In ‘Lady of the Quay’, Isabella is carrying a heavy load—she’s a widow, recently orphaned, deep in debt, and then falsely accused of murder. On top of grieving her father and defending her innocence, she must run the struggling family business alongside a previously estranged and brazen cousin.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong female leads and some light romance, this book is likely up your alley. The writing is easy to follow, and I was genuinely curious to see how the crimes would be solved and how the relationships between the leads would develop.

That said, I struggled to stay grounded in the 1560s setting. Aside from a few historical references, the story felt a few centuries more modern than expected. Details like main characters going by Will and Izzy, and Isabella’s fight to run her own business, made it harder to fully feel the time period. A bit more historical texture might have helped pull me in. Also, Isabella’s push for independence bothered me at first—especially her hesitation to marry her fiancé in the middle of everything—but considering what she’s up against, her determination makes sense. She’s driven and resilient, and even if her choices didn’t always sit right with me, I could respect her fight.

Special thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a strong start to the Isabella Gillhespy series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the dark fantasy genre. I was glad I got to read this as it was a strong opening chapter. Amanda Roberts has a strong writing style and was glad I got to start reading this. The characters were one of the strongest element that I was looking for and it worked well overall in the historical element.

It got off to a good start.

I found it an intriguing storyline and the detailed description of the surrounds and times was interesting. However, I soon found myself unsurprised with the way the story rolled out and the descriptive detail started to encroach on the plot, for me. The characters started to feel just a little stereotypical, the protagonist started to jar making big decisions rather summarily, and emotionally ...hmmm- so I struggled in the end. And that somehow seemed like it stopped just short.

I am very sure there are many who will enjoy this balance and style, but I can't see myself continuing with this series.

My thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing. I really enjoyed the concept of the book and the overall story. Would definitely recommend to others.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Suspense, Mystery Suspense, British Lit
Language: Mild oaths
Spice Level: Nothing is on the page
Gore Level: Murders are off-page

LADY OF THE QUAY wrapped me in this Elizabethan world and the dangers for women, leaving me breathless.

Isabella is a complex character: a widow, engaged, a daughter, part of the trading business, and strong-willed. I adore how we get to see what she's thinking as the novel progresses and how she's trying to solve her business problems. She's relatable, and I'd choose her to be my business partner any day of the week. Even her being quick to judge fits with being involved in business and needing to make decisions fast on the available facts. The other characters conspire against her, and I so wanted to trump them all.

I would call this more suspense than mystery, but I think there's enough crossover, that both genre readers will enjoy it. Historical readers should love this book and all the interesting tidbits.

The attention to language and the environment is stunning. This is what I love in historical novels; a peek into a different world. I do not know a lot about the Elizabethan era except that Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scotts were at odds, and so, Scottish people were regarded with suspicion. After reading LADY OF THE QUAY, I wanted to learn more about this era.

I dearly hope for more of Isabella books—this one fed my soul in a way I didn't know I needed. I would now try anything this author wrote.

I've already told my closest friends to read this book because it shouldn't be missed. Seriously, don't hesitate, get it right now and dive into this fascinating world.

Happy reading!