Death Below Stairs

By: Jennifer Ashley

Narrated by: Anne-Marie Piazza

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Highly sought-after cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is fine with the family's eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her assistant is murdered.

Afraid for her life, Kat turns to the mysterious Daniel McAdam for help. Daniel takes a position in the house as a footman and stand-in valet so that he can investigate covertly, but Kat cooks up a suspect list of her own. Together, they uncover crime in places low and high - including a plot that may threaten even Queen Victoria herself.

©2018 Jennifer Ashley (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

The first of another great series?

I can't answer that yet, But with Jennifer Ashley's track record I would have to say that it will be. A mysterious chameleon of a man, and a no nonsense cook, and a mystery or two. I love Ashley's Captain Lacy mysteries series, so it was a no brainier to dive into this one. I enjoyed it very much and was sorry when it ended.

Strong characters and great potential for series

I was immediately drawn into the main characters of Kat and Daniel. I loved the details of Kat's perspective as a cook in a Victorian London household and the cooking methods she used. After a few chapters though, I began to wonder if I actually was listening to the first book in the series to discover that there was a novella that proceeded this book. The reference to the prior story constantly made me feel like I was missing something. I almost stop the book to read the novella but as the novella isn't available on audio and I wasn't at a place I could sit down and read - I continued on with story. There were also a few places where I felt the plot jumped or twisted a little unsmoothly. In fact at one point I even rewound the audio a couple of times thinking I must have drifted off and missed something I enjoyed Anne-Marie Piazza's narration and thought she had some very good accents, especially the Welsh accent. Overall it was an enjoyable Historical Mystery and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Loved this mystery

I have been wanting to listen to this book for awhile. I'm glad I finally got it. I enjoy Jennifer Ashley! Kat Holloway and Daniel McAdams had great chemistry. Loved the characters and story. Narration was terrific.

Good book slow start

This is my second series by Jennifer. I was desperate because I am all caught on the Mackenzie series, so I started this one. It starts off a little slow but if you give it a chance it does pick up. Will definitely continue the series.

An Exciting Victorian Mystery

In <strong>Death below Stairs</strong> by Jennifer Ashley, set in 1881, Kat Holloway takes a position as cook in a high class mansion owned by Lord Rankin. She is pleased with her kitchen maid, Sinead, called by the family Ellen because hers is too fancy a name. But the second morning, Mrs. Holloway (all cooks and housekeepers were given the courtesy title of Mrs.) comes down to the kitchen to find the body of Sinead in the scullery, her head beaten to a pulp. Concerned that the murder will get written off as done by a vagabond, Mrs. Holloway summons a local man, Daniel McAdam, whom she hopes can help. The one challenge is that the man she is used to seeing as a local errand boy was with Lord Rankin in fine dress the night before. Who is Daniel really? Whatever he is, he has arranged to work in the manor and help look into the suspicious situation.

The book continues with mystery and intrigue, looking into the death of Sinead. Further, there is the mystery that has brought Daniel to the mansion of Lord Rankin in the first place. Things turn out to have national implications, perhaps even all the way to the throne of Queen Victoria.

I thoroughly enjoyed <strong>Death below Stairs</strong>, with its strong mystery, plenty of excitement, interesting historical details, and relatable characters. The plot has enough details of drama to keep us listening avidly. It is also interesting to hear about the life of a cook in a mansion in Victorian England. The bustle of the kitchen keeps Mrs. Holloway on her toes as she prepares meals for both the family and the servants. The illustrations of classes and issues of sexual morality that affect the employability of the serving class are very interesting.

I enjoyed the characters, who come across as real. Mrs. Holloway, the book's narrator, is clearly the roundest. We see her reveal herself in small bits as the book progresses. Daniel proves to be an enigma to both Mrs. Holloway and us, the listeners, as he seems to move among all classes easily, making it hard to place who he truly is. My favorite character was Lady Cynthia, a woman who refuses to allow society's dictates to control her, so she goes around in men's clothing in an era when it was unthinkable for a woman to wear pants. She proves herself to be sharp and caring as well as independent, making me appreciate her a lot.

Anne-Marie Piazza performs the audio edition of this book. It took me a little while to get used to her voice, but once I got started listening, I got more comfortable with her voice. Piazza uses accents that convey a good sense of the various classes found in the London society. She also creates distinct voices for the different characters that make them come across clearly.

I thoroughly appreciated my experience listening to <strong>Death below Stairs</strong>. The book was fascinating and had a double set of mysteries that led to a real adventure. I enjoyed the creative characters and connected with them. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical mystery and give it five stars.

Quirky characters

Kat continues to be a smart and totally interesting individual. Plus she's fearless when it really counts. Daniel and his son James are also wonderful. The secondary characters whom are a mix of some of Kat's fellow servants, some friends of Daniel's and even a member of the family are quirky and interesting. They add depth to the story. The mystery is multidimensional and I loved how it was solved.

Satisfying Victorian Cozy! More Please!

I found this to be a very satisfying start to new cozy mystery series. There is a slow burn romance element between Kat, the protagonist cook/amateur investigator and Daniel, a sort of mysterious type who is comfortable above and below stairs, but I didn’t find the romance to be at all in the *forefront* of the story. Just something you’re rooting to see work out in the future.

I often seek out historical mysteries with female main characters. I really like it if the women are smart and competent yet still find ways to flourish in time periods and cultures that generally don’t encourage such behavior. Kat’s had a several bad turns in her life up to now, but has become an excellent cook and made a good life for herself and those she loves. I often listen to audiobooks while cooking or baking and enjoyed her discussion of her job cooking for a household in Mayfair (also totally enjoyed while driving...Not for cooks only!).

Also, I avoid gruesome violence and the serial killer celebrations that form so much of mystery fiction. This was a solid cozy with a few twists. Most surprising, the plot builds to an action-packed conclusion like you would see at the end of an action movie. So fun and unexpected.

I haven’t read JA’s other historical series, but will check them out. Loved this narrator for this book. Her voice and accent were very well-suited to Kat and her station, sensible and self confident. Additional note, the book is technically the second in the series as the characters were first introduced in a short story collection from multiple authors. Events from the first story (which also sound action-packed and satisfying) are referred to early on in this book. I don’t think reading the short story first would make any difference (it’s not on Audible), but I liked this so much, I have already downloaded to kindle.

Loved this Book

I gave this book 5 starts all around because I enjoyed every minute of this historical mystery with a little bit of romance. The reader is divine and make the listen quite delicious. Will listen to the next book in the series.

Good mystery and characters

I certainly like this mystery and I found the characters compelling. My biggest frustration is since it’s part of a series it definitely leaves a lot hanging, and there wasn’t as much resolution as I would’ve liked between the characters or exposition of their backstory.

Kat Holloway Mysteries Book One

Kat Holloway Mysteries Book One

Kat is thrown into a deadly mystery when her new assistant is murdered in the night. She seeks out the help of Daniel McAdam, a previous acquaintance who seems to be able to do anything he pleases. The two begin looking for her murderer, only to find a much deeper plot. During their investigation, Kat and Daniel have several moments of romantic interest. Kat cannot figure out who Daniel is, though, so she is wary of getting too involved.

If you're looking for a new Historical Mystery with hints of romance, this is the book for you!