Cocktails and Chloroform is a fast-paced novella adventure perfect for current fans awaiting the next book.

I had a ton of fun reading Kelley Armstrong's newest A Rip Through Time novella. Cocktails & Chloroform adds to Detective Mallory Atkinson's story with a new mystery set in Victorian England. She continues her adventures trapped in another woman's body, a really unpleasant woman at that. Mallory has a multitude of obstacles to overcome that include the reputation of the body she is in, convincing the parlormaid Alice to trust her, and just being a woman in Victorian times. She even has a sidekick in Dr. Duncan Gray (who is actually her boss), whom she told the stories of Sherlock Holmes to, and now he fancies himself a consulting detective! Together they progress from simple surveillance to full on spying and instructions on how to create a Molotov cocktail.

If you have read any of the other A Rip Through Time books, you will enjoy this latest installment. If you haven't read them, you will still like this one. While it is not intended as a stand-alone, you really can read it that way if you want. The world building is wonderful and Armstrong's writing style brings these characters to life. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this novella, and I enjoyed every single page!

COCKTAILS & CHLOROFORM by Kelley Armstrong
“A Rip Through Time Novella” ….
Publication Date: 12/31/2023 by Subterranean Press
Page Count: 136 pages


This the third delightful installment of Kelley Armstrong’s “A Rip Through Time” series.
This entry is a wonderful 136 page long novella, that nicely adds to the lore of Vancouver police detective Mallory Atkinson. Step into Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland once more for a captivating cozy mystery featuring modern-day thirty-year old Canadian police detective Mallory, who finds herself stranded in 1860s Scotland. She is thrown into this scenario when she rushed to help a screaming woman in an alley. Suddenly a noose is slipped around her neck … as she looses consciousness, the world darkens. When she awakens, she’s shocked to find herself in the body of an eighteen-year old buxom blonde. Through a rip in time she has journeyed from 2019 to the same day in 1869. A resourceful character, Mallory navigates this new time period and unfamiliar body with wit and determination. 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 medical examiner for Detective McCreadie. He examines murder victims before the inept “official” medical examiner has a chance to compromise the evidence.
Isla, on the other hand, breaks the mold for women of her time. Although highly educated, she’s compelled to work as a herbalist rather than a trained chemist … due to prevailing gender bias. In truth she often assists Duncan in his investigation surrounding criminal proceedings. In previous books Isla, Duncan and McCreadie have learn of her plight and fostered her assisting them in the criminal investigations. She has not won the trust of all of the household … some see her in light of her nefarious and trickster persona of “Catriona” ( the body that she presently is in ) . In an attempt at winning over the confidence of parlormaid, Alice…. After Alice receives a letter that greatly upsets her ….
She stealthily slips out of the house, Mallory fearing for her safety and being curious, follows her into the Old Town ( shadier part of the city ). She finds that Alice is definitely over her head. What first appears to be a dance hall, with young women and men flirting , turns into something much more sinister. Before the evening is over, Mallory’s surveillance will lead to unintended consequences for both Alice , Mallory … and quite a few other young women.
Kelley Armstrong proves to be a marvelous storyteller as she weaves multiple twisted plot turns into a narrative with escalating suspense and intrigue . To reach maximal enjoyment, it would be wise to read the other two novels in this series, before devouring this long novella.
This historical mystery merges into a police procedural with a time travel narrative set in the vivid backdrop of the Victorian era. Armstrong skillfully incorporates multiple themes, such as women’s equality, racism, and gender dysphoria into the tale. These social issues are relevant
to both time periods. The conclusion is satisfying and yet leaves unanswered questions. … knowing there is more to come ! Mallory certainly wants to go home to her 2019 Vancouver … but “not quite yet.”
Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.A RIP THROUGH TIME by Kelley Armstrong
Publication: May 31, 2022 by Minotaur Books / St. Martin’s Press


Thirty year-old Vancouver police detective Mallory Atkinson runs into the alley where she hears a woman’s scream. Suddenly a rope noose is thrust around her neck …. even though valiantly struggling she starts to pass out. Just before she looses consciousness, she “sees” an optical illusion of “ a young woman with honey-blond hair, in a cornflower-blue dress, as a shadowy figure has his hands wrapped around her throat”. The world goes dark. She awakens confused and startled, and suddenly realizes she is inhabiting the body of an eighteen year-old blond girl, Catriona Mitchell in obviously Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland. Somehow through a “rip in time” she has traveled from May 20, 2019 to the same day in 1869.
Kelley Armstrong crafts a delightful tale combining elements of historical fiction, time travel and a convoluted police procedural. Walking a dangerous tight rope, Armstrong expertly combines lengthy internal dialogue of Mallory/ Catriona with her amazing development of the interesting multi-dimensional Victorian characters. Catriona is a housemaid in the very unique household of “undertaker” Dr. Duncan Gray and his half sister, Isla Ballantyne. Dr. Gray is much more than a funeral director, and actually is a trusted consultant of Detective McCreadie, examining murder victims before the incompetent medical examiner botches everything. In actuality his studies are the forerunner of modern forensic science. And Isla is an exceptional variant of the women of the time …. being highly educated , but forced to work as a herbalist rather than a chemist … directly because of her gender. Did I forget to mention, Dr Gray is dismissed as irrelevant and somewhat of a charlatan. Even though highly educated, he unfortunately remains black. After interactions with various members of the household, Mallory
soon realizes that the beautiful and fetching Catriona has a murky past … being lazy, illiterate ,a con artist, and a thief, and probably uses her “feminine wiles” for illicit purposes. Mallory wonders if Catriona is back in the twenty-first-century wreaking havoc in the guise of Mallory Atkinson. Both have been attacked and strangled in the same alley, but 150 years apart. Mallory uses her “head injury” as an excuse to account for her lapses in memory and personality changes, but finds it difficult to account for her literacy (“I felt is was helpful to keep it a secret”).
Mallory witnesses and cannot help but get involved when McCreadie brings a body for Dr Duncan to assess for clues. Crime reporter Archie Evans was murdered and body staged, but Mallory realizes with her modern-day knowledge of forensics, that he was tortured by waterboarding, obviously for interrogation purposes. After forging a relationship with Isla, Mallory investigates the seamy side of Edinburgh with Isla’s aid and knowledge, while struggling to uncover the truth. At first she ponders if merely returning to the scene of the strangling will transport her back. When this fails, she considers the possibility that helping McCreadie and Gray catch the murderer will open a portal back to 2019 Vancouver or Edinburgh, Scotland. By the way, it was hilarious witnessing Mallory attempting to replicate Victorian speech, based upon her knowledge of present day Victorian Romance novels, All during her travails to find the murderer and avoid her own demise she is cognizant of the “butterfly effect”. The time travel dilemma that one’s actions in the past could have catastrophic effects in the future.
This delightful, and entertaining yarn provides a multitude of plot twists and turns, and yet escalates into a thrilling denouement that is satisfying, while leaving many unsolved questions…. knowing there is more to come …Thankfully !!! Armstrong admirably weaves into the body of her work such themes as: the plight of women’s equality, racism, immigration, and even homosexuality. It was a pleasure to see the character of Mallory unfold, with her intelligence and determination, while being adaptable and resilient.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books / St. Martin’s Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. I seriously cannot wait until Mallory’s next adventure.
Was this review helpful?

This was a fun, quick read that helps tide me over as I eagerly await the next book in this series. It provided more insight into the plight of women in the past and how things have changed in some aspects but are sadly the same in others. It is kind of impressive how well the author handled such a dark topic in such a short novella. I liked learning about Alice's past and want to know more. I hope she plays bigger roles in future books.

Another outstanding book in the 'A Rip Through Time' by Kelley Armstrong. Present day detective Mallory Atkinson is transported back in time to the body of Catriona, a Scottish housemaid living in Victorian Edinburgh. She works with her employer, Dr. Duncan Gray, to help parlor maid Alice and her sister Mae. The story is engaging and readers learn more about the series main characters. Armstrong includes historic details to help readers understand the lives of people in Victorian Scotland without diminishing the storyline. And the overlap of Mallory's life with the history of Catriona creates interesting predicaments for both she and Dr Gray. The series is great and highly recommend the book!

Cocktails & Chloroform is a novella that dives deeper into not only Cat and Alice's relationship but also Mallory and Gray's relationship. This novella was the perfect in between. I loved getting to know more about Alice's past and how she came about to live and work for Gray & his sister. When reading the first two books, I wanted to know more about Alice and this book has given me everything I wanted and MORE!

Series Info/Source: This is a novella set after the second book in the A Rip Through Time series. I got an ebook of this from NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: I didn't realize this was part of the A Rip Through Time series when I requested it for review. I read the first book in that series but not the second. This novella is supposed to take place after the second book. Even though I never read the second book, I remember the characters from the first book and the story so far has been fast-paced and fun to read. I ended up really enjoying this.

The story follows Mallory, a modern detective, who has found herself sent back to the past and trapped in the body of a Victorian maid working in the household of a mortuary scientist. When the other maid, Alice, goes out on a mysterious nighttime jaunt, Mallory follows her, concerned for Alice's safety. At first Alice's trip seems fairly innocent, but once Mallory figures out what is really going on she is plunged into a dangerous mystery.

This was a fun and entertaining read. You could probably read this as a stand alone, but you would be better off reading at least the first book in that series so that you have the background of the main character. I never felt lost but I had read the first book in this series already.

This is fast paced with intriguing characters and an engaging mystery. I was completed engaged the whole time and found the book hard to put down. I really enjoyed the unique characters here, the Victorian setting, and the well done mystery. Mallory's insights into Victorian culture as a modern detective are highly entertaining as well.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend it if you have read at least the first book in this series. Although this story has time travel aspects to it it is more focused on a mystery surrounding disappearing girls. I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series, so I never read the second. However, this novella has me reconsidering that...I kind of want to go back and read the second book in the series now! I would recommend to those who enjoy historical mysteries and fun, quirky characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for gifting me an early copy of this novella in one of my favorite Kelley Armstrong series.

This shortie really packs a punch. It's clear that Armstrong was going for some development of Alice and her relationship with Mallory/Catriona, and it was a wild success, in my opinion.

The story felt complete without feeling rushed, without feeling like it left anything out or should have been longer. It was just right.

And luckily, it was a perfect little morsel in the long wait for the next release in the main series.

Highly recommended, but I'd suggest you pick up books one and two in the main series first, as this takes place after book two and does provide minor spoilers for the first two books.

I can never get enough of this series, just a never ending good time. Mallory continues to be one of my favorite characters Kelley has written. Getting to watch her navigate the Victorian era with her 21st century wit and know how is so much fun. I love this series and this novella was just what I needed to tide me over while waiting for the 3rd book to come out next year. Mallory and Dr. Gray team up for a quick but high stakes adventure. Along the way reminding the reader that their chemistry and bond just continue to grow. This slow burn romance of theirs is just one of the many reasons I keep coming back for more. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early.

I absolutely adore this series and this was such a fun novella that really dove deeper into Alice and Cat's relationship and of course Mallory and Gray's. It was so much fun to see them all working together to help those around them and I can't wait for the next book!

Love this series, loved this story. “Cocktails & Chloroform” takes us back to Victorian Scotland on another adventure with Mallory. I was very sad when this one ended and I’m ready for the next book in the series!

Mallory, a current day Canadian police detective has been unaccountably transferred into the body of Catriona, a sneaky Victorian era housemaid in Edinburgh. Catriona’s criminal escapades may catch up to Mallory as she tries to help the household’s young parlor maid and her family.

This novella is really entertaining, although the main crime is really quite horrible. But, as always, Kelley Armstrong is an amazing storyteller. She uses this shorter story, two books into the series, to develop the relationship between Mallory and Alice (the parlor maid) and delve more deeply into the effects of poverty of the time. And, there are Molotov cocktails!

I had expected to not like this series as much as the others that Armstrong has written because I really, really dislike the time travel trope. As always with her books, I’ve been sucked in, and they get better each time. I really enjoy the descriptions of Edinburgh, the clothing, the attitudes of the time as seen by a strong, contemporary woman. As well, the story is fast paced with interesting characters and amusing dialog.

Thanks to Subterranean Press & NetGalley for the advance review copy.

Why is there always so much chloroform in Victorian Edinburgh?! You’ll have to read this next installment in the Rip Through Time series to find out! 😂
Mallory and the gang find themselves in mortal peril yet again, this time while trying to help Alice save her sister from a tragic fate. I always equal parts worry and hope that each story will help Mallory find her way back home!
*Thanks to Subterranean Press & NetGalley for the advance review copy

Thank you to NetGalley & Subterranean Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Cocktails & Chloroform is a novella, not a full length book. I was able to read it all in one sitting and enjoyed it! I think if someone is looking for a historical fiction mystery story this is a good pick. Kelley Armstrong does a good job taking readers to Victorian Scotland with her writing. I think the mystery itself was really interesting and gives readers a fun adventure as well as more information about background characters and their sometimes dangerous world. I honestly don't think it matters if someone hasn't read the larger series this novella is part of. Kelley Armstrong takes the time to explain the situation of our main character Mallory, and you'll get the gist of who everyone around her is and what's going on very quickly. You'll be all caught up and definitely be able to enjoy the story! If you have read the first two novels, I think you'll love seeing these characters in a new adventure. Cocktails & Chloroform is suitably fast-paced and exciting. I'm looking forward to any future works in this series and of course by this author in general..

I love this series so much, and was super excited to get approved for the ARC on netgalley.

I loved that this novella had more consequences for Mallory to think about how she’s in Cat’s body - like, she knew at the house what Cat was known for, but to be out and accidentally run into others who did not have fond memories with Cat, that she had to then deal with on the fly was really interesting. I love that this included Alice more, cause I like her a lot, and thought there was enough danger to be resolved in the novella while still being able to be lighthearted at points - I love the “cocktail” making both the preparation for by getting ingredients, and the party for them.

I truly loved Mallory realizing that she didn’t want to got back to her time yet. Selfishly, I don’t either.

Many thanks to both Subterranean Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Cocktails & Chloroform, by Kelley Armstrong. Expected publication: December 1, 2023. #2.5 in the A Rip Through Time Series.

"Before the evening is done, those Molotov cocktails are probably going to come in handy."

I always enjoy reading ANYTHING in this series! I loved reading more about the Victorian era - and especially enjoyed learning more about the ever-prickly Alice. It's always hilarious reading of Mallory's struggle with women's Victorian clothing!! I still preferred it when Mallory didn't speak in modern vernacular, however. How the heck are people not confused by that? One of the very best hooks from the first book was when Mallory struggled to speak as a Victorin maid to everyone other than Dr. Gray and his sister. It was hilarious! I guess there's no going back, however.

I happily recommend Cocktails and Chloroform, although not as a standalone.

This was a great little romp in the Rip Through Time series. Modern day police detective Mallory who is currently inhabiting the body of a Victorian housemaid (sounds odd but it works) foils the criminals and saves the day.

This is a series that is really just getting better and better. If you like Armstrong's Rockton series and want to mix things up a bit with body swapping time travel this is a good series to try.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley publication is set for December 2023. This is an unpaid review.

Kelly Armstrong's Rip Through Time series has a perfect addition with this novella. It picks up the story of Mallory Atkinson's adventure in Victorian Scotland. I feel like this story built off the series of how Mallory, a present day Canadian detective, came to be living in a younger body of a Victorian Scottish maid. It could be read as a stand alone but think I enjoyed this novella because I did have the character background of the first two novels.

I thought this book was fun right from the beginning. I love how in the beginning, we are introduced to the story with two women experimenting with constructing Molotov cocktails and how much of the story relay's the tale of the limited power that women have in Victorian Scotland. The contrast of societal power was present throughout the tale. I thought this was a perfect adventure that was a snapshot into this world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I really do enjoy this series! This was the first of them I didn't listen to in audio format but still liked it a lot. Quick pacing, just enough adventure, and great characters. I will definitely read more in the future!

I've said it before and I"ll say it again, I love this series!

Mallory is fully embracing her new life as Catorina. She is working in Dr Gray's house and establishing relationships with those around her. Mallory works with Alice and one night Alice sneaks out...Mallory is determined to find out what Alice is up to. This begins a wild adventure that puts everyone in danger. 

I loved this little novella. I am ready for any adventure Mallory takes us on. I love that she is not afraid of anything and jumps right into any situation. I hope this series continues because I know there is much more for Mallory to get into.