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Kathryn Ardleigh #8
Death at Dartmoor
“A sentence to Dartmoor Prison is a sentence to a living hell…” Lord Charles Sheridan and his American wife, Kate, have heard some truly awful things about Britain’s most notorious prison. But Dartmoor and its mist-shrouded environs hold special appeal for both Sheridans. Kate hopes to find inspiration for her new Gothic novel, while Charles plans to implement a fingerprinting program at the prison—and arrange a meeting with one of its most infamous inmates, Samuel Spencer. He’s convinced that Spencer—a Scotsman who admitted to killing his wife—is, in fact, innocent. What’s more, he believes he has the evidence to prove it. But Spencer continues to maintain his own guilt—and, as if to confirm it, he soon stages a daring prison escape. Lord Charles and his acquaintance Arthur Conan Doyle are most perplexed by this odd turn of events. And when a body turns up on the moor, it’s up to the two men—and the clever Kate—to discover if the missing convict is connected to this murderous new case…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Robin Paige
26 books190 followersRobin Paige is the pen-name of husband and wife team Bill and Susan Wittig Albert.
The Robin Paige Victorian/Edwardian mystery series was written by Bill and Susan Albert from 1994-2006. There are a dozen books in the series (now completed), beginning in the mid 1890s and continuing through 1903.
The series, beginning with Death at Bishop's Keep, features two amateur sleuths: Kate Ardleigh Sheridan and Sir Charles Sheridan, later Lord Sheridan , Baron of Somersworth. Kate is an Irish-American woman who writes under the pseudonym of Beryl Bardwell.
She comes to England and inherits a small fortune and the estate of Bishops Keep, located in East Anglia, near the village of Dedham, Essex. Sir Charles is a landed peer and amateur scientist with a special interest in new forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting, ballistics, toxicology, and photography.
In each of the 12 books in the series, Kate and Charles meet notable figures of their time as they set about solving the relevant mystery.
The Robin Paige Victorian/Edwardian mystery series was written by Bill and Susan Albert from 1994-2006. There are a dozen books in the series (now completed), beginning in the mid 1890s and continuing through 1903.
The series, beginning with Death at Bishop's Keep, features two amateur sleuths: Kate Ardleigh Sheridan and Sir Charles Sheridan, later Lord Sheridan , Baron of Somersworth. Kate is an Irish-American woman who writes under the pseudonym of Beryl Bardwell.
She comes to England and inherits a small fortune and the estate of Bishops Keep, located in East Anglia, near the village of Dedham, Essex. Sir Charles is a landed peer and amateur scientist with a special interest in new forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting, ballistics, toxicology, and photography.
In each of the 12 books in the series, Kate and Charles meet notable figures of their time as they set about solving the relevant mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
October 23, 2024
I DNF this one. I’m not sure if it was too old-fashioned and on the very slow-building side of things, but by 40% into it, and forcing myself to read more, I gave up.
August 23, 2022
This book reminded me what a treat it is to read a well-written historical mystery. The authors do a great job of using accurate historical elements to create an interesting fictional story. You can tell that they completed a lot of research to get the facts right. Add to that an interesting cast of characters and you have a very readable cozy mystery.
June 13, 2016
I love this series...set in England around the turn of the last century....Queen Victoria is dead, the strict Victorian morals are relaxing, an Irish American woman inherits property in England and isn't quite sure how she fits in to the societal constraints, so she doesn't. The books are historical fiction/mystery, but a lot more history. This one takes place in Dartmoor...and Arthur Conan Doyle is working out the plot for The Hound of the Baskervilles. The books each center around a place, an event or a item (automobile, hot air balloon) that was important at that particular time....very good stories, enjoyable, easy to read, but you feel a bit smarter when all is said and done.
September 12, 2020
2020 bk 301. Kate and Charles visit Dartmoor - Charles to instigate a system of taking and preserving all of the prisoner's fingerprints at the famous prison, Kate to find possibilities for a new novel. Upon settling in their hotel, they meet not only Patsy Marsdon (their former neighbor), but also Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle is working with another man to craft the story that would become the Hound of the Baskervilles, but is not above taking breaks for social ocassions. When a seance results in a prediction of death that comes true, our favorite detectives are back to work. An escaped prisoner, interesting people, and the great moor area are all important parts of this story. If you are a terrific Sherlock Holmes fan, this is an interesting look at how the possibly most famous Holmes tale got its start.
December 20, 2021
Not as good as the others in the series. Rather dull.
February 22, 2014
This is another book in the Victorian (now Edwardian, since Queen Victoria has recently passed away) Mystery series. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as interesting or compelling as the earlier books. Indeed, whereas the previous books flew by in a week, it took me nearly a month of forcing myself to read a chapter here, a chapter there, to get through this thing. I think the #1 problem is that there isn't a good murder mystery early on. There is a criminal who, the Sheridans suspect, was wrongly accused years ago, but we don't learn enough about his case to be interested in him. The actual present-day murder that they come to investigate occurs fairly early, but we don't know it, because the body isn't found until about halfway through the book. When the investigation finally does take off, the solution is overly obvious to everyone but the characters in the book. For two people (Kate and Charles) who have been so clever about figuring out mysteries in the past, their naivete about this murder is a little hard to swallow.
Unfortunately, it felt like the authors (Robin Paige is a pen name for a husband-wife writing team) just didn't have enough here to make a good book, and instead of scrapping the entire premise and starting over (which they probably should have done), they forced it. And it just doesn't work. If this had been the quality of the earlier books, I would not have gotten this far into the series. At this point, I'm wavering about whether to even buy the next one, and at a minimum, I am going to give myself a break for a few months before continuing the series.
If you like the Paige mysteries you will probably find this one OK, but don't expect it to be as gripping as the earlier ones.
Unfortunately, it felt like the authors (Robin Paige is a pen name for a husband-wife writing team) just didn't have enough here to make a good book, and instead of scrapping the entire premise and starting over (which they probably should have done), they forced it. And it just doesn't work. If this had been the quality of the earlier books, I would not have gotten this far into the series. At this point, I'm wavering about whether to even buy the next one, and at a minimum, I am going to give myself a break for a few months before continuing the series.
If you like the Paige mysteries you will probably find this one OK, but don't expect it to be as gripping as the earlier ones.
September 18, 2011
I really enjoy this series. I look forward to the reads and have enjoyed every book so far. Maybe not the most intellectually challenging books, but not simple reads either. Sir Charles and Lady Kate Sheridan are a great couple and ahead of their time in many ways. The inclusion of real life people in the books has been enjoyable so far. It’s Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle in this book (before he was a “Sir”). Didn’t realize his personal life was a bit of a soap opera (if this book is correct and poetic license wasn’t taken). For such an intelligent character that he is famous for writing about, he himself doesn’t appear to be a particularly astute investigator – again, if the book right about him.
Very satisfying, enjoyable books. Let get to the next.
Very satisfying, enjoyable books. Let get to the next.
September 30, 2017
This book is more absurd than the previous one I read in the series, and I won't be looking for any more! The author takes a rather superior attitude to Conan Doyle, and again gets small details wrong, and they grate.
I can't imagine an Edwardian vicar condoning spiritualism, much less taking part in not one but two seances!
I can't imagine an Edwardian vicar condoning spiritualism, much less taking part in not one but two seances!
February 21, 2017
Thanks to the second appearance of Arthur Conan Doyle in this historical English cozy Mystery series and the background on his writing of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," this wound up being one of my favorites in the entire series.
August 24, 2018
Readable stories, but don't make Conan Doyle out to be a fool when your own mystery is solved by a witness to the murder coming forward, not by any detective work.
October 19, 2024
I continue to love this historical/fiction/mystery series where the historical figures, facts, and events are woven seamlessly into each plot. The particular theme of this book is the moor of England and the infamous Dartmoor prison. The historical figure is Arthur Conan Doyle before he became a "Sir" and who has come to the area to work on a new novel called "The Hound of the Baskervilles". The time is 1901. The book is well written and researched, and at the beginning of each chapter are short excerpts from letters, writings, books, newspapers, etc. that give the reader a clue to what will be revealed plot-wise in that particular chapter. There are several from Doyle's books. There are also plenty of detailed descriptions of picturesque scenery, clothing, customs, people, transportation, and inventions of the period, etc.
The fictional recurring characters of note are Lord Charles Sheridan, his wife Lady Kathryn Ardleigh Sheridan, and Miss Patsy Marsden who is now an "independent" photographer and world traveler. Because Charles is an amateur forensic detective, the Home Office has suggested that Dartmoor Prison might be an ideal site to begin their national prisoner's Identification Project. The art of fingerprinting is called dactyloscopy, and Charles is traveling to the moor and Princetown to train the guards on how to fingerprint the inmates. He feels obligated because he has been lobbying for ten years to replace the reliance on the outworn system of identification called bertillonage which is measuring the facial features. It's time to move into the modern age and rely on scientific deduction. Another reason he agreed is because he wants to meet Dr. Samuel Spencer who is in prison for bludgeoning his wife to death. He pleaded guilty, but bloody handprints were left on a wall, and there was no blood on Spencer. Charles thinks he might be innocent and wants to check out his fingerprints and compare it to the handprint. Is Spencer covering for someone else?
Kate, whose pen name is Beryl Bardwell, is tagging along because she wants to gather material for a new novel set on the moor. After arriving in Princetown, Kate finds her good friend Patsy Marsden is also there to see her. She has returned to England to see to the exciting event of the publication of her photographs. They are both excited to run into Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle invites them to a seance performed by medium Nigel Westcott and being held at Thornworthy Castle, the home of Sir Edgar and Lady Rosalind Duncan. It doesn't go well so is rescheduled for the next night. The medium foretells that Rosalind will be betrayed. A letter arrives later indicating that Edgar has left her for another woman. Edgar is later found dead in a kistvaen (stone lined burial plot) and chewed on by dogs which made him hard to identify. Mrs. Daisy Bernard who was a friend of Sir Edgar faints at the seance and slowly declines in health and soon dies. Why?
In the meantime three prisoners escape from Dartmoor Prison, and one of them is Samuel Spencer. Two are caught, but Spencer is not. Everyone assumes that Spencer killed Sir Edgar. What happened to him - he is never found? Did he have help escaping? But Charles knows he is innocent because he proves the bloody handprint at the scene of the crime doesn't match fingerprints taken from a cup in Spencer's cell. Now Charles can't exonerate him or is that the plan? Who is the gentleman that Patsy meets and is attracted to while walking on the moor? There are several suspects of Sir Edgar's death including his cousin, Jack Delany, who thought Thornworthy should have been his. Charles, Kate, Patsy, and Doyle do some sleuthing to catch the killer. At this point I'm not sure I like the depiction of Arthur Conan Doyle. In helping to investigate a real crime, he is shown blundering along, and definitely not as clever and astute as his created fictional character Sherlock Holmes. Doyle is constantly jumping to conclusions without thinking things through like Holmes would have.
There is a "Cast of Characters" listed in the front of the book. Besides Doyle, there are three other historical figures in the book. They are Miss Jean Leckie who was an intimate friend of Doyle's, Bertram Fletcher Robinson who was a journalist and self-styled "joint author" of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and William Crossing who is the author of the Guide to Dartmoor. In the back is the "Authors' Note" on Arthur Conon Doyle and "References" to their research. I suggest that you read these books in order for the story progression and character development of the recurring characters. Highly recommended.
The fictional recurring characters of note are Lord Charles Sheridan, his wife Lady Kathryn Ardleigh Sheridan, and Miss Patsy Marsden who is now an "independent" photographer and world traveler. Because Charles is an amateur forensic detective, the Home Office has suggested that Dartmoor Prison might be an ideal site to begin their national prisoner's Identification Project. The art of fingerprinting is called dactyloscopy, and Charles is traveling to the moor and Princetown to train the guards on how to fingerprint the inmates. He feels obligated because he has been lobbying for ten years to replace the reliance on the outworn system of identification called bertillonage which is measuring the facial features. It's time to move into the modern age and rely on scientific deduction. Another reason he agreed is because he wants to meet Dr. Samuel Spencer who is in prison for bludgeoning his wife to death. He pleaded guilty, but bloody handprints were left on a wall, and there was no blood on Spencer. Charles thinks he might be innocent and wants to check out his fingerprints and compare it to the handprint. Is Spencer covering for someone else?
Kate, whose pen name is Beryl Bardwell, is tagging along because she wants to gather material for a new novel set on the moor. After arriving in Princetown, Kate finds her good friend Patsy Marsden is also there to see her. She has returned to England to see to the exciting event of the publication of her photographs. They are both excited to run into Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle invites them to a seance performed by medium Nigel Westcott and being held at Thornworthy Castle, the home of Sir Edgar and Lady Rosalind Duncan. It doesn't go well so is rescheduled for the next night. The medium foretells that Rosalind will be betrayed. A letter arrives later indicating that Edgar has left her for another woman. Edgar is later found dead in a kistvaen (stone lined burial plot) and chewed on by dogs which made him hard to identify. Mrs. Daisy Bernard who was a friend of Sir Edgar faints at the seance and slowly declines in health and soon dies. Why?
In the meantime three prisoners escape from Dartmoor Prison, and one of them is Samuel Spencer. Two are caught, but Spencer is not. Everyone assumes that Spencer killed Sir Edgar. What happened to him - he is never found? Did he have help escaping? But Charles knows he is innocent because he proves the bloody handprint at the scene of the crime doesn't match fingerprints taken from a cup in Spencer's cell. Now Charles can't exonerate him or is that the plan? Who is the gentleman that Patsy meets and is attracted to while walking on the moor? There are several suspects of Sir Edgar's death including his cousin, Jack Delany, who thought Thornworthy should have been his. Charles, Kate, Patsy, and Doyle do some sleuthing to catch the killer. At this point I'm not sure I like the depiction of Arthur Conan Doyle. In helping to investigate a real crime, he is shown blundering along, and definitely not as clever and astute as his created fictional character Sherlock Holmes. Doyle is constantly jumping to conclusions without thinking things through like Holmes would have.
There is a "Cast of Characters" listed in the front of the book. Besides Doyle, there are three other historical figures in the book. They are Miss Jean Leckie who was an intimate friend of Doyle's, Bertram Fletcher Robinson who was a journalist and self-styled "joint author" of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and William Crossing who is the author of the Guide to Dartmoor. In the back is the "Authors' Note" on Arthur Conon Doyle and "References" to their research. I suggest that you read these books in order for the story progression and character development of the recurring characters. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2026
In case I forget to mention it later, I listened to the audiobook version (as I have for most of the books in this series). The narrator is quite good.
I am sorry to say that I rated this as only three stars mainly because I did not enjoy it as much as some of the others in this series. The plot seemed excessively complicated, with a large cast of characters, and I found myself getting lost now and then. In addition, the prison portion of the story was grim and depressing. That may have been accurate, but it made for less pleasurable reading. Plus the repeated description of the rather grisly murder details was also somewhat off-putting, to be frank.
None of these complaints relate to the quality of the writing (or of the audiobook narration, which was quite good), but they did affect my pleasure in the story.
One feature I do enjoy of these books is the element of historical fiction, in that each book has included one or more characters who are based upon actual historic figures. In this case, the character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle plays a significant and amusing role in the story.
Given the other complexities of the case, I do like that this book did not introduce any new criminal investigation technology. Sir Charles Sheridan is working to introduce and utilize his finger-printing techniques, but we have seen that before, so there was no need for elaborate scientific explanations, etc. (If you have ever watched the television show "Murdoch Mysteries," you will know what I mean when I say that there can sometimes be a bit too much modern technology introduced into fictional detective work set around the turn of the 20th Century!)
So -- By all means, give this a reading if you enjoy the Kate Ardleigh mysteries. You may well enjoy it more than I.
I am sorry to say that I rated this as only three stars mainly because I did not enjoy it as much as some of the others in this series. The plot seemed excessively complicated, with a large cast of characters, and I found myself getting lost now and then. In addition, the prison portion of the story was grim and depressing. That may have been accurate, but it made for less pleasurable reading. Plus the repeated description of the rather grisly murder details was also somewhat off-putting, to be frank.
None of these complaints relate to the quality of the writing (or of the audiobook narration, which was quite good), but they did affect my pleasure in the story.
One feature I do enjoy of these books is the element of historical fiction, in that each book has included one or more characters who are based upon actual historic figures. In this case, the character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle plays a significant and amusing role in the story.
Given the other complexities of the case, I do like that this book did not introduce any new criminal investigation technology. Sir Charles Sheridan is working to introduce and utilize his finger-printing techniques, but we have seen that before, so there was no need for elaborate scientific explanations, etc. (If you have ever watched the television show "Murdoch Mysteries," you will know what I mean when I say that there can sometimes be a bit too much modern technology introduced into fictional detective work set around the turn of the 20th Century!)
So -- By all means, give this a reading if you enjoy the Kate Ardleigh mysteries. You may well enjoy it more than I.
July 20, 2020
Death at Dartmoor takes place in 1901, near Dartmoor Prison in the middle of the moors of England. Lord and Lady Sheridan are visiting in the area. He goes to the prison for 2 reasons, 1 to start a record of finger prints so that police officials can have some way to identify criminals and 2 to obtain the fingerprints of an accused murderer that he feels is really innocent.
While Lord Sheridan is off on his errands, Lady Sheridan is out walking the moors with a friend and ends up obtaining an inviation to attend a seance that evening.
Their plans for a nice trip to the moors are soon dashed by the outcome of the seance, a prison escape, Auther Conan Doyle's presence and their own curiousity.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the moors, the people, the prison, and the values (I guess I mean the way life was lived and the ideas of the times). All of them put together made the story one that was hard to put down. I wanted to read all night and find out who did the murder, were the seance predictions true, what would happen to the innocent people.
While Lord Sheridan is off on his errands, Lady Sheridan is out walking the moors with a friend and ends up obtaining an inviation to attend a seance that evening.
Their plans for a nice trip to the moors are soon dashed by the outcome of the seance, a prison escape, Auther Conan Doyle's presence and their own curiousity.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the moors, the people, the prison, and the values (I guess I mean the way life was lived and the ideas of the times). All of them put together made the story one that was hard to put down. I wanted to read all night and find out who did the murder, were the seance predictions true, what would happen to the innocent people.
August 30, 2020
I like this series and this author [authors since it's Susan Wittig Albert and her husband Bill writing team]. I like historical mysteries as there is learning as much as it is the mystery. There is considerable name-dropping throughout the series. Here it's Arthur Conan Doyle and watching him get his ideas for Hound of the Baskervilles.
There is quite a lot going on here and I am glad I had all day today to read and not have interruptions in the flow. Quite a bit going on, some red herrings, lots of rambles on the moor, and Conan Doyle is a bit of a prig. He is at the time of his life where he's killed off Holmes in the books so that he can writer other books and his public is not amused...and neither is he.
My favorite thing about the series is the relationship Lord and Lady Sheridan have. She's American and independent which is taking some getting used to by the gentry, but Charles embraces it and her. He also embraces the progression of crime-solving. This time it's finger-printing.
I can recommend this book, series and definitely this author/s.
There is quite a lot going on here and I am glad I had all day today to read and not have interruptions in the flow. Quite a bit going on, some red herrings, lots of rambles on the moor, and Conan Doyle is a bit of a prig. He is at the time of his life where he's killed off Holmes in the books so that he can writer other books and his public is not amused...and neither is he.
My favorite thing about the series is the relationship Lord and Lady Sheridan have. She's American and independent which is taking some getting used to by the gentry, but Charles embraces it and her. He also embraces the progression of crime-solving. This time it's finger-printing.
I can recommend this book, series and definitely this author/s.
February 10, 2018
Review - I really enjoyed this one in the series, though not quite as much as 'Death at Whitechapel'. I love this series so much because it does use real people as well as the fictional main characters - in this story Arthur Conan Doyle is researching 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' and it's interesting to see how he is portrayed as pretty much the opposite of the eponymous Sherlock Holmes. It's also interesting to see how Charles Sheridan pushes fingerprinting and the importance of scientific evidence in solving crime. It makes me want to read more about scientific evidence and the application of it in solving crime, which I never thought I'd say!
Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery
Characters? - Kathryn Ardleigh Sheridan / Charles Sheridan / Samuel Spencer / Evelyn Spencer / Arthur Conan Doyle
Setting? - Dartmoor (England)
Series? - Kathryn Ardleigh #8
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 18/20
Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery
Characters? - Kathryn Ardleigh Sheridan / Charles Sheridan / Samuel Spencer / Evelyn Spencer / Arthur Conan Doyle
Setting? - Dartmoor (England)
Series? - Kathryn Ardleigh #8
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 18/20
February 11, 2024
What I found most interesting about this book is the feeling that the authors do not hold Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in high esteem. Doyle was very intrigued by spiritualism (according to his biographies) and not well-versed in the scientific means of solving crime (according to Robin Paige). They depict Doyle as a bit of a bumbler, always jumping to the wrong conclusion based on shoddy evidence. They also allude to Doyle gathering his ideas from others, such as the true story of Fletcher Robinson providing the foundation of two of the Sherlock stories. The genius that is often associated with Sherlock Holmes seems to not be evident in his creator, according to Paige. I wonder what research they did to discover these nuances about famous historical people, or are they all just fictionalized suppositions? Where is the line between history and fiction blurred? It makes me very curious and leads me to do a lot of historical reading after completing one of their books.
February 18, 2023
I picked this up secondhand without having read the rest of the series first. I have, however, read other books by sort-of the same author (the wife of this husband/wife team). I found that it was easy to pick the book up--what backstory I needed, I got--and I did really enjoy the interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as a character.
However, this book is written in a close third-person where the perspective shifts between several characters with each chapter. It's easy to follow, but personally, the style isn't for me; it prevents me from feeling that strong attachment to one or just a few characters, which I love. The narrative is naturally a bit decentralized. I'm in awe of the authors for being able to keep track of all their characters (and who knew what when!) but it's not my favorite way to read a mystery, I've realized.
However, this book is written in a close third-person where the perspective shifts between several characters with each chapter. It's easy to follow, but personally, the style isn't for me; it prevents me from feeling that strong attachment to one or just a few characters, which I love. The narrative is naturally a bit decentralized. I'm in awe of the authors for being able to keep track of all their characters (and who knew what when!) but it's not my favorite way to read a mystery, I've realized.
April 14, 2022
Number eight in this enjoyable Victorian/Edwardian series and this instalment sees Charles and Kate in Dartmoor - Charles is visiting the notorious prison to begin instigating his new fingerprint identification techniques whilst Kate is garnering research for her latest novel. But an escaped prisoner and a bloody murder distract them both. I particularly enjoy the inclusion of real historical characters and in this book Arthur Conan Doyle makes a welcome return, at the period when he was beginning to write the famous Hounds of the Baskervilles. The historical background and language are always accurate. Look forward to the next one. There are only twelve in the series so I am only reading now and then to stretch out the enjoyment.
March 25, 2024
Real Victorian celebs mixed into a good story. Conan Doyle is down in Dartmoor to gain info for his book the Hound of the Baskervilles. He meets two friends, Lady Kathryn and Sir Charles Sheridan there on business and a holiday. The Sheridans become involved in a mystery at Dartmoor Prison and a murder. As they work through the evidence, Conan Doyle assists and in the end adds Holmes and Watson to his tale with many of the real (by the book) incidents added to bring his book to a conclusion. The Sheridans are a fine mix of a resource full, independent late Victorian female character and an open minded scientific oriented investigative male. The combination works.
January 28, 2025
Another enjoyable historical murder mystery this time set in the Edwardian period.
I'm not sure if these later books are as interesting as the first books in this series but I did enjoy the atmosphere detailed in this book and the inclusion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I think I'll give the series a bit of a break again but I have been enjoying this series as a lot of the historical facts and people are true. It must be hard to write fiction around factual happenings. I admire the research that these author's out into each of their novels.
I liked the setting of this book endeavours the characters that we met.
I do have all 12 books but don't feel that I can read them one after another.
I'm not sure if these later books are as interesting as the first books in this series but I did enjoy the atmosphere detailed in this book and the inclusion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I think I'll give the series a bit of a break again but I have been enjoying this series as a lot of the historical facts and people are true. It must be hard to write fiction around factual happenings. I admire the research that these author's out into each of their novels.
I liked the setting of this book endeavours the characters that we met.
I do have all 12 books but don't feel that I can read them one after another.
July 27, 2019
After reading a few back-to-back e-books written by authors who churn out a new book every couple of weeks, I have to read something with a bit more substance. This book fits the bill. Once again, Lord Charles Sheridan uses forensic science, which is in its infancy in 1901, in investigations. Dactyloscopy (fingerprinting) plays a big part in this book, which is a well-crafted mystery. Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert, writing as Robin Paige, never disappoint in this Victorian mystery series.
September 28, 2022
Another ingenious dovetailing of a real-world character into a plausible historical fiction. What better pretext to incorporate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into their eighth Victorian Mystery than to have him at Dartmoor researching the area with a mind to writing The Hound of the Baskervilles. Indeed, the ensuing events in the company of Lord and Lady Sheridan are a convincing fantasia on themes found in that famous gothic fiction that served to resurrect his much loved detective, Sherlock Holmes.
April 27, 2018
Bringing Sherlock Holmes into a story that wasn't originally intended to feature him may have revived Conan Doyle's career, but it has not had an equally salutary effect on this book. There wasn't much mystery to solve, and what there was, our friends Lord Charles and Kate explained more than they detected. Don't start the series with this book: you'll be disappointed.
April 26, 2020
Although I sussed out the plot fairly early on, the colourful characters, writing-style and setting, kept me reading and made it very enjoyable throughout, despite knowing how it would likely end. I hope to maybe get a hold of some of the other books in the series to see if they follow the same recipe of mingling real-life icons (such as Conan Doyle in this instance) into the mix of the mystery.
September 1, 2018
I bought this book having visited South Devon many times and Dartmoor once or twice, and I love murder mysteries. This was a very enjoyable read, I was expecting one or two more twists and turns at the end, but it held my interest and I would definitely read more in the series.
July 18, 2019
Very enjoyable although a bit darker than some of them. Usually they are a bit cosier than this one was, although maybe just my mood.
I am off reading the next one. Just two more and I will have read all twice!!
I am off reading the next one. Just two more and I will have read all twice!!
February 4, 2024
Fabulous audiobook listen! I love that this had the addition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with the inclusion of the Hound of the Baskervilles. This is such a fabulous series I just am so in love with it. The characters are wonderful.
December 21, 2025
3.75 stars
Reliable and entertaining historical mystery series set in turn of the century England and featuring a husband and wife detecting team.
This one features Dartmouth Prison and Arthur Conan Doyle is a character.
Reliable and entertaining historical mystery series set in turn of the century England and featuring a husband and wife detecting team.
This one features Dartmouth Prison and Arthur Conan Doyle is a character.
June 7, 2017
Vivid and entertaining. So much to learn about this time in English history--I loved the descriptive details and enjoyed the speculation.
April 4, 2018
Lots of fun, just like the others. Love the inclusion of Conan Doyle. They do a great job of weaving in historical figures and events. I'm going to be sorry to finish this series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews