This novella, Schemes and Scandals, is part of the Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. It is a short tale that will satisfy fans of this series until the next full installment arrives. Fans and readers will learn more about the character Jack and of course the growing relationship with Gray. Although the read is short, it does not disappoint in the relationship building between the four main characters as well as a mystery to be intrigued. For those new to the Rip Through Time series, start with A Rip in Time and quickly catch up!

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Subterranean Press in exchange for an honest review.

It's always nice to check back in with old friends and this story doesn't disappoint. Mallory is now fully Gray's assistant and not the maid anymore. Disappointed to learn Christmas is not a big celebration in Scotland in 1869, but Hogsmanay is, Gray gives Mallory tickets to see Charles Dickens reading live. Her excitement does conflict with her knowledge of the future for Mr. Dickens and the bittersweet of it all. At this reading she is introduced to a wealthy lady Gray knows very well and is presented with a mystery she decides to help the woman solve. Together they solve the mystery with Gray taking a back seat to Mallory in the detection work. It's a quick read you won't want to put down. NetGalley and the publishers granted an early read for an honest opinion.

Schemes & Scandals was a nice little early holiday gift novela for fans of the series. I have been enjoying the author's Rip Through Time series which has a modern day police detective thrown back in time into the body of house maid in Vicorian era Scotland. Fortunately she's working for a man who is involved in the development of forensic science in that era and she's able to bring her skills to bear to aid in solving cases - mostly of the murderous variety though this time it's blackmail.

I really enjoyed seeing our out of time detective again work her magic and there were some fun little bits as she finds out she's not going to get the Victorian Christmas of her dreams as Christmas isn't really celebrated in Scotland in this era. Also fun is just the way that the cast is all clicking together at this point. I really liked this.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley, Expected publication 0ctober 1 2024. This is an unpaid review.

This novella will keep me entertained until the next book in the series.

Mallory realizes she needs to fully adapt to her new era and home. Part of this involves knowing the future but keeping it a secret from those who aren’t aware. Hint: she meets one of her favorite classic authors.
The story explores the pornography of that time, and someone is blackmailing Dr. Gray’s former lover. Will Dr. Gray and Mallory take on the case and uncover the blackmailer’s identity? Will this reveal any private matters that Dr. Gray would prefer to keep hidden?

It’s 3 1/2 stars rounding up to 4 stars. The story was enjoyable, but being a short story, it lacked the usual gripping plot. However, it does provide closure for Dr. Gray and his ex-lover leaving the doorway more open for another love interest for Dr. Gray.

I want to thank NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the ARC for an honest review.

This was a fun and quick novella to pass the time while I wait for the next full installment of Mallory's adventures in Scotland. I enjoyed the Christmas/Hogmanay setting and the appearance of Dickens. I also appreciated how the novella dealt with some of Gray's background with Lady Inglis. I'll be honest and say I did guess at a few things and was correct, but still overall a good mystery and I can't wait for more of Mallory and Gray!

First off, Thank you so much to Net Galley and Subterranean Press for this ARC.

This was my favorite installment of the series so far. I feel like this one is for the Duncan-Mallory shippers out there, no spoilers, but if you love them, you would be missing out if you skipped this delightful novella, not to mention hilarious. There were so many laugh out loud moments for me. I feel like Kelley Armstrong played around so much with the time travel aspects, language and traditions of the time.

The case itself kept me fully invested and I liked how much Mallory and Duncan were able to work together. I liked getting to see more of Jack as well, her character is very intriguing to me. Charles Dickens’ appearance added an interesting element, and I hope to see more historical figures and learn even more about the time.

Armstrong does such a great job of pulling you into the story and making things feel real. The characters themselves are so endearing, you can’t help but love them all and want to go on more adventures with them. I honestly don’t want the series to ever end. I can’t wait to get my hands on book 4!

This novella has been an absolute delight to read! I will likely have to re-read it during the holidays, as that is when this is set to occur. I was not aware that Scotland did not celebrate Christmas, but I enjoyed learning this bit of history. I had never heard of Hogmanay and will be doing some research into that as it sounds intriguing.

I also enjoy the descriptions of the setting (excrement and all!) I liked that it was used to show the reader what the time was like. It seems that Kelley Armstrong has done a great deal of research into the period, which I genuinely appreciate.

I think my favorite part was the luncheon with Lady Inglis, during which Mallory was delightfully blunt. Her interactions with Gray are fantastic, and I'd be lying if I weren't hoping their friendship would blossom into something more than that. I also really enjoy Jack's character. She's a great counterpart to Mallory.

This novella also did not lack the wit that I have come to really appreciate in Kelley Armstrong's work. Dialogue is never lacking, and this novella follows suit.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This Novella will be released on October 1, 2024.*

#KelleyArmstrong #TimeTravel #Novela #NetGalley #ARC-Book-Read #SchemesScandals

This was a fast, fun novella that did not go the way I thought it would. I truly love this series but man I wish the slow burn would speed up.

In 1869, Mallory Atkinson finds herself in Scotland for her first Victorian Christmas, only they don’t celebrate it, they celebrate Hogmanay instead. This is a time travel fantasy novella, number 3.5 in a series.. I loved the story, it worked great as a stand alone for me, as I have not read the previous three novels in the series.
Mallory works as an assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray as an investigator. There is a nicely developed cast of characters and a charming mystery. Mallory meets Charles Dickens! There was so much packed in this novella! Now I want to re@d the rest of the series.

I would like to Thank NetGalley for the ARC to review for my honest opinion.

It’s a very Rip in Time Christmas with this novella! Time-traveling 21st century homicide detective turned 19th century maid/private investigator Mallory is spending her first Christmas in Victorian Scotland and she is eager to celebrate the season with her friends, including employer/partner Dr. Duncan Gray. But first Mallory must help one of Duncan’s former flames, Lady Inglis, figure out who is blackmailing her before the villain makes a scandalous letter she wrote her lover public.

This was a fun one! Kelly Armstrong does such a tremendous job with these novellas, providing readers with a tight mystery in relatively few pages and keeping us fed until the next full length novel. The villain seemed pretty obvious to me from the get go but I really enjoyed all of the glimpses into how the holidays were celebrated during this time and the thought Mallory put into her choice of giftss. I can’t wait until we get the next installment in this terrific series! Schemes and Scandals is out October 1st.

Thanks to Netalley and Subterranean Press for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Its Mallory’s first Hogmanay in Victorian Scotland and scandal is afoot. Between juggling her relationships with the people she has come to find friendships in, keeping secrets about her past to others and struggling to find her balance in a world that is wholly new to her, Mallory finds herself untangling a mystery that could land her client between the pornographic broadsheets.
Schemes and Scandals was a page turning novella that left me waiting for the next full length installment in the series. Armstrong has a way of wrapping up history in fiction that leads the reader right down the alleyways of Victorian Scotland. I thoroughly enjoy the blend of modern and historical in an enchanting and oftentimes amusing way that this series brings. I am anxious to see what our time-traveling ingenue gets into next.

As someone who is not generally a fan of time travel, I am always astounded at how much I enjoy this series. The juxtaposition of a modern-day detective in Victorian era Scotland just works. The dynamics between our main characters are perfect, and the mysteries are always on point. The narrative is fast-paced, and there is just enough action and suspense to keep me intrigued without overwhelming the lighthearted, quirkiness of the story. The secondary characters are also well-drawn and diverse which is something that you don't always find in a historical mystery, and I really appreciate that.

As far as this installment, it's set at Christmas time which is delightful. I found the customs of the time fascinating, and the addition of the literary figure of Charles Dickens as part of the story made it even more fun. The mystery this time was blackmail which was a nice change from murder. I loved it and will continue reading this series as long as Kelly Armstrong continues to write it which, I hope, will be for many years to come.

Another great entry in this series. This entry further explores the relationship between Mallory and Grey, especially as she has now decided to stay in the past. Continues to provide great insight in to the past as well as how the same issues are playing out now.

There are so many things that I love about this series, A Rip Through Time. I love exploring this Victorian era with Mallory. I don't even care if all of the information is absolutely correct or follows an in real life timeline.

In this novella, Mallory is coerced into investigating a blackmail attempt which involves Lady Inglis, a former lover of Dr. Gray's. A chance meeting at a Charles Dickens reading, throws them into Lady Inglis' sightline. Initially, Mallory has no intention of helping her, but is lured into an investigation because she doesn't like people backing a woman into a corner just because of the scandal that it may cause, and also, because Lady Inglis is a family friend of Charles Dickens. Knowing that he will die before he finishes his next book. Mallory takes the opportunity of a lifetime to meet the author backstage with Lady Inglis' introduction. As a 21st century reader, she has another reason to celebrate her decision to remain in Victorian Scotland.

As Lady Inglis is a widow, she is afforded a more dissolute lifestyle. One of her lovers has had some very risque letters stolen from him and the blackmailer has threatened that they will have them published by a disreputable newspaper. There is a deadline of Hogmanay, (New Year's Eve), and it is almost Christmas. He would survive the scandal but she would not.

The list of suspects is varied, a brother of her lover, the former valet, his spurned lover, and more. Mallory is in her prime, she takes the lead and instructs Gray about investigations and questioning subjects in the modern era.

This is a unique peek into Victorian Scotland and it's non-celebration of Christmas. Once again, Armstrong has given us a nice slice of life.

Thank you to NetGalley and K.L.A. Fricke Inc. for this ARC. All opinions are strictly my own.

A solid holiday/New Year’s novella best read by people who have read the series. I liked how Mallory reflected on the ways she’ll always be an outsider. I’m hoping book 4 has even more conversations between Gray and Mallory.

Thank you to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the advanced reading copy.

I am a big fan of Kelley Armstrong. I loved the Women of the Otherworld series, Cainsville, Darkest Powers, etc. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Schemes and Scandals. I will admit that I have not read the previous books in the A Rip Through Time series but based on this I won't. It felt like I was reading through a checklist of modern ideals being imposed on the Victorian time period through the eyes of an FMC that can only see the negatives of the time period and the blond bombshell body she now inhabits. A novella barely over 15o pages just can't organically work in issues of gender inequality, racism, classism, gender nonconformity, animal cruelty in fashion, ect. And that is not a random list, we hit on all of those topics. It comes off as clunky and completely detracting from the actual story that was supposed to be taking place. Which would have been good if not for everything else, I didn't peg who the culprit was until close to their unveiling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for allowing me to read and review this Novella for free!

As always, Kelley Armstrong, wrote a wonderful story! I especially LOVE this series and was so excited to read “Schemes & Scandals”. She did not disappoint! This story follows Mallory and Dr. Gray as they try to find who is blackmailing Gray’s ex-lover, Lady Inglis.

Mallory is a 21st century detective who found herself in 1869, Victorian Scotland. Christmas is approaching and she’s excited to spend her first Christmas in her new life; however, she discovers Hogmanay is celebrated instead. As an early present for Mallory and Isla, Dr Gray gets tickets to see Charles Dickens perform. While there, they run into Lady Inglis. She introduces Mallory to Charles Dickens in hopes of getting help from her and Gray. She tells them she is being blackmailed with public humiliation. After agreeing to help, Mallory and Gray follow through leads and question suspects to beat their deadline of finding the culprit before Hogmanay.

I hadn't realized Victorians in Scotland didn't celebrate Christmas. Instead, they celebrated Hogmanay, which was more of a New Year's Eve celebration, and included the exchange of small gifts and the sharing of a delicious meal. Dr Duncan Gray has presented his sister and also Mallory with tickets to a Charles Dickens reading. (Make that a big pro for traveling back in time!)

Of course, there is much more involved within the fun, yet heart-touching 176 pages ... but I wouldn't want to spoil your early Christmas gift.

I recommend Schemes and Scandals and hope this series never ends!!

BIG thanks to both #SubterraneanPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Schemes & Scandals. This book is #3.5 in the #ARipThroughTime series, and has an expected publication date of October 1, 2024.

#KelleyArmstrong #TimeTravel #Novella

This was a cute novella! Thanks to NetGalley for the read. I enjoyed picking up this series, it’s been a fun out of time experience. The characters solving mysteries in the late 1800’s with one modern detective trying desperately to not tip off anyone to germ theory is hysterical 😂 This novella is a quick read, it’s an interesting history on how Scotland didn’t celebrate Christmas during this era. The mystery isn’t a murder but a stolen item and the culprit is under their noses the whole time. The budding relationship between Duncan and Mallory is fun, I hope to see that develop into something real as the series grow.

Armstrong does a good job with these novella entries, providing enough character and relationship moments to satisfy without progressing so much that you'd miss something major by only reading the full-length books. Just the same, I wouldn't recommend skipping these because not only are the characters fun to spend time with but the short mysteries are just as engaging as the big ones, in large part because they're used to show us something more about our main cast.

My thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.