Ashley Gardner aka Jennifer Ashley
Books: Mystery | Historical | Queer
Kat Holloway (Jennifer Ashley): A Soupçon of Poison (2015), Death Below Stairs (2018), Scandal Above Stairs (2018), Death in Kew Gardens (2019), Murder in the East End (2020), Death at the Crystal Palace (2021), The Secret of Bow Lane (2022), The Price of Lemon Cake (2023), Mrs. Holloway’s Christmas Pudding (2023), Speculations in Sin (2024)
Captain Lacey (Ashley Gardner): A Regimental Murder (2004/2001), The Glass House (2004/2011), The Sudbury School Murders (2005/2011), A Body in Berkeley Square (2005/2011)
A Soupçon of Poison (2015)
Set in London in 1880
Kat Holloway is a cook for Sir Lionel Leigh-Bradbury, and although the position isn't ideal in pay, he agreed to her request for an unusual number of days out, so she stays, even when he begins to make unusual and ridiculous demands.
But she is a very good cook.
Late one night, after the other staff had gone to bed, I sat in the kitchen at the wide wooden table, sharpening my knives.
A cook's knives are her greatest asset, and if they go dull, they are no use at all and should be replaced. As decent knives are hideously expensive, I kept mine in good repair.
When she needs help, Daniel McAdam, a man of all work goes out of her way to assist, gaining her gratitude, but she knows little about him, and he does nothing to allay her suspicions.
I knew Daniel wasn't married because I'd asked him that, point blank. When a man flirts with a woman, she ought to know where things stand.
Daniel had dark hair and dark eyes and a tall, attractive body. He spoke with a fairly neutral accent— he hadn't been brought up on the streets, I could tell. He could read and write and was quite clever, though he never admitted to any schooling.
I concluded that he must be the son of a middle-class gentleman, possibly illegitimate, but he never spoke of his family.
I've been trying to read the first Captain Lacey mystery for about two years now. I just can't get into it. So I decided to try a novella, for a different taste of her writing.
I really liked this story, and very much want to read more about Kat Halloway. She firmly knows her place, and doesn't seek to rise above it.
I jumped to my feet, annoyed. The kitchen was my demesne. The master might own the house, but a good employer understood that not interfering in the kitchen made for a tranquil domestic situation. Sir Lionel had his rooms above stairs where I did not trespass, and he had no reason to trespass on me.
She wants to do her job, the best she can, but she's also smart and no-nonsense–delightful to spend time with.
Unfortunately, there are currently not any Kat Halloway books out, so I have to wait. Perhaps I'll try a different Captain Lacey book, because there are several series I love, where if I'd started with book one, I probably wouldn't have picked up another book, and that would have been a terrible loss.
And I'll keep my eye out for more Kat Halloway stories.
Published by JA / AG Publishing
March 2016 | Rating: 8.5/10
Death Below Stairs (2018)
Set in London in 1881.
I read the novella A Soupçon of Poison awhile ago, and when I didn't find a novel immediately, forgot about it.
Kat Halloway has just taken a position as cook for Lord Rankin. She is relatively young for her position, but sought after for her skills.
The kitchen's range was neatly fitted into what had been a large fireplace, the stove high enough that I wouldn't have to stoop or kneel to cook. I'd had to kneel on hard stones at one house— where I hadn't stayed long— and it had taken some time for my knees and back to recover.
Her second day there, she literally stumbles over the body of the kitchen maid, and (after a small freak-out) tries to send for her friend Daniel, who helped her previously in unraveling a mystery.
The household is an odd one, with the Lord working at his business to make more money, his wife a pale and fragile thing, and the wife's sister and strange woman who goes about in men's clothes.
In addition to a murder, Kat continues to wonder about Daniel. He is definitely now who he first presented himself as, and she is unsure which of his guises is the true him. Kat also has decisions to make about her daughter–one that would be extremely difficult for any woman, but even harder for a woman of her position in that time period.
There was one thing I was slightly uneasy with, and that was Lady Cynthia. She dresses as a man, and it is relatively clear that she does so for the freedom her garments give her. What I'm unsure about is whether she'd actually have been able to get away with it at that time, and whether one of the reactions to her would have been correct.
"And to answer your question, no, I am not a hermaphrodite."
"Oh." Elgin looked disappointed. "Pity. I would have liked to learn all about being a hermaphrodite from one who actually practiced such things. One shouldn't rely on hearsay."
"For God's sake, sit down," Daniel growled at him. "The British Empire will fall by the time you finish talking. Have a look at this."
It's pretty clear from the text that Lady Cynthia's friend is a lesbian and Cynthia is not, but the terminology used here isn't something I'd come across before, and would really like to know where it came from in this context.
Publisher: Berkley
March 2020 | Rating: 7.5/10
Scandal Above Stairs (2018)
Set in London in 1881
Kat Holloway is still cook at Lord Rankin's house, even though he has retired to the country, Lady Cynthia remains, and to give her countenance, her aunt and uncle are living with her. Kat and the rest of the staff may be fond of Cynthia (despite her eccentricities)
(M)en do become titillated at the thought of females in gentlemen's clothing— do not tell me they do not."
"I grant you that. But it does make me wonder, in that case, why you do it."
Cynthia flashed me a sudden grin. "That is because you have no idea what it is like to stride around in perfect freedom, able to go where you please, purchase what you wish, and speak as you wish, because people believe you are a man.
But less so her parsimonious aunt and uncle, who keep putting off hiring another housekeeper and cook's assistant, leaving more work to Kat.
Lady Cynthia asks Kat to come talk to her friend–paintings have been stolen from Clemmie's house, and her husband is blaming her for the thefts.
But this case quickly becomes more complicated than it seems, and once again Kat and Daniel McAdams are working together.
This is a fun series, and I do love the cooking bits.
Publisher: Berkley
March 2020 | Rating: 7.5/10
Death in Kew Gardens (2019)
Set in London in 1881
Kat Holloway and the rest of the staff have been working hard, since Lady Cynthia's aunt keeps refusing to hire a new housekeeper. Unfortunately, the woman she finally hires is a complete nightmare.
When the gentleman next door is murdered, everything is thrown into further chaos, as Kat looks into the murder as a favor to both Lady Cynthia and the staff next door.
There were some things I really liked about this story Such as how Kat's secrets are coming out, and everyone's reaction to those secrets.
"Why didn't you tell me about your daughter?" He sounded hurt.
"Fear, Mr. Davis. Pure and simple."
Mr. Davis sighed. "Ah well, I know about that.
And I like that Cynthia and her friend Bobby have patched up their issues, and that neither Kat nor the rest of the staff seem to have problems with any of it.
Bobby is uncertain what to do with herself. She can't literally become a man, and she refuses to remain a woman— that is, marrying and setting up a nursery as her father wants her to. She's at a bit of a loose end.
But there are several things I took issue with. First, the horrible housekeeper. She is awful. But it doesn't make any sense what she's doing. Mrs. Bywater may be in charge of hiring the staff, but if the horrible housekeeper got Lady Cynthia in enough trouble that she was sent back to her parents, then the Bywaters would also be out of the house. I kept thinking maybe she didn't know her presence was entirely dependent upon Lady Cynthia remaining in London, but, jeesh.
So it's another interesting story, but it did have some weaknesses.
Publisher: Berkley
March 2020 | Rating: 7.5/10
Murder in the East End (2020)
Set in London in 1882
Daniel has once again come to Kat Holloway seeing assistance in dealing with a problem–in this case a woman and several children are missing from a foundling house, and Daniel's brother (of a sort) came to him for assistance.
"Daniel and I were raised together, and he tells me you know under what circumstances. We refer to each other as brother, but we were no such thing, though as close as. After the man we called our father died, I eked a living on the streets."
Also, Kat's friendship with Lady Cynthia causes her problems, and Lady Cynthia's aunt continues to try and marry her off.
"Ridiculous that a man can share his deepest secrets and best malt whisky with his valet, but I can't have a chat with the cook without endangering us both."
I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this book or if little things kept bothering me. It was a library book I had on hold, so I had to read it if I didn't want to wait another month or two to read it. There was nothing particularly wrong, other than the fact that time feels like it passes strangely in the story–Kat's half days seem to last forever, considering all the things she does during them.
But, it was a nice escape.
Characters: Mrs. Kat Holloway, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Bywater, Mr. Neville Bywater, Tess, James McAdam, Daniel McAdam, Lady Cynthia Clifford, Mr. Errol Fielding, Luke
Publisher: Berkley
September 2020 | Rating: 7.5/10
Death at the Crystal Palace (2021)
Set in England in 1882.
Kat is visiting the Crystal Palace on her day off with Lady Cynthia and her friends (as well as with her daughter), when a woman comes up to her and claims that she is being poisoned, and wants Kat to help her.
As she is trying to figure out how do manage that, Daniel is called away to work on another case, so she has to turn to her other friends for assistance.
As well as Daniel's brother.
"My dear woman, I am a master of discretion. I convinced the Church of England to let me take orders, didn't I?"
Additionally, Lady Cynthia's parents have come to Town, and are threatening to take her back to the country with them.
"Papa has run through the last of the money already, has he? Only yesterday he was telling me he was in funds."
"For important things," Lady Clifford said. "Not for paying the bills of a girl-child."
The mystery was interesting, and we continue to learn dribs and drabs about Daniel, and why he is indebetted to Mr. Monaghan.
We also see both Grace and James growing up.
Characters: Mrs. Kat Holloway, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Bywater, Mr. Bywater, Mrs. Redfern, Tess, Mrs. Millburn, Mr. Thanos, Mr. Errol Fielding, James McAdam, Daniel McAdam, Lady Clifford, Lord Clifford, Lady Cynthia Clifford, Bobby, Miss Townsend, Mrs. Beadle, Mrs. Gamble, Mr. Morris, Miss Harriet Morris, Mr. Jonathan, Inspector McGregor, Constable Caleb Greene
Publisher: Berkley
September 2021 | Rating: 8/10
The Secret of Bow Lane (2022)
Set in England in 1882
The Sixth Book in the Below Stairs mystery series finds Kat embroiled in her own mystery. Her husband's actual wife has come to Kat demanding assistance in discovering treasure Joe supposedly had before he died. Kat has little interest, but is inexorably drawn in, discovering even more unpleasant truths about the man who married her–despite already having a wife.
The two men spoke of a man I barely recognized. A man who stood drinks for his friends, had ambitions of wealth that he thought going to sea would bring. Not through hard work, but by meeting the right people who would boost him up.
She is also getting subtle pressure from all sides to marry Daniel.
"Mr. McAdam should marry," she announced. "He is very unsettled, and should have a wife to look after him and James."
I paused, my teacup hovering at my lips. "James is nearly grown. He might object to a new mother who admonishes him to eat his vegetables and put on clean clothes." I sipped.
"Not if that mother was you."
I nearly spit my tea.
And Cynthia as well.
"I doubt Mr. Thanos would instigate any goings-on," I said. "But very well, I take your point. If Mrs. Bywater heard they met alone in her house, she'd be incensed."
"Maybe he'd have to marry her," Tess put in happily. "That would be wonderful. Stay downstairs, Mrs. H., and let them kiss if they like."
The mystery was good, and I am enjoying the relationship Kat and Daniel are building. Kat has been rightfully leery of him, but here you see her starting to reason out whether her fears are sound or not.
If this series is going to end with Kat's marriage to Daniel, then I foresee it ending relatively soon. But perhaps it won't because I never much enjoy spending time with these characters.
Characters: Mrs. Kat Holloway, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Redfern, Mrs. Bywater, Mr. Bywater, Tess, Lady Cynthia Clifford, James McAdam, Daniel McAdam, Mr. Errol Fielding, Caleb Constable Greene, Mr. Thanos, Grace Holloway, Nettie, Bobby, Miss Townsend, Grimes
Publisher: Berkley
September 2022 | Rating: 8/10
The Price of Lemon Cake (2023)
Set in London in 1882.
Although Kat Holloway makes an appearance in this story, it is about Lady Bobby Perry and told from her point of view.
Bobby is in love with Judith, and in this story we learn more about both Bobby’s history, her relationship with Judith, and how she interacts with the world.
"You’d be astounded how much people see only what they wish to see. And anyway, I look so much like a bloke, no one has ever tumbled to me no matter where I go."
Kat comes with Bobby with a request for help–to see if they can get a young man out of trouble.
In doing so, Bobby learns more about Judith and her past, and meets up with some of the shadier characters in Kat’s orbit.
"I said, you ain’t police," (the man) snarled. "Who are you? Your gents only told me you knew something to my advantage. What is it?"
"That it would be to your advantage to not linger in London," Mr. Fielding said without changing expression.
And now I want lemon cake. Even though I don’t much care for cake, and have never found a lemon cake recipe that was everything I feel lemon cake should be.
Characters: Cynthia, Bobby, Judith, Kat Holloway, Mr Fielding, Moody
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing
October 2023 | Rating: 7.5/10
Mrs. Holloway’s Christmas Pudding (2023)
Set in London in 1882
There have been two Mrs. Holloway novellas this year, and this one is focused more on Mrs. Holloway.
It’s almost Christmas and everyone is getting ready for the holiday.
We’d had an excess of the fruit, which Mrs. Bywater had found at an agreeable price and spontaneously ordered several crates of. Plenty for the plum puddings for Christmas and New Year’s, she’d said.
In vain had I pointed out that "plum" pudding didn’t actually have any plums in it. Currants, raisins, citrus peel, and other dried fruits, yes—these held together with plenty of breadcrumbs, suet, spices, and brandy.
A man falls ill at dinner and Mrs. Bywater blames the food. Both to prove her innocence and because Mrs Bywater is awful, Kat decides to find out why the man really fell ill.
"If every disgruntled servant doctored their master’s soup or tea or sherry, there would be an amazing number of deaths in Mayfair," I said.
I enjoyed the story and I think it should be readable by someone who has not read a Kat Holloway story before, so it might be a good jumping in places to the series (especially as these books rarely seem to go on sale, and are at the higher end of ebook pricing).
Characters: Kat Holloway, Daniel McAdam, Tess, Grace, Mr Whitaker, Mr Herbert, Mr. Thanos
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing. Cover design by Kim Killion
January 2024 | Rating: 8/10
Speculations in Sin (2024)
Set in London in 1883
Joanna–Kat’s best friend and the woman who keeps Grace, Joanna’s daughter, is in trouble. Her husband has been accused of embezzlement, and if he loses his job not only will Grace have nowhere to live, but Joanna and her family will be out on the streets.
The start of the mystery is fraud and embezzlement–things about which Kat has absolutely no knowledge–so she immediately turns to those who would have (or be able to get) more knowledge.
“Daalman’s does investments, speculations, that sort of thing. It’s called a bank because it does take some deposits, but it trades with other banks and funds merchant voyages to India and other far-flung places. Been around for ages.”
“Do you know much about them?” I asked hopefully.
“Of course not. Most of these grand establishments of the City won’t let a lady walk into them—at least not one unaccompanied by her father, uncle, husband, or some other overbearing male member of her household.”
I appreciated the reminders of how difficult things were for women of the time–in so many areas of their lives.
“Uncle Neville likes when I ask about that sort of thing. He actually does believe a woman should know about finance, to keep from being taken advantage of. Auntie believes a woman’s husband should be in charge of all that, but Uncle’s job has showed him that many a wife has been duped by an unscrupulous or incompetent husband.” She huffed a laugh. “Uncle is not so much forward-thinking as practical.”
She doesn’t immediately show financial savvy and figure things out, but leans upon her friends–and she does so in a way should would never have done for herself.
That was one of the most interesting parts of the story, as it showed us Kat’s character in a way we knew already, but we could see it more forcefully.
Kat is usually hesitant to ask anyone for help, but here she willingly uses every resource she can think of to help her friend–and not just because of Grace. Daniel repeatedly reassures her that Grace will be kept safe and taken care of, but that doesn’t change Kat’s determination to help Joanna and Sam.
“Mr. Fielding.” Joanna let out a breath. “Please thank Mr. McAdam for lending him to me. I know he is a charlatan, but I was very grateful for his presence. He kept those belligerent young men, who were certain Sam is a vicious murderer, from terrorizing me.”
Things are ever so slowly becoming settled between Kat and Daniel. He still is tied to Monaghan for one more job, but Kat has learned to trust him.
Characters: Kat Holloway, Daniel McAdam, Grace, Joanna & Sam Millburn, Tess, Davis, Mrs Redfern, Cynthia, Miss Swann, Mr. Zachary, Mr. Stockley
Publisher: Berkley
Cover photograph by Larry Rostant; Cover design by Emily Osborne
Rating: 8.5/10
A Regimental Murder (2004/2001)
Set in London in 1816
Captain Gabriel Lacey is a half-pay captain from the cavalry, no longer fit for service after his right knee and leg were terribly injured in Spain, during the war.
"India, and the Dutch campaign," I replied. "Then the Peninsula. Not Waterloo, I am afraid." They'd be disappointed. Waterloo made one a hero, even if one had remained behind in camp guarding the water sacks. The Derwents did not seem to mind this, however.
One summer night as he wanders the streets, unable to sleep, he comes across an upper-class woman near the as-yet-unfinished London Bridge, and saves her from a man with a knife. He soon discovers that she is in disgrace, for his husband was saved from trial for murdering another soldier in Spain (Portugal?) by his death–a death that his widow reveals was a murder.
"My husband was a moral man, Captain. Moral in the real sense of the word, not in the manner in which some preach morality while beating their servants black and blue with the other hand. He no more would have shot Captain Spencer than the Thames would flow backward. He abhorred violence and violent acts."
I tried several times to read the first Captain Lacey mystery, and just could not get into it. After reading a novella about a different character, I decided to skip to the second book, and see how I felt about that. (After all, there are many series I'd never have read if I'd started with the first book.)
These are decent historical mysteries. Captain Lacey is a very interesting character, although I still have not decided whether I actually like him or not. Because of the war he suffers from melancholia and has a very bad temper (modern diagnosis: PTSD) which is what makes him so interesting, because he is quite frequently not very likable.
There are also lots of historical tidbits that add versimilitude to the story, like the following:
His note was short, only four lines on an entire sheet of heavy white paper.
Did I envy a man who could afford to throw away an expensive piece of paper on a short note, or think him a fool? In any case, I carefully tore the clean end of the sheet from the written area and tucked it into my drawer to save for my own letters.
With such amazing technology available today, it's hard to remember that in the past even paper was dear, with scraps being saved for later use.
And of course, the treatment of women.
(B)y law, sons were not related to their mothers, and had no legal obligation to care for them.
It's an interesting series, and I'm glad I skipped to the second book, to give it a chance.
Published by JA / AG Publishing
Rating: 7/10
The Glass House (2004/2011)
London, January 1817
The third Captain Lacey mystery finds him again embroiled in mystery, when a young blonde is found in the river, and the Bow Street runner called to the scene wants Lacey to see if she is his upstairs neighbor.
Again, I cannot decide if I like Captain Lacey or not. He is brusque and picks fights where he needn't, but he is also in almost constant pain, and suffers melancholia from the war. So it's hard not to excuse him for his temper, since he mostly manages to control it.
I had seen more than one corpse of a suicide in the Army; once, of a man in my own company. Most of us in the Army had been very stoic about the fact that every time we rode into battle, we would likely not return. We agreed that death fighting the pesky French was more honorable than death by the infections that regularly swept through the camps. We even joked about it.
But there were those for whom the horrors of war had come as a shock. Some men could not face shooting and killing others and were terrified by the thought of death by bayonet or musket ball. In the quiet hours of dawn, these gentlemen would creep away by themselves and end their lives quickly with a bullet in the head, as I described.
No one stopped them. A man had to find honor where he could. We buried them, sent their effects back to their families, and marched on.
I (of course) liked the elements reminding us what life was really like in the past.
"I've been wondering why she married Chapman at all," I said. "Lord Barbury gave her money and gifts and loved her desperately. She seemed equally besotted with him. Surely she was happy, even without marriage."
Marianne gave me a dark look. "You are a man, Lacey. You cannot begin to understand. A gentleman who is not your husband can be wild about you one day, weary of you the next. And, once he is weary . . ." She opened her hand, as though dropping something to the carpet. "If the lady has saved no money, if he takes back everything he has given her, she is destitute, her character ruined. Marriage is much safer by far for a woman, even if it is not the happiest state."
Quite fascinating was the description of "magical gas" or what we'd refer to as laughing gas. When Lacey first experiences it, I thought he might be likely to return to it, after it eased the pain of his knee, but luckily, he's made of sterner stuff, and recognized that the come down wasn't worth the relief.
I was also glad to see that the Derwent's were back. They're quite lovely, and it's nice to remember that such people do exist. I also liked that Grenville is complicated.
It's an interesting series, and at $2.99 a book, I'll keep reading.
Published by JA / AG Publishing
Rating: 7/10
The Sudbury School Murders (2005/2011)
Set in England in March 1817
The 4th Captain Lacey mystery finds Gabriel Lacey working as a secretary for Everard Rutledge at the Sudsbury School–a school for the sounds of the wealthy–but not titled.
Lacey is somewhat distressed to discover he was hired because of his ability to unravel mysteries, because the school had a rather vicious practical joker. Unfortunately, things become serious when the groom is found murdered–a groom that Lacey recognized from London.
I like Lacey better in this story than I did in the previous two. He's still occasionally an asshole, but far less of one.
And there are some lovely passages.
Hungerford had once been used by Charles I as a base from which he fought battles with Cromwell's army. One could picnic now at the battle sites, as I imagined that one day Spanish ladies and gentlemen would picnic at the sites of Talavera and Abuerra and other gruesome chapters in the war against Bonaparte.
The mystery wasn't especially compelling, but the characters were, and I liked finally learning Marianne Simmons' secret.
Published by JA / AG Publishing
Rating: 7/10
A Body in Berkeley Square (2005/2011)
Set in London in April 1817
The 5th Captain Lacey mystery finds Gabriel Lacey investigating the murder of a young man with whom his former colonel was seen arguing at a ball.
Because Lacey has been at odds with Brandon ever since Brandon attempted to have Lacey murdered, and because Lacey is good friends with Brandon's wife, this makes for a delicate situation.
Or had he simply been moral because he'd never been tempted? It is easy to reject sin when one has no interest in it.
I rather liked the mystery in this one, and that the characters around Lacey only slowly reveal their secrets.
Published by JA / AG Publishing
Rating: 7/10