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Alyssa Chalmers #1
The Case of the Missing Bride
When a girl goes missing on board of an ocean liner, only one person is convinced that the disappearance is no accident.
Alyssa has found herself with a group of impoverished girls who are embarking from Australia to Canada in the hope of marriage. As the daughter of a senior official, Alyssa doesn’t share this goal. She hopes to return to England via Canada.
But the girls all share one problem. Their presence on the ship is not know to many of its passengers but their worlds collide when one of the gentlemen discovers them. Then Emma, one of the intended brides, goes missing. Alyssa is convinced the disappearance is no accident, and will risk her own life to search for the killer.
What happened to Emma? Is there a murderer on board the ship?
Alyssa is about to discover that there is more to her voyage than she bargained for.
Alyssa has found herself with a group of impoverished girls who are embarking from Australia to Canada in the hope of marriage. As the daughter of a senior official, Alyssa doesn’t share this goal. She hopes to return to England via Canada.
But the girls all share one problem. Their presence on the ship is not know to many of its passengers but their worlds collide when one of the gentlemen discovers them. Then Emma, one of the intended brides, goes missing. Alyssa is convinced the disappearance is no accident, and will risk her own life to search for the killer.
What happened to Emma? Is there a murderer on board the ship?
Alyssa is about to discover that there is more to her voyage than she bargained for.
310 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 13, 2026
This is a DNF for me at 25%. My Bipolar was just not mixing with the "mean girls and rapey vibes in the 1860s" this had going. Most definitely a me problem because I love Carmen Radtke's other historical series.
Even though I DNF this I'm still marking it off my "Have The Book - TBR" Goals list.
Even though I DNF this I'm still marking it off my "Have The Book - TBR" Goals list.
September 9, 2017
I have to admit this isn’t the usual sort of book that I would pick up. I tend not to be a big fan of books set in a different century, much preferring them to be set in the modern day instead. I have to say though the book description sounded to good for me to pass up on the chance of reading it, so I did, read it that is.
The whole story takes part on the ship on it’s voyage to Canada where most of the girls hope to be married off and make a new life for themselves. I did feel a bit sorry for them all. To spend time cooped up together for quite a considerable amount of time would have sent me stir crazy. Obviously this is also at a time when women were not seen to travel on their own and in this case they are all accompanied by a matron to watch over them and make sure there are no unsavoury advances from any men on board.
I liked how the girls or should I say young women, all have quite a personality. Alyssa certainly is quite outspoken which is something that would have been frowned upon then. The on board doctor though seems to take quite a shine to her often playfully winding her up much to Alyssa’s annoyance. I also enjoyed the matrons character, who I envisioned to be quite different to the stereo typical ones you would normally see on the telly.
I wouldn’t class this as a crime thriller as the story is told at a much slower pace of which I feel is needed for the setting and type of story it is. It is very much one of murder mystery and reminded me slightly of Agatha Christie’s, Death On The Nile with it being set on a ship which means the murderer is still on board and it’s down to the people on board to work out who the villain is.
The Case of the Missing Bride is a charming and intriguing read. For a slower paced read it still had me engrossed, so much so that I read it in two sittings. Definitely one of those sort of books that you will be glad you take a chance on if it’s not your usual kind of read.
The whole story takes part on the ship on it’s voyage to Canada where most of the girls hope to be married off and make a new life for themselves. I did feel a bit sorry for them all. To spend time cooped up together for quite a considerable amount of time would have sent me stir crazy. Obviously this is also at a time when women were not seen to travel on their own and in this case they are all accompanied by a matron to watch over them and make sure there are no unsavoury advances from any men on board.
I liked how the girls or should I say young women, all have quite a personality. Alyssa certainly is quite outspoken which is something that would have been frowned upon then. The on board doctor though seems to take quite a shine to her often playfully winding her up much to Alyssa’s annoyance. I also enjoyed the matrons character, who I envisioned to be quite different to the stereo typical ones you would normally see on the telly.
I wouldn’t class this as a crime thriller as the story is told at a much slower pace of which I feel is needed for the setting and type of story it is. It is very much one of murder mystery and reminded me slightly of Agatha Christie’s, Death On The Nile with it being set on a ship which means the murderer is still on board and it’s down to the people on board to work out who the villain is.
The Case of the Missing Bride is a charming and intriguing read. For a slower paced read it still had me engrossed, so much so that I read it in two sittings. Definitely one of those sort of books that you will be glad you take a chance on if it’s not your usual kind of read.
October 27, 2019
This brilliant book is being republished by Carmen as a self published author. My revised review will be posted as part of the Blog Tour early December
My rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
This book will appeal to readers of many genres I loved it. I don’t, normally, read historical fiction and I was surprised how quickly I got into the book and before the end of the 2nd chapter I was totally gripped. It isn't a fast paced, adrenaline pumping thriller type of book but it has something special in that it is totally different from the norm. It moves along at a steady pace with the characters increasing in depth and complexity throughout the book. It is a realistic story and, although there are no great chunks of descriptive text, the reader is able to visualise the settings and the era very effectively.
It is the 1860s and the Artemis’ Delight is setting sail from Australia to Canada docking shortly at San Francisco. It is a sail ship but with the advantage of steam power back up but even so the crew and passengers are looking at 3 months at sea before they reach San Francisco, What only a select few people know is that it contains a secret cargo of young women that are travelling to a new life. What the girls/ladies have in common is that they are all alone in the world with no family many have spent a large amount of their lives in orphanages.
The main character is Alyssa who differs from the other girls in that she has a more upper class background and is not so poverty stricken. She is also more educated and is immediately put to good use in helping to educate and lead the others. Her character is very complex and fits well within the era as do all the other characters. The story progresses and the reader joins the Artemis’ Delight and its passengers on its journey encountering storms, illness, murder and romance along the way with some of the passengers forced to turn detective it all makes for a very gripping read that will have the reader turning page after page.
I am happy to have discovered a new author and thank Bloodhound Books for the advance copy.
My rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
This book will appeal to readers of many genres I loved it. I don’t, normally, read historical fiction and I was surprised how quickly I got into the book and before the end of the 2nd chapter I was totally gripped. It isn't a fast paced, adrenaline pumping thriller type of book but it has something special in that it is totally different from the norm. It moves along at a steady pace with the characters increasing in depth and complexity throughout the book. It is a realistic story and, although there are no great chunks of descriptive text, the reader is able to visualise the settings and the era very effectively.
It is the 1860s and the Artemis’ Delight is setting sail from Australia to Canada docking shortly at San Francisco. It is a sail ship but with the advantage of steam power back up but even so the crew and passengers are looking at 3 months at sea before they reach San Francisco, What only a select few people know is that it contains a secret cargo of young women that are travelling to a new life. What the girls/ladies have in common is that they are all alone in the world with no family many have spent a large amount of their lives in orphanages.
The main character is Alyssa who differs from the other girls in that she has a more upper class background and is not so poverty stricken. She is also more educated and is immediately put to good use in helping to educate and lead the others. Her character is very complex and fits well within the era as do all the other characters. The story progresses and the reader joins the Artemis’ Delight and its passengers on its journey encountering storms, illness, murder and romance along the way with some of the passengers forced to turn detective it all makes for a very gripping read that will have the reader turning page after page.
I am happy to have discovered a new author and thank Bloodhound Books for the advance copy.
September 5, 2017
The Case of The Missing Bride is one atmospheric and restless read, historical crime fictions isn't a genre I visit often. the blurb was too mysterious to miss the opportunity to rea this, and I am so pleased I did.
The author gives us unsettlement from the beginning and I can't imagine anything much worse than being on a ship, in hiding with a group of girls unknown to me for a destination in a new land and a fate unknown.
Alyssa is an interesting character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the journey through her eyes. She is a mixture of warmth, helpfulness, but doesn't suffer from fools gladly.
I felt that I was on a journey alongside the girls and truly felt in the presence of the era, the book was set in.
With heartfelt moments and swishing them well on the journey to their new lives, but there was a malevolent feel to the read, that was eerie and menacing.
The author gives us unsettlement from the beginning and I can't imagine anything much worse than being on a ship, in hiding with a group of girls unknown to me for a destination in a new land and a fate unknown.
Alyssa is an interesting character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the journey through her eyes. She is a mixture of warmth, helpfulness, but doesn't suffer from fools gladly.
I felt that I was on a journey alongside the girls and truly felt in the presence of the era, the book was set in.
With heartfelt moments and swishing them well on the journey to their new lives, but there was a malevolent feel to the read, that was eerie and menacing.
September 7, 2017
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I loved the cover of this book, a combination of seeing that and reading the blurb made me realise that this is a book I must read!! I have two real passions in books, crime fiction and historical fiction, this being a combination of the two made this book right up my street and after the first few chapters I was in love with the story and knew it was going to be one I didn’t want to put down until I reached the end! Such a well written book, it is graceful and elegant and really in keeping with the era in which the book has set – I highly recommend getting a copy of this – you are definitely going to be in for a treat – I loved it!! Thank you so much Carmen for writing such a fabulous book!!!
I loved the cover of this book, a combination of seeing that and reading the blurb made me realise that this is a book I must read!! I have two real passions in books, crime fiction and historical fiction, this being a combination of the two made this book right up my street and after the first few chapters I was in love with the story and knew it was going to be one I didn’t want to put down until I reached the end! Such a well written book, it is graceful and elegant and really in keeping with the era in which the book has set – I highly recommend getting a copy of this – you are definitely going to be in for a treat – I loved it!! Thank you so much Carmen for writing such a fabulous book!!!
December 3, 2019
Loved this book! Not my normal crime thriller bit historical fiction with mystery thrown in! I was captured as soon as I started it. It takes place upon a ship journey that a group of Australian young women are travelling on in order to arrive in Canada and get married. All is well until one young lady goes missing and Alyssa Chalmers, the most educated and wealthy woman amingst them decides she will find her! Moving heaven and earth if needed.
This book is the beginning of a series and I cannot wait for the next one to be released, I want to be transported back in time again! Big Thanks to Carmen Radtke for the copy in exchange for my opinion!!
This book is the beginning of a series and I cannot wait for the next one to be released, I want to be transported back in time again! Big Thanks to Carmen Radtke for the copy in exchange for my opinion!!
December 9, 2019
I have a little confession to make. I actually had this book ('The Case Of The Missing Bride') on my 'to be read' pile but I just haven't had the time to read it. When I was invited to take part in the blog tour for the re-release of 'The Case Of The Missing Bride', I thought that it was the perfect opportunity for me to read the book and share my review. Now I have finished reading 'The Case Of The Missing Bride', I am actually ticked off with myself that I have left it this long to read this brilliant book and to discover just how great an author Carmen is. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Case Of The Missing Bride' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Alyssa Chalmers from the first moment I met her. She is one of a group of young Australian women, who are being transported to Canada to become brides. Alyssa is slightly older than the other young ladies but her personal circumstances are just as sad as those of the other ladies. She has lost both of her parents and has nobody. What marks Alyssa out from the others, is the fact that she is well educated and she has a relatively wealthy background. Alyssa is also a sort of kick ass young woman and she isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Alyssa is kind, compassionate, determined, stubborn, tenacious and she works hard. Will Alyssa solve the case? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I made the mistake of starting to read the book without having refreshed my memory of the synopsis so it took me a little while to get into this story- mainly because I was busy trying to figure out who was who, where the ladies were going from and to and why. Once I got over that little hurdle that was it, I was away and I couldn't read the book quick enough. I was intrigued by the character of Alyssa and I was just hoping that she would manage to solve the mystery. The more of the book I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages were turning. At one point the pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and I subsequently finished the book far quicker than I had expected or wanted to. I had been enjoying the story and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'The Case Of The Missing Bride' is well written. Carmen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. I found it easy to get used to the more old fashioned language that Carmen has used to make the story seem that bit more authentic and it worked too. Reading this book really did make me feel as though I had borrowed the Tardis from Doctor Who and I had travelled back in time to 1862, which is when the story is set. Carmen uses such vivid and detailed descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that I was helping Alyssa with investigating the case.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Case Of The Missing Bride' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Carmen's work in the future and I can't wait to be reunited with Alyssa Chalmers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I couldn't help but take to Alyssa Chalmers from the first moment I met her. She is one of a group of young Australian women, who are being transported to Canada to become brides. Alyssa is slightly older than the other young ladies but her personal circumstances are just as sad as those of the other ladies. She has lost both of her parents and has nobody. What marks Alyssa out from the others, is the fact that she is well educated and she has a relatively wealthy background. Alyssa is also a sort of kick ass young woman and she isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Alyssa is kind, compassionate, determined, stubborn, tenacious and she works hard. Will Alyssa solve the case? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I made the mistake of starting to read the book without having refreshed my memory of the synopsis so it took me a little while to get into this story- mainly because I was busy trying to figure out who was who, where the ladies were going from and to and why. Once I got over that little hurdle that was it, I was away and I couldn't read the book quick enough. I was intrigued by the character of Alyssa and I was just hoping that she would manage to solve the mystery. The more of the book I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages were turning. At one point the pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and I subsequently finished the book far quicker than I had expected or wanted to. I had been enjoying the story and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'The Case Of The Missing Bride' is well written. Carmen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. I found it easy to get used to the more old fashioned language that Carmen has used to make the story seem that bit more authentic and it worked too. Reading this book really did make me feel as though I had borrowed the Tardis from Doctor Who and I had travelled back in time to 1862, which is when the story is set. Carmen uses such vivid and detailed descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that I was helping Alyssa with investigating the case.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Case Of The Missing Bride' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Carmen's work in the future and I can't wait to be reunited with Alyssa Chalmers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
September 8, 2017
This book is set in the late nineteenth century when girls, especially orphaned, ones had little or no prospects in Australia. They’re only choice was to set sail to Canada in hopes of finding a husband.
Alyssa Chambers is not like the other girls. She was raised in relative luxury, until her father, a high ranking official, spoke out against the treatment of prisoners in Port Philips prison and then her mother died leaving her alone. Boarding the ship she hopes to get to Canada then back to England to find her long lost relatives.
She is put in charge of a small group of girls whom she grows fond of then one the girls, goes missing.
With the help of Dr Bryson and first mate Mr Kendrick she must find the killer before he strikes again.
I loved this Agatha Christie style mystery. There wasn’t a lot of action but it didn’t need it, the mystery kept me interested all the way through. The setting on the boat helped a lot, the author really got that feel of isolation across and terror of being trapped in the middle of nowhere with a murderer.
Alyssa was a fantastic character too, with a tendency to speak her mind and defend herself, which was not a good trait in a woman back in those days.
There was also a little bit of a love triangle going between Alyssa, Dr Bryson and Mr Kendrick which I enjoyed immensely.
My only complaint was it was quite a short book and I wanted to read more!
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author.
Alyssa Chambers is not like the other girls. She was raised in relative luxury, until her father, a high ranking official, spoke out against the treatment of prisoners in Port Philips prison and then her mother died leaving her alone. Boarding the ship she hopes to get to Canada then back to England to find her long lost relatives.
She is put in charge of a small group of girls whom she grows fond of then one the girls, goes missing.
With the help of Dr Bryson and first mate Mr Kendrick she must find the killer before he strikes again.
I loved this Agatha Christie style mystery. There wasn’t a lot of action but it didn’t need it, the mystery kept me interested all the way through. The setting on the boat helped a lot, the author really got that feel of isolation across and terror of being trapped in the middle of nowhere with a murderer.
Alyssa was a fantastic character too, with a tendency to speak her mind and defend herself, which was not a good trait in a woman back in those days.
There was also a little bit of a love triangle going between Alyssa, Dr Bryson and Mr Kendrick which I enjoyed immensely.
My only complaint was it was quite a short book and I wanted to read more!
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author.
October 31, 2019
What a super story! I fairly flew through this and almost read it in one sitting.
The Artemis' Delight sails from Melbourne on its way to Canada with a stop at San Francisco.
On board, as 'agreed' stowaways, out of sight of the few gentlemen passengers, are 22 brides-to-be with their chaperone Matron, Mrs McKenzie.
Alyssa Chalmers is a different breed from the majority of the girls but all of them are orphaned and on their way to find husbands in a new land.
The characters, particularly Alyssa, Emma, Matron, Dr Mark Bryson, Mr Kendrick, Davies, Mr Wainwright and Captain Moore are amazingly well written characters and the history of the times, where women had no standing in society, is so well portrayed.
The descriptions of the ship's passage, a bout of sea -sickness and the lengths that have to be taken to escort the hidden 'cargo' are exceptionally good.
The only trouble is, one of the gentlemen passengers, keen to find out more about the steam engine, stumbles across a girl and then the secret is out.
Someone, but who, is writing entries in a diary, that are full of menace and potential mistreatment of the females on board.
And then Emma goes missing. Alyssa, Dr Bryson and Mr Kendrick combine forces and play amateur detectives in order to solve the mystery.
This is the first book I have read that Carmen Radtke has written and it definitely won't be the last!
The Artemis' Delight sails from Melbourne on its way to Canada with a stop at San Francisco.
On board, as 'agreed' stowaways, out of sight of the few gentlemen passengers, are 22 brides-to-be with their chaperone Matron, Mrs McKenzie.
Alyssa Chalmers is a different breed from the majority of the girls but all of them are orphaned and on their way to find husbands in a new land.
The characters, particularly Alyssa, Emma, Matron, Dr Mark Bryson, Mr Kendrick, Davies, Mr Wainwright and Captain Moore are amazingly well written characters and the history of the times, where women had no standing in society, is so well portrayed.
The descriptions of the ship's passage, a bout of sea -sickness and the lengths that have to be taken to escort the hidden 'cargo' are exceptionally good.
The only trouble is, one of the gentlemen passengers, keen to find out more about the steam engine, stumbles across a girl and then the secret is out.
Someone, but who, is writing entries in a diary, that are full of menace and potential mistreatment of the females on board.
And then Emma goes missing. Alyssa, Dr Bryson and Mr Kendrick combine forces and play amateur detectives in order to solve the mystery.
This is the first book I have read that Carmen Radtke has written and it definitely won't be the last!
October 26, 2017
An enticing premise
No spoilers here.
I found the ideas in this book to be intriguing and I was drawn into the confining world of the ship easily enough. The main characters were believable and the premise for the plot should have made this a sizzling piece of period fiction.
I found the lack of detail about the ship and some of its strangely invisible and inaudible crew distracting.
I felt we could have done with a little more detail about the characters' back stories, to make them more individual.
I was kept guessing about the perpetrator to the end, not an easy task given the minimal cast.
I did enjoy the book as a whole and, whilst not a "can't put it down" read, I was still captivated enough to want to find out who did what.
Overall, I think this is a great "who-done-it" with amateur sleuths, and would recommend it to others as a fun, easy-to-read piece.
No spoilers here.
I found the ideas in this book to be intriguing and I was drawn into the confining world of the ship easily enough. The main characters were believable and the premise for the plot should have made this a sizzling piece of period fiction.
I found the lack of detail about the ship and some of its strangely invisible and inaudible crew distracting.
I felt we could have done with a little more detail about the characters' back stories, to make them more individual.
I was kept guessing about the perpetrator to the end, not an easy task given the minimal cast.
I did enjoy the book as a whole and, whilst not a "can't put it down" read, I was still captivated enough to want to find out who did what.
Overall, I think this is a great "who-done-it" with amateur sleuths, and would recommend it to others as a fun, easy-to-read piece.
September 4, 2017
I am very grateful to Bloodhound Books for sending me an ARC of The Case Of The Missing Bride in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is a very well-written book which tells the story of a group of young women making their way by ship from Australia to America in search of a husband. Although not a conventional crime novel, it does contain a mysterious death which those on board strive to get to the bottom of. For fans of historical crime novels, this will be an appealing book, but I felt it lacked pace and tension.
April 13, 2018
Not what you would call an action-packed book, and none the worse for that. There’s no body found, just a girl apparently missing overboard and a conviction amongst some of the other people on board that she could not have fallen accidentally. Yet the setting is so well portrayed and the characters so fitted to their historical context that it was a real pleasure to read. I’m not sure there were enough real clues for a traditional solution to be found by the reader, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment: I was happily along for the ride.
December 17, 2019
This is a wonderful little slow burner, very much reminiscent of the classic Queens of Crime of yesteryear - a well researched historical setting, a remote location, a close circle of characters and suspects, a slowly developing plot, a sinister villain in the shadows, a missing girl, a gutsy heroine, and a dash of romance - what’s not to like?
I really enjoyed reading this and went through it in two sittings, it makes the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon (and kept me hungry with all the food descriptions on board :). And the best bit: there’s a second one on the way!
I really enjoyed reading this and went through it in two sittings, it makes the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon (and kept me hungry with all the food descriptions on board :). And the best bit: there’s a second one on the way!
December 17, 2019
This is a wonderful little slow burner, very much reminiscent of the classic Queens of Crime of yesteryear - a well researched historical setting, a remote location, a close circle of characters and suspects, a slowly developing plot, a sinister villain in the shadows, a missing girl, a gutsy heroine, and a dash of romance - what’s not to like?
I really enjoyed reading this and went through it in two sittings, it makes the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon (and kept me hungry with all the food descriptions on board :). And the best bit: there’s a second one on the way!
I really enjoyed reading this and went through it in two sittings, it makes the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon (and kept me hungry with all the food descriptions on board :). And the best bit: there’s a second one on the way!
March 12, 2018
This novel is a perfect combination of historical fiction and cozy mystery: Alyssa, who is one of a group of impoverished teenage girls who are shipped from Australia to Canada in order to become brides for a group of settlers in a goldminers‘ town, turns amateur sleuth when one of the girls on the ship is found murdered.
The novel sports some very likable characters and a thrilling mystery case, and at the same time gives insight into a sad and shocking historical event.
The novel sports some very likable characters and a thrilling mystery case, and at the same time gives insight into a sad and shocking historical event.
September 4, 2017
This is a lovely old fashioned tale. The language is so elegant and the levels of modesty between men and women is divine. I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute and think it's a clever concept, executed very well by Carmen Radtke. Well worth reading
June 30, 2018
It is not another historical romance novel. It is gritty and detailed. You can smell the sea salt and the fumes of the engine. Gradual evolution of the whodunnit without being obvious or drowning in red herrings. Interesting characters. An enjoyable read. Recommended.
October 18, 2018
The Case of the Missing Bride.
This one was a historical genre and new to me. I usually don't read these types of books. With that said, the author did a great job with this one.
This one was a historical genre and new to me. I usually don't read these types of books. With that said, the author did a great job with this one.
December 2, 2019
The year is 1862 and a group of 22 late teenage girls are being transported by boat from Australia to Canada to meet prospective husbands in the form of miners working there. They are mostly orphans, selected by the Church, who have no other hope of improving their station in life. They are accompanied by Matron, a young widow, to shield them unsavoury advances from the crewmen, and it is for this reason that they are being housed below deck with only a few staff being made aware of their presence. Certainly the five paying gentlemen passengers are to be told nothing about them. For these girls who have virtually nothing to their names being cooped up for hours with nothing to do is a luxury compared to the long hours of work they had been expected to at the orphanage and most are glad to receive lessons in running a home in preparation for their new lives. One of these girls however, Alyssa Chalmers, is not all she seems. Slightly older and coming from a wealthy background, she too has been stranded with no family, but, instead of wishing for a husband, is determined to travel onto England and find distant family. She is much more educated and soon establishes her place helping Matron and the ship's doctor who appears quite bemused with her strong independent ways. During the journey the girls are discovered by one of the passengers, and then Emma, one of the prospective brides, is found to be missing. Alyssa is convinced that it is no accident and, with a little help, sets out to discover the truth, putting herself in danger at the same time. This is a very slow paced story, all of it taking part during the ship's voyage, and suits the period setting well. The author takes half the book to set the scene and introduce the main characters before we reach the disappearance and a little more action. During the whole story we get little snippets from the diary of someone on board who is up to no good and clearly has a dark plan for at least one of the girls. I felt that I didn't get to know many of the girls or men passengers very well despite a very long run up to the actual crime which made it hard to guess what might have taken place or at whose hands, however the others were well described and I grew to like Alyssa as the story went on and the culprit was finally revealed. For me it doesn't matter what period of time a book is set in, a well written mystery like this one will still be engrossing, and the only differences are the restraints on the characters and the different methods of detection that can be employed. I am definitely looking forward to the next murder mystery adventure when the brides reach Canada, and it will be nice to see more of the different characters amongst them emerge. 4*
September 8, 2017
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE by Carmen Radtke is a gripping and evolving story that slowly draws you into the past and holds you hostage until the very last line.
It is the 1860's and a group of young women find themselves on board an ocean liner making its way to Canada, where the women will become brides in the hopes of having a new life. But not everyone knows of their presence on the ship, and when one of the girls disappears, they are all shocked as to what could have happened to her.
Alyssa is set apart from the girls as she is more upper class and has no intention of becoming a bride but rather intends to travel on to England in search of a relative. But when it becomes clear that one of the women is missing, she is determined to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous it may be...
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE by Carmen Radtke is historical fiction with a dash of mystery and I really enjoyed this steadily paced, elegantly written story that transported me back in time. Alyssa is a complex and likeable character who is so caring and considerate, but also unafraid of speaking her mind and doing what she must to find the truth, and I loved this about her. All in all, this is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
It is the 1860's and a group of young women find themselves on board an ocean liner making its way to Canada, where the women will become brides in the hopes of having a new life. But not everyone knows of their presence on the ship, and when one of the girls disappears, they are all shocked as to what could have happened to her.
Alyssa is set apart from the girls as she is more upper class and has no intention of becoming a bride but rather intends to travel on to England in search of a relative. But when it becomes clear that one of the women is missing, she is determined to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous it may be...
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE by Carmen Radtke is historical fiction with a dash of mystery and I really enjoyed this steadily paced, elegantly written story that transported me back in time. Alyssa is a complex and likeable character who is so caring and considerate, but also unafraid of speaking her mind and doing what she must to find the truth, and I loved this about her. All in all, this is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
January 18, 2022
Set during a time when etiquette & chastity were essential to a woman’s reputation, we find a ‘cargo’ of single young ladies on their way to Canada from Australia in order to find suitable husbands. Amongst them is our protagonist Alyssa Chalmers, an educated girl with a nose for the truth. When one of the prospective brides goes missing, Alyssa teams up with the ship’s doctor in order to solve the mystery. Written in an upbeat style with beautifully descriptive prose, this is a tale that will have you hooked from the start & then leave you with a feeling of great satisfaction as secrets are unravelled & the culprit brought to justice.
February 25, 2023
The Case of the Missing Bride was a nice read, but didn't really hold any surprises for me. I did like AIyssa as a heroine, since she was feisty and independent, with a stubborn streak. The doctor, Mark, and the first mate had distinct personalities, but I found it difficult to differentiate between the four male passengers. I think because they were known by their titles and I found it confusing.
At the end of the story, I realised it wasn't so much who committed the crime, but how and why it happened that was more important.
At the end of the story, I realised it wasn't so much who committed the crime, but how and why it happened that was more important.
January 28, 2026
Wonderful story set in the 1860’s about a Matron and 22 young girls traveling to Canada from Melbourne on a ship, to become brides to some prospectors. A difficult journey, with raging storms and wild seas, and then one of the girls goes missing. Excellent mystery, keeps you on the edge of your seat.
July 6, 2024
The Case if the Missing Bride is a historical mystery that takes place in 1862. It follows a group of women headed from Australia to Canada. The smarter of Aylssa Chamber becomes a sleuth when one of goes missing. It was very entertaining and also intriguing. The characters felt real. It was like a "look" back in time thought the pages of this mystery.
February 2, 2025
Such a good story! It's a slow-paced story and I really enjoyed it. Not much of a mystery, but that's not a problem as it was intriguing to follow passengers and crew on the ship.
September 7, 2017
I love a good historical fiction novel and I'll admit that I don't read enough of them so when I was offered the chance to read this one naturally I jumped at it.
It's the 1860's and Alyssa Chalmers is onboard the Artemis' Delight, a ship travelling from Australia to Canada, with a group of girls who are hoping to land husbands and start a new life. Only a few people are aware that these girls are here though and they've been given strict instructions to stay within a few designated area's below deck.
These girls are all alone in the world and most of them have been living in orphanages. Alyssa isn't like the other girls though as she doesn't plan on finding a husband when they arrive in Canada, she's planning to travel on to England to trace one of her relatives.
Following them on their journey as they deal with life in the underbelly of the large boat makes for a great read and Alyssa is an interesting protagonist. She's different to the other girls as she's better educated and isn't afraid to stand up for herself and when one of the girls goes missing she takes it upon herself to try and find out what happened to her.
The Case of the Missing Bride is a well written and enjoyable book. Although not fast paced, the story flowed well and I found myself scrutinising the other characters along with Alyssa to try and work out for myself what had happened to Emma. Along with the conversations that Alyssa has with some of the other passengers, including the sometimes flirtatious doctor, the author cunningly drops in anonymous diary entries which shed a little light into Emma's disappearance, but not enough to give away the culprits identity too soon.
I really enjoyed my trip back into the past and I'd highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fans but also to crime lovers as well. Carmen Radtke is definitely an author to watch out for.
With kind thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for the review copy.
It's the 1860's and Alyssa Chalmers is onboard the Artemis' Delight, a ship travelling from Australia to Canada, with a group of girls who are hoping to land husbands and start a new life. Only a few people are aware that these girls are here though and they've been given strict instructions to stay within a few designated area's below deck.
These girls are all alone in the world and most of them have been living in orphanages. Alyssa isn't like the other girls though as she doesn't plan on finding a husband when they arrive in Canada, she's planning to travel on to England to trace one of her relatives.
Following them on their journey as they deal with life in the underbelly of the large boat makes for a great read and Alyssa is an interesting protagonist. She's different to the other girls as she's better educated and isn't afraid to stand up for herself and when one of the girls goes missing she takes it upon herself to try and find out what happened to her.
The Case of the Missing Bride is a well written and enjoyable book. Although not fast paced, the story flowed well and I found myself scrutinising the other characters along with Alyssa to try and work out for myself what had happened to Emma. Along with the conversations that Alyssa has with some of the other passengers, including the sometimes flirtatious doctor, the author cunningly drops in anonymous diary entries which shed a little light into Emma's disappearance, but not enough to give away the culprits identity too soon.
I really enjoyed my trip back into the past and I'd highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fans but also to crime lovers as well. Carmen Radtke is definitely an author to watch out for.
With kind thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for the review copy.
November 20, 2017
In the 19th century Australia, a group of young, orphaned women are to secretly join a ship’s crew as hidden cargo so that they can get married to nice men abroad. The women are led by their proper matron, and her right hand, strong Alyssa Chalmers who is also one of the future brides. Their existence is supposedly only known by the ship’s doctor, captain and first officer. However, we have reason to suspect there is another man who knows, and he has sinister plans for the girls. Unlucky for him, when one of the brides go missing, Alyssa will prove to everyone just how smart, resourceful and dedicated she is.
Alyssa is what I imagine Elizabeth Bennet would be like, had she been forced to solve a mystery. She obeys the rules of her time, but just enough for her survival. She finds opportunities to bend them, and she has no intention of marrying a stranger when she gets off the ship. She is independent, and she loves her solitude. It’s not that she detests being social; she just isn’t allowed to be completely herself around company. Her different personality and attitude infuriate the young doctor at first, but even he will have to admit he is just taken by surprise by her intelligence.
The mystery novel is a page-turner from start to finish, though the pace increases as you turn more pages. It is a fun read, as long as you don’t delve too much into the fact that the conditions of the women were a reality for most not a too long time ago. It is poignant at a time when we are still fighting for women’s rights.
That said, the book is a solid mystery from start to finish with rich and interesting characters. And I think we would all want to have friends like Alyssa or Kendrick (first officer in our lives.). The jury is still out on how likeble the doctor is. Strongly recommended.
Alyssa is what I imagine Elizabeth Bennet would be like, had she been forced to solve a mystery. She obeys the rules of her time, but just enough for her survival. She finds opportunities to bend them, and she has no intention of marrying a stranger when she gets off the ship. She is independent, and she loves her solitude. It’s not that she detests being social; she just isn’t allowed to be completely herself around company. Her different personality and attitude infuriate the young doctor at first, but even he will have to admit he is just taken by surprise by her intelligence.
The mystery novel is a page-turner from start to finish, though the pace increases as you turn more pages. It is a fun read, as long as you don’t delve too much into the fact that the conditions of the women were a reality for most not a too long time ago. It is poignant at a time when we are still fighting for women’s rights.
That said, the book is a solid mystery from start to finish with rich and interesting characters. And I think we would all want to have friends like Alyssa or Kendrick (first officer in our lives.). The jury is still out on how likeble the doctor is. Strongly recommended.
September 17, 2017
I always enjoy historical fiction so I couldn't wait to start reading The Case of the Missing Bride and I loved the idea of the story taking place on a ship as it really added an extra claustrophobic element. Alyssa is feisty and knows her own mind which I loved even if at that point in history she was almost ahead of her time. She has a wonderful sense of determination especially when it comes to the friends she has made along with making sure they are looked after.
I was constantly changing my mind over who the killer was, the slow build up helped me to get to know the characters. It was intricately written giving different suspects which helped to keep the tension over who the killer is. There are parts that are shown from the killers point of view and to be honest I really enjoyed these parts. It was an interesting way to get an insight into the how and why which helped move the story along perfectly.
It didn't take me long to become engrossed in the story and within a couple of chapters I didn't want to put this book down. My attention was held and one of those reasons was down to Alyssa's character along with her clashes with Mark. The mystery is very intriguing and kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. If you are a fan of fast paced and non stop action you may be disappointed. However you get a real feel for the characters and how they adjust to life on the ship aswell as their expectations and hopes for the future. I think the story just flows seamlessly providing intrigue, murder and a hint of romance.
When it came to the ending I almost wished it didn't have to end as I had got quite attached to the characters and would have loved to have read more.
With thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I was constantly changing my mind over who the killer was, the slow build up helped me to get to know the characters. It was intricately written giving different suspects which helped to keep the tension over who the killer is. There are parts that are shown from the killers point of view and to be honest I really enjoyed these parts. It was an interesting way to get an insight into the how and why which helped move the story along perfectly.
It didn't take me long to become engrossed in the story and within a couple of chapters I didn't want to put this book down. My attention was held and one of those reasons was down to Alyssa's character along with her clashes with Mark. The mystery is very intriguing and kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. If you are a fan of fast paced and non stop action you may be disappointed. However you get a real feel for the characters and how they adjust to life on the ship aswell as their expectations and hopes for the future. I think the story just flows seamlessly providing intrigue, murder and a hint of romance.
When it came to the ending I almost wished it didn't have to end as I had got quite attached to the characters and would have loved to have read more.
With thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 6, 2025
In 1862, with no real future in sight, a group of Australian women with no family, set off on a boat to Canada to become wives. Their presence on the ship was to be a secret, known only to certain staff members. When one of the male passengers stumbles upon them, the secret is out. They decide to let the women mingle with the other passengers, but when one of the women disappears, it is assumed she fell overboard. Alyssa Chalmers, one of the women who happens to be well educated and not poor like the other women, does not believe she just fell overboard, she believes she was "thrown" overboard. With the help of the ships doctor they investigate to see who actually committed the crime before they arrive in port and the person gets away with it.
It was very interesting to learn about how women left on their own tried to make a new life by signing up to be a bride to someone they didn't even know.
It was very interesting to learn about how women left on their own tried to make a new life by signing up to be a bride to someone they didn't even know.
January 24, 2020
I'm just getting into mysteries and this book caught my eye. One, for the incredible cover! I was quickly drawn into the world of Alyssa Chalmers, a determined and brave heroine that will capture your heart. Set in the late 1800's on board a "bride ship" headed to Canada (which I knew nothing about and later researched and found so fascinating!), Alyssa is one of several girls that are hidden and kept separate from the other passengers on the ship. One of the girls goes missing, and Alyssa suspects foul play. You can read the summary in other places, so with that I'll end with this: each character is unique and distinct and the writing will totally draw you in. Really liked it!
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