What happens when you are tasked to solve a murder that looks like a suicide? If you are Rachel Savernake you use your wits to solve a dying woman's final wish.

While at an art exhibition in Hades Hall, Rachel Savernake is tasked by the artist, Damaris Gethrin, to solve her murder. As she is milling around, Rachel looks at the guests in attendance and realizes this rag-tag group doesn't have much in common. Who could possibly want the artist dead? Secrets, lies, and more murders lay in wait for Miss Savernake as we learn that each attendee plays an important role and has a hand in the murder-suicide event.

This was my first dive into the world of Rachel Savernake and it will not be the last. I loved the historical troupe of London murder mysteries set during the Golden Age. I read Rachel as one of those sassy, wise-cracking "It" girls from the 30's that are depicted in old Noir films and wish I could be her.

This book is a great example about how sometimes your past catches up with you.

The Finch sisters, Esther, Meg, and Claire, decide to explore an abandoned house and are each presented a key to one of the numerous rooms. Each girl witnesses something horrific that they refuse to talk about. Years later, the youngest is found dead in the house. When the surviving sisters explore the house again, the ghost of Claire haunts them and informs them of things that have went on. As the sisters work through the house, they learn that things aren't always what they seem.

This book is quite spooky at times and downright eerie at others. Well-written characters and a unique plot. Pacing was slow at some parts but picked up in others.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75
Although it was initially a bit jarring to find out this was book number four in an ongoing series (which may have been an oversight on my part), it is considerably easy to get into.

A cozy murder mystery set in 1930s London where a well-known and reputed artist asks the main character to investigate her death, this confuses the MC (as the artist was alive when she asked the Favor), but leads to a very cozy murder mystery.
The vibes were immaculate and although it may take a little longer to get into than most thriller mysteries, this is definitely worth a shot.

I am looking forward to delving into more of this author’s works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Whoops, I did it again. Picked up yet another book that is not the first in a series. I really feel like at this point, this is all just my fault for not focusing on all the details while requesting books on name and cover.

Look, I'm not going to change. This method is working well for me. A thriller whodunit is quite up my alley. While there was times, especially in the beginning, that I found myself a tad lost, I kept plodding in and enjoyed this work more and more as I turned each page.

I'd really like to read the other books now. Even if I'm now out of order.

Firstly I want to start with the fact I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series. I still thoroughly enjoyed the read and of course can’t wait to get into the other books. That said, I really enjoyed this cosy historical murder mystery. I finished it in one sitting as it was so interesting!

Set in London in the 1930s the main character Rachel is asked to solve a murder and so begins the clever twists and turns that will pull you into this story , a marvellous read if your an armchair detective like me! A wonderful start to the story and a satisfying ending. A gripping read from start to finish and would recommend this to anyone who loves a good whodunnit mystery.

Im giving this 4 stars as it was an enjoyable, well written read and I will be looking up the other books in the series!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Author for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc.

I will be honest and say that I had a hard time getting in to it but I am glad I stuck it out because it did get before and I ended up enjoying it.

The House of Graveyard Lane starts with a shocking scene of murder - or is it? While I was immediately dragged into the book, I felt that I could not keep up with all the names and personalities, perhaps because I had not read the other series? (I did not know this was part of a series when I requested the book.) I found the main character to be unlikeable and rather unreadable, and despite the chaos and drama of the opening scenes, it just did not hold my attention for the rest of the book.

Although a bit confusing at the beginning, it ended up being an enjoyable read. At times, it felt like the author was trying too hard to play up elements of the time period but this didn't detract from the overall plot. Definitely a unique premise.

I think it's important to note that I did not realize beforehand that this is the 4th book in a series, and once I did, it did NOT make me want to stop reading for one minute. It actually just made me want to read the rest of the series!

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. A mysterious woman in white seeks out the main character, Rachel Seversnake, for her impressive track record in difficult-to-solve mysteries. This woman, Demaris Gethin, asks Rachel to solve her murder and being that Demaris is clearly alive and well when she asks this, Rachel is obviously confused, but most of all, intrigued. This interaction sets off a chain of convoluted events involving a wide range of characters that will keep you guessing as you follow along on the race to the truth in this eerie, 1930's London, murder mystery.

I did however have to slow down a bit during this read since there are A LOT of names being thrown around in the first, maybe 30%, of the book. So much so, that at one point I started writing them down, I was having such a hard time keeping up, and then gave up even that because there was too many! That got a little frustrating at first. I also wanted to slow down because every chapter is packed with information, and I started to get worried that I'd miss important details if I wasn't giving it my undivided attention. For me, this meant I had to take a lot of breaks throughout the book, but I always kept wanting to come back. The story never lost my interest, it just took me longer to finish than I'm used to for a mystery/thriller.

Lastly, some of the information regarding the case comes to the reader via conversations that Rachel would have with a reporter, Jacob, who would get it from people he interviewed, after the fact. I thought this was a little anti-climactic since we don't see a lot of the pieces coming together as it's happening. For this reason, I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, more so than thrillers.

All in all, I enjoyed the book! I'm looking forward to diving into more of the Author's titles.

The House on Graveyard Lane is a cozy mystery that starts with the surprise right from the beginning: a woman who is not yet dead asks for her murder to be solved and then dies by her own doing in a public spectacle. This series of books follows Rachel Savernake, a wealthy English woman who spends her time reading and solving crimes, her friend Jacob who works for a newspaper, and a variety of other shady characters that Rachel knows from her social circle. The time period this takes place in is the 1930s so while Rachel herself doesn't seem to be in any economic trouble, many references are made to the struggles and downturns of other characters.

I was expecting something maybe a little creepier and mysterious from how this book begins, however it soon moves away from the initial mystery and into investigating a network of criminals which involves lots of travel back and forth between various estates. Occasionally the perspective shifts so the reader can see how all of these conspiracies are connected from the persectives of those in it. The perspective I found most unneeded was Jacob's as he came across as very insecure and having trouble making decisions which didn't do a whole lot for the plot.

I liked that this book tackled issues specific to women in a way that mostly is factual, sensitive, and debunks stereotypes and myths. Some of the dialogue on this topic seemed a little forced, but I appreciate the general point that was successfully gotten across.

How Rachel arrived at the conclusion to solve how everything was interconnected was confusing to me in that I didn't entirely follow how she connected all the dots even though the author helpfully included an explainer at the end where clues where (apparently something done in 1930s crime fiction). It all seemed a little convenient and beyond the stretch of typical suspension of disbelief when she put it all together and how it neatly wrapped up. I also found the reason for the first death which started the book off to be a bit of a stretch in addition to a reveal at the very end which seemed very forced and barely hinted at throughout the book.

Another mystery that's part of the plot isn't a death, but the identity of a mysterious man one of the characters is romantically interested in. He is apparently someone "very important to the nation" who if found out, will cause a massive scandal involving national security. Unfortunately this plot point didn't go anywhere although I had an idea of who they were alluding to based on the time period. Maybe a red herring or just something for the reader to think about if they're able to put it together.

I would definitely recommend this to someone who enjoys cozy, historical mysteries, and hope to read the rest of this series.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgallery and Poisoned Pen Press for an early release copy of The House On Graveyard Lane by Martin Edward’s, this book will be available for purchase on August twenty-seventh of 2024.

The House On Graveyard Lane is a dnf for me on page 52, 18% complete. I wasn’t aware going into this that it was a series (Netgallery didn’t have it marked as a series, I’m unsure if you can read this without reading the others) When I first started this I kind of felt like something was off about the writing, it just doesn’t click with me. There are way too many characters with hard to pronounce names that are hard to keep track of. There are little to no character descriptions to help me really picture these characters at all. I was interested in the mystery of Damaris but the story just has a lot of things that turn me away from it.

This was a great murder mystery! It was a super fast read as well because each page left me wanting to read the next - it was so hard to put down. It was a cleverly written mystery with a variety of characters.

In "The House on Graveyard Lane," the line between art and reality blurs in a chilling and suspenseful whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very end. When surreal artist Damaris Gethin invites a select group to the opening of her exhibit "Artist in Crime," held in the eerie subterranean Hades Gallery, no one expects the night to end in murder.

As costumed models reenact famously violent deaths, Damaris herself portrays Marie Antoinette on the day of her execution, complete with a guillotine on the stage. But when she slips her neck into the collar of the device, the very real blade sends her head rolling at the feet of her horrified audience.

As everyone reels from the shock, amateur detective Rachel is determined to uncover the truth behind Damaris's death. But when it's revealed that Damaris herself accomplished the deed with the push of a button—a suicide—Rachel is left wondering why she asked her to solve her "murder."

Equal parts thriller and whodunit, "The House on Graveyard Lane" leads Rachel and crime reporter Jacob Flint into a viper's pit of suspects, each sneakier and more venomous than the last. From a former lover with shady financial dealings to a widowed sister-in-law and a has-been songwriter friend, everyone is a suspect.

With its clever plot twists, well-drawn characters, and atmospheric setting, "The House on Graveyard Lane" is a gripping and suspenseful read from start to finish. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and suspenseful whodunits, this is one book you won't want to miss. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

A Most Unusual Exhibition..
The fourth in the Rachel Savernake series, set London 1930’s, and Rachel has been invited to a most unusual private art gallery exhibition. Once there the artist, Damaris, asks an odd favour - for Rachel to solve her murder. When Damaris is guillotined to death, seemingly by her own hand, Rachel must question herself. Meanwhile a fellow party guest has his own mission and threads will soon merge in a tale where nothing is quite as it seems. Combining a Golden Age touch of puzzling mystery and deftly drawn characters with more modern twists this is a fitting addition to this very enjoyable and well written series.

this was absolutely fantastic! it was *chefs kiss* i can’t wait to buy a copy for my shelf when it releases!

Thank you for the ARC netgalley - A fun and fast mystery that keeps you engaged! Excited to read more from this author :)

I love a good murder mystery. This was intriguing and kept me on my toes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a cleverly written detective story written in the era of the Golden Age area of mysteries where clues about what is going on behind the scenes is throughout the book and revealed by our sleuths. This one starts with an art exhibition at the Hades Gallery in London with a famous artist asking Rachel to solve her murder as she’ll be murdered that evening. The lights go out and our artist is beheaded by the guillotine. She must have done it herself but why? And with a select guest list who are the invitees and how do they know each other? You’ll have to read to find out!

This is a clever mystery with a host of various characters with distinct motivations that become clearer as time progresses. There is banter, tongue in cheek dialogue, and humour. The pacing is quite good and it did pick up significantly in the second half after the characters and plot was set. While this takes place shortly after WWI there is commentary on the trauma it caused for those who served, touches on women’s lack of rights, and includes LGBTQ characters. A four star read!

Previously available as “Sepulchre Street”, "The House on Graveyard Lane" is the fourth book featuring the mystery-solving Rachel Savernake in the golden-age-set series from Martin Edwards.

London in the 1930s. Rachel, a supporter of modern art, is invited to a new exhibit by Damaris Gethin, an artist who has been rather silent recently. Knowing her reputation as an amateur sleuth, Damaris asks Rachel to solve a murder: her own. Damaris then takes to the stage and uses a guillotine to behead herself in front of the crowd, her final act of performance art.

Also attending the exhibit is Jacob Flint, crime reporter for The Clarion and sometime member of Rachel’s crime-solving team. Jacob is interested in getting an interview with Mrs. Kiki de Villiers, a mysterious socialite who is in the crosshairs of a Clarion investigation. With the death of Damaris, Jacob is thrown into a second mystery as well, both with the same cast of characters.

What follows is a series of twists and turns with much of the expected vintage British mystery touches: secret identities, mistaken identities, untouchable gangsters, hidden agendas, mysterious killers, government plots, upper class frivolities, and a dark and gloomy mansion at the end of the titular Sepulchre Street.

Although this is an enjoyable and complicated mystery that we have come to expect from Mr. Edwards, it seems that this time the story has a very modern feel to it, and deals with topics that would never be covered in typical 1930s mysteries. Rachel also seems a bit crueler than previously, a bit haughtier. The initial death of Damaris is also a sidenote, and not really relevant to most of the action that takes place. For us armchair detectives, Mr. Edwards provides a listing of the clues that would have allowed us to solve the mystery along with Rachel and Jacob. A complicated modern tale set in the recent past, but missing the golden age sensibility of some of his previous work.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

The characters really made this book such an amazing read! I loved the mystery and the danger, a great thrilling read overall.

One of my favourite tropes is murder mystery, and I especially love a historical setting for this trope as I love watching the real insight into intelligence at work as the person posing as the detective has to use their brain as the main tool into solving the crime, due to lack of the modern day technology that we have now.

“The house of graveyard lane” starts off with a definite bang, our FMC Rachel is approached with the request to “solve my murder”, an ominous sentence to come from the mouth of anybody, setting the mysterious and foreboding tone for the rest of the book.

Rachel is in fact not a detective, her father is a judge and women are supposed to keep to the shadows and not draw attention to themselves in those times. However she is strong willed, brave, fearless and determined to put herself in dangers way in order to get answers.

I definitely enjoyed the murder mystery and detective aspects of this book. The historical aspects took me worlds away from my typical reads and I enjoyed the mental escape.

Thank you to Martin Edwards, Poisened Pen Press and NetGalley for the EARC.

Publish date: August 27th 2024