Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC!

Something about this just didn't grip me unfortunately:(( I might've just read so many books similar that it blends together and feels like deja vu unfortunately..

A Killer in the Crystal Palace is an intriguing mystery set in Victorian London during the World's Fair. I enjoyed the layers of this novel and the characters. The story drew me in right away and I enjoyed listening to the entire novel.

I love me a strong, kick-ass woman and this book did not disappoint in the arena. I also love a good man that supports a strong woman instead of trying to hold her back or thwart her. And I love a happy ending when the strong woman gets the good man in the end! This was my 1st book by Deb Marlowe but will certainly not be my last! I can't wait for the next installment in the series but in the meantime, I'm adding all her backlog of books to my TBR!

#AKillerintheCrystalPalace
#NetGalley

New Murder mystery series set at the Crystal Palace during the 1851 Exhibition of course London. Kara is bringing down the ceiling, due to the fact she is well connected, rich and beautiful. She has her own booth showing and demonstrating her automatons that she has created and built. When a one armed man is founded dead with one of her displays all fingers point to her. A fellow exhibitor, Niall comes to her aid and together through many twists and turns try to find the real culprit.
I found myself not keeping up with the going on. Maybe I was just not getting into the story. Just missed the mark with me. Love the setting and I know what a fascination automatons were during that time period. The narrator was very good and enjoyed her telling of the story. I think I just will give it a read next time, sometimes I enjoy the book more. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #AKillerintheCrystalPalace

This audiobook transported me back to the World's Fair in London, the exhibits, the innovation, the people, all of it was brought to life in this stunning story.

I found myself sitting and daydreaming about what life would have been like, the inventions that were being displayed, the way the world was changing, it must have been such an experience, top that off with a woman of the gentry trying to solve a murder she was accused of committing and you have the perfect storm of genres, at least in my opinion.

Kara is one of those characters that makes you sit up and listen, she can command a room with a nod of her head or run through the rafters trying to escape the police, but whatever she does it's done with grace and determination.

I'm not going to say a lot about the story because it's just phenomenal and I think everyone should read or listen to it.

Speaking of listening, Henrietta Meire was fantastic and I can't wait to listen to more audiobooks that take the opportunity to use her brilliant vocal talents.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of this Audiobook, I have voluntarily listened to and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Killer in the Crystal Palace AUDIO/ebook, by Deb Marlowe us the first in the Keir and Levett Mystery series which takes place in Victorian England, in this case at Prince Albert’s exposition at the famed Crystal Palace. Kara Levett is one of the few woman exhibitors and open to the scorn of many. She makes automatons, all sizes, all with clock-like precision. Niall Keir is another exhibitor: he is a blacksmith, but creates things unlike any other blacksmith around. They are exhibiting close to one another so when a body is found; they rush to the spot, pretty much together. Of course, all eyes are on her as she is already much talked about. Niall whisks her away and eventually takes her to see a magistrate, one he trusts, while Scotland Yard hunts for her. It became quite an investigation as first the identity of the murdered man is discovered, and eventually the reasons and the perpetrators.

Kara is unlike any other woman around: she is independent, lives alone (well with servants), runs several manufacturing businesses, and builds automatons. She is cheerful and intelligent, and does not bow to pressure from anyone. Keir has secrets of his own, but is also creative, polite, honest, and a man-about-the-world. They make an interesting team. What one doesn’t think of, the other does. They complement one another well. The mystery was a good one with plenty of red herrings, bound to take them in the wrong direction. It was eventually solved with little damage to Kara’s reputation and only a little damage to her household. It was a good story.

The audiobook reader was Henrietta Meire, who did a wonderful rendition. I was put off by her accent in the beginning, but became comfortable with it quickly. She did a good job differentiating between characters without resorting to peculiar voices. I think she made the book better. I liked the audio far more than the e-book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC by Dragonblade, and audio by Tantor, both through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #Tantor #DebMarlowe #AKillerInTheCrystalPalace

I hadn't come across this author before and surprised to note that she has written so many books. This is the first in her series featuring Niall Keir and Kara Levitt and am delighted to find there is another ready to listen to or read. Set during the great exhibition in Alexandra Palace it is an interesting insight into the efforts made by Britain to advertise its wares to the world. Fascinating to hear of the progress in industrialisation at this period. Apart from that this is an excellent murder mystery well told by a excellent narrator. I hope the same one is used for all of the audio books, I like the continuity of voices used. I highly recommend A Killer in the Chrystal Palace, there is danger, intrigue, humour and budding romance here, something for everyone. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to hear this story. I await the next audio book in this series.

At the Great Exhibition of 1851, Miss Kara Levett displays her automatons and clocks to the crowds. But when a murder occurs in the Crystal Palace, she becomes the prime suspect. With help from Mr. Niall Kier, an artist and fellow exhibitor with secrets of his own, they uncover international espionage schemes and family secrets as they race to find the killer and stay ahead of the villains.

I must confess that I haven’t read much about the Great Exhibition, but what little I know made the description of this book fascinating. The mid-Victorian era is interesting because of the changes in industry that happened and makes a good setting for a murder mystery. I only wish I had been more interested in the main characters.

Niall Kierr was my favorite character, harboring secrets that are only hinted at in this book. Every time the narrative was with him, I was interested to see what he did. On the other hand, I never really warmed up to Kara Levett. It felt like she was a character who didn’t have a failing. It seemed as though on every page there was some new skill she taught herself. There was always this sense of “I’m not like other girls” and it just rubbed me the wrong way.

The mystery itself was interesting, and had several misdirects. Even if I guessed the real “villain” of the story, my reasoning was off. For the most part, the details of the time period seemed spot on. The narrator did a phenomenal job with the material and I enjoyed listening to her

Although not an immediate favorite, I am interested to see what happens next for Niall and to learn more about his past. I would recommend this to readers looking for a historical mystery set in Victorian London.

Thank you to Deb Marlowe, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I'm trying to recall elements I disliked or didn't understand, and I can't think of any. Which is both good and bad: good because that means it was well written; bad because.....it just wasn't very memorable. It was your standard historical mystery. Which is awesome, because that's my bread and butter right now. But it's also not awesome, because it doesn't stand out in an increasingly saturated market.

Kier was an okay character, though nothing really stood out about him except he was a kind, smart, and Scottish. Levett wasn't a bad character, but she wasn't great either. Grossly rich, grossly intelligent, and grossly self-confident, she didn't inspire much sympathy, nor was she relatable. Her claim to woe was being a woman in a man's world and PTSD from being kidnapped (or was it just attempted kidnapping?) when she was a child. Gave off poor-little-rich-girl vibes.

So it was okay. I enjoyed it for the most part, the mystery was great, and I'm interested in seeing where the series goes. But Marlowe's gotta give her protag some flaws.

Lastly, the narrator, Henrietta Meire, was excellent.

What an interesting listen. This was a very fun historical mystery set in the captivating time. Marlowe's attention to historical detail brings the setting to life, while the well-crafted mystery keeps readers guessing until the end. With relatable characters and a compelling plot, this book is a captivating read for fans of historical fiction and mystery genres. The narrator, Henrietta Meire did a fantastic job portraying the timelines and accent. She used a variety of tones and inflections that portrayed the characters very well.

A very special thanks to TLC Book Tours, Netgalley, Dragon Blade Publishing and Tantor Audio for the gifted copy and ALC.

A Killer in the Crystal Palace by Deb Marlowe
The Kier and Levitt Mysteries series #1. Historical mystery.
London, 1851, Miss Kara Levitt has a spot in the Great Exhibition showing her mechanicals and automatons. Kara is a suspect when one of her exhibits gets stolen and a man is found dead outside the hall. Niall Kier is a blacksmith and fellow exhibitor and jumps in to help Kara investigate and prove her innocence.

🎧 I listened (twice) to an audiobook version narrated by Henrietta Meire. An excellent performance with distinct voices for Kara and Niall. I listened to it twice for my own clarity and outside interruptions. I enjoyed the repartee between Kara and Niall where her attitude and confidence in herself came through clearly. I listened to the audiobook at my preferred speed of 1.5. I found that the best speed for listening to accents and cadence.

From the exhibit hall to the street gangs to the fancy mansion party, the story is rich with conflicts, clue gathering and acts of kindness in particular for the classes lower than herself. A few twists caught me by surprise. I’m amazed by the clever actions and advancing technology for the time. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Tantor Audio.

A Killer in the Crystal Palace (The Kier and Levett Mystery Series, #1) by DeB Marlowe was a suspenseful mystery that took place in London during the year 1851. Exhibitors gathered in line to get their exhibits approved for the Great Exhibition. Among those excited, anxious and hopeful exhibitors were Kara Levett, a baron’s daughter, skilled at creating extraordinary automations and Niall Kier, a Scottish born blacksmith and artist. Both Kara and Niall were granted permission to occupy a booth where they displayed their work. It wasn’t long after they were approved to occupy their assigned spaces at The Great Exhibition when a man was discovered to have been murdered. The murder victim was believed to have been killed by a hit with a piece that was part of one of Kara’s automations. Kara became the prime suspect in the murder. When she was accused of killing the poor man, Niall came to her defense. Kara knew that it was up to her to find out who the victim was and who had killed him. She could not just wait around for someone to arrest her and charge her with the murder. Niall had the same idea. He wanted to help Kara clear her name and her involvement in this heinous crime. Niall convinced Kara to go on record with a magistrate Niall was acquainted with. After Kara presented her case to the magistrate, Kara and Niall agreed that it would be better to work together on solving this crime. They gathered clues and were usually at least two steps ahead of Scotland Yard. There was the hint of romance bubbling below the surface the further into the case Kara and Niall got. When someone began to threaten Kara’s life and put her life in jeopardy, Niall and Kara realized that they were in a race against time. They had to solve this mystery before the killer was able to successfully hurt or eliminate Kara. Would Kara and Niall be able to solve the case and clear Kara’s name? Did Kara and Niall have strong feelings for one another?

I listened to the audiobook of A Killer in the Crystal Palace. It was narrated very well by Henrietta Meire. I enjoyed the time period that A Killer in the Crystal Palace took place in. Kara proved to be a very resourceful, savvy and strong female protagonist. Her father, the Baron, had prepared her well for all that life might throw at her. I enjoyed the easy trust and admiration that Kara and Niall found in each other. There was no doubt that Niall respected Kara’s attributes, skills, contacts and abilities. A Killer in the Crystal Palace was a great first book in a new mystery series. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Killer in the Crystal Palace by Deb Marlowe through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this mystery and the two leads and cannot wait for future installments, I also like the other characters that I expect willbe brought back to us in future installments.

Setting the Scene: Set against the backdrop of the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace Hyde Park, London, where technology and new products from Britain and its colonies, as well as other nations, were displayed within the 19 acre building built for the express purpose, Kara Levitt demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks. Kara is unique in many way and ahead of her time, the daughter of a baron, who rejects the constraints of London society. Also among the 17,000 exhibitors is Niall Kier, a Scotsman, blacksmith, and artist, who harbors secrets. Trouble begins when a man apparently vandalizes Kara's exhibit and is murdered in the process. Suspicion immediately falls upon Kara. When it becomes clear that Scotland Yard is not looking further for a suspect, she joins forces with Niall to solve the murder and clear her name. In the process, they will follow clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, uncovering international espionage and dark family secrets along the way.

What I Thought: Kara and Niall are some of the most intriguing and likeable characters I have found in a while. The backdrop of the Great Exhibit only enhances their uniqueness and opens up countless opportunities for more adventures. The story is further enhanced by the other characters who populate this book and who clearly have their own stories to tell, in time. This book has it all, engaging characters, intriguing plot, captivating setting, and a potential slow burn romance. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes Kara and Niall.

The Narrator did an excellent job with the voices in this audiobook.

This is the first of a historical mystery series, this one set in London during the 1851 Great Exposition. Kara Levett is from a wealthy family and creates automatons, and Niall Kier is a Scottish iron artist, both exhibiting within the Crystal Palace.

Kara is definitely a woman before her time. In 1851, she has enough money and family influence to be able to follow her passion, be it acceptable behavior to society or not. And of course she is stunningly beautiful. Niall is the big, strong hero type with a heart, who instantly falls for Kara and helps her with the mystery: who killed a one-armed man attempting to steal part of Kara’s display?

The characters have mysteries of their own, and this is supposed to be a slow-burn romance that will apparently carry on in the series. However, I felt that the two were a bit too good to be true, and parts of the plot were awfully imaginative (read “unrealistic”). I felt that the internal emotions of the characters could have been shown more.

The investigations were enjoyable and the pacing was very good throughout. Henrietta Meire does a fine job with the narration of the audiobook, although I did speed it up a bit.

Overall, a good start to a series that I would recommend to historical mystery lovers.

This is a well-written, entertaining, historical fiction mystery novel, which is set during an actual event, the Great Exhibition in London. It has a likable, intelligent, strong and capable, enterprising and ingenious female protagonist, an engaging, kind and caring male protagonist, wit, a touch of romance, murder, mystery, a wonderful message about friendship and life balance, an exciting finale, and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this outstanding new series with great anticipation. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Henrietta Meire, has a lovely voice and does an excellent job portraying the characters. Many thanks to Ms. Deb Marlowe, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this fabulous novel. This is my honest opinion.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I really enjoyed this novel a lot. I listened to it in 24 hours. It was a fun murder mystery set in the victorian era in London.

I thought the main characters were okay. They were a little dull for my taste. I really didn't care if they fell in love or not. With that being said it was entertaining and I would still read more novels from this author.

Interesting characters snd storyline. Loved the strong female MC and looking forward to more in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

A Killer in the Crystal Palace
by Deb Marlowe
Narrator, Henrietta Meire
Keir and Levett Mystery, Book One
I really enjoyed this beginning to a new series set during the Great Exhibition of 1851. The main characters are Kara and Niall. She is an independent, modern woman and he, a man of mystery. Plus, he sometimes wears kilts. Victorian industrial era very slightly steamy romance with a mystery. Also, I love the phrase “Shut your sauce box.” Look it up.
Narration by Henrietta Meire is as expected, excellent. I have listened to her narrate more than one other series and her work is always just right.
I am eagerly looking forward to book two.
Write faster, Deb Marlowe or I will have to go back and read some of your earlier work.

This was a wonderful book set during the days of England’s Grand Exhibition. A murder takes place and the person being blamed has no choice but to try to find out who is really responsible for the crime. This was a fast paced mystery and was quite enjoyable. I hope to read more books by this author because I truly enjoyed myself and would love reading more of her work.