Murder at the Foundling Hospital by Irina Shapiro - Book Review

Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #3

Publication Date: 21st Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A good mystery 

1858

Nurse Gemma Tate is heartbroken to realize that one of her wards in the Foundling Hospital has been killed. Though she trusts Inspector Sebastian Bell to solve the case, Gemma knows there are things he might never find out. She is in a position to access the gossip and secret whispers since she works in the same place. 

As new clues emerge, Sebastian and Gemma realize there’s more to the case than a random murder. They need to find the truth soon or the victim may not get justice. 

The story comes in Sebastian and Gemma’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

The victim is a young girl (a teen). The official blurb makes it clear but I’m highlighting it again just to be sure. We do get a semi-detailed description as it is necessary for the plot. 

Finally, in book three, this becomes a Tate and Bell Mystery with Gemma playing a crucial part in the investigation. The book should work as a standalone. 

Since this is a dark mystery (still borderline cozy), the setting has a life of its own. The story takes place between Christmas and New Year; a handful of days, but filled with a lot of investigation. The cold weather, the rigid rules of the Foundling Hospital, the uncertain future of the children, and the bleakness of the murder make the plot atmospheric. 

The mystery is revealed in stages, with new information coming out, and most of it does not make sense for the characters since they have yet to connect the dots. Even I couldn’t guess until the characters almost did. The reveal did make sense in a way. 

Quite a few leads are pursued to solve the case, and these provide a glimpse into the lives of the unfortunate, the social conditions, and other aspects. Nothing preachy; just showcasing how things were back then. 

The ‘romance’ track doesn’t have any progress here due to the time span and the intensity of the case. However, the characters spend some time acknowledging their feelings (to themselves). 

The pacing is on the slower side, which cannot be helped. The book demands a steady-paced narrative to let the readers think and explore the details. 

There’s a development in the overarching plot which takes the story forward in a new direction. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that this could make Gemma play a more active role in future investigations. I’d like that (even if she tends to get dramatic and reckless at times).

To summarize, Murder at the Foundling Hospital is a worthy read for historical mystery fans. Set in Victorian London, it takes us into the dark corners of the city where danger is a constant companion. 

I found the blurb for the next one on Amazon and saw that this book has set the foundation for it. Excited to read it! 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderAtTheFoundlingHospital