Book Review
The Poisoner's Ring
reviewed by Lou Jacobs

readersremains.com | Goodreads

Step into Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland once more for a captivating cozy mystery featuring modern-day Canadian police detective Mallory Atkinson, who finds herself stranded in 1860s Scotland. She works alongside the unorthodox yet forward-thinking duo of criminal investigator Duncan Gray and his half-sister, Isla Ballantyne.
Duncan, a biracial individual, is the youngest member of the Gray family. Despite his medical training, societal constraints force him to work as a mortician, although he actually serves as a trusted consultant to Detective McCreadie. Duncan examines murder victims before the inept medical examiner has a chance to compromise the evidence. His methods are precursors to modern forensic science.
Isla, on the other hand, breaks the mold for women of her time. Highly educated, she’s compelled to work as a herbalist rather than a chemist due to prevailing gender bias. Unfortunately, Dr. Gray is often dismissed as insignificant and somewhat of a fraud. Despite his education, he faces discrimination due to his race.
Thirty-year-old Mallory, a police detective from Vancouver, is thrown into this scenario when she rushes to help a screaming woman in an alley. Suddenly, a noose is slipped around her neck. As she loses consciousness, the world darkens. When she awakens, she’s shocked to find herself in the body of an eighteen-year-old blonde girl. Through a “rip in time,” she has journeyed from May 20, 2019, to the same day in 1869. A resourceful character, Mallory navigates this new time period and unfamiliar body with wit and determination.
This is the second in a series of enjoyable historical mysteries, merging a police procedural with a time-travel narrative set in the vivid backdrop of the Victorian era. This novel works perfectly as a standalone, thanks to the writer’s skillful interweaving of necessary backstory into the current plot. Mallory’s employers are aware of her predicament and allow her to assume the role of Duncan’s assistant. The trio harness each other’s talents to solve mysteries together, although Mallory is unsure if she will ever return to her own time.
Witnessing Mallory’s attempts to mimic Victorian speech, based on her understanding of modern Victorian romance novels, is amusing. She continuously reminds herself of the “butterfly effect,” the idea that a single action in the past can have a profound impact on the future.
The trio’s latest investigative challenge involves a suspected ring of poisoners, where women are allegedly murdering their husbands. Initial evidence suggests that the victims might have deserved their fate. Wives are promptly arrested without thorough investigation. When Duncan’s older sister, Annis, becomes a suspect following the murder of her unfaithful husband Lord Leslie, Duncan is compelled to join the investigation. Poison is considered a woman’s murder weapon, but it couldn’t possibly be that simple. The poison used seems to be a traceless toxin that Mallory identifies as thallium, a heavy metal virtually unheard of in 1860s Scotland. Even Isla is unfamiliar with its use as a poison.
Kelley Armstrong proves herself to be an expert storyteller, spinning an enchanting tale packed with numerous plot twists. As the story escalates, it culminates in a thrilling and unexpected climax that leaves some questions unanswered, hinting at more adventures to come. Armstrong skillfully incorporates themes such as women’s equality, racism, immigration, and gender dysphoria into her work. These social issues are relevant to both time periods.
I alternated between reading this book on my Kindle and listening to the audio version. The narration was provided by professional actress and voice personality, Kate Hanford. Her incredible voice and tonal variations brought the characters to life in the “theatre of my mind.”
Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and an Advanced Audio version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in a trilogy about Canadian police officer Mallery Mitchell, who, after an assault, wakes up in Victorian times Scotland, inhabiting a young housemaid's body. However, her new employer is perfectly happy accepting this premise, and she will help them solve crimes, in part with help of the procedures she knows is yet to come. It is obvious that Kelley Armstrong has done quite a bit of research into the period and area, and even though it is necessary to park your disbelief that a modern policewomen could pose as a Victorian without changing her behavior drastically, this is a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read/listen to this ARC.

This is the second installment in the A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong.

If you have not read the first in the series, A Rip Through Time, GO DO IT NOW!

This story picks up after the events of A Rip Through Time. Mallory‘s secret is out to those she is working closely with and she is adjusting to life in Victorian Scotland. Now that Dr. Duncan Gray knows she is modern day detective she is now officially the undertakers assistant, and helps when he is called for assistance to crime scenes to be a medical examiner. After a series of deaths – several men in Edenburgh – Duncan and Mallory start question if all are connected. A possible poison ring? Women poisoning their not so faithful or upstanding husbands? The case becomes too close to home when Annis, Duncan’s older sister, calls for their help when her husband is dying. By the time they get there, the house is in an uproar and Annis’s husband dies. It is up to Mallory with the help of Duncan and Isla to figure out who’s behind the poison ring.

Oh, I love this series so much! I hate to have to wait for the next installment but, I couldn’t help myself when I saw this pop up on NetGalley!

These are such fun historical mysteries. One thing I loved about this story was we really got to see Mallory’s personality come out. In the first book she is reserved so she can hide that she isn’t truly Catriona but here she gets to be herself.

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy historical mysteries and time travel! This also makes a WONDERFUL audio listen and I will be continuing this series in that format!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an early recording of the story! As always all opinions are my own.

The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip Through Time, #2) was the first book that I have read by author, Kelley Armstrong. It was a time travel historical mystery that took place in Victorian Edinburgh. I usually don’t read time travel novels but this one worked for me. It was fast paced, had touches of humor, likable characters and kept me guessing until the end. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Kate Handford. She did a good job distinguishing between the characters. It was rather a long audiobook that required almost 15 hours of listening time. I had not had the opportunity to read the first book in this series. Although I wished I had had the chance, The Poisoner’s Ring can be read as a stand-alone book.

Mallory inhabited the body of a young maid who resided and worked at the home of Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister Isla. Before being transported back to Victorian Edinburgh, Mallory had been a homicide detective in Canada until she was attacked. Mallory, trapped in the body of maid Catriona Mitchell, an employee of the Gray’s, now found herself immersed in the roles of Dr. Gray’s assistant and maid. Dr. Duncan Gray was an undertaker. He was the half brother of Isla and Annis, his two older half sisters. The three siblings shared the same father but Duncan’s mother had been Indian which accounted for Duncan’s dark skin pigmentation. When Duncan’s biological mother died, his father brought his illegitimate son to his home to be raised by his wife. Duncan inherited the family funeral business. He had trained as a doctor but his questionable skin color prevented him from becoming a doctor. Isla, a chemist and widow resided in the family house that she shared with her brother. Annis, the oldest sister, estranged from her two younger siblings, was married and lived with her husband.

One night, Dr. Gray solicited Mallory’s help in a new case. There was talk of a poisoner’s ring. Several men had been reported to have died from poisoning. Their wives were the main suspects. When Dr. Gray’s own brother-in-law fell victim, Dr. Gray and Mallory knew that they needed to find the person that was responsible for poisoning all the men victims. There had to be a connection between the victims but it was not immediately obvious. Dr. Gray and Mallory sought help from Dr. Gray’s childhood friend, Detective Hugh McCreadie. Isla was also called upon to analyze the contents of the poison. Would Dr. Gray and Mallory be able to identify the person that was responsible for the poisoning and clear Annis’s name in time?

The Poisoner’s Ring was told from Mallory’s POV. This allowed her to interject observations and explanations that stemmed from her experience in the future. Mallory was able to enlighten Dr. Gray and Isla about things that had not yet occurred. I enjoyed the hint of attraction between Mallory and Duncan even though Mallory wished to return to her own time period and life more than ever. This was a fun mystery and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend this series.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'm being honest when I say the first book was tremendously better than this, far more superior. I was simply bored while listening to the audiobook. My real problem though is that the cause of death, or "poisoning", was so predictable. It wouldn't have been so bad if the cliche of "In my time it's glaringly obvious this stuff is poison but you dumb folk here in the past are so clueless!" that's used in most time travel books wasn't painted all over this would-be masterpiece - completely ruining it. I'm not sure I'll read the next in this series, I'm really hoping and crossing my fingers this was just a one-time flop for Armstrong. Or that this was written by a ghostwriter? Her Rockton and Stitch in Time series are phenomenal if you need a good recommendation of hers.

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced audio so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 💛

This is the second book in A Rip Through Time series and it picks up where A Rip Through Time left off. Our main character, Mallory has been trying to deal with the many adjustments needed to function in Victorian era Scotland after being transported there by a fluke in time. She's stuck in a maid named Catriona's body and only a few people now know who she really is.

In The Poisoner's Ring, Mallory helps her boss Dr. Duncan Gray, police detective McCreadie and Isla try to solve the mystery of who is poisoning random men in their area. To figure it all out, they have to determine what the common link is and that becomes more and more difficult every day.

I really enjoyed the mystery of the story and how they handled all of the interplay between characters and the impact of the time period. In addition, they dynamic between the characters was strong. I was kept glued to the story until it finished.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration was really good and made this book just resonate even more. It helps to make the listener feel completely immersed in the storyline. Well done. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook. I'm voluntarily reviewing them both and the opinions contained within are my own.

I really enjoyed this second installment and the narration was fantastic! She handled the different accents to perfection. I loved the introduction of some new characters like Jack and Sarah and getting to know old ones even better. I was fully invested in the murder mystery, but I found this particular one to be pretty predictable. I wasn’t as wowed as I was with book one. This is by no means a romance, but it feels like there is still the possibility of one between Mallory and Duncan despite it being an impossible situation. It’s so complicated with the possibility of Mallory going back to her own time period, but there is just so much chemistry there!! Can’t wait to see what happens in book three!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy and Macmillan audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

The rip through time series is the best of detective series! The challenges of early detecting meets the knowledge of the 21 century!Kelly Armstrong does an amazing job mixing history, mystery and just a smig of fantasy to take Mallory and throw her back in historical Scotland! I just love reading this series and hope we get many more adventures with Mallory and Duncan! A wonderful, intriguing thriller!

A Rip Through Time is a new series debut by one of my favorite authors and I absolutely loved it!! I have read the book and also listened to the audio version and this review is specific to the audio which is wonderful the narration is spot on I loved how the characters have come to life in an entirely new way. Mete Handily hands down does amazing with the voices and story loved her in this book.

This book was so unique and the characters truly came to life for me. I absolutely loved the time travel twist of a modern-day homicide detective finding herself transported back in time in Victorian Scotland.

Our MC finds herself in the unfamiliar body of a murder victim who died on the same night in the same place 150 years earlier with a killer who most definitely still wants her dead. I loved how Mallory must quickly learn to navigate in an entirely different world as the person she looked like as she tries to fit in as a near housemaid with no memory of Katrina’s life and still try to stop a killer. This was such a great read/listen the world building was fantastic and I can’t wait for the next installment. I absolutely highly recommend this book!

This book was so unique and the characters truly came to life for me. I absolutely loved the time travel twist of a modern-day homicide detective finding herself transported back in time in Victorian Scotland.

Our MC finds herself in the unfamiliar body of a murder victim who died on the same night in the same place 150 years earlier with a killer who most definitely still wants her dead. I loved how Mallory must quickly learn to navigate in an entirely different world as the person she looked like and still try to stop a killer. This was such a great read the world building was fantastic and I can’t wait for the next installment. I absolutely highly recommend this book!

5/5 great big stars. Honestly! How do you take a time travel story, stuff it inside a mystery, and then sprinkle humour and a little romantic tension on top like this?? I ate this one up, just as much as I did the first one. We met some new characters, some I loved, some I could have done without, and followed a new and even twistier mystery. The historical pieces in this series are really some of my favourite pieces. Learning little tidbits on how burials were done, how bodies were sometimes removed from a grave in order to put someone else (someone whose family paid more 😉) in there. Pieces of info like this make me really curious to find out how things were really done, which pushes me into research mode. Any time I can garner the desire to actively learn something new, that’s the sign of a great historical fiction.
As far as the murder mystery went, I both guessed and didn’t guess the actual killer. I thought I had it, second guessed myself based on new evidence, and was proven right in the end, by which time I’d decided I was way out in left field 😂 well done on all accounts!

4.5 stars
Wonderful second installment in the A Rip in Time series! In addition to Mallory, Duncan, Isla and McCreadie, this story introduces Annis, the eldest Gray daughter. Annis is suspected of taking part in a poison ring after the discovery of her husband’s dead body. The gang follows all the investigative twists and turns through to a rather dramatic conclusion. As ever, we’re left with the questions of how Mallory slipped through time and when/how she’ll be able to get back to the present day.
Kelley Armstrong and Kate Handford are a great duo for this series!
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy for review

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley for an honest review.

I fell in love with the first book in this series. Time travel done right is amazing. This book was the second in the series and it was just as good. It picks up a couple weeks after the last one was over. I new mystery and more of Gray's family is involved in this one. I was totally shocked by who did it but looking back I saw the clues throughout the book.

I can't wait for the next one!

I loved this book! Once I started reading this book, I found it impossible to put it down. I liked this installment even more than the first book in the series. The mystery kept me guessing until very close to the end. I think that the way that the time travel aspect of the story is handled is rather unique and incredibly well done. This story entertained me from beginning to end.

I like how Mallory handles the situation that she has found herself in and doesn’t try to change her environment to accommodate her. Mallory, Gray, and the other key characters are intelligent and easy to like. I wanted to see things go well for them as they worked to solve the case. Mallory’s knowledge of the future is the key to solving this crime and I love the fact that Gray trusts her knowledge, although it seems like she should be the one in charge if only that time in history would allow it.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kate Handford did an excellent job bringing this story to life. I found her voice to be incredibly pleasant and enjoyed the voices that she used for the various characters. I thought that she added just the right amount of excitement to her reading and I found myself wanting to listen to the book for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this wonderful story.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the A Rip in Time series which I would recommend reading in order. This well-written book was filled with fantastic characters, a mystery that kept me guessing, and a vivid setting. I cannot wait to read more of this entertaining series.

I received a review copy of this book from Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press.

I really enjoyed the audiobook for this sequel as well as the first book in series. She was easy to follow and made the story come to life. I love the premise of this story and was so happy to have a second book with these characters. I love the time travel aspect and that the main character a present day detective is now a maid in early England history finding a way to survive her plight and possibly aid those she interacts with. This story gives us more insight into characters and the crimes of the day. I found it hard to put down and finished the audiobook quickly.

I voluntarily received a free copy from NetGalley and all options are my own

I would recommend this audiobook to family, friends and my book clubs

The Poisoner's Ring is the second book in Kelley Armstrong's 'A Rip Through Time' series. Now, you don't have to have read the first book to enjoy this tale as Armstrong provides enough backstory in the opening chapters to catch up.

In 2019, Mallory, a American Homicide Detective who went on a trip to Edinburgh, was attacked and left for dead in an alley. But, Mallory isn't dead. And here's where the series title comes in - she wakes up in a hospital to find herself in the body of a housemaid, who was also attacked in the same alley. But.....in 1869. What a great set up!

From the outside looking in, she appears to be a maid, but once a detective, always a detective. This latest case is too close for comfort for Mallory's benefactors. I really enjoy how the cases are solved - which is the 'old fashioned' way - using deductions, legwork, suspicions, observations and more. Forensic science is in it's infancy and Mallory can help with that. Armstrong always comes up with a well written, not easy to solve, crime. This latest is no exception - I changed my guess multiple times on the way to the final pages.

I quite like Mallory as a lead character. We're privy to her inner thoughts as she tries to adapt to the time frame, keep up a façade and help her benefactors solve local crime. She has to think of everything - what her behaviour should look like, the language she uses and how to navigate in a past she doesn't really know much about. The supporting cast is excellent - the master of the house and his sister have skills and interests that intersect with Mallory's talents.

I also appreciate the detailed description of the settings and the social strata as well.

A unique premise, great characters, a keep 'em guessing mystery and more. I feel a romantic thread may develop in the next entry? The ending is satisfying, but there are still questions to be answered. The biggest being if Mallory can ever get back through the rip. And on the other hand...where is Catriona?

I chose to listen to The Poisoner's Ring. The narrator was Kate Handford and she did a wonderful job of presenting Armstrong's work. Her voice is clear, easy to understand and easy on the years. She's created many identifiable voices that let the listener who is speaking. A Scottish accent is needed for many of the characters and an inner American one for Mallory. The accent often changes within conversations and Handford keeps up with that. There's lots of scenes and situations that are dangerous, emotional etc. and Hanford captures the tone of the plot with her voice. An excellent reading of a really great book.

Ever since I read the preceding book in this series last year, A Rip Through Time (which was my introduction to the talented Kelley Armstrong), I have been eagerly awaiting the next in the series. That book also sent me looking for more of Armstrong's work. It also helped that the author is a long-time favourite of one of my best friends.

I immediately fell in love Kelley Armstrong's style, and that holds true for this novel. She has a smooth, natural prose that invites the reader in and makes room for your imagination. A sassy Canadian detective time-travelling back into the body of a Victorian maid is such an implausible scenario, but Armstrong carries it off well, and more than that, she makes it look easy. The author leans into the parts we struggle with believing; they're the ones the characters struggle to believe, too. She creates a gentle structure around the scenario without pinning it down, making it the overarching mystery of the series.

My only complaint about the case is that the perpetrator's true nature is only softly hinted at before the end of the book, and while I did guess who it was, it would have worked better if we'd known a little more about the murderer.

A word on the protagonist: Mallory is the kind of person I'd love to know in real life, and as a character she is a nuanced, believable, sassy, and clever. What else would you want in an inadvertently time-travelling, body-switching Canadian detective in Victorian Edinburgh?

The unfolding relationship between Mallory and Gray is admirably well-paced and I appreciate seeing how their professional relationship transforms alongside the personal one.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fairly good job enacting the speech descriptions. I admired how she kept accents and tones distinct.

It's worth the read, or the listen.

Kelly Armstrong’s The Poisoner’s Ring is the second installment of the time travel series “A Rip Through Time”. I enjoyed this sequel just as much as I did the first book. Mallory is a Canadian detective who was transported to Victorian era Edinburgh, Scotland in the body of an 18-year-old housemaid Catriona who worked for a fairly open-minded family for this time period.

As she navigates the restrictive 19th century societal customs, Mallory assists in solving murder cases with her employers, a biracial doctor, Dr. Duncan Gray and his chemist sister, Isla. Duncan runs his family’s funeral business, is an unofficial medical examiner and occasionally assists the police with criminal investigations.

In the second book, The Poisoner’s Ring, Mallory’s frustrations continues as she grappled with the restrictions place on women and the rigid class structure in Victorian society along with wanting to go back to her own time and life. Duncan recognizes Mallory’s crime solving abilities and she becomes his assistant. A series of poisoning deaths occurred in the city and the team, Duncan, Mallory, and Detective McCreadie are investigating. We are introduced to Duncan’s older sister, Annis. Annis is estranged from the family and is not an easy woman to deal with. Her husband, Lord Leslie, is poisoned, and eventually dies. She is accused of murder by her husband before he died and becomes the main suspect. Annis turned to Duncan for assistance.

This is an entertaining historical mystery with a bit of time travel thrown in. I really enjoyed the interactions and growth of the characters. The book can be read as a stand-alone and the author gives enough information that if you are new to the series, you will have no problem following along. But I do suggest reading the first book to be able to fully get all the nuances.

I love the fact that the author incorporated elements of racism and LGBT issues into the story-line. These topics were very present in Victorian society just as they are today. I also appreciated having a person of color as one of the main characters and seeing the type of issues they might have faced regardless of their economic status. People of color are usually erased from historical novels as if they were non-existent. However, there were people of color that lived in both England and Scotland during the Victorian era.

I hope that in the next installment we get some idea of what caused Mallory to be transported back in time. Although there is a hint of a developing relationship growing between Mallory and Duncan, it does seem to be rather an impossibility. I don’t know how the author is going to manage HEA. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I love the audio narration. The narrator, Kate Handford, is amazing and does a great job bringing the characters to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audio book. All opinions are my own.

I am loving Kelley Armstrong’s historical time travels and was fortunate enough to receive advanced copies of both the book & audiobook. The Poisoner’s Ring is the second novel in the Rip Through Time series featuring a young detective who finds herself stuck in Edinburgh, 1869. An exciting mystery and danger await you in this fast-paced, twisty tale.

This is the second novel in the Rip Through Time murder-mystery series. Armstrong does a fantastic job of reintroducing the characters and world, I highly recommend beginning with A Rip Through Time. This review may contain minor spoilers if you haven’t read book one.

On May 2019, Edinburg Detective Mallory Atkinson was attacked and awoke in Edinburg 1869. She awoke to find herself in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid for Dr. Duncan Gray, the local undertaker. After the events of the first book, Mallory is adjusting and working as an assistant to Dr. Gray.

In this novel, men are being poisoned and expiring. The lead constables believe the wives are responsible. Mallory, Dr. Gray and Constable McCreadie set out to look for the poisoner who may supply these women. Things take a turn when Dr. Gray’s own sister stands accused of poisoning her husband. How are these women connected? Did they, in fact, kill their husbands? The case was filled with twist and danger.

I loved the story that unfolded from the well crafted mystery to the threads involving social issues. Armstrong touches on racism, women’s rights, sapphic romance and the social classes. The characters are rich and developed from the street urchins to the upper class. We learn more about Dr. Gray and his family and, of course, Mallory herself. I enjoyed the relationship between Mallory and the doctor, as well as her friendship with his spinster sister.

The story wove in historical tidbits, the history of forensic science and the origins of the poisoner’s ring. While Mallory still longs to return to her time, I am looking forward to more mysteries in 1869.

Perfect for fans of murder-mysteries, historical fiction and well-drawn characters. If you haven’t tired Armstrong or read her earlier works, I cannot recommend her enough. Her latest series from romantic suspense to historical romance and mysteries have become must reads/listens for me.

Audiobook
While I bought the audiobook, I had the pleasure of listening early. Kate Handford narrates and brought these characters and story to life. The tale lends itself to the audio format, and Handford gave unique voices to each character. I highly recommend listening.

After loving book one, I was thrilled for the opportunity to continue on with this historical mystery series. I found the mystery in this book to be a little less interesting than the mystery in the first. However, where this one excelled was continuing the character and relationship development that started in the first book. 

I would recommend this series for anyone looking for an escapist time travel story.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Mallory is still stuck in Katrina Monroe‘s body in Scotland during the 1800s she is still working for the intelligent Dr. Gray and this time instead of trying to clear her name it will be the good doctors sister lady Leslie who’s name her the doctor and Detective McCready will be tased what clearing. The first hear about the poison ring long before Lady Leslie comes to beg for her brothers aid and although she totally despises Lord Leslie she isn’t the only person who could be a suspect and not even the only relative who fits that description. I love these books I love how Mallory is so indignant about the differences between how we treat Crime today and how they treated it back then and I love how open minded Dr. Gray is I just love these books and can’t wait for the next one. If you love time travel historical fiction with awesome characters an even better dialogue than you love these books by Kelly Armstrong I absolutely do and always look forward to the next addition. I am so glad they use the same narrator as she is awesome and I love her voice she also does Dr. Gray and Detective McCready so well and that includes a Scottish accent that comes of sounding not only masculine what kind of hot! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.