Death Below Stairs (Below Stairs Mystery, #1)

by Jennifer Ashley

[Berls]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this historical mystery from Jennifer Ashley. This was my first time reading an historical mystery and I'm glad I started with Jennifer Ashley as she excels in every genre she writes. I don't think it's "my genre" - I like it well enough but I can't see myself binge reading the genre.

I think the element I liked most was that, unlike most historical romances, the main character wasn't a Lady but a servant - a cook. In fact, this had a very Downton Abbey like feel, in that we see how the servants and the family they support are so connected. Unlike Downton Abbey this doesn't spend as much time with the family and the story is told entirely form the point of view of Mrs. H (the cook).

The mystery was satisfying, in that there were several elements to throw you off and keep you guessing. Ultimately there ended up being more like 2 mysteries, both connected to the murder of Mrs. H's assistant (on Mrs. H's first night with the family). There's a larger mystery that I presume will be resolved over the course of the series.

I really enjoyed the characters and the varieties of lives we see throughout the book. Mrs. H is a mother, but her "husband" lied to her and was actually married to someone else, so things there are complicated. There's a bit of a romance, which I also enjoyed and hope to see come to something more complete by the end of the series. I do think I will eventually continue through the series -- maybe a book every month or so -- since I did enjoy it, but it's a slower read for me. I might see if the rest of the series is available for me to listen to on Scribd, since I can do that much faster.