The Ghost and Mrs. Holloway

The Ghost and Mrs. Holloway (2026) Jennifer Ashley (Below Stairs Mystery #9.5)

Set in London in 1884

Set a few months after Murder in Blackfriars, Kat is working hard both to earn the money work for herself and to distract herself from Grace being so far away. So she isn’t opposed to looking into a mystery for a cook’s assistant who is friends with Tess.

The house is haunted, and the noises and strangeness are driving away the servants.

Then she discovers that Cynthia knows the new lady of the house, and gets an introduction to both the lady of the house and the other servants.

Also, Mr Davis knows of the place.

“Are you speaking of the Barneses of Manchester Square?” Mr. Davis asked, making no pretense of not having heard us.

Although it’s a relatively small story, most of our favorite characters make appearances.

Mr. Thanos had caught up another scone, but he lowered it from his mouth before he bit into it. “As to that, I do have a message from McAdam for you. Let me see now, what did he say exactly?”

“You didn’t note it down?” Cynthia asked in some exasperation.

“Alas, no, I became distracted by an equation I was working on.”

And as always, Kat is sensible.

I can easily feign a delivery and coerce a cup of tea out of the cook or kitchen maid. I don’t want you or Lady Cynthia in that house without protection.”

“I agree.”

Daniel flicked me a glance of surprise. Usually, I argued with him, but in this instance, I knew he was right.

We also have events tangential to the overall series that come as a bit of a bonus for reading the novella, which I enjoyed.

Characters: Katherine Holloway, Tess, Lady Cynthia, Daniel McAdam, James McAdam, Mr. Davis, Elsie, Mrs. Redfern, Miss Judith Townsend, Mr. Thanos, Lewis, Gilchrist, Mrs. Harriet Barnes, Miss Pauline Hayes, Mr. Jonny Barnes, Mrs. Wilton, Annie, Agnes, Ezio Serafini, Detective Constable Caleb Greene

Cover design by Kim Killion

Rating: 8.5/10

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