In Disturbing the Dead , Kelley Armstrong combines a murder mystery and a time travel aspect in a historical setting in this third book in the Rip Through Time series. Modern day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is becoming more comfortable living in Victorian Scotland. SheÂ’s inhabiting the body of a housemaid who was attacked in the same Edinburgh alley as Mallory, but 150 years ago. Mallory is enjoying her job as assistant to undertaker and medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray and assisting him and Detective Hugh McCreadie in a variety of cases.

Mallory and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing, Gray and Mallary are asked to step in and do the unwrapping. All doesnÂ’t go well.

Mallory is a character with plenty of depth. SheÂ’s hardworking, kind, relatable, loves puzzles, and is an idealist. SheÂ’s good at seeing clues and connections in peopleÂ’s speech, mannerisms, and expressions. While she makes for a strong female protagonist that readers can cheer on, she flouts convention and is sarcastic as well as being an independent thinker unafraid to speak her mind, which isnÂ’t normal for women in Victorian times. Gray is passionate about his work, enthusiastic, confident, occasionally relaxed and teasing. HeÂ’s a pioneer in the field of forensics, has an eye for detail, and has a scientific curiosity. Isla, one of GrayÂ’s sisters, is a chemist who is brilliant, strong-willed, and kindhearted. McCreadie is clever, good-natured, and a bit of an adventure hound. The remaining supporting cast of characters are well-developed and provide insight into individuals in various roles in a Victorian household as well as those they interact with.

Kelley Armstrong has a fluid writing style that quickly brings readers into the well-paced story. They also get insight into the state of police forensics during this early era and a few insights into how investigations and searches occur in 1869 in Scotland. Other themes include family, relationships, friendship, racism, gender identity, poverty, helping others, how servants were treated, and attitudes toward, expectations of, and limitations on women.

The addition of two subplots adds another dimension to the story. There are some twists in the storyline with a large surprise about two-thirds of the way through. The ending has plenty of action and wraps things up nicely. There is a hint at a couple of potential romances, but nothing more. The world-building is wonderful and feels accurate for the times. Humor is sprinkled throughout the tale.

Overall, this is a moving, well-written, suspenseful, and entertaining novel with great characterization as well as some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. Understanding how Mallory gets to this time in history is explained in depth in book one so I recommend starting with it. The authorÂ’s writing style is engaging and draws readers into the story quickly. IÂ’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be May 07, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.historical-mystery mys-sus-mag-2024 mystery-thriller-suspense ...more102 s13 comments Jenny165 264

A Rip Through Time Series is one of my favorite series, so I can’t even explain how excited I was to finally read a new book about Mallory Atkinson. This series is everything for me!! And let me tell you, as the rest of the series, this book is absolutely amazing!!! It's all my favorite elements – a lot of Victorian drama, time-traveling shenanigans, and a contemporary detective - combine together in this wonderful story! I couldn’t ask for anything more!

The main character, Mallory Atkinson, is a fantastic homicide detective who, for some reason, ends up back in Victorian Scotland. She is living in somebody else's body, working as an assistant to a medical examiner, Dr. Duncan Gray. They receive an invitation to Sir Alastair Christie's home for a mummy unwrapping party (yes, you read it correctly). But imagine their surprise when they open it, and find a fresh corpse instead of a mummy!

This book's characters are so vividly drawn that they seem to jump off the page. With their combined skills at mystery solving and butt-kicking, the entire group resembles the perfect dream team. It's lovely to see how they've always supported one other, even throughout centuries. And the bond between Duncan and Mallory is so heartwarming!! I really enjoy their witty banter and their emotional connection. It makes me feel all kinds of emotions!

And I have to say that Armstrong has an impeccable eye for historical detail. She clearly did her homework, which greatly increases the story's credibility. I could really imagine being in Victorian Scotland with all those characters!
If you enjoy epic adventures, emotional relationships, and time-traveling entertainment, "Disturbing the Dead" is a must-read! Highly recommended!netgalley uno-202489 s11 comments Dee - Delighting in the Desert!380 59

3.5 sort of “meh” stars, rounded down due to extreme verbosity. This is the third installment in the “Rip in Time” time travel-mystery-historic mash up. I loved the first for it’s originality & I think I also maybe d this one better than #2, but it was just way, way too long & wordy and took me a helluva long time to finish, nearly DNF’d more than once. Thought the best part of this one was the time-jump part as I felt the mystery itself was pretty weak & obvious. Not sure if I will continue the series or not at this point, will wait to see what other first, perhaps.202450 s2 comments Rachel L1,970 2,423

The third book in a series, Disturbing the Dead is not a standalone and you must read the first two books in the series to understand what happens in this book. Mallory, a woman who time travelled from the modern day into Victorian Scotland into the body of a young and pretty maid helps her employer to solve crimes as police consultants. When asked to attend a party of a mummy unwrapping, Mallory and Dr. Gray find a more recent body instead.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my all time favorite authors and this book proved yet again why I love her. I was riveted by this book and was finding excuses to keep listening to it as much as possible. In some regards in this third book we got some closure as the reader on certain topics. But what I really love is Mallory the main character and all of the relationships she has built with all of the side characters. That's what Kelley does best, bringing a cast of characters to life as if they're people you would know, even in Victorian Scotland.

This has quickly become one of my favorite series, and I hope there's a plan for MANY installments in the future because I cannot get enough of them.

I was gifted an advanced listening copy of this book via libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program arc-alc audiobook fantasy ...more46 s4 comments Debra2,719 35.8k

It was nice being back in Victorian Scotland in the gripping and shocking third installment in the "A Rip Through Time" series by Kelley Armstrong. As with the previous books in the series A Rip Through Time and The Poisoner's Ring) I was fully invested in this well written and well thought out mystery. I continue to be captivated by the relationships between the characters, the setting, and their detective work solving yet another mysterious case.

In Disturbing the Dead, Mallory, a detective from the 21st century who found herself transported into the body of a house maid in Victorian Scotland, is attending a mummy unveiling with Dr. Duncan Gray. Everyone attending the event is excited to see a real mummy but end up shocked when the body that is uncovered is not that of a mummy but someone, they all know.

This is such a great series. It combines many of the things that I enjoy in books: atmosphere, tension, a mystery to be solved, great characters, and suspense. Kelley Armstrong also carried off the time travel aspect of this book very well. Mallory was strangled in the exact same alley as was Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid in Victorian Scotland, 150 years ago. Can you imagine waking up in a different time where everyone is wearing different clothing, there are no modern conveniences, you are being called by a different name, and expected to perform the duties of a housemaid. Not to mention, having to cope with a different pecking order and the expectations placed on women at that time. While Mallory initially struggled being in a different time, she was able to make friends, be accepted, and find a purpose.

I enjoyed the mystery and how everything played out in this book. I also adore the characters, their banter, the situations they find themselves in, and their teamwork. Kelley Armstrong has another hit on her hands!

I had the audiobook and the kindle version of the book. The narrator of these books is amazing and continues to do a great job of bringing the characters and book to life.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my at www.openbookposts.com
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