Murder on Platform Four (A Tate and Bell Mystery Book 5) by Irina Shapiro is an excellent read. Right now you can find several Victorian mysteries with women sleuths that are very good. However, I have enjoyed several different ones, but the best of the best is the Tate and Bell Series with Nurse Gemma Tate. In this case of the dead woman stuffed in a abandoned travel truck, there seems few clues in the beginning. Typically Sebastian and Gemma make a great team but this time they are separated in their investigations. It does not move their relationship, which ended so lovely in the last book. Still an emotional and intense story, but I do wish that Gemma had made some different decisions in her pursue of the truth.

While this book could be enjoyed on it own, reading the series in order would enhance the understanding of these two complex characters, along with the development of their relationship. It would also help show why I was hoping for more to develop between these two wonderful though wounded by life characters.

This is fast becoming one of my favorite historical murder series. I love the growth that all of the characters have shown. This is one of the rare series where both the main characters talk things out and rely on each other's talents and observations.

In this book, Scotland Yard inspector Sebastian Bell is at Paddington station to meet his long estranged brother. So of course, a body is found in stuffed into a trunk while he is there. Sebastian is obligated to investigate rather than to try and talk to reconcile with his brother. There is no identification and very little to go on.

Nurse Gemma Tate is caught up in her own tangle as her employer, Dr. Colin Ramsey, a well respected surgeon and the man whom Sebastian depends on for accurate autopsies, is ill and so is his mother. Gemma and the housekeeper are running around trying to give 24 hour care to them both. Dr. Ramsey's mother has dementia, and at times is juvenile, or a young married woman, and on extremely rare occasions, herself. Gemma takes time when Mrs. Ramsey is sleeping or otherwise occupied to track down a few clues of her own.

I found this novel a bit unique to the series because Gemma and Sebastian don't actually work together of really discuss their theories. He's chasing details in one direction and She is chasing others. In the end, they both surmise the same culprit.

I hope that in the near future that Sebastian and Gemma are able to marry. It is one of the things that they most want to happen. Colin has requested that Gemma continue help him with his mother and has asked both Gemma and Sebastian to hold off on getting married for a while. There is a solution but until Ramsey sees that there is a woman who is very interested in him, he will require Gemma to remain.

This was a great addition to the Tate and Bell mystery series. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Another fantastic installment in the Tate and Bell Mystery Series! Murder on Platform Four kept me completely hooked from the first page. I especially loved that Gemma took on a more active investigative role this time—her intuition and determination really shine in this book.

The mystery itself was brilliantly plotted and had me guessing right up until the very end. I was flipping through theories in my head the entire time and still didn’t see the reveal coming!

If you enjoy historical mysteries with smart plots and dynamic sleuthing duos, don’t miss this one!

This fifth book in the series opens with Inspector Sebastian Bell awaiting the arrival of his long-estranged brother Simian in Paddington station. And as an homage to a number of true-crime cases around that time period (Brighton Beach and Charing Cross trunk murders), a trunk is found with blood dripping from the bottom, which necessitates Bell involving himself in the case.

Back at the Ramsey house, Colin and his mother are ill and caretaker Gemma is tired and bored, so when the corpse of a young woman arrives, she is intend on taking a look at the corpse and getting information to Sebastian. So far, so good. We have a murder, Sebastian is reconciling with his brother, we learn the trunk left at the station was delivered from the attached hotel where the victim stayed the night before, and Sebastian and Gemma are on the case.

However, I'm at a lack for words to explain why this particular episode did not capture my interest. Perhaps it's because Sebastian and Gemma very much run their own investigations, the hotel angle is very, very thoroughly explored, and Colin remains a remote, lightly fleshed-out damper continuing to shove Gemma back in the accepted role of a woman at that time.

And meanwhile Simian spends days trying to finally get together with Sebastian. It got to the point while when Sebastian was thoroughly (very, VERY thoroughly) investigating the hotel link, I found myself yelling at him to cut it and meet Simian. The book ends with a "Wait? What?" conclusion (and yet another instance of Gemma being almost TSTL) and some frantic paging back to recall exactly who some of the characters are.

But at the core of this series are two engaging characters who are moving together as partners, and I am more than happy that Gemma is setting aside her mourning weeds and stepping out into the start of a real relationship with Sebastian. 3.5 stars.

In Victorian London, inspector Sebastian seeks the killer of an unidentified woman found in a trunk on a railway platform. As he and nurse Gemma investigate, they face threats to themselves and the the life of someone close to them.

This historical mystery is intriguing and atmospheric. I love how the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian are developing. I look forward to seeing how Gemma’s professional ambitions progress. The audiobook narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

1859. Inspector Sebastian Bell has arranged to meet his brother at Paddington Station unfortunately he is directed towards the body of a female, stabbed and place in a trunk, ready to board a train. But who is she and why was she killed. He investigates with the help of Gemma Tate.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of varied and likeable characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth book in the "Tate and Bell Mystery" series which I have very much enjoyed reading. I found the mystery to be intriguing and the plot held my interest. The two main characters, Nurse Gemma Tate and Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell, work together in a complimentary fashion to solve the murder mystery.

I did not figure it out until it was revealed at the end. There were several suspects and plenty of clues. The author does a great job describing the railway terminals/hotels/streets of Victorian London. There is more medical situations in this book, including an autopsy.

I highly recommend this series. The stories are all quite good and each has a little different emphasis.

This is the fifth in the series featuring Gemma Tate, a former nurse who served in the Crimea alongside Florence Nightingale, and police inspector Sebastian Bell. Gemma and Sebastian are drawn closer together as the seek to solve the mystery surrounding the body of woman, brutally murdered and left in a trunk at Paddington station.

Gemma sees her role as a nurse as a vocation even though this is perceived as not respectable. She is intelligent, observant and quick witted and acknowledges that her sex places huge limitations on what she can do. The story skilfully draws on the societal norms of the day and the challenges and barriers that Gemma experiences as she attempts to help Sebastian discover the identity of the victim and her murderer.

The story is told with lots of rich detail of London in this period particularly around the workings of Paddington station and the associated Great Western Royal Hotel. The story has great pace with lots of intrigue, an array of interesting suspects and some unexpected twists. Highly recommended.

I am still enjoying this historical mystery/romance series and am always happy to find a new one dropping. This outing finds Sebastian dealing with an unidentified body found in a trunk left at Paddington station, his reconnection with his estranged brother and his growing but sometimes frustrating relationship with Gemma.

Even though it seems to be evolving at a very slow pace, I enjoy the interactions between Sebastian and Gemma, the respect and admiration they share for each other both as people and as professionals in their work environments. As far as the romance goes, there were a few developments, but it's taken awhile to get to this point. I have a feeling the next book will really see more advancement in that area.

The mystery is interesting as we watch how the body is finally identified, her circumstances unearthed and the surprises of who might wish her ill. Gemma really shines in this one as she steps out on her own to aid Sebastian even at the expense of being reprimanded/censored by those around her. She's a spunky, intelligent woman, and even though I always want more Sebastian/Gemma time together, it's also satisfying to follow them on their own and be privy to their thoughts and deductions apart from each other.

Well done addition to the series, and as always, looking forward to more.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing the free early arc of Murder on Platform Four for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Murder on Platform Four in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on Platform Four is the fifth installment in the Tate and Bell Mystery series as Irina Shapiro’s detective series continues to get better and better. Book five is on par with its predecessors in that it’s a wonderfully woven fast paced and gripping tale sure to leave you continually theorizing who the murderer may be.

Sebastian Bell has found himself in the midst of yet another murder investigation as he arrives to Paddington station to collect his estranged brother. While waiting for his arrival, a porter discovers a woman shoved into a trunk with an object sticking out of her chest. First on the scene, Sebastian wastes no time getting to work and questioning witnesses of both the station and nearby hotel. Sebastian quickly has the body transported back to Colin’s home where an autopsy will be performed, not knowing that Colin and his mother are both ill. Because time is of the essence, Gemma steps in to perform a preliminary assessment of the victim in Colin’s absence in hopes of being of use to Bell with her nursing background. From this point forward, Tate and Bell are on the case in a rush to catch the killer before he skips town, if he hasn’t already. Over the course of three days, Tate and Bell are able to hone their skills and combine forces to bring the killer to justice in heroic fashion.

I simply cannot get enough of this series. The historical significance and graphic depictions of the time period transport you effortlessly back to 1859 London. The thought and research that Irina has put into this series is no small feat and it has paid off in spades. Historical fiction isn’t usually my forte, but for this series I will always make an exception. My one plea goes out to our esteemed author: please give us the Tate and Bell romantic union we all crave! Every novel comes so close and then we are yet again left with another cliff hanger. Irina certainly has it mastered in the way she keeps her readers coming back for more! I highly encourage you to pick up this series as you will surely not be disappointed. All 5 books are a continuation of the previous, so please do start at the beginning and enjoy the ride!

After years of estrangement, Sebastian is reuniting with his brother Simian. Sebastian shows up at Paddington Station and notices something is off. A woman has been dumped inside a large luggage and was found with a knife sticking out of her chest. As Gemma and Sebastian begin to work the case, there are several suspects, but the real killer is someone very close to them.

I am always happy for Gemma and Sebastian's return. They are lovely, strong, and well-rounded characters. I am eager for them to finally be together as a married couple. Irina Shapiro always brings great murder mysteries, good, loveable characters, and strong women.

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

This is yet another captivating read in this series. As usual Gemma comes up against prejudice because she is a woman, when making her investigations. Gemma and Sebastian make a good team and I like the way that Sebastian appreciates Gemma’s help and sees that she gets credit for it. I’m also pleased that their relationship seems to be advancing. There is quite a mystery about the murdered woman and they find themselves in dangerous situations. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and another difficult to put down read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the fifth book in the series, I have only read one of the previous ones but will have to go back and fill in with the others when I have time. Inspector Sebastian Bell is waiting for his estranged brother to arrive at Paddington station when a woman's dead body is discovered. He and Gemma are drawn into the investigation of her murder.
I was really engrossed in this story which managed to recreate the gritty realism of life in Victorian London. I certainly was trying to follow the twists and turns in order to find out the identity of the poor woman and who was responsible for her murder. There is also the simmering romance between Sebastian and Gemma, which you hope manages to finally be acknowledged and acted upon. Definitely recommend if you enjoy murder mysteries set in Victorian London.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

My Rating = 4.5 Stars

This excellently crafted story caught my attention from the first page and didn’t let go until long after I’d finished the last page. The author does an excellent job of presenting both the victim and the perpetrator as both sympathetic and immoral – not that we’re ever led to think murder is moral. With a plethora of suspects, Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell will have to pull at every thread to uncover the true villain.

While I’m aware this is a mystery, I am also a romantic and am growing tired of the continuous obstacles to Gemma and Sebastian being together. This book continues with those obstacles and it is the fifth book in the series. Should that continue with the sixth book, I will likely discontinue reading the series because I want BOTH the mystery and the romance.

I was delighted to see Gemma showing the gumption to perform her own inspection of the victim without Colin’s consent, but I was very disappointed in Colin’s reaction to it. It also saddened me that Sebastian spent so little time with his estranged brother, so I look forward to seeing what develops in that relationship.

If you love a well-thought-out mystery with relatable characters, this book is for you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As the result of being a nurse in the Crimean War Gemma had seen some pretty dark stuff and despite it being 'not the done thing' for her to be involved, her insights are valuable for Sebastian's investigation into the murder of a young woman whose body was found in a trunk at the railway station. It is well written atmospheric tale but I did not engage fully with the characters. I found them both slightly annoying for various reasons. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another engrossing read in a series that continues to give the reader a wonderful read. The characters are well-written, and the story is very well thought out. The story keeps you turning the page with expectation and guessing to see who the murderer is. There are so many suspects thrown in the pot, but the story is still easy to follow. The relationship between Emma and Sebastian continues to move forward, and I look forward to the next book when Emma is finally out of mourning. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of “Murder on Platform Four.” All opinions and comments are my own.

A sad case, this turns out to be. That is, one that proves that human nature brings out the worst in people, and Inspector Sebastian Bell knows that only too well.

In “Murder on Platform Four,” the fifth in the entertaining Tate & Bell series by Irina Shapiro, Inspector Bell is caught up with catching the killer of a what turns out to be a visitor to London. And among the suspects (which came awfully handy, at least to me) are the residents of his own boarding house. And while he’s busy figuring out the who, the when and especially, the why, Gemma Tate is assisting as best she can in her unofficial capacity, and rather helpful she is.

We see the strictures of Victorian society against women, a side plot of Sebastian reuniting with his brother (who gives him a helpful gift), and eventually, how tried and true motives for murder prove solvable with a bit of luck and perseverance. And in “Murder on Platform Four” author Irina Shapiro teases readers with further insight into the ongoing relationship of nurse Gemma and said inspector. It’s nice to see something good happening to these two characters. Then again, when you have commitments outside your own lives, choices must be made, and “true love never do run smooth.”

Inspector Sebastian Bell arrives at Paddington station through thick Victorian mist, hoping to reconcile with his estranged brother, Simian. Instead, he discovers a young woman’s body in an abandoned trunk, stabbed with a peculiar bone-handled knife. But with no clues to her identity and his new boss dismissing the case, Sebastian’s investigation seems doomed. Nurse Gemma Tate is at work when the nameless woman is brought in for an autopsy. Realizing how desperate Sebastian is for a lead, she risks a forbidden examination and makes two tragic discoveries: the woman recently gave birth, and she wears a wedding ring with the inscription “G loves H”. Determined to get justice, Sebastian and Gemma pursue answers to the woman’s wretched fate.
The fifth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own, I came late to this series & I’m gradually reading the first couple of books. I really like both Sebastian & Gemma & like how their relationship is slowly changing. The case is intriguing & there are twists, turns & red herrings before it is solved. Poor Gemma does court danger. A well written engrossing book
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I really enjoy Victorian mysteries with a side of romance. This series definitely hits my sweet spot. Inspector Sebastian Bell tracks down clues for a corpse found inside a trunk at the train station. It seems from the start that it will be impossible since there is no identifying information for the murdered woman. With the help of Nurse Gemma Tate, Bell starts to figure out where the woman was murdered, but still doesn’t know who she was.

I like the way that Tate and Bell work together. The author also explores the plight of women in this age. Even though Gemma had served in Crimea as a nurse, her skills are still not respected in the mid 19th century.

The characters are interesting and I enjoy their interactions as they pursue the clues.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. This is the latest in the series about Inspector Bell and Gemma Tate set in Victorian London. A body found at Paddington Station sets the scene for the investigation. I love the description of the locations with a suitable atmosphere created. The relationship between the characters is developing nicely in the series.
I can recommend this to lovers of historical crime fiction.