 Edinburg Mallory is trying to find out who is using poison to murder.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to have this arc copy of this book.


This is the second adventure for both Mallory and Duncan. After the ending of the first book, we find Mallory being ignored by Duncan. Then his eldest sister comes a blurts out she was going to be arrested for her husband’s murder. This starts their new adventure in finding the ring of poisoner’s killing people.

This wasn’t as good as the first one since it was slower than the first. The first was also very centered on Mallory. This one expands the world but not quite in a dynamic way that the first did.

I liked how Mallory and Duncan’s relationship has developed as well. The slow burn is great and frustrating at the same time.

I had guessed the ending long before the book finished, but it didn’t diminish the journey. I needed to see how they got there.

The one oblivious loose string is Jack. I wasn’t thrilled that this new character was sort of just there. They didn’t contribute much to the story and that irked me. Maybe they’ll have a bigger roll in the next book.

All in all, an enjoyable story.

Thank you and NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc.

I really love this series. It's got a lovely very slow burn romance starting, which I adore even though it will absolutely break someone's heart, one way or another. I've loved Kelley Armstrong's stuff since Bitten, but her more recent stuff is just getting better and better.

In our second rip through time, Mallory is still finding her footing but is more adjusted to her new situation than she was on our first outing. Where the first book at times got bogged down in laying out the plot, here we jump into the action fairly quickly. We're chasing people down alleys within 50 pages.

One thing I appreciate about this book is that while romance is hinted at, it's not something we're rushing into. I know that for some people that will be a downside, but if like me you like for your romance to take a backseat to the action, you'll appreciate this.

I read the majority of this in one night. Couldn't put it down. After meeting a new member of the Gray family on this outing, I can't help but wonder who we'll meet next. If you loved the first one, you'll love this even more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for lending me an advance copy so I could write this review!

Another awesome, quick read by Kelley Armstrong. You absolutely can read it as a standalone novel. Loved it.

LOVED this entry in the series. Mallory is still trying to find her way through Victorian London, but at least now her patron and his sister are aware of her circumstances. I can't wait to read more in this series!

This is the second book in this series and I enjoyed this one even more than the first! Mallory Mitchell is still stuck in 1869 Edinburgh after inadvertently traveling back in time from 2019. This time she and the crew from the first book are trying to solve a series of poisoning murders. I was kept guessing until the end. I highly recommend this series. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved it! Everything this author writes is extraordinary in all ways. Mallory, a modern day detective, unexpectedly slips back in time to the Victorian era and while trying to find her way back home helps with crime investigations. It's fascinating to watch her roll with the obstacles of that time period and use her current skills for good use. The closer she gets to Gray though, the master of the house she is employed in, is bittersweet because what will happen when she eventually gets back home? I love this series!

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read an advance copy of The poisoner's ring, the 2nd book in the A Rip through time series by Kelley Armstrong. Mallory and Duncan Gray investigates a suspected Poison ring when several men die, including the husband of Duncan's sister, Annis. 'Suspicion falls on both of Duncan's sisters, who both have spent time working with poison. This is a fabulous read, as we see Mallory and Duncan work together, and the respect of Detective Hugh McCreadie starts to give Mallory. I loved the character development of Duncan, the fascination he has for detective work, and the budding relationship he and Mallory have. Mallory begins to change Catriona's character to her own, and while Duncan, Isla and Hugh know who she is, some of the others are still somewhat suspicious of Catriona, and her sudden change of character. I keep wondering how Mallory will be able to go back to the 21st century, and is Catriona in Mallory's body (and the chaos she could be making). I can't wait for the next book. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading A rip through time first.

_keeping this short & sweet_

I'm convinced Kelley can legit write anything! She has no limits and I love it!

The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong is the second installment in A Rip Through Time series.

Homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is back in action and ready to uncover the truth.
Edinburgh, 1869 working as an assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner starts attacking the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion.

Just as I was expecting this was wonderful.
I was excited to start this book and once I did it was so hard to stop.
The mystery and time era is so fascinating to me.
Armstrong really knows how keep the reader engaged and she hooks you every single time!
Her characters are compelling, the mystery was very unique and the history was so intriguing.
An as always her writing is just brilliant!
Another unputdownable story by one of my all time favorites!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Second installment of this series, it can be read as a standalone, but you miss so much of the world building and how Mallory came to be in Victorian Edinburgh. Loved this one even more because we already have the relationships in place of all the main characters. Murders are taking place by poisonings and our investigators are involved trying to solve them, while the family starts getting drawn into it personally. There are lots of different stories and figuring out how all these deaths relate to each other keep the adventure moving along. It's a great ride and how the relationships keep building keeps us personally invested in them. Well written with a nice flow, as most of Ms Armstrong's work. Advantage of an ARC is we get it quickly, but then have to wait longer for next work to come, thanks to NetGalley for the adventure.

Big thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Poisoner's Ring!

Expected publication: May 23rd, 2023

A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker's assistant in Victorian Scotland, when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion.

This is the second book in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone, in my opinion. I loved The Poisoner's Ring, although not quite as much as A Rip Through Time. The wonderful characters from the first book (Isla, Duncan, Hugh, and of course Mallory!) are all in this book, as well, and I enjoyed learning more about them. The descriptions of Duncan make him absolutely swoon-worthy. (And, I don't swoon easily, haha!)

I struggled a bit with Mallory suddenly speaking in 21st-century vernacular. For me, it was understandable for that to happen within her inner circle, but it seemed as if she was doing so to one and all. It was a wee bit disappointing, as I had considered it to be HILARIOUS when Mallory tried to figure out how to speak as one would in the 19th century, in the first book.

Don't get me wrong. I still absolutely love this series, and will be tapping my foot impatiently as I wait for #3 to be written!!

This series is so unique. And I’m so torn because I almost don’t want her to travel back.

Ok, with that being said let’s dish.

Complicated…this book was complicated, twisted and made me fall in love with Gray. If I was tumbling the last book I surely fell all the way with this book. This is so much more than just a mystery. Again…complicated.

But the way this author weaves a story is brilliant. I have loved many of her series. This is so much more. Writing Dr. Gray and Isla in that time. Their fairness, their smarts…it was the perfect place for Mallory to land. Her predicament is so wild and they treat her so well. And McCreadie too, how he listens to her.

I can’t wait for the next book. I need more and I can’t imagine how this will all play out. I’m intrigued. I will leave you with this fact…I actually cried at the end.

4.5 stars
A great second installment in the Stitch in Time series. In addition to Mallory, Duncan, Isla and McCreadie, this story introduces Annis, the eldest Gray daughter. Annis is suspected of being part of a poison ring with her husband’s death. The gang follows all the investigative twists and turns through to a rather dramatic conclusion. As ever, we’re left with the questions of how Mallory slipped through time and when/how she’ll be able to get back to the present day.