May 19, 2023 – Belinda Witzenhausen

Book Review

The Poisoner’s Ring

A Rip Through Time Novel #2

by Kelley Armstrong

Release date: May 23rd, 2023

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I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Poisoner’s Ring, A Rip Through Time Novel by Kelley Armstrong from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…Fast-paced, well-written and filled with a wonderful cast of captivating characters, a touch of romance, and a thrilling mystery….…

Being a fan of Kelley Armstrong I was thrilled to be given the honour of reading and reviewing the second in her, A Rip Through Time series, and like the first, I absolutely loved it!

We pick up the story of modern-day Canadian police detective, Mallory Atkinson, who is trapped in the body of Catriona Mitchell in 1869 Edinburgh. Catriona an assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and medical examiner, is doing what she can to cope until she can find a way back home.

Dr. Gray and his sister Isla are aware of Mallory’s secret and although homesick, she is making the best of the situation by helping Dr. Gray with his cases as they arise. When a string of fatal poisonings hits too close to home, implicating Duncan’s sisters Isla and Annis, the race is on to stop before the poisoner strikes again and to clear his family’s name. Assisting Detective McCreadie, both Mallory and Duncan dive into the seedy streets of Edinburgh to find clues but the more they dig the more it appears that Annis is the guilty party. Is Annis guilty or is she being framed?

I love this series in particular the way the author creates such vivid and authentic characters. Mallory is an intelligent, strong, and independent female character but we also see her vulnerable and afraid. Armstrong’s prose feels authentic as she doesn’t shy away from tough topics such as racism, transgender, homosexuality, and misogyny which has made her one of my favorite authors.

Fast-paced, well-written and filled with a wonderful cast of captivating characters, a touch of romance, and a thrilling mystery, The Poisoner’s Ring is a page-turning historical mystery that I highly recommend.