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Emma Langley Victorian Mystery #1
The Whitechapel Widow
London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
From the bestselling author of Penny Green comes a spellbinding new Victorian mystery series introducing Emma Langley.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
From the bestselling author of Penny Green comes a spellbinding new Victorian mystery series introducing Emma Langley.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2025
1121 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Emily Organ
72 books654 followersEmily Organ is the author of over thirty historical cozy mysteries set in Victorian and 1920s England. Her bestselling series include the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries, the Augusta Peel Mysteries, and her newest Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries, in which a plucky widow teams up with former reporter Penny Green. She also writes the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mysteries, featuring two spirited senior sleuths. Emily’s books combine warmth, wit, and a love of history, inspired by her fascination with London’s past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Blurb: "London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling discovery: William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
From the bestselling author of Penny Green comes a spellbinding new Victorian mystery series introducing Emma Langley.”
The Plot: The story was quite interesting, especially with how the author tied the murders done by Jack the Ripper to the mystery surrounding Emma Langley’s husband’s murder. (Did that make any sense?) But I will say that the plot was underwhelming. Chapter after chapter, I was waiting for a fight-off or a chase through London’s wet, gloomy streets, but none of that happened. Maybe it’s my fault for having high expectations and thinking it would be like an Enola Holmes film, but I was wrong. I’m not mad about it, but it did take me a good minute to finish the 102 chapters. I will say, though, that I was shocked when I found out who killed William Langley. I was like “No, no. It can’t be so and so. It has to be that person.” And, yet again, I was wrong. 😂 What also turned me off about the story was how I felt like I was a new character in the last season of a show or a new friend in a group that had known each other for years. The author alludes to the previous encounter between Emma and the Blakelys. They referenced many things about their past and I felt like a bystander and not part of their friend group. Besides those things, everything else went on swimmingly. 😊
The Characters: Emma Langley was an okay character. She was smart, kind, and outspoken when the occasion arose. She was, however, kind of boring, naive, and too trusting, but she wasn’t annoying, insufferable, or arrogant. So she gets a thumbs up for not being like other FMCs. 👍 Penny was far more interesting than Emma and I wished I knew that Emily Organ had a whole series on Penny Green’s investigative work as a journalist. But, hey. Better late than never. 😉
The Writing: Emily Organ did a great job creating an eerie environment for her novel, leaving me guessing the entire time. As I said, there are 102 chapters, but they are short, which kept me on my toes. Her writing helped me visualize London and the pubs, offices, and homes, which set the stage for this story and the characters who told it.
Overall Thoughts: Although there were a few things I didn’t like about this book, I enjoyed myself. I can (for the most part) figure out the guilty party in mystery novels, but I am pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have a clue who killed Langley. I plan on reading more of Emily Organ’s novels and am excited for the second installment of this mystery series!
Content Warnings: murder
Thank you to Storm Publishing for gifting me this digital arc. All opinions and statements are my own.
#TheWhitechapelWidow #NetGalley
Blurb: "London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling discovery: William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
From the bestselling author of Penny Green comes a spellbinding new Victorian mystery series introducing Emma Langley.”
The Plot: The story was quite interesting, especially with how the author tied the murders done by Jack the Ripper to the mystery surrounding Emma Langley’s husband’s murder. (Did that make any sense?) But I will say that the plot was underwhelming. Chapter after chapter, I was waiting for a fight-off or a chase through London’s wet, gloomy streets, but none of that happened. Maybe it’s my fault for having high expectations and thinking it would be like an Enola Holmes film, but I was wrong. I’m not mad about it, but it did take me a good minute to finish the 102 chapters. I will say, though, that I was shocked when I found out who killed William Langley. I was like “No, no. It can’t be so and so. It has to be that person.” And, yet again, I was wrong. 😂 What also turned me off about the story was how I felt like I was a new character in the last season of a show or a new friend in a group that had known each other for years. The author alludes to the previous encounter between Emma and the Blakelys. They referenced many things about their past and I felt like a bystander and not part of their friend group. Besides those things, everything else went on swimmingly. 😊
The Characters: Emma Langley was an okay character. She was smart, kind, and outspoken when the occasion arose. She was, however, kind of boring, naive, and too trusting, but she wasn’t annoying, insufferable, or arrogant. So she gets a thumbs up for not being like other FMCs. 👍 Penny was far more interesting than Emma and I wished I knew that Emily Organ had a whole series on Penny Green’s investigative work as a journalist. But, hey. Better late than never. 😉
The Writing: Emily Organ did a great job creating an eerie environment for her novel, leaving me guessing the entire time. As I said, there are 102 chapters, but they are short, which kept me on my toes. Her writing helped me visualize London and the pubs, offices, and homes, which set the stage for this story and the characters who told it.
Overall Thoughts: Although there were a few things I didn’t like about this book, I enjoyed myself. I can (for the most part) figure out the guilty party in mystery novels, but I am pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have a clue who killed Langley. I plan on reading more of Emily Organ’s novels and am excited for the second installment of this mystery series!
Content Warnings: murder
Thank you to Storm Publishing for gifting me this digital arc. All opinions and statements are my own.
#TheWhitechapelWidow #NetGalley
April 7, 2025
The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ
Synopsis /
London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Emily Organ for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading The Whitechapel Widow, because, for the first instalment of a new series, this (not so) little book read like a 200 page cozy.
To be completely honest, when I saw the words 'Jack the Ripper' my interest was immediately piqued. This unidentified serial killer preyed on women in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and private organisations such as the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee were actively involved in the search for the perpetrator or perpetrators. Despite extensive enquiries the murders were never solved. Ever curious, I had questions floating in my mind: Was the author going to incorporate this infamous serial killer into the story? Maybe, there was going to be some sort of parallel thread going on? Was Jack going to be a main focal point?
Whitechapel YAYS:
🔎 The timeline: London 1888. Many people faced harsh working conditions and low wages. Driven by poverty and a lack of opportunity, prostitution was a common reality for many women. There was social and economic unrest, but women found strength in unity, fighting back against poor working conditions. The author has done a noteworthy job with her attention to detail with this timeline.
🔎 The characters: Disclaimer – this is my first read by this author. Even though this is the first book in the 'Emma Langley' series, I didn't click that the character of Penny Green (who plays a secondary role to Emma throughout the mid to second half of the book) has her own mystery series. And indeed, in one of those stories, had helped solve the murder of Emma Langley's own brother. Although I don't think it marred my reading experience, I now find myself wanting to go back and source out that story and indeed, read Ms Green's series in its entirety. Our FMCs, Emma and Penny are sensible, inquisitive, intelligent, compassionate women, who are very likeable and very relatable.
🔎 The pace: At some 400+ pages, I flew through this one very quickly. My initial thoughts about a Jack the Ripper story were quickly replaced by a totally different historical-mystery that was well-written and deeply engrossing.
🔎 The story: Newly married, Emma Langley is on a train bound for a life in the country with her husband, William. Just before the train is set to depart, William rushes out of the carriage telling Emma that he just wants to buy a paper from the seller for the trip. The train whistle is blowing and the guard is yelling for last minute passengers to board and Emma is watching her husband run towards the paper seller. In the throng of the crowd, with passengers trying to board and loved ones waving to send off, Emma loses sight of her husband and in the next moment the train starts to pull away from the platform. That was the last time Emma sees her husband alive.
🔎 The page count is indicative of the slow release of suspects and motives but for this reader, did nothing to dampen the story's pacing – it moved well.
Whitechapel Hmms:
🔪 At the conclusion of this instalment, this reader thought that the mention of anything 'Jack the Ripper' was unnecessary. I don't think it hurt the story any, yet it didn't enhance it either. But I will acknowledge that it did draw me to pick the book up in the first place, so there is that.
It will be interesting to see how this series continues, but in the meantime, this reader is joyful in the knowledge that there is now a back catalogue of Emily Organ books to entertain me.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Synopsis /
London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.
London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.
As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.
But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Emily Organ for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading The Whitechapel Widow, because, for the first instalment of a new series, this (not so) little book read like a 200 page cozy.
To be completely honest, when I saw the words 'Jack the Ripper' my interest was immediately piqued. This unidentified serial killer preyed on women in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and private organisations such as the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee were actively involved in the search for the perpetrator or perpetrators. Despite extensive enquiries the murders were never solved. Ever curious, I had questions floating in my mind: Was the author going to incorporate this infamous serial killer into the story? Maybe, there was going to be some sort of parallel thread going on? Was Jack going to be a main focal point?
Whitechapel YAYS:
🔎 The timeline: London 1888. Many people faced harsh working conditions and low wages. Driven by poverty and a lack of opportunity, prostitution was a common reality for many women. There was social and economic unrest, but women found strength in unity, fighting back against poor working conditions. The author has done a noteworthy job with her attention to detail with this timeline.
🔎 The characters: Disclaimer – this is my first read by this author. Even though this is the first book in the 'Emma Langley' series, I didn't click that the character of Penny Green (who plays a secondary role to Emma throughout the mid to second half of the book) has her own mystery series. And indeed, in one of those stories, had helped solve the murder of Emma Langley's own brother. Although I don't think it marred my reading experience, I now find myself wanting to go back and source out that story and indeed, read Ms Green's series in its entirety. Our FMCs, Emma and Penny are sensible, inquisitive, intelligent, compassionate women, who are very likeable and very relatable.
🔎 The pace: At some 400+ pages, I flew through this one very quickly. My initial thoughts about a Jack the Ripper story were quickly replaced by a totally different historical-mystery that was well-written and deeply engrossing.
🔎 The story: Newly married, Emma Langley is on a train bound for a life in the country with her husband, William. Just before the train is set to depart, William rushes out of the carriage telling Emma that he just wants to buy a paper from the seller for the trip. The train whistle is blowing and the guard is yelling for last minute passengers to board and Emma is watching her husband run towards the paper seller. In the throng of the crowd, with passengers trying to board and loved ones waving to send off, Emma loses sight of her husband and in the next moment the train starts to pull away from the platform. That was the last time Emma sees her husband alive.
🔎 The page count is indicative of the slow release of suspects and motives but for this reader, did nothing to dampen the story's pacing – it moved well.
Whitechapel Hmms:
🔪 At the conclusion of this instalment, this reader thought that the mention of anything 'Jack the Ripper' was unnecessary. I don't think it hurt the story any, yet it didn't enhance it either. But I will acknowledge that it did draw me to pick the book up in the first place, so there is that.
It will be interesting to see how this series continues, but in the meantime, this reader is joyful in the knowledge that there is now a back catalogue of Emily Organ books to entertain me.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read
February 20, 2025Could Emma’s husband be Jack the Ripper?
The Whitechapel Widow is set in London of Jack the Ripper. The story opens when Emma Langley’s husband, shortly before their train departs, goes to buy a newspaper. He never returns. In the 1880s there were no mobile phones, so Emma journeys on in the hope her husband will join her at the destination. He never does. Indeed, she never sees him alive again.
The setup has the intrigue of a locked room mystery as events unravel such that Emma realises she hardly knows her husband, who has a secret life. The unanswered questions build layer on layer when her husband is found murdered and the police question his widow about his movements. Unexplained absences start to add up to a chilling possibility, and the widowed Mrs Langley starts to wonder if the husband could actually be Jack the Ripper.
This is the first book I’ve read by Emily Organ (great name!). Emma teamed up with Penny Green, a former reporter who (according to the edicts of Victorian society) can no longer work as she is a wife and mother. The story can be read as standalone book but it seems Penny has featured in her own series of books – so an interesting cross pollination of characters..
My favourite part (apart from the great premise of “Could my husband be Jack the Ripper”, was the tantalizing glimpse behind the “Dear Boss”, letters. The latter had me wanting the author pan out and show the hand holding the pen. I would describe this as a cosy Victorian murder mystery and will be enjoyed by those seeking an escapist, but not too taxing, read.
The Whitechapel Widow is set in London of Jack the Ripper. The story opens when Emma Langley’s husband, shortly before their train departs, goes to buy a newspaper. He never returns. In the 1880s there were no mobile phones, so Emma journeys on in the hope her husband will join her at the destination. He never does. Indeed, she never sees him alive again.
The setup has the intrigue of a locked room mystery as events unravel such that Emma realises she hardly knows her husband, who has a secret life. The unanswered questions build layer on layer when her husband is found murdered and the police question his widow about his movements. Unexplained absences start to add up to a chilling possibility, and the widowed Mrs Langley starts to wonder if the husband could actually be Jack the Ripper.
This is the first book I’ve read by Emily Organ (great name!). Emma teamed up with Penny Green, a former reporter who (according to the edicts of Victorian society) can no longer work as she is a wife and mother. The story can be read as standalone book but it seems Penny has featured in her own series of books – so an interesting cross pollination of characters..
My favourite part (apart from the great premise of “Could my husband be Jack the Ripper”, was the tantalizing glimpse behind the “Dear Boss”, letters. The latter had me wanting the author pan out and show the hand holding the pen. I would describe this as a cosy Victorian murder mystery and will be enjoyed by those seeking an escapist, but not too taxing, read.
March 19, 2025
I hadn't previously read anything by Emily Organ, so this was a good introduction to her writing.
The Whitechapel Widow is an historical mystery, and a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.
Having just wed four months previously, Emma Langley is looking forward to starting a new life with her husband William, in the Suffolk countryside. However, on the morning they are due to depart, William disappears. He is later found dead near Whitechapel. As she attempts to find out what William was doing in the East End, Emma realises she really didn't know her husband at all.
I loved this book, set as it is against the backdrop of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. There are several references to the Ripper, and the funeral of Mary Kelly is mentioned. This combination of real events alongside the fictional tale of Emma Langley, makes for an engaging read.
The story is fast paced and twisty, and there are a host of unsavoury characters. Emma Langley comes across as quite naive, but she proves to have hidden strengths.
If historical crime fiction is your cup of tea, I would recommend The Whitechapel Widow.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
This title will be available on 27/03/2025.
The Whitechapel Widow is an historical mystery, and a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.
Having just wed four months previously, Emma Langley is looking forward to starting a new life with her husband William, in the Suffolk countryside. However, on the morning they are due to depart, William disappears. He is later found dead near Whitechapel. As she attempts to find out what William was doing in the East End, Emma realises she really didn't know her husband at all.
I loved this book, set as it is against the backdrop of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. There are several references to the Ripper, and the funeral of Mary Kelly is mentioned. This combination of real events alongside the fictional tale of Emma Langley, makes for an engaging read.
The story is fast paced and twisty, and there are a host of unsavoury characters. Emma Langley comes across as quite naive, but she proves to have hidden strengths.
If historical crime fiction is your cup of tea, I would recommend The Whitechapel Widow.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
This title will be available on 27/03/2025.
March 14, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.
This is a spin-off of the author's Penny Green series. I haven't read those novels and hadn't even heard of this author until I found this book on NetGalley (and am so glad that I did), and you don't miss anything from not reading that series first. Other than the fact, that, if they are anything like this novel, they are amazing cozy mysteries. Side note, I kinda hate Penny's husband.
Emma has only been married for a couple months to a wonderful man when he is suddenly married. After he dies, she finds out that he was, in fact, not wonderful. He was so horrible she is afraid he might actually be Jack the Ripper.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book! Adding the Penny Green series to my to read list, not that it doesn't already have about a million books on it! Definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical cozy mysteries.
This is a spin-off of the author's Penny Green series. I haven't read those novels and hadn't even heard of this author until I found this book on NetGalley (and am so glad that I did), and you don't miss anything from not reading that series first. Other than the fact, that, if they are anything like this novel, they are amazing cozy mysteries. Side note, I kinda hate Penny's husband.
Emma has only been married for a couple months to a wonderful man when he is suddenly married. After he dies, she finds out that he was, in fact, not wonderful. He was so horrible she is afraid he might actually be Jack the Ripper.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book! Adding the Penny Green series to my to read list, not that it doesn't already have about a million books on it! Definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical cozy mysteries.
March 27, 2025
Disappearing husband!
When Emma Langley’s husband fails to get on the train, having hopped off to buy a newspaper, she’s alarmed. What has held him up? They have decided to move out of London and relocate in Suffolk close to where William’s aunt lives.
When Emma reaches Lavenham she leaves her luggage at the station and catches a return train back to London hoping to find William. That doesn’t work out so she returns once more to Lavenham only to find there is no aunt’s house. She stays at the local inn overnight. Puzzled and distressed Emma journeys back to Liverpool Station, London once again and is taken in by her kindly previous landlady.
Together they report her missing husband to the police who open up the possibility that William has deliberately planned his disappearance.
More distressing news follows when William is found murdered. His death pushes open the door to his perfidy, which Emma discovers more of as she continues to investigate aided by ex reporter Penny Green.
Tied up in this are letters written in red ink to various people pertaining to be from Jack the Ripper. Emma is pursuing a dangerous route than runs from high society to seedy gambling joints.
An enquiring Victorian mystery that satisfies.
A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
When Emma Langley’s husband fails to get on the train, having hopped off to buy a newspaper, she’s alarmed. What has held him up? They have decided to move out of London and relocate in Suffolk close to where William’s aunt lives.
When Emma reaches Lavenham she leaves her luggage at the station and catches a return train back to London hoping to find William. That doesn’t work out so she returns once more to Lavenham only to find there is no aunt’s house. She stays at the local inn overnight. Puzzled and distressed Emma journeys back to Liverpool Station, London once again and is taken in by her kindly previous landlady.
Together they report her missing husband to the police who open up the possibility that William has deliberately planned his disappearance.
More distressing news follows when William is found murdered. His death pushes open the door to his perfidy, which Emma discovers more of as she continues to investigate aided by ex reporter Penny Green.
Tied up in this are letters written in red ink to various people pertaining to be from Jack the Ripper. Emma is pursuing a dangerous route than runs from high society to seedy gambling joints.
An enquiring Victorian mystery that satisfies.
A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
April 9, 2025
Wonderful
It has been awhile since I have read an Emily Organ book and I am reminded what a fun read they are. I love her characters as well as her descriptions of a bygone London. This story involves a recent widow and a new mother (formerly a reporter) who work together to solve a murder. Give it a try!
It has been awhile since I have read an Emily Organ book and I am reminded what a fun read they are. I love her characters as well as her descriptions of a bygone London. This story involves a recent widow and a new mother (formerly a reporter) who work together to solve a murder. Give it a try!
April 2, 2025
This novel begins with Emily and her husband William leaving London, in the grips of Jack the Ripper murders, for a new life in Suffolk. At the last moment, William steps off the train, obstensively to get a newspaper, and disappears.
Emily moves from hope in finding her husband, to despair as she learns he was not the person she thought him to be, to desperation that he might actually BE Jack the Ripper, and then to sheer determination to uncover his killer. Along the way Emily acquires the help of Penny Green (who is the heroine of Organ's 12 book series "A Penny Green Victorian Mystery").
The book has good bones, but at 414 pages on Kindle, the plot is bloated and the pace very slow. I found myself moving ahead to see if the action picked up, but kept on snagging on dialog that filled pages but did not move the story forward. For example, Emily introduces Penny to her landlord (who does not figure in the plot in any way):
We are given a lot of suspects, much intrigue and subterfuge, and for me, the conclusion felt anticlimatic. But, your results may vary. Personally, the story was too unfocused and didn't hold my attention. 3 stars.
I received an ARC from Storm Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Emily moves from hope in finding her husband, to despair as she learns he was not the person she thought him to be, to desperation that he might actually BE Jack the Ripper, and then to sheer determination to uncover his killer. Along the way Emily acquires the help of Penny Green (who is the heroine of Organ's 12 book series "A Penny Green Victorian Mystery").
The book has good bones, but at 414 pages on Kindle, the plot is bloated and the pace very slow. I found myself moving ahead to see if the action picked up, but kept on snagging on dialog that filled pages but did not move the story forward. For example, Emily introduces Penny to her landlord (who does not figure in the plot in any way):
You have a delightful cat, said Penny.
Well, he's a bit of a nuisance really, but I love him all the same. I have to brush him every day otherwise his fur becomes all tangled up.
What's his name?
Laurence.
I have a cat, too, she's called Tiger. When I lived in a garret room in Cripplegate, she used to wander about the rooftops.
Goodness me, that sounds quite dangerous!
Fortunately, she was fine, and she has a little garden now.
How lovely. Now go and have you chat together, I'm quite sure you didn't come here to talk about cats with me!
We are given a lot of suspects, much intrigue and subterfuge, and for me, the conclusion felt anticlimatic. But, your results may vary. Personally, the story was too unfocused and didn't hold my attention. 3 stars.
I received an ARC from Storm Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2025
With numerous requests for reviews, I have discovered several authors I really enjoy who I did not know of a year ago. One of those is Emily Organ. I first came upon her writing in Limelight and decided to try her other works. What I didn’t know going into this book is that it builds on the characters that were in Limelight and other books in that series, centered around a female journalist in the late 19th century by the name of Penny Green. Yes, Penny Green is back in The Whitechapel Widow. Now a wife and a mother, she’s been limited by trying to do everything at a time when married women weren’t supposed to have careers.
Emma Langley and her husband, William, are on a train in Liverpool Station. They are about to embark on a new life in Suffolk, where William has relatives. William tells Emma he needs to step off the train for a moment, and vanishes. Emma goes back and forth to Suffolk, where she learns no one heard of William’s Aunt, nor the house she supposedly lived in. Frustrated, Emma returns to London. However, she has no home to return to and no money with her to rent a room. Her former landlords are sympathetic and take her in.
Emma begins to search for her husband, whom she considers missing at this point. There are hints that Emma didn’t know William as well as she thought she did. Desperate for answers, she turns to Penny Green (now Penny Blakely), who helped Emma out years before when her brother was murdered. Now a wife and mother, Penny has been trying to do it all at home while her husband, Scotland Yard Detective James Blakely, has urged her to hire some help around the house and to care for their two children. The mystery of Emma’s spouse intrigues Penny enough to the point that she hires a housekeeper/Nanny in short order so she can work on the mystery of who William Langley really is and what happened to him.
Penny and Emma bond as friends. Along the way, they are treated poorly by just about everyone. The police dismiss them as being too emotional and delicate. When William’s body turns up, it’s all the more of a mystery, but the police are dealing with the Jack the Ripper murders at the same time, so they aren’t all that concerned about William’s murder.
To read my complete review please go to The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ – Exploring Women’s Roles in Victorian London
Emma Langley and her husband, William, are on a train in Liverpool Station. They are about to embark on a new life in Suffolk, where William has relatives. William tells Emma he needs to step off the train for a moment, and vanishes. Emma goes back and forth to Suffolk, where she learns no one heard of William’s Aunt, nor the house she supposedly lived in. Frustrated, Emma returns to London. However, she has no home to return to and no money with her to rent a room. Her former landlords are sympathetic and take her in.
Emma begins to search for her husband, whom she considers missing at this point. There are hints that Emma didn’t know William as well as she thought she did. Desperate for answers, she turns to Penny Green (now Penny Blakely), who helped Emma out years before when her brother was murdered. Now a wife and mother, Penny has been trying to do it all at home while her husband, Scotland Yard Detective James Blakely, has urged her to hire some help around the house and to care for their two children. The mystery of Emma’s spouse intrigues Penny enough to the point that she hires a housekeeper/Nanny in short order so she can work on the mystery of who William Langley really is and what happened to him.
Penny and Emma bond as friends. Along the way, they are treated poorly by just about everyone. The police dismiss them as being too emotional and delicate. When William’s body turns up, it’s all the more of a mystery, but the police are dealing with the Jack the Ripper murders at the same time, so they aren’t all that concerned about William’s murder.
To read my complete review please go to The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ – Exploring Women’s Roles in Victorian London
March 19, 2025
The story begins at Liverpool Street Train Station, Emma Langley believes she is on the verge of moving to bucolic Suffolk to begin her new life. Her husband pops out of the train to buy a newspaper, disappears and is later found murdered in a cab in Whitechapel. This is the time when Jack the Ripper cast his shadow over the East End of London. Emma hadn't been married long and soon discovers her husband had many secrets, he was a womaniser, a gambler and possibly even Jack the Ripper himself. He'd married her for her inheritance that he'd squandered.
Emma teams up with Penny Blakely (née Green), who had been a pioneering woman reporter until marriage, motherhood and Victorian sensibilities closed that career to her. The pair venture into the dangerous East End back alleys trying to piece together the mystery of Emma's husband's murder, interviewing a number of colourful characters.
The pacing is good, building to a dramatic finale. The historical detail of late Victorian London feels authentic and is very atmospheric with the rain, the fog, the dark alleys, the barefoot street urchins and the busy horse drawn traffic.
This is the first book in a new series, it will be interesting to see how it continues, and how Emma Langley can solve mysteries with the many restrictions faced by respectable women at the time.
Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advance reader copy, I leave this review voluntarily.
Emma teams up with Penny Blakely (née Green), who had been a pioneering woman reporter until marriage, motherhood and Victorian sensibilities closed that career to her. The pair venture into the dangerous East End back alleys trying to piece together the mystery of Emma's husband's murder, interviewing a number of colourful characters.
The pacing is good, building to a dramatic finale. The historical detail of late Victorian London feels authentic and is very atmospheric with the rain, the fog, the dark alleys, the barefoot street urchins and the busy horse drawn traffic.
This is the first book in a new series, it will be interesting to see how it continues, and how Emma Langley can solve mysteries with the many restrictions faced by respectable women at the time.
Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advance reader copy, I leave this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2025
I received this arc from NetGalley and Storm Publishing. This book is set in London during the time of Jack the Ripper and focuses on recently widowed Emma Langley. She is shocked after her husband, William, was found murdered, but that shock soon intensifies as she comes to realize that she may not have known the man she married. And she even begins to ask herself if her own husband could have been Jack the Ripper. Emma knows that the police are very busy trying to solve the mystery of who Jack the Ripper is and realizes that her husband’s case is just not a priority for them, so she tracks down a former reporter named Penny Green, who has actually helped solve a few cases for the police in the past, and requests her help to track down the person that murdered William. As Emma and Penny dig deeper into the mystery of who William really was and what secrets he had been hiding, Emma herself realizes that someone is watching her from the shadows, and that whoever murdered her husband may be coming after her next!
I love a good mystery, and I especially love a good mystery that leaves me guessing until the very end. And this story definitely delivered. I can’t wait to read the next book to see what mystery Emma will be solving next! Be sure to grab your copy of this fun mystery when it releases on March 27th!
I love a good mystery, and I especially love a good mystery that leaves me guessing until the very end. And this story definitely delivered. I can’t wait to read the next book to see what mystery Emma will be solving next! Be sure to grab your copy of this fun mystery when it releases on March 27th!
March 7, 2025
Note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review of the book.
Emma Langley’s world is turned upside down when her husband misses their train to start their new lives. Did he take too long at the newsstand line? Did he run away to another woman? Could he be the already infamous Jack the Ripper terrorizing London?
Follow along on Emma’s journey where she and her new friend Penny, an ex investigative reporter, try to piece together the timeline and solve the mystery of who Emma really married.
This was my first read by Emily Organ and it won’t be my last. If you enjoy a historical fiction meets Nancy Drew in episodic form books then this one is a fun option. While nothing is ground breaking in the book it was a fun read that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the friendship between Emma and Penny and their strong willed mentalities in the midst of a very un-feminist era.
Emma Langley’s world is turned upside down when her husband misses their train to start their new lives. Did he take too long at the newsstand line? Did he run away to another woman? Could he be the already infamous Jack the Ripper terrorizing London?
Follow along on Emma’s journey where she and her new friend Penny, an ex investigative reporter, try to piece together the timeline and solve the mystery of who Emma really married.
This was my first read by Emily Organ and it won’t be my last. If you enjoy a historical fiction meets Nancy Drew in episodic form books then this one is a fun option. While nothing is ground breaking in the book it was a fun read that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the friendship between Emma and Penny and their strong willed mentalities in the midst of a very un-feminist era.
April 9, 2025
This was my first Emily Organ read and it definitely won't be my last! I can't quite put my finger on what it is that sets it apart from a lot of the Victorian mysteries out there but I'll try.
It was well written and the mysteries kept coming in twists turns and curves. The Victorian era was very well written and the research thoroughly done there. The history and facts that were woven into the story were spot on and cleverly inserted.
The characters were quite true to the era too which is, I think, what was different. Emma Langley, a lady of her time, had fainting spells, was scared and unsure of herself and didn't leap from one genius thought to the other. She wasn't a Victorian lady equivalent of Bruce Willis or the type of heroine who had thoughts beyond her time, even when most writers portray their characters with modern traits and thinking. The other characters who were genuine still had the 'A woman's place is in the home' attitude which was classic to the time. There wasn't a huge disaster when it came to apprehending the villains with scores of fighting and huge take-downs but it was genuinely what it might have been at the time.
It was a genuinely enjoyable book with some great characters and I'm delighted to think it may have been the first of a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
It was well written and the mysteries kept coming in twists turns and curves. The Victorian era was very well written and the research thoroughly done there. The history and facts that were woven into the story were spot on and cleverly inserted.
The characters were quite true to the era too which is, I think, what was different. Emma Langley, a lady of her time, had fainting spells, was scared and unsure of herself and didn't leap from one genius thought to the other. She wasn't a Victorian lady equivalent of Bruce Willis or the type of heroine who had thoughts beyond her time, even when most writers portray their characters with modern traits and thinking. The other characters who were genuine still had the 'A woman's place is in the home' attitude which was classic to the time. There wasn't a huge disaster when it came to apprehending the villains with scores of fighting and huge take-downs but it was genuinely what it might have been at the time.
It was a genuinely enjoyable book with some great characters and I'm delighted to think it may have been the first of a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2025
BOOK: THE WHITE CHAPEL WIDOW
AUTHOR: EMILY ORGAN
PUB DATE: MARCH 2025
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
THINGS I LIKED
1. I liked the FMC, Emma, and Penny. They had good personalities.
2. I liked the setting and storyline of the book, but it fell flat.
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The book was too slow. There was no reason for it to be 356 pages
2. I expected to know a lot of things about William Langley, Emma's dead husband, but I was disappointed. The book didn't really cover much about him. It's like the mystery concerning him will be continued in the next book in the series.
3. Emma was an okay detective, but it felt far-fetched considering her background and history. I just couldn't believe she would be as good as that at her first try.
4. Again, it felt too long and slow for me
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
I didn't really like this book, but I would still like to give Emma Langley another chance.
AUTHOR: EMILY ORGAN
PUB DATE: MARCH 2025
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
THINGS I LIKED
1. I liked the FMC, Emma, and Penny. They had good personalities.
2. I liked the setting and storyline of the book, but it fell flat.
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The book was too slow. There was no reason for it to be 356 pages
2. I expected to know a lot of things about William Langley, Emma's dead husband, but I was disappointed. The book didn't really cover much about him. It's like the mystery concerning him will be continued in the next book in the series.
3. Emma was an okay detective, but it felt far-fetched considering her background and history. I just couldn't believe she would be as good as that at her first try.
4. Again, it felt too long and slow for me
🕵🏼♀️🕵🏼♀️
I didn't really like this book, but I would still like to give Emma Langley another chance.
March 5, 2025
This book is perfect for readers looking for a historical mystery which tackles Jack the ripper in a way that it is not the main mystery,
It has short chapters, many twists and turns and some shady characters as well as reliable ones.
It is historically accurate on a lot of things such as places, but in a way that it is not overwhelming.
Because i found it slow paced and hard to get into, the book wasn’t for me but I really do believe many people will find it enjoyable and entertaining.
It has short chapters, many twists and turns and some shady characters as well as reliable ones.
It is historically accurate on a lot of things such as places, but in a way that it is not overwhelming.
Because i found it slow paced and hard to get into, the book wasn’t for me but I really do believe many people will find it enjoyable and entertaining.
August 1, 2025
surprising
I have read the Penny Green, the Augusta Peele and the Churchill and Pemberley series and enjoyed them immensely. When I saw that there was a new to me series I was looking forward to it. I didn’t like this book. I didn’t like the main character. The book seemed to plod along. I guessed the villains early.
I have read the Penny Green, the Augusta Peele and the Churchill and Pemberley series and enjoyed them immensely. When I saw that there was a new to me series I was looking forward to it. I didn’t like this book. I didn’t like the main character. The book seemed to plod along. I guessed the villains early.
April 1, 2025
Lacking....
It was difficult to really care what happened to any of the characters except the children and an occasional side character. I became bored with the primary character of Mrs Langley and her naivety. Would not recommend spending one's time on this book,
It was difficult to really care what happened to any of the characters except the children and an occasional side character. I became bored with the primary character of Mrs Langley and her naivety. Would not recommend spending one's time on this book,
July 22, 2025
I liked the beginning but I lost interest. It felt a little cheap to have so much focus on Jack the Ripper without it being an actual part of the plot. Why spending all that time reading the Ripper letters if it’s not needed for the story? Meh, and I'm moving on.
March 17, 2025
A historical mystery that kept my attention and was generally enjoyable. I would have liked to see a bit deeper into the characters themselves and felt a bit teased by the Ripper of it all.
August 12, 2025
Not a bad mystery with several twists but I do get so tired of the street directions of their trips here and there.
September 1, 2025
Thoughts 🧠
The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ completely drew me in from the start. I have read Emily Organ before, but this novel introduced me to a new layer of her storytelling by linking back to characters from the Penny Green series. Emma Langley is a recently widowed young woman, thrust into a world she didn’t truly know existed. The story is part historical mystery, part character-driven drama, and it is packed with suspense, twists, and richly detailed Victorian London.
Summary 📝
Emma’s husband, William, disappears during a train trip, and when she tries to follow him to Suffolk, she discovers the house he spoke of does not exist and no one knows the family he claimed. Left stranded and broke in London, Emma must piece together the truth about her husband, whose life was far more complicated than she realized. Desperate for answers, she turns to Penny Green, now Penny Blakely, former reporter and current mother navigating her own domestic life. Together, Emma and Penny uncover a web of lies, blackmail, and murder that stretches from London’s upper class to the East End’s darkest alleys.
What I Loved
The Victorian London setting is immersive and atmospheric. Organ captures the gas-lit streets, shadowy alleys, and bustling city life with precision, making it easy to feel like you are walking alongside Emma. Emma herself is a relatable and human protagonist. She is intelligent and curious but also vulnerable and naive, which makes her growth throughout the story satisfying to follow. Penny is a perfect complement, quick-witted and determined, and their partnership is a highlight of the novel.
The mystery is compelling and well-paced. The story is full of red herrings, multiple suspects, and unexpected revelations that kept me guessing until the very end. The way Organ weaves in the backdrop of the Jack the Ripper murders adds tension and historical realism, but the focus remains on Emma and Penny’s investigation.
Overall Thoughts
This is a smart, suspenseful, and engaging historical mystery. It balances character development, atmosphere, and a twisting plot perfectly. The story also highlights the limitations placed on women of the era while showing them finding ways to use their intelligence and agency. I can see this being the start of a captivating series, and I am very excited to see more from Emma and Penny in future installments.
The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ completely drew me in from the start. I have read Emily Organ before, but this novel introduced me to a new layer of her storytelling by linking back to characters from the Penny Green series. Emma Langley is a recently widowed young woman, thrust into a world she didn’t truly know existed. The story is part historical mystery, part character-driven drama, and it is packed with suspense, twists, and richly detailed Victorian London.
Summary 📝
Emma’s husband, William, disappears during a train trip, and when she tries to follow him to Suffolk, she discovers the house he spoke of does not exist and no one knows the family he claimed. Left stranded and broke in London, Emma must piece together the truth about her husband, whose life was far more complicated than she realized. Desperate for answers, she turns to Penny Green, now Penny Blakely, former reporter and current mother navigating her own domestic life. Together, Emma and Penny uncover a web of lies, blackmail, and murder that stretches from London’s upper class to the East End’s darkest alleys.
What I Loved
The Victorian London setting is immersive and atmospheric. Organ captures the gas-lit streets, shadowy alleys, and bustling city life with precision, making it easy to feel like you are walking alongside Emma. Emma herself is a relatable and human protagonist. She is intelligent and curious but also vulnerable and naive, which makes her growth throughout the story satisfying to follow. Penny is a perfect complement, quick-witted and determined, and their partnership is a highlight of the novel.
The mystery is compelling and well-paced. The story is full of red herrings, multiple suspects, and unexpected revelations that kept me guessing until the very end. The way Organ weaves in the backdrop of the Jack the Ripper murders adds tension and historical realism, but the focus remains on Emma and Penny’s investigation.
Overall Thoughts
This is a smart, suspenseful, and engaging historical mystery. It balances character development, atmosphere, and a twisting plot perfectly. The story also highlights the limitations placed on women of the era while showing them finding ways to use their intelligence and agency. I can see this being the start of a captivating series, and I am very excited to see more from Emma and Penny in future installments.
May 3, 2025
I received a free copy of the novel via NetGalley thanks to Storm Publishing, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The 19th century London, terrified of the horrors of Jack the Ripper, provides the perfect backdrop for Emily Organ's novel, which is at once a crime thriller, historical fiction, and character-based drama. "The Whitechapel Widow" pulled me in from the start with the way the author wove the serial killer's murder mystery into a personal tragedy – the mysterious death of Emma Langley's husband.
Emma's character is likeable and human. She is smart, kind, and if necessary, outspoken – yet naive and trusting, but never becomes annoying or arrogant. Such balance is rare. Penny Green, the former reporter, brings energy to the story: she's a quick-witted, unconventional thinker who's always in the right place at the right time. It was also very interesting to read about the dynamic between her and her husband. Though from a 21st century feminist perspective, I did not agree with all of his actions, given the context of the era, Penny's husband comes across as a rather progressive man.
One of the strongest elements of the book is its atmosphere. Emily Organ does an excellent job of building up the dark, haunting, yet lively London milieu. The descriptions of the streets, the pubs, the solicitors' offices, and the characters' homes are almost cinematic – it really felt like I was walking under the gas lamps or down a dank alleyway.
The short but many chapters give the book a brisk pace and maintain the suspense throughout. I particularly liked the fact that we could follow the events from several characters' points of view – it made the story more nuanced and helped us to see the context better.
As I was investigating with Emma, I repeatedly thought I knew who the killer was – but then another twist, a new witness, or a secret from her husband's past, put everything in a new light. The ending was a complete surprise. I had a few good guesses, but in the end I couldn't find out who was behind it all.
Overall, "The Whitechapel Widow" is a gripping, well-constructed historical crime novel with strong characters, a tense atmosphere and surprising twists. Anyone who likes mysteries and slowly unfolding secrets should pick up this novel.
The 19th century London, terrified of the horrors of Jack the Ripper, provides the perfect backdrop for Emily Organ's novel, which is at once a crime thriller, historical fiction, and character-based drama. "The Whitechapel Widow" pulled me in from the start with the way the author wove the serial killer's murder mystery into a personal tragedy – the mysterious death of Emma Langley's husband.
Emma's character is likeable and human. She is smart, kind, and if necessary, outspoken – yet naive and trusting, but never becomes annoying or arrogant. Such balance is rare. Penny Green, the former reporter, brings energy to the story: she's a quick-witted, unconventional thinker who's always in the right place at the right time. It was also very interesting to read about the dynamic between her and her husband. Though from a 21st century feminist perspective, I did not agree with all of his actions, given the context of the era, Penny's husband comes across as a rather progressive man.
One of the strongest elements of the book is its atmosphere. Emily Organ does an excellent job of building up the dark, haunting, yet lively London milieu. The descriptions of the streets, the pubs, the solicitors' offices, and the characters' homes are almost cinematic – it really felt like I was walking under the gas lamps or down a dank alleyway.
The short but many chapters give the book a brisk pace and maintain the suspense throughout. I particularly liked the fact that we could follow the events from several characters' points of view – it made the story more nuanced and helped us to see the context better.
As I was investigating with Emma, I repeatedly thought I knew who the killer was – but then another twist, a new witness, or a secret from her husband's past, put everything in a new light. The ending was a complete surprise. I had a few good guesses, but in the end I couldn't find out who was behind it all.
Overall, "The Whitechapel Widow" is a gripping, well-constructed historical crime novel with strong characters, a tense atmosphere and surprising twists. Anyone who likes mysteries and slowly unfolding secrets should pick up this novel.
March 25, 2025
I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of The Whitechapel Widow. All opinions and comments are my own.
Emma Langley and her husband were supposed to be on to a wonderful new chapter in their life, away from congested London. But very soon it’s apparent that the husband has run off and left her. And young women have been turning up dead in Jack the Ripper’s old hunting grounds. Is it possible that her husband…? And very shortly, his body is found. Enlisting the help of a female reporter who had been instrumental in finding the murderer of her brother several years before -- Penny Green -- Emma is determined to solve two crimes; prove her husband wasn’t the serial killer and find his murderer at the same time.
The Whitechapel Widow has a lot going on in its pages, and author Emily Organ makes sure that readers have plenty to ponder; no mid-book slow down here. There’s the husband’s secret life, Penny Green’s personal business (she’s married now to a police inspector who’s not at all happy about what she’s involved in -- we’re talking about Victorian attitudes towards women), and if that wasn’t enough, why not throw in a whole story line involving legal fraud and deception? Emma and Penny tie it up all very neatly, making sure that everyone that needs to be brought to justice gets found out; well, more or less, of course. There is that Jack the Ripper fellow that managed to elude the rope, after all. And we have one last little tidbit that probably will work into a future adventure for new friends Emma and Penny. Clever, that.
The Author’s Note contains info about Jack the Ripper and the real places that appear in the book, many of which still exist, and the real stories behind the fictional story. The Whitechapel Widow is an entertaining addition to Jack the Ripper whodunit theories as well as Victorian historical mysteries.
Emma Langley and her husband were supposed to be on to a wonderful new chapter in their life, away from congested London. But very soon it’s apparent that the husband has run off and left her. And young women have been turning up dead in Jack the Ripper’s old hunting grounds. Is it possible that her husband…? And very shortly, his body is found. Enlisting the help of a female reporter who had been instrumental in finding the murderer of her brother several years before -- Penny Green -- Emma is determined to solve two crimes; prove her husband wasn’t the serial killer and find his murderer at the same time.
The Whitechapel Widow has a lot going on in its pages, and author Emily Organ makes sure that readers have plenty to ponder; no mid-book slow down here. There’s the husband’s secret life, Penny Green’s personal business (she’s married now to a police inspector who’s not at all happy about what she’s involved in -- we’re talking about Victorian attitudes towards women), and if that wasn’t enough, why not throw in a whole story line involving legal fraud and deception? Emma and Penny tie it up all very neatly, making sure that everyone that needs to be brought to justice gets found out; well, more or less, of course. There is that Jack the Ripper fellow that managed to elude the rope, after all. And we have one last little tidbit that probably will work into a future adventure for new friends Emma and Penny. Clever, that.
The Author’s Note contains info about Jack the Ripper and the real places that appear in the book, many of which still exist, and the real stories behind the fictional story. The Whitechapel Widow is an entertaining addition to Jack the Ripper whodunit theories as well as Victorian historical mysteries.
April 7, 2025
An enjoyable atmospheric historical mystery series debut set during the Jack the Ripper era. Widow Emma Langley discovers her late husband is hiding a lot of secrets after his body is found. With the police being useless, she turns to ex-journalist Penny Green for help.
I am really hooked by this new book and enjoyed Emma's growth as she starts to realise she's worth more than just being a naive wife. At times she blunders about telling the wrong people too much information, but its believable. I really felt for her as she learns the truth about William and the realisations she comes to about women's place and how they're at the mercy of their husbands. However the pace of this book languished at times, with many scenes and dialogue exchanges I felt could've been removed entirely as they didn't really serve the story. For instance there were scenes involving secondary characters and their various machinations that weren't needed.
It was great to see Penny Green, now married to Detective Jack Blakely with two young kids. Except it also really sucked that this fierecely awesome independent character sidelined and forced to quit her job. While era appropriate, Jack constantly reminded her that her duties her life was basically only important because of her service to their kids. That said the book explores Penny wanting to be more than a wife and mother and her tribulations trying to find herself something just for her. But I really hate that Emily Organ married her off to Jack when she didnt want to marry or have kids, and now her independence has been completely cut off from her. Jack is no romantic hero, especially when he knows Penny is a way better detective than him.
I can't wait for book two though.
Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.
I am really hooked by this new book and enjoyed Emma's growth as she starts to realise she's worth more than just being a naive wife. At times she blunders about telling the wrong people too much information, but its believable. I really felt for her as she learns the truth about William and the realisations she comes to about women's place and how they're at the mercy of their husbands. However the pace of this book languished at times, with many scenes and dialogue exchanges I felt could've been removed entirely as they didn't really serve the story. For instance there were scenes involving secondary characters and their various machinations that weren't needed.
It was great to see Penny Green, now married to Detective Jack Blakely with two young kids. Except it also really sucked that this fierecely awesome independent character sidelined and forced to quit her job. While era appropriate, Jack constantly reminded her that her duties her life was basically only important because of her service to their kids. That said the book explores Penny wanting to be more than a wife and mother and her tribulations trying to find herself something just for her. But I really hate that Emily Organ married her off to Jack when she didnt want to marry or have kids, and now her independence has been completely cut off from her. Jack is no romantic hero, especially when he knows Penny is a way better detective than him.
I can't wait for book two though.
Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read "The Whitechapel Widow" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the first book in a new series from Emily Organ. After reading her fabulous Churchill and Pemberley series I was very much looking forward to this new series and she did not disappoint. The story starts on the 10th November 1888 when Emma is preparing to move to Suffolk with her husband William. When he pops off the train to grab a newspaper and the train leave without him, Emma returns to London on the next train to try and find him. When she doesn't locate him she thinks she should have stayed on the train because he is probably waiting at his aunt's house.
What follows is Emma learning a lot of things about her husband that she didn't know. He told her a lot of lies and she's determined to learn the truth and find out what happened to her husband.
During this time everyone is also afraid of Jack the Ripper. At one point Emma considers that maybe her William was the Ripper. Why was he in Whitechapel to begin with?
Emma contacts former newspaper reporter Penny Green (now married to DI James Blakely). Together they go about solving this mystery because the police don't really seem to have the time. They uncover so many layers of William's life and so many people keeping secrets. And they find themselves in grave danger while trying to get answers for Emma.
This is a very exciting first book in the series and I can't wait for the further books. This is a case where I wish there were more than 5 stars to give because it is worth so much more.
This is the first book in a new series from Emily Organ. After reading her fabulous Churchill and Pemberley series I was very much looking forward to this new series and she did not disappoint. The story starts on the 10th November 1888 when Emma is preparing to move to Suffolk with her husband William. When he pops off the train to grab a newspaper and the train leave without him, Emma returns to London on the next train to try and find him. When she doesn't locate him she thinks she should have stayed on the train because he is probably waiting at his aunt's house.
What follows is Emma learning a lot of things about her husband that she didn't know. He told her a lot of lies and she's determined to learn the truth and find out what happened to her husband.
During this time everyone is also afraid of Jack the Ripper. At one point Emma considers that maybe her William was the Ripper. Why was he in Whitechapel to begin with?
Emma contacts former newspaper reporter Penny Green (now married to DI James Blakely). Together they go about solving this mystery because the police don't really seem to have the time. They uncover so many layers of William's life and so many people keeping secrets. And they find themselves in grave danger while trying to get answers for Emma.
This is a very exciting first book in the series and I can't wait for the further books. This is a case where I wish there were more than 5 stars to give because it is worth so much more.
February 23, 2025
This is the first book in Emily Organ’s new series Emma Langley Victorian Mystery.
Emma Langley’s husband disappears and is later found murdered. Before long she realizes he had been keeping many secrets from her. She’s determined to learn more and find out who killed him, but she really doesn’t know how to go about things. She ends up meeting Penny (Green) Blakely from the author’s Penny Green series. I’ve read several books in that series, and it was fun to encounter Penny in a slightly different role in this book.
The book is set in the same place and time as Jack the Ripper, so that comes in the play here and there. Some of the various crimes are mentioned, but I wouldn’t consider this story very dark or grisly.
When it comes to historical mysteries (one of my favorite genres), I’m used to the main characters diving in and poking around in the mystery. This wasn’t the case with Emma. She obviously wanted answers, but it took her a bit to get started, and even then, she often followed the lead of others. Because of this, it took me a bit to connect with Emma, even though her reaction was probably much more realistic than someone who jumps headfirst into investigating murder (especially with Jack the Ripper on the loose).
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It will be interesting to see where the series goes and how Emma’s investigative skills develop and the cast of characters she inevitably will meet along the way.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Emma Langley’s husband disappears and is later found murdered. Before long she realizes he had been keeping many secrets from her. She’s determined to learn more and find out who killed him, but she really doesn’t know how to go about things. She ends up meeting Penny (Green) Blakely from the author’s Penny Green series. I’ve read several books in that series, and it was fun to encounter Penny in a slightly different role in this book.
The book is set in the same place and time as Jack the Ripper, so that comes in the play here and there. Some of the various crimes are mentioned, but I wouldn’t consider this story very dark or grisly.
When it comes to historical mysteries (one of my favorite genres), I’m used to the main characters diving in and poking around in the mystery. This wasn’t the case with Emma. She obviously wanted answers, but it took her a bit to get started, and even then, she often followed the lead of others. Because of this, it took me a bit to connect with Emma, even though her reaction was probably much more realistic than someone who jumps headfirst into investigating murder (especially with Jack the Ripper on the loose).
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It will be interesting to see where the series goes and how Emma’s investigative skills develop and the cast of characters she inevitably will meet along the way.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2025
The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ
Emma Langley Victorian Mystery #1
Intriguing, intricately plotted, ingenious murder mystery ~ Great introduction to a new series
What I Liked:
* Emma Holland Langley: piano teacher, recently married, parents & brother deceased, husband disappears then is found murdered, curious, invested in finding her husband’s killer
* Penny Green Blakely: happily married with two young children, retired investigative reporter, puzzle solver, strong, works well with Emma on the case
* James Blakely: Penny’s husband, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector, loving father & husband, supportive, intelligent, protective, good man
* The Solomons: Landlords, took Emma in when her husband disappeared, good people
* The murder mystery of who killed William Langley and why he was murdered
* The way Emma and Penny went about their investigation
* The twists and turns along with some red herrings
* The plot, pacing, setting and writing
* The glimpse into life in this time period
* Being able to dislike the baddies and want them brought to justice
* Reading a new-to-me author and enjoying her work
* Wanting to say more but not wanting to give the plot away
* Wanting to know what happens next…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the criminals and the crimes they committed along with how many people were harmed
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Emma Langley Victorian Mystery #1
Intriguing, intricately plotted, ingenious murder mystery ~ Great introduction to a new series
What I Liked:
* Emma Holland Langley: piano teacher, recently married, parents & brother deceased, husband disappears then is found murdered, curious, invested in finding her husband’s killer
* Penny Green Blakely: happily married with two young children, retired investigative reporter, puzzle solver, strong, works well with Emma on the case
* James Blakely: Penny’s husband, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector, loving father & husband, supportive, intelligent, protective, good man
* The Solomons: Landlords, took Emma in when her husband disappeared, good people
* The murder mystery of who killed William Langley and why he was murdered
* The way Emma and Penny went about their investigation
* The twists and turns along with some red herrings
* The plot, pacing, setting and writing
* The glimpse into life in this time period
* Being able to dislike the baddies and want them brought to justice
* Reading a new-to-me author and enjoying her work
* Wanting to say more but not wanting to give the plot away
* Wanting to know what happens next…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the criminals and the crimes they committed along with how many people were harmed
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
March 23, 2025
It's 1888 and Emma Langley, recently married to husband William, sets forth on a train with him, bound for a new life away from smoggy London. When William steps off the train briefly to buy a newspaper and doesn't return, Emma is frantic and she eventually returns to London to search for him
When he is found murdered in a seedy part of London, Emma is shattered and when the police are unable to find the culprit, she turns to her friend Penny Green, a former newspaper reporter, to help her find the truth. The trail takes them to the underground society of London exposing blackmail and corruption along the way with possible links to Jack the Ripper who is stalking women across the gaslit streets. During her search for the truth, Emma has to face the terrible question - just who was the man she married?
An interesting historical mystery set during the late 1800s and the 1st book in a series about Emma Langley. The book's pace is good and it builds the tension and story well. The setting of the story in Victorian London is described beautifully in a manner that makes it easy to imagine. Emma's character is well-drawn for a woman of her time seeking answers to her husband's death in a world with certain views about the role of women in society.
Thanks to Netgalley for my opportunity to read and review this book, which I enjoyed and would recommend for people who enjoy this genre.
Publication date 27 March 2025.
When he is found murdered in a seedy part of London, Emma is shattered and when the police are unable to find the culprit, she turns to her friend Penny Green, a former newspaper reporter, to help her find the truth. The trail takes them to the underground society of London exposing blackmail and corruption along the way with possible links to Jack the Ripper who is stalking women across the gaslit streets. During her search for the truth, Emma has to face the terrible question - just who was the man she married?
An interesting historical mystery set during the late 1800s and the 1st book in a series about Emma Langley. The book's pace is good and it builds the tension and story well. The setting of the story in Victorian London is described beautifully in a manner that makes it easy to imagine. Emma's character is well-drawn for a woman of her time seeking answers to her husband's death in a world with certain views about the role of women in society.
Thanks to Netgalley for my opportunity to read and review this book, which I enjoyed and would recommend for people who enjoy this genre.
Publication date 27 March 2025.
April 1, 2025
I am a sucker for Victorian style murder mysteries. Give me the dingy, foggy streets of London any time, and I will be fairly quickly hooked. With the Whitechapel Widow, it was no different and I feel like I zoomed through this book in about 2 sittings. It's a good murder mystery with intriguing characters though I do feel there were more characters thrown in than I needed. It's not perfect but it's engaging and entertaining.
Emma and her husband are setting off on a move to Suffolk when right before the train departs the station, her husband hops off in order to get a newspaper or cup of coffee. Though he says he will be right back, he does not make it in time and the train departs without him. Emma, who is distraught by the occurrence, turns around at the next station and returns to London, only to discover her husband has utterly disappeared.
Emma now has to figure out what to do and where to go, once she starts to learn her husband was not the man she thought he was, the aunt he said they were going to stay with does not exist, and the house he said they would live in also does not exist. She also quickly learns that in her short time of knowing him and being married to him, he spent all of her money, was fired from his job, and perhaps had dalliances with other women.
When his body turns up, she is determined to find the truth abut William aka Billy, and figure out who she married, Hopefully whoever killed her husband doesn't target her next.
Emma and her husband are setting off on a move to Suffolk when right before the train departs the station, her husband hops off in order to get a newspaper or cup of coffee. Though he says he will be right back, he does not make it in time and the train departs without him. Emma, who is distraught by the occurrence, turns around at the next station and returns to London, only to discover her husband has utterly disappeared.
Emma now has to figure out what to do and where to go, once she starts to learn her husband was not the man she thought he was, the aunt he said they were going to stay with does not exist, and the house he said they would live in also does not exist. She also quickly learns that in her short time of knowing him and being married to him, he spent all of her money, was fired from his job, and perhaps had dalliances with other women.
When his body turns up, she is determined to find the truth abut William aka Billy, and figure out who she married, Hopefully whoever killed her husband doesn't target her next.
April 2, 2025
Emma Langley has questions. Why is her husband’s case missing? Why was her husband mixed up with a creepy picture framer? Did he really quit his job at a law firm? Why do some people call him by a different name? Who killed her husband?
In the first book of the Emma Langley series, “Whitechapel Widow,” the reader learns that Emma Langley thought she married the man of her dreams. However, when the couple decides to move to the countryside, she suddenly finds herself abandoned and, worse, after making her way back to London discovers that her husband has been murdered! She is determined to get to the bottom of her husband’s death and his betrayal. Emma calls upon Penny Blakely (formerly Green) for help. Penny, the star of her own series by Emily Organ, had previously helped Emma solve the murder of Emma’s brother. Together, the two uncover clues to get to the bottom of the mystery, but put themselves in danger in the process.
The story is action-packed and focused on uncovering the reasons for Emma’s husband’s death. Emma’s can-do spirit is delightful. I am looking forward to the second book in the series!
This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries, Victorian mysteries, or are fans of the Penny Green series.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Storm Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the first book of the Emma Langley series, “Whitechapel Widow,” the reader learns that Emma Langley thought she married the man of her dreams. However, when the couple decides to move to the countryside, she suddenly finds herself abandoned and, worse, after making her way back to London discovers that her husband has been murdered! She is determined to get to the bottom of her husband’s death and his betrayal. Emma calls upon Penny Blakely (formerly Green) for help. Penny, the star of her own series by Emily Organ, had previously helped Emma solve the murder of Emma’s brother. Together, the two uncover clues to get to the bottom of the mystery, but put themselves in danger in the process.
The story is action-packed and focused on uncovering the reasons for Emma’s husband’s death. Emma’s can-do spirit is delightful. I am looking forward to the second book in the series!
This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries, Victorian mysteries, or are fans of the Penny Green series.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Storm Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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