Murder in Trafalgar Square by Michelle Salter is a delightful and engaging start to the new Fairbanks and Flynn Mysteries series. Set in London in 1910, the story weaves together the suffragette movement, the London art scene, and a gripping murder mystery, creating a rich historical backdrop that feels both authentic and immersive.

Coral Fairbanks is a charming and unconventional heroine—suffragette, bit-part actress, and nude model—whose wit and determination shine throughout the story. Detective Inspector Guy Flynn, an accomplished artist and Scotland Yard detective, provides a perfect foil to Coral’s fiery personality. Their dynamic is both clever and enjoyable, with hints of a potential romance simmering beneath the surface.

The plot is full of twists and surprises, from the murder of a young suffragette to a stolen painting at the National Portrait Gallery. Salter skillfully balances historical events, such as Black Friday and the early suffragette protests, with an entertaining and clever mystery that keeps readers guessing until the end. The attention to detail in both the period setting and character development really elevates the story.

This novel is perfect for fans of historical cozy mysteries, particularly those who enjoy a blend of social history, art, and suspense. Coral and Flynn are a duo I’m eager to follow in future installments, and I can’t wait to see where Salter takes them next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This is the first book in the "Fairbanks and Flynn Mysteries" series. It involves the English suffragette movement but also art. It really should have been titled "Murder at the National Portrait Gallery" as paintings play a big part in the plot. There is good character development and interesting twists and turns. I didn't guess the murder nor the motive.

The two main characters, Scotland Yard DI Guy Flynn and suffragette Coral Fairbanks, are more alike than they realize, and as they co-operate on solving the mysteries they become closer, which is a highlight of this historical cozy mystery book. I am glad that the more well-known people in the movement are kept in the background. I've learned enough of them in non-fiction books and TV series.

Recommended for fans of the 1910 era and its politics. I eagerly await book two in the series.

4.75 stars rounded up. I really enjoy Michelle’s other series, so was excited to see she has a new series out soon, set slightly earlier in history. This one features the suffragettes in 1910 with some of their disruptions and activities. One of their group is killed and a painting is discovered missing at the same time in the National Portrait Gallery, and so we see suffragette Coral Fairbanks work with Detective Inspector Guy Flynn, to learn to trust each other and solve the mysteries.

The characters are endearing, and I quickly started rooting for Coral and Guy to become more than just collaborators, and I see definite potential for future romance! I’m already looking forward to reading more about this in book 2…

The mystery was good with several strands which meant you were kept guessing throughout. It’s clear Michelle knows her history as well, which grounds the story nicely.

In short - more please! Quickly 😉

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

What a refreshing read! Set at the turn of the twentieth century when the suffragette movement was to the fore, we are thrown straight into the fray when a suffragette demonstration is ruthlessly suppressed with the police using extreme force , by orders of Winston Churchill. In a day that became known as Black Friday, due to the abhorrent treatment meted out to these brave women, it marked the turning point in the move to grant suffrage to women. Amidst this background, we meet a group of these ladies who are engaged in acts of peaceful protest . However, a renegade group within the organisation, are taking things to a more professional extreme level and when Coral Fairbanks takes part in some harmless sabotage on the lawns of the Hurlingham Club, she is unaware others in her group have set fire to a newly built mansion nearby. They are all shocked when the body of its owner , a missing cabinet minister, is found in the ruins. Enter detective Guy Flynn and his lovable sergeant Goodspeed. Guy is an an accomplished artist, a fact he doesn't want known within the police force. He becomes acquainted with Coral when the gallery at which she works, displays his paintings. When she and her fellow suffragettes place a nude portrait of Winston Churchill in the national portrait gallery it leads to uproar. In the midst of this (quite hilarious episode) the body of their coconspirators is found murdered in the cloakroom. Thus begins a well crafted and quite touching partnership between Flynn and Coral. It's a well researched and well written book, full of twists and turns, at times funny, moving and always entertaining. I look forward to seeing these characters evolve in the next book. Excellent 👌

Reading about the suffragette movement is so fascinating. This author didn’t disappoint in this topic. The story was informative and intriguing. Adding murder to the movement and creating mystery just draws the reader in deeper. Highly recommend.

Michelle Salter's Murder in Trafalgar Square is a thrilling and promising beginning to a new series of historical mysteries. Based in London during 1910, the book skillfully weaves actual historical occurrences with an intriguing fictional killing. It meets the reader with an unlikely yet fascinating duo: Coral Fairbanks, suffragette, actress, and nude model, and Detective Inspector Guy Flynn of Scotland Yard.

The book begins with the historical incident of "Black Friday," an episode of police violence against suffragettes. This establishes the conflict between the two main characters, as they find themselves on different sides of a passionate social cause. But their differences will have to be set aside when a young suffragette is murdered in the National Portrait Gallery and a painting is stolen.

The author skillfully manipulates the era's political and social unrest as a rich backdrop for the crime. Coral is a vivid and unconventional heroine, and her dual role as an activist and artist's model offers a new slant. Guy Flynn provides a more conventional detective's eye, producing a classic "opposites attract" relationship that propels the action forward. The story is full of surprises and turns, creating a thrilling and page-turning read. Ideal for readers who appreciate Agatha Christie and other historical mysteries, the novel is a great mix of a smart whodunit and an engrossing historical narrative.

"A murdered suffragette. A missing politician. A stolen artwork.

London, 1910

Coral Fairbanks is a contradiction. As well as a suffragette, she's a bit-part actress and nude model, earning her the disapproval of her fellow suffragettes.

Guy Flynn is an artist. He's also a detective inspector at Scotland Yard, who doesn't always see eye to eye with fellow officers in the Metropolitan Police.

When Home Secretary Winston Churchill orders the police to terrorise the suffragettes during an afternoon of violence that becomes known as Black Friday, the battlelines are drawn - and Coral Fairbanks and Guy Flynn are on different sides.

But when a young suffragette is found murdered in the National Portrait Gallery and one of their paintings is stolen - Fairbanks and Flynn must put their differences aside and combine their knowledge to track down the killer.

Introducing an iconic detective duo in Fairbanks and Flynn, this is an exciting and gripping historical mystery, which will delight fans of Agatha Christie, Benedict Brown and T. E. Kinsey."

I mean, she's making money off of being a nude model, should't her fellow suffragists be glad about that?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before it's released.

I love cozy mystery books, but I fear historical cozy mysteries are not for me. I really struggled with finishing this. The story was good and while I was reading it, I enjoyed myself. But I wasn't feeling myself reaching for it when not reading.

I enjoyed Coral and Guy and following them each throughout the story. The dual point of view was nice and not something normally done in the cozy mysteries I've read before.

Coral is a suffragette who gets up to some trouble and Guy is detective. They should be on opposite sides of the law, but when a fellow suffragette is killed and a painting is stolen, they have to work together to find out if the two crimes are connected.

The story is well paced and if you are an art lover, this would be a great book for you. I enjoyed the story and while I do want to see what the future holds for our main characters, I'm not sure if I will continue this series.

Coral is a suffragette and also works part time in a gallery and gets acting jobs when she can. Flynn is a police officer with the Metropolitan police. Things start to go wrong with the suffragettes as Winston Churchill turns the police against them. There is then a murder and a missing MP. Not usually my type of book but I enjoyed it.

This was a strong start to the Fairbanks and Flynn mystery series. I enjoyed this as a opening chapter and am excited to read more in this universe. It uses the mystery element that I was wanting and was glad the world worked overall. The characters had that overall feel that I was wanting and enjoyed the concept. Michelle Salter wrote this well and was engaged from the first page and left me wanting to read more in this series.

I really enjoyed Murder in Trafalgar Square. I loved the characters, the setting, and the historical context of this book. I admit the bit of romance was a bonus too. Well done

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book I enjoyed it. There is a lot of description and information about the story and the characters but as its book 1 of a new series it is expected. If I carries on the way this book has it will turn out to be a very good series.
Loved Coral the suffragette and guy the policeman good characters .
Well worth a read.

Although it took me a bit to warm up to main character Coral Fairbanks, I see a lot of promise to this new series. As with any new series, there is a lot of information and characters to digest, so it requires focus. I definitely appreciated the character list at the beginning. It was quite helpful as side characters came and went. I actually found myself liking male lead Guy Flynn far more than Coral in the beginning. You may agree when you read the action packed opening. Let's just say, nothing shy and retiring about Coral. She's feisty and opinionated. She's also a suffragette, a topic that gets lots of space in this opening to this new series. I'm not overly familiar with that movement in England, so there was quite a bit of history I had to digest, including a not yet overly powerful Winston Churchill's involvement with the movement.

I won't elaborate the plot other than to say there's a murder involved. Big surprise, huh? Grin. Besides the women's battle for equal rights and the vote, there's intrigue, backstage wrangling of politicians, love and lust gone wrong, jokes taken too far, violence, and, well, more. The time is 1910, London, so it was interesting to time travel not only backwards for me but to drop in on a country where many of my Pilgrim ancestors came from so many years before but realize that some of the then battles could be equally compelling today. The author does a good job setting the scene, from the horse and carriages that still line the streets and the growing number of automobiles angling for space, to political wrangling and names anyone familiar with history knows the future of. There are quite a few characters but after some initial confusion, they quickly sorted themselves out in my mind and, for the most part, seemed both likable and strong enough to provide interest in future plots.

Guy Flynn, not only a detective for Scotland Yard but an artist and raising a daughter on his own after his wife's death, was a unique twist and I'm looking forward to seeing how his roles play into those same future plots. Coral was, as noted, slow to grow on me but had come into her own by the end and emerged a strong, multi-layered woman with both a heart of gold and strong will. Watching her work her way through the unfamiliar scenario of being both a potential suspect and gaining Flynn's trust and becoming involved was interesting. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for this early peek at this brand new series. I'm looking forward to seeing where this tricky beginning takes us. Loved the ending!

A good first entry in a new series. The plot, set in 1910 in London, includes suffragettes, the London art scene, and various configurations of love affairs. Coral, the amateur detective in the novel, works with Detective Inspection Flynn to solve several crimes which appear to be intertwined, and watching the two leads slowly untangle the various threads as their relationship develops is a pleasure. I particularly liked Coral's character; she is sensible and thoughtful and her experiences as a widow and an aging actress (in her 30s!) ring true. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

The suffragette with other interests and the Inspector who is also an artist come to have a tenuous working relationship in the process of investigating the murder at the National Portrait Gallery. The policeman also has to solve a missing politico and the theft of a painting by someone who left in its place a nude painting of Churchill. The characters are well done, but not quite the lively personalities I'd hoped for. Their personal lives and interests are clearly portrayed and investigation is well done but gets bogged down at times. All in all, I think that is a good first in new series and I look forward to more.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
#MurderinTrafalgarSquare by @michellesalter_writer #FairbanksandFlynnMysteriesBk1 @theboldbookclub Pub Date Sep 25 2025 #newseries #historicalmystery #cozymystery #london #1910 #suffragettes #actress #nudemodel #artist #detectiveinspector #ScotlandYard #attheft #murderinvestigation #politics #reporters #arson #protests #humor

Murder in trafalgar square. A very satisfying mystery entwined around the suffragettes, artworks and politics. The story developed and unfolded logically and was easy to read. Strong women characters, likeable detective. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Women’s rights, turn of the century London, art, murder, crime, and a little romance - this book covered it all!

I really loved all the strong women characters in this book and the background on the suffragettes. Coral is lovable, clever, and fair and when a fellow suffragette is found murdered, she works with detective inspector (and artist) Guy Flynn to unravel the many moving pieces.

I really enjoyed how Coral and Flynn worked together and were sympathetic to each other and their approaches and circumstances. The story has a lot going on with so many events happening at once, but it made for a fun read (though it took me a few chapters to really get into it).

Overall a fun read and great time period to set a cozy in. I loved the tie-in to the suffragette movement!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Boldwoodbooks for an ARC

Really entertaining mystery great characters wonderful setting enjoyed from beginning to end.# NetGalley #boldwoodbooks

This was a jolly good yarn or so they would have said. It was informative, had a good storyline and kept me engaged and hooked. I liked the friendships snd the history. Not my usual read but it worked for me as a change.. thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

London, 1910
Suffragette and gallery worker Coral Fairbanks doesn't consider herself a violent person but believes a little civil unrest never hurt anyone. Detective Inspector Guy Flynn is horrified when the home secretary, Winston Churchill, orders the police to break up a Suffragette rally using any means available but when he's asked to investigate the death of a protester at the National Portrait Gallery he knows he has to take the victim’s allegiances into account. An artist in his spare time, Flynn met Coral Fairbanks at the gallery hosting his first exhibition and is soon working with her to try and solve the killing of her friend. Not everyone feels as Coral does about peaceful demonstrations however, and they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous hunt for the truth.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Boldwood Books, but have to admit to struggling with it a bit as unfortunately the two main protagonists who are very similar to those in a lot of other cosy crime series didn't engage me in the way I'd like. As is necessary with the first in any new series there is a lot of detail here, which was interesting, detailed and informative and because of that I will give the series another try with book two in the hopes of Flynn and Coral growing on me a little more. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.