I didn't really find any of the plot developments all that interesting. It was just a series of sordid shenanigans. I don't feel that it was worth my time.

While I haven't read the first 3 books in this series, I did enjoy The House on Graveyard Lane. I like a creepy gothic atmosphere; throw in some murder mystery and thriller details, and this was a fun, spooky ride.

This was a different type of book than my normal books and I was happy I read it! It was worth going into a new type of book and I thought it was good. I liked the suspense and thrill of it.

The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards is a multi-layered historical mystery and it's the fourth book in the Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mystery series. I read this book without reading the first three, and while i felt it could be read as a standalone i think the story would be better if i started with the first one and followed the characters since their first adventure. It felt like i was reading a thriller instead of a murder mystery but i had a great time nevertheless.

THE HOUSE ON GRAVEYARD LANE is a wonderfully crafted and multi-layered historical mystery. Edwards managed to effortlessly weave together social constructs, murder, intrigue, and very real issues still being dealt with today.

The opening chapters instantly pulled me in. Having such a defining moment with what happened to surrealist Damaris Gethin set the stage for what was to come and, in many ways, was a catalyst for more murder and mayhem down the line. As Rachel, our amateur sleuth, sets forth to investigate why the artist killed herself and who may be to blame, the reader goes down a twisted path to the truth. I will say that there were moments when I needed to get my bearings with all that was going on. But once I was about halfway through, it all started to come together as the answers started to reveal themselves.

Since this was the first time I was reading a Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mystery, I wasn’t sure if I would be lost or need time to learn about the characters. Though I believe reading the other books would inform you of the various backgrounds and relationships, I was absolutely fine jumping in at book four. I didn’t need any time to adjust

THE HOUSE ON GRAVEYARD LANE is a whodunit wrapped in the veil of a historical novel all the while exploring women’s issues and societal norms. Edwards has unique and deeply fascinating characters that I just want to read more about. I guess it is time to get the other books in the series.

A mystery with a moody atmosphere and clever twists, but it lacks the spark to truly stand out. Solid writing, just not particularly memorable.

In Sepulchre Street, Rachel Savernake drawn to the exotic and the bizarre, this time unraveling the mystery behind a shocking suicide. With her razor-sharp mind, unshakable confidence, and a knack for turning every clue into a revelation, Rachel feels like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, but with a glittery evening bag full of secrets. Her loyal household—Martha, Clifford, and Hetty—add depth to her enigmatic world, while poor Jacob Flint, the smitten crime reporter, stumbles into danger yet again. Packed with twists, dramatic scenes.
Definitely worth a read.

I enjoyed reading an arc of The House on Graveyard Lane. It was really good and I would rate it a 4 stars. This author was new for me, but interested in reading more from him.

The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards presents an incredible FMC in the form of Rachel Savernake, austere and with a whip smart intellect and insatiable curiosity. This in conjunction with a dark gothic mystery is my jam and then some!

The beauty of this novel is the curious nature of te crime to be solved. Why would a victim ask for her potential murder to be solved and then commit a (very) public voluntary checkout from life on stage of all places? Not least portraying Marie Antoinette?

An intriguing, compelling and dynamic mystery and a new fan of Martin Edwards and the Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mysteries

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Martin Edwards for this outstanding ARC

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

Confession: I have been, and shall always be, a big fan of Martin Edwards. Secondly, I am a devotee of the Golden Age of mystery novels. So my disposition is to effusively praise “ The House on Graveyard Lane.” However, I chose to keep “ my powder dry” and found there were times in the middle of the story that I was feeling a bit letdown. Rachel Savernake is an intriguing protagonist but purposely not a warm nor fuzzy character. The lack of her interpersonal skills is a homage to Sherlock Holmes ( I suspect.) It does force the reader to concentrate on the plot which in this story is complicated. I shall leave others to outline the key plot points but I shall let you know that the plot threads string together into a great final section of the book.
So Martin Edwards gets another five (5) star rating for “The House on Graveyard Lane.” And a big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this story.

The gothic story line and rich details in the story was a perfect spooky Season read. The mysterious halls and cool breezes around dark corners engage the reader.

I also struggled to get into this book. Perhaps the genre is not for me, but I just couldn’t get into the style.

As someone who hasn't read the other books in the series, I was able to read this without any issues. This was a interesting mystery that I wanted to see solved. The pacing was good. This is a well written mystery and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series! Special Thank You to Martin Edwards,Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

"I want you to solve my murder," said the woman in white.
Rachel Savernake gave a sardonic smile. "Quite a challenge."

When I first requested this one, I wasn't aware it was book four in a series. I think that not reading the previous three really impacted the enjoyment from this book. However, personally reviewing <i>just</i> this book, it was enjoyable, very Sherlock Holmes feeling with a good mixture of fiction and history blended. It did feel like the read was trying to be a standalone as well, however it was getting a bit muddled there, with callbacks to previous people and cases. The House on Graveyard Lane is perfect for you if you have already read and enjoyed the previous Rachel Savernake books or if you enjoy a good, old fashioned mystery with darker themes.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and Martin Edwards for a copy for review. The House on Graveyard Lane was released August 27th, 2024.

Intriguing mystery and fun characters, I liked the MC. I did feel it was pretty slow at parts. I wasn't aware it was part of a series so I guess I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as if I've had read the previous 3 books.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC, opinion is my own.

Rachel is a remarkable woman. Well educated and rich she is also keenly intelligent and unapologetically curious. She has a reputation for solving crimes which is the reason behind a peculiar request. A famous artist begs her to find her murderer just before the artist guillotines herself in front of an invited audience. There is no doubt this is suicide so why did she set Rachel on the path? Crime reporter Jacob is also in attendance and the two combine forces to solve a series of mysteries that start with the return of a cruel gangster and the possible murder of a beautiful socialite. But hold onto your hat because nothing in this book will be straight forward or linear. Before we are through the body count will rise and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

From London to Rye to Romney Marsh, even when you think you have things figured, there will be another curve. It makes for a delightful read that you would be hard pressed to tell whether it came from the Golden Age of Mystery or modern times. Five purrs and two paws up.

DNF @17%

Didnt realize that this was the fourth book in the series when i requested it - that's an oopsie on my part. The mystery itself was intriguing but without the backstory that comes with the first three books, i felt a bit lost and bored. Maybe in the future, I can start the series from the beginning and come back to this book.

But I think lovers of this series will enjoy this book as the mystery itself is a fun one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mystery series and I strongly suspect I would have enjoyed the story more if I had been following the characters from the start of their adventures. The main crew – Rachel, and her admirers and employees – are all quirky and seem fun, but I found it hard to get a handle on them or their relationships with each other when starting from this book, without prior knowledge.

Rachel, herself, is rather unrelatable, as she seems to be a wealthy, attractive, mysterious action-hero – James Bond crossed with Sherlock Holmes. We get most of the story from the point of view of her ardent admirer and loyal hanger-on reporter, Jacob, who feels young and green in comparison to the enigmatic wonder woman. Together with her companions and a somewhat sceptical police contact/friend, Rachel kindly allows Jacob to tag along while she investigates the dramatic public death of an artist, a couple of bomb threats, and the shady past of glamorous socialite Kiki de Villiers.

The plot felt a little bit scattered, and the interjections of mob members and professional assassins made the story feel less like a murder mystery and more like a thriller. Plus, the stakes didn’t feel particularly high, as we didn’t get chance to really engage with the victims and Rachel and co seemed to all-round competent to ever be in that much danger.

Finally, I felt that the title, cover and blurb implied a creepier story than the one we got, and I noted that the book appears to now have been renamed as Sepulchre Street, which fits the actual content slightly better!

As I said at the beginning, I suspect I would have enjoyed the story and characters far more if I had read books 1-3 first, rather than jumping in blind, as there were hints at mysteries and possible vulnerabilities in Rachel’s backstory that weren’t explored here, so I might have to check out Gallows Court and see how I get on.

a fun read going into fall! some parts of the story were dragging on and the pacing felt all over the place but overall i enjoyed it!