I very much enjoyed The Poison Puzzle, the second book in the Emma Langley Historical Mystery series, but I must admit, I felt the build up was somewhat better than the eventual resolution, which fell a little flat for me. That said, I will be continuing the series, as I do adore all the period detail for the books, and I certainly appreciated the research that went into making the treasure hunt feel very authentic.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

90 chapters seems like alot for this storyline. The story itself was well put together, some chapters could of merged with others. But overall a good who done it mystery.

In Book 2 of the Emma Langley Mysteries sees her teaming up, once again, with Penny Blakey, formerly Penny Green reporter.
Still looking into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death, Emma finds herself embroiled in another mystery. The ladies visit a hotel to return a cloak lent to them outside the strange headquarters of the secret society, of which Emma’s husband was a member and come upon the owner in his death throes. Whilst the police write it off as suicide, Penny isn’t so sure. In the course of their looking into the death they come across a map, which supposedly leads to a hidden family treasure.
Can Emma and Penny unlock the puzzle and find the treasure and solve the mystery of Lord Harpole’s death?
Oban presents an interesting twist on a treasure map as the ladies follow, the pictorial clues hoping to get to the end before the secret society and before any more deaths. The Poison Puzzle has a twisting plot and well-drawn, believable characters which keep the reader turning the pages and straining their own brain to find the answers. An excellent sequel,to The Whitechapel Widow. ⅘

When I started reading this novel, I realised it was book 2 of a series. So, I stopped and read the first book before coming back to this one.
It was a good idea.
Book 1 sets the scene and we meet Emma and Penny as they investigate what may have happened to Emma’s husband, unravelling a whole string of crimes. Penny is already an excellent investigative journalist and Emma discovers that she has a real talent for detective work. The two of them are a great combination and they manage to solve their first case together.
In the second book, they start again from what may have been the source of Emma’s husband demise and find themselves caught into another series of crimes involving this time a map, a treasure and a family secret. The two show again their talent and solve their second case after a page turning plot and with many uncomfortable situations they found themselves in.
The two novels are very well written and researched. The background of the late 1880’s is well woven into the story, and our two investigators are both bound to the conventions of the time and ahead of their times. All characters are well developed and interesting and there is always some mystery as to who they really are, keeping the reader entertained until the very last page.
I really enjoyed the first two books and I am now eagerly waiting for the third one, soon to be published.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A nice new victorian mystery novel from Emily Organ. The setting is wonderfully lively and well-written, and you get drawn in the misty streets of London and get frustrated by all the mansplaining the ladies have to deal with! Great for historical cozy crime fans!

Emily Organ involves the reader in 1898 London in the Poison Puzzle. Emma Langley, a widow, discovers an entry in her husband's diary that seems to suggest a secret society is on the track of a treasure. Then Lord Harpole, a society member, is found dead in his hotel room by Emma and her friend; it is declared suicide by the ladies suspect murder. They found a map in his belongings. Lord Harpole's servant and other seek the map and the treasure. Meanwhile, the police decide Lord Harpole's death is suspicious and start tracking suspects. When the case is solved, the "treasure' declared in the map is a stunning surprise. Try to figure it out.

In terms of my overall thoughts on this book, I did enjoy the murder mystery element of the story along with the friendship and detective work between Emma and Penny. However, the downsides were that the plot was quite slow paced as to the murderer and the chapters were just way too long for a Victorian style murder mystery story.
Thankyou to Net galley and Storm Publishing for an arc of this book.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It didn't instantly grab me when I began reading it, and there too many chapters. I actually skimmed through until the last few chapters and read to discover who the killer was. Not who I expected and the why was a little disappointing too. However, what ended up happening to the killer was ultimately sad. The mental unraveling was sad to read and imagine. Not my favorite of the series so far.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Langley was young and widowed, and in Victorian times, the man was the head of the household and Emma, at the time, could not find fault with her husband, till he was murdered, and then she realised that he had left Emma broke after wasting her inheritance so now she gives piano lessons to pay her way. While going through his diary, she comes across a society club that deals with lost treasure. When the treasure is found, they all have a share. However, to Emma's dismay, this club her husband was paying into was expensive, so now she knows where some of her money went. Penny, her journalist friend, one of her kind at the time, decides to find out about this club, but at first looks to see who goes in and out of this building, and while watching, a carriage approaches and sprays rainwater all over Emma, and she is very wet. When Lord Harpole, being a gentleman, takes off his cloak and wraps it around Emma. Penny and Emma now have an excuse to give the cloak back and ask questions about the club, but when they arrived at the hotel where he was staying, he was barely alive, and never made it to the hospital.
Penny thinks Lord Harpole was murdered and tells her husband, who is a detective with the local police force, who said it could be possible and would look into it.
Penny and Emma carry on trying to find out more about this club, but are they putting themselves in a very precarious position, and could they also end up dead?
A very enjoyable read, the author has given good details on how things in Victorian times differ from today.
Was Lord Harpole murdered? Have a read, you will not be disappointed, and I believe there is a 3rd book on the way.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy as usual this is my take on the story.

The Poison Puzzle by Emily Organ
Emma Langley Victorian Mystery #2

~ A solid addition to the series with Emma and Penny once again working together to solve a murder mystery ~

What I liked:
* Emma Holland Langley: widow, piano teacher, living with the Solomons, curious, tenacious, a bit naïve, persistent, appeared reckless at times, mature in some ways but not in others
* Penny Green Blakely: happily married with two young children, retired investigative reporter, puzzle solver, strong, works well with Emma
* The friendship between Emma and Penny
* James Blakely: Penny’s husband, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector, loving father & husband, supportive, intelligent, protective, good man
* The Solomons: Landlords, took Emma in when her husband disappeared, good people
* The mystery of the symbol Emma found in her husband’s diary and where it leads and what it was a clue to
* The solution to the puzzle – sometimes the clues seemed too easily found and predictable, though
* That this would appeal to people who don’t like complicated plots and are able to believe that women of this era would work as amateur sleuths willing to go where Emma & Penny went and act/do as they did
* That everything was tied up in a bow with no loose ends at the end of the story

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The loss of innocent and not so innocent lives
* The murderer and the warped thinking of that person
* That the story was a bit too predictable and at times reminded me of Nancy Drew stories…simple though with a satisfying ending

Did I like this book? Yes and no
Would I read another book in this series? Maybe, if the synopsis interested me

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review

3-4 Stars

The Poison Puzzle is an engaging historical mystery with an intriguing premise, a touch of danger, and a clever amateur sleuth at its heart. Set in foggy 1889 London, the book blends secret societies, coded clues, and suspicious deaths into a classic whodunit with a Victorian twist.

Emma Langley is a strong, resourceful protagonist, and her partnership with journalist Penny Green adds both wit and heart to the investigation. Their dynamic is one of the highlights of the book, grounding the mystery with a genuine sense of friendship and determination. The plot moves at a steady pace, with atmospheric stops at iconic London landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral and Hampton Court, which add flavor and authenticity to the journey.

The mystery itself is well-constructed, though at times the trail of clues feels a bit too conveniently placed, and the final reveal, while satisfying, doesn’t quite deliver the punch I hoped for. Some of the secondary characters—especially the suspects—could have been more fully developed to deepen the suspense.

That said, the book succeeds in creating a rich sense of place and time, and the secret society angle adds a fun layer of intrigue. It’s not a high-stakes thriller, but it’s a satisfying, twisty read perfect for fans of historical mysteries with smart female leads and just a hint of danger lurking in the shadows.

rounded up from 3.5 stars

Emily Organ’s The Poison Puzzle is the second in the Emma Langley Victorian Mystery Series, and it’s every bit as absorbing as its predecessor. Set in 1889 London, the story plunges us into gaslit streets, drawing rooms, and shadowy alleys where secrets fester.

Emma Langley, recently widowed and financially constrained after her late husband squandered her inheritance, once again finds herself pulled into intrigue. When a cryptic discovery among her husband’s belongings leads to the suspicious death of Lord Charles Harpole—officially ruled suicide—Emma and her sharp-witted friend Penny Green are convinced murder is at play. Their investigation unearths a clandestine society, a puzzling treasure map, and ties that hint disturbingly close to Emma’s own past.

Emma is a protagonist worth rooting for: thoughtful, brave, and slowly coming into her own confidence in a world that expects her to remain silent. Penny, with her journalist’s instincts and brisk energy, balances her beautifully, and their friendship is the heartbeat of the novel. Emily Organ also excels in atmosphere—Victorian London feels like an extra character in the narrative, at once claustrophobic and full of possibility.

The mystery itself is cleverly layered. The clues unfold with the right mix of surprise and inevitability, and while some elements stretch believability (as with all good treasure-hunt plots), the sheer fun of the chase keeps you turning pages. Themes of gender, class, and the cost of secrets are woven seamlessly into the suspense, making this more than just a cozy mystery.

Fans of Deanna Raybourn, Irina Shapiro, or Kelley Armstrong’s historical mysteries will find much to admire here. Organ has created a series that feels fresh yet comfortingly classic, with two women who refuse to be sidelined in a man’s world.

The Poison Puzzle
​By Emily Organ
​Chapter: Forty- Three, Page 153
​🌟🌟🌟🌟

​°•. “If you want. Although I don't see how that helps anything. I shall have to fetch it from my study.”

He strode there, retrieved it from a drawer, then strode back again. There was too much to do and too much to think about. And now this! “ He handed the letter to Trotter.”

“Can you confirm this is your brother's handwriting?” he asked.

“ It looks like it.

Richard sat down again.

“Are you saying, someone forged it?”

“It's possible. It's only a short note, isn't it? And impersonal too.”

“Do you mind if we keep this letter for the time being?” asked Blakely.

“No, not at all. You do whatever you want with it. I can't say it's something I particularly want to reread. ...” °•.

​Review

|:: A womanising presence is fleeting in a man's world. Does that give them the right to behave as they like?

​Emma Langley and Penny Green are not women you would want to anger. And yet, it seems they are ignored, pushed aside, and threatened no matter what they do—even when they are trying to do the right thing.

​Emma is brave in her own way, with a quiet confidence and pride that is understated given the time in which she was born. No matter the task, she is willing to do her part in a mystery that needs to be solved. She feels compelled to because this all started with her ex-husband and his vial of hidden secrets.

​Penny is confident and straight to the point. She doesn't want to waste time and would rather be forward and wrong than shyly wait for the perfect moment to be right. Although motherhood has tamed her wilder days, she still enjoys the thrill of the chase.

​When a map falls into their laps, Emma and Penny must make a decision as people—strangers and loved ones alike—come under the scrutiny of a masked murderer who is going undetected by the police and, believe it or not, even them.
​As time starts to run out, they are forced to partner with unsavoury characters and trust those they normally never would.

​Is the end prize worth the sacrifice? Is the thrill of the chase justification enough to answer for your loved ones getting hurt?

My Thoughts

​I liked Emma straight away; she was sure of herself, even in the face of unknown terror as she took in her husband's secrets. With the help of her friend Penny, who very quietly grew on me, it was clear they have a very strong bond, and in stories of this kind, that doesn't happen often.

​I loved James; he was a pillar of strength for both women. When he was attacked, it brought out a vulnerable side of both ladies, which I didn't think I would see from Penny. It proved she chose the right guy.

​It also seemed like there might be a new, budding romance on the scene for Emma. I thought early on that Constance's behaviour was rather needy and not what a Victorian lady should be. She changed her mind on a whim, depending on what her husband thought.

​I was sad about Lord Charles Harpool. His story was just beginning; however, her beautiful fiancé was a little condescending to me. Although we had a Romeo and Juliet moment, all we had as a description for Maitland was a bushy moustache, and that was all I could see whenever he was mentioned.

​I really loved reading this book, and I cannot wait to read the next one. It's so interesting to see a Victorian saga that allows women to solve its mysteries and be the champions of their own achievements. ::|

​Title: The Poison Puzzle
​Author: Emily Organ
​Publish Date: 23/7/25
​Publisher: Storm Publishing
​Review Score: 4/5

​A huge thank you to Emily Organ, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.

When I first opened this book and began reading, I was not instantly thrilled with it. However, the more time I spent absorbing the story, the more I enjoyed it. The characters are well-developed and the story did manage to pull me in and I was invested in discovering the person guilty of murder. There are a lot of twists and turns and clues sprinkled throughout the pages that keep you guessing. This is actually a sequel to The Whitechapel Widow which I have not read but have on my to-be-read list. I will definitely go back and read it. I also plan to read the next book in the series, Murder in the Soho Graveyard. It is already downloaded and ready for me to get lost in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Cozy Mystery
Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
Mystery

This is my first book by Emily Organ, and I was hooked at the very first word. I didn’t do anything till I finished reading till the last page. It as atmospheric and brilliant . An easy five stars. Thank you so much for this ARC, and I can’t wait to read the rest of her books .

In the second book in this historical mystery series set in 1889 London, readers follow Emma Langley as she tries to discover the connections between a mysterious symbol in her late husband’s diary and a secret treasure hunting group with powerful members, including the recently murdered Lord Charles Harper. Emma and Penny Green don’t agree with the authorities and choose to follow a trail of cryptic clues across London as part of a deadly game. With too many suspects and hidden dangers, readers have to help Emma and Penny solve the mystery before someone else winds up dead. Complex, intense, and immersive, readers will love the depth of detail in this historical setting and the mystery itself, which has some fascinating elements and complex details. The mystery is well-written, intriguing, and immersive, and the historical details really bring the story to life. The characters are also well-written and detailed, and Emma and Penny’s dynamic is also particularly interesting as they team up to solve this murder. Packed with detail, immersive, and fascinating, readers will love the latest instalment in this Victorian historical mystery series from Emily Organ because the mystery is deep and complicated and the characters are brilliant, fascinating, and immersive.

This is the 2nd in the Emily Langley Victorian Mystery Series and it reads well as a stand-alone. Set in 1889 London Emily is recently widowed and money is tight, having had her fortune frittered away by her husband. Her close friend Penny Green was a newspaper reporter, married to a Detective Inspector in Scotland Yard, who is no longer working having two young children to look after. Together they make an interesting crime busting duo.

Briefly, looking through her husband’s effects Emily finds something that warrants further investigation. With Penny’s help they start investigating which leads them to what seems to be a secret society and a map that is the start of a treasure hunt around London. There is a death that was ruled as a suicide, but they believe was murder, and any number of possible suspects.

A nice cosy Victorian mystery with some social commentary around the difference in the treatment of men and women at the time. Two likeable characters in the main protagonists and a fun plot, albeit the clues seemed a bit unlikely, that they would have been there unnoticed for many years, but it’s fiction so that’s allowed! An enjoyable and entertaining read.

The Poison Puzzle was a fast paced murder mystery, that involved the famed hidden treasure passed on by explorer Francis Drake to his friends. Money is always a motive, and this story had enough characters and plot twists that kept the momentum going. I like Emma, she is moderate heroine as compared to Penny who was fairly abrasive in her mystery series. Looks like James and her family has mellowed her a bit. About 60% of the way, I had a good suspect in mind, it became quite obvious as characters were revealed.

Overall a decent read. #ThePoisonPuzzle #NetGalley

I found this a little dull and predictable. However, Emma and Penny’s detective efforts were impressive.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

An intriguing murder mystery with many twists and turns, and an ending I didn’t work out. I like both of the main characters, Emma and Penny. We see a slightly softer side of Penny, struggling with motherhood while trying to be true to herself as a reporter. This would have been so much harder for intelligent women to succeed independently in Victorian times. We learn a bit more about Emma’s character, she is trying to be braver, especially when she’s 8nvestigsting without Penny. There also seems to be a bit of romance coming Emma’s way, if only she can trust men again. Another enjoyable read from this author and Im ready for the next book please.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.