Summer 1889 in London and Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone with his partner Archie Holbrook are chasing a sexual pervert when they are called to the first mysterious death of an influential business man.
Although we know who, and why the murders occur this doesn't distract from enjoying the story, and wondering how it all will end. As this was my first book in the series I was left unsure how this would be resolved.
I liked the easy to read writing style, also the characters Bloodstone and Holbrook, and others in the police station, and now look forward to reading the first in the series.
A NetGalley Book ( )

Reading "Snifter of Death" was my first introduction to this author and to the The Bloodstone series. I was captivated almost immediately by the characters within the pages of this historical suspense story set in the time period of 1889. Initially, it seemed as though I was reading two (2) parallel stories by first meeting lady's companion, Graciela Robson, in the midst of bailing out prisoner Newt Addy at the Metropolitan Police – Holborn Station. While waiting for the release of the man Graciela has bailed out of jail, she hears the name Bloodstone recognizing it from all of the publicity of the previous year as the detective who solved the British Museum murders. Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone's and his partner, Detective Archie Holbrook are in the midst of solving another murder which quickly becomes a serial murder case. As the chapters float back and forth between the daily lives of Graciela and the detectives, the reader becomes more and more intrigued with how and when their lives will intersect.

The secondary characters such as Honeysuckle Flowers, landlady Mrs. Goodge, neighbor boy Luke, Rudyard's brother Will, Rudyard's former girlfriend, Evangeline, reporter Geoffrey Marsden, Tony Critchlow, and especially Rudyard's dog Winky, and Graciela's kitten "Me-too" envelop the reader in all aspects of the story. Delightfully this story can be read as a stand-alone but I can't imagine not now reading Book 1, "Silk" to learn the initial case solved by Rudyard Bloodstone.

I can only begin to imagine all of the possibilities for this series as I read the author's fascinating personal story. I highly recommend adding any story by Chris Karlsen to the top of the "wish to read" list.

My lower star rating is only due to copy edit errors that are distracting to me as a reader. I am hopeful for improvement as the series continues.

I was invited to receive a complimentary copy of this novella by the author and have provided my honest and voluntary review. ( )

There's nothing like reading historical fiction to remind me how much better it is to be a woman in the 21st century. At the start of this story we meet Graciela, a single woman from what we'd probably consider a lower middle class family. As we get to know her, we feel her emotional turmoil and see the damage of past trauma. Her options, as a woman, are all too few.

Alternately, we meet Detective Bloodstone and follow along as he investigates crimes involving a man who steals nylon stockings from women - while the women are wearing those stockings. This case has a humorous spin, which provides relief from Graciela's darker story. Eventually Bloodstone is also assigned the murders of some high-profile men, and this is when the characters' lives intersect and plot twists catch us by surprise.

We spend a lot of time with Bloodstone in his personal life, which, for me, has its pros and cons. I enjoyed getting to know him, and the minor characters with whom he interacts added much life and to the story. But at times I felt things, such as the ongoing issue with the boxing match, detracted from the two criminal cases and the seriousness of the content.

The author does a brilliant job of capturing this era in history. The way the characters interact, their dialogue, and the descriptions of places all combined perfectly to place me within the story. I felt what it was like to live in 1889.

I have not read the first book in this series, though I now want to! This book reads well as a stand-alone.

*I was provided with an ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.* ( )

This may be the second book in this series but I thought it read fine as a stand alone novel. Although, after finishing this book with enjoyment, I do want to go back and read book one. Bloodstone is an interesting character. He is humble, caring, has a good sense of humor, not imitated easily, and intelligent. I say this because he would not take accolades for his Victoria Crown medal (humble), and he was a gentleman towards his love interest, Honeysuckle (caring). When one of his fellow co-workers was dressed in disguise, he poked fun at him (sense of humor). Than when his nemesis threated him by wanting to expose Honeysuckle's past, he did not back down as easily (not imitated easily), and finally he was able to solve the cases he was presented with (intelligent).

Yet, I have to admit that the story of the vigilante killing men was more intriguing than the stocking wearing pervert. It seemed that the story was more focused towards the vigilante as well. Which I was on the side of the vigilante. Another thing that I liked about this book was the time period. The author drew me in with the time period and the storytelling. ( )