Book Review: A Death in Chelsea by H L Marsay

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A Death in Chelsea is the second book in H L Marsay’s The Lady in Blue Mysteries.

It’s 1915, and while war rages across Europe, at home in England, the members of the Women Police Volunteers are increasingly accepted, and their numbers continue to grow. However, founding member Dorothy Peto is frustrated at being relegated to office duties and training recruits. Then, early one morning, her friend Margaret discovers a dead body in the garden next door.

When they find out that the wealthy victim’s will is missing, the list of possible suspects grows. Once again, Dorothy finds herself working alongside the inscrutable Inspector Derwent. Determined to prove herself a worthy investigator even as she battles personal loss and feuding friends, Dorothy gains the trust of witnesses and pits her wits against a killer who may not stop when threatened.

I was eagerly anticipating reading Helen Marsay’s A Death in Chelsea since I not only enjoyed the previous book in this series but also appreciated its inspiration from real-life characters.

Dorothy Peto, a founding member of the Women Police Volunteers, once again becomes entangled in a murder case. This time, a fellow WPV founder seeks her help after discovering her neighbor’s lifeless body. What initially appears to be an accidental death takes a darker turn when the deceased’s will goes missing.

Meanwhile, Dorothy finds herself entangled in the growing tension among the founding members of the WPV. While Nina remains her closest friend, Mary and Margaret also have faith in her abilities. As the story unfolds, Dorothy receives distressing news from the war front—a personal loss that deeply impacts both her and her brother, Raymond.

Amidst these personal struggles, the WPV makes significant strides, with more women joining the group and gaining recognition for their contributions. Dorothy encounters Edith, one of the first WPV attested women, who has been granted the authority to make arrests.

The narrative skillfully alternates between Dorothy’s personal struggles and her quest for recognition at work, both within the WPV and at Scotland Yard. Encouragingly, Dorothy receives some positive news by the story’s end. On the front of solving the murder case, Dorothy demonstrates her success once again, adding another solved case to her achievements.

As for the murder mystery itself, the unfolding clues and unexpected twists kept me engaged, akin to peeling layers off an onion, each revelation bringing new intrigue. However, I must admit I found the killer’s identity somewhat clichéd. While there was nothing flawed about it, halfway through, the mystery shifted into an inverted style, where Dorothy’s task became solely about proving her suspicions. Nonetheless, the narrative skillfully wove in red herrings, keeping me guessing and second-guessing the identity of the culprit.

As this is a Helen Marsay novel, the storytelling is superb. I particularly enjoyed the development of the characters’ personal lives, and the surprise awaiting Dorothy at the story’s conclusion was a delightful twist. The vivid storytelling transported me to the era in which the story is set, almost like watching a movie play out in my mind.

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