I loved this short story. It was the perfect thing to make the wait for the next book more bearable. I also loved that it showed sometimes people who think they should know better don’t always. I’m excited for the next in the series. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Cocktails & Chloroform is Book 2.5 of Kelley Armstrong's phenomenal series A Rip Through Time. Ms. Armstrong has quickly become one of my favorite authors of all time, and her books some of my favorites ever. This novella is an exciting edition to this series. The only thing I can complain about is that this wasn't a full-length novel, because I didn't want it to end!

Mallory Atkinson is a modern-day detective who is trapped in the body of a Victorian housemaid in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has had to deal with some very difficult issues, but this one may be one of the hardest: gaining the trust of young parlormaid Alice. You see, Catriona - whose body Mallory is inhabiting - was very cruel to Alice, and Alice is unaware of Mallory's situation. Mallory decides to teach the young girl how to make Molotov cocktails; she figures this is a scientific lesson, not a ploy to get Alice to trust her, right? Before the lesson begins, however, Alice receives a mysterious letter and sneaks out at night. Mallory, of course, follows her. Alice goes to what appears to be a common dancehall,, with young men and women dancing and flirting. All is not as it appears, though. A simple surveillance turns into a spy mission with Dr. Duncan Gray, Mallory's boss, joining in. They might just find a use for those Molotov cocktails before the night is done!

This was a fun and exciting read, and I couldn't bear to put it down! Being a novella, there wasn't a lot of time to get into a complex case, but the one here allowed all of the characters to shine. The biggest revelation was the life of young Alice. We learned a lot of heartbreaking information about her family. I never really paid attention to how young she was; one forgets that in Victorian times young girls had to go into service at an early age to earn their keep. Though Alice was young, she was clever, but totally untrusting of Mallory. Considering the way Catriona treated Alice, it was totally understable how she felt. Mallory, of course, was her usual curious, smart-alecky self. She's one of my favorite fictional heroines! Being a modern-day detective in the body of a young, buxom, blonde grifter and housemaid was a challenge. Some of my favorite moments in the books are when Mallory attempts to do modern crimefighting in restrictive Victoria clothing. I just adore her. My favorite character is Dr. Duncan Gray, her employer. He is an undertaker who moonlights as a medical examiner. Dr. Gray and his sister both know Mallory's secret. He has a wonderful relationship with Mallory; I can't help wondering if there may be romantic feelings developing. I love the teasing between the two; it always makes me smile. Isla Ballantyne, a widowed chemist and Dr. Gray's sister, is also in this story, together with Gray's friend, Dr. Hugh McCreadie. There isn't a character in this series that I don't like. This was a quick and entertaining read, perfect to hold us over until the next full-length book in the series is released. And I hope the next book comes VERY soon!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cocktails & Chloroform is a marvelous addition to the Rip Through Time Series by Kelley Armstrong. This novella is not so much about Mallory Atkinson’s predicament of going from a modern-day police detective to a Victorian housemaid as it is her solving a crime in Victorian Scotland. Dr. Duncan Gray joins her as she conducts surveillance hoping to help young parlor maid, Alice. I love this series and now adore smart, brave Alice.

The title for this story is quite amusing as to how it all relates, so be sure to read Cocktails & Chloroform for yourself. I also recommend the entire series. Now waiting for the next adventure for Mallory and Victorian friends have.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this series, and it's a great short read about an adventure the characters go on. However, this just made me want more.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Mallory Atkinson is a modern police detective living the life of Catriona Mitchell, Victorian maid for Dr. Duncan Gray. Why? Because some quirk of time caused a body swap across 150 years. As Mallory adapts to life in Victorian Edinburgh, she solves mysteries while trying not to unduly confuse the temporal locals with her 21st century knowledge.

This short novel in the series A Rip Through Time is less a mystery and more a chronicling of the adventures of Mallory as she tries to help her co-worker, Alice, who is in turn, trying to help her own sister. Also trying to help is Duncan who followed Mallory as she was following Alice. Alice’s sister is in bigger trouble than any of them imagined. Mallory, Duncan and Alice will also get into trouble, but Mallory’s experience, Alice’s street smarts and Duncan’s intellect will combine to put the bad guys in their place.

You don’t have to be familiar with the series to enjoy this novella. Though, if you have read A Rip Though Time and The Poisoner’s Ring, this little adventure will be a very pleasant diversion.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

What a great “time” to join history and to join this historical fiction series! I was nervous to give Cocktails and Chloroform a chance, since I had not read any other books from Kelley Armstrong. However with the size of a novella and the Victorian time period, I had to see if it was a place to enter this interesting fictional time portal. Mallory Atkinson was thrown into another body during a past time period. She has the intelligence to overcome her surroundings, but chooses to keep her true identity and career a secret. This situation makes for stories where the author teaches so much about the 1800s time period. As the main character learns what to wear, how to work, the culture and the map of London- we as the reader get so many great details. I loved the use of modern knowledge brain against the forces of the past. If you like a Dickensian feel or Miss Scarlett and the Duke on PBS, you will like this novella. Thank you to Netgalley for an earc of this book in return for an honest review.

Loved this little addition to the A rip through time series! I love this series and I'm a sucker for all time travel adventures.

There is something so cozy and comforting about reading a favorite author you have been following for like a decade. You just know you will get the good stuff. Kelley Armstrong is a master of her craft, her writing having a confidence and flow that feel natural, sharp and authentic.

Part of the A Rip Through Time series (book 2.5), this was another crime mystery adventure in the Victorian era Edinburgh, with the same atmospheric writing, suspenseful plot, smart heroine, dry humor, diverse cast of characters and of course, time travel and detective work. I loved it! 🧡

As a novella, if anyone wanted to get acquainted with this world, it could be read as a standalone I guess, as we get little crumbs of Mallory's character and her gang or her experience as a modern detective having to work undercover with outdated police resources and a maid in a different time and world.

But if you follow the series already, this story is a great addition to it, giving more understanding to Alice's life and family background and the shady dealings happening on the bad side of town.

Mallory got herself into quite the predicament this time, following her hero complex and detective curiosity. I love Mallory with her quick wit, sharp mind and sarcastic tone. She is smart resourceful and never backs down, especially when it comes to helping people she cares about. Following her along this Scottish adventure in the Victorian era is a blast! She gets herself (and not only) in trouble, but seeing her making her way out of it is the best part. It keeps me intrigued and on the edge of my seat all the time.

Yes, there are darker themes, suspense and danger, but the vibe is somehow addictive and fun to follow.

Dr Grey is his usual charming grump and the entire crew is so interesting, they all make quite the detective team.

I can't wait for more! 🧡

Thank you Subpress and Netgalley for the arc.

An entertaining little side adventure in the Rip series. Mallory can't resist trying to protect Alice and finds herself in the middle of a Victorian human trafficking scheme. I'm sure you can all predict how that turns out!

This was a fun novella. I would recommend this book to anyone that has been reading this series. If you have not read the previous books in this series I would not start with this one, but jump right to the first book in the series, you will not regret it.

Cocktails & Chloroform by Kelley Armstrong is SciFi Fantasy and Time Travel. Who could resist the title Cocktails and Chloroform, it’s automatically a must read. New exciting adventures and misadventures continue in this time traveling detective’s story. There’s never a dull moment solving crimes and mysteries. Don’t miss this book or the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

A Rip Through Time novella set between books 2 and 3. Each book features a different character that has stepped through the rip and finds themselves thrown back in time. The first book in the series explains the rip and how it works to move the characters out of their place in history and how to get them back.

I'm a Kelley Armstrong fan. I read all of her books and often gift and/or share them. Her writing is like opening a window and watching the story as it takes place. No slow spots, no "what did I just read" and definitely no books less than a 5 star read for me. Her series move from the Otherworld, dominated by a female alpha werewolf, to Rockton, a town in the Yukon populated by those who are in hiding, either from consequences or people who are hunting for them, to A Rip Through Time. There is definitely something for everyone in her library of titles.

Cocktails and Chloroform find the main character moving 150 years back as a housemaid turned mortician assistant in a Victorian household. The novella builds the story quickly and then moves right into solving some criminal activities, all while trying not to disrupt time too badly. A quick read that will easily beread in one setting. And of course, 5 easy stars.

I have loved this series but I did not notice this was a novella and was so disappointed when it ended so soon. The story was great, the characters are being fleshed out a bit more in each story and I could not put it down until it was finished. This time our beloved heroine almost gets herself in over her head but manages to show a lot of talent and intelligence. So for the short number of pages, I have to give this can't-put-it-down story 5 Stars

A gripping novella in the "A Rip Through Time" series. I first became acquainted with Detective Mallory Atkinson in the first book in the series, A Rip Through Time. She is a modern-day detective who after being attacked, wakes up in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid in 1869 working for undertaker, Dr. Gray. She doesn't know how to get back home so makes the best of it while using her Detective skills.

In Cocktails & Chloroform, Mallory follows Alice, a parlormaid, through the streets to a dance hall.....

Mallory Atkinson is a great character who has handled waking up in another woman's body at another time, much better than I would have. Learning to adapt, dress and speak as one would in the Victorian time in which she finds herself. She is a strong woman who is used to speaking her mind and sharing her thoughts. This is not the norm for women in 1869. She does a great job at ingratiating herself into Dr. Gray's home, assuming the duties of a housemaid, while helping solve crimes and making friends. To those who see her, she is Catriona Mitchell, and some are suspicious of the changes they see in Catriona. In addition to Mallory, readers will also see the characters in the other books making appearances in this book as well.

This is a gripping tale which is also a fast read. At 132 pages, it can be read in one sitting. This could be read as a stand-alone book but I highly suggest reading A Rip Through Time and The Poisoner's Ring first. If you don't want to read both books, at least read A Rip Through Time. I thought the book was fantastic and it provides more backstory and details of what happened to Mallory and introduces the supporting characters as well.

As with the other books, there are some tense situations. This book set in the past is also atmospheric and well written. Mallory will need to use the skills she learned in the modern day in this book. I also appreciate how the author shows Mallory’s frustration being in the past while coping with how women are “supposed” to behave and how they are treated during that time. Women were often at the mercy of men, having to do what they say, not having their own voice, not being able to advocate for themselves, or being able or taught to fight back or for themselves.

A gripping addition to the series.

As always, Kelley Armstrong doesn't disappoint! This novella is a wonderful addition to the Rip Through Time series. It focuses more on the relationship between Mallory/Catriona and Alice. I enjoyed learning more about Alice's family and her past and hope that the events of this novella help shape the future relationship of Alice and Mallory.

Cocktails & Chloroform is very entertaining and adventurous! It's a quick fun read that does an excellent job of wetting our appetites for book three in the series.

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

4.25/5⭐️

This is a novella in the A Rip Through Time series, and even considering the time constraints imposed on a novella which I sometimes get frustrated with, it was a good one.

It revolves around human trafficking, and Mallory, a time traveler stuck in 1869 Scotland, finds herself kidnapped while trying to attempt a rescue. There’s much more, but I won’t go into it here.

I am really enjoying this series more and more as it develops. The heart of the series is, of course, Mallory, who is a strong, independent woman from 2019, but her supporting cast is stellar as well.

There’s humor, adventure, danger, and a hint of romance. I did feel the series started a little slow, but it has really ramped up and gained momentum. Looking forward to much more.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Subterranean Press for providing the free early arc of Cocktails & Chloroform for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Mallory finds herself npt only fighting for her life (in another womans body) but the life of other young girls who find themselves at the mercy of a gang of thieves in Victorian times .Mallory understands what will happen if these girls are shipped off , its a race against time .

For modern-day detective Mallory Atkinson, being trapped in the body of a Victorian housemaid means overcoming endless obstacles. Currently, she is trying to win over the suspicious young parlor maid, Alice, that she works with. Mallory's plan starts with teaching the girl to make Molotov cocktails, which is a perfectly valid science experiment. Before the lesson can begin, though, Alice receives a letter that has her slipping off in the night. Concerned for her safety--and naturally curious of course--Mallory follows Alice. Mallory finds Alice at what seems like a simple dance hall, watching young men and women flirting and dancing in pretty dresses and dapper suitcoats. But nothing here is what is seems, and what starts as a simple surveillance exercise turns into a full-scale spy mission with Mallory's boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, at her side. Before the evening is done, those Molotov cocktails are probably going to come in handy......

I love this series. I love the premise of a modern day detective going back in time accidently and inhabiting the body of a housekeeper/con artist. Mallory is such a plucky and resourceful female protagonist, and I love the friendship & working relationship between her and Dr Duncan Gray. This was a short read, but it was filled with action. This is perfect for anyone who loves mysteries & thrillers, as well as anyone who enjoys a good fantasy series. Even though this was part of the A Rip Through Time series, this could be read as a standalone, and you would not be lost. However, once you read this, I am sure you would want to check out the other books in the series!

I absolutely LOVE the A Rip Through Time series and this novella does not disappoint! It was so much fun and the perfect story while I wait for Disturbing the Dead to release in May.

It was great being back with Mallory and Dr. Gray while learning more about Alice.
The story was fast-paced and mystery was well-done. This is a must read if you’ve read the first two books in the series!

Cocktails & Chloroform, by Kelley Armstrong, is a novella in the authors A Rip Through Time series. For modern-day detective Mallory Atkinson, being trapped in the buxom 19-year old body of housemaid Catriona Mitchell in Victorian, Scotland, means overcoming endless obstacles. She is employed by Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker often employed by the local constabulary’s office. Mallory ends up helping to solve cases using her 21st century knowledge, but without revealing too much that could change the future.

Dr. Gray also assists Detective McCreadie in his police investigations. She is now officially an undertaker’s assistant, but continuing her maid duties until they can hire someone for that position. Her current challenge is winning over the suspicious young parlor maid, 12-year-old Alice. Mallory’s plan starts with teaching the girl to make Molotov cocktails, which is a perfectly valid science experiment and not at all a desperate ploy to gain Alice’s attention.

Before the lesson can begin, though, Alice receives a letter that has her slipping off in the night. Concerned for her safety—and naturally curious—Mallory follows. Mallory finds Alice at what seems like a simple dance hall, watching young men and women flirting and whirling in pretty dresses and dapper suit coats. But nothing here is what it seems, and what starts as a simple surveillance exercise turns into a full-scale spy mission with Mallory’s boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, at her side.

Before she can Alice out of trouble, she is kidnapped and ends up in a human trafficking ring. Before the evening is done, those Molotov cocktails are probably going to come in handy. While it would be best if you understand this world, and series from the beginning, I think this novella reveals just enough information for you to enjoy this story. My curiosity is about how the author is going to resolve getting back to her own time, and whether Cat has taken her place. We shall see!

Trafficking and explosions!

Once again we tumble into the Victorian world of Edinburgh with time trapped, Canadian detective Mallory Atkinson.
Previously Mallory had woken to find herself in the body of Catroina Mitchell, a housemaid for a progressive doctor, Duncan Gray and his sister, a chemist, Isla. We meet her this time accompanying Isla and Alice to buy high proof alcohol to make Molotov Cocktails. An educational experience for Alice!
Catroina was not trusted by her fellow maidservant Alice. Alice remembers the self serving piece of work Catroina was (before Mallory inhabited her body)
Except this time Catroina/Mallory follows Alice to a Abernathy Hall, a dance hall where her sister Mae is being trafficked by their brother Felix.
Mallory tries to rescue Mae and ends up in literally the same boat. What!
It all ends well but not before Mallory succumbs to chloroform, Dr. Gray is kidnapped and certain cocktails are exploded.
A novella building on Mallory’s situation thus far, occasionally amusing and often terrifying.

A Subterranean Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)