The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret by Nev March

This is my kind of book: Great characters with a clever, well-written and engaging story. James O’Trey and his wife, Diana, are on a sea voyage from New York to Liverpool. A murder and other odd events have occurred on board. James is tasked with finding the killer and solving the mysteries. Time is short. He must hurry.

Many passengers are questioned, yet discerning what’s true and what isn’t is trying. It’s 1894, so superstitions and tales of the sea also complicate the inquiries. Diana helps her newish husband clarify certain muddy areas.

Many thanks for this ARC from the publisher and #NetGalley. I rate this enjoyable “who-dun-it” five stars, as it checks all the boxes for me and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

A fun cozy historical mystery though a little meandering and lengthy for this type of story. It is a classic locked-room mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie, and I couldn't help wishing snarky Poirot was on the case. Instead, Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji are on board a cruise ship heading to Liverpool in the late 1800s. When Spanish diplomat Don Juan Nepomuceno is murdered, suspects are plentiful and everyone has secrets to hide.

This is the third book in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana mysteries. I had not read the prior two books, and while this can be read as a standalone, I felt like I was missing something of each character's past life. They have immigrated to America where Jim is working for a detective agency, and while their individual backstories are mentioned and Jim, particularly, ruminates about life in India, there were parts that still remained a bit unclear.

The plot is interesting and there are many side characters, but I had little problem keeping them straight. However, the writing and pacing seemed a bit uneven, and the story definitely seemed in need of tightening up. The historical aspects of the story are well done, especially its discussion of class and colonialism in India and abord the ship. The details of all the trunks the higher class passengers stored for the trip, as well as the amount of food and alcohol required for the lengthy trip was fascinating.

I'm not sure I'd continue with the series although I'm now contemplating going back to read books one and two to learn more about these characters.

Early into a trip from the US to England, we find Jim O’Trey (Agnihotri) spewing his meal overboard. An elder Spanish gentleman sits with Jim as Jim recovers, and reveals that he, too, was a soldier, and has a regret for some past action.

Jim and Diana are on a six-day trip, hoping to relax and have some fun before they meet up with Diana’s brother Adi, who awaits them. Jim knows something is bothering Diana, and there is tension between them, which they set aside when the Spanish gentleman is murdered. The Captain appoints Jim to determine who the killer is before they land in Liverpool, and the transport company penalizes the Captain.

Jim is between a rock and a hard place; there are several hundred passengers to question, though because this happened in First Class, the pool of suspects is thankfully somewhat reduced. Also, the man was killed in a locked music room, and there are conflicting stories of what people saw around the time of the murder, and conflicting alibis.

Diana uses her charm to suss out some information and motives, while Jim struggles at times to get anything out of those he questions (his own past is a factor in these situations, as the years of abuse he received because of his biracial parentage means he never feels the equal of these potential suspects, despite his successesp.)

Jim interrogates many, and the more he learns, the more confusing things seem. He eventually finds out that the diplomat’s death is linked to a terrible 20-year-old incident, and unless he finds the connections, and the murderer, the current political tensions between Britain and Spain could result in a serious international incident. So, no pressure, right?

I love Jim and Diana. Jim is still plagued by memories around the time of his serious injury, which, though terrible for him, I liked, because of how the effects of his trauma linger believably, and continue to affect him.

And Diana remains the vital, intelligent and compassionate woman we met in book one, easily managing hunting for clues while always finding the right outfit, for dinner but with more experiences to temper her understanding of the world.

And frustrating as I found it, I think Jim began the voyage overly protective and still in some awe of the intelligent and highly capable Diana. I could see him sending her out of the room repeatedly for what could have been important or relevant conversations to the investigation, without thinking how Diana might react. Or remembering how well Diana had fared when tracking him down in Chicago. I was also concerned that despite realizing he would have to reveal to Diana that Adi had a specific reason for coming to England, he still said nothing to her by the end of the book.

But, I have hope for Jim, as he had grown somewhat by the end of the book, and was more cognizant of what he had been doing to his partner. And of course he figured out the frustrating murder case using his favourite fictional detective’s methods.

I like this series. Its gentle, kind main characters (yes, I know Jim boxed and can be violent when needed) who want to right wrongs are enjoyable to spend time with. Plus, I love all the history author Nev March weaves into this series. I’ve learned things with each book, while also having fun trying to solve each case, which I did again in this entertaining instalment.

I look forward to more Diana and Jim adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The latest in the series brought me right back to why I really like these characters and their prevailing lives. Jim and Diane are traveling to Europe. Their Atlantic-crossing voyage features, memorable characters, dignitaries and murders. The plot is engrossing.

The death of the Spanish Diplomat starts it all. Jim must figure out who killed the diplomat before the ship ports to avoid a conflict between Spain and Great Britain. Diane proves once again why she’s just as important to solving the mystery.

This entry had Agatha Christie vibes. Even though my early guess of the killer proved right, I enjoyed reading the book. I loved the callback to the earlier books, especially the first book. I’m invested in Jim and Diane and hope there are many more stories ahead.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC.

I so enjoyed this locked door mystery. Jim and Diana are on another adventure, this time on a cruise ship bound for England. Jim is just getting Diana to talk to him about what is bothering her when he receives a message from a man he met the day before. When he goes to look for the man, he finds out the man had been murdered. He is in a locked room with no sign of the killer anywhere. How could this be? The more Jim investigates, the murkier things get. Then people come to him because small things have gone missing. He is only supposed to investigate a murder, not missing objects. Diana is so good with people and Jim relies on her to see things that he doesn't. They only have a few days before they reach Liverpool to find the murderer. You would think that having a ship full of people with nowhere for them to go, you would be able to find the culprit. It's not that easy.

I'm rounding this up from about a 3.75 to 4. I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did book 2. Diana and Jim are traveling to England on a cruise ship when a Spanish diplomat is murdered and Jim is given the task of finding the culprit before they land in Liverpool in eight days. Again there were a lot of characters but since this was basically a locked room mystery the cast was limited and characters didn't float in and out of the story. I felt like we saw more growth in Jim and Diana that was missing for me from book #2. Jim's hero is Sherlock Holmes and it was fun to see Diana and Jim referencing different Conan Doyle stories to the mystery at hand. The end wrapped up pretty neatly and it was fun to learn more about the Agnihotri's.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

I enjoyed this one but not as much as others. I do love the historical facts and culture that pervade these books. I love how they're not very US-centric, but more focused on a bunch of other countries. But my goodness, the protagonists basically wastes 4-5 days onboard just asking questions to which he is given unsatisfactory answers, or no answers at all, and not doing anything about it. I may read the next one in the series, but I also may not.

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is book 3 in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries by Nev March.
I read book two Peril at the Exposition and loved everything about it.
The third book was no different.
An engaging nineteenth-century mystery story of the transatlantic voyage.
The author’s writing is detailed and remarkable.
I enjoyed the historical backdrop, and the well-developed, diverse cast of characters.
A riveting, totally engaging novel. I sure hope to read more of these.
This is an exciting story with many twists and I had trouble putting the book down.
I need book one Murder in Old Bombay. Because this is becoming a very interesting series.

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

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

We follow Jim and Diana across the ocean. On the way Jim is ask to investigate an onboard murder. In between being seasick he searches for answers. It’s a good little mystery with an unexpected ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

A well-written locked room mystery on board a trans-Atlantic cruise kept my attention throughout. While the main character, Jim, idolizes Sherlock Holmes, this plot is straight out of Agatha Christie's world. The mysterious Spaniard is murdered and as the investigation progresses, we come to realize that this old man made enemies of pretty much EVERYONE. There are a multitude of motives and likely suspects. Nev March does a fabulous job of building the 1890s era onboard along with a colorful cast of characters. A solid addition to this series - I look forward to the next.

It's a hard to review a good book that is not your style. This is a good mystery set on the Cunard in the past and it touches on a historic event that I hadn't heard of before. That is interesting, but it also contains more historical data than I am interested in. It precisely describes how passengers in first class dress and change for different occasions during the course of a day. Many would enjoy reading this but I became lost in the detail and detached from the story and the main characters. I also found the writing a little choppy. I ended up skimming the rest of the book. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review.

Captain Jim and Lady Diana are on their way to England- if he doesn't die from seasickness first!- when an important Spanish passenger is gruesomely murdered in his locked stateroom and Jim is, of course, pressed into service to find the killer. I've been a fan of these complex cozies for the characters as well as for the mysteries themselves but this time, the whole thing felt light on Jim/Diana and heavy on chaotic investigation. There are many suspects, some historical issues related to the Spanish diplomat, and a number of red herrings. Jim tells the story, which does move along briskly, and those who haven't read the earlier books will appreciate that he also provides a bit about his own background along the way. Who can he trust (beside Diana)? I like the period atmospherics (the clothes, the food) and as always, Jim himself. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

A detective and his wife are travelling from New York to London on a steam ship in 1894. Early into the trip a prominent political figure has been found murdered. It is up to the detective to try to solve the murder before they make it to London to prevent a war from starting because of the killing.

I really love that this novel has the same feel as an Agatha Christie novel. It was very well done. The characters retain some mystery as well so you never know who can be trusted. The plot unravels at a great pace and subtle clues are given throughout. If you like a period mystery, you'll love this book!

"A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree." (Spike Milligan)

And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't seem to put Captain Jim O'Trey's stomach back together again.

Captain Jim O'Trey and his wife, Lady Diana Framji, are sailing aboard the HMS Etruria heading across the Atlantic toward Liverpool, England. It's the Summer of 1894 and they will be meeting Diana's brother, Adi, when they get to shore. Jim's stomach is not used to the high and low pitches of the Atlantic. He feels more confident on solid ground and even the shifting sands of the desert. Bombay is their home. But his queasy stomach must step aside as there will be a demand for his sleuthing skills.

Jim met Don Juan Nepomuceno on the deck while the don was out smoking a cigar. He and the elderly gentlemen exchanged bits of polite conversation. Later, Jim receives a note requesting his presence by the don. But their future meeting never was to happen. The don's body was found by one of the chamber maids later that afternoon.

Who could have wanted the don dead? And why? The captain reaches out to Jim to investigate the murder. With many upscale passengers onboard, he doesn't wish to disturb them. But the reality is that the murderer is still onboard with nowhere to go until they dock in six days.

We'll follow Jim through the narrow corridors of the ship. He's following false leads that travel to dead ends. Someone even makes an attempt on Jim's life. This will not be an easy case.

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is the third book in this series, but it can be read as a standalone. Do yourself a favor and read the first book, Murder in Old Bombay, which is my favorite. This third book was a 3.5 Stars for me kicked up to 4 Stars as the ending finally lit a match. The ship storyline was a good one, but I prefer the atmosphere of Bombay for this husband and wife duo. More intrigue and more enchantment. I'm ready for #4, please.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Nev March for the opportunity.

This is the third in the series but is very readable as a stand alone mystery. Basically a locked room mystery as the main character Jim and his wife Diana are onboard a ship enroute to America. Shortly after leaving port a Spanish diplomat is found murdered. Jim is asked to find the murderer before they dock. A very enjoyable cozy mystery with a plot that keeps you guessing and wonderful characters.
#TheSpanishDiplomatsSecret#NetGalley#StMartinsPress

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret is a historical and mystery novel set on a luxury liner in 1894. I have read and enjoyed the two previous books by Nev March featuring Captain Jim and Lady Diana. I regret this is my least favourite of the three books. The writing shows meticulous research into political and financial matters, life aboard an ocean liner, and social/class divisions. The physical details of the ship are prominent in following the solution of the mystery, and I found these difficult to visualize. There were nautical terms not known to me. The crew's roles and locations on the ship help determine the outcome.

Captain Jim and his wife, Lady Diana, travel from America to England in a situation where social diversity is apparent, and one must be wary of offending. There is no interaction between the wealthy first-class passengers above and the lower class below deck.

Jim senses a sadness and coldness from his wife, Diana and fears he must have done something wrong to upset her and that she no longer loves him. Adding to his discomfort, he is overcome by a case of seasickness. He has been aware of this illness since serving in the British/Indian military. At the beginning of the voyage, Captain Jim is sick on deck and is helped by an elegant older Spanish gentleman. They exchange a few words about both being soldiers in the past. The next day, Jim receives an urgent message from the man asking him to come immediately. When he locates the Spaniard, it is too late. The man has been murdered in a room that is locked from the inside. This was a time of rebellion within Spain and tension between Spain and England. It has been learned that the victim was a diplomat and a near relative of the king of Spain. He was on a vital mission to the Spanish rulers and had a dark history from when he was Governor of Cuba.
The Captain and his assistant have learned that Jim is a detective. They confront him about solving the murder before the ship docks in six days. They insist an arrest is vital to avoid international repercussions and forcing passengers and crew to remain onboard for an investigation. The Captain and officers may be arrested and forced to resign in disgrace.

Jim's detection method is based on deduction and the reading about his hero, Sherlock Holmes. He is slow and ponderous, eliminating suspicious people individually and then changing his mind when there is more evidence. Lady Diana is better at questioning, showing compassion and receiving solutions in flashes of intuition and insight. Due to a complicated crime and a large cast of suspects, the investigation proceeds at a lethargic pace. Jim, helped by Diana, must interview the five hundred first-class passengers, their servants, assistants, nurses, and crew. Following the murder of the Spanish diplomat, there is a suicide, a suspected stowaway assassin, an attack on Jim, an abduction, a second physical attack, a stolen treasure, and occult sightings.

The slow pace picks up later in the book, but I had difficulty maintaining interest with so much going on. There are some shocking twists while passengers and crew worry about a killer on the loose who may be a political assassin who will attack anyone who gets in their way.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an early ARC. The book is due to be published on September 12.

Murder on the high seas!

Nev March is killing me with this splendid series
It’s 1894 and Lady Diana and Captain James O’Trey are bound for England on a luxury Cunard liner.
They’re no sooner settled in than a murder is committed. Don Juan Nepomuceno, a Spanish diplomat, but more than that, a nobleman and a general.
Jim offers his services to investigate and is given free rein. He’s become an American, and is seen as a neutral party in what could become a volatile diplomatic occurrence between Spain and Britain.
The thing is Jim had had interaction with Don Juan the night before. A message from the Don was sent to Jim to attend the Don, but had arrived too late.
Eight days to find the killer. Can Jim and Diana do it?
There’s plots within plots, diplomatic and personal.
A young woman drowns, another’s life is threatened.
Then there’s the dark history of the Don Juan. Trouble in Cuba when the US ship Virginius was captured by the Spanish. A military tribunal executed fifty-three men. That tribunal was led by the General.
The pace is relentless and I was on the edge of my seat during the whole of my reading sprint!

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 Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March
(Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries #3)

Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife Lady Diana Framji, formerly from India, now from the United States, are on a cruise to England. Diana hasn't been herself since Jim's last work assignment away from home and he's hoping this cruise will allow her to open up and tell him what is troubling her. It's as if she is hiding something from him and he's worried she may have lost interest in him. He knows he is hiding something from Diana but he'll tell her later since the news could cause her more distress.

Eight days asea will allow Jim and Diana to relax together. But wait, less than 24 hours into the cruise there has been a murder of the Spanish diplomat aboard the ship. Since Jim works for a detective agency the ship's captain gives Jim the task of investigating the murder. Not only that, the captain wants the murderer found before the ship reaches its destination. Otherwise the 1000 passengers and crew could be stuck on the ship much longer than eight days, due to all kinds of international hubbub. Too bad that Jim spends most of the first days sea sick. Thank goodness resourceful Diana is there to help in more ways than one.

I feel like the series is back on course. I like it best when Jim is present, not off doing something else. Here, Jim and Diana are able to work as a team, especially since there are times when Diana is much better suited to questioning/comforting some of the passengers and crew members. It seems things on the ship are going to get worse before they get better and knowing that a murderer is on board amongst everyone makes this very much a closed room mystery.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of The Spanish Diplomat's Secret.

Nev March introduces us to several characters during Jim and Diana's week at sea, and the political and social divisions of the time often hinder his investigation into the murder of the Spanish diplomat in the title. I enjoyed the cruise ship setting, although some of Jim's searches and investigations seemed repetitive. Will he break the case before they arrive at their destination? Yes, but not before a storm that delays the ship an extra day.

Jim and Diana have a sort of 'Nick and Nora' vibe for me. Entertaining historical fiction.

Thank you to the author, Nev March, and Minotaur Books and #SMPInfluencers, and as always NetGalley for an advance digital copy of the book. All opinions are mine.

This was a beautifully written mystery full of rich characters. But I struggled with this mystery. I also struggled to keep track of the large cast. But I loved the setting, everything having to do with the ship itself.

A fun read!