The Poisoner's Ring, by author Kelley Armstrong, is the second installment in the authors Rip Through Time Series. The story takes place in the year 1869, which is the Victorian Era. This book picks up a month after the events of the last novel. Mallory Atkinson is a homicide detective from Vancouver, Canada, who was visiting her grandmother in Scotland before being attacked and sent back in time to Edinburgh, Scotland. She found herself in the body of a 19-year old Scottish girl named Catriona Mitchell, who wasn't a very nice person.

She is adjusting to her new life in Scotland as an undertaker's assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray, and his sister Isla Ballantyne, who has come to accept that she is Mallory, not Catriona. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows. In one case, the murdered man is Gray’s oldest sister Annisi. Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that.

Along with Detective Hugh McCreadie, Mallory, and Gray, investigate a possible poison ring has been created. A ring of women who murder their loved ones with a deadly poison not readily known in this era. The most interesting aspect of this series is watching Mallory trying to make her way through a world she was not born into, and not give away too much information that might change the future. Mallory is a character with plenty of depth. She’s hardworking, kind, relatable, and makes for a strong female protagonist that readers can cheer on.

Her relationship with Duncan has gone from mistrust, to something closer to a solid friendship. Mallory knows that Duncan has a hard enough time not being white in a society that looks down on people who are different. Add to the fact that readers get a deeper understanding of the family Duncan and Isla were born into, and it's a wonder how anyone is capable of doing what they do. One of the questions I have in reading this series, is whether or not Mallory will find a way back home, and if she does, what kind of world will see find once she gets back. Or, will the author decide that Mallory should stay in the Victorian Era Scotland with Duncan and his family?

Ooh, Mallory and Duncan are getting closer, will there be a love match in book #3? I can't wait to find out. I love that Mallory ended up in such an accepting house in Victorian Scotland, Duncan and his sister are very understanding of the time-traveling story. I am very excited to read Cocktails & Chloroform when it is released in December.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

While this is a time travel mystery series, this book has no time travel which suits me very well. I'm enjoying the historical mystery and the lovely characters here. Now in The Poisoner's Ring, we have a series of poisonings and since Isla is a chemist there is concern she will be drawn into the suspects. I am really enjoying how Mallory is fitting into the household and building her friendships in her new circumstances. She is very helpful in solving the crimes and assisting Duncan in his undertaking / doctor business.

The poisonings are blamed on the wives / cooks since they are generally the ones feeding the men. However, Mallory and Duncan find that in almost all cases there was a gift or purchased special item of food or drink which ended up containing the poison. The details and deductions about human nature put together a very clever mystery. Jack is am unreliable new supporting character. I really enjoyed learning more about the rest of Duncan and Isla's family.

There was very little about Mallory's going back to her own time and she doesn't seem to have any idea of how to make it happen. Of course, since a death situation brought her here, it's not an easy thing to plan. I have to wonder what happened to Catriona, and is a killer taking more lives in which time period? What does Mallory's family know?

The author writes an excellent mystery so I am in no hurry to return to the present day, other than my previous questions. I hope if she does go back, Mallory gets to somehow retain her friendships made now in the past.

I am a huge of Kelly Armstrong and was immediately pulled in with the first book, A Rip Through Time. This is a follow up novel and it did not disappoint!!!

I was captivated by the main characters as they are both layered and as you read, you keep finding yourself wanting to know more about them. THe inner works of their mind, so to speak, including the killers. The conclusion, which I must confess, I am usually quite good at figuring out by 45-50% mark had me guessing until the very end. The plot contains many twists and turns which I enjoyed tremendously because it made sense in the content of the novel. For those who are avid mystery thriller readers will understand that if there are too many red herrings but it doesn't flow with the book, it is just irritating. This was never the case with this author, which is why I adore her work, greatly.

My profound thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my honest opinion in exchange for the digital copy of this novel.

I really enjoyed this second installment in the Rip Through Time series. I enjoyed following along as Duncan, McCreadie, and Isla experienced the true Mallory, in as much as they could given the circumstances. And as always, I enjoyed the time travelling trope.

Overall, this is another knock out for Kelley Armstrong, as all her books are. It was well written, enjoyable, and kept me intrigued from start to finish. I found all the subterfuge was a bit hard to follow at times with so many different characters scheming against the others in so many ways. But I ultimately enjoyed the mystery and how the story wrapped up. I would highly recommend reading A Rip Through Time prior to starting this one to fully understand the plot and characters.

The romance reader in me is still rooting for a forbidden romance between Mallory and Duncan, and I can hardly wait to read more in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong was one of my most anticipated new releases, and it did not disappoint!

This is book two of the A Rip Through Time series, and we return to Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1869, where modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is still trapped in the body of a Victorian housemaid. In the first book in this series, Mallory has mysteriously time-traveled and has no idea how it happened. However, a few people know her secret, including Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and unofficial medical examiner in whose house she is employed, Isla, his chemist sister, and McCready, their detective friend. The group has begun to take on murder investigations, and this one has multiple victims and suspects. Men are being poisoned, with their widows accused of their deaths, including Duncan and Isla's older sister, Annis.

I'm a big fan of Armstrong's writing and storytelling. This series is fascinating with its time travel aspect and the beginnings of scientific crime scene analysis, such as fingerprinting, which isn't advanced enough to be used as evidence yet. Mallory cannot rely on much of her modern detective training and must adapt to a society where her position as a female servant puts her in a lowly position. Even though her friends are open-minded, particularly for the time, Mallory's observations of Victorian life make for some thought-provoking scenes tackling social issues and interesting and often humorous dialogue. The group has gelled as a team, and this time we get more background on Dr. Gray and his sisters. Atmospheric and well-researched with lots of period detail, this has a tightly woven plot and engaging and complex characters. There is even a hint of a possible romance, making this series a unique and suspenseful genre mash-up and a thoroughly entertaining read! I devoured it and cannot wait for book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur books, for the opportunity to review this ARC. I loved it!

This is one of my favorite historical mystery series and one that must be read in order. Mallory is/was a very modern woman and a cop who finds herself transported from 2019 Edinburgh back to 1869. Now she is trapped in the body of 19 year old Catriona, a housemaid in the home of Dr. Duncan Gray. Now she is his assistant as he works as an undertaker and medical examiner. I'll leave the rest for you to discover. I don't want to spoil any of it.
They are now faced with a poisoner who is killing men all over Edinburgh leaving their widows under police scrutiny. Is there a chance that the women are acting together? Mallory and Duncan investigate and they make a great team.
If you like a well plotted historical mystery, time travel, a strong female character and a touch of romance, make sure to put this series on your TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

In the second novel in the A Rip Through Time series, this adventure follows Mallory as she continues to adjust to life in 19th century Edinburgh and investigate a series of poisoning murders alongside her friend and employer, Duncan Gray. However, this time the murders are closer to home - Duncan's oldest sister Annis is accused of poisoning her husband and it is only a matter of time before the police or press start to question whether it is wise to allow an accused murderess' younger brother and sister to help with the investigation.

The premise of this series is delightfully bonkers but as long as you can accept it (Mallory is a 30-year old 21st century detective trapped in the 1860s and in the body of a 19-year old housemaid because of accidental time travel and ended up working for a household that is non-traditional and accepting of her time travel) then you are going to enjoy the ride. There is humor, sexual tension, friendship, murder mysteries, and history! I was totally wrong about who the killer was but the explanation and reasoning for the actual murderer made sense once it was laid out by the investigators. It is a good mystery and it provides a lot of historical context that I enjoyed. I look forward to the next installment and really hope that Mallory never figures out how to get home.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Poisoner's Ring early!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: May 23, 2023

This is the second book in the Rip in time series by Kelley Armstrong. The first book introduced us to Mallory (a 21st century police detective) that was thrown back in time 200 years into the body of a young house maid.

Mallory has revealed her true self to her employers and has been engaged to act as an assistant to both the police and the coroner’s office at least until she can figure out a way to get back home.

This second book focuses on poisoning deaths and the potential for a poisoner’s ring of wives arranging for their husbands deaths. As Mallory, Dr Gray and detective McCreadie set off to discover the origins of the poison and who is truly behind the murders.

This is another great mix of modern detective work in a historic setting. Mallory tried to weave in her present day knowledge with the limited resources and not yet discovered investigative techniques of the past.

I really enjoyed this one and am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong. This is a 4 star rating from me and I highly recommend for any fans of historical fiction and/or investigative fiction.

#NetGalley #thepoisonersring #kelleyarmstrong

I really enjoyed A Rip Through Time, and this second book in the Series did not disappoint. Since Dr. Gray and his sister Isla now know that Mallory is a time traveler, she is a lot freer to be more herself. She gets to be called Mallory and to slack off on her housework, as she now has become an assistant to Dr. Gray. The story is full of Victorian-era crime-fighting information, as a series of poisonings strike close to home. We learn a lot more about the members of Dr. Gray's family, and their past. The story has delicious twists and turns, and the relationship between Mallory and Duncan grows closer. I, eagerly, await continuation of the story. 4-1/2 stars

I received an ARC for free, but I give my honest opinion voluntarily.

This is one of those series that should be read in order in order to follow the story. That will not be a hardship as this is a unique and fascinating mystery series, and finally, there is a hint of romance. It will be interesting to see where it goes.

A little background from the first book: Mallory Atkinson was trying to follow a woman's cry and had spotted someone - or something - when she suddenly found herself in another time - specifically, in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1869. Worse, she found herself in another woman's body, a much younger woman. Mallory was in her thirties in her own time, and now she finds that she is a teenager. Fortunately for Mallory, someone recognized the teenager whose body she was inhabiting, and she found herself working as a maid in a middle class household, where one of the men has a medical background and works as an undertaker. She becomes his assistant.

In this book, Dr. Duncan Gray has two bodies that come to him and he recognizes some unusual symptoms that point to poison. This is particularly concerning to him since one of the deceased is his brother-in-law, and most poisoners are women. He is afraid that his sister will be the most likely suspect, as his sister and her husband had recently and publicly quarreled. The investigator in charge is anxious to close the case, and unlikely to dig deeper. He and Mallory must work together to discover the real poisoner quickly. I was thrilled to see that there was finally a hint of romance in this book, and can hardly wait to see what happens next.

I received a review copy of this book from publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review it.

I had read the first book in this series and was really excited to have a chance to read this second one.
It’s another good mystery with an unexpected ending.
I do think the book moves a bit too slow, at least for me.
Looking forward to the next one
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Armstrong is a longtime favorite author of mine and this latest entry in the A Rip Through Time series doesn’t disappoint. Armstrong’s characters are not only complex but incredibly likable and I love reading a Mallory’s modern day POV being turned on its head by her Victorian era setting. Most importantly, Armstrong’s mystery plot is perfectly balanced with plenty of suspects, clues and red herrings that will have you scratching your head until the final page. If you’re looking for a great mystery involving time-travelling homicide detective solving crime run don’t walk and pick up this amazing series. This is the second book in the series; so be sure to pick up A Rip Through Time, book one, and read Mallory’s time-slip adventure from the beginning.


I was received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #StMartinsMinotaur for the advance copy of this book, publish date May 23, 2023. The opinions are my own.

My opinion is that this is a hell of a ride. Mallory is back in good form and is just as enjoyable a character as in the first book. The mystery in this book revolves around Gray's older sister who is accused of murdering her rich husband with poison. There have been several men killed by a new, undetectable poison and in each case the wife is accused. Because Gray's sister is accused, he and Mallory and the cop all get caught up in the investigation.

I liked this installment because it gave more background to Gray and Isla's family history and the sibling dynamics. It helped make them fuller characters. Annis (the accused murderer) is a great addition as a character because she's so unlikeable.

The one slight flaw I noticed multiple times is that the way Mallory speaks is so NOT of the era or even of her apparent age (19 and she's really 30). I get it with her close friends, but when meeting someone new during an investigation, she just pokes and pries and speaks like a modern detective which leads me to forget that she's presenting as a 19 year old servant. Armstrong specifically brings it up now and then, but I wish the dialog was a little more era accurate.

Other than that, it was another good mystery peopled with interesting characters. Armstrong has a very readable writing style and I just flew through the book. Definitely recommend!
Blog link live 5/15

We are reunited with Mallory Atkinson, a modern-day Canadian police detective who somehow tripped through time to become trapped in the body of a young servant in 1869. Her employers now know she is Mallory stuck in Catriona's body, and she is assisting her boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, in his work as an undertaker and in his hobby as a medical examiner for the police. But his latest cases are hitting close to home when is sister is implicated in a string of seemingly unrelated poisonings done by the victims widows. But Mallorey and her friends aren't convinced--can they prove the authorities and the papers wrong in time? And will Mallorey ever make it home again?

I love this series! I love the modern voice coming out of the context of Victorian Scotland, rich with historical detail yet fluid because of the narrator's foreign voice. This works most of the time, and even creates some funny situations in a dark mystery. Only sometimes does it seem that she's showing off with modern idioms and phrases. Not only is this a cultural education in Victorian times, but also in police procedure and the investigation of death. The story is told in the present tense--an interesting choice for a time travel book--which made it more urgent and real to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced electronic copy.

I loved à Rio though tune so much last year and I was very excited to read the second book in the series. I was not disappointed at all, The poisoner’s ring is great. It has a lot of the same exciting elements of the first book, the setting of Edinburg in 1869, Mallory trapped in a housemaid’s body in the wrong era, Dr. Gray, and an interesting mystery. I loved Mallory even more in this book, and I really like the dynamic between her and Gray. The poisoner’s ring mystery was really good and kept me guessing. I did eventually suspect the actual suspect, but only in the end, and I was satisfied with the ending. I can’t wait for book 3 now!

I absolutely love this series! The character development is great in this book and I love that Duncan now knows that Mallory is from the future. I like that Mallory gets to still use her present day detective skills while teaching the men more about detective skills 150 years in their future.
Duncan tries so hard to treat the women in his life as equals but still struggles with letting them do their own thing and thinking they don’t need protection. They had some really good conversations about that in the book. This book was an easy 5 stars and I can’t wait for the third book in the series!

Poisonings in Victorian Edinburgh!

Some sort of time slip occurs and thirty year old Canadian police detective Mallory is trapped in someone else’s body in Victorian Edinburgh, 1869. As a maid in the Gray household! That is Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and sometime forensic assistant to the crown, and his sister Isla who’s a chemist. An unusual household that ever since she’s come through some crack in time has welcomed Mallory, formerly Catroina.
Gray has allowed Mallory who had studied forensics in her previous life to become his assistant. The family is going to need all their wits about them and Mallory’s help when one of their own, their sister Annis’ husband, Lord Leslie is found murdered—poisoned.
Duncan, Mallory and Detective McCreadie have been following a series of fatal poisonings and Lord Leslie’s is the latest in the line. The victims have all been men whom it appears their wives have reason to be free of. The events take the poisonings to the next level—a poisoning ring!
Annis is high handed and estranged from her family. Her companion Sarah is assisting Annis but it is to her brother Duncan that Annis turns. What Duncan and Mallory discover is a poison but not arsenic, rather a heavy metal.
There’s a complicated cast of characters but each has its place in this intriguing, page turning saga.
I love the character of Mallory, street savvy, a fighter, but working in a body that’s not as fit as her 21st century body. She’s forever hampered by the clothing of the time, by not knowing the customs and expectations. This unknowing constantly trips Mallory up.
Dr. Duncan Gray is measured thoughtful and a fantastic foil for Mallory. Their relationship seems to be building in respect, possibly more, but there’s always Mallory’s thoughts of what happens when or if she’s wrenched back into her own time.
I’m not a fan of time slip stories but this second novel in the series has maintained the high standard of the first. I’m sold!

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong.
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone.
Mallory Atkinson is a modern day police detective who somehow found herself in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1869. She is in the body of a 19 year old chambermaid in service to an unusual family. Her employer helps the police with crime victims and Mallory becomes his assistant.
Several men have been poisoned and the finger is pointed at their wives. It becomes personal for Dr Gray when his older estranged sister arrives late at night - her husband is dying and she will be blamed. It is the third death by poison in a short period of time. The Press is saying wives are poisoning their husbands.
I really enjoy all the characters. They are well written and really come to life. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story - how women are regarded and treated and the early stages of police detection and the use of forensics. The story flows well and it was a very enjoyable book.

This book was so much fun! It is the second book in a series so I would definitely recommend reading A Rip Through Time first or you probably won’t understand what is going on with Dr. Grey and Mallory. The best description I can give for these characters is if you could imagine Sherlock Holmes as an undertaker who solves crimes in secret, and Watson as a Canadian police detective from the future, pretending to be a 19th century Scottish maid. If that isn’t enough to hook you in, I don’t know what else to tell you.
Dr. Grey and Mallory are trying to figure out why men are being poisoned in Edinburgh. None of the men seem to be connected outside of the manner of their deaths. Is it all a coincidence or is there a secret group of women trying to rid themselves of unwanted husbands. The story will make you question everything until the very end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a splash of fantasy thrown in. Can’t wait for the next one.