
- Title: Death Below Stairs
- Series: Kat Holloway #1
- Author: Jennifer Ashley
- Genre: Historical Mystery
- Pages: 336
- Published: January 2018 – Berkley
- Source: Publisher; NetGalley
Description: Beloved young cook Kat Holloway charms readers with her fierce sincerity as she takes on a new position in the household of powerful Lord Rankin.
Kat discovers a slew of odd characters living in the Rankin manor, from a lethargic Lady Rankin to her masculine spinster of a sister, to an eccentric cast of servants, and finally a very lustful, tempestuous Lord Rankin. Even more striking, however, is the trouble brewing in the home, which boils over when Kat’s young assistant is found murdered.
As Kat and her friend Daniel McAdam begin covertly investigating the murder, they soon find themselves working against a most daunting scheme – can they manage to escape the trouble they’ve cooked up for themselves? (publisher)
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My take: Every so often I like to read an historical mystery. I like being able to imagine myself living in those circumstances and then go along for the ride of the mystery. In Death Below Stairs author Jennifer Ashley’s main character is the new cook for a prominent Mayfair household. She’s not quite thirty years old and is a bit of a mystery herself. I suspect there’s even more to learn about Mrs. H. in future books.
Death Below Stairs is chock full of interesting characters who fall on one side or the other of abhorrent (evil) and sympathetic (good). It has its share of eccentrics too – which I loved. And there’s the matter of Daniel McAdam. It seems he has a crush on our Mrs. H. He’s a mystery to her though.
I won’t spoil with plot points and such but I’ll say if you’re looking to try the genre there’s no better time than with this first book in the Kat Holloway series. Kat has me hooked and I look forward to finding out what challenges she, Daniel and their friends face next. Fans of the below stairs goings-on of Downton Abbey or Victoria will surely enjoy the world of Kat Holloway.
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I’ll have to look for this one – I bet my mom would love it!
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Thanks for the review! I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but I think it’s time to try one again, especially when it is the first book in the series.
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It was fun getting in on the first – rarely happens for me. Thanks for stopping, Laurel.
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Oh my that looks really good! It sounds really good, too. I must say I love historical stuff like this! Do I need anotherbook right now? Hmmmmm…well…YES!
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So many books!
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Totes want it
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🙂
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I love historical mysteries but they can be hit or miss. This sounds like all hit and I’m so glad as I have it coming up next!
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I’ll watch for your review!
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Oooh yes! Sounds like a great Downton Abbey like book, will definitely add it to my wish list.
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Oh sounds great. I hope you enjoy the next books in the series. Awesome review. ❤️😁
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[…] Review: Death Below Stairs […]
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I LOVE historical fiction and especially this era and about English household staff members.
I loved when we toured a home in Scotland that showed the kitchen and the living areas. The home even had the bells that would ring to call the staff when the family needed them. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
I read something similar called BELOW THE STAIRS by Margaret Powell.
Have a great week, Mary.
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I am a fan of this genre and this one sounds good!
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