London in the Dark

Light of London #1

by Victoria Lynn

London, 1910

Budding Private Detective Cyril Arlington Hartwell has a conundrum. London is being ravaged by the largest run of thefts in recent history. His hunch that it is all tied together may put him and those he loves in more danger than he could have reckoned.

Olivia Larken Hartwell is just home from boarding school for the summer anticipating time with her adoring parents.She misses her absent brother, Cyril, hoping for the day he will finally come home. But tragedy strikes, causing upheaval for all concerned and changes her life in a way she never could have imagined.

Olivia, Cyril, and their friends must bring the hidden to light, seek to execute justice, and dispel the darkness that hovers over London… and their hearts.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Historical

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2017

About the author

Victoria Lynn has an insatiable desire for truth, light, and beauty and has always sought to find them in story. Joining the Indie scene at the age of 18 with her debut novel, she has been writing and publishing ever since. She seeks to bring the life-giving words of the Savior to a dark and broken world that desperately needs to know of His sacrifice. A writing and publishing coach, best-selling author, seamstress and creator, she loves spending her spare time traveling deep into the mountains and forests, surfing the ocean waves, spending time with her family, turning her 2 acre plot into a homestead, or sewing gowns fit for a princess. She thinks perhaps she was once a woodland fairy and her current greatest desire is to own a mini-cow.

Reviews

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. IT WAS AMAZING AND YOU MUST READ IT, OKAY??? Where is the 100 billion stars button? Or at least a 'love' button!

No, seriously. It was phenomenal! I had the distinct pleasure of being an alpha\beta reader for Victoria. Each of the characters were amazing! My favorite is definitely Dudley! All the characters have so much depth and emotion; you can't help but empathize with them! Mrs. Hobbs was so sweet; you just want to hug her! Olivia and Cyril . . . they were just so good; I can't say much without giving away the story. And Bancroft. :D I LOVED his character development! So so good!

Also, the cover art! *squeals* It's just so beautiful!!!

And the story was just so awesome; lots of unexpected twists and turns, I seriously didn't want to put it down! Simply amazing! Victoria is a master storyteller, and I can't wait to read more from this gifted author!

You are definitely going to want to pick up a copy!

[Allison Tebo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: This review contains spoilers:

“Never dwell on ‘if onlys’ They steal your peace and weaken your faith.”

There are some powerful scenes woven into London in the Dark! Victoria Lynn's love for Christ shines throughout this novel; themes of faith and seeking God’s peace are worked into this book like a sweet seasoning. I especially liked the scene where the heroine, Olivia Harwell, is reading her Bible and reflects on how God protects her ‘unguarded side’ – the side that is not covered by the shield of a warrior.
I really liked the spiritual battles that were worked into this story, and the wonderful theme of redemption (especially a certain twist with a certain character!). *zips lips mysteriously*

I would have preferred a bit more characterization with Mrs. Hobbs and Vernio - I also thought Cyril's investigation abilities could have been emphasized a tad more - otherwise he didn't seem like quite as much of a threat to the villain's schemes.

Actually, mysteries aren't quite my thing and are typically my least favorite genre - so it didn't star quite as high because of that personal preference - but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed London in the Dark despite that!

The three main characters are very well worked out. Olivia is sweet and mature, but she also makes mistakes; she’s human. Cyril, who could have been a very unlikable person, is still a character that we root for, and we strain with Olivia to see him push through the walls he’s built around himself. But it’s Dr. Dudley who is particularly well written – it can be extremely difficult to write such an exceedingly nice personality, but the authoress nails it. Dudley is a kind and sweet fellow, but has the appropriate amount of sassiness and steel to push back on Cyril's coldness.
There also some clever dialogue between Cyril and Dudley that tips a stylish nod to that other mystery solving duo, Holmes and Watson!
Charming little bits of characterization (Olivia’s continual struggle with her dress buttons, Dudley’s eternal ‘medical tips and checks up’, Cyril’s mustache infatuation) are scattered throughout the book, and there are several intriguing side characters as well (I want a novel featuring Barlow and Kenton, please!).
There were a couple of very funny moments that made me laugh in London in the Dark. I DO NOT remember the part about Olivia playing a joke on Barlow (jumping ice water on his head). Hilarious!
But I must admit, the epilogue was my favorite part – I had a big sappy grin on my face for those last few pages. Bravo, Miss Lynn!
Victoria Lynn writes with a lot of emotion; there are genuinely painful and heartfelt moments in this book! And most of all, there is TRUTH in London in the Dark.
It shines like a beacon in the dark.

Because of mysterious setting, the theme of family, and the authoresses ability to narrate easily from male or female characters – this is a book that I think would be equally enjoyed by guys and girls of many different ages.

I greatly look forward to seeing Victoria Lynn’s next work and I can’t wait for the next installment!

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

by Andrea Renee Cox

I love a good mystery. London in the Dark turned out to be a pretty good mystery. There were lots of twists and turns. Most of the characters were delightful and inquisitive. It definitely had a bit of a Sherlock Holmes vibe to it.

The opening scenes were incredibly impactful and and captured my interest immediately, transporting me to a long-ago era. I love it when that happens! And the action throughout was spot-on.

Take a look at the play on an analogy in this quote: "His words jumped and snapped like a fire on kindling. She took a step back as if burned." Wow. That line blew me away. Very great creativity!

Beautiful emotions and diversity were displayed throughout too, which was lovely and really enhanced the story.

There were a couple of reasons why I docked a star. One of the lead characters was unlikable for seventy to eighty percent of the book. I kept holding out hope for him, and I'm glad I did. The wait was very long but pretty worth it. I also found the final scene to not fit in with the rest of the story. It felt too forced, like the author was wrapping up the entire series rather than the first book in the series. I wouldn't have expected or wanted a scene such as that one until closer to the end of the series, particularly because the romance had not been built up enough for a scene of its nature in only this first book.

While there were some grammatical errors, these did not hamper my enjoyment of this book. I think this author is a rising star in the Christian fiction world, and I'm eager to see what grand adventure she takes us on next time!

Content advisory:
* There were many mentions of "I wager" or "I bet."
* There were alcohol and tobacco usage, including one instance of underage drinking/drunkenness.


I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review: 5 shining stars!

I loved this book! It took me a while to get into it, but I grew to enjoy the laid back, writing style. It had an old fashioned feeling hat just added to the loveliness of the book!

Okay, first off, Dudley. No, before you think so, I'm NOT going crazy over him. xD (Since he already has a bunch of people laying claim to him... ;))
But I have to say, I really, really, really, loved how the author really made him stand out. He was a Doctor, and she had him act like one, and not only in dire circumstances, He noticed small, everyday things that hinted at physical pain. Clenching of the jaw, rubbing the temples, etc. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the whole book. So many people who write doctors have them act like everybody else, except when there's an accident of some sort. But Miss Lynn made him stand out wonderfully well and I thoroughly enjoyed it! And yeah... he had some awesome quotes! ;)

I also really enjoyed reading Cyril's character, though there were times I often wanted to pound some sense into his head. ;) But at the same time . . . his struggle was very well done, and I appreciated how the author showed it. I could relate to him in a few different ways, and his POV was my favorite of the book. He and Dudley also tied for my favorite characters. I loved their friendship so very much!

Olivia was probably my least favorite POV character, just 'cause we don't have a lot in common . . . but I still enjoyed reading about her, and watching her grow through the course of the book.

As I mentioned before, I think the writing style was perfect for the book. It gave it an old fashioned, laid back sort of feel, while the action was still done well!

The mystery was well thought out, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out! I loved the twist in there with Bancroft--boy, I was NOT expecting that!

The Christian message was strong, whcih I appreciated. I ADORED the fact the the author used hymns throughout the novel . . . especially Be Still, My Soul which is one of my very favorites!

All in all it's a clean, family friendly read that I would recommend to any lover of Christian Historical Fiction!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful story...I had the pleasure of beta reading. Thanks, Victoria!!

So, for the review...this is a fun debut novel. It's a mystery, suitable for YA but enjoyable to adults as well. Olivia and Cyril must find out who's targeting them after their parents die in a carriage crash, and it doesn't help that they've shut each other out in their grief and aren't spending lots of time talking to each other. Cyril is busy with his detective career, and Olivia is trying to adjust to life in London after growing up on the family's country estate.

My absolute favorite, though, is Dudley. This good doctor is the voice of wit, reason, and kindness to both of his friends, and he's the one both Cyril and Olivia rely on while working through their grief. I'd like a prop like him if I was grieving!

I also loved Mrs. Hobbs and am looking forward to the possibility that she'll get her own story in the near future!

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“London, 1910
Budding Private Detective Cyril Arlington Hartwell has a conundrum. London is being ravaged by the largest run of thefts in recent history. His hunch that it is all tied together may put him and those he loves in more danger than he could have reckoned.
Olivia Larken Hartwell is just home from boarding school for the summer anticipating time with her adoring parents.She misses her absent brother, Cyril, hoping for the day he will finally come home. But tragedy strikes, causing upheaval for all concerned and changes her life in a way she never could have imagined.
Olivia, Cyril, and their friends must bring the hidden to light, seek to execute justice, and dispel the darkness that hovers over London… and their hearts.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Light of London” series.


Spiritual Content- Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, read, quoted, & thought over; Bible reading; Singing a couple hymns; Church going; A bit of witnessing/being witnessed to; Talks about God, forgiveness, & going to church; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Cyril is mad at God, *Spoiler* but prays for someone & asks forgiveness near the end *End of Spoiler*; *Spoiler* Bancroft also prays near the very end for forgiveness *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of thanking God; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of prayers, praying, blessings over food, devotionals, & reading Scriptures; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, services, hymns, ministers, & Christians; A few mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of faiths; A mention of a book about a girl serving God;
*Note: A mention of an ungodly hour of a morning.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dash it all’, a ‘hang it all’, a ‘poppycock!’, two ‘shut up’s, two forms of ‘blast’s, two ‘confound it’s, two forms of ‘stupid’, and four ‘idiot’s; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & eye rolling; Hearing a carriage crash, seeing injured/bleeding bodies, their deaths, screaming, being in shock, pain, injured, & grief (up to semi-detailed); Being shot, being abducted/drugged, blacking out, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Being taken hostage, threatened & nearly slapped (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint & nearly shot (many times, up to semi-detailed); Nearly drowning (up to semi-detailed); Fighting (up to semi-detailed); An explosion & fire (up to semi-detailed); Cyril smokes a cigarette (though he loathes them); A side POV character drinks (up to semi-detailed); A nightmare of someone’s death (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of being held at gun point, gunshots, being held hostage & tied up, concussions, being slapped/hit, pain, blood/bleeding, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of explosives, making bombs, gunpowder, & fires (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of thieves, thefts, robberies, crimes, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of blood/bleeding, injuries, a carriage crash, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a young child seeing his mother dead from a horse fall (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths & deaths of children caused by illnesses (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a ship going down & drownings; Mentions of an abduction (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of seeing someone getting stitches (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of nightmares (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of jails & prisons; Mentions of threats; Mentions of gambling; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & taverns; Mentions of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, tobacco, & smoking; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of throwing up & vomit; A few mentions of a war, fighting, & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of punches & blood/bleeding; A few mentions of vandalism; A few mentions of hunting & hunts; A few mentions of the possibility of a baby bird being eaten or killed; A few mentions of pickpockets; A couple mentions of murder & assault; A couple mentions of embezzlement; A couple mentions of gossip.


Sexual Content- Bancroft wishes he could kiss his girl one last time (not-detailed); A bit of noticing; Mentions of noticing; A couple mentions of blushes; A mention of seeing a brother kissing a girl (not-detailed); A mention of a honeymoon; A mention of beaus; A tiny bit of hints of romance, falling in love, & being interested in someone;
*Note: A few mentions of a wife & baby that died during labor.

-Cyril Arlington Hartwell
-Olivia Larken Hartwell
P.O.V. switches between Cyril, Olivia, Dudley, Bancroft, & a couple other’s
Set in 1910 {Epilogue in 1915}
288 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I’ve been hearing about this book for a while now, especially in the homeschool-Christian-fiction community.
When I first read about the plot, I interested not only in the idea of a mystery set in historical London, but that it was more of a sibling plot than a love interest plot; something I don’t see too much and always appreciate seeing. :)
I admit that I was expecting a more light-hearted read, so when a certain twist came in, I was a bit befuddled.
Character wise: I liked Olivia. I wish her age would have been said, but she was overall a decent girl. Her brother on the other hand…I wasn’t a fan. He was cold and mean. Three-quarters in, we learn what caused him to be a selfish-bitter person who knows he should let people in, but wouldn’t. I have to be honest, it felt like a bit of a stretch. The ending made it better, but it still felt like it took a while to get there. His comments about only girls show certain emotions, didn’t help endear him to me either.
I was confused at times about all the siblings and family matters, but the mystery was interesting.
For a debut book, it was enjoyable, but I’ll admit that Cyril took down my personal rating. However, the writing style was engaging and I found the mystery interesting. I also appreciated how clean it was even though it had a lot of action/danger. I really enjoyed all the faith content and Olivia’s faith parts for sure; overall, it was a good read. :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mystery mixed with suspense, mixed with Historical Fiction. . . It is neither mystery or suspense, but a blend of the two.
The book is set in London, 1910. It features the story of Cyril and Olivia Hartwell, (along with a myriad of other fun characters) who are fighting through a darkness that has shrouded London in mystery and a darkness that has taken over their own hearts.
I loved writing this story and it is my first novel. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing. I love all of my characters and am so excited to be spending some more time with them as I explore them a little more in sequels.

[Zachary McIntire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should probably start out this review with a disclaimer: when it comes to books, movies, etc., I am fairly hard to please. In fact, I hardly ever read fiction at all, until I got on GR. I volunteered to read and review London in the Dark, primarily because so many of my friends on here seemed to be so excited about it. The author was kind enough to provide me with a free review copy before the release, but life, business, and a broken Kindle conspired to delay my finishing the book until it had been "on the shelves" for about two months. (Thanks, Victoria, for your patience!)

So, for starters: the book is completely clean, without one instance of foul language, graphic violence, or any other objectionable content. I heartily commend Miss Lynn on writing a book that a could hand to my kids (if I had any) without having to edit it with correction tape first! I also appreciate the fact that the characters' Christian faith is central to the story, and doesn't feel like an afterthought. The main characters were well developed, and I felt drawn into their emotions, especially (and ironically?) Olivia. The story moved along at a good pace, and kept my interest until the end, without indulging in the reams of useless dialogue and superfluous narrative, with which so many novels are encumbered.

So, why only three stars? Well, like I said, I am picky. In general, I felt like the book could have used quite a bit more editing. The writing is basically good, but lacks polish; some scenes felt very bumpy and awkward to me. There were at least a couple actual inconsistencies and historical anachronisms, which I think more thorough editing would probably fix as well.

As for the plot, I felt that the relationship-driven aspects were put together well, especially the surprising plot twist near the beginning, but I found the "crime-related" elements rather dissatisfying. In a book of this genre, I was expecting more mystery, but there was very little. And what mystery there was, the MC didn't solve. He finds clues, but they either are left as loose ends, or they turn out to be misleading. It seemed that the only reason the criminals were caught was that they were stupid and greedy, and while this might be realistic, one expects a little more than that from a story where the MC is a private eye.

But to reiterate, I did enjoy this book overall. My sincere hope is that this somewhat-picky review won't discourage anyone from reading it, nor the author from continuing to write. It's clear that Miss Lynn's first purpose is to glorify God in her writing, which I highly applaud. Far too few Christian authors make that their highest priority, and we can't afford to lose any!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

With every new author that I read, I'm never quite sure what to expect. I did enjoy reading this for the most part. There were several times, however, that I wanted to tell just about every character a think or two, and one person in particular I was ready to slap! (I don't usually want to slap characters, but boy did he drive me crazy!)

I had a harder time fitting the story into a time period in my mind even after I knew what year it was. Perhaps that was because I haven't read many books that take place in England.

The detective didn't seem very smart for someone who had solved such hard cases. It was starting to bother me that he never sat down and really thought and pondered the clues he had, that he was always racing here and there in what seemed a haphazard way, and never solving anything or putting two and two together until it was basically solved for him. Maybe it was because of things that had happened to him.

The other thing that was getting to me was the lack of "how" things happened. I can't tell much without spoiling things, but events and situations would take place, yet the reader isn't ever quite sure how some of them could have happened.

The ending was as I had predicted with the exception of the minister. That made me raise an eyebrow and wonder a bit, but most of the ending I really liked and it made this story a three star.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 12-20

Read on Kindle Unlimited

I’m sorry that I’ve allowed myself to fall so behind in my reviews. I’m writing this one a couple of months after I’ve read it, so I know this won’t be the best review.

This was my first Victoria Lynn novel, and it won’t be my last. This one suffered from newbie roughness, but better than many first novels I’ve read. I look forward to reading and watching how Lynn matures in her craft over time.

The setting was lovely and perfect for a mystery. I mean, who doesn’t love a good British mystery? I felt like Lynn captured the setting well, and also the historical details that made sure you stayed grounded in the time.

This was a sibling story, not a romance. That was a refreshing change. I love romance, but life isn’t all about it and neither should books.

The faith element was well done, which is one of the harder elements to master. It’s one of the reasons I’m looking forward to reading more Lynn books.

I highly recommend this to those who like clean mysteries, historical fiction, and sibling stories.

[G. Buckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

~wonderfuls~

the characters

Victoria did a great job with all her characters, but my favorites were Mrs. Hobbs, Mr. Doyle, and Dudley. They were so sweet! Olivia was also really good. I didn’t like Cyril until very late in the book, but he was well-written.

the setting

I loved how this was set in London (obviously it’s set in London, Grace, look at the title). I’ve never been a humongous fan of London/England, but I do enjoy reading about it.

the plot

When I started reading this, I was not expecting what I found. It was more detectivish (yes, I just made that up) than I thought it would be. (Maybe if I would have read the blurb all the way through?) And I liked that!

the themes

I loved the themes scattered throughout London in the Dark. They really encouraged me, especially the ones concerning loss.

~not-so-wonderfuls~

writing style

The writing style wasn’t my favorite in the world. Also, there were a few grammatical errors.

~personal thoughts~

All in all, I’m so glad I read London in the Dark. Maybe I should check out some more books set in London!

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I went into this book completely blind aside from the information given in the synopsis. I’ll note that it’s not often I can do that as so many books these days have some kind of negative content I have to investigate beforehand so I don’t get smacked in the face with it unawares and either walk away annoyed or even, on occasion, upset/disturbed. Having followed/interacted with this author on Goodreads and her blog for a while now, I knew her values well enough that I trusted her and felt no need to spend all that time researching or pouring through multiple reviews, and that was highly refreshing.

That said, I enjoyed London in the Dark very much. It’s a mystery, and while it was hardly the most complex mystery I’ve ever read it was still…well…mysterious :) as well as entertaining, and there were definitely some surprises. Even when I figured out certain things before they were revealed, the main characters’ personal issues were still more than enough to keep me interested. At one point, something that happened in the story even reminded me of G. K. Chesterton’s character Father Brown*, and I like Father Brown a lot, so that was a good thing to be reminded of.

The Characters: I loved the majority of the characters in this book, though I think Olivia rose to the top as my favorite. I related to her deeply because she and I seemed to have similar personalities. The funny thing was, I judged her way too quickly when she first appeared on the page. She lived in this big expensive house with her wonderful parents and paid employees, all of whom she got along with very well. She had well-trained animals and was multi-talented because she could ride a horse** well and play the piano. In short, she seemed a little too “perfect.” But then she started interacting with other characters and I saw that she wasn’t all that different from me: Very comfortable with family and close friends, but far more reserved around other people. I ultimately regretted thinking her life was too perfect when the tragic event I refer to as, “The Sucker-Punch to the Gut” occurred. However, this event just brought out more similarities between her and myself because Olivia tended to keep her negative feelings bottled inside, just like me, and we both struggle with similar feelings when we experience a loss. It was nice that she was a Christian like me too because some of the things she learned over the course of the story could resonate with me that much more deeply.

Olivia did occasionally do some things weren’t the smartest thing in the world, but given her youth, how sheltered she was growing up, and the way she was feeling at that time in general I wasn’t annoyed by it because I felt it made sense for her character to be that way.

Then there was Olivia’s brother Cyril. He was a complicated one. He frequently annoyed me to the point I wanted to yell at him (and I cheered whenever other characters called him out on his behavior) and yet he was compelling too. I guess I’m trying to say that he was annoying in a way that made me want to keep reading to find out why he acted that way and if he ever reformed, as opposed to him making me want to throw the book against the wall and stop reading because the annoyance wasn’t worth it, if that makes sense at all. I’m glad he did finally reform. I liked him a lot better after that.

Cyril’s friend Dudley took second place, after Olivia, on my list of favorite characters. He was so sweet and kind and loyal. I don’t think it would be possible not to like him. <3


There were several other side-characters who I liked very much as well.

The main reason I took off one star is because of some technical issues scattered throughout the book. Some of these issues the average, non-writing reader (especially younger readers) might not notice, but I, as a writer, did notice them because the inner editor just doesn’t turn off anymore: Instances of commas being where periods should be, periods being where commas should be, missing commas, redundancies like stating the emotion the character is feeling and then showing the emotion with body language, some missing words, and several instances where it appeared that a sentence was edited from one form to another, but one word was missed and remained in a form that didn’t match the rest of the sentence…etc.

However, one thing that anyone reading the book will notice were the four instances of placeholders that never got filled in. In three of these instances, the exact location of an event apparently had not been decided and dashes “----” were left in place of part of the location. Two of these were on the same page, the third only a couple pages later. In the fourth instance, the exact date for a character’s diary entry had not been decided and dashes were left in place of the day. These were not the worst oversights ever as the information that was left out was not crucial to the story, but seeing them still jarred me out of the story rather badly. I bought my copy of this book from Amazon and as far as I’m aware it’s the book in its final form, not an ARC or anything like that, and it just would have been better that these things had not been missed in editing.

Edit: I've been told in the comments that sometimes authors use dashes on purpose when they choose not to specify a location or date. I hadn't seen that done before and thought it was an oversight, but now that I know it wasn't I've chosen to remove that part from my review. :)

But! I liked this book enough that I don’t want to end my review on a negative note, so I’m going to fangirl over the exceptionally perfect ending. <3 I really don’t think I’ve grinned, squealed, and sighed so much over an epilogue in a long time! I can’t give details or there would be some massive spoilers, but suffice it to say that it had me going like,





Except, I was hugging the book, not a mini replica of the Emperor Kuzco’s vacation home. :p That ending just made me really, really, REALLY want to see more of these characters and I will very happily read whatever this author writes about them!

Conclusion: This is a very enjoyable read that I would recommend to lovers of mysteries, Christian fiction, and character-driven stories.

Content advisory for those who want to know: This is a very clean read. No sexual content besides one passing mention of a character seeing someone he knows kissing someone else (the kissing is not described). No swearing. The only reason I would recommended this book for readers slightly older readers is because the little bit of violence (the fatal injuries of two people are described, and several characters are injured in various ways including blows to the head, gunshot wound to the shoulder, and near-drowning), some intense moments, and particularly the themes of loss (especially parental loss), and intense grief may not be suitable for particularly young readers.





*At the time of this writing I have only seen the TV show version of Father Brown, but the books are on my tbr list. I WILL read them eventually!

**Brownie points to the author for knowing enough about horses to portray the one featured here accurately. I was horse obsessed as a kid and teen and know enough about them to know and be annoyed if/when they’re portrayed inaccurately.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having this book on my TBR stack ever since it first came out, I was thrilled to win it in a giveaway on the author's blog. :)
When I began reading it, I knew my long wait had not been in vain. This story was every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be.
The characters were well developed, not shallow, and relatable. Unlike a lot of historical fiction, they seemed a part of the given time period, not modern characters shoved into a 1900's world.
The plot was definitely thought through, and the author did an excellent job tying all the loose ends together at the end.
My favorite part, though, was how well the author brought the amazing message of God's forgiveness into the story. No spoilers, but I ALMOST cried at the end. Beautifully done, Victoria! I can't wait to read more of your books!

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many suspense books in the past and this one is definitely one of my favorites! I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was put together very well and I love how the pieces fell into place. Also, I just have to say that I was blown away by the end! It was amazing. It makes me happy just thinking about it.

The only thing that I didn't like about the book was that you knew who was behind the attacks in almost the very beginning. I've never read a suspense book where you know who the attacker is the whole book and I admire the author for doing something different, it just took away some of the suspense for me. I like having to guess who the attacker is rather than being told right away because I feel like it adds more to the book by leaving the readers in the dark.

That was the only part that I did not like. The author definitely made up for it in the end though.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. London in the Dark keeps you on edge until the end, which I liked. I would recommend this to anyone.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I’m a detective story junkie, (*eyes three inch thick Sherlock Holmes collection*), so of course I loved this book. :D The Gospel, London, mysterious thefts (or is this terrorism??), and some fun references to a few of my favorite books set in the same time period. (I was especially happy to find Olivia reading Esther Reid. That book is so good.) The British-isms were on point, and the characters well portrayed. I grew to like Olivia, pity Cyril, and find Mrs. Hobbs to be a hilarious angel. But Dudley TAKES THE CAKE. The poor, darling mediator, sidekick, and tired medical student was really just the best. (Do you see that rating? One whole star belongs to him. I’d read a whole book just about him reading the back of Cyril’s newspaper.) I had nearly solved the case so many times and then all my theories when out the window. I spent the whole beginning of the book trying to identify the Harlands’ mysterious visitor. Was it Cyril? But he’s evil? Was he a double agent? Maybe it’s twins. No, it’s never twins. I was seriously, irrevocably hooked at that point. :D The accident took me by surprise as well. I was expecting something, but not that. *wails* Cruel, cruel misleading author! :P Even when I pretty much knew who the bad guys were, they were still so frighteningly clever and one step ahead that I hated their guts. And can we talk about that epilogue?! BANCROFT! Not recommended for younger readers because of intense action, description of fatal wounds, and a child in danger including kidnapping, being threatened with a gun, dangling off London Bridge, and near drowning. Also, two minor, British profanities are used once each.

Best quotes: “Carotid arteries…” Dudley mumbled, half asleep, then he sat bolt upright when Cyril shook him again.

“Nice of you to join us Dudley, though I thought perhaps you might never come. Be a good chap and call the police will you? I don’t want to take my eyes off the scoundrel any longer that I have to.”

Altogether, fantastic debut!!! I hope we get to read more from this author. And SOON. ;)

[Gray Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, enjoyed this one, but the genre isn't typically my favorite and this wasn't one of those books that really changed that for me. :/

More detailed review to come!

[Mary Herceg · Rating 3 out of 5]

With skillful suspense, complex and endearing characters, and deep, beautiful themes, London in the Dark by Victoria Lynn is an all-around amazing novel. It contains wonderful suspense and mystery, but it is so much more than either of those. From my perspective, it centers around deep and interesting characters and their respective journeys and relationships, which I love.

Victoria did a wonderful job weaving an incredibly exciting, complex, and believable mystery. Her plotting was impeccable, and she kept me asking questions the entire book. My desire to know what happened next kept me reading, in addition to wanting to find out more about the characters, backstory, and everything else. The suspense never let up and only grew throughout the book, rising to an intense crescendo of action during the end. I was riveted during each page and kept on the edge of my seat. I loved seeing each thread of plot and suspense woven together masterfully into a mind-boggling web, and each one was tied up perfectly in the end.

The characters were definitely my favorite part of the book, as with any novel – and these did not disappoint. Beginning on the very first page and increasing throughout, I fell in love with Olivia, Cyril, Dudley, and all their friends, and they have become some of my all-time favorite literary characters. Each character was vividly drawn, displaying fascinating motivations, quirks of personality, and deep emotion. I loved Olivia's grace and gentleness, Dudley's sweet compassion, and Cyril's intelligent tenacity And I loved the relationships between the characters most of all. The sibling relationship of Olivia and Cyril, the brotherly banter of Cyril and Dudley, and the caring friendship of Olivia and Dudley were quite possibly the best parts of the book for me. I empathized greatly with all of the characters – including Cyril the whole time, even when he made bad decisions – and I especially identified with both Olivia and Dudley.

London in the Dark is an incredibly deep book. The profound themes of faith, redemption, courage, and so many more were so beautiful, meaningful, and spiritually encouraging. Seeing the walk of faith, or back to faith, of each main character strengthened my own faith. I especially loved the subtle Christian elements of prayers and Bible verses, each included in a necessary, natural, and tasteful way – and never in a preachy one.

The emotions in the book were deep and heartrending as well. Each character's emotion was perfectly conveyed so that I experienced each high and low along with the characters. I laughed, cried, screamed, and everything in between as I read, and I enjoyed feeling each emotion. The emotional journey of each character was vivid, raw, and real, and my heart ached for each character during their hard moments and rejoiced with them when they experienced joy.

There were many highs and lows throughout the book, and Victoria was able to make me both laugh and cry, often alternating many times during a single page. She interspersed wit and humor at just the right moments, and I loved the entertaining banter and wry comments between the characters. Cyril and Dudley each made me laugh out loud countless times, especially when they were together!

I loved the historical setting of the book, and I was transported straight to 1910 London, walking directly into the past each time I opened the pages. An astounding amount of research must have gone into the book, because nearly every detail of the characters, events, and setting was historically accurate, even the most minute. The world felt so vivid, real, tangible, and realistic, and I experienced the noisy, crime-ridden political intrigue of Edwardian London and the peaceful beauty of the characters' family home as if I walked there myself.

One thing that stood out to me from the very first chapter was the wonderful dialogue. From the moment Cyril first opened his mouth, I could hear the characters speak with every line they spoke. Each unique accent, tone, inflection, and choice of words was effortlessly vivid in my imagination from the skillful writing. The way each character talked reflected their personality, background, and current emotion perfectly.

Another thing I can't help but mention is the gorgeous cover. I fell in love the very first time I saw the image during the cover reveal, and the hard copy looks even more awesome from all sides and from within! Victoria and her graphic designer did a wonderful job creating an intriguing and stunningly beautiful cover that perfectly fits and does justice to the amazing story inside.

Overall, I loved, loved, loved this book!! I cannot even describe or contain how much I loved, appreciated, and enjoyed the well-developed characters, exciting plot, and literally everything else about this story! There is honestly nothing bad I have to say about this book at all, and I wouldn't be able to think of anything even if I tried. It is wonderful in every way. And this simple review doesn't do the amazing book justice. It took me on an amazing journey along with the characters, with heart-stopping action, heart-rending emotion, and many heart-warming moments along the way. The ending might just be my favorite part of the whole book…. It is perfection!!

I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone, young teens and up, who appreciates amazing story and characters. Fans of mysteries and/or historical fiction will especially enjoy it, but anyone will enjoy it regardless. I will be giving this book to my Sherlock Holmes-loving brothers, and I know they will love it too. I've recommended it to several real-life friends already, in addition to those on Goodreads, and I know I will do so many more times in the future, as well. Don't hesitate to pick up your own copy of London in the Dark – you will not be disappointed!

Full disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I wait so long to read this book? Why did I open it so hesitantly? Why was I so surprised at how much I liked it? I've heard a bunch of great reviews on it and really enjoyed Bound, so I honestly can't tell you. What I can tell you is that whatever I was afraid of, I certainly didn't find it.

Maybe it was Cyril that made me hesitate. I've never really liked my heroes on the snarky, un-personable side, so I figured I'd have to just slog through the parts with Cyril. But surprisingly--at least to me--I didn't! This is so strange to say, but I actually liked Cyril a lot, in spite of his grumpiness, his coldness, and his all-around closed-off-ness. Somehow, Victoria gave me just enough glimpses of the heart he was trying so desperately to keep down that I didn't even have to warm up to him; I actually felt for and rooted for him from the beginning. That's not to say I wasn't frustrated with him at times (a lot of times), but I really liked him in spite of it.

Dudley, of course, was impossible not to like, especially in his back-and-forth with Cyril. And boy, it was surprising how many times it came in handy to have a doctor for a best friend! (Okay, I admit I tend to like scenes where people get hurt and other people have to take care of them, so maybe that influenced my perspective, too...) Olivia was very sweet, and it hurt to see her hurting. Her chapters felt very realistic as she tried to deal with her loss and loneliness in a far more productive (but also more heart-wrenching) way than her brother.

There were a few places where the style felt just a bit off or a word sounded a little too modern, but I was so engrossed in the characters that it really didn't bug me that much. The ending (not talking about the epilogue, which was adorable!) had me worried at first that it was going to be over-the-top, but it really wasn't. Trying not to spoil anything--I'll just say that non-believers might find it a bit unrealistic, but the God we serve can do amazing things! ;)

I'm so glad I finally took the plunge and read this, and I'm still shaking my head at the fact that it took me so long. Four stars and two solid thumbs up!

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review won't live up to all the others, but just wanted to give everyone a heads up that this is a great book to read. I had the privilege of beta-reading this and I saw how much work the author put into it.

There is nothing innappropiate in this book (there is just the tiniest hint of romance, but hardly even there) and there were so many good spiritual lessons throughout. Dudley won this book over for me...sorry Cyril!!

I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, but I can be hard to please in that aspect ;)

*I might add some more of my thoughts in the future when I read it again*

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, the sum of this book is that Cyril made my cry. (Interesting how the first three letters of his name, rearranged, spell that word...)

I'm not sure where to start, so I'll just start with the best part: the characters.
Cyril: I love his personality. (not his big pride problem, but that's not his personality) His perfectionism, detail-orientation, no doubt good looks, stoicism, and all of that. Just great. He was developed exceptionally, which caused the crying(that happened the first time he cried). I've discovered what makes me cry. It's not good characters, nor bad characters becoming good. It has to be the main character who has a major fault, yet repents. I empathized so much with Cyril throughout the book, so when he finally got some sense knocked into his head, I couldn't help but be as happy as Olivia. (Also, confession time... I liked it when he swore with British swearing. Oops.)
Which brings me to Olivia. She was nice. She wasn't too flighty, nor too taciturn. Honestly, she didn't have any great or really bad points. She was necessary.
And, Dudley! For some reason, I didn't picture him as handsome as Dudley. (So all you Dudley fans can keep him) He was great. Very necessary to Cyril.
Mrs. Hobbs was an amazing character. I love women who just talk and talk and talk. :D
Harlow Doyle... LOL When I first saw his name, I just shook my head and laughed. Victoria Lynn, did you not think your readers wouldn't think of the bumbling detective in Adventures in Odyssey?
One last character- Bancroft. Eh. He was fine. I certainly didn't empathize with him as much as I did with Cyril. It was a good addition to the plot. I was confused, though, about why Olivia's parents didn't recognize him at the party. Does a crooked mustache really alter one's appearance that much?

Onto the plot! I love mysteries, especially with perfectionist detectives. :) I didn't get completely lost in the proceedings, but there wasn't too much detail to it that I was bored. I wish Cyril would have been a little smarter, but that would have made him too much like Hercule Poirot.

As others have said, there were many punctuation mistakes- commas instead of periods, nothing where commas should have been, semicolons instead of colons- and I probably noticed most of them. But, for me, that didn't detract from the story. It's just a reminder that you can never be perfect!

I conclude by saying that Cyril made me cry, so he was the perfect protagonist. Olivia was the perfect sister to Cyril, and Dudley was the perfect friend. Mrs. Hobbs just wrapped it all up in a bow. <3

[Bethany Willcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I said that I loved this book it would probably be the understatement of the year! London in the Dark was brilliant, absolutely amazing! It was a combination of all my favourite genres, Historical Christian Fiction (set in England, which makes it even better!), Mystery/Detective/Private Investigator, with just enough clean, Christian Romance thrown in without making anyone uncomfortable. The plot was excellent and highly suspenseful, the characters different, uniquely individual, and well-developed, the descriptions wonderful without being too long and tedious, the setting perfect, the cover pretty, exciting, and different all in one, the title perfectly fitting to the story, and the mystery brilliant. To have Bancroft, who everyone thought was dead, working against his brother and then later on, his sister, was a wonderful twist to the story and made everything so much more interesting! In fact, there were a lot of twists that I never would have expected, both good and bad! I could hardly put this book down from beginning to end!

Definitely a new favourite, and Victoria Lynn has been added to my list of Favorite Authors. I can’t wait for the rest of the Light of London series to be released!

Highly recommended to anyone who loves any of the genres I mentioned above!

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very excellent book, I must admit. It was a bit outside my usual genre, and historical has never been my favorite. However, I still very much enjoyed it, and appreciated the whole mystery-interwoven-with-faith thing--you don't see that too often in fiction. <3

Poor Olivia. I felt so bad for her the whole time, although I think it would have been nice to know exactly how old she was--thirteen or fourteen, I was thinking, although it could have been slightly older? I don't know.

And poor Cyril! I spent much of the book disliking him, and then we found out what the real problem was and....POOR GUY. My goodness. :'(

The plot was good, although not as strong, perhaps, as it could have been. I felt a little more detail into Cyril's actual detective work might have been nice.

So much emotion in this story! My goodness! I actually wanted to cry once or twice. Sibling stories are always close to my heart. <3

I think I'd give this one 3.5 stars (seriously, Goodreads? Get some half stars!!!!) A good, solid, Christian historical mystery, and I can't wait to see what else Victoria Lynn has up her sleeve! ;)

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun historical mystery. It gave me some bigtime Sherlock vibes, but I guess any time you have a private detective who's best friend is a doctor and who live with an awesome landlady, some comparisons are inevitable. ;)

The characters were all fun. Cyril's mustache was so ridiculous and I loved it. Olivia had a great arc. I really liked following her and she seemed very real to me.

The plot was a little simplistic. There weren't any big reveals, to me at least, but the mystery part was well done. The ending just seemed a little too contrived maybe? I don't know, I'm not super big on sudden redemption moments, so it seemed a little too easy to me.

But overall it was a fun story. There was plenty of humor, and touching moments. I did like how Cyril and Olivia's relationship evolved at the end. Mystery usually isn't my go to genre, so maybe that's why it didn't click as well with me, but I did enjoy it, so give it a chance if you like clean historical fiction!

*I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed in this review are my own*

[Hailey Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, can we just drool over that cover for a minute? It’s just so…so London-y. SOOOOO pretty and beautiful and I need it on my shelf.

London in the Dark is a story full of family values, a little romance, and, of course, mystery. The single aspect of this book that made my heart happy is the historical accuracy. I couldn’t find anything that seemed out of place so kudos to Victoria for doing her research! Another thing I absolutely loved about this story is there the sub plots. The whole book isn’t just focused on the mystery, it’s also about family relationships. Something else about this book is the CHARACTERS!!!! (Especially Dudley. Definitely Dudley.) Cyril made me frustrated sometimes, but I really did like him. :)

Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries and stories set in London, this is your book.

(Side note: this book is best read in conjunction with Downton Abbey. ;-) )

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut author Victoria Lynn has spun us a reverberating detective story straight from the streets of London 1910.

First off, (it has to be mentioned)... Obviously the author is a Sherlock Holmes fan! Other Holmesians, just like myself, will notice all the fine details interwoven into the story that are inspired by The Great Detective himself. Many times I thought to myself, "I wonder if the author meant to have this-or-that to resemble this-or-that from the original stories?" And the answer is probably yes for all my questions.

The setting is perfect. Victorian England, complete with all the right social customs, and overall well-written historical environment that seemed accurate to the time period for me. Nailed it.

The plot was intriguing, and I found a couple of really good passages in which I relished a good laugh at. Dudley is probably my favorite character (the Watson-type friend in the story). He's just a good egg and hangs in there for the long run. Cyril comes off as a bit cold (but what kind of Holmes-type character doesn't?). To quote from the book: "He enjoyed the unusual and wanted to be able to choose his jobs." Honestly, I didn't really connect well with Cyril (and I usually love the type of character he portrayed in the plot), but it was not to be this time for me. Now, to discuss Olivia, Cyril's sister. I deeply felt for this girl -- not to give away a key turning point in the plot, but she goes through a huge amount of grief and sorrow. Her faith stood out though, and one prayer in particular really resonated with me. She whispers these words to her Savior: "Help me, help me to say that I bless you, even in this darkness, even when it's so hard." Also, I rather fell in love with Olivia's pets. It's not too often you meet a character who truly enjoys spending time with her wide assortments of animals, and it was rather cute to read about.

There is a quality Christian theme running throughout the plot. It definitely wasn't an afterthought to have the religious element into the plot, because it's so natural for it to be there. I truly appreciate how the author added it in, because I felt like the faith element is really the glue to the whole story, and I probably wouldn't have liked the book as much without it.

I like that there didn't have to be a romance in order for the story to be interesting. I get aggravated a lot when just about every book you pick up is more or less a romance novel (even in disguise). This one stands in the gap though. A good mystery, plus some stirring drama or emotion, is all you really need for a clincher.

Who would enjoy it? Well, anyone up for a good Victorian mystery, I'd say. I could even recommend it for some kids/teens. Just as a caution, there is some violence (including some gunshots) and vaguely mentioning drinking/smoking. Still, I'd consider it a "clean" read. And an enjoyable one too.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH!!! Everyone MUST read this book! It was so good. This book was filled with adventure and mystery from page one until the very end! It was filled with plot twist after plot twist that made you sit on the edge of your seat and not want to set this book down.

I was in shock a few times by some plot twists but then there were others ones that had my heart bursting with joy! Especially the one in the epilogue!!

I loved all the characters. It took me nearly the entire book to like Cyril, but once I got to the last few chapters I feel in love with his character! I also really loved Mrs. Hobbs, Dudley and Mr. Doyle. They all were so sweet, kind, and just amazing! Also the faith aspect was written and explained very well. All the faith and scripture references made me really happy inside!!

The action and plot was written so well, and I really cannot wait to read the next book in this series!! I really recommend reading this book, if you have not already!! Just do, I know that you'll love it!! ;)

Yet another book by Victoria that I loved! Really you can't go wrong with her books!!

[Rachel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*
Ok, I called the epilogue. And it was SO good.
I enjoyed the mystery and siblings. The faith content was just so amazing. Dudley. There are some harder topics, but it was dealt with well

Content: parents death, held at gunpoint, kidnapped, heavy grief, minor violence

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had no idea what to rate this for awhile. I wish I could have done three and a half stars. The first ten percent was a little slow for me. I mean, we pretty much just watched Olivia do normal stuff at her house. Only at the ten percent mark did we really hit some action, and only then did I really start to connect to the characters.
The first thing I really loved about the book was that it was not a romance. It was about a brother and sister's relationship.
I also liked Dudley. He was a nice break after so much temperament from Cyril.
Cyril's change at the end was nice and felt natural. Even though when Olivia gets hurt it causes a pretty big turn around, I felt like it was built up nicely.
Also, the injury's in the book were not to drawn out, which felt realistic as well.
I appreciated the message. Though I didn't feel it was built up quite as much as it could have been, I really did like it.
I really loved the mystery side of the thing. There was one part that I felt was really brilliantly built up.
This book was super clean, which I really enjoyed.

What I didn't like:
Everyone had a nice sob story background to make you feel sorry for them. I realize the author was trying to add depth to the characters, but they all seemed so similar, and some of them kinda just blurt it out and it felt forced.
The guys cry a lot, it felt a bit unrealistic.
I did not like that one of the bad guys pretended to be a minister.
And the ending where they are trying to pretend not every reader knows who Olivia is marrying. If we hadn't guessed by that point, we were hopeless.

Overall, this was a nice book, but I just felt like some of it fell short. I do look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

2020>> I read this all in one day and liked it better then the first time around. It may still be hovering between 3 and 4 stars for me, but I definitely got four stars worth of enjoyment out of spending an afternoon curled up reading this.

[serena482* · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating 4.5 stars. This was a very interesting read! I couldn't really decide whether to rate it 5 stars or 4 so I just went with 4.5. Here is a little bit about the book. The main characters are Cyril, Olivia, and Dudley along with a few other people who are in there throughout the book. Danger is everywhere, pain is everywhere, where is the escape. Read about Olivia and Cyril, in there fight against danger and pain, in the book London in the Dark. I really enjoyed this book. More then I thought I would to tell you the truth. It was exciting and kept you reading. I liked the characters, and they were pretty real. I felt the book was very well written too. I was a little confused at the beginning of the book, but it is like that in a lot of books trying to figure out who all the people are and stuff. :) I would recommend it to ages 12-up. So yeah, it was a good read I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to all of you to read it.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh... I'm still waffling between four and four-and-three-quarters stars... so I'll just round up to five and call it done.

The reason I delayed writing up this review for so long is because I was trying to get to an unbiased state- get over the euphoria of receiving it, finishing it in one sitting, and adopting Dudley into my harem of older brethren ('cause, y'know, I'd never have a book crush) and actually be critical.

Eh, it still hasn't happened. *squeals and hugs book*

Anyway- my main problem was missing commas, but Victoria is getting the book edited and re-published, so I can not count those. It would have only knocked my review down to four stars though, because, because...

Here's the funny thing about me. I don't usually rate books on plot or lack of it, but on how it makes me feel. And obviously, based on the amount of time I spent squealing and hugging this book, it's a winner. The characters- Oy, I love them all. Or love to hate them all. Or love to hate to love them all. You get the idea. The dialogue... DUDLEY.... etc. It was beautiful. And unlike some books I know where the religion is forced in, Olivia is a natural character- the way she brought Christ into the book seemed perfectly normal. That, right there, deserves a round of applause.

On the other hand, there was't any mystery... we knew from the beginning who was doing what, and (kinda) why. And Cyril didn't really strike me as a threat to anything... kinda stupid for a private detective. Really could have used some more observance skills there. I understand you life just fell apart and everything... but really, my friend.... and do be kinder to your sister.

I may be back with more later... just now I had an irresistible urge to go back to book snuggling.

Definitely recommended.