susanatwestofmars's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series SO hard. It's all about the characters, and they shine on these pages. I love Kat. Love James. Love Daniel, and am glad we're learning more about him and that Ashley isn't keeping us in the dark forever about that. And Tess? She's spot-on perfect to add to this motley crew.
Like others have said, the mystery this time is a little convoluted, and a little distant from Kat and her kitchen, which is both too bad and perfectly natural. It can't all be that close to home, although I want more food, more of the goings on of the house, more Davis and Lady Cynthia and... MORE. I want MORE.
Like others have said, the mystery this time is a little convoluted, and a little distant from Kat and her kitchen, which is both too bad and perfectly natural. It can't all be that close to home, although I want more food, more of the goings on of the house, more Davis and Lady Cynthia and... MORE. I want MORE.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
There’s no rest for Kat Holloway, the most talented cook in Mayfair. Not only has her kitchen assistant quit to be married and thus left her shorthanded, Lady Cynthia has a request: she wants Kat’s help to solve a mystery and clear her friend Clemmie’s name. Valuable paintings have gone missing from her household and Clemmie’s husband is blaming her for it. One mystery begets another and another as first Kat learns that antiquities are being stolen from multiple residences, then she finds out that her friend Daniel McAdam is undercover in in a seedy pawnshop. With her curiosity piqued, Kat will have to use all her detective skills above stairs and below to uncover a mastermind willing to kill to protect his secrets.
I love falling into Kat Holloway’s world. In Scandal Above Stairs Jennifer Ashley drew me in from the start with a seemingly simple mystery that leads to something far more complex and I did not want to put the book down.
Kat is the heart and soul of the story and she’s a fantastic heroine. She’s clever, observant, loyal, talented, and kind, but Ms. Ashley keeps her from feeling too good to be real. Kat has a no-nonsense attitude, but she also draws people to her, which is how she finds herself in the middle of this latest mystery. Cynthia trusts and respects Kat, which is why she asks for her help in the first place and I love the unlikely friendship between a rather unconventional lady and an equally unique cook. The characters are what makes Scandal Above Stairs shine. Familiar characters and those newly introduced are all incredibly well-crafted and are like puzzle pieces who fit together perfectly. My favorite relationship is definitely the one between Kat and Daniel. This time around, we learn more about Daniel and the past he keeps secret. I was thrilled to learn more about him and I was excited that he opened up to Kat when he doesn’t trust most people. The romantic tension between Kat and Daniel continues to build and I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses.
Scandal Above Stairs is the second full-length book in the Kat Holloway series and it can be read as a standalone. However, for a more complete reading experience I recommend first reading the prequel novella, A Soupçon of Poison, and the first novel, Death Below Stairs, in order to get a better understanding of the characters and their relationships (Daniel and Kat’s in particular). I hesitate to say any more about this book because mysteries lose their excitement when you talk too much about them. Suffice it to say that Ms. Ashley never fails to entertain and her blend of fact and fiction, of murder and mystery is wonderful. Kat and her friends are endearing, the story moves at a quick pace, I was thoroughly entertained, and I cannot wait to read the next Kat Holloway book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There’s no rest for Kat Holloway, the most talented cook in Mayfair. Not only has her kitchen assistant quit to be married and thus left her shorthanded, Lady Cynthia has a request: she wants Kat’s help to solve a mystery and clear her friend Clemmie’s name. Valuable paintings have gone missing from her household and Clemmie’s husband is blaming her for it. One mystery begets another and another as first Kat learns that antiquities are being stolen from multiple residences, then she finds out that her friend Daniel McAdam is undercover in in a seedy pawnshop. With her curiosity piqued, Kat will have to use all her detective skills above stairs and below to uncover a mastermind willing to kill to protect his secrets.
I love falling into Kat Holloway’s world. In Scandal Above Stairs Jennifer Ashley drew me in from the start with a seemingly simple mystery that leads to something far more complex and I did not want to put the book down.
Kat is the heart and soul of the story and she’s a fantastic heroine. She’s clever, observant, loyal, talented, and kind, but Ms. Ashley keeps her from feeling too good to be real. Kat has a no-nonsense attitude, but she also draws people to her, which is how she finds herself in the middle of this latest mystery. Cynthia trusts and respects Kat, which is why she asks for her help in the first place and I love the unlikely friendship between a rather unconventional lady and an equally unique cook. The characters are what makes Scandal Above Stairs shine. Familiar characters and those newly introduced are all incredibly well-crafted and are like puzzle pieces who fit together perfectly. My favorite relationship is definitely the one between Kat and Daniel. This time around, we learn more about Daniel and the past he keeps secret. I was thrilled to learn more about him and I was excited that he opened up to Kat when he doesn’t trust most people. The romantic tension between Kat and Daniel continues to build and I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses.
Scandal Above Stairs is the second full-length book in the Kat Holloway series and it can be read as a standalone. However, for a more complete reading experience I recommend first reading the prequel novella, A Soupçon of Poison, and the first novel, Death Below Stairs, in order to get a better understanding of the characters and their relationships (Daniel and Kat’s in particular). I hesitate to say any more about this book because mysteries lose their excitement when you talk too much about them. Suffice it to say that Ms. Ashley never fails to entertain and her blend of fact and fiction, of murder and mystery is wonderful. Kat and her friends are endearing, the story moves at a quick pace, I was thoroughly entertained, and I cannot wait to read the next Kat Holloway book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
ndouglas11's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed this but not as much as the first one. Love the heroine’s competency at her work but for someone who has to work all the time she seems to just like run off constantly...? Love seeing more or the supporting characters as well, especially Mr. Thanos, who I find hilarious, and Lady Cynthia.
spinebrreaker's review against another edition
5.0
hi everyone i'm officially incoherent about this series----- HEART EYES
original review
No sophomore slump for this series- I'm only loving the characters more and more as we get to know them, and the bright Tess is a great addition. Can't wait to read more about these fantastic, mysterious folks.
Shoutout to the narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, who is quickly becoming a favorite.
original review
No sophomore slump for this series- I'm only loving the characters more and more as we get to know them, and the bright Tess is a great addition. Can't wait to read more about these fantastic, mysterious folks.
Shoutout to the narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, who is quickly becoming a favorite.
rachelini's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm - I mean, it's a fun series, but Kat Holloway is too perfect and never puts a word or action wrong, and that's a little boring.
melodicfate's review against another edition
4.0
Man, this was good. Kat is becoming one of my favorite heroines. She's just so no-nonsense and smart, I love it! I need the next book now, just because the romance with Daniel is moving so slowly. Speaking of Daniel, there are some intriguing facts about him in here. He does become slightly less mysterious, but he's still awesome. I didn't guess the villain of this story, so I was a bit confused when the final showdown first started. Still, the fact that I didn't guess the plot correctly is also a win. Either way, bring on book 3!
saber's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars - overall rating should be two stars, but I'm still hoping the series will get better and decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.
This is one of those books/series in which I love the premise, but the execution has much to be desired. The mystery is once again a bit weak and the investigation had me rolling my eyes at times. Everything just felt so lame...
I really like Kat's character, but I don't see why people respect her opinion so much in matters of intrigue. She's intelligent, but her observations aren't much better than the average layman, and certainly shouldn't be better than the police's. It really just makes me think she has slightly above average intelligence and is surrounded by idiots.
And I can't explain it, but half the time some 'epiphany' to the case is explained or when the villains at the end describe they're 'diabolical plans', it feels stupid. Okay, maybe 'stupid' isn't the right word - simplistic. I guess for a mystery it just isn't clever enough to grab my attention.
But, despite all that, I really like the characters - especially Kat, and I love the whole premise. I do plan on reading the next book when it comes out, but this will be the last time I give a 3 star rating if the mystery/investigation doesn't improve. I really like the authors historical-romances and her overall writing style, it's just the mystery aspect I am struggling with.
This is one of those books/series in which I love the premise, but the execution has much to be desired. The mystery is once again a bit weak and the investigation had me rolling my eyes at times. Everything just felt so lame...
I really like Kat's character, but I don't see why people respect her opinion so much in matters of intrigue. She's intelligent, but her observations aren't much better than the average layman, and certainly shouldn't be better than the police's. It really just makes me think she has slightly above average intelligence and is surrounded by idiots.
And I can't explain it, but half the time some 'epiphany' to the case is explained or when the villains at the end describe they're 'diabolical plans', it feels stupid. Okay, maybe 'stupid' isn't the right word - simplistic. I guess for a mystery it just isn't clever enough to grab my attention.
But, despite all that, I really like the characters - especially Kat, and I love the whole premise. I do plan on reading the next book when it comes out, but this will be the last time I give a 3 star rating if the mystery/investigation doesn't improve. I really like the authors historical-romances and her overall writing style, it's just the mystery aspect I am struggling with.
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
The last time cook Kat Holloway investigated a crime, it was murder. This time around she is looking for the person responsible for the theft of extravagant antiques from a number of places, including the British Museum. Currently Kat's good friend Daniel McAdam is working in a pawnshop and Kat enlists his aid to retrieve the stolen artwork. Very curious about the thefts, Kat is very inclined to make things right and get the stolen items returned.
Kat and Daniel have become very close friends and he has helped her before. In this story, their relationship grows stronger, though remains platonic. Other than Kat and Daniel, this story has fine characters, such as Tess, Kat's assistant, and Lady Cynthia. I loved Cynthia in the first story and she is just as delightful in this one.
Just as in the first story, Daniel's past remains much of a mystery. Nonetheless, Kat trusts him and they work well together. Victorian England definitely has its rules and styles, and they all played together in this excellent story. I enjoyed this story very much and actually went ahead and read the third book in the series.
Although Scandal Above Stairs is the second book in the Kat Holloway Mysteries, it is a singular story and does well as a standalone. Kat and Daniel's past, as well as Kat's relationship with Grace is explained. However, if you enjoy series, no doubt you will enjoy reading Death Below Stairs. The next book in the series is Death in Kew Gardens.
Kat and Daniel have become very close friends and he has helped her before. In this story, their relationship grows stronger, though remains platonic. Other than Kat and Daniel, this story has fine characters, such as Tess, Kat's assistant, and Lady Cynthia. I loved Cynthia in the first story and she is just as delightful in this one.
Just as in the first story, Daniel's past remains much of a mystery. Nonetheless, Kat trusts him and they work well together. Victorian England definitely has its rules and styles, and they all played together in this excellent story. I enjoyed this story very much and actually went ahead and read the third book in the series.
Although Scandal Above Stairs is the second book in the Kat Holloway Mysteries, it is a singular story and does well as a standalone. Kat and Daniel's past, as well as Kat's relationship with Grace is explained. However, if you enjoy series, no doubt you will enjoy reading Death Below Stairs. The next book in the series is Death in Kew Gardens.
jnichols's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25