Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley

Kat Halloway had no idea that her friend Daniel McAdam had a brother, or that he was a vicar. But one rainy night, at Daniel’s request, she meet with Errol Fielding who makes a request of her. Fielding, who holds a governor’s seat on the board of the Foundling Hospital, has found that some of the children, and a nurse, have gone missing from the Home. He wants Kat to look into it, and while she’s unsure of Fielding and his intentions, she can’t say no. Kat’s questions uncover some very unsavory facts, but with the lives of innocent children at stake she’s not going to stop until she gets to the truth.

I have read all of the books in the Kat Halloway series and enjoyed each and every one. And this latest in the series is a fabulous addition. The main plot is a complex one, exploring a theme (child exploitation) that is darker than in any of the previous books, but Ashely handles it in a mature and sensitive manner. 

It’s not all darkness though, as Kat continues in her role as cook for the Bywaters, which means that all of my favorite characters are back (upstairs and downstairs) and Ashely introduces some delightful new ones too. As always, Kat is engaging, intelligent, and strong of character, and Daniel—is an enigma. But, Ashely does let us in on a few new tidbits to keep us satisfied until the next book comes out. 

This is definitely a favorite for me in the historical mystery genre. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next book, but in the meantime, I recommend that you read this one now.

Source: Review copy - Berkeley Publishing via NetGalley

Other opinions: Sarah @ Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, Stormi @ Books, Movies, Reviews, Oh My!, Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer, Deborah @ The Reading Chick