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Mirabelle Bevan Mystery #6
Russian Roulette
Brighton 1956
When Mirabelle's on-off boyfriend, Superintendent Alan McGregor, is taken off a gruesome murder case because the key suspect is an old school friend, Mirabelle steps in to unravel the tangle of poisoned gin, call girls and high stakes gambling that surrounds the death. It isn't long before McGregor's integrity is called into question and Mirabelle finds herself doubting him. So when a wartime hero's body turns up on the Sussex Downs, she is glad that McGregor is caught up in a mystery of his own as Brighton's establishment closes ranks.
Mirabelle is in a dangerous situation though and she doesn't have McGregor watching her back on this one. And when the dead man on the Downs turns out to have been a member of a deadly thrillseekers club, related to the earlier murder, Mirabelle is determined to uncover the truth and free the innocent people who are bearing the brunt of the cover up. As her relationship with McGregor reaches breaking point, she has to draw on all her wartime experience to stand up for what she believes in - even if it means their relationship may not survive.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2017
4 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Sara Sheridan
46 books430 followersBorn in Edinburgh. I'm a complete swot - love books always have! Currently obsessed with late Georgian/ early Victorian culture, the subject of several of my novels, and with 1950s Britain for my Mirabelle Bevan murder mystery series set across the UK - and even one in Paris. Occasionally write tie-in books for historical dramas on TV, children's picture books and short stories, mostly for charitable causes.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 25, 2018
When I chose to read this, I didn't realise it was the 6th in the historical crime fiction, Mirabelle Bevan series, set in 1950s Brighton. However, whilst there are numerous mentions of previous back stories, with Mirabelle having a history at wartime with the intelligence agencies, it still works well as a standalone. Mirabelle and her assistant, the black Vesta Lewis, work for McGuigan & McGuigan Debt Recovery. Phil Quinn wakes up feeling groggy after a night of drinking with his wife, Helen, to his horror, whilst he was sleeping, Helen was fatally stabbed. Superintendent Alan McGregor, the sometime partner of Mirabelle, is not allowed to look into the murder as he knows Phil. Convinced of Phil's innocence, he asks her to look into the murder.
Phil is charged with the murder, although most people who know him, including those at Hove Cars, the taxi service he part owns, do not believe he is guilty, citing his devotion and love of his wife. Vesta is pregnant, uncertain and confused as to how she feels, concerned at how it will affect her relationship with her husband, Charlie, her job and whether she can take on the role of being a mother. Mirabelle and Vesta struggle to find a motive for Helen's murder, and discover the bottle of Gin was poisoned. Mirabelle begins to understand the good times to be had, the glamour and lucrative nature of prostitution for women who are protected by Ernie Davidson as comes to appreciate its lure. In the meantime, a Russian Countess flaunts her wealth as well as her propensity to complain endlessly. McGregor finds himself in charge of an apparent suicide of ex-RAF Flight Lieutenant George Forgie, a man with casino chips sewn into his coat. As the truth begins to become clearer, the establishment shows it's determination to ensure that the truth is buried. Is any form of justice going to be possible?
As I began to read, I mistakenly assumed that this was going to be a cozy mystery, only to be shocked at just how gritty the storylines actually are. Sara Sheridan evokes the atmosphere and feel of this historical period, the racism and sexism, the corruption, the attitudes and a country emerging from the post war austerity years. I loved the character of Mirabelle, brave and fearless, willing to go wherever she needs to go to solve the case. She begins to become suspicious of McGregor as she starts to question his integrity, their relationship becomes increasingly strained and pressurised, looking increasingly like it will break apart. An enthralling and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Phil is charged with the murder, although most people who know him, including those at Hove Cars, the taxi service he part owns, do not believe he is guilty, citing his devotion and love of his wife. Vesta is pregnant, uncertain and confused as to how she feels, concerned at how it will affect her relationship with her husband, Charlie, her job and whether she can take on the role of being a mother. Mirabelle and Vesta struggle to find a motive for Helen's murder, and discover the bottle of Gin was poisoned. Mirabelle begins to understand the good times to be had, the glamour and lucrative nature of prostitution for women who are protected by Ernie Davidson as comes to appreciate its lure. In the meantime, a Russian Countess flaunts her wealth as well as her propensity to complain endlessly. McGregor finds himself in charge of an apparent suicide of ex-RAF Flight Lieutenant George Forgie, a man with casino chips sewn into his coat. As the truth begins to become clearer, the establishment shows it's determination to ensure that the truth is buried. Is any form of justice going to be possible?
As I began to read, I mistakenly assumed that this was going to be a cozy mystery, only to be shocked at just how gritty the storylines actually are. Sara Sheridan evokes the atmosphere and feel of this historical period, the racism and sexism, the corruption, the attitudes and a country emerging from the post war austerity years. I loved the character of Mirabelle, brave and fearless, willing to go wherever she needs to go to solve the case. She begins to become suspicious of McGregor as she starts to question his integrity, their relationship becomes increasingly strained and pressurised, looking increasingly like it will break apart. An enthralling and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
July 27, 2017
Visit the locations in the novel: Brighton bound
Russian Roulette -even sounds deliciously dark doesn't it? Well it is, and this Brighton based mystery heads over into the Sussex Downs where things get deadlier still
There are some good mysteries and some great ones and this one is the later. Evocative and dark – there are some seedy places in Brighton if this is to go by! A few crimes and a maze of mysteries to navigate with more than enough twists to rival the streets of Kemptown. Brighton in the 1950s is great setting and there’s a lot to look at. Mirabelle is a great character and finds herself in a real fix this time and her life more complicated than ever before which makes it all the more interesting.
The setting as I’ve said before really adds to the story here – The Grand Hotel carries more than a few secrets and there are thrillseekers galore in and around the town. There’s multilayers to this novel and yes, its a war time mystery but one with poison, gin, prostitutes and more. One crime scene in particular really intrigued me. Oh and that title. Read this and appreciate it even more.
October 16, 2018
The first three quarters of the book was a reasonable mystery story, it moved along quite nicely but it wasn’t very gripping. Then it all fell apart.
Things certainly became more exciting, but I actually stared to lose interest. The whole ending to the story felt a bit haphazard and unsatisfactory. I also wasn’t that happy with Mirabelle, she was fairly ordinary with very few flashes of those SOE moments that make her different from many other female sleuths.
I might have given this book 3 stars, but I’m really not sure where this series is going and I found the ending a bit depressing.
Things certainly became more exciting, but I actually stared to lose interest. The whole ending to the story felt a bit haphazard and unsatisfactory. I also wasn’t that happy with Mirabelle, she was fairly ordinary with very few flashes of those SOE moments that make her different from many other female sleuths.
I might have given this book 3 stars, but I’m really not sure where this series is going and I found the ending a bit depressing.
August 21, 2017
Book 6 of the Mirabelle Bevan series again finds Mirabelle in Brighton. She is asked to look into the murder of a woman with no known enemies or conflicts.
I have found that this series has gotten better as it progresses. Slug it out through books 1&2 and you will be rewarded with the remainder of the series.
I am in the US and this was very much worth the 'overseas' purchase.
I have found that this series has gotten better as it progresses. Slug it out through books 1&2 and you will be rewarded with the remainder of the series.
I am in the US and this was very much worth the 'overseas' purchase.
January 14, 2018
I have grown fond of the series. The author evokes the nineteen fifties well. I am often angered at the racism that Vera and Charlie encounter.
The book opens with a murder of a wife.Her husband gas woken up to find her murdered while he slept Arrested and charged with the murder, the investigating inspector can not see past the husband's guilt. Mirabelle's lover Superintendent McGregor is off the case, as he knew the accused as a boyhood friend. So enlists Mirabelle's help in solving the crime.
The book centers on illegal gambling, prostitution,and corruption in the British establishment.
The book enlightened me about the hidden world of prostitution of the mid nineteen fifties. The girls Mirabelle meet are friendly, open to what they do, and grateful that they are not like the poor girls trying to make ends meet walking the streets. Mirabelle to her surprise finds herself drawn to this lifestyle
The book allows us to understand the joy and fear of Vera who is the early weeks of her pregnancy. Certain her husband does not know frets about mixing work with being a fifties mother. Vera is helped by a student nurse. She tells Vera that NHS is up and running, and babies are being delivered safely. Mirabelle listening to Vera is certain that in her early fourties she will never have children. Vera to her surprise finds out Charlie is aware of her being pregnant,and doesn't object to her working.
The book is a pleasing mix of social history and a good mystery to boot.
The book asks questions of what us right and wrong. Can the police or civilians take the law into their own hands if the establishment won't charge or prosecute known murderers. Mirabelle knows that her SOE past led to agents taking lives. Moreover what did the war do to the children who were lost and displaced. Fred the fence adopted son is such a child. Fred's boy will indirectly lead to a Mirabelle having to make a decision about her relationship with McGregor.
The book opens with a murder of a wife.Her husband gas woken up to find her murdered while he slept Arrested and charged with the murder, the investigating inspector can not see past the husband's guilt. Mirabelle's lover Superintendent McGregor is off the case, as he knew the accused as a boyhood friend. So enlists Mirabelle's help in solving the crime.
The book centers on illegal gambling, prostitution,and corruption in the British establishment.
The book enlightened me about the hidden world of prostitution of the mid nineteen fifties. The girls Mirabelle meet are friendly, open to what they do, and grateful that they are not like the poor girls trying to make ends meet walking the streets. Mirabelle to her surprise finds herself drawn to this lifestyle
The book allows us to understand the joy and fear of Vera who is the early weeks of her pregnancy. Certain her husband does not know frets about mixing work with being a fifties mother. Vera is helped by a student nurse. She tells Vera that NHS is up and running, and babies are being delivered safely. Mirabelle listening to Vera is certain that in her early fourties she will never have children. Vera to her surprise finds out Charlie is aware of her being pregnant,and doesn't object to her working.
The book is a pleasing mix of social history and a good mystery to boot.
The book asks questions of what us right and wrong. Can the police or civilians take the law into their own hands if the establishment won't charge or prosecute known murderers. Mirabelle knows that her SOE past led to agents taking lives. Moreover what did the war do to the children who were lost and displaced. Fred the fence adopted son is such a child. Fred's boy will indirectly lead to a Mirabelle having to make a decision about her relationship with McGregor.
February 4, 2022
3.5 Stars
Number six in the Mirabelle Bevan series, and I think maybe the one I enjoyed the least - though I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Mirabelle and Vesta become involved in the murder of a woman which seems to be motiveless. When the husband is arrested, Mirabelle's policeman lover Alan McGregor asks her to take a look on the quiet - he and the husband are childhood friends, so he's barred from the case.
As usual, there's loads of turns and twists, loads of excellent ambiance to keep you turning the page - and as usual I read this really quickly. There's big news for Vesta. There's a sad end for a rather oddly appealing secondary character. And there's a big development between Alan and Mirabelle that I was pretty gutted about. In fact, I wanted to shake Mirabelle and say, just talk! But that's what Mirabelle doesn't do, it's not her nature. This is why I love the series. Mirabelle is a very dark character, a twist on the usually male dark and troubled detective in the genre that I really enjoy. She's difficult to like sometimes, she's too judgemental, she's too taken up with the past, and she sees that past in a very distorted way. This is frustrating for the reader, but in a good way - the author really does give us a very believable woman, and one we want to progress. But being the woman she is, Mirabelle is NOT quick to progress.
I am sure there's a lot more to come on McGregor too. There have been hints almost from when he first walked onto the page of a mystery in Scotland - why did he leave, why wasn't he in the army, what's his story. I'm hoping we'll find out, but I'm not counting on it being in the next book. Which I will be turning to pretty soon. This is a really addictive series.
Number six in the Mirabelle Bevan series, and I think maybe the one I enjoyed the least - though I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Mirabelle and Vesta become involved in the murder of a woman which seems to be motiveless. When the husband is arrested, Mirabelle's policeman lover Alan McGregor asks her to take a look on the quiet - he and the husband are childhood friends, so he's barred from the case.
As usual, there's loads of turns and twists, loads of excellent ambiance to keep you turning the page - and as usual I read this really quickly. There's big news for Vesta. There's a sad end for a rather oddly appealing secondary character. And there's a big development between Alan and Mirabelle that I was pretty gutted about. In fact, I wanted to shake Mirabelle and say, just talk! But that's what Mirabelle doesn't do, it's not her nature. This is why I love the series. Mirabelle is a very dark character, a twist on the usually male dark and troubled detective in the genre that I really enjoy. She's difficult to like sometimes, she's too judgemental, she's too taken up with the past, and she sees that past in a very distorted way. This is frustrating for the reader, but in a good way - the author really does give us a very believable woman, and one we want to progress. But being the woman she is, Mirabelle is NOT quick to progress.
I am sure there's a lot more to come on McGregor too. There have been hints almost from when he first walked onto the page of a mystery in Scotland - why did he leave, why wasn't he in the army, what's his story. I'm hoping we'll find out, but I'm not counting on it being in the next book. Which I will be turning to pretty soon. This is a really addictive series.
October 15, 2018
Russian Roulette by Sara Sheridan - OK
I usually love the Mirabelle Bevan series. This one was still a great page turner and zipped along at a fine pace, but something didn't quite work for me. It was as if Mirabelle and McGregor had had personality transplants.
Without giving away too much, a friend of McGregor's is murdered and he is not allowed to investigate as he is too close. He asks Mirabelle to investigate independently. He would never have done that in the previous books. Just because they are now a couple, I wouldn't expect him to change his attitudes so drastically. Of course Mirabelle investigates. She finds herself in a certain establishment and is tempted. I know that sounds vague but it would be too much of a spoiler to explain further. Suffice it to say, this temptation is another change in personality that didn't ring true to my understanding of the character from previous books. The ending also had McGregor doing something that I consider completely out of character.
The actual story was good. Followed the usual sort of plot. Mirabelle and Vesta get embroiled in investigating a murder. Get into all the usual sort of scrapes and eventually suss out what is going on.
I don't know where the author is going with this series now. At the beginning the theory was that there would be a book for each year of the 1950s with Mirabelle's postwar recovery mirroring the country's. I actually think this might be the end instead or maybe it should be.
I usually love the Mirabelle Bevan series. This one was still a great page turner and zipped along at a fine pace, but something didn't quite work for me. It was as if Mirabelle and McGregor had had personality transplants.
Without giving away too much, a friend of McGregor's is murdered and he is not allowed to investigate as he is too close. He asks Mirabelle to investigate independently. He would never have done that in the previous books. Just because they are now a couple, I wouldn't expect him to change his attitudes so drastically. Of course Mirabelle investigates. She finds herself in a certain establishment and is tempted. I know that sounds vague but it would be too much of a spoiler to explain further. Suffice it to say, this temptation is another change in personality that didn't ring true to my understanding of the character from previous books. The ending also had McGregor doing something that I consider completely out of character.
The actual story was good. Followed the usual sort of plot. Mirabelle and Vesta get embroiled in investigating a murder. Get into all the usual sort of scrapes and eventually suss out what is going on.
I don't know where the author is going with this series now. At the beginning the theory was that there would be a book for each year of the 1950s with Mirabelle's postwar recovery mirroring the country's. I actually think this might be the end instead or maybe it should be.
September 30, 2019
In the sixth novel about Mirabelle Bevan and her loyal partner in investigation, Vesta, the narrative begins with the murder of a woman who was stabbed to death whilst her husband slept next to her. Superintendent McGregor has been ordered off the case, as he knew the husband as a childhood friend, and as he does not trust Inspector Robinson, he enlists Mirabelle's help in solving the crime. The story centers on illegal gambling and the hidden world of prostitution of the mid nineteen fifties. Mirabelle pushing at all the boundaries as she investigates the domain of call girls and gambling dens in Brighton and London. As she probes further, Mirabelle is drawn into a very dangerous game where any individual is expendable and corruption may lead all the way to the top of the British establishment.
Mixed in with the mystery and mayhem there are some personal dilemmas/issues for both Vesta and Mirabelle. The reader is also prompted to consider what is right and wrong as well as consider the long-term effects that the second world war had on societies, even on those that did not fight and especially the young. There is a good mix of social history with the mystery; racism, sexism and the narrow confines that society placed in its citizens in the fifties are all part of the background to the story.
This book can be read as a standalone novel as there is enough detail to fill in the background to the characters.
Mixed in with the mystery and mayhem there are some personal dilemmas/issues for both Vesta and Mirabelle. The reader is also prompted to consider what is right and wrong as well as consider the long-term effects that the second world war had on societies, even on those that did not fight and especially the young. There is a good mix of social history with the mystery; racism, sexism and the narrow confines that society placed in its citizens in the fifties are all part of the background to the story.
This book can be read as a standalone novel as there is enough detail to fill in the background to the characters.
September 22, 2018
When a young married woman is found stabbed to death in her bed the answer is simple, her husband did it and the Brighton Police don't investigate further. however for his childhood friend, McGregor, it's not that simple. Unable to look into the crime because he is part of the police force, McGregor engages the services of Mirabelle Bevan, his private investigator girlfriend. As Mirabelle probes further she is drawn into a dangerous game where individuals become expendable and corruption leads all the way to the top.
Having read one of the earlier Mirabelle Bevan stories I was sure that I was going to get a slightly more gritty adventure than one might think for the setting in post-War Brighton. This almost has shades of 'Brighton Rock' in the way that the seedier underbelly is exposed. I love the fact that one of the main characters is black and that Mirabelle is not a young woman - racism, sexism and ageism are all covered but in a subtle and integral part of the storyline. As far as the plot goes, there is something for everyone.
Having read one of the earlier Mirabelle Bevan stories I was sure that I was going to get a slightly more gritty adventure than one might think for the setting in post-War Brighton. This almost has shades of 'Brighton Rock' in the way that the seedier underbelly is exposed. I love the fact that one of the main characters is black and that Mirabelle is not a young woman - racism, sexism and ageism are all covered but in a subtle and integral part of the storyline. As far as the plot goes, there is something for everyone.
August 8, 2017
A sixth outing for Mirabelle and her trusty sidekick Vesta. This sees her investigating the mysterious murder of a woman found stabbed to death next to her sleeping husband. Mixed in with the mayhem are some personal matters for both ladies. Sheridan's series gets better and better and I can't wait to see what Mirabelle gets up to next.
April 24, 2019
This was a good book. The plot was really well thought-out and well written. I was disappointed in how it ended though. I saw that there is a new book in the series coming out in June. I'm glad because I don't want the book series to end on this note. Hopefully there are better times ahead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2017
In the usual Mirabelle vein but seems a little more bumbling. Wide open for more romantic confrontation with McGregor and also settling of dues with the gambling crowd via MI5.
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September 7, 2019Just like the previous books in this series, I loved it. I didn't want to put it down.
March 31, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book which is set in Brighton 1n 1956 and is the sixth book in a series (nine books so far) featuring Mirabelle Bevan. I suspect I may have understood this more had I read the earlier books. Mirabelle apparently worked for the intelligence services during the second world war though not as a field operative and now works for a debt collection agency. She is a sort of private detective and is asked to investigate a murder when it is believed the police have arrested and charged an innocent man.
It's an implausible story but it was actually the little things that bothered me. Mirabelle and her assistant escape a locked room by climbing over the roof. OK. Mirabelle walks around wearing ripped stockings and no one notices. Wait a minute! The story is depressing with people dying and no one caring. However I did like Mirabelle and may well try the earlier books.
It's an implausible story but it was actually the little things that bothered me. Mirabelle and her assistant escape a locked room by climbing over the roof. OK. Mirabelle walks around wearing ripped stockings and no one notices. Wait a minute! The story is depressing with people dying and no one caring. However I did like Mirabelle and may well try the earlier books.
March 26, 2025
I found this one tough to get into.
September 19, 2025
sara sheridan is a magician
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews