Mostly Murders

“Died of fright.” Mrs. Harrington’s voice sounds faraway. “The phantom. The Belgravia Phantom.”

Ad/PR. Many thanks to Ellis Blackwood for this ebook.

The Belgravia Phantom is a historical mystery set in Victorian London, featuring the Quill siblings lead by the eldest, Kate Quill, who does her best to keep a roof over her siblings’ heads. When Kate is offered the chance to make money as an assistant at a fake seance, she is reluctant to do so but eventually agrees, only to find herself accused of murder as Lady Dorothea Pemberton drops dead during the so-called spirit session.

A desperate situation, but Kate is not alone. Helped by her younger but quite resourceful siblings, a network of halfstarved street urchins, their benevolent and nosy landlady Mrs McGinty, and the mysterious and very particular chess enthusiast Frederick Page, Kate races against the clock to prove her innocence before the police lock her up as a convenient scapegoat at the insistence of the rich Lord Pemberton.

This is one for readers who enjoy atmospheric, descriptive prose filled with lots of little historical details that will transport you back in time and paint a picture that is both despairing and heartwarming at the same time. The Belgravia Phantom does not hold back in portraying the gritty, grimy streets of London, the crushing despair of poverty, and the sheer magnitude of inequality that was the lot of the commoners, but at the same time also emphasises the wonder of strong women, found family, friendship, and moral integrity.

The characters are interesting and sympathetic and really come to life under Ellis Blackwood’s evocative writing. I found myself particularly drawn to Kate and Mrs McGinty, who are both wonderfully strong, proud, and caring women, but other readers will no doubt find their own favourites in the wild and enterprising Ned and Vi, or the fastidious and mysterious Frederick.

If you enjoy character-driven historical mysteries that are neither too cosy nor too dark, and focus far more on the sleuths than on the suspects, I highly recommend this one.

Historical mystery