The latest entry in the Tate and Bell series by Irina Shapiro is an absolute delight. From the opening pages, the mystery pulls you in: Sebastian Bell is waiting at a train station for the arrival of his estranged brother, Simeon, when a porter discovers the body of a dead woman stuffed into a trunk. Although Simeon arrives as planned, Sebastian quickly becomes absorbed in the investigation, eager to begin tracking down the killer while the crime scene is still fresh. The body is brought to Dr. Colin Ramsey’s home for autopsy, but with both Colin and his ailing mother Anne under the weather, Gemma takes it upon herself to start investigating on her own.
There’s a lot to love about this installment. The introduction of Simeon adds a meaningful layer to Sebastian’s backstory, filling in a long-standing gap in his family history. Meanwhile, the relationship between Gemma and Sebastian continues to grow in a way that feels genuine and respectful. Sebastian’s recognition of Gemma as a smart, independent woman is refreshing—especially when contrasted with Colin’s dismissiveness of her involvement. Here’s hoping Colin comes around in future books.
As always, the glimpse into mid-19th century investigative techniques is fascinating, even with their limitations.
Murder on Platform Four is a perfect weekend read—ideal for a quiet afternoon on the porch. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Fans of Irina Shapiro and historical mysteries will find plenty to enjoy here. Highly recommended.

“Murder on Platform Four” is the fifth volume in Irina Shapiro’s Tate and Bell mystery series. It can be read as a standalone, but is much richer when read as part of the series.

While waiting to pick up his estranged brother at the train station, Inspector Sebastian Bell becomes involved in a murder investigation when a young woman’s body is discovered in a trunk left on the platform. It seems to be a crime of passion…and a crime of deliberation. Nurse Gemma Tate takes custody of the victim’s body on behalf of her ill employer who is a medical examiner. Being naturally curious and somewhat of an expert at solving crimes, Gemma does an initial examination of the body and shares her insights with Sebastian. The two begin investigating the clues and quickly come to the conclusion that the killer is uncomfortably close to them, but which suspect is the true culprit?

This is a twisty-turny mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the end. Chance encounters and off-hand remarks add to the puzzle. Gemma and Sebastian’s relationship continues to develop, but Gemma is still in mourning for her brother.

This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries with a slow-burn romance.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Storm Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Historical drama part of a series. Characters are really good and the story is intriguing and full of twists and turns.

I know these books are not romance, per say, but every book little by little Sebastian and Gemma get closer and realize that they're in love. I do wish they could just move out of their lodgings and move into their own place, then go and adopt Lucy. A girl can dream.
I was impressed that Gemma did the autopsy. She probably is more knowledgeable than Colin is about such matters anyway.
Thank you to Storm for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Tate, a nurse, and Bell, a police inspector, work together to piece who was the murdered woman stuffed and left in a trunk at the train station. Good story and kept my interest throughout. First I've read in the series, so some of the references of the past had little meaning for me. Still though, would recommend.

The strange occurrences happening in both of Sebastian and Gemma’s lives, aided them in solving the mystery of the unidentified woman and her murderer.
With the solving of this case and with the ending of her period of mourning, the future of their lives appears to be more promising.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the eRC to review.

It has been a while since I read a historical mystery and this one didn't disappoint. This book was my introduction to the Tate and Bell mystery series and I enjoyed reading about a murder being solved the old fashioned way—no internet, no phones, no DNA tests, not even a police photographer in the employ of the Scotland Yard to help with its investigations.
The pacing might have been better if a few excessively descriptive portions had been omitted, but nevertheless the plot was clever and intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages.

As this book is part of a series, I recommend reading the books in order. However, there is enough context for a first-time reader to enjoy this book as a standalone as well.

I thank the author, the publishers, and Netgalley for the arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

If you haven't tried the Tate and Bell Mystery series, you are missing out! One of the best historical mystery novels out there. And Murder on Platform Four, excellent read. Sébastien and Gemma are on the case and kept me guessing til the end on who did it. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review! I love this series!

Another great installment of Gemma Tate & Sebastian Bell solving a mystery while moving forward in their relationship. They don't actually spend that much time together during the book but we get to hear their thoughts and feelings about what they want in their future together. Gemma is still working to take care of her friend's ailing mother, while Sebastian navigates the hierarchy of Scotland Yard. Gemma is coming up to the end of her mourning period for her twin brother and Sebastian is learning to let go of his murdered wife and unborn child, while being confronted by the murder of an unknown woman who was stuffed in a trunk. The killer is close to home and they must figure out who it is before more people are killed. The ending is action-packed and full of drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read this book

Another fantastic instalment of this historical mystery series. Inspector Sebastian Bell is waiting at Paddington Station for his estranged brother Simian when train porters report the discovering of a dead woman in a trunk. Meanwhile nurse Gemma Tate has her hands full with a sick household, but she’s restless for more challenges.

From the opening chapter to the end, I eagerly kept page turning. Irina Shapiro recreates 1859 London so vividly I could smell its fetidness. Woven is how women were restricted. Gemma wants more out of life than being a dutiful woman (grrr Colin, yay Sebastian). The mystery was compelling with twists and turns that I couldn’t guess the culprit. At times though the pace dragged a bit with too many inner monologues (I really had to eye roll with Gemma thinking ‘she was not like other women’ – did we really have to go there?).

What I really appreciate is the character development. With all their grief and trauma, Gemma and Sebastian have grown in leaps and bounds since the first book and it’s what keeps me coming back for more books. Sebastian is no longer hitting the opium and alcohol to blot himself out; he’s grown and opened his heart to Gemma and appreciate her as an equal. Gemma is also close to the end of her mourning period and, in a poignant scene talks in her head to her late brother about moving on with life and grabbing happiness. These two are at the heart of the series which keeps me coming back so I hope they find true happiness as they’ve suffered enough as it is.

I am utterly hooked on this series, and can’t wait for more Sebastian and Gemma because I am greedy!

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

Long paragraphs of introspection and unnecessary description slowed the pace. SHOW me how characters are feeling, SHOW me relevant backstory details, SHOW ME historical details, don’t TELL me. I kept putting it down and coming back to it because I was bored with the telling.

The mystery itself was good. There were a few obvious things Bell should have seen, given that we’re told he thinks he has a “well-trained mind”. The development for Bell and Gemma is progressing nicely. Gemma still isn’t an equal POV character as far as progressing the plot. I did cringe when Gemma literally thought to herself “she was not like other women”. None of that thinking about domestic affairs or a love interest for our nurse. Even though she does think about Bell.

New readers of the series could enjoy the mystery, but this might not be the book to reel them in. That said, I’ll give the next book a try.

What a fabulous story again from this author. I loved every chapter and found it so interesting. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Crime solving the old fashioned way. Inspector Sebastian Bell is at the railway station to meet his estranged brother Simian. But crime follows him around and despite it being his time off, he's caught up with the discovery of a woman's body in a travelling trunk.
His investigation leads him to many suspects, and its with the help of tenacious Gemma Tate that the perpetrator is brought to justice.
I love this series, the crime and mystery are the big part of the storyline but its the development of the characters that brings it to life, as each novel unfolds we're treated to further involvement in their lives

Whew another wild ride with an unexpected ending! I keep waiting for Bell and Tate to grow closer then it all takes a turn!
We have Inspector Bell arriving at platform 4 to meet his estranged brother Simian! While waiting a body is discovered in the trunk and Sebastian immediately takes charge and has the body sent to Colin’s for autopsy!
He is unaware that both Colin and Anne his mother are Ill and Gemma has been nursing both of them! Gemma is appraised of what appears to be the murder and takes an initiative of her own that later has Colin furious with her!
There are several leads but all seem to go in different directions until one brilliant surgeon steps in to assist Colin who is still recovering!
I was pleased that with all the interruptions to Sebastian and Simian’s finally meeting and having a heart to heart conversation they do mend their fences!
Gemma can be hard headed and very stubborn to the point of naivety! When she corners a vicious killer who has murdered twice it appears she is a bit foolish!
When three people are injured Colin needs more help than ever so Sebastian romantic intentions are again delayed!
Do they kept their man? It will definitely keep you on your toes until the last page! Bravo

Another cleverly put together plot, plenty of potential suspects and determined sleuthing eventually gets the result. By being observant and asking questions, both characters work together well to get justice. This was a sad story for both the victim and the murderer. It was lovely to see Gemma and Sebastian's personal lives move on, and I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next for these two wonderful characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This series is just great, it has the old fashioned and yet somehow quite pure mystery about it - no phones, gentle courtship and pretty gruesome murder. The dead body this time is dumped at the train station and the hunt is on to find out first who she is and then who and how she was killed. Gemma and Sebastian - nurse and policeman - separately look into clues and pool their resources. All happens around the boarding house that Sebastian lives in and the home where Gemma is a carer with people coming and going and chance meetings Stirling things up. There is always the whiff of romance between Gemma and Sebastian in the air, which adds a lovely touching feel to the plot too.

A well crafted mystery with several possible culprits, a family member from the past and a couple that is starting to dream of a life together are the key ingredients of this riveting new book by Irina Shapiro.

With both Sebastian and Gemma investigating, we get to see the mystery from two different points of view and we dive into a challenging research for the identity of a murder victim found in a trunk.

I was not sure about the culprit until the very end and the story kept me alert and always looking for clues, exactly how I like my mystery books!

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Murder and secrets

I love this series and this installment of the historical whodunit series staring Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate. Like the other books in the series, it had a layered storyline, an intriguing mystery, surprising plot twists, and suspense which made it hard to put down once I started. This author always manages to take simple ink on paper and create a living breathing place full of three dimensional beings that feels real. This type of immersive reading that involves my brain, my heart and my soul is the best kind. Sebastian and Gemma are portrayed as real, relatable and complex people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Still in mourning for her brother, Gemma is a nurse in 1858 London who now works as a live in nurse/companion for Dr Colin Ramsey’s mother who suffers from dementia. Sebastian is a Scotland Yard detective and a widower. Sebastian and Gemma enjoy puzzling out a case together and have recently admitted they want to court once Gemma is no longer in mourning. At the train station to pick up his brother, Sebastian is in the perfect place just when a dead body in a trunk is found and he is once again involved in a murder with an over abundance of suspects and a messy investigation. The investigation leads Sebastian - and to some extent Gemma - to unlikely places, dead ends, plot twists, secrets, and surprising revelations. As always, there are smaller personal story arcs and social commentary which enrich the main plot line and give the characters even greater dimension. I love these characters and this series.