This was a short read on Mallory's first time during the Christmas season when she with her parent's blessing, decided to live in the 19th century. It was a quick read, but very good.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Schemes and Scandals by Kelley Armstrong in exchange for an honest review. I loved this short story in the Rip in Time series. We got to learn a bit more about Duncan's history, meet a famous author and solve a mystery. This was a fun book and I can't wait for more.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this series so much and this "Christmas" novella is wonderful. So many questions were answered in the last book and now we can just watch Mallory in her new life. She gets to meet Charles Dickens and solve a mystery involving one of Gray's former lovers. I can't wait for the next in this series.

Just an absolute delight! I could read a 100 stories from this series and not get tired. There is always another mystery to be solved. And getting to check in with the characters we’ve grown to love along the way is just a plus!
This is one of my favorite series so getting these novellas is a real treat. A quick, often lower stakes, mystery to tide us readers over while we wait for the next book to come along.
The winter Holiday setting was also so wonderfully cozy. It was lovely getting to see Mallory begin to commit herself to making a life in Scotland. I can’t wait to see that expanded even more in future books.
All around it is a great addition to the series and I would recommend to all who’ve read this far. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read it a bit early.

Love this series! And really love these novellas that allow the reader a more intimate view into the lives from Gray, Lila, Mallory and the Detective. It was fun to see how Armstrong depicted Dickens' reading performance. It was interesting to learn a bit more about Gray's life prior to Mallory's arrival. Just a wonderful, fun, fast read! Looking forward to more!

When your favourite author comes out with a new novella to her latest series you know that I had to get my hands on it right away. This book takes place in the Rip through time series which I loved. This novella sees Mallorie up to her detective work yet again. When she sets off to start her first Christmas set in the past she is overjoyed this is going to be exactly what she wants. However things can't go to easy on her yet for when she discovers that Doctor Grey's ex is being blackmailed her and Duncan take on the case to set things right. This was a quick read that takes place over the holidays for an extra flair and the best part about this one was even though it takes place in the Rip through time universe with the previous characters it is easily read as a stand alone novel so you don't need a lot of backstory to get the plot. This was a short read but that is to be expected with a novella however it was great to jump back into that universe and I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it. This mystery was amazing and really had my hooked fast as reader however it was also just light enough where it didn't need a full novel to portray it. This was the perfect addition to a world I never wanted to see the end of. With the added backstory to our favourite characters in this series this novella was everything this series needed. Great read, well written characters and I loved how each book had very different plots although followed the same structure. This gives the reader lots of variety all within the same style. I can't wait until this book is released. The little taste this book gives of a world we all know and love was just enough to make me crave more and I can't wait to see what else Kelley Armstrong has in store for our favourite time travellers.

Schemes & Scandals is a Rip through Time Novella set just after Disturbing the Dead. This Novella picks up shortly after they rap up that investigation and Mallory now accepting that her place is there with Duncan and Isla excitedly awaits her very first Christmas. To her dismay Christmas is not yet fully celebrated it was once against the law and although it is no longer a crime it hasn’t fully been embraced as a holiday in this era and is not yet truly celebrated.

However, much to Mallory’s delight Hogmanay is and she has many fond memories of celebrating Hogmanay with her Nan. I must say swinging a fireball overhead sounds like great fun. I am a bit intrigued by this and plan to fully to look it up for I must have the knowledge.

This is also another aspect of this series I truly love. I do not necessarily read it for the historical content. However, I absolutely love how naturally it is woven into the storyline. I love that most of what is included as facts are things I either did not know or have forgotten from my history days and this is a wonderful way to see it from the perspective of a modern girl living it from the aspect of understanding that it happened but not fully embracing what it was like to experience it. And it makes the historical facts fun, fresh, and intriguing in a way you can’t just find in a historical account.

And Charles Dickens just wow so completely cool. I have fan girl envy for Mallory and I love that she as able to experience that moment.

I also love seeing Dr. Gray most uncomfortably might I add having to explain his entanglement with Lady Inglis. As the case progresses dare I say as much as she doesn’t want to admit it Mallory is jealous…. Awe now if only we can get Mallory and Duncan to finally admit their feelings for each other. All good things in time I am sure. I absolutely love the natural progression of their relationship and it makes their story so much more believable and interesting.

On this topic I am also very pleased to see Isla coming out of her shell as her mourning period is officially ending. I most certainly hope to see her and our handsome and decent (might I even say perfect for her) relationship with detective McCreadie slowly but surely becoming a regular part of life. Although neither seem to consider it to be the case they are on a regular basis doing very much date like outings with Duncan and Mallory. I love seeing the four of them together doing what most people would in our time call a double date all for the sake of investigations of course.

Ugh how I can’t wait to see how all this comes to fruition. All four deserve happiness and they have it so close at hand.

So all in all if you love the series this is an absolutely delightful adventure.

I am so happy to re-visit this series with some of my favorite characters. I am so excited for more! Get the series it’s an excellent read and completely binge worthy.

I feel this story is best read after delving into the series. The characters and relationship dynamics is best enjoyed knowing the whole picture. So get it and binge it. You won’t be disappointed. I absolutely loved this and I highly recommend it!

Schemes and Scandals, A Rip Through Time book 3.5, by Kelley Armstrong

This is series is so much fun. I love science and I love a good mystery. Mallory is at it again putting her modern day detective skills to use in the Victorian eara. No bodies this time. It's a straight up mystery that takes place over the holidays and revolves around one of Gray's strained relations. Great novella. I loved getting to know Gray even more than we already had.

#bookreview #2024 #netgalley #victoriancrime #dickens

Es la primera Navidad de Mallory Atkinson en Escocia. La Escocia victoriana, claro está. Además, como descubre el detective del siglo XXI, la Navidad realmente no existe en la Escocia victoriana. Se trata de Hogmanay. Pero su jefe, el Dr. Duncan Gray, le regala entradas anticipadas para el evento de la temporada: una lectura de Charles Dickens. Allí, se topan con Lady Inglis, la encantadora viuda que le ha enviado cartas sensuales a Gray tratando de atraerlo de regreso a su cama.

Lady Inglis le presenta a Mallory a Dickens (el encuentro de su vida), pero a cambio quiere su ayuda. La están chantajeando. Alguien robó cartas que le escribió a otro amante y amenaza con publicarlas.

Mallory no está segura de qué pensar de Lady Inglis, pero ninguna mujer merece eso, por lo que insiste en tomar el caso con o sin la ayuda de Gray. La creciente tensión entre ellos pronto le dice a Mallory que Gray esconde su propio secreto. Tiene hasta Hogmanay para descubrir al chantajista... y, con suerte, arreglar las cosas con Gray para que puedan disfrutar de las vacaciones juntos.




Es una historia corta y lo disfrute.
No sabia que era parte de una serie y al principio estaba confundida porque todos los personajes se conocían y era obvio que ya estaban familiarizados, conforme leía quedaba mas confundida, los primeros dos capítulos pensé que era el estilo de escritura y que habrían escenas flashback o que algunos capítulos serian del pasado, pero como no pasaba nada de eso me puse a investigar el libro y resulto que hay libros anteriores. Me sentí tonta al no darme cuenta antes, pero bueno, afortunadamente me di cuenta a tiempo y tuve que dejarlo hasta leer los anteriores y todos los libros los disfrute.

"All lives are worthy of note," I say. "And the lives of the rich fill enough books."

Another entertaining story set in Victorian Scotland, Schemes and Scandals is a novella set in the A Rip Through Time series. We are faced with a mystery of stolen love letters, past paramours and betrayal. Set in a time when the perceptions of women are skewed by their relationships with the men in their lives, and how the patriarchal role allows men to get away with the same actions that could ruin a woman.

First and foremost, thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this early, I love you.

In my review of the previous book, Disturbing the Dead, I practically cried and begged for any crumbs in this world anyone could offer so when I got approved for this novella, I almost wept with joy. 🥹

I am OBSESSED with this series (characters, vibe, mysteries, world and especially the writing and Mallory's voice) and after the previous book, I feel even more connected to them and immersed in this world. So this little novella was my guilty pleasure that I read (or inhaled, more like it) in one sitting.

Loved everything about it it! The Charles Dickens subplot and meeting was so interesting and realistic, I could almost swear it happened in real life. I love how Armstrong incorporates little tidbits of history and literature and gives us a comprehensive then vs now outlook.👏

Then of course we have another mystery, Mallory, Dr Grey and the gang at their detective work, looking for clues, missing letters and suspects, new characters, a brief view on Dr Grey's personal past/former lover (cue jealousy?🤭) and a sprinkle of Victorian era Scottish customs, history and details, as the action takes place around the holidays.

Seeing Mallory and Duncan (heh more familiar with first names now are we?😁) interact and brainstorm is always a delight. It's like they live in their own little bubble and we are just intruders getting into their business. Like I said, so very realistic and immersive, everything.

I also loved how Mallory got more comfortable and adjusted to this new world and time period and how people are starting to get her and care for her. 🫶

I'm looking forward to the next adventure!

P.S. If a new reader wanted to get a taste of this series, the novella can be read as a standalone too, as a short recap of what happened and who is who is seamlessly blended into the story, without giving away spoilers.

I can’t get enough of this series it’s just so much fun.
Mallory is about to celebrate her first Christmas in the past but first she has to solve a mystery. With the help of some modern day science and good old fashioned leg work she and Duncan help an old friend who is being blackmailed.
The mystery is outstanding. If you haven’t tried this series yet I don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s so good!!

Have I waxed poetic enough about this series yet? The A Rip Through Time series is still going strong for me and I enjoyed this new novella just as much as the rest. This is the second novella in the series and takes place after the events of Disturbing the Dead, but it’s not necessary to read other books in the series. The author does a great job with small summaries to bring you up to speed without being too repetitive.

Mallory is a modern-day Canadian detective trapped in the body of a younger, buxom housemaid in Victorian Scotland. Actually, no longer a housemaid as she has been promoted to assistant to her boss, Dr. Duncan Gray who operates as an undertaker and often consults with the police as a medical examiner, lately famous in serial pamphlets for his crime solving adventures.

It's Mallory’s first Christmas in her new setting and she’s anxious to make sure that everything goes well. I did find it odd that she was so preoccupied with the holidays since it didn’t fit with my vision of her character, but I loved learning about Hogmanay of which I only had a passing knowledge and I enjoyed the teasing from Gray and his sister Isla about the legality of celebrating Christmas in Scotland, a subject I was unfamiliar with.

Of course, the festive planning is interrupted by a mystery. Gray gifts Isla and Mallory with tickets to see Charles Dickens. I really enjoyed the enthusiasm that Mallory was enveloped with to attend a Victorian author event with such a literary icon. At the event, they run into Gray’s former paramour Lady Inglis (author of the sexy letters that Mallory found in a previous book), and she requests Gray’s assistance in a delicate matter. Turns out she wrote sexy letters to another gentlemen, only this time they were stolen and now she’s being blackmailed.

Mallory is all over this case and determined to solve it before Hogmanay. Another great read that I couldn’t put down and since it was short, I didn’t have to!

Thank you to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for a copy provided for an honest review.

I love any and all things Kelley Armstrong and this is no different. I love the Rip in Time series and was very happy to see this addition to the story.

What could be more fun than yet another brief glimpse into Victorian Scotland through the eyes of our wonderful 21st century detective, Mallory? This time around, it’s the holiday season and while Christmas is not traditionally celebrated yet, Hogmanay is and Mallory is more than excited to experience the celebration with Gray and Isla, but not before she and Gray get involved in another mystery. It appears that one of Gray’s ex-lovers is being blackmailed and would like to hire Gray and Mallory to discover who is behind the threat. Each of Kelley Armstrong’s novellas, not just this series, but others as well, supply just enough insight to flesh out her characters more thoroughly. In “Schemes & Scandals,” Mallory has to learn to deal with her knowledge of things to come when she meets one of her favorite authors. As always, t]there is a bit of literary license mixed in with actual facts which adds rather than detracts from the tale. This was an enjoyable caper from start to finish and made for a nice afternoon interlude. Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Holiday novella from the time travel world of Kelley Armstrong. Mallory gets to meet Charles Dickens and solve a blackmail case. ARC from NetGalley.

This is one of my favorite series. It's Mallory's first Christmas in 1860s Scotland, and she is surprised that Christmas is not a big celebration. Hogmanay, the last day of the year, is celebrated instead. For her gift, Dr. Gray and his sister take Mallory to an event where Charles Dickens will read to an audience in person. As they walked to the theatre, I could picture the snow falling, crowds of people - rich and poor alike - walking around, and everything candlelit or gaslit.

There is a crime, of course. In this book, the crime is a matter of blackmail for a lady personally acquainted with Duncan. She has asked for his help. A previous lover has compromising letters from her. Duncan is reluctant at first but eventually joins Mallory in taking the case. Then they discover that someone close to them is also being blackmailed...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novella, and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Kelley Armstrong’s novellas are such a treat! Her last time-travel series had novellas between books and it looks like she is continuing the practice with this series.

This is a holiday novella and “holiday” is the proper word because this is set in 1869, when Christmas isn’t celebrated in Scotland. Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve, is the holiday of note at this time, so Mallory’s assumption that she’d be celebrating her first Victorian Christmas is a little off!

The mystery in this story deals with stolen letters and blackmail. Despite the shorter page count, the investigation is thorough and fully developed.

We also see Mallory meeting Charles Dickens, who is on tour in 1869. From reading earlier books, we know her English professor father made Dickens a major part of her childhood, so it’s a lovely part of the story. A new reader won’t be lost, though.

What a wonderful visit with Mallory, Duncan, Isla, and friends as we wait for the next book in this fantastic series!

This Christmas-set short story is a great addition to the series and helps with the wait for the next full novel. I would recommend reading the previous books before reading this, partly to help catch nuance and partly just because they are excellent. Mallory and Gray are draw into a case of blackmail when an acquaintance has very personal letters stolen. The acquaintance has a history with Gray as well, adding some more emotional drama to the case. As always, the historical details are great, the characters are strong and likable, and the mystery is well done. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own.

Schemes and Scandals is a great addition to Kelley Armstrong's original, creative A Rip Through Time series referring to accidental time-travel. Mallory's knowledge of 21st century policing techniques joins together with Dr. Grey's open-minded 19th century thought processes to enable them to figure out who is blackmailing Lady Inglis. The fact that Charles Dickens appears in this novella is an added bonus.

I strongly recommend that you read the previous three novels (and one novella) in this cleverly thought-out series to fully appreciate Kelley Armstrong's creativity in building a world based in 1869 Edinburgh, Scotland. Actual historical events of that time period appear in the midst of this compelling mystery series. Looking forward to reading many more fascinating A Rip Through Time novels.