Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
Priceless artwork has gone missing from the home of a wealthy baronet, and his wife stands to take the blame. When Kat’s employer asks for help in clearing her friend’s name, Kat trades her kitchen for the homes of Mayfair’s wealthiest families.
Soon antiques are disappearing not only from the extravagant households of connoisseurs and collectors, but from the illustrious British Museum. As the thefts increase in frequency, Kat calls upon her friend Daniel McAdam, who has already set himself up in a pawnshop on the Strand as a seedy receiver of stolen goods. When a man is murdered in the shop, Kat must use all of her wits to see that the thieves are caught and justice is done.
Review:
Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley is the 2nd book in her Kat Holloway series. Kat is our heroine and cook extraordinaire. She is a smart, confident, independent, and very loyal and protective to the household staff, where Kat reigns. Kat would make a great detective, as she is always helping solve crimes.
In Scandal Above Stairs, which takes place in Victorian England, we find that Kat is coerced to help Lady Cynthia clear her friend and solve the mystery of stolen antiquities from other mansions of the wealthy. We also meet Tess, a young homeless girl sent by Daniel for Kat to train and protect. It was nice to see how Kat takes her under her care, training her and giving her hope for a future. Tess is also street wise, and insists to help Kat with the theft investigations. While Kat leaves the kitchen to visit the friend, she surmises that the husband is the guilty party, and eventually Daniel, who is also deep in another investigation of his, will help her, as the two cases will come together.
What I love about this series, is the Downton Abbey feel of above and below the stairs, with the household staffing; housekeeper, cooks, steward, maids, footman, valet, butlers, etc. I loved seeing the things Kat cooks for the family and for the servants, which was fun, especially with her showing Tess how to do things.
The mystery of the thefts has Kat investigating other thefts, and also worrying about Daniel, when he disappears for a few days. Between Daniel’s friend Mr. Thanos, Cynthia, Tess and James (Daniel’s son) they try to find clues to the thefts, as well as searching for Daniel.
What follows is a very good mystery with a few surprises along the way. Though Daniel and Kat make a great team, it is the secondary characters that Kat works with that help make this series special. Ashley gives us a nice view of London; the streets, the wealthy society and mansions; the dark and low of the criminals or the poor.
I expect to see more romance between Daniel and Kat in future books. If you enjoy Victorian mysteries, a Downton Abbey upstairs/downstairs background, very good leading & secondary characters, well written by Jennifer Ashley, than I suggest you start this series.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
Jennifer’s publisher is offering a paper copy of Scandal Above Stairs to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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