Snifter of Death

The Bloodstone #2

by Chris Karlsen

The summer of 1889 was proving to be a strange one for Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner. They had a sexual pervert loose. The man didn't actually harm women but threatened them at knife point, fondling them, and ultimately stealing their stockings. Far more serious were the murders of influential men, which appeared random other than they were all killed by arsenic poison. Never had he and his partner had cases with so little workable evidence. Also, the rivalry between him and his detective nemesis at London's other police department was intensifying. That nemesis was the boxing champion of their department and looking to challenge Rudyard, who never trained as a boxer. Besides Rudyard's pride being at stake, and the pride of his station, his nemesis also had in his possession a scandalous photograph of the women Rudyard cared very much for. The new lady in Rudyard's life had captured his heart and he'd fight the devil himself to save her reputation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

376 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2017

About the author

Chris was born and raised in Chicago. Her father was a history professor and her mother was, and is, a voracious reader. She grew up with a love of history and books. Her parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto her. She wanted to see the places she read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated her. She’s had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. She is also a retired police detective who spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. Her desire to write came in her early teens. After she retired, she decided to pursue that dream. She writes two different series. Her paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. Her romantic thriller series is, Dangerous Waters. She currently live in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.
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Reviews

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Revenge💀

ADULT Victorian Murder 💀Mystery and Romance💕

The premise of the entire plot is the years later aftermath of a brutal rapings of a fourteen year old farm girl by four young men on the rowing team at Oxford.

British Police Detective, Rudyard Bloodstone 🐺💪🔪🔫🍆⛲and his partner, Archie, are assigned the case of the arsenic poisoning of a prominent London Solicitor. It ends up leading them into his most interesting case yet!

In between the murder investigation, Ruddy🐺🍆⛲💪🔪🔫, searches for a man assaulting young shopgirls on the street and stealing their stockings .

Then Ruddy🐺💪🔪🔫🍆⛲ also must fight another detective in the boxing ring, even though he knows only street fighting!

Ruddy is a multifaceted and multitalented man. He's a police artist , and also an artist in iron. The son of a farrier, he learned how to work iron into beautiful and useful items, like stools, benches, gates, etc.

ARC Provided by Candid Book Reviews 📚
I also got this ebook for 99¢ from Amazon.

This is a sad book about a young woman whose entire life was ruined by four young men in an afternoon when she was fourteen.

The dectective, Ruddy, also has kind of a sad life of just mostly his job. He lives in a boarding house with just a small terrier, Winky, for a companion. His current lady friend is a popular musicale singer, but he tries to keep it casual. Seems like a lonely life to me....

This is a very long involved book but is very interesting, too. It is told from several points of view. The book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger.....that leads to the next case for Welsh detective Rudyard Bloodstone.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It’s a Victorian mystery, but it’s not a stuffy, boring one. This story is entertaining.. Sniffter of Death takes place In London 1889, Detective Rudyard (Ruddy) Bloodstone and his partner Detective Archie Holdbrook who are trying to capture a mysterious perverted man who put a knife to the neck of his women victims, rubs his face up and down their bare thighs, and then steals their stockings. One of the women victims asks if she can just kick the pervert in the "naughty bit" one time when they catch him. I love that phrasing! But Bloodstone says no, he can't let do that.The police are also trying to capture a killer who is killing wealthy men. Rudy Bloodstone is a likeable, down to earth man. He is not concerned with the politics of trying to please the upper classes. He will follow the clues to a crime no matter where they lead.Graciela is an old lady's companion with a big secret and she is set on vengeance. She has carefully plotted her revenge but can she carry out?.The strong, well developed characters are ones are people that we would like to know. There’s also a bit of romance for our hero . Graciela too is a sympathetic character that we can’t help feeling pity for..Check it out for an entertaining read I'm sure you'll enjoy.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading "Snifter of Death" was my first introduction to this author and to the The Bloodstone series. I was captivated almost immediately by the characters within the pages of this historical suspense story set in the time period of 1889. Initially, it seemed as though I was reading two (2) parallel stories by first meeting lady's companion, Graciela Robson, in the midst of bailing out prisoner Newt Addy at the Metropolitan Police – Holborn Station. While waiting for the release of the man Graciela has bailed out of jail, she hears the name Bloodstone recognizing it from all of the publicity of the previous year as the detective who solved the British Museum murders. Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone's and his partner, Detective Archie Holbrook are in the midst of solving another murder which quickly becomes a serial murder case. As the chapters float back and forth between the daily lives of Graciela and the detectives, the reader becomes more and more intrigued with how and when their lives will intersect.

The secondary characters such as Honeysuckle Flowers, landlady Mrs. Goodge, neighbor boy Luke, Rudyard's brother Will, Rudyard's former girlfriend, Evangeline, reporter Geoffrey Marsden, Tony Critchlow, and especially Rudyard's dog Winky, and Graciela's kitten "Me-too" envelop the reader in all aspects of the story. Delightfully this story can be read as a stand-alone but I can't imagine not now reading Book 1, "Silk" to learn the initial case solved by Rudyard Bloodstone.

I can only begin to imagine all of the possibilities for this series as I read the author's fascinating personal story. I highly recommend adding any story by Chris Karlsen to the top of the "wish to read" list.

My lower star rating is only due to copy edit errors that are distracting to me as a reader. I am hopeful for improvement as the series continues.

I was invited to receive a complimentary copy of this novella by the author and have provided my honest and voluntary review.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second novel in the Bloodstone series was the perfect follow up to the first. Once again, I loved the whole "cloak and dagger", Holmes & Watson, Victorian feel. Rudyard is quirky and forthright and has tons of pluck. And, you clearly don't mess with those that he cares about! This had everything that I personally find appealing and satisfying in a suspense novel. And, the plot was not your predictable mystery formula, especially when there were several different sub plots going on in the form of multiple cases trying to be solved.

I liked the whimsy of Rudyard and Archie fervently bent on catching a criminal that is terrorizing women at knife point and stealing their STOCKINGS, so that he can enjoy a whiff and sniff, later. Not every mystery and suspense novel has to be dark and heavy, and I thoroughly appreciated the lightness and humor in Snifter of Death. I am very anxious to read the next book in this series.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In London 1889, Detective Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner Detective Archie Holdbrook have their hands full with a musterious man who is putting knives to the necks of women and stealing their stockings and also some murders of influential men in society.

Det Bloodstone must figure out who is committing these crimes and also keep his nemesis at bay while beginning a new relationship with a woman who doesn't run in the same social circles as he does.

Will he be able to figure out all the crimes before another happens and he is unable to prevent more tragedy.

This is the first book that I have read in this series so I wasn't 100% sure how everything was going to go.

I really liked Detective Bloodstone and he definitely had his hands full with everything going on around him. I found the rivalry between the London Metropolitan Police and the city police interesting and it's too bad that they try to out do each other so much but I loved the angle it presented in the book.

I really loved the character of Graciela Robson and felt terrible with what she went through 16 years ago. I am not surprised that she never got over what she went through and I do think she wouldn't have had much success with the courts at that time because of the different classes that were involved. She was so broken inside from what occurred that she felt there was only one way to move on. I had no idea what was going to happen to her and was very sad with the twist that involved her - not what I was looking for.

This book had a few great twists and I look forward to more from this author.

[Melinda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snifter of Death by Chris Karlsen is the second book in The Bloodstone Series. It is set in Victorian England in the summer of the year 1889. It follows Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner, Archie as they try to find a thief who takes stockings off of woman at knife point, There is the ongoing rivalry between Bloodstone and his detective nemesis from the other police department in London with a most satisfying on the out come during this story. The other major case is involving arsenic poison and men who had known each other when they were younger. Who is the murder, who is the guy who likes stocking as well as what is the culture like can only be answered by reading this for your self. it is not my normal book to read but kept your interest and moved fast. it was a little more detailed in the crimes and such but that is understandable as the author, Chris Karlsen, is a retired police detective. The characters are developed and make you want to know more details which you pick up along the way. it is well written. It is suspenseful, with a little romance. Karlsen stays true to the time period and creates a good picture . It does well as a stand along book but reading the other book of the series will probably enrich your understanding of some things in the story. I would recommend this for a mature audience due to the depiction of the crime and sex and the fact that is darker story than my normal read.

I was given an advanced copy by the author. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer 1889 in London and Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone with his partner Archie Holbrook are chasing a sexual pervert when they are called to the first mysterious death of an influential business man.
Although we know who, and why the murders occur this doesn't distract from enjoying the story, and wondering how it all will end. As this was my first book in the series I was left unsure how this would be resolved.
I liked the easy to read writing style, also the characters Bloodstone and Holbrook, and others in the police station, and now look forward to reading the first in the series.
A NetGalley Book

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rudyard Bloodstone is a detective in the Victorian Metropolitan police and an ex soldier. He is a down to earth type of man, from a large Welsh family. He has little time for the politics of bowing down to the upper classes. He will follow the clues to a crime no matter where they lead.
Graciela is an old lady's companion with a big secret and a mind set on vengeance. Can she carry out her plans in time.
This is an intriguing mystery that shows us just how difficult it was for Victorian police to solve crimes with the limited means they had.
The fabulously strong characters are ones I want to meet again. A little touch of romance for our wonderful hero . We can't help but feel a little sympathy for Graciela.
A very entertaining read.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start off by saying this is a book that was so far out of my genre I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. I have been blogging about romance novels for the past 5 years and have never ventured into something historical that has very dark and suspenseful elements.

In Snifter of Death we enter the Victorian Age and specifically the summer of 1889. This being the 2nd book of the series, we get a very Sherlock & Watson type feel with our main characters, Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and Archie. They are seeking out a serial pervert that is fondling women and stealing their stockings at knifepoint in London.

This is a very hard book for me to review, as I don’t want to give away much of the plot. It is a book that needs to be read in order to understand the twisted plot that Chris Karlsen has enveloped us in.

There is another case being worked that does involve murder. There are men are being poisoned with arsenic and they all have a similar tie to their pasts that unfolds in the story.

This was a very quick paced read and went very smoothly. Chris has tied in so many things into this book and brought in so many characters that there is an unlimited possibility of stories to spin off from here. I loved the way it was so intricate but still held my interest. It didn’t at all slow down and I loved reading something out of the ordinary for me. It’s always fun to find a book in another genre than what I am accustomed too. Great job & I can’t wait for more! And to go back to book one.

*I received an ARC copy of this title at my request and am providing this voluntary review*

[Darcia Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing like reading historical fiction to remind me how much better it is to be a woman in the 21st century. At the start of this story we meet Graciela, a single woman from what we'd probably consider a lower middle class family. As we get to know her, we feel her emotional turmoil and see the damage of past trauma. Her options, as a woman, are all too few.

Alternately, we meet Detective Bloodstone and follow along as he investigates crimes involving a man who steals nylon stockings from women - while the women are wearing those stockings. This case has a humorous spin, which provides relief from Graciela's darker story. Eventually Bloodstone is also assigned the murders of some high-profile men, and this is when the characters' lives intersect and plot twists catch us by surprise.

We spend a lot of time with Bloodstone in his personal life, which, for me, has its pros and cons. I enjoyed getting to know him, and the minor characters with whom he interacts added much life and to the story. But at times I felt things, such as the ongoing issue with the boxing match, detracted from the two criminal cases and the seriousness of the content.

The author does a brilliant job of capturing this era in history. The way the characters interact, their dialogue, and the descriptions of places all combined perfectly to place me within the story. I felt what it was like to live in 1889.

I have not read the first book in this series, though I now want to! This book reads well as a stand-alone.

*I was provided with an ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.*

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant storytelling!!

What a magnificently suspenseful story in Snifter of Death by Chris Karlsen. This is the second book in the Bloodstone series. I've read the first one, Silk, and the third one, A Venomous Love. So, I was definitely looking forward to reading this book. The crimes are just as interesting, and disturbing, as ever, and Bloodstone is on the case. I like that it's not just all crime and investigation, we learn about the crime as a reader, but then things take a dramatic twist. Ruddy is not just a detective, he also has a life, but it doesn't interfere with the tasks at hand. Solving some of the most gruesome crimes. This story had several plots going on, and the reader gets to see a side of Rudyard that we haven't before. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It’s one of those embraceable stories. It’s definitely un-put-downable! Even though I read these books out of order, I recommend that a new reader starts from the first book and read each one. They are stand alone, but you get to see the growth and more personal side of Rudyard, and how there is always a new, and interesting case or in this book, cases. A reader can get lost in the story. (I also had to look up what Snifter meant, and it makes sense for this book's title.) I hope to read more books by this author. Snifter of Death is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snifter of Death should have been a compelling serial killer mystery. According to the information provided, the murderer had plotted for more than a decade and a half to seek revenge. Instead of focusing on this (to me, very interesting) plot, the book was filled with numerous and divergent subplots pulling the reader away from what should have been the major topic of the book.

I found myself quickly becoming disinterested in the story, and increasingly bored with the ongoing details of the lead detective’s social life. There was far too much extraneous activity, and far too little investigating murder. There was, to my (possibly bloodthirsty) mind, also not enough actual murder occurring.

Additionally, I never became attached to any of the characters. I found them mostly annoying, with the exception of the attempted serial murderer, who was given little real attention. I also found the end to the book to be dissatisfying.

The author has fairly strong writing skills, and for those who don’t mind rather disjointed plotlines with topics other than murder, this book should have great appeal.

I do want to emphasize that lovers of cozy historical mysteries will probably like this book more than I did.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be the second book in this series but I thought it read fine as a stand alone novel. Although, after finishing this book with enjoyment, I do want to go back and read book one. Bloodstone is an interesting character. He is humble, caring, has a good sense of humor, not imitated easily, and intelligent. I say this because he would not take accolades for his Victoria Crown medal (humble), and he was a gentleman towards his love interest, Honeysuckle (caring). When one of his fellow co-workers was dressed in disguise, he poked fun at him (sense of humor). Than when his nemesis threated him by wanting to expose Honeysuckle's past, he did not back down as easily (not imitated easily), and finally he was able to solve the cases he was presented with (intelligent).

Yet, I have to admit that the story of the vigilante killing men was more intriguing than the stocking wearing pervert. It seemed that the story was more focused towards the vigilante as well. Which I was on the side of the vigilante. Another thing that I liked about this book was the time period. The author drew me in with the time period and the storytelling.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the summer of 1889 and Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner are facing several unusual crimes. First of all, there is a sexual pervert loose, terrorizing the women of the city. Then, there are several seemingly random murders of influential men. Someone seems to be enacting a vendetta against these men by poisoning them with arsenic.

Add to this the budding romance between Ruddy and the actress Honeysuckle Flowers and a boxing challenge from his nemesis, Napier, a detective from another London PD, and you have plenty of action in this book.

The characters are well-developed and the author does a great job with creating the sights, sounds, and smells of Victorian London. There is enough humor and romance to keep the book from being just another detective tale. The dialogue is witty and engaging.

This book was a fast paced and enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by this author. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good historical mystery. I was given the chance to read this book by Candid Book Reviews and chose to review it.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snifter of Death is the second of the Bloodstone books. In the summer of 1889, Ruddy and his partner on the trail of a sexual predator. He does not harm the women, he holds them at knife point, fondles them and steals their stockings. He is also on the trail of the killer of prominent men, all poisoned by arsenic. At the same time, he is embroiled in a challenge for a fight with another police department in London.

Chris Karlsen does another excellent job of giving us a realistic and lovable character. His new love interest is threatened by the man challenging him and he is shown to have a soft heart when he decides to protect not only his own pride but his love’s reputation. You cannot ask for better than that. The plot is engaging and exciting with more than enough twits and turns to keep our interest. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time in reading this author but do so like a good suspense set in a time when being a good detective was really using all the six senses you might say. They had a different one so much so that they went after men and women but did different things that were unusual. Bloodstone and his partner had themselves a puzzler that is for sure. The competition in this also is different with it being another police department which still probably happens. You do have romance in this one so much so that Bloodstone will protect his no matter what it would seem even if it involves feeding another ego. The layers in this is such you get to see them peeled back one by one with us taking notes along the way. Very good one to get caught up in.

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Bloodstone series. Geez I feel like I'm reading these backwards.. but no matter. It doesn't take away the fact that this series seems to get better and better with every chapter. Even with knowing whose doing the dirty deed. The thrill of the chase is what makes these books great to read and the funny sarcastic bouts Bloodstone and his brother get into... alone with some other peelers.
There's a mysterious murder going on again and Bloodstone is on the trail or will be once he hopefully wraps up another case lickety split. But how many will die before he catches his murderer...

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was good. I have read one other book by this author and I enjoyed it too. I think I will continue to read this author. I could totally understand the “villain” in this book. I could identify with her anger. I think this book is worth reading and would recommend it to others that enjoy this genre. The author did a good job at setting the story up and it had a good balance throughout the pages of the book. It kept me turning them late into the night.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second in the series, and I really enjoyed it. Learning more about Bloodstone and his family, his friendship and partnership with Archie, the "undercover sting" in this story (funny), and more made this a good story. I love the historical aspect of the world, and I will be keeping up with this series. I recommend the book and the series.

I received a copy of this story through CBR Services, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

im not a huge fan of this genre but this story did capture me and kept me interested.. it was well written and i liked the characters and storyline. has crime.. has thriller aspects.. has imagination.. so many fun things.. i enjoyed it