A fascinating new voice in the British Mystery cannon that will transport you to the cobbled streets of Jack the Ripper’s Victorian London. Fans of Deanna Raybourn, Rhys Bowen, Andrea Penrose, and Amanda Quick will love the tangled life of England’s most intrepid sleuth as she navigates a world of secrets, lies, and dangerous men on both sides of the law, all the while hunting London’s most … most notorious killer…
London, 1890. Blood and death are Fiona Mahoney’s trade, and business, as they say, is booming.
Dying is the only thing people do with any regularity, and Fiona makes her indecorous living cleaning up after the corpses are carted away. Her childhood best friend, Mary, was the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. It’s been two years since Fiona scrubbed Mary’s blood from the floorboards, and London is no longer buzzing about the Ripper, but Fiona hasn’t forgotten.
And she hasn’t stopped searching for Jack.
When she’s called to a murder in the middle of the night, Fiona finds a victim mutilated in an eerily similar fashion to those of the Ripper, and only a few doors down from Mary’s old home. The relentless, overbearing, and irritatingly handsome Inspector Grayson Croft warns her away from the case. She might have listened, if she hadn’t found a clue in the blood. A clue that will lead her down a path from which there is no return.As a killer cuts a devastating swath through London, a letter written in blood arrives at her door, and it is only then that Fiona realizes just how perilous her endeavor is. For she has drawn the attention of an obsessive evil, and is no longer the hunter, but the prey. Fiona Mahoney is in the business of blood.
But she’s not the only one…
With intriguing twists, blood-chilling discoveries, and dazzling prose, USA Today Bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne proves a woman’s work is never done, even when she is sleuthing out a serial killer.
“Heart-pounding mystery awaits… BoB has a Ripper Street, Penny Dreadful, Frankenstein Chronicles vibe.” — Whiskey & Wit Book Reviews
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The Heroine of this book, Fiona is one of the most independent, fierce, intelligent female character’s I’ve read. This is a very unique historical mystery, that revolves around Jack the Ripper. I was constantly doing side research to see how history was woven into this story. And I was not disappointed.
‘”This is highly irregular,” Bond observed, though from what I could tell, he conveyed more curiosity then censure. “Miss Mahoney is neither a nurse nor the police. Should she be privy to all this death and blood?” “I’m a Post-Mortem Sanitation Specialist, Dr. Bond, I dare say I’m in the business of blood”‘
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Kerrigan Bryne always goes straight to the top of my TBR pile <3
The Business of Blood is the first book in a new series of historical mystery thriller romance by Kerrigan Byrne. It’s definitely not the typical historical romance I’ve been reading lately, it’s dark, mystifying, and brutal! And the book cover perfectly conveys this vibe and got me so excited to get into the story! Think CSI, Sherlock Holmes, and The Da Vinci Code all mixed in one!
Fiona Mahoney had a most unusual job: cleaning up the crime scenes after corpses were carted away. After her best friend was brutally killed, she was determined to find Jack the Ripper, the infamous murderer with a sick, vicious, and sadistic “signature” killing style, who led the entire London Metropolitan Police in the chase for a couple years without getting anywhere…
A couple new cases came up with an eerily similar yet slightly different process shook everyone to the core! Had Jack the Ripper returned after a couple years in hiatus? Or was it someone else mimicking his style ? Would she be in danger for pursuing her quest to find out who he was? And what did Jack want from Fiona?
I love how the story developed and really enjoyed Fiona’s interactions with all the male characters (her former-fiancé-turned-priest Aidan, the handsome yet irritating inspector Croft, the trustworthy inspector Aberline, the fatherly surgeon Dr. Phillips, the head mob gangster The Hammer and his assassin The Blade, her quiet assistant Hao Long…) I thought I might have guessed the killer, but then I was so wrong! The twist was totally surprising, the story was nicely unfolded and would leave you on edge toward the end! I just simply couldn’t put it down, my heart was pounding fast, my tears overflowing for Fiona, for her heartbreak and her tragedy …
It’s a wonderful 5- read, it totally met my expectations and beyond! Her writing is absolutely brilliant and highly descriptive (especially the murder scenes, so please be aware!) Intriguing and well researched plots interwoven with real historical events and figures, and the characters beautifully developed and unexpected! This is just the beginning of Fiona’s dangerous battle against the atrocious and brutal villain. And I can’t wait to follow her path to uncover this mystery!
I was already looking forward to The Business of Blood because of Kerrigan Byrne and I love a good murder mystery, but when I saw that it was going to be a darker story and feature Jack the Ripper — well, let’s just say that my anticipation for it kicked up like a thousand degrees — my excitement could not be contained! I’ve been somewhat on a reading hiatus for these past couple of months, but I got The Business of Blood pretty much as soon as it released, started reading it and was hooked immediately. I was fully invested in the story, in the characters, especially Fiona, and the mystery — I could not get enough!
The Business of Blood had that kind of beautiful atmospheric feeling you get while reading a gothic where everything is dark, gritty, and intense with a touch of fear, a dash of mystery, and a whole lot of intrigue. It’s full of drama, horror, and heartbreak, but it’s so compelling it’s hard to tear yourself away. I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for whatever is to come next!
Kerrigan Byrne does not disappoint. Her writing is vivid, creating multi faceted characters with depth, making them come alive. I felt as if I right there with Fiona on her adventure through 1890’s London. The subject matter may not be suitable for everyone but is one that holds a certain amount of fascination as Jack the Ripper is so notorious yet not well known and never found out. This novel took a lot of twists and turns with some colorful well known names popping up. I loved that Oscar Wilde was her neighbor and thought his interaction a nice respite from the heavy subject matter. Although not a romance novel, there is some hidden undertones of a romance. And a surprise ending that I could not see coming. I give high praise to Ms. Byrne for her research and respect in writing for a delicate subject matter. This adventurous mystery novel is definitely highly recommended for the sheer pleasure of just reading something a little bit different than the norm. I thank the author for an advanced copy to read and share my review.
Wow…where to begin? First, this is a fabulous read. Fast paced. Some blood and gore hits you right at the beginning, and this will sound weird, but it was appropriate and set the scene for the rest of the book.
Fiona is a crime scene specialist, cleaning up after deaths that might not be due to natural causes. Lots of blood and cleaning of the floors and walls. Delightfully creepy. She is also trying to find out who the real Jack the Ripper is. He killed her best friend and she wants justice done.
A fabulous crew of possible romantic suitors pass through Fiona’s life in this story. Her Priest, Father Aiden, who was also her childhood friend and fiancee. Fiona is trying hard to get over her jealousy of his wedding to the church rather than to her. The Hammer, her sometimes employer who compels her to do heinous acts to help him have a stronger hold on his underlings . Her employer’s enforcer, The Blade, who shows up to keep her safe when she least expects it. Then, the police officer, Inspector Croft, that she works with in an official capacity, removing blood and gore from crime scenes, and in an unofficial capacity getting tips from him for her Jack the Ripper hunt, and giving him hints about where they might go to get some information needed. A great intertwined community! Is there anyone Fiona’s truly drawn to?
The story twists and turns. It shows many examples of mans inhumanity to man. How class and employment in the 1890’s was unfair to so many. What women, without a man to look out for them, had to do to survive. You can feel the fear as people begin to wonder if the Ripper is actually back, or if there is someone else out there who is meting out justice to those that don’t measure up to the standards being set. The person responsible for the crimes is not who you might think it is! I was blindsided by the ‘unveiling’ of the murderer.
I’m not generally a fan of a book written in the first person, but this one blew my prejudice out of the water. What great writing. A fabulous story and one I’m still processing. I do love using historical facts to build a fictional look at those times. I’m hoping that this is the beginning of more stories starring Fiona and her time period.
This is a must read for historical fiction fans. Ms. Byrne is known for her Historical Romantic Fiction books and those are excellent. I’m so glad to see her stretch out and do something she’s not done before. Please do not let this book be the last of this type. Loved it!
4-4.25 stars. The Business of Blood is Kerrigan Byrne’s foray into Historical Fiction. I have loved her Historical Romances and I loved this book just as much. It was so good! This book focuses on Fiona Mahoney and takes place in London in 1890. At twenty nine, she is a spinster who cares for her ailing Aunt. She is also in the business of blood, meaning she cleans up murder and death scenes. While that is her main job, she also has a fascination with Jack the Ripper. He killed her long time friend and since then she has been obsessed with him. She finds herself investigating the deaths she cleans up, much to the annoyance of the local police. Especially the grumpy detective, Croft. She also deals with various underworld criminals in her investigations. In this book, there is a mystery that Fiona is trying to uncover, as well as her working to try to find out who Jack the Ripper is. I don’t want to give away much else about the story to not spoil the mystery, but I enjoyed this so much.
This story was so good. It was such an interesting, engaging, fast-paced story. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the atmosphere of this book. If you have watched the show Taboo, it reminded me of that. A little dark, gory and mysterious. I loved the mystery, finding out more about Jack the Ripper and how murder investigations in that time period were handled. I adored Fiona. She is smart, independent and determined, but she also has some demons from her past to battle. She is strong and capable, but vulnerable on the inside. It’s been a long time since I read a book that wasn’t romance. While this book was not a romance, there are several intriguing men that seem to have an attraction to Fiona. I could feel chemistry between her and a few of the characters. I found myself hoping for a little romance, which added the extra spark I needed. I’m hoping something develops for Fiona on that front in future books, too.
Overall, The Business of Blood was an addicting, suspenseful read. I enjoyed it very much and can not wait for more from this series!
Rated 4.5 Stars
The Business of Blood is a historical mystery with a Sherlock Holmes vibe to it. It’s also dark and a bit gory. I loved it. I loved the backdrop of it, the nods to literary figures and the budding romance. It’s very much an enemies to lovers and office romance. It had me invested in the characters and the story from the get. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series and highly recommend it.
Copy provided by author
I was watching a documentary last week about what kinda place Whitechapel was when Jack the Ripper was rooming the streets of London and was fascinated by it. So it was only normal the story pulled me into it from the very first chapter.
I got to say I was loving the mystery, fear and most of all the strength that Fiona had with doing her job and everything else in order to survive. I loved how determent she was in finding the culprit and how heartbreaking it was to find him. I loved the way this book ended and I can’t wait to see what happens next and if she’ll ever find peace she desperately deserves.
This book was a MASTERPIECE and it deserves all the stars out there!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I am speechless, to say the least. This book had me gripping the edge of my seat. It’s deliciously dark and gritty. The subtle, romantic undertones satisfied my soft side. It’s also edgy, and did I say dark?
Fiona was not someone to be trifled with. Her life experiences made her wary, doggedly determined to succeed, her heart unapproachable by anyone worth knowing. Fiona’s light shone in the dark, grim times of that era as she fought for survival, professionally and personally. The people she met as she muddled through life were interesting; each character introduced made an impact in his or her own way, some more than others. Inspector Croft was delightfully maddening, Father Aidan was what could’ve been.
The visceral images in this book bled through Kerrigan Byrne’s words.
Fiona Mahoney is a Post Mortem Sanitation Specialist, a person who cleans up murder scenes. She cannot forget her friend’s gruesome murder nor the man responsible. Fiona vows to continue the hunt for Jack the Ripper, regardless the cost. When she is summoned to a murder case, Fiona notices how similar this case is to Jack the Ripper’s cases. Fiona garners not only the infamous killer’s attention but another’s as well. Will Fiona be able to help Scotland Yard apprehend the true killer? Or will she become another casualty?
I love the fact that Fiona is Irish. I have always had a weakness for Irish characters, regardless of their sex. I admire the fact that Fiona’s profession is one that women do not often seek out. This does cause some conflict with the Inspectors and other male, important officials she must work alongside with. I also like how Fiona holds her own against men like Inspector Croft and the Hammer. Both men may frighten her, but she refuses to let either man intimidate her or hold her back.
THE BUSINESS OF BLOOD is book one in Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian-mystery series, IN THE BUSINESS OF BLOOD BOOK. This is a new genre for me. Generally I read romance, so this book is a nice change of pace for me. I have read stories without romance before, so I quickly became embroiled in the dark plot and characters.
THE BUSINESS OF BLOOD is a gripping start to a promising series. I like the fact that the story centers on the time of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror in England. That is a new element I did not think I would enjoy as much as I did. So I cannot wait for the next installment. I will definitely read it.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
“Sometimes, what we want and what we fear are one and the same.”
Fiona Mahoney is no stranger to darkness. Making her living via the dead, Fiona has become quite the expert in forensic clean up and disposal…perhaps too good, for she has caught the eye of one of the most deadly villains in London, Jack the Ripper. Following the gruesome murder of her dearest friend, Fiona vows to seek vengeance, and uses all her wits and connections, both lawful and unlawful, to determine if the killer that has once again spilt blood on the cobbled streets is her old nemesis or an obsessive copycat. One thing is for certain, “to beat the Devil, you have to play his game…”
Kerrigan Byrne’s The Business of Blood is a dark and sinister mystery I did not what to end! If you are a fan of all things The Ripper, this is a must read! It should be noted this novel is NOT a romance. Don’t be picking this up thinking you are going to be reading one of Kerrigan’s historical romances with the smexxy bad boy hero. Nope. In The Business of Blood, the author takes her writing skills and weaves a thrilling whodunit with a well-known iconic killer. This reader couldn’t get enough and is already desperate for the next installment! Wish I could give more than 5 Stars! Highly recommend!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
The Business of Blood by Kerrigan Byrne is an unusual take on the Jack the Ripper murders from the 1800s in London. With a unique twist in the storyline I was drawn in to see just how the heroine was part of the murders. With the writing done in old British vernacular it was at times a little hard to read but I was able to look up and figure out the meaning of phrases and words that I had not heard before. Fiona is neighbors and friends with the flamboyant playwright and poet Oscar Wilde which adds a bit of amusement to the otherwise dark story. This story leaves off on a cliffhanger with the second book A treacherous Trade due out next year. 4-stars for The Business of Blood.
Fiona Mahoney is the Post-mortem Sanitation Specialist in London post The Autumn of Terror. After a close friend falls victim to the Ripper, Fiona takes it upon herself to clean up crime scenes in hope of tracking down the notorious killer. When called upon to a crime scene she must work with Inspector Grayson Croft, the one man that seems more adamant that she not be there than anyone else. As the killings begin again, Fiona finds herself in more danger than ever, as she suddenly begins receiving letters from her archnemesis Jack the Ripper. Now not only must Croft try and find a killer he must keep Fiona safe from the ultimate threat. When you are in the Business of Blood danger is around every corner and Fiona is walking the streets alone.