I've got the making series on the brain, and it's a perfect week to take on a new entry in the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards. Sepulchre Street is Edwards' fourth novel, and the fourth to feature his mysterious amateur sleuth, Rachel Savernake. Edwards is, of course, the premier expert on Golden Age / traditional mysteries, and I'd be excited to read this advance copy on his name alone. (Many thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the gift copy!) But I've also been a huge fan of his sleuth Rachel Savernake since I first picked up Gallows Court. The series is clever, compelling, and a dark contrast to some of my cozier "comfort" reads.

In this latest outing, Rachel and her crew pursue the alleged murderer of a dazzling contemporary artist. When Damaris Gethrin approaches Rachel to "solve her murder" - and then proceeds to execute on the same at her art exhibit - Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans ned to learn more. As they investigate further, they uncover and wrestle with layer on layer of conspiracy. It's an intriguing premise, and Edwards is known for delivering on his puzzles. But can he keep it up in Sepulchre Street?

Rachel goes on an adventure

Martin Edwards is the ultimate scholar on Golden Age crime fiction, and it’s clear he loves the intellectual challenge of a good fair play mystery. He has brought that appreciation and wit to all of the prior entries in the Rachel Savernake series. He continues with the rigor in Sepulchre Street, going so far as to include a clue-finder at the end to “prove” the solution. If you, like me, enjoy feeling intellectually challenged by a mystery, then you will appreciate this approach. It's nice to know that all elements of the ultimate solution are deducible with information fairly provided.

That said, Edwards has chosen to go a little closer to the modern adventure route than in prior entries. Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans stumble into a broad conspiracy, and their actions incite behavior that actually uncovers information. Not only that - the criminals are also prodded on by external factors, revealing additional clues. There's a larger element here of luck and/or conspiracy than in prior works - Rachel and the team have to be more reactive.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this, and it can be fun to see what happens when an intelligent and resourceful character is put in a tough spot. But when I think of the Great Detectives, I always imagine a sense of control - that they generally have an understanding of possibilities and probabilities that allows each new incident to give them information. It's the difference between the detectives leading the charge and simply deducing the outcomes. There's nothing inherently wrong with either approach - but I'm surprised to see this more reactive mode from Edwards' characters.

What makes a detective Great?

My first recommendation, should you choose to read this novel, is to quickly refresh yourself on the cast of the series. Edwards routinely references the team's past adventures, and spends little time reintroducing the characters and their stories. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to avail myself of this advice, and it took me a minute to refresh on each story and history before I could truly get into the swing of the novel.

Edwards continues to write Rachel with a vaguely mysterious past. While it was intriguing for a few novels, it's wearing thin in book 4. Rachel continues to have infinite wealth and intelligence. She can do no wrong when it comes to detecting - she's an effortless team leader and a great ally. But without enough of the personal touch, Rachel comes off as an in-story deus ex machina: there's no doubt she and her team will survive unscathed.

Of course, a mysterious crime-solver can still work when the surrounding stories and characters are sufficiently engaging. And while the story in Sepulchre Street is full of dramatic events, the characters themselves are a little thin. The victim dies in a truly shocking way - but we learn very little about her as a person. In my reading notes, I've noted one character gives off "Irene Adler in Sherlock" vibes - that is, shallow with the ongoing promise of depth.

My instinct is that Savernake could be great, if Edwards could commit to either approach. If Rachel's past stays vague, then the surrounding mysteries need to make up for it. Otherwise, it'll be important to dive deeper into her story (and her crew's). For the moment, Sepulchre Street fails to hit either mark.

Reader's notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐✨)

The above criticisms are in the context of a well-written traditional mystery / adventure novel. I gulped Sepulchre Street down in a single sitting and enjoyed the more dark, atmospheric vibe of the writing. This is definitely a good read, just a niche one - and one that feels like it could have been even better. I'd recommend this to anyone who's already a Martin Edwards fan - but if you're just looking for a great traditional mystery and not already familiar with the series, I'd suggest starting with Gallows Court first. Because it's so reliant on series attachment - 3.5 stars.

Read this if...

You love Rachel Savernake (and have recently read the other books in the series)

You appreciate the intellectual puzzle of a good fair-play / closed-circle mystery

You’re looking for something a little more on the dark side of mystery

Skip this if...

This is your first Rachel Savernake book

You need to empathize with either protagonist or victim in your mysteries

You’re looking for something cozy (like I often cover here)

Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards will be released on May 11, 2023.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for this e-ARC.

This is the second Rachel Savernake novel that I've read and the fourth book featuring her. If you have not read the other books there may be some minor character connections that you'll be missing, but overall it doesn't really effect the main story or mystery.

Rachel Savernake is at it again as she is tasked with solving the "murder" of Damaris Gethin. Who has set her on this road to mystery? Why, Damaris herself has tasked Rachel with solving her murder only moments before she seemingly takes her own life by guillotine.

Perhaps it's because I've read other Rachel Savernake novels, but I actually found this quite easy to solve. While there were a few twists and turns regarding the relations of several characters, I solved the main mystery pretty early on. While I did enjoy the overall plot, I just found the characters to be unlikable.

There is pretty much no backstory or interpersonal relationship building for Rachel or Jacob, both of whom are main characters that feature in other novels. Honestly I mostly was rooting for KiKi. I thought her story was the most humane and understandable. You could easily see how her story ebbed and flowed and her character flaws made sense. With Rachel you have a haughty rich lady who likes murder and everyone wants to screw. And Jacob is the puppy newspaper man who writes about murders. It's just too convenient.

In this, the fourth book in the Rachel Savernake series, is another homage to the Golden Age of crime which Edward so admires.
When she is called on by surrealist artist, Damaris Gethin, before she is even dead, Savernake and Flint become embroiled in the seedy world of gangs, forced prostitution and exploitation. As the bodies pile up, can they untangle the mass of clues to find the real killer?
With all the usual tropes which typify a 1930s crime novel, Edwards once again manages to create a novel that remains faithful to the genre whilst also imbuing it with a fresh, modern feel. Sepulchre Street does shy away from issues that may have scandalised some contemporary 1930s readers.
With the more visceral and tense scenes tipping this more into the thriller genre than other crime novels, Edwards presents the usual red-herrings and dead ends we come to expect of a good whodunnit, but drops plenty of cryptic hints to the eventual denouement along the way, inviting the reader to play armchair detective along with the incorrigible, and self-confessed ‘nosey parker’, Savernake.
With the first pages setting a gripping introduction to the increasingly tense and pacy storyline, this is a novel that will be enjoyed by all who love a good whodunnit featuring an intrepid amateur detective.

Admittedly I was unaware that this was the latest in a series of books. That said, this book stands on its own, I only wish I’d had more awareness of the character’s motivations. This book starts off with such an interesting hook and disappointingly becomes secondary to the bigger plot point. There is a lot going on in this book and a lot of dialogue drives the story along; but if you stay committed you’ll be awarded with it all being cleverly solved by our fearless and strong minded main character, Miss Savernake.
Many thanks to Aria & Aries for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC via Netgalley for my honest review. The bonus is I was introduced to a new series!

Coming rather quickly on the heels of “The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge”, we have “Sepulchre Street”, the fourth book featuring the mystery-solving Rachel Savernake in the golden-age-set series from Martin Edwards.

London in the 1930s. Rachel, a supporter of modern art, is invited to a new exhibit by Damaris Gethin, an artist who has been rather silent recently. Knowing her reputation as an amateur sleuth, Damaris asks Rachel to solve a murder: her own. Damaris then takes to the stage and uses a guillotine to behead herself in front of the crowd, her final act of performance art.

Also attending the exhibit is Jacob Flint, crime reporter for The Clarion and sometime member of Rachel’s crime-solving team. Jacob is interested in getting an interview with Mrs. Kiki de Villiers, a mysterious socialite who is in the crosshairs of a Clarion investigation. With the death of Damaris, Jacob is thrown into a second mystery as well, both with the same cast of characters.

What follows is a series of twists and turns with much of the expected vintage British mystery touches: secret identities, mistaken identities, untouchable gangsters, hidden agendas, mysterious killers, government plots, upper class frivolities, and a dark and gloomy mansion at the end of the titular Sepulchre Street.

Although this is an enjoyable and complicated mystery that we have come to expect from Mr. Edwards, it seems that this time the story has a very modern feel to it, and deals with topics that would never be covered in typical 1930s mysteries. Rachel also seems a bit crueler than previously, a bit haughtier. The initial death of Damaris is also a sidenote, and not really relevant to most of the action that takes place. For us armchair detectives, Mr. Edwards provides a listing of the clues that would have allowed us to solve the mystery along with Rachel and Jacob. A complicated modern tale set in the recent past, but missing the golden age sensibility of some of his previous work.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Aria & Aries via NetGalley. Thank you!

The book Sepulchre Street was a great mystery that kept me engaged until the end. The author started the story with a captivating hook that immediately grabbed my attention - "Solve my murder." The opening created a sense of foreboding and drew me into following the protagonist, Rachel Savernake. Despite being a former judge's daughter and not a detective, Rachel Savernake took on the role of a sleuth, which was unusual for a woman in those times. I was intrigued by her character and approach to detective work, which involved working in the shadows with the help of her butler/driver. Rachel had a strong bond with her found family, whom she treated as equals rather than servants. She was a brave and fearless woman who did not shy away from the dangers of her mission.

The book's character, Jacob Flint, provided enough distraction for me, making me curious about what was happening. He greatly supported Rachel, and together they reached a conclusion. Jacob was likable because he repeatedly got into trouble but had the humility to ask for help. Although the story had detours, making it slow-paced, it was necessary to solve the mystery and kept me guessing. The novel's themes of betrayal and political conventions reflect societal issues even today. Overall, the book was an enjoyable read with must-read subplots.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria and Aries Books for sending me an ARC for Sepulchre Street in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus for approving my request to read and review this book.

Once again Martin brings a fabulous story with Rachel and the great cast of characters!! The story, plots, descriptions, and historial details make the book a fantastic read. The start is with the death of an avant garder artist Demaris, The story weaves between various suspicious characters to a satisfying ending, which you will not see coming.

I look forward to book 5. This book will be recommended to my fellow readers!

Love, Love, LOVE this series by Martin Edwards and this one did not disappoint!

Once again, Jacob Flint finds himself solving a murder by partnering with the intrepid Rachel Savernake and her loyal companions.

A fast-paced read with plenty of murders to keep the reader engaged.

Bring on the next one, Martin, I’m a huge fan!

A Most Unusual Exhibition..
The fourth in the Rachel Savernake series, set London 1930’s, and Rachel has been invited to a most unusual private art gallery exhibition. Once there the artist, Damaris, asks an odd favour - for Rachel to solve her murder. When Damaris is guillotined to death, seemingly by her own hand, Rachel must question herself. Meanwhile a fellow party guest has his own mission and threads will soon merge in a tale where nothing is quite as it seems. Combining a Golden Age touch of puzzling mystery and deftly drawn characters with more modern twists this is a fitting addition to this very enjoyable and well written series.

A delicious murder mystery reminiscent of the fabulous Golden Age of crime fiction and the third title in a series featuring the crime-solving talents of Rachel Savernak and her very faithful gang.
An absorbing "clue-finder" set in and around London at the beginning of the Great Depression, cleverly plotted, gorgeously written and exquisitely choreographed with a colorful cast of highly determined amateur-sleuths and some unforgettable misfits....

This terrific whodunit needs to be slowly savored if you really want to resolve its rather complex shenanigans.
Clues are everywhere and anything which throws some light on who the criminal might be must be carefully examined. It is also a compelling fictional tapestry of English society in the early 30's.

Teeming with lots of terrific historical details and full of great verbal pyrotechnics, this highly entertaining and often humorous criminal romp really deserves to be discovered and enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Aria & Aries and Netgalley for this wonderful ARC

This is the third book in a series featuring Rachel Savernake, a brilliant wealthy daughter of a demented "hanging judge" who was brought up on a remote island in the Irish Sea. With her are companions from her days on the island as well as Jake, an ace crime reporter. Frequent mentions are made of events which took place in the other two books but it really isn't necessary to read the first two to enjoy this book.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this book is a 3 or 4 in a series and it was quite something to read. This book was lacking i think the word is substance. The curse of the second book or third book is real. The description was beautiful but there were so many topics that were thrown in the book but not properly discussed further. seemed a bit rushed. give it a try anyways it might be due to your liking

This is a solid entry onto the series I think if you like the series you will enjoy this twisted puzzle!

I had high hopes for this book, the title, cover and description had me really interested.
Sadly I found the course of the book quite wordy and slightly flat. It didn’t feel like a book I couldn’t put down and sadly I really struggled to connect with any of the main characters.
Muddled.

Another great Rachel Savernake adventure!! I highly enjoyed it. It was such a great throwback to the Golden Age of Detective reading. I highly recommend this to historical mystery lovers!

The blurb of Sepulchre Street drew me in: an artist with a flair for the dramatic asks Rachel Savernake to solve her murder before seeming to commit suicide in front of a room full of people. The first chapter had me riveted - it's just a pity that that particular plot ended pretty much there...

The rest of the book follows a multitude of tangents with so many different characters that it proved difficult to follow. Even if I only put the book down for an hour, I'd have to jump back and forth to figure out who characters were and what was happening. Even at 100% completion, I couldn't tell you who Butterworth was.

The plot that the book meanders along is completely different to the hook and it's a crying shame because I was intrigued after the introduction. At around 40%, the original plot is tied up as a brief conversation that felt as if it was a "oh, by the way" addition.

I'm sad to give this a less than perfect score but by about half way, I was flagging and it felt like an achievement to finish it..

3/5 stars! This is an example of a book whose cover is prettier than the story. The premise was intriguing and I was excited to read it. I hadn't realized it was the 4th book in a series and I did feel like this was hard to read as a standalone. There was none of the thrill or 'ah-ha' moments that I want in this type of mystery. That being said, if you're looking for a simple who-done-it + a ghost, this book is for you.

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

I enjoyed reading it but was not captured by the characters. I received this as an advance copy from the author via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I would like to thank Aria & Aries for an advance copy of Sepulchre Street, the fourth novel to feature Rachel Savernake, set in and around London in the early 1930s.

At an exhibition of her surrealist art Damaris Gethin asks Rachel Savernake to solve her murder, then executes herself on a guillotine. Journalist Jacob Flint is at the same exhibition trying to investigate a glamorous socialite. Both are shocked by the suicide and work together and individually to solve what drove Damaris to it and a few other incidental crimes.

I didn’t realise that Sepulchre Street was part of a series when I picked it up. I found Rachel’s mysterious past frustrating but otherwise the novel works well as a stand-alone, although I suspect that I would say that even if I had read the previous three novels as it seems to be part of her mystique.

The novel is a straightforward mystery in the Golden Era style of detection. I found it quite bland even while it strayed into territory that no author of the time would have touched with a barge pole, except in the most veiled terms. Lots of things happen, motives are in plentiful supply, as are guns and yet, there is no tension or excitement. I think the novel is designed this way, because that was the style at the time with the mystery of who did what at the centre of proceedings.

I had high hopes of this novel with the dramatic opening scenes - a guillotine as a weapon of suicide is intriguing, but it soon fell into its own intrigues and got a little lost. Everyone has an agenda and there are so many threads that it is hard for the reader to see clearly. Personally I feel that the novel is spread too thin over too many possibilities, even the Secret Service and their dark arts are involved for not very veiled reasons.

I was glad to have read Sepulchre Street as I always like new to me series, but it didn’t appeal to me enough to want to read the preceding novels in the series. I think it is a solid read.

Given the publisher;s description, I was eager to dig into what seemed to be a classic closed room mystery, Who killed the famous artist by guillotine? Unfortunately, that was not the actual plot.

This is the third book in a series featuring Rachel Savernake, a brilliant wealthy daughter of a demented "hanging judge" who was brought up on a remote island in the Irish Sea. With her are companions from her days on the island as well as Jake, an ace crime reporter. Frequent mentions are made of events which took place in the other two books but it really isn't necessary to read the first two to enjoy this book.

Rachel is an interesting charachter. She at times is capable of great kindness but is also prone to condescension and cruelty in her dealings with Jake. His charachter in particular is baffling. He is bright enough to be an up and coming reporter on Fleet Street but by the same token is treated like a complete dufus by Rachel and her cohort.

The plot was designed to give the reader a fair shot at solving th mystery. In fact, the author has an appendix with all of the clues he dropped along the way. However, there are so many twists and turns in the story that after a while I could hardly wait for the end to come, not because of the plot but because I was suffering from what could be described as a reader's version of motion sickness.
I appreciate being given this ARC by Netgalley and Aries in turn for an honest review