This was an okay read for me. I liked it but I didn’t love it and ultimately, I believe this will be a rather forgettable read. This is the second book in the Alec Lonsdale series but I feel that it would read just fine as a stand-alone. I have to admit that I didn’t like it quite as much as I did the first book in the series. There was a lot going on in the story and once I started reading the book proved to be a rather quick read.

Alec and Hulda stumble upon a murder at the same time they learn that cannibals are on the loose in the city. Things get more complicated as the murders start to pile up. Throw in a little romantic drama for Alec and an upset potential father-in-law and there is no shortage of things to keep Alec busy. There are quite a few characters to keep straight and I have to admit that I was confused from time to time. I liked Alec and Hulda quite a bit and had no doubt that they would be able to get to the bottom of everything going on.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that David Thorpe did an acceptable job with the narration. I think that this was the first time that I have listened to his narration so there might have been a bit of an adjustment period for me. There were a few voices used for characters that were slightly difficult to understand. Overall, I think that he did a good job with the story.

I think that this book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical mysteries. This was an enjoyable mystery that I enjoyed for the most part. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more books written by this writing pair.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook. ( )

December 1882 and at the opening of the Royal Court of Justice a body is discovered. Then on the opening day of a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum, another body is discovered. But this is not the last. But why the cover-up, as the Commissioner of Police is told to record them as natural deaths. So to the detriment to solving the cases Superintendent Hayes and Inspector Peters are taken off them. But they encourage newspaper reports Alec Londsdale and Hulda Frederichs to investigate, but they only have eight days, with a lot of ground to cover.
I enjoyed this mystery, the second in this well-written series, I especially liked the two main characters.
A NetGalley Book ( )

Quite a few reviewers have noted that this book moves a bit slowly. I noticed that as well, but honestly, this issues didn’t diminish my enjoyment of it. I don’t expect historical mysteries to move at a neck-breaking speed.

There’s at least one more Alec Lonsdale novel prior to Watchers of the Dead, but it is not necessary to read the books in order. This book works as a standalone.

What I enjoyed:

1. Alec and Hulda

Alec is an extremely sympathetic character. He’s a journalist with The Pall Mall Gazette, a respected London newspaper. Though his fiancee’s father disdains Alec’s investigations into the murder, and repeatedly orders him to cease and desist, Alec refuses. Multiple people are dead. The police have been ordered to declare the deaths natural when they were clearly murder. If an investigative journalist doesn’t snoop around, the dead will not receive justice. He has principles and he’s clearly bothered by this injustice and the exploitation of humans.

Hulda is quite a character. One of my notes reads, “I like her. I think.” It took me a while to warm up to her, but she won me over with her dogged determination, intelligence, and blunt–often abrasive–words. It’s fairly obvious that she and Alec are better suited than Alec and his intended. Oh, and baking allows her to think, she tells others in chapter three, as she presents a plate of lavender biscuits to the Gazette office staff. Questionable flavor aside, anyone who brings baked goods to work is a winner with me.

2. The historical details

Beaufort does a great job making the Victorian era come to life. Obviously, the author’s done a lot of research. We read about everything from the public opinion of evolutionary theory to London’s dismal December weather to the newly-opened Natural History Museum’s interior to the the infamous Broadmoor where poor Maclean lives.

Many of the characters are actual historical persons. It’s really interesting to see how Beaufort works with what is known about these people. This is especially true of Hulda, who was an actual London journalist at the Gazette.

3. The journalism

Years ago, I worked in the local newspaper’s newsroom as a “gofer.” (Person who made coffee, “ran copy” between typesetters and newswriters, did dinner runs for late night employees–usually the sports writers–and answered the phone: you get the idea.) When Beaufort describes the Gazette building, it reminded me so much of my old job site. And yes, the editors could be quite quirky and strongly opinionated, just like those at the Gazette.

The competition between the London papers feels familiar, too, as does the differing attitudes toward news gathering. Some, like Voules, write whatever sells, no matter how outrageous and divorced from the truth. Others, like Lonsdale and Hulda, feel a moral obligation to print the truth and only the truth. This isn’t easy to do, especially when powerful people distort facts, lie, or refuse to speak at all. It often puts the journalists at risk, too. The physical methods of journalism may have changed, but certain other things have not.

These are all strong aspects of the book.

Where the book falters, though, is the actual mystery. It’s good but not spectacular. The reasons for the killings feels weak. I would’ve liked a bit more insight into this aspect.

The plot does move rather slowly, though it builds up steam in the last half of the book.

Overall, though, I truly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more about Alec Lonsdale and Hulda Friederichs. ( )