SHADOW AT THE MORGUE (Spencer & Reid Mysteries Book #1) by Cara Devlin is an exciting start to a new historical mystery series set in Victorian London in the 1880’s and featuring a young woman who does not conform to society’s rules and a newly promoted Detective Inspector. This is a story that starts off strong and continually kept me turning the pages with each new clue and twist in the case.

Fifteen years ago, Leonora ‘Leo’ Spenser was the sole surviving member of her family who were all brutally murdered. Now living with her uncle and aunt, she is an unofficial assistant to her uncle in a London morgue. With her photographic memory and her curiosity, she catalogues details for his coroner’s reports. Her best friend is a young female matron in the women and children’s side of the city jail while all others find her work in the morgue strange and unladylike.

Leo’s uncle is called away one evening and a man with a knife threatens Leo and locks her in a back room and then leaves after stealing a dead man’s case. Detective Inspector Jasper Reid is called and discovers Leo in the back room. While Jasper is wondering what was so important in the case, with Leo’s memory she knows nothing important was in it, but a dead woman in the morgue is missing a locket.

As Leo and Jasper follow the clues, more dead bodies are discovered and tied to the case. Then they uncover a blackmail plot that ties all the missing pieces together, but it also places them in the killer’s path and makes them disposable.

This is a great introduction to these new protagonists, and the mystery plot was full of red herrings and twists that continually surprised me. I love intelligent characters like Leo who buck convention and are ahead of the times they live in, but she also has a mystery in her past that can play out in future books. Jasper also has a past that was only touched on and I am sure will play into future stories. The dialogue between the two is snappy and while it can seem as if they are fighting like siblings, their feelings are a little more involved than that. The emotional ties between Leo and Jasper will be interesting to follow and see how they progress in future books. The author does an excellent job with her descriptions of atmosphere and historical depictions of London.

I highly recommend this new historical mystery and am looking forward to reading many more in this series!

I loved the banter between Leo and Jasper! Overall, this book was very enjoyable! I'm eager to read the next book and look forward to the developing romance in this series.

Shadow at the Morgue is the first book of a new historical murder mystery series by Cara Devlin. Much like Devlin's previous series, The Bow Street Duchess Mysteries, readers are in for a series of death, intrigue, and a touch of romance. The author loves a slow burn romance, and excels at writing compelling characters that captivate readers.

Lenora Spencer has a photographic memory, a tragic past, and a position in the London morgue assisting her uncle. Jasper Reid is a new detective at Scotland Yard. Both Leo and Jasper were taken in by "the illustrious Chief Inspector Gregory Reid" sixteen years ago, but while Jasper was adopted and given the family name, Leo's uncle and aunt had been located and brought to London to care for her. The Inspector considers both children his family, which makes his declining health a constant thread tying both orphans to the Reid household.

An investigation into the theft of a locket from the morgue uncovers multiple suspicious deaths and a blackmail plot that captivates Leo, and Jasper grudgingly accepts her help untangling the mystery. Throughout their quarrelous interactions is a thread of attraction that is complicated by their relationship to the retired Inspector.

The author's Instagram posted that "Just as there was in the Bow Street Duchess series, readers can look forward to a slow-burn romance in the new Spencer & Reid mysteries." That's more than enough to ensure that I follow the series.

If you liked Kelley Armstrong's Rip Through Time books or Anna Lee Huber's Lady Darby Mystery series, you'll love Cara Devlin's books. I can't wait for the audiobook version to come out November 11, 2025. Until then, I'll be reading the next book in the series, Method of Revenge. The third book, Courier of Death, is said to be book three of four, and was the #1 New Release in Historical Mysteries. It came out in June of 2025, and it's already on my TBR list.

I'll read anything Devlin writes in the future.

After indulging in the wild world of romantasy for a bit, I decided on a pleasant palate cleanser and homecoming by checking out this advanced reader's copy (ARC) from my beloved genre of historical murder mystery.

And wowzers, am I glad I did because "Shadow in the Morgue" by author Cara Devlin, has more than satisfied everything I love. You must read this if you also adore Victorian-era London with super clever female lead defying social norms (e.g., slaying men with fragile egos) by using their skills, intellect and brains to do something other than being domestic slaves to everyone else around them (e.g., elderly and ill relatives/entitled upper class snobs, etc. etc.). Oh, and don't forget traipsing all over crime scenes to the utter chagrin of their brooding, handsome detective inspector counterparts (e.g., definite Phryne and Jack vibes here, folks!!! Not to mention some Bones and Booth vibes too for those in the know).

Definitely pick this up if you want to follow protagonist, Leonora (a.k.a. "Leo") Spencer, morgue assistant to her assistant coroner uncle outwitting Scotland Yard's finest, Detective Inspector Jasper Reid, and his merry constables and sergeants on the heels of a fascinating murder or two (that she, of course, discovered leading clues for).

The author has introduced these new characters in a refreshing way with just enough tantalizing back story to keep the reader going alongside enough clues so that the mystery doesn't overtax the brains either. Mix it all together with the lovely tension and relationship between Leo and Jasper...and voila...I have already started reading Book 2 of this new series because I can't wait to see how things further develop with these two!

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was excited to see a new historical mystery series from this author. I really enjoyed the bow street duchess mystery series. This has a unique premise with the main characters being a morgue assistant and a Scotland Yard detective. Great mystery with a potential for romance in the future.

I’ve been wishing for a compelling new series and this is it!

One of the more believable elements of that book is that Jasper doesn’t automatically accept Leo’s non-traditional, societal defying behavior, and he struggles to accept it. But he respects her and her intelligence, even if he finds her capriciousness frustrating.

It was a race to the end that left me wanting to know more not only about their personal mysteries but also how their relationship will evolve. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

P.S. For the cat lovers out there, the author artfully includes cats.


Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I devoured Cara Devlin's fantastic Bow Street Duchess series last year, and when I saw this book was the start of a new series, I knew I absolutely had to read it. Once again, we are treated to a smart and unconventional heroine and an honorable yet sexy hero. Together, they team up to solve a dark, twisty mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

There's just something about Victorian
London, with its gas lights and fog filled streets that make an amazing backdrop
for murder. It doesn't get any more perfect than that, and this was a particularly well plotted mystery. There were plenty of unexpected twists and turns that made Shadow at the Morgue a true page turner.

I loved the banter between Leo and Jasper! If you like slow-burn, you'll definitely
enjoy it in this book. Overall, this
was so very enjoyable! I can't wait for the next book, and I'm really looking forward to the building romance in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

while i ended up having to dnf this book at 60%, it was definitely a me problem and not the books fault

the writing was easy to read and i quite liked the characters, leo was very charming and jasper seemed interesting, but unfortunately i just didn't find the plot intriguing

the mystery felt very slow and there was a lack of tension that made it hard for me to feel motivated to ever pick this book up, which meant it took me a month to make it halfway through, and i just don't have it in me to spend another month reading this book

all that being said i can see the potential in this author and may try her other books, this one just wasn't the one for me unfortunately

I have been starting a lot of murder mysteries lately that start with so many people, it is hard to keep track and the mystery is halfway through the book. This book is not like that. It had me hooked from page one. This is the first book by this author I have read and will now look forward to more in this series—the characters were well-written and very engaging. The mystery kept you guessing but let you think you may have worked it out. I found once I started I couldn’t put it down. This is a series I will put everything down when I get the next book. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review

I really wanted to like this book. It sounded dark, mysterious, and the setting had a perfect description! I just couldn't get into it. I couldn't care about the characters or wanting to know what happens next. Great premise, but it wasn't for me.

This one was just okay for me. I liked the still-yet-to-figure-it-out romance between Leo and Jasper. I liked the mystery and story. But it wasn’t really intriguing or interesting. Interesting, yes, but not REALLY interesting. I wanted to know what happened next but not in-a-way like I gotta know NOW. Towards the end it did get more intriguing, but it was still just an okay read for me. There was no language or any other regrettable activities that some may not like to have in their reading, so I will recommend to everyone who likes a mystery and crime. Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and publishers for opportunity to read #ShadowAtTheMorgue with my honest thoughts and insights.

Thank you to the publisher for a book review copy!
I was hooked. at the start of this book. This isn’t just a book about the morgue—it’s a deep dive into a world where science, humanity, and the stark reality of death intersect in the most unexpected ways. As someone who’s always been fascinated by the hidden stories behind every life and every death, I found this book to be nothing short of transformative.

I reviewed this book on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7285676074 (I LOVED IT)

I’ve been seeing Cara Devlin’s other series around for a while and hearing wonderful things so I had to take the opportunity to check out her new series. Wow. I am so sad I’ve waited this long to read her books. This was exactly what I hoped for. Mysterious, smart, wonderfully curated historical setting and a slow burn we will be hoping for in books to come. So many questions are still circulating and makes it feel like an old school urban fantasy. Need book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and to BooksGoSocial for the ARC of Shadow at the Morgue by Cara Devlin,

I just recently starting reading Devlin's works, and am now on the third of her Bow Street Duchess mysteries. Shadow at the Morgue appears to be at the same time period as Bow Street Duchess, but is focused more on the "working class" characters and their perceptions of the same London.

Leo, a woman in her mid-twenties with an eidetic memory, helps her elderly uncle in the morgue. She has spent the past 16 years in his and her aunt's care, but both their health is beginning to suffer and Leo is not sure what paths she has ahead in her life as an unmarried woman should her uncle's tremors be discovered and he be removed from his role in the morgue.

Jasper Reid is a few years older than Leo, and the two were nearly raised as siblings 16-years-ago when Leo's family was brutally murdered and the police inspector that briefly took her in also took in Jasper off the streets.

It is through their connection with the ailing Inspector, a father figure to them both, that Jasper and Leo remain connected. She at the morgue and him an inspector on his own now. Their relationship is strained for a variety of reasons, but their love for the Inspector is one of the strongest parts of each of their lives and of the secrets hidden in their past.

When Leo is held at knifepoint and a body at the morgue is robbed of its personal items, Leo and Jasper embark on a mission to track down the item, only to have more bodies and mystery pile onto them along the way.

This is a really fun, entertaining opening mystery for a series, and the take on members from outside the ton gives a fun new perspective to the time period. I wish the mystery had a bit harder to solve in this one, I think I figured out who the villains were around 50% in, but I think there is enough surrounding mystery on the pasts of both Leo and Jasper to strengthen this series moving forward as well as whatever mystery they encounter next.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all opinions expressed are my own. This is the first entry in a new series and boy does it kick off with a bang. Leo was the only survivor when the rest of her family was killed when she was a child. The reason behind the murders and the culprits remain a mystery to this day. Jasper was adopted as a young teen by Inspector Reid and has followed in his footsteps to become a detective at Scotland Yard. His origins were murky and he has spent the years hiding it from everyone. Although the two iften rub each other wrong way, they are unitedin their love for Inspector read who has cancer and not much time yet. When someone breaks into the morgue where Leo is working, the two become uneasy partners to solve the crime.

The mystery in this book was very well done with twists and turns that kpt me guessing. The chemistry between the two is explosive if only they could recognize it. I love the setup around an overarching mystery about the murder of Leo's family. I have a theory that I'm curious to see if pans out. Luckily book two comes out in March so not too long of wait for book 2.

A new mystery series by this author was one I could not wait to read! I usually listen to audible and intent to once a few more in are published but this is one you do not want to miss!

Lenora is an interesting character that helps her uncle at his morgue and has a photographic memory (would be nice!) She gets involved in a murder and new detective Jasper Reid would like nothing more than to leave her out.

But she is a help and there is a journey with a lot of characters and red herrings that will keep you reading until the end!

What a delight this was, first in the series and am looking forward to seeing how this develops.

Leo is an unconventional character who is suppressed by the times she lives in, a rebellious , strong willed hot headed but dedicated individual, whilst Jasper is her complete opposite a more conventional character, a man's man an unlikely duo.

An intriguing entaining historical mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.

One of the best historical cozies I have ever read! This was my first book by Cara Devlin, but it won't be my last. I loved the idea of a historical cozy that features a strong heroine in a nontraditional occupation and has an unapologetic manner.

Leo (Leonora) Spencer assists her uncle in the morgue. She is interrupted on evening by an unexpected intruder who locks her in a closet bring back traumatic memories from her past. She is rescued by Inspector Jasper Reid, the son of the policeman who rescued her on evening long ago. Jasper was adopted by the same policeman, Gregory Reid, who saved Leo many years ago. They have known each other since children. They both are fighting demons from their pasts and as well as an attraction to each other.

The intruder at the morgue leads them to a murder (or more) and lots of twists and turns and intrigue. The story never slows down. It had me from the first page.

I loved the characters of both Leo and Jasper. Leo's spunk and determination to be her own woman and use her brains, although she is attractive as well. Jasper hides his affection for Leo behind a gruff, exasperated by the book demeanor, While the book does wrap up this case it leaves Leo & Jasper's personal struggles ongoing for the next installment. The next book cannot come soon enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.

Leonora Spencer, haunted by her family’s unsolved murder and now assisting her uncle in his London morgue, is drawn into danger when a thief steals a locket from a corpse, leaving valuable jewels behind. Determined to uncover the truth, she teams up with Detective Inspector Jasper Reid, a former street orphan determined to prove his worth at Scotland Yard, despite his reluctance to involve Leo in his investigation. As they unravel a deadly blackmail plot tied to the locket, suspicious deaths, and a powerful secret, they find themselves hunted by a killer intent on keeping the past buried.

I’ve seen this author’s books before, though this is my first time reading any of her works. Historical mysteries are some of my favorite genres to read and I’m always eager to find a new author to follow. Leonora Spencer was an interesting heroine to follow. We get hints at her backstory through the narrative, making a reader eager to know the truth. Jasper Reid was an equally interesting character, though his broodiness annoyed me quickly.

These two are presented as friends. I think. It was hard to pin down if they had really been childhood friends, given their connection with Jasper’s adopted Inspector father, or if circumstances had simply thrown them together. They certainly didn’t treat each other like friends, since they argued over EVERYTHING. And I was more sympathetic to Jasper’s view of things and was annoyed with Leonora.

Overall, the mystery was an interesting one. It is a bit dark so some might find it difficult to read. I think readers who have enjoyed the author’s previous works or simply enjoy an atmospheric, darker mystery may enjoy this one.