Accomplished cook for a high society home and amateur sleuth Kat
Holloway is back with another murder mystery to solve - all while
managing to run a bustling kitchen, of course! This time, Sir Jacob, the
neighbor of the house Kat works in has been stabbed under very
mysterious circumstances, who among other things, was an expert and
collector of artifacts and goods from China, where he had spent some
time when he was younger, growing his fortune. The murder appears to
be a random burglary, but nothing valuable seems to have been stolen.
Coincidentally, the same day of the murder, Kat ran into a Chinese
scholar, Li Bai Chang, in the streets. As a thank you for helping him
after their run-in, Mr. Li gifts Kat with very rare and expensive Chinese
tea. When the authorities begin to dig deeper and they discover Mr. Li
was in the neighborhood around the time of the murder, they
immediately accuse him of being the murderer.
Kat doesn't believe the mild-mannered man she met could be a cold-
hearted killer, and she turns to Daniel McAdam, man about town, jack
of all trades, and somehow ensconced with the police, for help
investigating what truly happened. But when another body turns up,
this time in the vibrant and extravagant Kew Gardens, Kat isn't so sure
Mr. Li didnt commit murder not just once, but possibly twice...
With an amiable cast of characters and another intriguing murder
mystery, Jennifer Ashley's captivating Below Stairs mystery series continues with DEATH IN KEW GARDENS. Kat
Holloway has a knack for finding herself embroiled in dastardly
investigations, much to the chagrin of the local law enforcement, but
once she puts her mind to something, she almost always discovers an
incredibly helpful clue, if not the main culprit of the crime. As always,
the slow-burning romance between Kat and Daniel adds a sweet side
story, as they both open up more and more to each other. Kat's stalwart
kitchen assistant, Tess, continues to grow in skill and confidence, and
Kat is very proud of her. A funny side plot involving a new housekeeper
who becomes a foe for Kat and adds drama downstairs. Meanwhile,
upstairs, lady Cynthia is as unconventional as ever, while her
interactions with Mr. Thanos, a scholar and close friend of Daniel's, are
heartwarming and hopeful. Ashley's descriptions of the beautiful Kew
Gardens, as well as Sir Jacob's vast collection of Chinese artifacts, are
breathtaking. As more about the murders and the mysteries
surrounding them are revealed, the story picks up pace, and the final
revelation was surprising and satisfying. DEATH IN KEW GARDENS is a great murder mystery,
and the Below Stairs
mystery series is one that should not be missed!
From the New York Times bestselling author of Scandal
Above Stairs
Kat Holloway steps out from beneath the stairs and into
international intrigue, where murder and stolen treasure
lurk among the upper echelons of Victorian London.
In return for a random act of kindness, scholar Li Bai Chang
presents young cook Kat Holloway with a rare and precious
gift—a box of tea. Kat thinks no more of her unusual visitor
until two days later when the kitchen erupts with the news
that Lady Cynthia’s next-door neighbor has been murdered.
Known about London as an "Old China Hand," the victim
claimed to be an expert in the language and customs of
China, acting as intermediary for merchants and government
officials. But Sir Jacob’s dealings were not what they
seemed, and when the authorities accuse Mr. Li of the crime,
Kat and Daniel find themselves embroiled in a world of
deadly secrets that reach from the gilded homes of Mayfair
to the beautiful wonder of Kew Gardens.
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