You've got to love a murder mystery that keeps you guessing right to the last page. "Murder at Traiters' Gate" by Irina Shapiro nearly does just that.

A historical murder mystery, Gemma and the murder victims are linked by their time serving in the horrific Crimea war. So it is assumed that the perpetrator is also from this group of associates...after all, the means and details of the 2 murders that occur in this book, are very personal and allude to the keeping of secrets. The title also hints at the feeling of a betrayal.

Sebastian twists and turns through the long list of possibly guilty parties. They are all complex and many have motive. It was only very near the end of the book that my suspicions and wonderings (couldn't switch my mind off after putting the book down to go to sleep) were rewarded with the unravelling of the murderers motive and a few home truths about the first victim come to light.

Certainly an atmospheric setting of cold dark London....with plenty of locations and miles on foot or in cabs covered. This time in history is hard for many barely scaping by but contrasts with the well to do who can afford staff. Life is cheap and expendable.

Although the second book of the Tate and Bell Mystery series, you don't suffer unduly by not knowing the main characters Sebastian and Gemma from the previous book. I look forward to reading further additions of the series...keep them coming!

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Irina Shapiro for my copy.

I am so happy to see Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate back! I enjoyed their first outing and their second outing has not disappointed. This novel finds Sebastian and Gemma a few months later, Sebastian recovering from his injury and Gemma at her new job at the Foundling Hospital. Sebastian is on another murder case, this one involving a body that was hung up at Traitor's Gate at the Tower of London. A second murder happens shortly after, an old work acquaintance of Gemma's. Can the two be connected? And how? Gemma's past as a nurse in Crimea holds a lot of the answers. Gemma and Sebastian's relationship also grows - I am excited for the next installment to see what comes next.

Thoroughly enjoyed this! I would highly recommend reading the first one first (Murder at Highgate Cemetery) to get the full effect. It was well done, intriguing and suspenseful! Seriously, so good!

Dare I say this was on par with the first novel? If not better ?

Fast paced yet descriptive and also took me in for a loop at the end. My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending, but I think that's to get you to read the following novel which I intend to.

Murder at Traitors’ Gate (A Tate and Bell Mystery #2) was the anticipated second book in this captivating and atmospheric series that I had the pleasure of reading. After reading the first book, The Highgate Cemetery Murder, in this series, I was hoping that it would not be long before the second book was written and published. Irina Shapiro was once again able to write another dark yet engaging historical fiction mystery that drew me in right from the very beginning. The setting for Murder at Traitors’ Gate was London during the 1850’s. I enjoyed all the details of the Victorian era that were nuanced throughout the book. It was paced perfectly and kept me engaged throughout.

After burying her twin brother, Gemma had moved out of the apartment she had shared with Victor. Gemma Tate had moved into an all women’s boarding house on Bikenhead Street. She had also secured a position as a nurse at The Foundling Hospital which was a fancy name for an orphanage. Gemma continued to grieve for her twin brother and also had a hard time trying to put the horrors she witnessed as a nurse during the Crimean War behind her. She hadn’t seen Police Inspector Sebastian Bell in quite a while but that was all about to change.

In the early morning hours on a cold Tuesday on December 14, 1858, a horrific crime was discovered and reported. A man had been hoisted onto Traitors’ Gate and secured with a meat hook around his neck. Whoever had taken the time to stage this crime scene had thought it through and wanted it to be noticed. Police Inspector Sebastian Bell was assigned to investigate this case. As soon as Police Inspector Bell arrived on the scene, he was quick to identify the victim. The body of Jacob Harrow hung unnaturally above Traitors’ Gate. Jacob Harrow had been a journalist and had been in Crimea at the same time as Gemma Tate was serving as a nurse in the Crimean War. Gemma’s late twin brother, Victor, had also been an acquaintance of Jacob Harrow. As Police Inspector Sebastian Bell observed the body of Jacob Harrow, he discovered that his tongue had been cut off. With that observation, Sebastian Bell began to suspect that whoever had placed Jacob Harrow here was sending a clear and very convincing message to those that found him.

Sebastian had persuaded Colin Ramsey to perform the autopsy. Not long after Sebastian had gotten confirmation from Colin Ramsey, the preferred police surgeon of Sebastian Bell, that Jacob Harrow had indeed been murdered and he began his investigation. Then another victim was found murdered in much the same manner as Jacob Harrow had been. The second victim had also been in Crimea during the Crimean War. Sebastian paid a call to his friend, Gemma Tate. Gemma had known both victims so perhaps she would be able to help Sebastian shed some light on this investigation. After all, Gemma was a great help to Sebastian in the Highgate Murder. As much as Sebastian wanted and needed Gemma’s help, he was also concerned about her safety. He was starting to care a lot about Gemma. Would Sebastian and Gemma be able to figure out who the murderer was and why the murderer had killed both of these victims in the same way? What was the message the murderer was trying to convey?

Murder at Traitors’ Gate was full of twists, turns, lots of suspects, action and danger. It was another dark mystery that led Sebastian and Gemma down dangerous and confusing paths. Every time I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, a new clue popped up and sent me back to re-examine the suspects and the facts. I enjoyed the hint of romance between Gemma and Sebastian that had started in the first book and continued to grow in this one. Originally, I had been worried that Irina Shapiro might have had difficulty writing a second book in this series that came close to the intensity that I felt when I read The Highgate Murder Mystery. Well, I shouldn’t have worried. Murder at Traitors’ Gate was just as intense and gripping as the first book in this series if not more. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series now. I highly recommend Murder at Traitors’ Gate by Irina Shapiro if you enjoy historical fiction mysteries.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Murder at Traitors’ Gate (A Tate and Bell Mystery #2) by Irina Shapiro through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Murder at Traitor's Gate is the second book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it's one that caught my eye as I've recently been on a historical mystery binge. When I read the summary I decided to jump right in but realized this was a book two so I quickly grabbed book one and read that first. I'll say that the books are two separate stories in that they are different mysteries but I would encourage you to read the first book as it truly sets the stage for who Gemma and Sebastian are, how they met, and why they are working together.

This installment picks up shortly after the end of book one and Gemma is in a different situation now. She's living in a boarding house and working in a new job. While she's left the Crimean War behind, she's still crossing paths with several people she knows from that time, and when a journalist with ties to Crimea is found brutally killed, police inspector Bell asks for her help and she can't (and doesn't want to) refuse.

Sebastian Bell usually works alone but when a journalist with ties to Crimea turns up dead, he turns to Gemma for help and what they find is a tangled web of secrets that go back to the days of the war. Unfortunately, one of Gemma's friends, another nurse, happens to be mixed up in the mess, and that potentially puts Gemma in the path of the killer.

I enjoyed this installment. Not only do we get more of Gemma and Sebastian working through these mysteries together but there's a bit more progress on the romance front for these two. I also thought the way Shapiro brought the whole mystery together was done well. The characters are well-developed and interesting and the story kept me turning the pages.

If you're looking for a new historical fiction to check out, consider picking this one up. As I said, I happened across this series and am happy to report I'm glad I did. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series.

I am loving this series! A passionate and decent male lead with his own tragic past, recovering from addiction and a brave and strong female lead with no fear of helping anybody she can in any way. All set in Victorian London with the author shunning rose tinted glasses and telling it like it is with slums, scum and scourges galore.

This story can be a stand alone if you haven't read the first, but if you haven't read the first, you are sorely missing out! A character from the first book becomes a murder victim in this book and Inspector Bell and Gemma Tate are on the case. With a friend in peril and sharing a background with the victims, Gemma becomes involved despite Sebastian's warnings.

I liked the twists and turns in the plot and I did guess at the reason for the murderer's ire in advance. Superbly written with no flowery filler, Irina Shapiro is an author that I endeavour to read more from. I would love to see what her other series' are about.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s great to see Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell back in a new Victorian murder mystery. They first met when Gemma’s journalist brother Victor, was murdered because of something he witnessed. With her sharp mind and ability to talk to people, Gemma was able to help Sebastian solve the case. Now with her brother gone, she has had to give up the cosy house they were leasing and is living in a soulless room in a boarding house for women. She was a nurse in Sevastopol during the Crimean war and is now nursing at the Foundling Hospital in Bloomsbury, trying hard not to become attached to the children there.

The murder of a journalist who was also at Sevastopol during the war, leads Sebastian to seek out Gemma again for information on him and those he knew there. With all his investigations pointing to Crimea, Sebastian must unravel what happened there in the past to lead to murder. Dark and gritty, with engaging characters, this atmospheric mystery is sure to appeal to lovers of historical crime novels.

4 stars
One Liner: Better than the previous book!

Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is back on a new case. Someone had hung a dead body with a meat hook outside the Traitor’s Gate. The victim turns out to be a journalist Bell encountered in the previous case. Moreover, he was a war veteran. Bell realizes Gemma might help him find more information.
After her brother’s death, Gemma Tate moved into a boarding house and got a new job. She is more than happy to leave the dark past of the war behind. But when Bell asks for help, Gemma knows she cannot refuse.
Soon, they realize there’s a lot more than what’s known. Can Bell and Tate solve the case before it is too late?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Sebastian and Gemma.

My Thoughts:
So, I went into this book with a better understanding and it worked well. Despite the series title, this will be Bell and Tate’s investigation, with Sebastian getting more chapters. Gemma’s contribution is limited.
The case and the setting are dark like the previous book. It deftly uses the local weather and living conditions to create a sense of discomfort and danger.
This is a dark mystery but not too gruesome. It has a few graphic details, only to the necessary extent. I appreciate this since it keeps the focus on the plot. Not much humor, though. Don’t expect light-hearted stuff from this one.
The pacing feels better this time. Though the page count is the same, the narration and action are steady. This keeps the plot moving even when there is little to no progress in the investigation.
The mystery is solid with enough suspects. There aren’t many red herrings but it does take a while to guess the killer. I got it right based on certain clues, so the reveal aligns with the details provided.
However, there are quite a few characters to track. Not all of them are major, so it is easy to ignore the ones that simply move the plot forward.
Yet again, I’m not convinced by the chemistry between the lead couple but it is better than before. Hopefully, I can feel it more in book #3 or #4. There’s already a lead for the third book, so I am curious to see where it’ll go.

To summarize, Murder at Traitors' Gate is an engaging mystery that’ll keep you wanting to read more. The main characters, especially Bell, make this a worthy read. While the book works as a standalone, starting with the first might be a better idea.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

3.25/5 stars

This is the second in series and as I gave the initial one a 4.25/5 stars I was looking forward to this next one. Unfortunately, I just didn't get the same excitement factor from this one.

I think part of my dissatisfaction is not getting more from the female protagonist here. I feel that Sebastian is a well-fleshed out hero, but Gemma needs more "airtime" and more of a chance to contribute to the overall storyline.

Also, as I was not surprised to learn, there is a romance angle here, but it felt rather rushed up to me. It went from a slight teaser in the initial book to a full-blown declaration here, and I felt like I had missed something vital and was a bit let down not to follow the progression of a slow-burn romance. Is the reader to infer that the two are in love or is this rush just to stave off their loneliness (his with the loss of his family and her with the loss of her brother). I wanted more oomph and detail as they moved forward, and honestly, I felt a bit cheated.

It is well-written, and the mystery itself is OK, although I did feel that the denouement came out of left field and though I understood the motivation for the murder(s), it didn't seem quite enough to me to resort to the villain's dastardly deeds.

I will probably give the next in series a try and hope for a better read like the first book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing the free early arc of Murder at Traitors' Gate for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I really enjoyed this book, and the series as a whole. Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell have become dear to my heart, and I love their burgeoning romance. The book is very fast paced, but there is still substantial character and plot development. This one seems more character driven than the first entry, but the mystery is still "meaty" and satisfying. There's no convolution or unnecessary twists. Overall, it's a great story, and I'm looking forward to the third book! Big thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for access to the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful murder mystery which reads very much like Anne Perry’s Inspecter Monk series albeit trading Monk’s amnesia for a lingering physical injury. Both authors highlight a police inspector who is dogged but plagued by unreasonable demands for quickness of resolution. Both highlight nurses who served in Crimean surgeries at Scutari but whose skills are dismissed when they return to England. Both involve inspectors, not in the first flush of youth, who appreciate the nurse sidekick and subsequently progress to courting. A very pleasant read nonetheless.

Police Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate have suffered unimaginable loss. Both have not come to terms with their grief which is always with them. Gemma lost the only family she had, and is suffering personally and financially after having served in the Crimea. Sebastian plods on in his career and the new case of the murdered Jacob Harrow is a complicated one. If he fails, he will become the convenient scapegoat for the Police.

The discovery of Jacob Harrows body hung on a meat hook, at Traitors Gate dismembered too was a message. Unraveling his background Inspector Bell discovers a long trail of blackmail - mainly preying on innocent people who have had a small fault or fall from grace. When Lydia Morton is found murdered, also dismembered the link is established and pieces fall into place.

The story is brilliantly written. Dealing with not just murder, the human aspect of loss, grief, the apathy and insular attitudes of the times almost cruel towards women are descriptively dealt with. London was not a good place to be for single women fighting for survival. The odds were heavily stacked against them. For someone like Gemma who was compassionate still is a wonder. For Sebastian to still seek justice is another. I found this book to be a page turner.

Descriptive in terms of people, places and events.

“Murder at Traitor’s Gate” by Irina Shapiro is a riveting historical mystery that transports readers to the world of 19th-century London. With its intricate plot and richly drawn characters, this novel offers a compelling blend of suspense, historical detail, and human drama adding in just the right touch of romance.

The story centers once again around Inspector Sebastian Bell, who is called upon to solve the murder of Jacob Harrow, a journalist whose body is discovered hung on a meathook near the infamous Traitor’s Gate. As Sebastian delves into the investigation, he enlists the advice of nurse Gemma Tate, whom he had previously worked with on another murder case. As another murder hits close to Gemma, Sebastian asks her not to get involved. However, Gemma proves crucial in providing information that ultimately helps Sebastian solve the mystery.

Irina Shapiro excels at creating a vivid and immersive historical setting. Her meticulous research shines through in the detailed descriptions of Victorian London, from its foggy streets to its opulent drawing rooms. It’s fascinating to follow the police methods available to the police at that time where so much of the investigation is limited to interviews.

The plot is intricately woven, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Gemma remains an independent woman in times when such behavior was frowned upon.

Irina Shapiro’s characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional. The supporting characters, including potential suspects and allies, are equally well-drawn, each contributing to the story’s complexity and tension.

Irina Shapiro’s “Murder at Traitor’s Gate” is a masterful blend of historical fiction and mystery. Readers who enjoy a meticulously detailed and suspenseful story will find much to appreciate in this. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this I’s Book 2 in the Tate and Bell murder mystery series, I felt to no disadvantage for not having read the first book in the series. Irons Shapiro is such a gifted writer. She pulled me in immediately and enjoyed the ride to the end. Gifted in that the scenes were described in detail as well as the characters which helps you see exactly what is happening. I love the blossoming romance of Gemma and Sebastian. Both overcoming recent great loss.. if you enjoy historical fiction set in London this happens to involve murder, suspense and intrigue. Made you go this way and that but always trying to get to the next page quickly to find what happens next. Yes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a series to start. Go back and pick up book 1&2 and you like me will be eagerly awaiting book 3. Special thanks to the following for allowing me to read an early unedited copy of the e-book.
#NetGalley
#StormPublishingCompany
#IrinaShapiro
#MurderatTraitor’sGate
Published June 24, 2024

Murder at Traitors' Gate was pretty good.

I did enjoy this read. It is book 2. I didn't read book one but I think you can hop in here but I would recommend reading book 1 first. That said it's a good read, and I would recommend adding this book to your TBR. I think the author did a great job writing the story. This book will keep you on your toes wondering who the murder is and it will shock you!

This atmospheric mystery makes you feel like you are in the chilly London streets. Although it was a little graphic for a cozy mystery, I really enjoyed the tone and setting.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. Thebsecond in the series about Sebastian, Gemma and Colin. I found this better than the first one, perhaps because the characters needed no introduction.. I liked how Gemma is able to offer different perspectives on the cases. Sebastian works so hard with little support from his seniors or even a big team as in modern day investigations. He relies on his own gut feeling, despite the pressure from above.
I look forward to seeing how the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian develops in the next book.

I am very familiar with Irina Shapiro's writings from the Redwood and Haze mysteries which I have absolutely love. Shapiro delivered in this new series--the second of the series and the first I've read-- complex and compelling characters. Gemma, a nurse, has been haunted by her experiences in the Crimean War but that very experience made her the exact partner Sebastian, a police inspector, needed to solve the murder of a reporter with deep ties to the Crimean War. The mystery was intriguing and well crafted. Shapiro did a good job of balancing the pov of both Sebastian and Gemma. While I found this a little bit darker than the other series I have read it was just as well done. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is Book 2 of the Tate and Bell series. Learning about the past can enhance our appreciation for the present. Women's lives have changed a lot in the past hundred years. Despite this, there are places in the world where the change has not been that huge. I am very happy that, as a Brazilian woman, I can very, very much appreciate the character of Ms. Tate. It is immensely inspiring to see Ms. Tate working with Detective Bell in solving crimes. Detective Bell respects Ms. Tate and calls for her help as needed.