✨ Murder At Traitors Gate by Irina Shapiro is a thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing from the chilling opening scene to the nail-biting conclusion! With a captivating blend of historical intrigue and suspense, this book took me on an unforgettable journey through the foggy streets of London during a chilling winter! 🌨️💖

Gemma Tate, our remarkably resilient heroine, is trying to carve out a fresh start in London, leaving behind haunting memories of her time as a nurse in the Crimean War. I loved her determination to move forward and find a new life, but when the brutal murder of journalist Jacob Harrow pulls her back into the past, the stakes become painfully high. Shapiro has crafted Gemma as a relatable and strong character whose resolve to uncover the truth is both admirable and gut-wrenching! 🌟💪

Enter Sebastian Bell, the enigmatic police inspector who typically works alone but soon realizes he can’t navigate this intricate case without Gemma’s insights and expertise. Their dynamic is delightful, filled with tension and mutual respect as they delve into a web of secrets tied to the war. The chemistry between them adds an intriguing layer to the mystery, making the reader anticipate how their relationship will develop amidst the dangers they face! 🔍💕

The atmospheric writing brilliantly captures the essence of Victorian London, evoking a sense of both beauty and eeriness that perfectly complements the unfolding mystery. The pacing is spot-on, with twists and turns that kept me eagerly flipping the pages, desperate to uncover the truth behind Harrow’s murder and the dark secrets harbored by those close to him. As the investigation unfolds and Gemma's own past comes back to haunt her, the tension mounts, leading to some truly unexpected revelations! 🎭🌌

What I particularly enjoyed about Murder At Traitors Gate is how it seamlessly intertwines personal stakes with the broader historical context of the Crimean War. Gemma’s emotional journey, woven through the gritty reality of the investigation, provides a rich backdrop that enhances the story's depth. The exploration of betrayal and consequences showcases the complexities of human relationships against a thrilling murder mystery! 🌹💔

In conclusion, if you’re a fan of historical mysteries with captivating characters and a plot full of suspense, then Murder At Traitors Gate is an absolute must-read! Irina Shapiro has delivered a gripping tale that perfectly balances intrigue and emotional depth, leaving you eager for more adventures with Gemma and Sebastian. 📚✨

Book 2 in the Tate and Bell series. Another great addition to the series. Kept you guessing right to the end. Looking forward to seeing how the relationship of Tate & Bell develops

Murder at Traitors' Gate is a gripping and atmospheric historical mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The chilling winter setting of London perfectly complements the dark, twisted secrets unraveling throughout the story. Gemma and Sebastian’s partnership is both compelling and nuanced, with their complex pasts adding depth to the mystery. The plot is filled with unexpected twists, and the tension only builds as more characters with ties to the Crimean War are drawn into the investigation. With its perfect blend of suspense, historical intrigue, and rich character development, this book is an absolute must-read for fans of historical thrillers.

"Murder at Traitors Gate" by Irina Shapiro is a captivating historical mystery set in Victorian London. It follows Gemma Tate, a former nurse turned private investigator, and her partner, Sebastian Bell, as they delve into the gruesome murder of a journalist found hanging from a meat hook at the infamous Traitors' Gate.
Shapiro masterfully evokes the atmosphere of Victorian London, bringing the grimy streets, the opulent mansions, and the underbelly of the city to life. The characters are complex and engaging, with Gemma and Sebastian displaying a compelling dynamic. The mystery itself is cleverly plotted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. This is a well-crafted mystery that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and detective stories alike. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn't realize, when I first started reading this, that it was the 2nd in a series. However, I don't think it's imperative to read the first book, as there was enough detail and character development in this book to not feel "lost" when reading about the characters, their relationships, and the things they got into. I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the kind of "old school" whodunit variety of writing, that it felt like we were learning right along with Sebastian as he figured out what was going on related to Jacob Harrow's murder. I felt that Gemma, even though Sebastian didn't want her involved in the case because of the potential danger, really made an impact on the outcome of the case, and was more than willing to take the risk in order to get to the bottom of what was happening. I am looking forward to reading the 1st and 3rd in this series, and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love these books!!! Great atmospheric historical fiction with a really strong mystery storyline. Believable but fun.
For the first half i was a bit sad that Gemma didn't seem to be in this book as much as the first as i love the interaction between her and Sebastian but by the end this wasn't the case and i loved it!
Can't wait for the next book!

(4.25 stars)
I’m a fan of historical fiction in general and mysteries as well, so historical mysteries are kind of my jam. I am now a big fan of Irina Shapiro’s Tate and Bell mystery series. The action takes place in December 1858, just a few years after the Crimean War, which impacts the story in a big way.

A man is found hanging from a meat hook (yikes!) at Traitor’s Gate, at the Tower of London. Inspector Sebastian Bell is called to take charge of the case. Bell is still recovering from a bad injury to his shoulder, but he’s back on the job now. Gemma Tate is a nurse who figured into the case detailed in the first book in the series, and she and Bell have become friendly. The constraints of Victorian society regarding the behavior of single (and married) women makes it difficult for them to meet, even if it’s to discuss Bell’s investigation. You get a really good picture of what life was life for ordinary Londoners, who rented rooms in boarding houses at that time.

The Crimean War has a huge impact on this case, as gradually becomes apparent. The author writes about the horrors of that war, about what many felt were useless deaths (more died from injuries and disease than in actual battle, apparently). The conditions that the doctors and nurses had to work in reminded me of scenes from Gone With The Wind and other tales of the U.S.’s Civil War not long after this time period. Gemma Tate was one of those nurses.

I liked that both Bell and Tate were “damaged”, in that they both had tragedy in their pasts. It makes sense that they seem drawn to each other.

Murder at Traitor’s Gate was my introduction to this historical mystery series and, while it’s the second book in the series, I had no problem following along. The author did a great job of filling in some required backstory. I’m looking forward to reading book three before book four comes out shortly (in February 2025).

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Outstanding this book has everything you need to be entertained. The blossoming relationship between Seb and Gemma is endearing. The detective work between them is seamless , the relationship with Colin the man who examines the bodies and his dear old mu,. It has intrigue, humour and great plots.. I really really enjoy this authors stories and we read them all. The pacing of the story is excellent so you are on your seat the whole time which leads to you turning the pages so quickly/

I really like this series and can't wait for the next installment! I want to see how the relationship between Gemma & Sebastian plays out! I love that Gemma is a self-sufficient and strong take-no-prisoners woman in a time when that was absolutely not the norm.

#MurderatTraitorsGate
#NetGalley

Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

This is book 2 in the series. I haven't read the first one, but this does fine by itself. It is a dark mystery in the 1850s London. A hint of romance throughout but didn't really feel the chemistry. I enjoyed the realistic descriptions of London and not just the shiny elite wealthy views.
Over all this was enjoyable.

A very good story. I didn't realize it was the second in the series so it took me awhile to get used to the characters. Very enjoyable. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Detective Sebastian Bell has a new investigation, and he’s mostly recovered from the events of book one. A man was hung from traitor’s gate at London Bridge, and Bell has to first identify the man, and then find his murderer, while under pressure to swiftly close the case.

Soon, Bell discovers that the dead man is Jacob Harrow (former colleague to Gemma Tate’s deceased brother). Harrow made his fame with an initially anonymous series of articles about the terrible conditions during the Crimean war, which he then claimed were his after leaving the army. Now the man is dead, and Bell begins to build a picture of the man’s professional and personal lives.

The Crimean War naturally brings Gemma Tate to Bell’s mind; she is working at a foundling hospital and living in a women’s boarding house. Bell asks her for help when it seems Harrow’s wartime activities have a bearing on the case, and she interviews a couple of fellow, former nurses.

Soon, there are more brutalized bodies, and Bell and Tate are getting ever closer to unmasking the motive and identity of the killer.

Both Gemma and Bell shine in this second entry. He’s still craving the release of dark thoughts through opium, but working hard to get past it, while she’s trying to find a purpose taking care of the orphans. Both are still dealing with grief, but are beginning to acknowledge how they keep turning to the other, and finding some comfort together, despite the potentially dangerous inquiries they both make.

The pair bring complementary skills to an investigation, and I love the respect each has for the other. I enjoyed this book a lot, and look forward to reading their next case together.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Book 2 of the Tate & Bell Mystery series. Another highly entertaining Victorian mystery!

This one was not as dark and gruesome as the first book. Once again Inspector Sebastian Bell from Scotland Yard is trying to crack the case. A man is found hanging off of Traitor's Gate on a meat hook. He is also missing his tongue! Bell will call upon his new friend (and love interest) Nurse Gemma Tate for some help.

The writing is wonderful. The atmosphere and Victorian era is vividly depicted. I enjoyed this one from start to finish. There were many characters being investigated and I did not guess the perpetrator. Sebastian and Gemma are getting closer romantically. I can't wait to read Book #3!

Murder at Traitors' Gate
An utterly compelling historical murder mystery (A Tate and Bell Mystery Book 2)
by Irina Shapiro
Pub DateJun 24 2024
Storm Publishing
General Fiction \(Adult\)| Historical Fiction| Mystery & Thrillers



Storm Publishing and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Murder at Traitors' Gate for review:


Winter has descended on London. Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate will have little cheer this season, however.


Gemma Tate is moving and has a new job. She is putting her past behind her - her memories of nursing in the Crimea. Gemma is drawn into the investigation after Jacob Harrow, a Crimean journalist, is found brutally murdered.



Sergeant Sebastian Bell works alone. Harrow realizes he needs Gemma's help when all signs point to a dark secret he brought back from war. But raking up the past has devastating consequences when Gemma's friend, another nurse from Crimea, is found murdered in her boarding house after digging up the past...


It's a dangerous race to uncover the truth for Gemma and Sebastian as dark betrayals come tumbling out. Gemma is determined to solve the case, but could one rash act put her in the killer's sights?

I give Murder at Traitors’ Gate five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

"Mystery and history intertwine in Irina Shapiro’s gripping novel, ‘Murder at Traitors Gate,’ the latest installment in the Tate and Bell Mystery series. The narrative transports readers back to a post-Crimean War era, where the past is not just a memory but a haunting presence that refuses to be buried.
Gemma Tate, a former nurse from the Crimean warfront, steps into a new life with hopes of leaving her harrowing experiences behind. However, fate has other plans as she finds herself entangled in a murder investigation following the brutal death of Jacob Harrow, a journalist with his own ties to Crimea. Gemma’s expertise becomes invaluable to Police Inspector Sebastian Bell, a man accustomed to working solo but now faced with a mystery that demands collaboration.
The dynamic between Gemma and Sebastian is one of the highlights of Shapiro’s work. Their relationship is complex, marked by an escalating tension that adds depth to their characters and fuels the narrative drive. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they encounter a web of dark betrayals linked to secrets brought back from the war. The stakes are raised when another nurse from Crimea is found murdered, signaling that the killer may be closer than they think.
Shapiro’s mastery lies in her ability to craft a suspenseful plot that is both gruesome and compelling. The connections to the Crimean War add a unique historical dimension, offering readers a glimpse into a less-explored period. The author’s attention to detail paints a vivid picture of societal norms and challenges during that time, enriching the story with layers of historical commentary.
As a reader, I was thoroughly captivated by the intricate mystery and the rich historical backdrop. Gemma and Sebastian are exceptionally well-crafted characters whose development throughout the series has been a joy to follow. The tension between them grows with each page, making their interactions a focal point of the narrative.
The setting is another element that Shapiro skillfully uses to her advantage. It serves as more than just a backdrop; it is a character in its own right, influencing the mood and direction of the story. The anticipation for the next book in the series is palpable, as Shapiro has undoubtedly left her readers craving more of Gemma and Sebastian’s adventures.

This is book two in the Tate and Bell Mystery series and was an excellent follow-up to the first. So far, this has been an exceptionally good series.

Set in Victorian London and featuring Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate, a nurse who spent time nursing soldiers during the Crimean War. The descriptions of life in London during the time period and Gemma's experiences in Crimea brought a gritty realism to the book.

The murder mystery was complex and multi layered with many twists and turns. I enjoyed Murder at Traitor's Gate immensely, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment of this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really feel for Gemma and Sebastian. These two characters are lonely and living in a difficult, hard time. It's so obvious that they care for each other. They need to both move out of their boarding houses, adopt Lucy, grab Gustav and get a small place somewhere together. (And please don't let it be Lucy in the next story!!!) They could live right close to Colin. These characters deserve some happiness and love while living in such a bleak time! Another great story by Irina Shapiro. I'm just here for the very, very slow burn between Gemma and Sebastian. Just me trying to turn everything in a romance, even though it's really not. One can hope!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Murder at Traitor's Gate was a great second book about Tate and Bell murder series. Irene Shapiro always creates a well-written mystery featuring strong characters and thorough investigative work. After a dead body was found hanging at The Traitor’s Gate, Sebastian and Gemma are on the case. I loved book 2 and will be anxious for book 3.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Irene Shapiro for the ARC.

Murder At Traitors’ Gate is the second book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Russian-born British author, Irina Shapiro. Inspector Sebastian Bell takes along his friend, Dr Colin Ramsey to see the victim’s body in situ, hanging by butcher’s hook from Traitors’ Gate, because they both know him: Jacob Harrow, the Daily Telegraph journalist who reported on the Highgate Angel case. The grisly public display must be a message of some sort, but to whom?

Colin’s autopsy shows that Harrow was stabbed with a curved knife, after his tongue was cut out. His valuables were still on his person, as well as a nazar, an evil eye charm. At Harrow’s surprisingly richly-appointed home, Bell learns that Harrow’s valet was recently dismissed for theft, thus might bear a grudge, that his locked study has been ransacked, an Ottoman dagger is missing, and evidence of certain financial transactions removed.

Further investigation reveals that this war correspondent who wrote such impassioned reports about the conditions soldiers suffered in Crimea was, since his return, likely blackmailing at least four people with some association to the Crimean War. His editor mentions a whistleblower whose story was rejected by Harrow, whom Bell concludes may have been disgruntled.

And the younger brother of a Crimean War Captain who suicided after failing to get Harrow convicted for defamation might have reason to exact revenge. All in all, a number of people with motives for murder need to be followed up. And because of the Crimean link, Bell decides to talk to Gemma Tate to explore what she might know about any of them. Also, he values her analytical mind and her way of making connections most people missed.

Now living in a women’s boarding house and nursing at the Foundling Hospital, Gemma tells Sebastian what she can remember, then goes to see the nurse who has stayed in touch with many of her colleagues after their service in Scutari ended, Lydia Morton. But Lydia hurries off without telling her anything. The next day, Bell discovers she, too, has been murdered.

The manner of her death, the fact that she nursed in Crimea and knew Harrow indicates their murders are connected. Gemma observes “To a dying man or a demoralized surgeon, a nurse is no different than a priest. There’s a desperate need to unburden oneself, and who better to confide in than a woman who has shown endless kindness and understanding?” Bell worries that her association with Lydia Morton may make Gemma a target.

With pressure from the Police Commissioner on his Superintendent, Bell is given a deadline for making an arrest, but he intuitively feels that the most likely suspect isn’t guilty of these crimes. He needs to find who is. Before that happens, he himself comes under attack and Gustav, the cat he reluctantly inherited, earns his soft bed and treats when he contributes to saving Sebastian’s life.

Once again, Shapiro easily evokes her mid-19th Century London setting, gives the reader some clever detective work with a few red herrings and a twist at the reveal. The third book in this excellent historical crime fiction series, Murder at the Foundling Hospital will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Tate and Bell are back for another historical mystery. It seems like life continues to make Gemma relive her experiences in the Crimean War as events and connections made on the frontlines show up years later in London and Gemma tries to make a life for herself after her brother's murder.

While I enjoyed the actual murder mystery from the first book better, I liked getting to see more of Gemma and Sebastian's personalities in this one... and that revelation at the end! There's a lot more social commentary in this one as well which was interesting - especially with how it tied into the murder plot.

I'm definitely looking forward to see what happens in Murder at the Foundling Hospital!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review.