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!

Martin Edwards’ The House on Graveyard Lane offers a masterful blend of thriller and classic whodunit, with a plot that unravels like a darkly artistic puzzle. At the center of the story is Rachel Savernake, a sharp and sardonic detective who is asked to solve a murder that hasn’t yet occurred by the eccentric artist Damaris Gethin. The setting, an eerie art exhibit in the Hades Gallery, creates a haunting backdrop as Damaris stages her own gruesome death via guillotine, shocking her carefully selected audience. Though initially labeled as suicide, the artist’s chilling request to Rachel leaves behind more questions than answers, setting the stage for a twisting mystery where every guest is a suspect.

Edwards crafts a captivating, atmospheric tale filled with colorful and morally ambiguous characters, from shady financial players to washed-up songwriters. As Rachel investigates the tangled web of relationships surrounding Damaris, crime reporter Jacob Flint finds himself embroiled in his own dangerous subplot involving a notorious gangster and a mesmerizing femme fatale. The dual narrative keeps readers on edge, weaving together suspense and intrigue with Edwards’ trademark flair for intricate plotting. *The House on Graveyard Lane* delivers a satisfying blend of tension, mystery, and psychological depth, making it a must-read for fans of clever, character-driven crime fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC

The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards is a masterful blend of thriller and classic whodunit, set against the eerie backdrop of 1930s London. This fourth installment in the Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mysteries series plunges readers into a chilling and atmospheric tale that keeps us guessing.

The story kicks off with a surreal and macabre art exhibit by Damaris Gethin, a controversial artist known for her dramatic and unsettling works. The opening night at the Hades Gallery takes a horrifying turn when Damaris stages her own execution, leaving behind a cryptic request for Rachel Savernake to solve her “murder.” This bizarre and theatrical suicide sets the stage for a complex investigation filled with twists and turns.

Rachel Savernake, the enigmatic and astute protagonist, is a compelling character whose sharp intellect and unyielding determination drive the narrative forward. Her interactions with the eclectic cast of suspects, including a former lover with dubious financial dealings and a has-been songwriter, add depth and intrigue to the plot. Each character is meticulously crafted, with their own secrets and motivations, making it difficult to discern who can be trusted.

Edwards excels in creating a vivid and immersive setting. The Hades Gallery, with its subterranean location and haunting exhibits, serves as a perfect backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The author’s attention to detail in describing the gallery and the chilling reenactments of famous deaths adds a layer of authenticity and suspense to the story.

The dual narrative featuring crime reporter Jacob Flint adds another dimension to the book. His pursuit of a celebrated French beauty and entanglement with a ruthless gangster provide a parallel storyline that intersects with Rachel’s investigation in unexpected ways. This subplot enriches the overall narrative, offering readers a broader view of the dangers lurking in 1930s London.

The House on Graveyard Lane is a testament to Martin Edwards’ skill as a storyteller. His ability to weave intricate plots, develop multifaceted characters, and create a palpable sense of place makes this book a standout in the genre. Fans of historical mysteries and classic detective fiction will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this dark and captivating tale.

I liked the intrigue of the mystery. The main character has her own secrets, but it is handled well.

I started in the middle of the series which is a big setback though, because it made it very difficult to understand the characters and their relationship with each other. I would have preferred if some background was provided.

Character names were also a bit weird for me and I understand the need of having unique names but it was hard to keep track. Also the pacing of the book is off, where there is a lot of description of things and events that don't matter.

I need to maybe start at the beginning of the series, before picking up the next one, since people who have read it in order seem to like it better than I did. (2.5/5)

i really enjoyed the historical aspect as well as the mystery. seeing the main character able to solve different problems and cases that she runs into without having the access to the modern day technology that we do now is so refreshing and shows how intelligent the main character is

Avant-garde artist Damaris Gethin knows she's going to die, and in a spectacular way on top of that. Why not invite the famed Rachel Savernake to her death, asking her to solve it?

I'd like to thank NetGalley, author Martin Edwards and Poisened Pen Press for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I'd like to say that this book is the fourth in a series, which I was not aware of when I requested the ARC. Following the backstory of various characters wasn't overly difficult, however, as there were several clues worked in dialogue and narration. I can't help but wonder if it doesn't become tedious for those who follow the series, though.

Like I said, the first scene was spectacular, and immediately pulled me in. Too bad that what I thought would be the real mystery in this novel wasn't followed as accurately as I'd hoped, and was resolved fairly quickly and sort of off-page instead.
“You're not a ghost,” Rachel Savernake tells Damaris Ghetin, who just asked her to solve her murder. “Not yet,” the artist replies. This little exchange led me to believe this murder mystery/thriller would be toying with the paranormal, but alas, it did not. A lot of the legwork needed to solve the mystery of Damaris Gethin's death was done off the page, and the reader was informed of it only through conversations between Rachel and the crime reporter Jacob.

The heart of the novel, instead, is the case Jacob has been following closely: incredibly beautiful socialite Kiki de Villiers is hiding a mysterious past, a tangled friendship with her maid, and dark affairs with organized crime. The noir atmosphere really helped to settle in the Golden Age of Murder mindset, so I definitely enjoyed this part. However, I think some descriptions are too lengthy and take away a lot of the suspense that a reader would expect from a thriller. The stakes were far too low for me to feel truly invested in the story, and reaching the solution to the mystery.

Lastly, the list of clues at the end of the book was a nice touch, although I feel that most of them were too vague or circumstantial to really give me that “Oh that's why!” lightbulb feeling.

I'm giving it three stars because I fully believe that if the book had been advertised as the fourth in a series and the blurb had been less focused on such a small portion of the story, it would have hit the mark much better. Alas, I went in with expectations that weren't met.

This one is a little hard for me to review. I am not super into historical mysteries AND I did not realize this was the 4th book in a series (that I have not previously read). That being said, I did finish this and enjoyed it for what it was.

As an aside - this cover is incredible and invokes the original VC Andrew’s covers from the 70s, which is what really drew me into this book.

I somehow failed to notice that this book was the fourth in the series before I started reading it. That didn't really end up mattering for me though. I feel like I understood who the characters were well enough without being familiar with their previous stories.

I liked the concept of the mystery in this one, but the execution didn't really work for me. I'm not sure why exactly. It just didn't click for me. That said, I did think this was a pretty solid, semi-cozy historical mystery that may work better for other readers.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I only read a little bit of this before I realized it was the 4th book in a series. But I liked what I did read! I will go back and read the first three books before reading and reviewing this one