Gemma is broken-hearted when she learns that one of the young girls at the Foundling Hospital has been killed, and insists on helping police inspector Sebastian find the responsible party. The hospital’s matron puts obstacles in their path at nearly every step, effectively shutting down Sebastian’s investigation, so Gemma must look into things surreptitiously if they want to learn the truth.

This has become one of my new favorite series, and Ms. Shapiro a new favorite author. I love her Redmond and Haze series, and this one is just as good – if not better. I like both Gemma and Sebastian, and the way they work together despite their different backgrounds. I like that he respects her experiences and opinions, unlike many men of their time. They have good people around them, and although we didn’t see much of him in this story, I love Gustav the cat.

There were plenty of twists, turns and red herrings in this book, with plenty of names being added to – and then later removed from – the suspect list. I was on the right track for identifying the culprit, but I had the wrong individual at the top of my list, and didn’t quite have the motive nailed either.

I look forward to reading the next book featuring Gemma and Sebastian, but will probably pick up a Redmond and Haze book while I wait :)

This is book three in the Tate and Bell Mystery series, in this series we follow Nurse Gemma Tate who is devastated by the death of one of her younger nurses. While Gemma has the upmost faith that police inspector Sebastian Bell (such an amazing name), will stop at nothing to uncover the truth of what happened to such a young soul. This book is a curvy, twisty, intricately woven web of lies, deceit, and action-packed thriller full of people's darkest secrets. They will stop at nothing to keep them just that a secret. When Sebastian finds an item in the clutches of the young dead girls' hands, Gemma whose heard whispers of a deadly and shadowy romance will stop at nothing to find out what happened to the nurse within the hospital's haunted walls. As time begins to run out will they solve the crime or will it go unsolved and remain a mystery.

As with all investigations some people will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from coming out, the same is the case in this novel the hospital's Matron fears the loss of her job. Takes it upon herself to begin asking questions raised by the Hospital’s wealthy benefactors, she was quickly closing ranks. DI Bell has a limited open window in which to solve this crime before Matron cuts of his access. Thankfully, he has insider help, in the form of Miss Tate, who is able to covertly assist the Inspector with his enquiries.

Irina Shapiro has an intricate was of writing rich and full of descriptive filled books. The mysterious threads are creatively plotted and historically accurate (which is always a breath of fresh air, when an author has their facts right). This author makes it very complicated to try to guess the villain, with plot twists and red herrings to thrown in to keep you on the top of your sleuth game.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Irina Shapiro for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder at the Foundling Hospital coming out October 21, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m obsessed with this series and this author! I love Sebastian and Gemma’s characters so much and I think they work amazingly together. I was hoping for a little more from them in their personal lives, but they did have a lot going on with this mystery. I loved it! I enjoy the historical backstory and research as well. I’m definitely reading the next book in the series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Victorian mysteries!

So I was completely hooked on this murder mystery by Irina Shapiro.
I couldn't put. It down. The story is fully of character and twists and turns while they try to solve the murder..

This is the 3rd book in the series, but there is enough background given that it can be read as a standalone. Gemma Bell, nurse veteran of Crimea, feels fortunate to find a position as a nurse at a foundling hospital. The rules are strict for both staff and children, so how was Amanda Carter murdered in the laundry in the middle of the night? Sebastion Bell, Scotland Yard Inspector and Gemma's suitor, is called to the scene.
Gemma is already in Matron's black books for favoring young Lucy and even more for attempting to help Sebastion find clues to the murder.
The restrictions on women of the era are strangling, viewed from the present day, and these had been relaxed from earlier!
Between them, Gemma and Sebastion find many suspects, from fellow inmates, teachers, the victims birth family, and jealous rivals of her beauty. As they race to find the culprit before the influential Board of Governers have the investigation shut down, Gemma is in danger of not only being dismissed without a character (a virtual death sentence) but of actual physical danger. The shocking truth of who murdered Amanda and why is a blow to the reputation of the institution and Gemma is the scapegoat.
I love the history, not just of the era, but the odd (to us) customs and restrictions on both men and women. And it is wonderful to see the relationship develop between Gemma and Sebastion, despite their past traumas.
I highly recommend this book and the others before.

Irina Shapiro never disappoints! This murder mystery is filled with intense emotions and perplexing clues. I was truly surprised when the murder’s identity was revealed. It was also a real pleasure to read about the slowly developing relationship between Sebastian and Gemma. I highly recommend this book!

This was a well written, thoughtful thriller. It would help if you had previous in the series, but it stands alone well. The book centres on the murder of a long term resident of an orphanage but the identity of the killer is hard to predict amongst the red herrings making this a proper Victorian murder mystery. The book gives an insight into lives that are blighted by poverty at a time when Britain was one of the most wealthy and powerful nations in the world. All in all, a well worth read

I think this is the last book in the series for me. I read the first two, and each of those were good enough to make me want to read the next, but I'm just not making it through Murder at the Foundling Hospital. It all just feels formulaic and melodramatic. The dialogue and action are what one expects. This may be a result of my being maxed out on this genre, so I'm not posting a critical review where I usually would.

*No spoilers* I always enjoy a good mystery and this book has it all. There’s a perfect amount of mystery and suspense with also enough character development that you are easily drawn in. The fact that I did not guess what occurs in this book is an added bonus. The MMC (Sebastian) and FMC (Gemma) are both very likable yet flawed characters. With the setting taking place at a hospital (orphanage) in London in 1858 the insight to the historical references of what possibly day-to-day life might look like made this an interesting read. If you like reading Victorian fiction and love a good mystery, this is the book for you.

Disclaimer: this is book #3 in this series but it can also be a standalone book in my opinion. I also was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

This is Irina Shapiro at her best!
I've read Book 1, 2, and 3 from this series. I love the characters and the author's vivid descriptions of the Victorian era and this dreary orphanage in London. This historical mystery delves into the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl who lives in the Foundling Hospital. A Tate and Bell mystery, Nurse Gemma Tate works at the Foundling Hospital, and Inspector Sebastian Bell from Scotland Yard have worked together in the past and successfully solved 2 murders. They team up again to try and solve this one. There are many suspects and with Nurse Tate as an insider, she is bound to stumble upon the killer.
I love Ms. Shapiro's historical mysteries! She has a fabulous imagination and the wonderful attention to detail she includes makes one feel as if they are in the story with the characters. None of her plots are repetitive and I look forward to Book 4 in this series if there is one.

If you've read the first two books in this series, you'll enjoy this one, too.

For those who haven't, it's not exactly a cozy mystery, because it's missing the lighter side that usually comes with that. But it's clean, and this has the least gore of the series.

Plot summary: Gemma Tate is working as a nurse at the Foundling Hospital in the late 1800's. a British orphanage. After a child is found murdered, inspector Sebastian Bell, who Gemma has a working relationship, and perhaps a romantic relationship with, is called on to find the killer.

As usual, this is very atmospheric, and the story reads easily. I can't say it was page-turning, but it was certainly enjoyable. I like this mystery better than the other two. I would have liked the romantic part to have progressed more than it did.

I believe I saw somewhere that this was only going to be three parts, but it didn't seem to close that way. I hope there are going to be more.

3.5/5, rounded up to 4.

Book three in this series and just as good as the previous ones. It’s a good detective procedural mystery. It’s a fast moving mystery that kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait to see what Gemma and Sebastian get into next.

Chief Inspector Sebastian Bell was on the case of a murdered young girl at the Foundling Hospital, with Nurse Gemma Tate overwhelmingly grateful the dead girl wasn't Lucy, one she was particularly fond of. Gemma felt terribly guilty for that thought, as one of the other girls was dead at the hands of another. The Chief Inspector was having trouble with the Matron of the facility, as she guarded her records and charges fiercely, but the Inspector was investigating a murder, so needs must. The tub of water in the laundry on Boxing Day, which was where Amanda took her last breath, was now a crime scene, and Sebastian and Gemma were both determined to discover who had taken her life.

With little to go on, Sebastian struggled with his investigation, and once again his superior, Lovell, needed the case solved immediately. But gradually, and with Gemma's help, they found clues, found people to interview, formed opinions - but Sebastian needed factual evidence. Would he find it? Would they find it together before someone else lost their life?

Murder at the Foundling Hospital is the 3rd in the Tate & Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro and it was excellent! Once again Gemma put herself in danger, but she wouldn't be the great character she is, if she didn't. And Sebastian, in London 1858, didn't have the advantages of his current day Scotland Yard investigators. But he does a particularly good job of searching for the perpetrator. I'm very much looking forward to #4! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

Third in the series (but the author catches you up on past events so you don't need to have read the previous two - though I would recommend them!). This one's closer to home, because a girl is found murdered at the Foundling Hospital where Gemma works. The background is beautifully done (including the formidable matron and the children who grew up to become teachers and stayed there).

The supporting cast are great (particularly Sebastian's best friend) and it's lovely to see the relationship between Sebastian and Gemma developing; and it's also good to see Sebastian and Gemma's struggles to come to terms with their past, women's roles in Victorian society, and with internal politics in the police.

Thoroughly good read.

A whodunit after a young girl is found dead in a laundry tub in an orphanage. The detective works with a nurse on the inside to find out what happened.

This is quickly becoming a favorite series for me. I’ve enjoyed each one and look forward to future installments.

As evidenced by its title, this third in the series hits very close to home for Gemma. When a young girl is found murdered at the foundling hospital where Gemma works, her involvement in the case becomes both practical, as an insider to the facility, and personal, as she deals with the emotions of learning the truth about the girl’s death, while worrying about the safety of the other children, notably Lucy, who’s very dear to her heart. Constantly blocked by the formidable matron, who is determined to not bring any negative attention to the hospital, Sebastian relies heavily on Gemma’s help, while worrying for her overall safety and compulsivity. A fear which is shown to have good reason behind it, as Gemma puts her life and livelihood on the line to investigate.

While certainly not a cozy mystery, it does fall short of being oppressively sad or heavy. The plight of children, and unwed mothers, in Victorian London is sobering. You get a real feel for Gemma’s challenges as a single woman struggling to make her way in that time period also, as well as Sebastian’s ongoing internal conflict coping with his emotional demons. The supporting cast of characters was very enjoyable, as always.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love the Victorian period and how it influenced solving the murder of a young girl. Gemma is intelligent, well-spoken, observant, and cares deeply for the children at the Foundling Hospital. However, since she is a woman she must work within this status in society so not to draw attention to herself or possibly lose her job. The dynamic between Gemma and Tate is evolving and has made me want to read the first two books to see where things began. Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read this. I hope to see more of Gemma and Tate in the future.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of “Murder at the Foundling Hospital.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell do solve the case of who killed a young “inmate” of a foundling hospital in 1858 London, but it is a sad victory. For the directors of the hospital just want the case to go away, in fear that the benefactors will stop providing donations. But Gemma and Sebastian had no intention of letting someone get away with murder, and so the investigation proceeds apace, in which both will be threatened with loss of their jobs (Gemma works at the hospital), and Sebastian his own place in the police ranks. This will prove no deterrent, though, as readers of this series well know.

The ending is a bitter success, because even as one involved will see a better life, the death of a fourteen-year-old girl will haunt Gemma forever. Then there are changes in Gemma’s own life that she could not have foreseen, but perhaps, were inevitable as she determined to seek a killer. But author Irina Shapiro has given her a path to follow, and with Sebastian Bell at her side, the future has hope for both.

“Murder at the Foundling Hospital” does not have a “happy go lucky” spirit about it; you will be irritated and angry in turns at the account of life in the foundling hospital AKA orphanage, and the author does not stint in her description of the dismal surroundings or what happened to babies left behind by desperate mothers. But to counter that is the quietly budding relationship of Miss Tate and Mr Bell. These two people are still finding their way with each other, one mourning a beloved brother and the other his wife and son. The narrative does justice to every plotline, and I look forward to future books.

Another exciting installment of this excellent series. Very evocative of its time and place, with likable characters and an intriguing mystery. I was surprised by the denouement, which isn’t often the case - I’m generally pretty good at figuring out who done it. Highly recommended for all fans of the genre.

Nurse Gemma Tate works at the Foundling Hospital, which is the home of orphans. She is horrified to hear that one of the children has been killed. And, with the help of police Inspector Sebastian Bell will work to uncover the truth.
This is a tricky mystery and more than one life will be in danger as they try to find Amanda's killer. This is a a dark, moody and tense mystery. And normally is exactly the type of storyline that I would enjoy. It's well-written, and the characters are fleshed out. However, I found myself struggling to engage with the story.