Sarah Rayne rarely disappoints and in The Murderer Inside the Mirror she has delivered another tense, clever, and engaging mystery featuring one of her series families. Rayne does exceptionally well in telling stories that alternate time periods and some sort of time travel or past life connection. Here, the FitzGlen clan of actors and thieves find themselves embroiled in a mystery surrounding a previously-unknown play written by a well-known author which disappears as mysteriously as it was found. The search for the manuscript reveals a complicated web of scandal, betrayal, and love spanning centuries.

Rayne’s books are always well written and this is no exception. The plot will keep readers engaged, and will appeal to fans of mysteries, romance, and history.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had a great Gothic feel to it and worked with what I wanted from this story. It almost reminded me a lot of Phantom of the Opera and I'm not upset about it. The characters worked in this historical fiction and thought it worked well in the historical fiction novel. I enjoyed the way Sarah Rayne wrote this and can't wait to read more from them. I really enjoyed how good this was and glad I got to read this. It was a great sequel in the Theatre of Thieves Mystery series and I hope there is more in this world.

With the death of Montague Fitzglen a previously unknown play of the famous Irish playwright Phelan Rafferty is discovered among Montague's belongings. The Fitzglen's decide to be cautious about releasing this play to the world because while it would certainly make them rich for all they know Uncle Montague forged it, or worse it contains evidence of the Flitzglen family's other line of work. Unfortunately they may have been to cautious because when Jack goes to retrieve it the play is gone and the following day they discover their hated rivals The Gilfillans will be performing the play. The Fitzglen's know they have to act if they are to protect themselves against whatever is in this play so they send in Tansy, the youngest of the family and one completely unknown to the Gilfillans to hopefully retrieve the play before everything comes crashing down around them.

I did not read the first book in this series but I'm gonna be honest I don't think it would helped me figure out why the Fitzglens jumped to the conclusion that this play was some sort of tell all of either Montague's or the family's past. The reaction seems somehow overblown and not as large as it should be when they find that the play has been stolen. Especially since they are supposed to be these accomplished thieves, instead of just stealing it back they just let the Gilfillans have it.

We don't spend enough time with each of the characters to really get a good feel for any of them. Or really even the dynamics between the family. The roles each of them have within the family are obvious but I would have like to have spent more time with the Fitzglen's than we did, especially since I think they'd be quite a bit of fun while on a "flich" as they call it in the book. We did however spend a large amount of time with the "bad guy" in the book, who I think is supposed to come across as unhinged from the beginning but never does or at least not to the point where they just snap. And again blown out of proportion if you don't feel like they are a little cracked to begin with and I really never felt that way.

There is also a second story within this one which is actually kind of the main story and it is far better than what's happening in the present. I would have loved to have read an entire book of Thomas Kildare and Catherine Rafferty, the asshole who betrayed them, and the brother that saves the day.

Overall, I'd say that this was an excellent historical fiction novel that got buried under a mystery that garnered only a meh. I probably won't read anything more in this series, however, if the author decided to write the story of Thomas Kildare and Catherine as a stand alone novel I'd read it.

As always thanks to Severn House and NetGalley!

Uncle Montague has died and amongst his effects is an unknown play "The Murderer Inside the Mirror" by the renowned playwright Phelan Rafferty together with notes about investigating connections between the Girdlestone's and the Rafferty families. Montague's surviving relatives the Fitzglens, who run a theatre company with a sideline in thievery or "Flitching" decide to investigate.
This charming story mixing including some Irish history and two fictional and eccentric theatre companies at the turn of the century is a lot of fun. I enjoyed reading it and will look out for more works by Sarah Rayne

The storyline is absolutely captivating!
I was completely engrossed and couldn't stop reading.
The author skillfully creates suspense through rich character development and vivid settings.
This Gothic historical mystery is truly remarkable!
I can't wait to delve into more works by this author in the future.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this advance reader copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Super excited I got approved for this one.
I have always loved every book by Sarah Rayne.
Amazing gothic settings and descriptions, plus some supernatural thrown in.
Another great one!