Scandal Above Stairs (Below Stairs Mystery, #2)

by Jennifer Ashley

From the New York Times bestselling author of Death Below Stairs.

A mystery of stolen antiquities has Kat Holloway setting aside her apron once again for the intrigues of the upper echelons of Victorian London.

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.

• ISBN10: 0399585532
• ISBN13: 9780399585531
• Publish Date: 3 July 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780399585531

Reviews

[Stephanie]

This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Death Below Stairs, and wanted to continue with the series. Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley is one of the few books I had pre-ordered this year.

Once again we are given a great cast of characters. There are a few who make repeat appearances and several new ones. Mrs. H continues to be amazing. She is steadfast and logical but Ashley continues to show us that she is a woman too. Daniel remains a mystery even though we are given a bit more about what shaped him as a person. I really can't wait to see where his story goes.

Ashley evokes a great setting. I feel like I'm right there with Mrs. H. I've never been to England and I feel like I would recognize some of the places mentioned in the books, particularly the kitchens of the wealthy. I think I'd be much more comfortable (and exhausted) below stairs than above.

The who-dun-it in Scandal Above Stairs is pretty tightly woven. Once again I didn't figure it out until it was all laid out for me. Generally I'll have some aspect of a mystery figured out before the end of the book. Ashley continues to outsmart me and I love it! With a mystery most of my enjoyment comes from the complexity of the mystery.

I really enjoyed Scandal Above Stairs and am looking forward to the third book in this series. In fact, I already have it pre-ordered and it won't be out until June!

[kimbacaffeinate]

Lady Cynthia asks for Kat's help when her friend's husband accuses his wife of stealing valuable paintings from their ancestral home to pay off gambling debts. That is quite the switch, No? When she bumps into Daniel he is working at an unsavory pawnshop. Once again he cannot tell her what he is doing, but when she shares her kitchen woes, he sends a clever street urchin, named Tess. I liked Tess and hope she continues to be a part of the series.

In this installment local homes are being pilfered for ancient artifacts and something is going on with the kitchen door. Is it Tess the new help or is this somehow linked to Lady Cynthia's friend? Kat will face danger before it's all sorted out and what an adventure it was.

Once again Ashley pulled me right into the story. I found myself at the kitchen table below stairs, sipping tea and taking it all in. I love not only the mysteries in Kat Holloway mysteries, but the talks of food as Kat prepares meals. I will not be applying for Kat's job anytime soon! We even get to visit another kitchen in the area and oh my what a night that was.

Kat Holloway is one of my favorite characters and I love the relationship she has both with Lady Cynthia and the staff. Then there is her complicated relationship with Daniel. We see some development and it delighted me. Secondary characters from suspects, gentry and staff added depth to the story and were all colorful.

Danger, near death, suspense and delightful banter made Scandal Above Stairs a splendid read. Fans of historical fiction, cozy mysteries and strong heroines will enjoy spending time with these characters. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer