This was a fun short outing with Mallory and the gang. I definitely was worried that they would’ve solve the matter, but it is not the genre to need to have that type of worry.

I always enjoy being thrown back into this world with Mallory and Gray. This was a fun novella that had a little character development and a good mystery. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced e-copy!

The latest novella from A Rip Through Time series forces Mallory to examine her relationship with Duncan when a ghost from his past appears. While investigating a blackmailing she learns more about him

I received a free copy of #SchemesandScandal by #KelleyArmstrong from #NetGalley for a Review. This is a novellaand is between books 3 and 4. It is the end of 1859 and since Mallory is a time traveler she finds out that Hogmany is bigger than Christmas. She and Isla are given tickets to see Charles Dickens. She wants to meet Dickens to get a book signed and is introduced to him by a former lover of Dr. Gray. The lover wants them to investigate how her letters were stolen from another lover as now she is being blackmailed. Mallory convinces Dr. Gray to meet with the lover about the case. He is reluctant and is stressed over the case the whole time. Mallory instead wants the case and investigates. We learn about corn and printing presses during the Victorian age. We also learn about fingerprinting. I thought this was written better than Cocktails & Chloroform. We see the case is solved; the stress between Dr. Gray and Mallory is patched; and Hogmany is celebrated.

When will Mallory's time warp ever end? The longer she stays, the harder it will be to return back to her own time. I am not a fan of time travel stories, but for some reason, this series has hooked me in. Perhaps because it is less about time travel and more about a displaced person solving crimes and I love crime solving. This novella could probably be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading this in the order of the series written. Ms. Armstrong does a nice job of catching readers up to speed but to enjoy it fully, reading from the start would help.

It is now Christmas in Scotland and Mallory is still back in time and in another person's body. Her bond continues to grow with Duncan. I cannot help but wonder how this will end for her. I also wonder what is happening in her time with her body! Because the body swap personality isn't a great one in her stead.

This story is well written with a view of historical biases and betrayals. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the bluestocking women in this series. I also enjoy how Ms. Armstrong is able bring current time into the past in a believable time traveling way. Recommend this mystery to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a time twist.

For a novella, Schemes & Scandals by Kelley Armstrong is unexpectedly wordy and, at times, feels like it's dragging. A tighter edit could have transformed this novella into a more compelling short story.

Mallory Atkinson finds herself spending her first Christmas in Scotland, grappling with the unfamiliar customs of the time. But adapting is key when you're inhabiting another person’s body and centuries out of your comfort zone. The only bright spot in her holiday is an unexpected encounter with Charles Dickens, who reads his works and adds a touch of literary magic to her experience.

When a friend of Dr. Gray’s arrives with a salacious problem, Mallory seizes the opportunity to put her 21st-century investigative skills to the test. This novella, part of Armstrong's time travel series, requires readers to embrace the convenient plot devices and the notion that people living in the Victorian era would so easily accept a woman claiming to be a time traveler and rarely question the uses of unfamiliar words and science. The humor woven through the narrative helps make these leaps of faith more palatable.

While the story could benefit from a more concise approach, Schemes & Scandals offers intriguing elements that keep the reader engaged, especially with the unique blend of time travel and historical fiction.

4 stars

A good story in a great series. I love this world and these characters!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite series! I was so happy to return to Victorian Scotland and reunite with some of my favorite characters! The mystery was well done as always and I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Thank you to @netgalley and @subpress for an eARC of this book!

As usual, I love these "Rip In Time" books and even though this one was a novella it was ultimately entertaining as all the novels. The story kept you guessing, the author threw in a couple of red herrings to make it a bit harder but you can probably guess at the 60% mark mostly due to the very small number of suspects. I have given the other books 4 and 5 Star ratings and this one might have been 5 Stars but the bit of confusion she lets slip in about Mallory's feelings for Grey just come out as confusing IMHO so I gave it 4 Stars.

Bottom Line: A great story and the Christmas background (and the fact that in Scorland it was forbidden to celebrate Christmas at one point in history) made it interesting beyond just the story. So 4 Stars it is and a wonderful reading experience here at the holidays.

I will read Kelley Armstrong every chance I get because I really love her writing that much! Schemes & Scandals is a great Christmas novella set between books 3 and 4 of A Rip Through Time series which feature time traveling Mallory and Dr. Duncan Gray in Victorian Edinburgh. I love this series so it was fun to have a short read during the Christmas season to see what Mallory was up to.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 31 October 2024

Mallory Atkinson, the time-traveling detective, is about to spend her first Christmas in Victorian Scotland, only to discover that Christmas isn’t really a thing there yet, but Hogmanay, the New Year’s Eve celebration is. But first she must solve the case of who is blackmailing the wealthy widow who was once Duncan Grey’s lover in Kelley Armstrong’s novella Schemes & Scandals.

I’m pretty sure that since the second book in the series that I’ve informed you all that A Rip in Time is my favorite Kelley Armstrong series and Schemes & Scandals shows exactly why with its entertaining characters, well-plotted mystery, and research that provides interesting facts for the reader. I enjoyed learning about Scottish Christmas (or lack thereof) during Victorian times as well as Hogmanay. Additionally, adding Charles Dickens as a character, even for a brief visit, was a nice, although somewhat bittersweet for Mallory, touch.

Schemes & Scandals was a delightful season visit with characters who’ve grown to be some of my favorites. If you’re a fan of the series, I highly recommend. And, if not, if you like time travel stories, you should read Armstrong’s take.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy

Great series.
A good time travel set in Victorian Scotland.
Love how Mallery works through life in a different era .especially at Christmas.
A mystery, suspense twists and romance.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Mallory is still In the past , she finds herself spending the holiday in Scotland , enjoying the traditions of that time . When a case comes up for her to play detective of sorts , trying to find a thief of letters that may ruin a lady's of that time reputation . This was as always entertaining and I hope this series continues,

This is really good short story. I enjoyed thinking about what was happening with Charles Dickens and that Mallory knew his future. And Mallory helps Lady Inglis with her problem, which involves Gray. It is a quick read but a page turner you won’t want to miss.

Kelley Armstrong’s A Rip Through Time series is one of my favorites and Schemes & Scandals is a new novella that follows book three, Disturbing The Dead. This novella involves a blackmail case and takes place during the winter, specifically Christmas and Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), so we learn how those holidays were celebrated/observed in Victorian Scotland.

If you’re not familiar with the series, here’s the main idea - Mallory is a 21st century detective who finds herself transported to 1869 Edinburgh, and not as herself. She lives in the body of a younger woman, Catriona, who was a maid in the Gray household. Dr. Gray and his sister Isla both know who Mallory is at this point and she’s serving as Dr. Gray’s assistant, helping investigate cases.

Lady Inglis is a widow who enjoys the company of men, to put it nicely, including a former relationship with Dr. Gray, Mallory’s boss. She is now being blackmailed and wants Dr. Gray and Mallory to help her. It was refreshing to have a mystery that doesn’t involve a murder!

A highlight for me was Mallory being able to meet the author Charles Dickens in person, during his speaking tour. What an experience that must have been! I also enjoyed getting to know Jack a little more.

If you haven’t read any of this series, you could pick this up as a standalone, but you’d lack all the backstory. I highly recommend this series, so start with the first book, A Rip Through Time, and then you can jump to this one.

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

This A Rip Through Time novella is a fantastic read as well as a terrific addition to this series. It's an intriguing mystery with captivating characters, and it's filled with Victorian holiday charm.

In Schemes & Scandals, it seems like Mallory and Dr. Duncan Gray grow closer. Their relationship feels more intimate, and hints of future romance abound. I truly love coming back to this world and these characters as well as the setting. Each of the books in this series brings Edinburgh and the past vividly to life.

Overall, I enjoyed this one very much. It's a short and entertaining historical mystery. This novella worked nicely to fill the gap, but I'm really looking forward to the next full-length book.

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

I absolutely love this series. It never disappoints. Kelley Armstrong is a master storyteller!!!
This one is set during Christmas and New Year. It is a short one, but packs alot! I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series! Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

Kelley Armstrong’s novellas are such a fun treat! I usually get exhausted when I realize that a series goes on for too long, but not this one. I absolutely adore this series; it has become one I’m always excited about. Even though it’s a short story, the mystery is still exciting and well-developed, and the blackmail plot added some anticipation. This short mystery involves stolen letters and blackmail set in 1869, so instead of Christmas, it’s all about Hogmanay! It’s cool to see Charles Dickens make an appearance (and a bit heart-breaking), but the historical details are spot-on, and I love the growing connection between Mallory and Dr. Gray.

A great Christmas edition of one of our favorite series. Laughed out loud when she decided that porn was a good hogamanny present!

Schemes & Scandals is book 3.5 in the spectacular A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. If you love historical mysteries, this series is for you. If you love time slip, fish-out-of-water stories, it's for you, as well. I fell in love with Ms. Armstrong's characters since I started reading the first installment, and each is better than the last. You can enjoy this story without reading the previous books, but you'll be well served by knowing the backstory. This one is a quick novella which will help put you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

In 1869 Edinburgh, Mallory Atkinson, a twenty-first-century detective, is looking forward to her first Victorian Christmas. However, she quickly finds out that Christmas isn't a big thing in that era; the big celebration is Hogmanay, the last day of the year. Dr. Duncan Gray, her boss, treats her to an early seasonal gift of tickets to an author reading...by none other than Charles Dickens, one of her all-time favorites! At the reading they run into Lady Inglis, a beautiful widow who has been trying to get Gray back into her bed by writing him sexual letters. She introduces Mallory to Dickens, but wants a favor in return. Someone stole letters that she wrote to another lover, and she is being blackmailed; if she doesn't pay, the letters will be published. Mallory doesn't think.any woman deserves that, so she insists on taking the case with or without Gray's help. With Gray's attitude, Mallory suspects he may have a secret of his own. She has until Hogmanay to solve the case, and hopefully things will be right with Gray so they can enjoy the holidays together.

This was basically a lighthearted novella, with a little blackmail thrown in. Mallory and Gray are usually trying to solve a murder, so it was a nice change of pace for them! This was an entertaining tale, though bittersweet. Mallory was beyond thrilled to hear Charles Dickens give a reading and to have him sign her favorite book, but she was heartbroken that she knew his soon-to-be fate. At this point Mallory is really getting settled into her new life in 1869 Edinburgh, but is occasionally still thrown for a loop, like finding out Christmas isn't much of a celebration at that time. She's also gotten comfortable in her new job as Dr. Gray's assistant as the two solve murders and other crimes. However, she's still trying to adjust to her changing feelings for Gray. There's a little discord between the two of them here, as Gray's former relationship with Lady Inglis causes them both to feel uncomfortable, and Mallory wants to know why. I simply adore the relationship between these two characters, and I like the change I feel coming. I was happy that my other favorite characters were here to celebrate the season with us, including Isla Ballantyne (Gray's widowed sister, a chemist), Detective Hugh McCreadie (Gray's friend since childhood and admirer of Isla), as well as Jack (the household's newest employee, a reporter disguised as a male but actually a young woman who's now their maid). Yes, Jack's persona is a little hard to keep up with at first! Though I loved this novella, I am beyond anxious having to wait for the next full-length novel!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.