Victorian class lines are crossed when cook Kat Holloway is drawn into a murder that reaches all the way to the throne.Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below … its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered.
Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.
more
Wow! Just WOW! I love Jennifer Ashley’s writing but was a little concerned about whether I’d like this book and series or not – simply because it takes place at a time later than I usually enjoy reading – 1881. Color me pleased and full of enjoyment! I greatly admire Kat Holloway who is NOT your standard heroine in a novel. I was also concerned about how a cook in a very busy and demanding household was going to manage to have time to flit about England investigating crimes. In this book, that was well explained and the absences were accounted for – but – I do wonder how that will work in the future.
Kat Holloway is a straight-laced, no-nonsense, intelligent, logical and strong Victorian woman who is twenty-nine years of age, plump, brown-haired, attractive and kind. She has a past and secrets to protect. She also has a need to protect the underdog and those who cannot protect themselves – not to mention harboring a soft-spot for a certain, very mysterious man and boy who keeps popping into and out of her life. We learn more about Kat’s secrets and her past as we move through the story and come to understand a lot of how she came to be who she is. I definitely came to admire her for her fortitude in dealing with issues that would have broken a weaker woman. I’ll really be looking forward to learning more about her in future additions to the series.
Daniel McAdam is a complete and total mystery – and you won’t know a whole lot more about him at the end of the book than you did at the beginning. What an enigma he is! Is he noble? Is he common? Is he wealthy? Is he poor? Is he a spy? Is he part of the police? He is a total chameleon. What we do know is that he has a real admiration and a soft spot for Kat Holloway. He also has a son (James) who is on the cusp of manhood and theirs is a complicated relationship. I really like Daniel and can’t wait to see how the relationship between him and Kat will unfold. I love mysteries, but am not a fan of them if they don’t have a large, serious romance as well – so I’ll be looking forward to seeing this one grow.
Our episode begins with Kat heading to the home of Lord and Lady Rankin to be interviewed for the post as their new cook. Kat had left her last post because the family was permanently moving out of London and for personal reasons Kat wanted/needed to remain in the city. Kat’s first day on the job was uneventful and she met and liked the staff with whom she worked. She was especially drawn to her young assistant who wanted to be called Sinead, but everyone insisted on calling Ellen because it was more English sounding. Actually, neither was her name. Kat was overcome when she walked into the larder a couple of days later to discover Sinead’s body – cold and hidden in a dark corner. She felt guilty and blamed herself because just the night before, she had left the young girl folding the table linens rather than helping her – and she had just promised the girl that she’d look out for her.
Kat wants to make sure that the coroner and constables don’t just sluff off the death as an accident or some such. Because she feels guilty, she wants to assure that the death is properly investigated and that the perpetrator is identified and brought to justice. She really wants to find Daniel so he can see the scene before the coroner and constables get there, but that doesn’t happen. He does come into the investigation to help – and to further an investigation of his own. The two might be related.
The investigation takes off and the safety of the queen and England itself could be at stake. They must solve the crime and assure that nothing happens to the queen. Multiple investigations, multiple perpetrators, and many bad guys. Quite a wild ride! LOVED IT ALL!
What did I not like so much? Well …
• I never did really understand if Lord Rankin was actually knowledgeably involved in the plot or if his money-hungry ways sucked him in.
• Not learning about the final outcome for all of the plotters involved – especially ‘Minty’. I wanted him to fall in a bog someplace.
• I really, really wanted to see Lady Cynthia get her HEA. Maybe that will come in the next book or something
• I wanted to see Daniel and Kat receive recognition from the queen (if only in secret). I know we don’t know anything about Daniel, but I’d like to think the Queen knows and recognizes him. He and Kat did a lot! Maybe some of that will come later as well.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Jen’s characters are wonderful, her story lines are engaging and the way she weaves a mystery is spellbinding. Her choice of characters are out-of-the-ordinary as well. Who’d imagine that the Cook in an uppercrust house would solve mysteries? Yet Jennifer Ashley makes it not only believable, but sleep-depriving. Kudos!
4.5*
I received an eARC at no cost from the author.
Although I already knew (and loved) Jennifer Ashely as a historical romance writer, I had never read a mystery book from her, so this was my first attempt.
Our main character, Kat, is a cook with a lovely young daughter and a past. She goes to work in a house where a young girl (a scullery maid) dies. And so she decides to get Daniel’s help – he’s someone she knows from her past, but that neither she nor us know much about. And that doesn’t really change throughout the book. It might be the only thing I would like to change – I would have liked to have known just a little bit more about Daniel and his son James, but I’m guessing Jennifer Ashley will start lifting the veil a bit more in the next book.
It was full of mystery and I usually find out right away who killed whom, but in this book I was kept on the edge of my chair trying to find out who planned to kill the scullery maid. In the end, it made perfect sense, and I really enjoyed finding out what was happening alongside with Kat and Daniel.
It was a very pleasurable read, with a small touch of romance between our main characters. I can’t wait to see what happens next to our Kat, and if she and Daniel upgrade their romance status (I’m sure they will!!).
Jennifer Ashley
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! A new Jennifer Ashley series to get excited about! I devour every book in the Mackenzies series, so I was excited to learn a new series of historical mysteries was coming out. (I recently fell in love with Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia Gray series.). I preordered it as soon as I saw it; but lo and behold, I won it in a Goodreads Giveaway!
It took me me a while to warm up to Kat. She seemed haughty about her cooking, almost as much as the aristocrats were about their station. But soon I began to really like her. I totally loved mysterious Daniel McAdam, and grew quite fond of his son James. Was Daniel a spy? A detective? Can’t wait to learn more about him.
There was a budding romantic relationship between Kat and Daniel, starting out as friendship. I hope that continues to grow. However, the main focus of this tale was the mystery. The distinction between the upper and lower classes in Victorian London was fascinating, too.
Don’t hesitate to jump into this new series. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Note: I suggest you read the novella A Soupcon of Poison to get a jump on this series. It’s available now and will introduce you to the main characters. It will whet your appetite for more!
Review of the Audio-book.
Terrific book. I can’t wait for the next one. I hope there will be a next one. Death Below Stairs is an interesting mystery, filled with rich descriptions and terrific characters make for a very enjoyable listen. Love the narrator her performance was perfection. I will look for more books from both the author and narrator.
All the elements you enjoy in a cozy mystery with a historically British twist. A refreshing change of pace.
Sub-Themes: historical fiction, culinary cozy, British mystery
If You Like: If you are a fan of The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries books, you’ll enjoy this one.
I read a lot of cozy mysteries and this historical mystery was a nice change of pace. Kat Halloway is a complex, strong, and convicted protagonist and she has a lot of dimension to her character. The backstory is just as powerful as the mystery, which always makes for an entertaining book when there are there are more than one story line I am invested in. I cannot wait to see what happens to Kat in future installments of this refreshing new series.
https://cozyexperience.com/death-stairs-book-review/
Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion of Lord & Lady Rankin and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant, Sinead is murdered.
Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law Cynthia and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason, one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.
A well written page turning book that had twists & turns throughout it & the murderer was a surprise to me. The characters were well developed, Kat & Daniel are very likeable as are the secondary characters. The pace of the story was very good & kept me engrossed & I look forward to more stories about the crime solving duo & ultimately finding out who exactly Daniel is. I particularly liked the way the author drip fed information about Kat & Daniel that only my interest grow. Definitely a keeper & one to reread
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
It was a very good read reminded me of Downton Abbey, kept me guessing till the end.
Here’s what I loved about Jennifer Ashley’s book Death Below Stairs :
The Setting
Give me anything pre-1950 back a 100 years or so, place it anywhere in England, and I will read it. I have no explanation why I adore this type of setting so much; I just do. And it has never disappointed me.
The Characters
From the heroine to the supporting guy to the household staff and the manor aristocracy, I found every single character to be thoroughly enjoyable, whether they were likeable good people or villain-y.
The History
What I know from English history and the history of their class system has come entirely from books and a few television shows. (Love the new PBS show Miss Scarlet and the Duke!) This story provided another level of education into the social and socioeconomic history of that era, and I found it very interesting.
As a historical mystery, I expected it to be well researched and well written from the historical side, and it absolutely did not disappoint. It actually exceeded my minimal expectations, and I was completely immersed into the 1880s English working class!
If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, a setting pre-turn of the 20th century, or even just a London atmosphere, this is absolutely a book I highly recommend. I’m completely hooked and will be getting the other books in this series, including the prequel.
Check out the complete review on my blog: https://cozymysterybookshop.com/book-review-death-below-stairs-by-jennifer-ashley/
Jennifer Ashley drags you right into the kitchens of Victorian England and makes you feel right at home, amid murder and food prep.
A lot of romance and mysteries center themselves around the upper classes and what they’re up to–this one is an interesting middle ground. As the cook, Kat Holloway is firmly below stairs, but has access to the people above as well. Her first night in a new house, her new assistant is murdered, her body left in the pantry. It’s not necessarily up to Kat to solve the murder, but she’s drawn in anyway. This was a fun, interesting mystery set with characters you don’t always get to see. I’m already on the forth one…Ha!
I really enjoyed this book. It had some twists and turns, some romance, and surprises.
Enjoyed the story and the characters. Lots of action.
Love this series! Winsome characters. Immersive period details. Clever mystery—always related to character development & time period. Author Jennifer Ashley + narrator Anne-Marie Piazza = a delightful duo 🙂 Verdict: A favorite that was over too soon!
I just finished listening to the audio version of DEATH BELOW STAIRS by Jennifer Ashley, bk#1 in her Below Stairs Mystery series. This was my first book by Ashley and I really enjoyed it! What a pleasant surprise! I truly enjoyed this “period piece” (Victorian) mystery – the setting of the working class “below stairs” in a home of the English wealthy elite. DEATH BELOW STAIRS breathed with wit, warmth, strong characters (both male & female) and an underlying sense of humor that came through in the dialogue. DEATH BELOW STAIRS was a very happy surprise – as I purchased it “On Sale” in an audio book offering simply based on the blurb and reviews. I will watch for the other books in the series to go on Sale before purchasing them, however, because they are Quite expensive! my only complaint (otherwise I would proceed with the series). I did, however, purchase the short prequel, titled A SOUPÇON OF POISON to read next. Another ASHLEY title, in a different genre, was also offered “On Sale” through the same audio offering so I picked that up as well – based on my enjoyment of DBS.
The narrator for DEATH BELOW STAIRS was Anne-Marie Piazza. I enjoyed her reading enough that I would purchase another audio with her voice (some narrators I avoid).
The FMC, Kat Holloway, is a well accomplished English cook employed in the home of a wealthy and prestigious aristocrat. Daniel McAdam/MMC is a man of all trades and disguises who finds work around town. Daniel somehow manages to become employed by Kat’s employers following the sudden murder of a person “below stairs.” Daniel is a curious person. He wears the clothes and carries the accent of both the working class man and the titled. Kat suspects Daniel may work in truth for either the police or the Crown, and everything else about him is simply Smoke and Mirrors. We aren’t told, in DEATH BELOW STAIRS, and that is part of the underlying mystery – who is Daniel?
The murder mystery is solved and other unusual events occur as well. DEATH BELOW STAIRS kept my attention, which is saying a lot (this was only my 2nd audio ever – I wondered if I would be bored out of my mind). I enjoyed the concept of the cook, Kat, and Daniel as main characters and their personalities were complex (Daniel & Kat) and especially delightful (Daniel). If I can obtain this series at a reasonable price, I look forward to completing the series.
Recommended to readers of Historical Mysteries, Historical Fiction, Romance (subtle romance between MCs), and Pick-Me-Up novels. DEATH BELOW STAIRS is a subtle romance with a good ending – not necessarily a HEA (romance possibility in the future).
I enjoyed it thoroughly.
READER CAUTION –
VIOLENCE – This is a murder mystery but details are not graphic in the least, nor dark.
PROFANITY- None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS – None. Rare kisses.
IMO DEATH BELOW STAIRS would be appropriate for any reader (13+) who enjoys the above mentioned genre.
Diverting
This is a good story. It is well-written with fascinating characters. I especially enjoyed the narration related to a cook’s life. However, I didn’t enjoy the mystery as much as I had hoped. Still, a good read, and I plan to read the next book in the series.
Just love these historic novels.
Kat Holloway high demand as a cook affords her the rare opportunity to take a job at Mayfair mansion. Becoming a part of the household of Lord Rankin takes a bit of time, as is to be expected in a new household. As Kat tries to assimilate, blending in proves a bit difficult at times, especially with the various oddities Kat observes. She’s relatively unconcerned with the strangeness if the family stays out of the kitchen – until she discovers the body of her young, Irish assistant in the larder.
Kat enlists the assistance of her friend Daniel McAdam, along with Lord Rankin’s sister-in-law and a mathematical genius friend of Daniel’s, to assist her in finding out who killed her assistant. Together, the four of them realize the death of Kat’s assistant is just the tip of the iceberg. A plot has been hatched that directly threatens Queen Victoria’s reign.
Daniel is more than who he pretends to be and is a great asset to Kat. I love their dynamics. Kat is strong and independent, but she also has a secret that had me breaking down into tears. Daniel is a strong character and I enjoyed his protector-type demeaner and his ability to see Kat is capable and not weak.
The mystery was captivating and had twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story kept me engaged, was interesting, and had great characters. The author did a wonderful job creating a historical English mystery with imagery I could visualize and made me feel like I was in the story. I look forward to reading book 2.
I purchased my own copy of this book.
I’m not usually a fan of cozy mysteries but couldn’t resist this one by the talented Jennifer Ashley. Kat Holloway is a cook in Victorian England. I didn’t mind all the details of the daily life then and her recipes. Kat has a boyfriend who has mysteries of his own. There’s murder, plenty of suspense, and the romance between Kat and her Mr. McAdam. I just enjoy Ashley’s voice and learning about this time period from an upper servant’s point of view. Very well done. As someone who loved Downtown Abbey, I got hooked. If this is your cup of tea, jump in and enjoy.
I love mysteries and as that goes this was great. It was well written and certainly kept my attention. The characters were funny and believable. The storyline was a bit different than your usual mysteries, particularly one like this. I would recommend for a good mystery and light read that you just don’t want to put down!