Excellent historical murder mystery.

Dr. Julia Lewis is a rarity in Victorian London — a lady physician. It is 1866 and the city is in the midst of a terrible cholera epidemic. Meanwhile, a killer is targeting his victims in a seamy part of town. Inspector Richard Tennant of Scotland Yard finds himself needing Julia’s medical services as he attends the crime scenes.

I found this to be extremely well researched and very interesting with all of the historical details of that time period. I love mysteries with a medical bent and with a strong female protagonist. I really liked the characters of Dr. Julia and Inspector Tennant and hope to see more of their exploits working together in the next installment of this series. The plot was clever and kept me guessing.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had a strong British accent as expected which was quite appropriate for this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the audio download to listen to, review, and recommend.

This debut novel lands us squarely in the middle of London in 1866 and it’s not pretty. The city is filthy, with streets filled with muck, so much so that youngsters with brooms earn a living by clearing a path for the well-to-do to cross the street without getting too dirty. Julia Lewis is a female doctor, something rather unusual in those days. She is the granddaughter of a doctor and was educated at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the only way for an English woman to get a medical degree at that time.

Because her grandfather is ill, Julia takes his place when he is called on by Scotland Yard to check on a dead body. Thus begins a partnership of sorts with Inspector Tennant. Over the course of the book, they try to find the connection that links a number of deaths, all of whom have a popped balloon in their pockets and all of whom are mutilated in some gruesome way. The details are not for the faint-hearted, but the story is fascinating and pulled me in quickly.

Every time I read a book about London in the nineteenth century, I shudder at the lack of sanitary conditions (unless you were rich, of course), the lack of opportunity and freedom for women, and the suffocating fog. The book also highlights the plight of men who preferred the company of other men; it was totally illegal and very dangerous. I am thankful for our current times, even with all the issues we are facing!

The mystery was excellent. The perpetrator surprised me, for sure.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read. The audiobook was well narrated by Henrietta Meire.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Set in Winter 1866. Having just finished medical school in the United States, Dr. Julia Lewis has recently moved to England to practice as a physician. When a gruesome murder where a man has been sexually mutilated is found, Julia is called in to do a post-mortem. Teaming up with Scotland Yard Detective, Richard Tennant, the two try to solve the murders. Following the clues, they start to believe these murders are calculated and personal. Threats and the detective’s misogynistic attitude make Julie want to prove that she’s competent. Can they solve the murders? Will Julia be accepted as a female physician?

Narrator, Henrietta Meire has the perfect voice for this historical fiction narration. She masterfully captures the suspense and brings to life the world of Julia’s world. Characters true to the time period pull the listener into the story. The plot is well developed and engaging. Some listeners, however, may be turned off by the gruesome descriptions and historical context heavy sections of the story. Readers who like historical fiction, mystery, and suspense will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
First off I enjoyed the narrator. She did a good job.
That is pretty much it. I was severely disappointed with this book. It was well researched from a historical perspective. But the main character is absolutely awful. If you want to hear the main female complain about how awful men are and pathetic they are and women are the most amazing creatures on the planet then well prepare yourself for over 10 hours of that. Just awful liberal feminist bullcrap and woke story plot. It is very sad because it could been a good story plot if it wasn't for that which put me off the novel entirely.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Victorian London, 'Murder by Lamplight' delivers a compelling blend of mystery and historical intrigue. Dr. Julia Lewis, a resilient and pioneering woman in a male-dominated field, teams up with Inspector Richard Tennant to solve a series of gruesome murders. As they navigate the dark underbelly of the city, from its music halls to its dank sewers, they uncover a chilling pattern that leads them closer to a calculating and elusive killer. The narrative is richly atmospheric, immersing readers in the sights and sounds of 19th-century London. While the pacing may occasionally falter, the story's intricate plot and well-drawn characters keep the suspense high until the gripping conclusion. 'Murder by Lamplight' is sure to captivate fans of historical mysteries, earning it a solid 3.5-star rating

This review is for the audiobook Murder by Lamplight, read by Henrietta Meire. This is a new to me author and narrator. Julia Lewis is a doctor, which is pretty unusual for 1866. Richard Tennant is a detective with Scotland Yard. They team up to solve some murders committed by a serial killer. I was impressed that the characters discuss John Snow (famous for figuring out that cholera was in the water) as a contemporary figure. I always like when authors drop historical figures into the story.
Henrietta Meire is an excellent narrator. She is the perfect voice for Julia.

If you enjoy dark atmospheric books rather than character driven series, this may be the book for you. Be aware that it is quite graphic, at times. For me, this is a book that has promise but gets too bogged down in the societal ills of late 19th century London to develop the characters. Both Dr. Julia Lewis and Inspector Richard Tennant have the potential to be great characters. I wanted to like them, but both are too caught up in the unfairness of life to actually live it, and that is about as far as any character development got. Granted, there was a glimmer of light at the end of the book, but it was not enough to make me want to read the next book.

The mystery in this book is so bogged down by pointless explanations of miasma theory, the progression of syphilis, the history of women in the medical field, etc., that I stopped reading in chapter 5, Here’s the thing: historical fiction readers ALREADY KNOW THIS STUFF. This is not our first rodeo. Just tell the story and sprinkle in any details readers need to know, when they need to know it. If I want a history lesson, I’ll read nonfiction.

I was given access to this book, as an audiobook, in return for a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book overall! At first, it was a little slow paced and a bit hard to get into, but after the 30% mark, it gets into a better groove.

This book is an engaging thriller, and the author did a large amount of historical research, which really adds depth and interest to the plot as it starts to thicken. This includes information about different aspects of historical epidemic, law changes, policing, and sanitation rules and guidelines.

In addition to the historical plot aspects, she does a good job which the multiple point of view chapter segments as a plot device to engage the reader. The point of views include: the lady doctor, Julia, the leading detective, inspector Tennent, and the murderer. This is multiple perspectives is really diverting as you are trying to figure out who the killer is, while you are reading.

As previously mentioned, I listened to the audio version of this book, with the narrator of Henrietta Meire. I enjoyed the narration, but didn't immediately (sort of grew on my as the book continued) due to the softness of narration, that occasionally lacked intonation (more towards the beginning).

In totality, very enjoyable book, with good structure, and had me contemplating the murderers identity up until it was revealed!

Book: 4 Stars
Narrator: 4 Stars

GREAT. GOOGLY. MOOGLY.
Well, that was a huge surprise and quite the ride. I have had such a hit or miss time lately with ANY sort of mysteries and then to read 2 in a row that were just fantastic was such a balm to this mystery-loving soul! :-)

This was an excellent read that keeps ones guessing right up until the end [I had made a guess early on at who the killer was, never dreaming I was correct, so that when the reveal started, I actually GASPED out loud and then laughed] and then you are not sure if you should be relieved, or angry, or crying, or all three.

I am not really going to write much more about this, because one should experience this with little knowledge of the story because the writer unfolds it in such a way that any pre-knowledge is not needed and you are sucked in from page one [and any more from me would result in spoilers and I don't do that] and if you love a good historical mystery, featuring a strong, independent woman doctor, who doesn't give a FIG about what society thinks about her, along with really excellent side characters, then this is the [new] book for you!!

Very well done.

I was grateful to receive an audiobook ARC for this book and it helped me get into the story a lot faster than I expected.
I often struggle with this narrator in the beginning of the books she narrates, as she has an odd staccato way of speaking, but once I settle in, I really enjoy how she narrates [she does male voices really well] and I love how she brought Dr. Julia Lewis and Detective Inspector Tenant to life [as well as all the side characters] and she helped me keep all the characters straight by infusing such interesting life and accents into each one of them and it made it really a lovely [if not slightly terrifying] book to listen to. Keeping in mind her unique way of speaking, I highly recommend listening to this audiobook should you decide to pick it up to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Patrice McDonough, Henrietta Meire - Narrator, Kensington Books, and RB Media for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Murder by Lamplight proved to be an enjoyable experience, successfully immersing readers in the atmospheric streets of 1866 London, with Patrice McDonough delivering a well researched historical mystery. The vivid portrayal of the era, combined with the compelling duo of Dr. Julia Lewis and Detective Inspector Richard Tennant, adds depth to the narrative.

Henrietta Meire's narration skillfully brings the characters to life, enhancing the audiobook experience. While the historical exposition occasionally takes center stage, McDonough's storytelling, coupled with Meire's narration, creates an engaging atmosphere. Despite these minor issues, Murder by Lamplight earns a commendable 3.5 out of 5 stars. Recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries with well-developed characters and an immersive setting.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this arc in exchange for submitting my unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Press/High Bridge Audio for the ARC of the audiobook for Murder by Lamplight by Patrice McDonough.

This is a lovely debut novel! I read a bit more about McDonough and learned she has a master's in history as well as thirty years of history teaching experience. This is definitely reflected in Murder by Lamplight, where McDonough builds her setting and her scenes in 1866 London - a time when a woman could gain a medical degree in America but not England, while still having few other rights and independence. It's also the time following Florence Nightingale in Crimea and cholera epidemics and workhouses - all of which McDonough speaks on with a deft hand and throughout the plot and the character backgrounds. I think I've grown far too used to Victorian cozy mysteries, and moving forward in history, even in such a small amount of time, is still a very drastic difference. It's nice to spend time learning about a new period and McDonough is competent on her subject matter. Oddly, I had recently also reviewed Irina Shapiro's Highgate Cemetery Murder which is also placed in the same era - perhaps this is a new shift in publishing - and a welcome one (and I think I preferred Murder by Lamplight, in this case, though both are definitely worth a read).

Part of the plot very briefly reminded me of The Alienest by Caleb Carr - only in subject matter, not in writing style or overall story. I remember reading that novel and just being infuriated at the violence and the way sexual violence was used as a plot point. While McDonough and Carr touch the same topic of child abuse/prostitution/societal and mental trauma creating killers and generally causing harm -- I much prefer McDonough's lens to Carr. While the subject matter is not ideal, it is a fact of the time, and in McDonough's work it is handled with more care.

The mystery itself is interesting and kept me guessing all the way up until the end. The killer and their history is hidden well. It's hard to write too much more without spoiling anything - but it is well thought out and engaging. I saw on Goodreads that two more books have been approved for the series - which is great! It seems like Julia and Tennant are just getting started in a time period I am interested to learn more about. A lot of their comradery and relationship seemed to develop in the last 25% of the book and I wish it had been more evenly spread out throughout the novel, as there was a chunk where I could not imagine why they would ever like each other or ways in which they would need to work together following this story. Seeing them at the end of the novel vs the 50% mark is night and day, to a degree, and I'd definitely follow them along on their next adventure.

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Henrietta Meire and thought it was very well done. Julia's family is American and British so there are varied accents in her family and with the Irish O'Malley and British Tennant. The characters felt and sounded different and Meire had excellent tone for all the varying ups and downs of the story.