This and That with Karen : The Sign of Death by Callie Hutton

Mar 13, 2021

The Sign of Death by Callie Hutton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Sign of Death” by Callie Hutton the 2nd instalment in the " Victorian Book Club Mystery". What an amazing follow up to book one, I think this is my favourite historical mystery series.

USA Today bestselling author Callie Hutton returns with her second Victorian Book Club mystery, in which Lady Amy and Lord William sleuth the death of a teetotaler who took a fatal dunk in the drink.

Bath, England, 1891. Mr. James Harding was a lot of things--businessman, well-to-do, probable scoundrel--but a drinker he most assuredly was not. So when Harding is believed to have drunkenly fallen to his death into the icy River Avon, Lord William Wethington is immediately suspicious. Finding Lord William's name on a letter in the victim's pocket, the local constabulary summons William to identify the victim. Police detectives learn that William had been one of Harding's business clients--and undoubtedly not the only client the dead man had cheated.

William entreats Lady Amy Lovell, a fellow member of the Mystery Book Club of Bath, to help him deduce what really happened to the late Mr. Harding. Lady Amy, a celebrated mystery author herself, once called on William to help her solve a real-life mystery, and now she fully intends to return the favor. But it won't be easy.

Practically every one of Harding's many clients had ample reason to want to do him in. And there's precious little time to narrow down the list: William and Amy soon become prime suspects themselves when the police discover them ruffling through files in Harding's house. Lady Amy will have to be as clever as her characters if she's to save William from the gallows...and herself from Harding's real killer.

The story pulled me in right away, I was so engrossed in it that I read in one sitting. I found myself becoming invested in what happened to lady Amy and William as they are likeable characters that work well together plus the budding romance between them you can’t help but be happy.

I like how there were several stories woven into this mystery but they flowed seamlessly together. It enabled us to get more background on some of the book club members The mystery itself was well plotted, entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises at the end.

I can’t wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.