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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This is an entertaining, well-written, historical mystery novel. It has a likable, engaging, strong and capable female protagonist, mystery, intrigue, twists and turns and a touch of romance. I listened to the audio version of this novel and the narrator, Ms. Justine Eyre, has a lovely voice and does an outstanding job depicting the voices and expressing the personalities of the characters. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation.
Wow! This was quite intense! Centered in London a little after the time of Jack the Ripper. Fiona Mahoney job is to clean up the blood after the cops have finished their investigation. But this time someone has called for Fiona before the investigation is completed. But who? And why?? Is this Jack back killing? Or a copy cat?? This was a terrific mystery. The ending was a surprise to me!!!
****But I will give a warning. It is graphic.****
This was the first book I read of Ms. Byrne’s and certainly won’t be the last. I found it highly original and entertaining and I was blown away by her world-building and wit. I stayed up all night reading it and can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
This book doesn’t easily fit into one category (which is why I loved it so much) – set in London, 1890, this story follows the life of Fiona Mahoney, who makes her living cleaning up violent, bloody crime scenes. She’s also hunting Jack the Ripper…and possibly being hunted by him in return. Throw in a cranky, grumpy, surly-as-hell police inspector (Croft! I’d die for him), fun gore, lots of blood and violence (but not too much – just enough to transport you) and tons of world-building details…gah! It’s the first book of three, and the slow-burn between Fiona and Croft is already too hot for me to handle.
Wow!! Where to start with this book?
I’ll start saying that I loved everything about it. From the author style, to her meticulous research about Jack the Ripper, to the story. I was intrigued from the first page. Fiona is the kind of heroine you don’t know if you will like or hate. If you’ll be able to justify her actions. One thing for sure, you’ll keep with her in every page of the book trying to solve the mystery, or should I say mysteries? In an well written story, Kerrigan guide is inside 1890 London, a city plagued by one of the most famous serial killers of all the time, making us fill like we were there seeing all the horrors that a murderer can cause. And for me, this is one of the greatest gifts of a writer, when I feel I’m inside the story, living it with the characters. This book is packed with action, intriguing characters and a story that will keep you guessing at every turn!
I didn’t know if I was going to be able to finish this because it started slow but then it caught fire and i couldn’t put it down. Just keep with it if!!
Page turner. Unusual heroine
Loved it! Good historical fiction,
I loved this book! Fiona is such a strong woman and does what very few will do. All while on the hunt for Jake the Ripper. I highly recommend this book!
The Business of Blood is a mesmerizing mystery of secrets, death, and the search for Jack the Ripper. Kerrigan brings the squalor of Victorian England’s poor and disenfranchised to life. It all beings when Fiona Mahoney, the heroine, is called to the scene of a horrific murder. Fiona is a Post-Mortem Sanitation Specialist. I’ll leave what that entails to your imagination. It’s been two years since the grisly murders of prostitutes in White Chapel, murders that were never solved, nor was the murderer ever apprehended. Most of London sighed a breath of release when the killings stopped, but now it seems the Ripper has returned, and the gruesome murders he was infamous for having committed have begun again. Is it the Ripper or some perverse copycat?
Two years ago, one of the women brutally murdered by Jack the Ripper was a dear friend of Fiona, and she is consumed with finding him and bringing him to justice.
Fiona is as feisty and brave as her black Irish lineage implies, and the loss of her murdered family informs her every breath. Her ex-fiancé is a priest who broke her heart, a man she still loves and turns to for comfort. But Fiona has other worries to contend with besides a Scotland Yard Inspector who seethes when she is around. Inspector Croft considers her as a member of the fairer sex to be someone who has no business being involved in the investigation of crime, particularly murders. Perhaps he is concerned for her safety, but nonetheless, the two interact like oil and water. Fiona must tread cautiously as she has a problem, she’s compromised by a debt she owes to “The Hammer” the head of the most powerful crime syndicate in London. It’s a secret that could place her in jail or worse, and she suspects he might be Jack the Ripper himself.
The Business of Blood is eloquently written, enthralling, and a historical crime thriller you won’t be able to put down. I couldn’t.
I recommend this book Only if you like reading about murder Jack the Ripper style in full detail…..very realistic and cold blooded it will keep you on your toes and will have you going back to re-read to make sure you got it you read it right the first time !
Graphic descriptions that I didn’t like.
Was all set to buy the next installment but need to wait till December
The Business of Blood by Kerrigan Byrne- In typical Byre fashion, this tale contains pages and pages of fanciful prose chock full of a veritable Smörgåsbord of delightful vocabulary. It follows the life of Fiona, a Sanitation Specialist, who cleans up grizzly crime scenes. Fiona becomes obsessed with solving a certain criminal’s crimes. That obsession leads her down a slippery slope into the seediest parts of town and mingling with the most dangerous of men. It’s gory and gross while at the same time, fascinating and adventurous.
Why is the fact that this is a cliff-hanger (and the next book will not be out for another year) not being shouted loud and clear?
I am a HUGE Kerrigan Byrne fan. When I picked this up, I thought it was going to be another dark-hero romance, which no one does better than Ms. Byrne. Dark it was, but a romance it definitely was not. I kept wanting to put it down when I saw the curve it was taking. I don’t care in the least about Jack the Ripper or cleaning up blood or gory memories. But in true Byrne fashion, the writing and word-usage are stunning and the feelings evoked hit you deep in your soul. There was no way I was going to put it down until I finished. The ending was frustrating for me. It was shocking and wonderfully well written, but except for the thread you didn’t even know was unraveled, there was no closure to any of the other storylines. So if you want to read a fascinating story by a spellbinding storyteller, look no further. If you need closure, wait until February of next year when she’s almost ready with her next one.
Dang, Kerrigan has a dark streak in her. Reading those letters…wow. I love this different take on about Jack the Ripper and it was totally unexpected. Awe, I understand why we have to wait for the next 2 consecutive years for the next 2 books, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
It’s 1890 London, and Jack the Ripper’s crimes are still in everyone’s mind. From The Hammer (London’s own underworld king) to Grayson Croft (Inspector) to Fiona Mahoney, the woman who found her best friend, Mary Kelly’s body and has sworn revenge on the killer. Fiona now works cleaning up crime scenes from the blood and gore that are left behind.
Fiona’s lived a very hard life. She grew up the only daughter in a family of men in Ireland. Her mom died when she was fairly young, leaving her with her father and a total of 6 brothers. Now, all of her brothers and her father are gone, buried in Ireland and she’s only got her Aunt Nora who’s more than slightly batty, and Aiden. Her one-time fiancé, and now a Catholic Priest in a nearby parish.
She’s been summoned to a crime scene with a victim hanging upside down, the scene similar to one the Ripper might have done. She’s warned away, as usual, by Inspector Croft. But she refuses to listen. Especially since she finds something in the blood that covers the floor of the victim’s home. The evidence she encounters leads her to The Hammer and his Native American assassin, known as The Blade. From there, the evidence and her rather remarkable use of reasoning leads her along a path that mirrors this new murderer. During all this, she receives an actual letter from Jack the Ripper, one that lets her (and the police) know that he is not responsible for the latest rash of killings, but he will be known again.
Eventually the two paths merge, and Fiona’s in danger, danger from someone she knows. Someone who knows her. It seems Jack the Ripper knows Fiona well, as does this new, second killer.
This book is gripping. It takes over your mind. You become invested in the characters and the plot. I could picture the winding, dark roads of Whitechapel in 1890 London. The terror left over from the Ripper killings. The dogged determination of the residents to not die on the streets or starve. The writing is superb. It leaves you breathless with anticipation. The buildup is slow, then when you hit the end, and a killer is revealed, it leaves you stunned. Knocked off kilter. Somewhat betrayed. I purposely didn’t try to figure out who the killer was beforehand. I didn’t want to know, I wanted to read along my merry way, being led by an amazing storyteller and I was not disappointed in the least. I can’t wait for the next book. I need to know what happens with Fiona next. I do have to say that I loved the weaving through Ms. Byrne did of real people during that time. Fiona’s neighbor is none other that the amazing playwright Oscar Wilde, and they actually discuss his desire to write Salome. Also mentioned in passing is Arthur Conan Doyle, the amazing man who created none other that the great Sherlock Holmes. If you love historical fiction, gripping mysteries, or fantastic writing, read The Business of Blood today, I guarantee you’ll love it!
*I received an arc of this story and this is my honest and voluntary review.
5 ‘Until The Ghosts Are Put To Rest’ Stars
Oooohhhhh, Kerrigan Byrne rocked my world with this twist on Jack The Ripper, because it’s SO MUCH more than I expected! Mind, heart and soul gripping, THE BUSINESS OF BLOOD is a full blown experience!
I tend to stay away from anything close to horror genre, but as soon as Ms. Byrne announced this book as a brand new Historical Mystery I wanted to jump right in. Being a huge retelling fan, I could only imagine how enrapturing TBoB would be. Well, I really had no idea just how much I would be absorbed…
Fiona Mahoney is everything I love in an heroine and some. Not only is she smart, independent and strong beyond belief – which is even more extraordinary considering the time and age – , but she have such a hidden fragility in her feeling and emotions, if not only in her POV, that we immediately related to her, her pain, and her thirst for justice and a bit of revenge.
Being a self employed woman at that time and age, and the nature of her business as cleaning up murder scenes is, on itself so avant guard that it’s no wonder I was hooked even before I got into Fiona’s intricate and heart felt mind and spirit.
From the very first page I felt every single emotion she went through: from the loneliness, to the pain, the rage, the fear, the confusion, and heart and body’s reactions to all the intriguing men she interacted with – specially Inspector Croft, who I romance reader’s heart is rooting for, because even though this is not a romance, hello potential broody Hero! LOL – , I was there, going through it all right along with her. Ms. Byrne truly has a the gift to transport us in time and space with her incredible story telling!
The twists and turns,the dark and gothic elements that Ms. Byrne does to perfection, it’s just impossible not to dip into this world and find yourself completely immersed in this universe and in Fiona Mahoney’s mind! And oh my, for a non romance the sexual tension just left me…*delicious shivers*
The Business of Blood indeed blew my mind, not only because of the shock and the surprise I passed with the unfolding of the mystery, the cleverness of the connection of the background feud with The Ripper that I have no doubt will follow all this series, but specially because it left me BEGGING for more! Kerrigan Byrne truly is a masterful storyteller! I had not even finished and I was already dreading the last page because I just knew I couldn’t be satisfied without knowing more, uncovering all the secrets and see the cementing of all relationship, so it’s safe to say I will be in pins and needles for the next book in the series, I truly CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I had a hard time putting down this book for any reason. It was riveting and one of the best books I have read so far, EVER. I also have to say is that somehow I knew. That’s all I can say. I like these characters, a lot. The plot was amazing along with the setting. I can’t wait to read the next installment. If you like a suspenseful murder mystery with a possibility of romance in 1890 London, this book is for you. This is so different from this author’s usual fare and I applaud you Kerrigan Byrne…Bravo!!
Just a wee bit of blood…
I have never reviewed anything but romance up until now and to be honest, I never expected to review anything but romance. Then, Kerrigan Byrne comes along and she tells us she wrote something that is not romance. Well, not romantic to the extent we’ve come to expect from her. The SHOCK!! The HORROR!! But, it’s KERRIGAN BYRNE!! So, of course, I had to give it a go.
Knowing that I was going to be exposed to a wee bit of blood…and other things, I was hesitant to start. It was loaded up and the cover (which I LOVE) was there… looking at me… but I couldn’t turn the page. This could be because I was about to go to bed, and I was worried that it might play on my mind a wee bit. Blood and guts, Jack the Ripper, murder and mayhem are not exactly going to soothe me to sleep. So, I chickened out, turned off my Kindle and had an early night. Which lead me to start at 4:45 am on a Monday… what a start to the working week.
To be honest, The Business of Blood took me longer to read than I thought it would. I loved the words and how Kerrigan Byrne weaved her tale. BUT IT’S INTENSE!! My mind had to stay alert, my heart was pumping waiting for the next gruesome discovery.
I’m not used to ending a story feeling emotionally scarred, physically drained and completely disgusted with the evilness of humans. I guess I’m accustomed to reading stories that leave me with a sense of hope, contentment and joy.
This was a great mystery. The twists and turns were exciting, I was surprised at the *whodunit*, and found the intricate details of a murder investigation riveting. I really can’t fault the timeline, characterisation or settings. Getting to know more about Jack the Ripper was thrilling while also a wee bit horrifying. What murder investigators, coroners/post-mortem examiners, and the clean-up crews (after the body has been removed) face are also fascinating and horrific. I now know that I’m NOT the person for any of those jobs. The Business of Blood is a thought-provoking story that deals with lots of different issues concerning judgement based on class, race, sex and religious beliefs.
If I was to find any fault with The Business of Blood, it was that I was distracted enough to keep looking for the romantic element. I’m not sure if this is because it is ingrained in me or because there were hints of possibilities with certain characters we meet. There is a kiss in one scene, but it was not the type of kiss to give me heart flutters AT ALL. The person kissing and their reaction straight after was less than appealing.
If you are a fan of mysteries, don’t mind a wee bit of blood and gore, and love Kerrigan Byrne’s words, you will not be disappointed reading The Business of Blood. I thoroughly enjoyed this step out of my comfort zone…into sleuthing out a serial killer.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.