I have loved this series from book one and was so excited to see book 3 was coming out [and even more so when I got accepted for both the eBook ARC and audiobook ARC] and I am so glad that this one, like the two books before it, absolutely did not disappoint [and I will admit to being relieved. LOL].

Jim and Lady Diana, after their crazy adventure in Chicago, are now on a luxury liner, heading to England to see Diana's brother Adi [and for Jim to do a job when he is there] and they are trying to relax and find some peace and also to try and mend a rift that has sprung up between them [you can see just how much they still love each other, but it is obvious from the beginning something is very wrong between them; while it is resolved by the end, I think it will rear its head again before all parties figure stuff out]. Unfortunately, between Jim's violent sea sickness [which introduces him to an elderly gentleman, who both commiserates with the sickness and shares his knowledge of the military when finding out who Jim is] and his inability to see Diana as anything but a fragile creature, the resolution to that doesn't come until near the end of the book, simply because, well, murder. Naturally. ;-)

When the kind gentleman who helps Jim when he is sick is found dead, in a locked room [this seems to be a fun trope amongst mysteries these days] no less, it comes out that he is not only a Spanish diplomat, but also the uncle to the King of Spain and his death could cause all sorts of a ruckus [naturally] if the killer isn't found before landing in Liverpool. Jim is then drafted into service and the game is...ahem...afoot.

This is not a quickly solved mystery however [readers need to be prepared for slow burn of a mystery - you will learn a lot about Spain and Cuba and jewels and the hierarchy that occurs everywhere, including an ocean liner in 1894, and the red herrings will abound right up to the end and the reveal [which was surprising to me - since it was so obvious to other reviewers, I am afraid I am losing my touch in figuring mysteries out. Of course, I was still caught up in some of the amazing {and not always amazing in a good way} Spanish history and probably missed some thing], and even as the book ends, you are left wondering just what happened in the end [this is not a bad thing, and it means you either have to assume, or it sets it up that something from this trip will come back in a future book] all while wondering why Jim is still keeping secrets about himself and Adi and why they are really in England to himself and that is a story I cannot wait to read [so Ms. March, please write faster?? LOL].

If you love a good mystery and lots of interesting history interspersed, this is a series for you!!

I was able to request and receive the audiobook ARC for this book and once again, the narrator, Vikas Adams did not disappoint [I did miss the female narrator from the previous book, but not enough to complain] and really brought the book [once again] to life. I love when I find a book that he is narrating because I know at least the narration will be awesome; thankfully, in this case, both the book AND the narration were really, really, good. Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nev March, Vikas Adams - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

This enjoyable historical mystery is the third in a series of fantastic mysteries set in the 1890s. The books in this series can be read as standalones, for me this book is the second I have read in this series.
Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framj are on board HMS Etruria travelling from Boston to Liverpool. When the Governor of Bilbao and cousin to the Spanish king Don Juan Nepomuceno is killed in the locked music room, Captain Hawley insists that Jim investigates. But why and how was the Spanish aristocrat killed in this way. A locked room mystery and a play on the secluded manor house with a setting in the first class part of a transatlantic liner.
Giving a realistic feel for the period, author Nev March authentically describes the various lifestyles of this time
- from the well-to-do politicians to the work in the machine rooms and the servants. Her descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells help to bring this era to life.

Augmenting the novel to be more than a well-written historical mystery, March incorporates the racism, classism, and sexism of the era while bringing in a quite diverse set of characters.

Considering the fact that I hadn't read the other books in the series, this book just didn't do it for me. I appreciate the fact that I received the ARC from NetGalley and while I did manage to get through the book, I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. Before I recommend a book, I would suggest that those who want to read books in a series, they start with the first and go from there.

So excited to find a new historical mystery series because I have literally become obsessed with them.
Even better has aspects of Sherlock Holmes and I have been listening to several spin offs of that master investigator!

A transatlantic voyage brings Capt Jim and Lady Diana into a murder mystery. The Captain of the ship has asked Jim to look into it when he learns Jim is an investigator!

Intrigue, historical setting, red herrings and a journey to find the culprit bring this story to a great conclusion!

This is the third story in this series and having read the other two before this one, I’ve enjoyed all three of them immensely. I enjoy the way that history and fiction are woven together. There are a lot of twists and turns, and suspense around every corner. I can’t wait to read more about Jim and Diana.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the third book in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries. The couple are on what should have been a leisurely cruise to England when the death of a passenger occurred. Captain Jim was picked to solve a very sensitive situation involving another country and was asked to solve the mystery before the passengers could get off the boat when docked. I loved the combination of both the historic time and the mystery. It covers maritime travel, race, class, and gender during the 19th century. I enjoyed returning to this series and like the main characters. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.

Nev March's The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is a particular kind of book for a particular kind of reader. It reminds me, in an unexpected way, of Zane Grey. It feels that niche, like something a man would have read in his armchair in the 1930s. It's not a bad book--I feel like the mystery element played out well and I liked the nods to Sherlock Holmes. What didn't work was the pacing. Dragging, slow... but again, this may be a function of the particular genre March is trying to get established in. I would also note that March (again... this is ongoing) isn't great at visual description. Reading their books feels a little like reading something that takes place in a cave with one light on. This book isn't for me, but I'll give it 4/5 for being a good example of its (very particular) genre.

Jim Agnihotri was introduced in Murder in Old Bombay. A former captain in the British Indian army, he married Lady Diana and they left India to settle in America where he is now Jim O’Trey. A detective, he recently finished an assignment at the Chicago Exhibition. Now he has been sent to England. The cruise is supposed to offer time with Diana, but the murder of Spanish diplomat Don Juan Nepomuceno puts Jim in the middle of another investigation. When the ship’s captain discovers that Jim is a detective he asks for his help. The death could mean the end of his career and must be solved before they reach England. Don Juan was garroted in a locked room and no one saw anything, which leaves an entire ship full of suspects.

Jim was first drawn to detecting when he discovered Sherlock Holmes. Even Sherlock had help from Watson. Diana is from a wealthy family and she relates to the fist class passengers better than Jim. He is also suffering from bouts of sea sickness. Diana has been feeling like a bird in a gilded cage with Jim’s constant protection. Helping him has given her something to do and helps her decide that there will be changes to come. Nev March’s characters continue to develop. Her mystery takes a number of turns and her setting, while confining, gives you a sense of the trans-Atlantic experience in the late 1800s. She ends with an appearance and request for help from Diana’s brother Adi, hinting at an adventure to come that I can not wait to read. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing my review.

This was a mystery on a ship during the time when people brought trunks of ships to cross the ocean. A man and his wife are travelling from the US to England when a prominent Spanish diplomat is horrifically murdered followed by a string of other unsettling crimes, and the man, a veteran and detective, is asked to solve the case before they dock in Liverpool.

This book had a bit of a real-time feel for me. There were a lot of characters and stream of consciousness narrative about who the murderer could be and different suspicions. It fell a bit flat with the pacing. The story itself in interesting but drawn out. If you're into the slow burn whodunnit with an old-timey feel, you might enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, author Nev March, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Spanish Diplomat's Secret of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion on this work. I always thoroughly enjoy works by Nev Martin and happily recommend her work to friends and family. She writes a fine mystery, and this one is no exception.

We are asea on the HMS Etruriam in the summer of 1894, with former British Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji when Spanish Diplomat Don Juan Nepomuceno is brutally murdered in the ship's music room. In the next few days, still isolated at sea, Jim will attempt to solve the murder before they dock in London, to hopefully avert war between England and Spain and keep the ship's captain from rack and ruin. A good mystery, a wonderful look into life on a pre-20th-century luxury liner, and a fine peek into the mental synopses suffered by soldiers of war. I couldn't put it down.

894. Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framj are on board HMS Etruria travelling to Liverpool. When the Governor of Bilbao Don Juan Nepomuceno is killed in the locked music room, Captain Hawley insists that Jim investigates. But why was he killed in that way. Then a suicide occurs. Are they linked.
A well-written and entertaining historical mystery with its cast of likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
n ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March is a downright delightful historical mystery, the third in the series, which takes place on a luxury liner on the Atlantic in 1894. Captain Jim O'Trey and his wife Lady Diana Framji are aboard and when murder happens early in the story they are on hand to investigate, Jim with his detective expertise and Diana with her ingenuity. Spaniard Don Juan and Jim met the evening before so when Don Juan is found dead, Jim is taken aback. Not only that but he is given only the eight days to solve the crime so is under intense pressure as he questions fellow passengers.

If you seek a fascinating series with cultural bits, do add this to your list. The historical detail is described in such a way that I felt I was on the ship, too. Mysteries which take place on the sea with nowhere to go intrigue me. I really like the husband/wife duo's relationship with its realistic ups and downs.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with with a digital copy of this rewarding novel.

This is the second book by Nev March I have read.

Jim and his wife Diana are crossing the Atlantic hoping to make a new start back in England. However, while on their cruise the passenger Don Juan is murdered, and Jim is pulled in to do an investigation. He must balance his relationship with Diana along with figuring out who the murderer is, despite all the passengers and crew being very secretive.

The author's strengths are the details put into the writing. However, sometimes it seems repetitive and the plot moves slowly. Not much is discovered for a long time in the book. I prefer books where at least a few clues are given along the way instead of just questions upon questions to the point where you feel like you haven't moved ahead at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book #sponsored

n this followup to "Murder in Old Bombay" and "Peril at the Exposition", Jim Agnihotri and his new wife Diana are returning to England by ship when a fellow passenger is killed. Jim had just met the man the previous night, and his curiousity is aroused. Diana plays a pivotal role in his investigation, as she has in the previous books.

The onboard setting doesn't give the active pair as wide a range as in the previous books, and it felt a bit claustrophobic. But Nev March is a great story-teller, and this is an interesting mystery with a wide-ranging variety of characters.

I miss the Indian setting of the previous novels, and hope that it will become a more important part of future books in the series.

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

Inspector Jim and Lady Diana Ontrée or cruising from New York to Liverpool and on board is the Spanish diplomat when Jim meet him on the deck the last thing he thinks he will be investigating his murder but that is exactly what happens with international implications the task Falls to gym. He must solve the crime to avoid an international incident but what he finds is the Spanish diplomat had more than one enemy on board a ship with 1000 strangers he also learns the Spanish diplomat wasn’t the only thing a value the captain was toting across the Atlantic when Jim get seasickness it will be up to Lady Diana 10 Vesta gate the case then thanks to her Grace intact she may just get the job done with a little help from her nauseated husband. With a couple finds out sometimes even being thousands of miles from home You may just bring the trouble with you. This was a fun mystery and I am going to be honest and say I did not guess the ending until it was almost announced. Most good mysteries have believable suspects in this one is packed full of them. From old slites to new ones they are not short of could be murderers. Can Jim and lady Diana solve the case before they make it to Liverpool? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to any mystery fan. it doesn’t get better than great mystery on the high seas and that is exactly what you get with The Spanish Diplomat Secret by Nev March. I want to think Minotaur books Saint martins press and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This is a good series and I liked this mystery set on a ship with a restricted number of suspects.
Please don't call it a closed-room because it's not an impossible crime and the room are not closed.
That said I think that Jim and Diana are a great couple and like them, the historical setting and life on a passenger ship are well described and vivid.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
It's a bit slow at times and not my favourite even if I enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT’S SECRET by Nev March
Publication: 9/ 12/ 2023 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 400
Also: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Vikas Adam


Meet the progenitor of James Bond in 1894 British India .. Captain James Agnihotri (aka Jim O’Trey)… now recently married to Lady Diana. Jim is a half-caste orphan and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family. Jim become endeared to the family will his previous sleuthing to clear up a family mystery - dilemma. Once Diana set her sights on him , he was easily won over. With Diana’s social skills in high society, and Jim’s investigative skills and army background they make a formidable couple, and have a penchant to apply the deductive skills of their hero, Sherlock Holmes.
In the Summer of 1894 they have embarked on a transatlantic ocean voyage from Boston to Liverpool, along with an international list of a thousand passengers. Jim is sensing some underlying current of dissatisfaction in Diana’s mood … the trip will be an excellent time to root it out. Jim is aware that almost more pressing will be his penchant for sea-sickness. True to form he finds himself on deck and vomiting over the side. He is approached and offered comfort by a Spanish gentleman, who identifies himself as Don Juan Nepomuceno… a fellow soldier and comrade in-arms. The next day Jim received a note from Don Juan urgently requesting his presence in his stateroom. Before he can comply, the gentlemen is found garroted in his locked stateroom. The ships Captain Hawley, once he’s aware of Jim’s background, enlists his aid in solving the crime … hopefully before they reach Liverpool, and avert an international crisis. Jim undertakes the investigation with the aid of Lady Diana. There are literally a thousand suspects and no witnesses. Using their Sherlock Homes-like skills they relentlessly pursue an extensive and all encompassing investigation … all the while realizing their time clock mercilessly is winding down. They soon learn that the Don was certainly not a beloved person with his checkered past history. There is an abundance of those onboard who hold malice. The fact that Don Juan is a highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international calamity.
Nev March proves to be a master storyteller, weaving a narrative with ever increasing tension and suspense as the facts and clues are teased out, while incorporating relevant Indian history and customs into this marvelous soufflé. I look forward to the further investigative adventures of Captain Jim and Lady Diana. This can be devoured as a standalone as the author expertly weaves an necessary backstory into the narrative. I personally switched back and forth between my kindle and the audiobook, narrated by the marvelous Vikas Adam. Hi wonderful narration brought this complex tale alive in the theatre of my mind. Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance AudioBook in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Finding a murder aboard a cruise ship is fraught with surprises, as ex-British Army captain James Agnihotri (now using the name James O’Trey, due to a bureaucratic error; but, as we know, society would receive that name ever so much better) and his wife Diana discover in “The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret,” the third in their historical mystery series, this one set aboard the liner HMS Etruria, bound for England. A note; although these can be read as standalones, for the most enjoyment, best to start with book one, “Murder in Old Bombay.” But hurry and catch up, won’t you?

What’s the Spanish Diplomat’s secret? Well, it might just remain one, because the courtly gentleman who helped Jim with a bout of seasickness and who soon afterwards summons Jim to an urgent meeting is found dead. In between comforting his wife, who’s having a few issues, and dreading the sea voyage because of his illness, Jim is asked to put his detective background to work to find Don Nepomuceno’s assailant, before it causes a diplomatic incident.

And boy, are there lots of secrets to be discovered here. Past events, with heavy mentions that there are people happy that the man is dead. A large cast of characters thrown together on a boat. Even the hint of the supernatural -- something that ships are known for. It becomes evident the murderer is very clever. The author is equally clever in setting it all up for us to solve, that’s for sure.

Readers are reminded that this is 1894; people dress for dinner, manners are followed (language what’s fit for the ears of ladies, for example). And Jim’s mixed-race heritage is always below the surface, in his thoughts and his dealings with people, and what that meant at the time.

Remember that mention of “a diplomatic incident.” It soon becomes apparent that there’s a lot more to it than that, a lot more. Author Nev March works a history lesson into her narrative, always a plus. Then again -- “money - the root of all evil,” as the book says. You get to decide.

There’s a big finish, with Jim fighting his seasickness (readers may find the description of that a little over the top, you’ve been warned), and Diana definitely doing her part for her man. Justice needs serving, with peace between two great nations perchance dependent upon it. And justice comes, but perhaps not the one foreseen or desired. Readers may decide to pull out their “justice meter” on that one, too.

“The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret” offers up strong characters, an engrossing story, surprising twists, and a mystery, satisfactorily explained. Our ending also finds Diana wanting more in her life. These two have been through so much; you’ll want to stay tuned.

Goodness, I love the relationship between Jim and Diana and their romance is especially adorable on this crime-riddled cross-ocean voyage in The Spanish Diplomat. This one’s basically a locked-room mystery, meaning all the culprits Jim investigates must exist aboard the ship, making the mystery that much more entertaining and intriguing. There are a lot of cultural and historical references, too, and the cast of characters was interesting.
I’ve physically read (and enjoyed) the first two in this series, but this 3rd I mostly listened to on audio and throughly enjoyed. I had both the ebook and the audio and felt more drawn to listening to the mystery via audio. Admitting, it took some time to sort all the people out, but once I had that figured, I was totally hooked on all the twists and turns Diana and Jim encountered during their investigation - Diana is such a charming and clever sidekick.
I definitely recommend this series, but this book could certainly be read as a standalone. It gives Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes vibes and I really enjoyed it.

This historical mystery takes place in the late 19th century aboard a transatlantic crossing as the title characters head from the US to England. The journey is filled with intrigue, murder and chaos when a Spanish diplomat is found dead. encounters a Spanish diplomat who is well connected in Spain. Because the Diplomat is well connected in Spain, the ship’s captain enlists the lead protagonist to solve the death of the Diplomat by the time the ship docks in the US. Captain Jim, who has somewhat of a reputation of solving crimes, sets up an early version of a Murder Board, and uses the Sherlock Holmes novels as the starting point of his investigation. The story drags and goes on and on in the middle, as Jim analyzes and analyzes each clue multiple times. There are lots of red herrings and plenty of suspects. The mystery is filled with red herrings and murder suspects as the characters race across the Atlantic. This book is the first for me from this author. It is well worth the read.