PamG's Reviews > Cocktails & Chloroform

Kelley Armstrong combines a murder mystery and a time travel aspect in a historical setting in this novella in the Rip Through Time series which fits between books two and three. Since May 20, 2019, Vancouver homicide detective Mallory Atkinson was in Edinburgh, Scotland to be with her dying grandmother when she is attacked. It’s May 20, 1869 and housemaid Catriona Mitchell is discovered in a lane where she has been left for dead. It’s the exact spot where Mallory was attacked 150 years later. Mallory wakes up in Catriona’s body in 1869 and quickly needs to adjust to being a housemaid to an undertaker in Victorian Scotland. The undertaker, Dr. Gray also assists Detective McCreadie in his police investigations.

Now that Dr. Gray and his sister Isla Ballantyne know what happened to Mallory, the situation is not as full of subterfuge within the house except around the parlor maid, Alice, and Mrs. Wallace, the housekeeper and cook. She is now officially an undertaker’s assistant, but continuing her maid duties until they can hire someone for that position. When Alice receives a letter and then sneaks out that night, Mallory follows her to what seems to be a dance hall. However, it is much more than that and soon chaos ensues.

Mallory is a character with plenty of depth. She’s hardworking, kind, relatable, curious, impulsive, and makes for a strong female protagonist that readers can cheer on. However, she is also an independent thinker unafraid to speak her mind which isn’t normal for women in Victorian times. Gray is passionate about his work, enthusiastic, confident, and occasionally relaxed and teasing. The supporting cast of characters are well-developed and provide insight into individuals in various roles in a Victorian household as well as those they interact with.

I enjoy returning to these characters and the setting with each book in the series. Kelley Armstrong has a fluid writing style that quickly brings readers into the well-paced story. They also get a few insights into chemistry and how servants are treated. Other themes include family, friendship, sanitary (and other) conditions, racism, poverty, homesickness, and much more. The world-building was wonderful and felt accurate for the times. The ending has plenty of action and ties up the loose ends nicely. I would have liked for this to be a full-length novel.

Overall, this is well-written, engaging, and gripping with complex characters in a historical setting. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Understanding how Mallory gets to this time in history is explained in depth in book one so I recommend starting with it. However, if you accept the time travel situation, then this can be read as a standalone novella.

Subterranean Press and Kelley Armstrong provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for December 5, 2023.

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My 4.32 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.