A dark and atmospheric mystery set at an orphanage is Dickensian England. The characters are well-drawn and the writing gives a very authentic sense of the historical period.

I am here for the very slow, slowww burn between Gemma and Sebastian. They just need to get together, take Gustav and move out of those horrible boarding houses, and adopt little Lucy and live happily ever after. That's it.

Another great installment of the Tate and Bell partnership. I am always surprised at who did it. I never have a clue. A lot of the story is grim and disturbing, but I look forward to little progresses made in their relationship.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The 3rd in the series about Sebastian and Gemna Tate. Although, it could be read as a standalone, I feel the reader would do well to read the previous 2 books first. I am enjoying this series and look forward to seeing how the relationship between the two main characters develops. Gemma is a brave lady, living in the 19th century, when women were subservient to me and not expected to have an opinion.
I can recommend this series to those who enjoy historical crime fiction.

This story which was emotional, sad and joyous too takes us into the world of orphanages in Britain in Victorian times and how hard life was for a great proportion of its people.

Gemma works as a nurse at the Foundling hospital. She considers herself lucky to get this job, and she knows she has to be careful not to overstep any of the rules and regulations governing her life as a single, unmarried woman. Her relationship with Detective Bell in its very early stages has to be kept secret as it can affect both their jobs. Her attachment to Lucy a little girl in the orphanage is viewed with suspicions causing distress to them both.

A body of a young girl, murdered in the laundry of the hospital begins an investigation which is fraught with difficulties. The Orphanage Matron wants it shoved under the carpet as an accidental death, not bringing any notoriety or press attention. Her focus more than on the safety of her charges, lies more with self preservation and keeping the sponsors happy.

Gemma from within the hospital has a better chance of obtaining clues as to who was responsible and despite the Detectives warning to stay clear, she pursues and gets clues which will link the very basic information they now have.

The murder and detective work was very well depicted, but it is the story of the orphanage its working, its rigidity and regulations that form the heart of the story.

Beautifully written.

I am totally addicted to this series - non stop action and well written - superb !

I just couldn’t put it down, definately a page turner, full of twist's and turns , great characters and full of suspense and excitement

A must read for fans of hysterical mysteries

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

I am still enjoying this series and plan to continue with it as it goes along.

I especially enjoyed the plotline in this one, very twisty and turny and tension filled. As in the previous outing, I still wished for more fleshing out of the heroine, Gemma, but I'm becoming more and more excited and intrigued by how Gemma and Sebastian's relationship will continue to bloom. They are both empathetic and good-hearted characters and are easy to fall in love with and cheer for as they complement the other's abilities in solving crimes. They are a good team and work well together as they each have their own unique strengths and contributions to add to their investigations.

I'm looking forward to seeing where their adventures lead next.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing the free early arc for Murder at the Foundling Hospital for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This is a historical murder/mystery. It's obviously part of a series but the first one I've read. That made no difference to my enjoyment of it. It just made me wish I had read the others. I will be doing that.
Our hero faces a lot of obstacles while he's trying to solve this murder. There are too many people covering their butts. Our heroine is a nurse who is very brave and independent. The story is quite emotional because they are dealing with vulnerable children. I didn't guess the murderer. There are a few possible suspects. There is also a surprising ending.
Very exciting.

4.2 Stars
One Liner: A good mystery

1858
Nurse Gemma Tate is heartbroken to realize that one of her wards in the Foundling Hospital has been killed. Though she trusts Inspector Sebastian Bell to solve the case, Gemma knows there are things he might never find out. She is in a position to access the gossip and secret whispers since she works in the same place.
As new clues emerge, Sebastian and Gemma realize there’s more to the case than a random murder. They need to find the truth soon or the victim may not get justice.
The story comes in Sebastian and Gemma’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
The victim is a young girl (a teen). The official blurb makes it clear but I’m highlighting it again just to be sure. We do get a semi-detailed description as it is necessary for the plot.
Finally, in book three, this becomes a Tate and Bell Mystery with Gemma playing a crucial part in the investigation. The book should work as a standalone.
Since this is a dark mystery (still borderline cozy), the setting has a life of its own. The story takes place between Christmas and New Year; a handful of days, but filled with a lot of investigation. The cold weather, the rigid rules of the Foundling Hospital, the uncertain future of the children, and the bleakness of the murder make the plot atmospheric.
The mystery is revealed in stages, with new information coming out, and most of it does not make sense for the characters since they have yet to connect the dots. Even I couldn’t guess until the characters almost did. The reveal did make sense in a way.
Quite a few leads are pursued to solve the case, and these provide a glimpse into the lives of the unfortunate, the social conditions, and other aspects. Nothing preachy; just showcasing how things were back then.
The ‘romance’ track doesn’t have any progress here due to the time span and the intensity of the case. However, the characters spend some time acknowledging their feelings (to themselves).
The pacing is on the slower side, which cannot be helped. The book demands a steady-paced narrative to let the readers think and explore the details.
There’s a development in the overarching plot which takes the story forward in a new direction. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that this could make Gemma play a more active role in future investigations. I’d like that (even if she tends to get dramatic and reckless at times)
.
To summarize, Murder at the Foundling Hospital is a worthy read for historical mystery fans. Set in Victorian London, it takes us into the dark corners of the city where danger is a constant companion.
I found the blurb for the next one on Amazon and saw that this book has set the foundation for it. Excited to read it!
Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

What can be better than a historical, almost gothic mystery set in England? Only more of the same and this author has it down pat!

I love historical mysteries. There is mystery, murder, intrigue with historical facts peppered into the story which makes it even more interesting.

The death of a child brings Tate and Bell full circle and there is an amazing journey to find the killer. Not to be missed.

26th December 1858. At the Foundling Hospital, the workplace of nurse Gemma Tate, the body of a young girl, Amanda Carter, is discovered drowned in a laundry tub. Matron Holcombe calls on Inspector Sebastian Bell to investigate. Gemma also decides to help.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main characters, supported by a cast of varied personalities. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Irina Shapiro is a consummate storyteller whose books I am thrilled to have found. Murder at the Foundling Hospital is the best yet, with a complex murder that seems impossible to solve. It is also one that has some not wanting it solved because of the bad publicity it would cause to a good orphanage. Not an easy place to live or work but better than many during Victorian times.

Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is still struggling but winning over his demons while Gemma Tate finds it easy to get in over her head. I have grown addictive to this series eagerly waiting for Sebastian and Gemma to become more than close friends. Hopefully the ending to this book will move Sebastian along in that area. I highly recommend this series to all mystery reader fans.

I’m really enjoying this series. Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate are the main characters and I love that there is a hint of romance between them. They both have experienced trauma in their background. This murder takes place at the hospital where Gemma works as a nurse. She is a kind and caring person and finds it difficult to stay detached from the children. This is a complex story with a few possible culprits, it had me guessing until the end. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. However I did preorder my own copy.

This is the third book in Irina Shapiro's Tate and Bell Mystery series, set in London circa 1858-1859 and featuring Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate. This book builds on Gemma's background as a nurse and caregiver, employed at the Foundling Hospital, the scene of a murder of a young girl.

"At first glance, she was just a delicate child, but she was a child on the verge of womanhood who would have invited a very different kind of attention from grown men had she not died so suddenly."

Inspector Bell is once again between a rock and a hard place, with Superintendent Lovell urging him to solve the crime as soon as possible, and the Matron of the hospital with quite different objectives:

"Matron would do everything in her power to thwart the investigation, and even if the truth came to light, the governors would no doubt prefer to deal with the culprit internally and administer their own brand of justice."

The author crafts another dense-plotted mystery with some interesting elements (a mysterious Russian ring, a tiny doll), a quest to discover Amanda's birth mother, and a dynamic ending that pulls everything together in an exciting conclusion.

Again, the author gives modern readers a nuanced insight into how difficult and perilous everyday life was like in Victorian London. The Foundling Hospital employs many former residents who cling to the safety of the familiar, knowing that without such a safety net, their lives would be bleak and short. Even the best alternative to being executed or thrown in prison, being transported to Botany Bay is horrific - "they'd still perished, only much slower as they starved to death or fell victim to illness."

But as the book ends, Gemma has some new employment and a relationship between Sebastian and Gemma seems more likely, and I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series. 5 stars.

Murder and mystery!

The body of a young girl is found in the laundry of the Foundling Hospital where Gemma Tate works as a nurse. The hospital is a place reserved for the illegitimate children of ‘deserving’ mothers.
Detective Inspector Sebastian Bell is summoned.
The matron, Matron Holcombe is effected by the child’s death but highly antagonistic towards Sebastian’s investigations. She and the Board of Directors want the murder swept under the carpet. Any scandal could affect the hospital’s all important donor support.
Sebastian has Gemma help him, albeit quietly.
Eventually the clues that are revealed are puzzling.
It’s only after Gemma is almost killed that the murderer is unmasked
The tale however is complex and murky.
Sebastian is facing pressures from work, as is Gemma.
The Tate and Bell mysteries continue to intrigue, as does the developing relationship between the two.
Another great Victorian mystery read from Shapiro

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

I very much like this kind of story. Again, Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell work together to solve a murder, this time at the Foundling Hospital. The Matron is working against the investigation. Does she have a reason for it? Or is this just behavior due to the rigid rules of the Institution? Several twists happen in the story. The end is quite a surprise.

Murder at the Foundling Hospital is a gripping historical mystery that pulls you into the heart-wrenching world of 19th-century orphanages. Nurse Gemma Tate’s dedication to her young charges shines through as she grapples with the tragic murder of one of the children under her care. Irina Shapiro skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue, and the somber setting of the Foundling Hospital creates a palpable tension that drives the story forward.

The dynamic between Gemma and Inspector Sebastian Bell adds depth to the narrative. Their partnership evolves as they work together to uncover the truth, despite the obstacles posed by the curt matron and the secrets that lie within the hospital’s walls. The introduction of the small wooden doll found with the victim is a haunting detail that propels the mystery and adds layers to the investigation.

Shapiro excels at creating a rich atmosphere filled with emotional depth, and the shadows of the past linger throughout the story, hinting at darker secrets. While the pacing slows in some parts, the unraveling of the mystery kept me engaged, and the twists toward the end were both surprising and satisfying.

Overall, Murder at the Foundling Hospital is an evocative and thrilling read that combines heartbreak with suspense. Fans of historical mysteries will appreciate Shapiro’s ability to blend compelling characters with a captivating plot.

I'm a relative newcomer to Irina Shapiro's writing. I was delighted to see that I was granted an advance reader copy of "Murder at the Foundling Hospital" by NetGalley.
Ms. Shapiro has a wonderful way of portraying both a Victorian era investigation and slow burn romance.
In this novel, Nurse Gemma Tate plays a key roll because the murder takes place at her place of work, the Foundling Hospital. Sebastian Bell is a Scotland Yard detective, and he has to rely on evidence collected by Gemma. At every turn, Sebastian runs into roadblocks perpetrated by the Matron of the home. Interviews are limited, he's not allowed to search key areas, and his general access to records is thwarted.
Shapiro has an intriguing couple as main characters and well represented reoccurring side characters.
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was good, although it was a bit slow. Overall I enjoyed it, especially the second half when it picked up a bit more. Overall, I did enjoy it.

This is the first book of this series that I have read, I therefore don't know the character's back stories but did enjoy reading this book although I don't often read crime fiction. It certainly brings to life the terrible conditions that people lived in during the time of the Crimean war and the lack of options for orphans. I did become engrossed in the book following Gemma and Sebastian as they tried to find the killer of a young girl, with both struggling against the expectations of the time. I will have to one day to go back and read the first two books in the series to find out how they first met and started solving crimes.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

4.75 ⭐ rounded up.

“Love can make one kill just as easily as hate.”

I enjoyed this cozy, period piece murder mystery. From the very first chapter I fell in love with Gemma and Sebastian. Their chemistry was palpable and I love their budding relationship.
Despite this being my first book in the series, I was able to easily follow along and pick up on their past woes. So I got a sense of what their characters were like and that made the book enjoyable for me as well.

The mystery was well crafted and written. It was tense, twisty and uncovers many long buried secrets along the way. Not only was it filled with suspense, but it was also an emotional read at times. I love how I felt transported into 1800s London and how atmospheric this book was.
There was a never a dull moment at all.
I am now mildly obsessed with these characters and can't wait to read more.

Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Irina Shapiro for my eARC of this book.
Pub Date October 21st, 2024.