A Whisper of Death was a surprisingly wonderful little book. I acquired it based on the synopsis alone and knew nothing about the author. My expectations were not high going into it. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. It was a gorgeous Victorian murder mystery which had me invested from the beginning. As the book progressed we followed the two protagonists as they slowly uncovered information and clues. We were in their discussions and thoughts and it kind of felt like we were solving the mystery along with them. It was great to be transported back in time to the Victorian era. The scenes and the dialogue seemed very authentic. I enjoyed this a lot and would read more from this author.

A Whisper of Death is the start of a new mystery series by Darcy Burke. Hadrian was attacked and left for dead. He started having visions right after the attack. He hired Tilda (a divorce investigator) to help find his attacker. I enjoyed their relationship and bantor. They're good together. This is a very slow burn and I hope they become closer as the series goes on.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

A Whisper of Death is a Victorian mystery that also offers a slow burn romance. The cast of characters, both main and secondary all leave an impression. The pacing was on the slower side. It takes awhile to get into this book. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance aspects of the book. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I thought this was overall a fun read. However, at times it felt like there was a lot of filler that was not needed. The writing also felt a little choppy at times.
I did love the two main characters and how independent Tilda is. I also really enjoyed the mystery of this, but part way through it felt like it lost it's luster. However, towards the end it picked back up again and tied everything up even adding a bit of a surprise! All while setting up for the next installment.
I also liked the slow burn hint of romance between Hadrian and Tilda. I will definitely be awaiting the next one and seeing how these two develop!

This was a really refreshing read this summer - who would have thought all I needed was a good murder mystery to break my reading slump? Darcy Burke's historical fiction has always been a fun read for me, so I was intrigued when I saw this. It wasn't overly complex or simple which made it a great weekend read. It also felt Victorian without feeling clunky, which I find a lot of authors have a hard time with. I'm really excited to see where this series goes.

Great start to a new series, Not only is this a new series, but a mystery instead of a romance. I loved it. The characters are great, the plot interesting and the story fast-paced. I was a little apprehensive about Darcy Burke writing a mystery instead of a romance, but she did a wonderful job. The twists and turns of the investigation are great. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

When the beautiful, yet dark, cover of A Whisper of Death drew my eye on Netgalley, I was surprised to see that it was a new book of Darcy Burke. Having read a lot of Darcy’s historical romances, I hadn’t expected this murder mystery from her.

But, since I love Darcy’s stories, of course I had to give it a go. And it was a pleasant surprise. of course, it is a lot different from her general genre, but still the story does have a Darcy style. I loved that Tilda is a very capable and independent detective and it was great to have Hadrian Ravenhurst respect her for it as well.

Darcy has woven a very extensive murder. web, which wasn’t easily uncovered. So, you have to keep on reading. In all, I think I really like this new genre that Darcy has taken us to. I will be on the lookout for the next story of Tilda and Hadrian. And of course, I also still like her historical romance as well. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc

A Whisper of Death takes place in Victorian England. Burke does a fantastic job of portraying the stereotypical misogyny of a woman who walks outside the lines dictated by men. Wren is a strong and intelligent woman. She is aware of her intelligence but goes to no length to rub it in the face of others. Everything I enjoy in a leading lady. Her interactions with Ravenhurst are witty and the characters play well off each other.

Despite being privileged Ravenhurst seems down to earth. I enjoyed the perceived vulnerability his gift gave him and found the growth of it organic. His struggles were relatable through the author’s ability to pull you into Ravenhurt’s mind.

It took me a while to read this book because of work commitments. It is a shame because this book is truly bingeworthy. I could have easily finished this in a weekend and been left wanting more. I want more!

This book is the first in a series and I cannot wait for the sequel.

The book is narrated in third person, through the POV of the Earl of Ravenhurst, and Matilda Wren, a private investigator (a rarely seen woman in the field during the early Victorian Era). Both characters possess a keen eye and a sharp intellect, which makes the journey of their investigations all the more interesting.

There was not a single lousy moment in the story. Quite contrarily, it kept me hooked since the first page, for there is always something new happening in the plot. The book is paced with a balance that neither makes it boring nor hard to comprehend.

The writing style felt very light and fluid, and the language had the pure Victorian British sprinkle in it. The writing was engaging and easy to understand, and felt effortless.

The characters had the right amount of dimensions and didn't feel unrealistic at all. Hadrian Becket, aka Lord Ravenhurst, was an absolute gentleman throughout. He may be one of my favourite fictional characters.
Matilda Wren was a sharp and witty sleuth who knows how to get the needed information and glue the pieces together. They are a powerful duo who eventually uncover the case and win the hearts of the readers.

Murder mysteries/Who Dunnits are not usually my cup of tea, but when written by one of my favorite authors, I thought I’d give it a go. She does not disappoint. Tilda and Hadrian make an awesome pair as they team up to solve not one, but several murders, including the one attempted on Hadrian’s life. Both are intelligent, gifted sleuths that work well together, developing an appreciation for the skills of the other. Although I still prefer a romance with a HEA, I have to admit this is well written and maintained my interest in seeing the investigators nail their culprit!

The start of a new series and also a new genre from the author who I have read before. This was as well written as her normal books and full of brilliant characters. It's a real page turner of a mystery full of twists and turns, intrigue and secrets along with a paranormal edge. There were edge of the seat moments leading to a thrilling climax. I'm looking forward to the next in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A thrilling foray into the world of mystery! I have long been a fan of Darcy Burke’s style and this journey into historical mystery intrigued me. I have always enjoyed an element of suspense in my reads and Raven & Wren’s story definitely provided that. It incorporated many of the elements I enjoy in romance from the tension to the anticipation with a hint of romance to come. The slow burn of Raven & Wren reminds me of couples like Booth & Bones from the tv series Bones. They carry out a similar partnership with each bringing their own unique talents and gifts to the pairing. Similarly you watch as a slow simmer begins to kindle as they get to know each other, the tension of working alongside someone increasing as their case unfolds. This story will keep you on your toes, guessing and hoping at every turn. I am excited to see this pairing grow and am eager for these two kind, lovable characters embrace their potential romance. They have both been through so much and deserve their own happy ever after.

A Great Series Starter

This is the first book of this genre I've read by this author and I loved it. It's definitely a great start to the series with a budding romance, lots of twists, mystery, suspense, danger and intrigue that leaves you wanting more.
The characters are very likable and make a wonderful investigative pair, complementing each other perfectly with their skills, gifts and social status.

Hadrian „Raven“ Becket, Earl of Ravenhurst was attacked and seriously injured a few weeks ago. Since then, he has had visions as soon as he touches something significant with his bare hand. Much to Hadrian’s displeasure, Scotland Yard has categorised the attempt on his life as a failed robbery by a footpad and closed the case. But he is not prepared to give up so easily. Hadrian’s visions lead him to an old acquaintance, Sir Henry Meacham, where he meets Meacham’s distant relative Ms. Matilda „Tilda“ Wren and learns that he died under mysterious circumstances.

Tilda is a spinster who has no desire to marry or to have children. Since her mother remarried years ago after the death of her father, she has lived a happy but deprived life with her grandmother. As the daughter of a Scotland Yard sergeant and granddaughter of a magistrate, investigative work is in her blood and she sometimes assists a attorney in divorce cases with investigations as women are not allowed to work at Scotland Yard. But income is tight, so she wants to turn to her only male relative, Sir Henry, who manages her grandmother's stipend and investments. Upon arrival, however, she learns that he has died and she meets the Earl of Ravenhurst who was about to visit her cousin.

Realising that the cases and another death are linked and impressed by Tilda's skills and knowledge, Hadrian hires her as a private investigator and convinces her to work with him without telling her about his visions for now. In the course of their investigations, Hadrian and Tilda slip further and further into a web of secrets, lies, deceit, intrigue and danger…

If you like Victorian murder mysteries with lots of twists and a blossoming romance, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a fun new genre for Darcy Burke, but we get the pleasure of the same great writing style. Instead of the torrid regency romances we are used to, we have a young lady who is determined to not be measured by her worth of landing a husband. Instead she yearns to be a successful investigator - something that is just NOT done in regency England. Hadrien, the Earl of Ravenhurst is attacked one night and left with a curse - or is it? Together they form an unlikely pair and even though there is an attraction between them, there are not any passionate interludes in carriages. Instead they work as a team to find the man who attacked Raven. Definite page turner, you'll love it!

Upsetting visions! Mysterious deaths!

Fascinating new Victorian mystery featuring Miss Matilda (Tilda) Wren confirmed spinster and Hadrian Becket, Earl of Ravenhurst searching for answers to a spate of murders that Scotland Yard has conveniently closed.
Tilda is a determined young woman who lives with her grandmother. She’s decided to make a career out of investigations.
Hadrian is attacked one night walking home from Westminster. He seizes his would be killer, who escapes leaving Hadrian with a ring his attacker wore, a severe injury, a dreadful headache and seemingly the ability to touch things and people and have their intimate thoughts opened to him. Is he going mad or has he been gifted with something that is evil or good?
Bodies begin to pile up. Tilda and Hadrian join forces to solve the mystery, much to each other’s better judgment.
A rattling good story!

An Xpresso Tours ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thanks to BookSprout and NetGalley for a copy of this book and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the first book of a new series by Darcy Burke that is a bit of a different genre from what I am used to from her. This is a Victorian murder mystery with a very very slow burn romance, with differing social class themes, a strong, independent, intelligent female lead and a hint of the paranormal. At first I was drawing some comparisons between this and Cara Devlin's Bow Street Duchess series, as there are some similarities, but in the end, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to where Raven and Wren are going to go with their stories and adventures.

This opens with Hadrian Becket, the Earl of Ravenhurst almost losing his life in a vicious attract that leaves him severely injured. As he slowly recovers, he is fearful of being declared mad as he discovers he is having strange visions when he touches things, such as the ring he is found with after his attack - a momento he came unknowingly came away with when he grappled with his attacker. He does not understand what is happening to him, and wants answers to his attack.

Tilda Wren is a middle class spinster who lives in London with her grandmother, helping care for her and her household, while determined to maintain her independence and forge a career for herself as an investigator. She is putting to work skills taught to her by her beloved father, a policeman who unfortunately died on the job. But it is difficult as many still look down on women working, and do not find a female working as an investigator as credible. She does find some work seeking information for divorce cases though. In the mean time, she is trying to track down a family cousin, who is managing her grandmother's funds, to seek either control from him, or at least increased payments to their household, as they have not had any increase in years and are finding things tight.

Instead of gaining the meeting she is hoping for, she finds instead that her cousin has died suddenly. Questions about many things arise follow his death, and Tilda finds herself determined to find answers to them. In the meantime, Ravenhurst, following his own visions and his desire to seek answers to his own attack, finds his path crossing with Tilda. He has little satisfaction from Bow Street as they have closed his case, and when he finds out Tilda is an investigator and the clues he has followed have also lead to her cousin, and his death, he engages Tilda to investigate for him, so long as he can participate as well. But fearful of being thought mad, he keeps several secrets from her, including his new found abilities.

As time passes, Ravenhurst develops a great liking, respect, and appreciation for Tilda, her insight, and her investigative talents, and Tilda learns about his abilities, and to trust and depend on him. They become unlikely friend, with an obviously slow simmering attraction to each other, despite their vastly different backgrounds.

This was an enjoyable story and a solid start to a series about their partnership and growing relationship with each other. The murder mystery was on that started decades earlier and involves a couple of generations and many characters, and is a bit twisty, but was quite intriguing, and opening the can of worms that is corruption in the police force as well. I quite enjoyed the secondary characters and their relationships with Tilda, and Ravenhust, including Tilda's grandmother, housekeeper, and Vaughn, the butler-who-will-not-stop-butlering. This is NOT a sensual HEA romance. But I like Ravenhurst and Wren's characters and their friendship with low simmering heat dynamic, and am now invested and want to see where this will go.

4 stars out of 5

The book started out very exciting for me. The entertainment that I take away from the story is mostly when Hardrian is tracking down the footpad who attacked him in the alley way. My favorite character is grandma. She is a smart cookie who knows everything. Tilda is amazing as well. She reminds of a very tv character who dives into the so called man’s world of law enforcement and helps the common person find justice. I will say though that during half the book the suspense or thrill of the book lost its putter. The romance was a slow romance, which was fine, but I was really looking forward to more excitement from Hardrian chasing criminals.

I am a big fan of Darcy Burke’s historical romance.
Whisper of Death is her first foray in historical mystery and it is a smacking success.
The gorgeous cover grabs your attention and gives you a feel of the story to come.
A Whisper of Death is a page turner. The book starts with a bang and the plot of this story grips you straight away and never let go
Hadrian Becket, Earl of Ravenhurst, is stabbed and left for dead in the streets of London. But while he is recovering, he realizes that he now has the ability to see visions if he touches objects.
Matilda Wren is not your typical spinster. She finds herself in financial straits after the death of her cousin who was in charge of paying a stipend to her grandmother. She wants to be a Detective, following in her beloved father’s footsteps, and works as an investigator in some divorce cases.
Ravenhurst and Matilda cross paths cross and they end up helping each other. Combining their own unique talents and gifts - Raven's new 'sight' and Wren's experience with investigation - they develop a unique partnership to solve the series of mysteries. And despite their vastly different backgrounds, they form an unlikely friendship with an obviously slow simmering attraction to each other.
Darcy Burke’s writing style is easy to follow. The characters are well-rounded and very likable. The investigation of the connected crimes is tightly developed. The book is well-paced with lots of twists and turns to keep you at the edge of your seat, while the sleuthing couple tracks down clues and gradually puts together the pieces of the puzzle.

I recommend A Whisper of Death to fans of historical mystery with a dash of the paranormal and a spark of a slow burn romance.
A Whisper of Death is fabulous start to a new series and I can’t wait for the next installment.

A Whisper of Death is the first novel in Darcy Burke’s Raven & Wren series of Victorian mysteries. After being stabbed and near death, Hadrian Becket, Earl of Ravenhurst, discovers that he now has the disconcerting ability to see visions of the past when touching certain items or people. Scotland Yard has closed his stabbing case without a satisfying resolution, and Ravenhurst is determined to use his new ability to find his attacker and learn why he was attacked. He hires Miss Matilda Wren to assist his investigation, and the two grow closer as they solve a mystery that keeps growing in complexity and danger.

The story is told from the main characters’ dual points of view. I liked both of them. They are both good people, generous, smart, resourceful, and brave. I enjoyed many of the secondary characters as well, and I look forward to getting to know all of them better in subsequent books.

I also enjoyed watching Raven and Wren work together in overcoming so many obstacles to solve the mystery.

Note that this book includes mild swearing, assaults, and murders, although nothing too graphic.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and volunteered to provide an honest review.

Dear Netgalley et.al.
I am IRATE...that I have to wait so long for the next installment of this series! I love a good historical mystery and this one was great! There were no slow moment in this book which I greatly appreciate. With so many twists and turns, I was deeply invested. My only complaint (which really isn't a complaint) is that there are a LOT of characters. There were a few times I had to work to recall character names.

I wasn't familiar with the author and I immediately went to her website to look for more titles. I was only a little bummed that this series is the only historical mystery she has written so far. I will be waiting (impatiently) for the next book!