The world is a stage and cast of Romeo and Juliet are all murder suspects...

The latest installment of the Tate and Bell Mysteries has more twists and turns than the London underground, more bad luck around the theatre than a run of...the Scottish play... and more suspicious characters than 7 dials on a Friday night...

It is a smasher and as a thespian myself, loved that it was set in a theatre and all that the 1850's scene held. I loved how we are seeing more any more of Gemma and Sebastian's characters and how they handle themselves despite all of the societal rules and pressures placed upon them.

I must admit that I was stumped by this one and didn't really figure out 'who dunnit' before the grand reveal. I am hooked in this series and thought the epilogue was lovely. Can't wait for the next installment!

My sincere thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me an ARC of this novel.

Sebastian, Colin, and Gemma have taken Anne to a production of Romeo and Juliet as a way to get her out of the house as her condition worsens. Just as the play is ending and the quarter are preparing to leave the director comes on stage and announces that someone has died. Sebastian and Gemma both head down to the stage to discover that the two leads, Esme and Christopher are dead, killed by the poison they swallowed as their characters. Sebastian and Gemma start interviewing their suspects immediately and quickly realize that these actors' lives were more dramatic than anything Shakespeare ever wrote and everyone had a reason for murder.

Best one yet? Absolutely. Do I also say that every book? Also, Absolutely. Do I feel any shame? Nope, I am a shameless Bell and Tate Fangirl at this point.

Alright onto the review!

Right off the bat you're going to believe you know who the killer is. You don't and when you do finally figure it out it's going to be one of those situations where your brain doesn't really want to accept it. Of course, you're actually going to be wrong again and the real killer is somehow more believable and yet you'll want to believe it less, but also be angry at how well they fooled you. Side characters in this one were great as well of course and we get introduced to Poppy whom I hope is going to be here for the long haul. Finally, Sebastian stops being a jerk about Gemma helping him out. Is this kind of a spoiler? Yes, but honestly, his apology is pretty grand so I don't think it's much of one.

Highly recommend this series especially if you enjoy Sebastian St. Cyr. While Tate and Bell are not as progressive as St. Cyr and Hero at first, I believe the end of this book marked a turning point there.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eArc!

Sebastian Bell loves Gemma Tate. He also admires and respects here. What is so unusual about this is the book is set in Victorian London where woman were chattel and if they dared to show intelligence, they were frowned upon. Gemma really does not care. She helps Sebastian solve his cases including this one set in the theatre. They must find out how is killing the actors and why.

It was an entertaining read with lots of historical ambience. Four purrs and two paws up.

I am new to the Bell and Tate series. This is book #4.

Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell are attending the theater with her employer and his mother, when tragedy hits during the death scene of Romeo and Juliet. The players take method acting a step too far, against their own will.

What follows is a typical Victorian era British murder mystery with the Inspector trying to do his job and protect his girlfriend from the trouble she inadvertently gets herself into. Not to say Gemma is weak or stupid, she is not. She can definitely hold her own.

She and Bell realize who the killer is at the same time. I won't spoil it, but I did not see that plot twist coming.

*** Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.***

This was a really well done fourth entry in the Tate and Bell Mystery series, it had that charm that I was looking for in this series and continued the story perfectly. The historical mystery element worked well and had that concept and that character development. I was hooked from the first page and was engaged with what was going on and enjoyed the journey. Irina Shapiro wrote this perfectly and was glad I was able to read this.

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say: Good night, till it be morrow."

The curtain falls and both Romeo and Juliet lay dead. Only this time they do not rise again to take their applause when the curtain raises again. Both actors playing Romeo and Juliet are truly dead.

Both Gemma (Tate) and Sebastian (Bell) are in the audience and immediately start to investigate what happened. It turns out that both actors were killed by poison (Morphine), but was it a double suicide, a murder-suicide or did someone else get rid of the two actors?

Soon suspicion falls on both the other actors and the lovers or presumed lovers of both actors. But do we really need to find the culprit amongst the usual suspects? The investigation also reveals some interesting features of the theater.

As in the other episodes of this series the setting and time frame are well documented and you really feel like you have been transported back in time to the middle of the nineteenth century. I do love the side stories and the continuing role of the minor characters.
So without a doubt, full marks for this book.

I want to thank Netgalley and Storm publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

"Murder at the Orpheus Theatre" is an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing with its array of suspects and cleverly placed red herrings. The pacing is steady, though definitely not fast. While the lead couple had limited time together, the developments are subtle yet impactful, leaving me eager for the FMC's mourning period to finally end. The introduction of a new character adds fresh dynamics to the group, and I hope she becomes a permanent fixture. Overall, this installment has made me appreciate the series more with each release. Looking forward to the next case, perhaps with a time jump!

Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is the fourth book in the Tate and Bell Mystery series by Irina Shapiro, it could be read as a standalone, but I'm quite sure you'll love every single novel in the series.

I've really enjoyed this story. I was hooked since the beginning thanks to the excellent writing, the intriguing mystery that make me wonder who dun it till the end, and the expertly described characters.

Inspector Bell and Miss Tate are among the audience of the Romeo and Juliet at the Orpheus Theatre when the young protagonists actually meet their death on stage. The investigations seem complicated since the start, too many suspects, and too many motives: jealousy, desire, revenge, the most common. Will Sebastian solve the case without putting Gemma's life at risk? Will Gemma keep her questions at bay to keep out of trouble as asked by her friends?

I love Sebastian and Gemma so much. The dynamics between them keep evolving, they admire, respect and take account of each other insights. The affection they feel for each other is pretty clear, but they still have to wait before they can be official together for the moral standards of the epoch they live in.

I can't wait to read next book in the series.

In the latest Tate and Bell mystery novel, readers join Sebastian and Gemma at the Orpheus Theatre for an exciting performance which turns more exciting when both lead actors are found dead on the stage before the entire audience. However, the cast of suspects is all hiding something, and the backstage world of the theatre is much murkier than they had expected. Sebastian wants justice and to keep Gemma safe, but she’s too involved in the case and may have trusted the wrong person. Another fantastic novel starring these complicated and clever characters, readers will love the latest instalment in this dramatic Victorian mystery series. The murder and investigation are complex and intriguing, while the suspects are complicated, dramatic, and secretive. This unique location and the sudden dramatic deaths of the actors really draw readers in from the start, while the unfolding investigation keeps readers guessing as investigators with Sebastian and Gemma. Their dynamic is, of course, fantastic and still evolving, while their different roles in the investigation really allow them time to work as individuals and as a team in this thrilling new installment in the series. Intense, exciting, and thrilling, this is a great new historical mystery that fans of the series will love.

Another wonderful read in this series. I always put everything down when the next book arrives. The characters are wonderfully written, and the romance develops naturally. The mystery is well organized and keeps you guessing till the end. This one does touch on the sensitive issues of wife abuse, which was normal and allowed in the day. It was done very well. This one is a little sadder than the ones before, but it is a murder mystery after all. I now look forward to the next one. I received as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

✨ Publication date: February 25, 2025✨

Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is the 4th book in the historical Tate and Bell crime/mystery series by Irina Shapiro.

This story picks right up from the end of the last one. Gemma and Sebastian are attending Romeo and Juliette at the Orpheus theatre when the two main cast members are murdered.

Sebastian is quick to slip into his Scotland Yard role and begins the investigation into both deaths. With Gemma by his side, quietly aiding the investigation he begins to discover that the theatre actors aren’t as close knit as they originally appear and there are many possible suspects that need to be investigated.

The crime investigation is well done and keeps you intrigued throughout the book. I really liked that there was a more clear movement in the relationship between the two main characters. This is a four star read for me and I am looking forward to the next instalment!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #irinashapiro #murderattheorpheustheatre

I love historical mysteries that take place at the theatre. And this one delivers in spades. At a night out at the theatre Inspector Bell and nurse Gemma Tate witness the final curtain call of the two leads as they die, for real, at the end of the play. It will take all of their powers of deduction and ingenuity to figure out who is keeping secrets and lying for these people wear masks for a living.

There are plenty of suspects--but not so many that I couldn't keep them straight--and lots of red herrings. I also thought the writer delivers realistic historical views of women and their rightful roles in this book. Gemma, who was a nurse during the Crimea War and works as a nurse in London now, is use to more independence than most women and is confident in her abilities. She wants in on the investigation because she thinks she has something to contribute. But the police, other than Inspector Bell, do not want her involved. And in fact, if the police find out she is involved there could be bad repercussions for her and Inspector Bell might be fired. Unless, you rich and titled bucking the system can often have consequences and not having them rear their ugly head every now and then is unrealistic. I enjoy it when writers incorporate the difficulties of not going with the status quo; in makes it more realistic for me.

I will be sure to read more of this series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a very good edition to this already amazing series [YAY for taking chances!!]. Filled with murder [at the play of Romeo and Juliet no less], mayhem, intrigue, a look into what some women suffered at the hands of their husbands [who felt having a "side piece" was acceptable as the daily beatings they rained down on the wife that might have an opinion; while I know this is still something that we deal with far too often today, there were FAR less options for wives back then as beating your wife wasn't illegal, wouldn't land you in jail, the husband could have his wife committed to aslyum where she could "legally" be killed, as well as no shelters or few people willing to stand up and shelter an abused woman, mostly from fear of recrimination themselves], as well as what dementia looked like in that time period [much like it does today but with a lot less knowledge on how to manage it; many of these sufferers also ended up in aslyums].

Well-written [as well as researched; the more I read these, the more I realize that I need to read some books about the Crimean War, which plays into this story even more that the previous books], with an excellent mystery [surprisingly, I guessed the killer early on, told myself I was ridiculous and completely dismissed that thought - SURPRISE!!! LOL] and reveal that was very good, but also desperately sad.

I really love this one and hope there are more to come!! Very well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Irina Shapiro, and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

By the 4th installment of a series, you really feel like you know the characters and are invested in their relationships and successes which leads to more expectation, and this book lived up to all of it! There were lots of surprises and developments, but they didn't feel predictable or like it was following a formula (other than the typical murder investigation one!).

I also felt like the dual investigations played off of each other really well for this book. There was an added (bonus!) element of fighting societal and institutional misogyny and winning (not a spoiler, really an overall theme) as well as lots of potential for romance.

4 stars for a hard to put down read that did justice to all the previous books in the series.

Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is the 4th installment of the Tate and Bell mysteries and if you haven't picked up this series yet and enjoy historical mysteries, you should definitely consider doing so. I've found myself enjoying every single one.

In this book, Sebastian and Gemma are at the theatre when right in front of the audience, the two lead actors are found dead on stage. This prompts an investigation into a world neither of them are familiar with but that both are determined to dive into to find out what could have happened. What they find is something they never could have predicted.

Shapiro did a great job of taking me on some twists and turns with this one. Nearly every character in this book was a suspect and while I wasn't surprised how it ended, it was well done.

I was happy to see that the relationship between Sebastian and Gemma is still progressing...I would love it if they picked things up a bit as sometimes it feels so slow that I wonder if they will ever get anywhere but maybe we can get through Gemma's mourning period a bit faster. Don't get me wrong...I love the mystery but I would also love to see some more movement in the romance department.

Overall, this was another great book in the series and I look forward to the next book in the series! Consider picking this book/series up if you're looking for a new historical mystery.

Second time around for me with Inspector Sebastian Bell and Nurse Gemma. A rare night out at the theatre ends with macabre results. Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet are actually murdered in front of a live audience by an audacious murderer. The vials which they drank contained a swift acting poison.

Gemma knows she can get as much information or even more than the police detectives assigned to the case but she knows she is not popular when she does that and she can even put the Inspector in jeopardy where his job is concerned. Gemma working behind the scenes and the Inspector try to bring the strands of the story together.

The workings and setting of theatre in Victorian times was not very welcoming to the artists themselves, though people flocked to see the plays. The artists knew their popularity was short lived and they had to find a protector as in the case of the women, or salt away as much money as possible. Not a very pleasant future to look forward to.

A well planned and set out detective mystery story. Very enjoyable reading.

I really enjoyed this book. It may be my favorite in the series. I think Shapiro always does a great job of creating mysteries that are meaty, but not overly complicated or convoluted. She drops clues to make you spin theories and then rule them out, but it never drags down the pace of the story. I also enjoyed the character development. Both Tate and Bell individually take a good look at themselves and their situations and have to decide if they’re willing to settle, or what they want their futures to look like. I’m looking forward to the next installment. Big thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Irina Shapiro delivers an atmospheric and engrossing historical mystery filled with intrigue, scandal, and well-developed characters. The richly detailed setting enhances the suspense, and the investigation unfolds at a satisfying pace with well-placed twists. While seasoned mystery readers may predict aspects of the resolution, the journey remains compelling. A captivating read for fans of historical whodunits!

Thankyou to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read Murder at the Orpheus Theatre in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Irina Shapiro has done it again. She has delivered another good read that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages to learn the identity of the villain.
The characters are richly drawn and the storyline fully mysterious. Who do you trust?
Well worth a read for fans of the genre.

In this fourth book in the Victorian mystery series, nurse Gemma Tate is now caring for a woman with dementia after losing her job at the Foundling Hospital. Her feelings for Inspector Sebastian Bell have deepened, but she is still in mourning for her brother Victor, so she can not spend much time alone with him. Attending the theatre one night with her new employer, Dr Colin Ramsey, his mother Anne (her patient) and Sebastian, they witness the death of two of the actors.

Sebastian must unravel the complex relationships and rivalries of all those in the theatre before he can work out who would want to murder the two young actors. Gemma is once again able to help him with some quiet research behind the scenes which helps to shed light on means and motive, which turns out to be someone quite unexpected.

I enjoy the characters and their ongoing development in this historical series. Both the MCs have strong personalities and interesting backstories, with neither of them willing to be too constrained by society’s expectations of them. The Victorian theatre makes an interesting backdrop to this mystery and the period is well depicted.