Poisonings in Victorian Edinburgh!

The Poisoner's Ring (Rip Through Time #2) by Kelley Armstrong         

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Some sort of time slip occurs and thirty year old Canadian police detective Mallory is trapped in someone else’s body in Victorian Edinburgh, 1869. As a maid in the Gray household! That is Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and sometime forensic assistant to the crown, and his sister Isla who’s a chemist. An unusual household that ever since she’s come through some crack in time has welcomed Mallory, formerly Catroina.

Gray has allowed Mallory who had studied forensics in her previous life to become his assistant. The family is going to need all their wits about them and Mallory’s help when one of their own, their sister Annis’ husband, Lord Leslie is found murdered—poisoned.

Duncan, Mallory and Detective McCreadie have been following a series of fatal poisonings and Lord Leslie’s is the latest in the line. The victims have all been men whom it appears their wives have reason to be free of. The events take the poisonings to the next level—a poisoning ring!

Annis is high handed and estranged from her family. Her companion Sarah is assisting Annis but it is to her brother Duncan that Annis turns. What Duncan and Mallory discover is a poison but not arsenic, rather a heavy metal.

There’s a complicated cast of characters but each has its place in this intriguing, page turning saga.

I love the character of Mallory, street savvy, a fighter, but working in a body that’s not as fit as her 21st century body. She’s forever hampered by the clothing of the time, by not knowing the customs and expectations. This unknowing constantly trips Mallory up.

Dr. Duncan Gray is measured thoughtful and a fantastic foil for Mallory. Their relationship seems to be building in respect, possibly more, but there’s always Mallory’s thoughts of what happens when or if she’s wrenched back into her own time.

I’m not a fan of time slip stories but this second novel in the series has maintained the high standard of the first. I’m sold!

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.