A Killer in the Crystal Palace by Deb Marlowe

A Killer in the Crystal Palace
by Deb Marlowe

ISBN-13: 02022023AK2CP
kindle: 244 pages
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Released: February 17, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
London, 1851, and the Great Exhibition is on. A soaring success despite months of dour predictions, it is the event of the year, on front pages and wagging tongues the world over—and Miss Kara Levett is thrilled to be in the middle of it. The daughter of a baron and an exhibitor herself, she happily demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks to the crowds.

But her situation grows perilous when a man is murdered in the Crystal Palace and she becomes the prime suspect. With the unexpected aid of Mr. Niall Kier, a reserved Scottish blacksmith, artist and fellow exhibitioner with secrets of his own, Kara begins the work the Metropolitan Police show no inclination for—finding the true killer.

Together, Niall and Kara dig up international espionage schemes and sordid family secrets, and chase clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, all while trying to stay ahead of the villains who seek to make her the next victim.


My Review:
A Killer in the Crystal Palace is a mystery set in 1851 in England. I loved the writing in this novel. Kara and Niall felt like products of their time (rather than modern attitudes transported back), but they're also oddities. And they know they stand out as it causes them problems. Both are very skilled and creative. Kara inherited a business from her father (which she runs through a man) and is rich, but she still wanted to use her creative skills despite men feeling threatened by her. She's survived several kidnapping attempts and so has learned some unique survival skills that came in handy.

Niall was impressed by and respected her intelligence and skill. They worked well together, using logic and their unique skills and resources to find clues and solve whodunit. It was a puzzle mystery, and whodunit was guessable (but not obvious) before the big reveal. Historical details about the time, especially the Great Exhibition, were woven into the story and brought the time and place alive in my imagination. There was no sex. There was occasional bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this story to fans of historical mysteries.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.