An Ordinary Sort of Evil
With dual timelines, an intelligent, witty, and courageous female protagonist, romance, paranormal, and mystery afoot, this book by Kelly Armstrong is the perfect recipe for all readers.
This is the fifth book in the Rip Through Time series, in which homicide detective Mallory Mitchell’s story continues. In the first book, you learn about the paranormal event that sent her back in time and trapped her in Victorian Scotland. Through luck and grit, she’s set herself up as a companion turned assistant for the local coroner, Dr. Duncan Gray. Gray and his sister scientist, Isla, know Mallory’s backstory and rely on her experience and intelligence to help them, along with Detective Hugh McCreadie, solve local criminal cases.
In this installment, one of the gentry has summoned Gray to her home to solve the murder of a young housemaid, Nelly. The details of which were unearthed in a seance, in which Nelly’s ghost appeared, begging for help. As the four protagonists work to solve the crime, they uncover a series of unexpected twists and turns, heightening the romantic tension between Mallory and Gray.
I’ve got to hand it to this author for creating a serious page-turner. There are so many moving pieces and intricately woven storylines that you consume every word, eager to discover what comes next.
Of course, there are history lessons—as there should be in every historical fiction book set in Edinburgh, Scotland. But when they are softly woven in as amusing dialogue, theoretical conjecture, or snarky thoughts, it only increases the emotional rapport between the reader and the main character. One such example is Mallory’s inner dialogue, which gives props to Victorians about them not being squeamish, despite their “pretty manners,” referencing the antiquated handling of dead bodies, housing them for days before a proper internment. This is just one example of the dual time comparisons and perspectives delivered with just the right dose of wit. Her frank assessment of the rise of spiritualism, which gave women’s rights a small win, is another great example of how the author masterfully peppered history and science in just the right doses.
It’s not just Mallory’s character that’s intriguing; the diversity in their attributes, vocations, and behavior is visionary and engaging.
The chemistry between Mallory and Duncan is a slow burn, which is nice. Early resolution wouldn’t serve this series well. It adds to their humanity. And each character has a compelling backstory, especially Duncan and Isla, who are half-siblings reared by an extremely progressive mother.
The dialogue is both humorous and serious. I especially love how the twenty-first-century detective mouths off, only to gently walk it back, in a way that had this reader laughing out loud. But Duncan and Isla are just as endearing, outwardly impertinent in their small circle, but poised and above board when in the company of their peers.
All in all, it’s the nuances that made this book for me. Yes, the plot, a missing girl, an unsolved murder, paranormal elements, and a killer on the loose, are elements of a great mystery. But the author created such dimensionality with her characters and setting that only heightened my admiration for her work.
You don’t need to start with the first book in this series to grasp the plot or characters. But I highly recommend you do. As I mentioned in my review intro, here’s a lot to love about this book and The Rip Through Time Series.
Book and Image Courtesy of St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
