I received a complimentary ARC copy of The House on Graveyard Lane (Rachel Savernake #4) by Martin Edwards from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in order to read and give an honest review.

“...As always Martin Edwards has crafted a well-written, clever, suspenseful mystery that is intriguing and highly entertaining.”

The fourth entry in Martin Edward’s Rachel Savernake Series we open with a launch of a new exhibit at an exclusive gallery called Hades. The exhibit from performance artist Damaris Gathin who has models re-enacting famous murders in history. While Rachel chats with Damaris, Damaris seems intrigued by Rachel and her reputation for solving crimes. Damaris announces she will be the one to portray the execution of Anne Boleyn but before she begins, she makes a request of Rachel “I want you to solve my murder”.

Confused Rachel shrugs it off but when Damaris recreating the death of Anne Boleyn is beheaded by her own hands it looks like she chose to take her own life, but her request begins to haunt Rachel. Something doesn’t sit right and with her when her dear friend and crime reporter, Jacob Flint who was also in attendance agrees that there is a bigger story in the works. When the editor asks him to bin the story, a story which could make his and the paper’s name, he knows it is bigger than they thought. Rachel and Jacob two set off to investigate perilously crossing paths with a vengeful mobster, his runaway mistress, corrupt officials, a washed-up songwriter, a widowed nurse, and an opportunistic seducer all of whom had the means.

With a dynamic plot involving multiple hitmen after the same woman, a dead physician, a murdered henchman, vengeance, and trying to uncover why Damaris chose to end her life and her cryptic words to Rachel before her death.

As always Martin Edwards has crafted a well-written, clever, suspenseful mystery that is intriguing and highly entertaining. Although it had a few issues with the plot and was a little slow to develop, the story was filled with twists and suspenseful turns. A fun read for those who enjoy ‘Golden Age’ mysteries from a modern voice. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. Just a mention that I absolutely loved the Clue list in the back although I stumbled across most of them myself, there were a couple I missed.

Pros:
Intriguing Premise: The story opens with a showstopping exhibition of violence in London’s Hades Gallery, setting the stage for a captivating mystery.
Golden Age Tropes: Edwards masterfully weaves together classic whodunit and thriller elements from the interwar period.
Rachel Savernake: The enigmatic detective protagonist, Rachel, adds depth and flair to the narrative.

Cons:
Missing Focus: The spotlight occasionally shifts away from the central mystery, leaving readers wanting more clarity on certain plot points.
Unseen VIP: A mysterious VIP subplot remains unresolved, which might frustrate some readers.

Beyond pacing issues and the unresolved VIP subplot prevents, it is still a delightful homage to classic mysteries, perfect for fans of Golden Age detective fiction.

I've got the making series on the brain, and it's a perfect week to take on a new entry in the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards. Sepulchre Street is Edwards' fourth novel, and the fourth to feature his mysterious amateur sleuth, Rachel Savernake. Edwards is, of course, the premier expert on Golden Age / traditional mysteries, and I'd be excited to read this advance copy on his name alone. (Many thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the gift copy!) But I've also been a huge fan of his sleuth Rachel Savernake since I first picked up Gallows Court. The series is clever, compelling, and a dark contrast to some of my cozier "comfort" reads.

In this latest outing, Rachel and her crew pursue the alleged murderer of a dazzling contemporary artist. When Damaris Gethrin approaches Rachel to "solve her murder" - and then proceeds to execute on the same at her art exhibit - Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans ned to learn more. As they investigate further, they uncover and wrestle with layer on layer of conspiracy. It's an intriguing premise, and Edwards is known for delivering on his puzzles. But can he keep it up in Sepulchre Street?

Rachel goes on an adventure

Martin Edwards is the ultimate scholar on Golden Age crime fiction, and it’s clear he loves the intellectual challenge of a good fair play mystery. He has brought that appreciation and wit to all of the prior entries in the Rachel Savernake series. He continues with the rigor in Sepulchre Street, going so far as to include a clue-finder at the end to “prove” the solution. If you, like me, enjoy feeling intellectually challenged by a mystery, then you will appreciate this approach. It's nice to know that all elements of the ultimate solution are deducible with information fairly provided.

That said, Edwards has chosen to go a little closer to the modern adventure route than in prior entries. Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans stumble into a broad conspiracy, and their actions incite behavior that actually uncovers information. Not only that - the criminals are also prodded on by external factors, revealing additional clues. There's a larger element here of luck and/or conspiracy than in prior works - Rachel and the team have to be more reactive.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this, and it can be fun to see what happens when an intelligent and resourceful character is put in a tough spot. But when I think of the Great Detectives, I always imagine a sense of control - that they generally have an understanding of possibilities and probabilities that allows each new incident to give them information. It's the difference between the detectives leading the charge and simply deducing the outcomes. There's nothing inherently wrong with either approach - but I'm surprised to see this more reactive mode from Edwards' characters.

What makes a detective Great?

My first recommendation, should you choose to read this novel, is to quickly refresh yourself on the cast of the series. Edwards routinely references the team's past adventures, and spends little time reintroducing the characters and their stories. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to avail myself of this advice, and it took me a minute to refresh on each story and history before I could truly get into the swing of the novel.

Edwards continues to write Rachel with a vaguely mysterious past. While it was intriguing for a few novels, it's wearing thin in book 4. Rachel continues to have infinite wealth and intelligence. She can do no wrong when it comes to detecting - she's an effortless team leader and a great ally. But without enough of the personal touch, Rachel comes off as an in-story deus ex machina: there's no doubt she and her team will survive unscathed.

Of course, a mysterious crime-solver can still work when the surrounding stories and characters are sufficiently engaging. And while the story in Sepulchre Street is full of dramatic events, the characters themselves are a little thin. The victim dies in a truly shocking way - but we learn very little about her as a person. In my reading notes, I've noted one character gives off "Irene Adler in Sherlock" vibes - that is, shallow with the ongoing promise of depth.

My instinct is that Savernake could be great, if Edwards could commit to either approach. If Rachel's past stays vague, then the surrounding mysteries need to make up for it. Otherwise, it'll be important to dive deeper into her story (and her crew's). For the moment, Sepulchre Street fails to hit either mark.

Reader's notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐✨)

The above criticisms are in the context of a well-written traditional mystery / adventure novel. I gulped Sepulchre Street down in a single sitting and enjoyed the more dark, atmospheric vibe of the writing. This is definitely a good read, just a niche one - and one that feels like it could have been even better. I'd recommend this to anyone who's already a Martin Edwards fan - but if you're just looking for a great traditional mystery and not already familiar with the series, I'd suggest starting with Gallows Court first. Because it's so reliant on series attachment - 3.5 stars.

Read this if...

You love Rachel Savernake (and have recently read the other books in the series)

You appreciate the intellectual puzzle of a good fair-play / closed-circle mystery

You’re looking for something a little more on the dark side of mystery

Skip this if...

This is your first Rachel Savernake book

You need to empathize with either protagonist or victim in your mysteries

You’re looking for something cozy (like I often cover here)

The book is so twisted and terrifying. It is filled with unexpected happenings, red herrings and an inevitable web of suspense, mystery, hidden truth and secrets. The author has dropped clues in each chapter. This is a kind of book where the mystery was just not connected with just one character and their personal life but there was the involvement of many people. There were so many twists. I guessed one of the twists. I like the insights of art, murder, investigation and hidden clues. It felt like a twisted puzzle of human hidden facades, secrets, unsettling truth, and obsession. I love the characters descriptions and small details. This is great whodunnit

Set in 1930s England. Damaris Gethim, A surreal artist invited a small group of people including Rachel Savernake for her art exhibition. She wants Rachel to solve a crime that has not been committed yet but she is certain that she is going to get k!lled.

Many Thanks to Publisher and to the Author.

Let me start off by saying I didn’t realise this book was a part of series and I think I would have enjoyed things a bit more if I understood the background and the relationship of the characters. I don’t think I necessarily missed anything, but I like backstory, although I think our FMC’s backstory hasn’t been fully divulged in the previous books and so I do wish I had read the others first. But, as I said, I don't think you necessarily have to have read those other books in order to understand and enjoy this story.

I like a good personal detective (I am obsessed with Poirot and Holmes) and this is a pretty decent mystery. I think what might turn people off to this type of detective writing is you don’t always get given all the facts to try and work things out for yourself so when the idea is presented you think it’s a bit far-fetched or get lost trying to come to the conclusion. However, if you read this one through, you get a nice little wrap up.

I enjoyed: the historical aspects,1930s London, a Marple-esque detective, the supporting characters and the twists and turns.

The author has a series of historical crime which involve Rachel Savernake, a quiet retiring woman whose very clever skills of deduction, along with the enthusiastic support of Jacob, a young journalist seem to find answers for the mysterious and complicated situations they encounter.

1930s England is our setting and Rachel is invited for an exhibition of wax sculptures from the Master of Surrealism Damaris Gethim. Her need from Rachel is strange and straightforward. She is assured that she is going to be murdered very soon, and she wants Rachel to find out who murders her and bring them to justice.

The story is intriguing. The murder takes place that very evening where Damaris is guillotined in front of a big group of invitees. Rachel starts her investigation and she has to go back in Damaris’s life decades and meticulously uncover who Damaris’s long buried enemies were and why they acted as they did.

The story was intense, detailed and the characters of Rachel and Jacob who complemented each other and had ample support from the secondary characters in the story.

In The House on Graveyard Lane, amateur detective Rachel Savernake is once again hunting a killer in 1930s London. However, this time her client, famous artist Damaris, kills herself in full public view. What drove Damaris to suicide? And why didn’t Damaris just expose the reason herself rather than using Rachel’s services?

The plot above is intriguing and made me want to read this book. However, there is a bit of bait and switch to this mystery. The Damaris story is bumped by another plot line, the story of the mysterious fem fatale Kiki. Kiki’s story takes up more than three quarters of the book. It involves tediously long explanations of 1930 British politics that I could barely wade through. There is also a current political hot potato dropped in the story too. Eventually, we circle back to Damaris, but it seems more of an afterthought that the important twist it should have been.

Overall, The House on Graveyard Lane was the worst book in the series so far. I see enough politics in real life, I certainly don’t want it invading my fiction too. I am hopeful that the great Martin Edwards will return to his usual modern golden age mystery plot in his next book without all the political claptrap and thriller tropes that are mucking up this one. A disappointed 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.

The House On graveyard Lane is the fourth book in the Rachel savernake historical mysteries by Martin Edwards, The story begins at a museum call Hades with models exhibiting famous murders in history. Anne Boleyn will be done by the artist her self in the exhibit will end the same way Miss Boleyn‘s did. The catches the actress Ask Rachel to solve her murder when she is very much alive but not for long her name is Damaris Gathen and before her artistic offering is over just like Miss Boleyn she will be beheaded but it will be at her own hands. If millionaire Rachel wasn’t interested before she certainly is now. It seems the Sherlock home type investigator likes to divulge other peoples secrets unlike those in her own life. She is very private about her past but has some very faithful companions as well as admirers. Despite sussing out clues as to why the strange eclectic artist would kill her self soon Rachel has a bona fide attempted murder and then murder on her hands. The suspect List contains a crooner who star is falling, a doctors widow who’s clinic is flailing and a top-tier bona fide shady dealer but before it’s over Rachel will find another suspect. This is the first book I’ve read from this Series but I think it’s safe to say most people in this book have a pass with Rachel and it’s not the part she’s keeping to her self she is very secretive very intelligent bold daring and independent and has fierce loyalty from those who live in her home. I love a book who you know there is no way the end could’ve been predicted but I do think a lot of it due to the fact it was never mentioned in the book at all at least not one aspect of it I found this book to be very smartly done I liked Rachel the detective and the reporter and especially her loyal friends there’s a lot to say for a main character who has a secret of pass that seems to only make you want to continue reading to find out what it is but a last will have to wait and hope it is divulged in the next installment. I think how do I read the other three books in the series I would’ve given it a higher rating without as if I was coming in in the middle of the story as most of these characters knew each other previously having said that I feel I have been caught up on the ins and outs of Rachel her companions ET see and would definitely read another book although I did find this one to be very very long.#NetGalley, #PoisonPenPress, #MartinEdwards, #TheRachelSavernakeMysteries, #TheHouseOnGraveyardLane,

The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards #seventysecondbookof2024 #arc #rachelsavernake

Artist Damaris Gethin has invited a small group to the opening of her exhibit “Artist in Crime.” She asks guest Rachel Savernake to solve her murder, then enters her head into a lifelike guillotine, but when the blade drops and Damaris is actually killed, Rachel starts investigating. She quickly learns that Damaris herself accomplished the deed with the push of the button, so why did she ask Rachel to solve her murder? Rachel begins sniffing around the other invited guests, including a former lover with shady financial dealings, his widowed sister-in-law and her husband songwriter friend. Meanwhile, crime reporter Jacob Flint, also in attendance in hopes of meeting celebrated beauty, Kiki de Villiers, allows his fascination with her to endanget his own life when a ruthless gangster returns to London, looking to take back what’s his.

My thoughts: the summary of this book, while accurate, is a small portion of the actual story presented. The main plot deals with some of the guests at the victim’s party, the “meanwhile” of the summary. Ultimately they do connect, but I really wish that book jackets were more consistently accurate to the actual novel. That said, this was a fun romp into the Golden Age of 1930s England. It turned out to be book 4 in the Rachel Savernake series. I can’t imagine I’ll read the rest of them, but this one was entertaining enough to finish. I enjoyed reading about the fancy dishwashing gadget acquired by the main character. I couldn’t believe they were around back then, but it turns out they were invented in 1886 by a woman. Who knew! I appreciate this novel for causing it me to research that fact.

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Pub date 8/27/24)

#thehouseongraveyardlane

An amazing twisting turning murder mystery that had me on the edge of my seat. I missed that this was further into a series, but I didn't feel like I had missed too much of the back story while reading it. I shall now be going back to read all the previous books and look forward to future books in the series!

Loaded with quirky characters, banter, wit and red herrings, The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards is a highly entertaining 1930s Golden Age whodunit. Who indeed?

With dramatic flair, Damaris Gethin loses her head at Hades Gallery. She is portraying Marie Antoinette in front of a group of guests and with the push of a button, she commits a well-executed suicide. A short time earlier, she had asked bright and determined detective Rachel Savernake to solve her murder. Along with reporter Jacob Flint, she sifts through suspects' pasts and amidst the gangsters, music and drama discovers secrets and ingenuity. Several characters are a hoot, especially Kiki de Villiers.

Martin Edwards is an auto-read author for me and this is one rollercoaster of a series! In addition to the above, I like the clue finder, atmosphere and twisty turns. In a few places it felt a wee bit rambly but enjoyable nonetheless.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Martin Edwards for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The House on Graveyard Lane coming out August 27, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was excited to receive this book! I’ve only read the book before this one, but I love historical mysteries. I thought the title was really spooky and fun. I thought the plot was really interesting and it started off with a lot of action. Rachel is asked to solve a murder before it happens. Rachel is a smart and strong character. I think Jacob Flint is also an interesting character. I think I got a little lost in the details towards the end of the book. There was a lot of description. But I thought the guide to the clues was a great help. I would check out other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

Thank you Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC ♥️


This historical murder mystery is like a deliciously complex puzzle that'll keep you guessing until the very end. The story kicks off with a seriously creepy request: someone asks Rachel, the main character, to solve their own murder. But Rachel's no ordinary woman - she's fiercely independent, super smart, and doesn't let societal norms hold her back. She dives headfirst into the mystery, navigating a web of secrets, lies, and suspects. I loved how Martin Edwards wove together historical details, suspenseful twists, and clever clues. You'll find yourself trying to piece together the mystery alongside Rachel, and trust me, it's a wild ride! The best part? I hadn't read any previous books in the series, but it didn't bother me one bit - this one stands on its own perfectly. I was totally absorbed in the world and characters, and never felt lost or left behind. But now, I'm hooked! I'll definitely be reading all the books in the series, because I need more of Rachel's sleuthing skills and the author's masterful storytelling in my life🔥

I wasn’t aware that this was apart of a series,so I went in with a fresh mind not knowing anything about the characters. And that was my mistake, but I did think the plot was interesting. It was a bit longer than it should’ve been.

A nicely twisty mystery that sees Rachel working to solve the mystery of the murder of Damaris, who actually guillotined herself in front of a group of people. Rachel's an intriguing character who keeps her own secrets from both Jacob, the reporter who figures in this, as well as the reader. I've not reach many of Edwards' books but I'll look for him again because of his storytelling and, oddly in the genre, sly humor. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Martin Edwards for this ARC.

Gilded Age detective fiction is such a specific nich genre, but I am always in love with the vibes of these novels. Martin Edwards has created a fun series set in this period with witty, brash Rachel Savernake finding herself embroiled in cozy mystery plots.

I was so excited to return to the world of Rachel Savernake. She is such a fun, sassy detective who doesn’t hold back even in the world of men in 1930s London. She reminds me so much of Miss Marple in that she has an uncanny intuition, and the plots are just lighthearted and fun, even though they do center around mu*der.

I honestly think this is the best installation in the series thus far. The mysteries kept me engaged, the banter between Rachel and the other characters was snappy, and the noir vibes were perfection.

“The House on Graveyard Lane” can be read as a stand alone. However, you may miss some background context and relationships that are expounded upon in this novel. That said, Martin Edwards does an excellent job of recapping backstories so you won’t be lost.

Unlike the previous three novels, this specific book has more of a thriller aspect, making the pace seem a bit faster. The twisty solution will satisfy you, and the dual POV will keep your attention.

I picked up “The House on Graveyard Lane” for the 1930s vibes, and I stayed for the mystery. One of my favorite things about these books is that Edwards includes a “Clue Finder” at the end of the novel, which shows all the pages and sections where the final solution was hinted at. It makes his ending seem logical, plausible, and more enjoyable. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a touch of thriller, try out “The House on Graveyard Lane.”

🗡️𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: 2/5 ✨

🗡️𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬: I was so excited & so thankful to receive this arc from NetGalley, the cover, the synopsis, the murder mystery? Sounded right up my alley. I did enjoy when the plot actually ramped up & when the twists would come into play, I was so interested to know who was the murderer in question. It was an interesting story & I enjoyed Rachel’s character, she was so witty & mysterious. I didn’t realize this was part of a series with her so I would have loved more of her back story, though thankfully it was definitely still possible to follow along without reading the other books.

🗡️𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓮: This book felt very slow, the writing wasn’t bad, but there were definitely in between scenes that were very long winded & felt over explained. I considered making this a dnf a several times cause I was bored & I just wanted to get into the plot & up the stakes. This didn’t really happen for me until the last 6 chapters.

I’m bummed this book wasn’t for me as I was really looking forward to it, that being said the pacing may be perfect for other readers. The actual plot itself was enjoyable, I just had a hard time with the in between & lead up to plot connections.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book is not for me. The blurb was intruiging and has an interesting plot, but as I read the book, it didn't click with me. There are too many characters which gets me confused at times. Also, I later realized that this is part of the series, so it's such a shame. I might have liked and appreciated this book if I'd read the first three books.

A twisty Golden Age murder mystery!! Were some of the twists predictable? Yes. Did that make me not enjoy it? Absolutely not!! 🙌

This was a fun read and I really enjoyed the Rachel Savernake character!! So much so that I just ordered the first 3 books in the series! 👏🫣

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Martin Edwards for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

TW: suicide

PLEASE NOTE : I requested this arc only because the blurb sounded great. Nowhere on NetGalley it has been said that this book is the 4th of a series, I only discovered it when adding it to my GR TBR.

I still decided to go on with reading it because I know that, usually, murder mystery series get to be easy to follow through even when you read a book out of the series, with only possible spoils of the books before and a quick "hey remember when" talk etc. It was pretty much the case here: there are A LOT of characters and name being given here and there, but other than relationships between some characters that were confusing, it wasn't that hard. But turns out, there were so many characters that none of them got my interest, even with this multiple POV! So I ended up reading it mostly for the plot only and forgone trying to feel interested in any character.

However, even the story couldn't get a grip on me, and I felt bored after the first half of the book (and it's a stretch). The multiple POV were really interesting to see the story and the plot going on from different angles, but it suffered from it as well : the plot was painly predictable, or if it wasn't that easy to guess, it wasn't surprising anyway. So turns out that even the plot itself disappoitned me, when I thought I could at least enjoy this part.