FBI profiler Kendra Donovan is still stuck in 1816 England in McElwain’s fourth mystery (after
Caught in Time). An unwitting time traveler, she has put her 21st-century skills to use and earned a reputation for solving murders. When a royal spymaster is found dead with his tongue cut out and strange symbols on his body, Bow Street runner Sam Kelly appeals to Kendra for help. Visiting autopsy rooms and traipsing around dodgy areas without a chaperone are unseemly activities for a young woman, and Kendra chafes at the restrictive mores of 19th-century society. But as the ward of the Duke of Aldridge, she has access to many places women would not be allowed. Defying convention, Kendra uncovers a dangerous secret about an incident dating back to the Napoleonic Wars.
VERDICT Despite some awkward use of 21st-century jargon, this is an entertaining mystery with considerable period detail and a touch of romance. Fans of historical mysteries with strong female characters, such as Rhys Bowen’s “Molly Murphy” series or Laurie King’s “Mary Russell” books will enjoy.
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