Death in Kew Gardens

By Jennifer Ashley

From the New York Times bestselling author of Scandal Above Stairs

Kat Holloway steps out from beneath the stairs and into international intrigue, where murder and stolen treasure lurk among the upper echelons of Victorian London.

In return for a random act of kindness, scholar Li Bai Chang presents young cook Kat Holloway with a rare and precious gift—a box of tea. Kat thinks no more of her unusual visitor until two days later when the kitchen erupts with the news that Lady Cynthia's next-door neighbor has been murdered.

Known about London as an "Old China Hand," the victim claimed to be an expert in the language and customs of China, acting as intermediary for merchants and government officials. But Sir Jacob's dealings were not what they seemed, and when the authorities accuse Mr. Li of the crime, Kat and Daniel find themselves embroiled in a world of deadly secrets that reach from the gilded homes of Mayfair to the beautiful wonder of Kew Gardens.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780399587917

Jennifer Ashley

Jennifer Ashley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Kat Holloway Below Stairs Mystery series, the Shifters Unbound series, and the Mackenzies & McBrides series. Her novels have won several awards, including RT Reviewer's Choice awards and a RITA.

Reviews for Death in Kew Gardens

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this one. The heroine, Mrs. Holloway, is returning from a shopping trip with her helper, Tess, when she bumps into a Chinese man and knocks him down. She helps him and the next night he returns with a gift for her of a box of tea. We learn that their neightbor who happens to be a collector of Chinese objects has been murdered and suspicion falls on Mr. Li. Mrs Holloway refuses to believe that this kind man had anything to do with murder and starts her own inquiry with the help of Tess, Lady Cynthia, Daniel, and Mr. Thanos. There's a secondary storyline with hiring of a new housekeeper who is mean old blackmailing tyrant that has to be handled.I do find it amusing that she manages to serve up gourmet meals and deserts for employers while spending so much time out of the kitchen.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like these characters and I was entertained.

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fine 'below stairs' read!Following on from previous troubles and triumphs with Kat Holloway and her friend Daniel McAdam, this time they face the murder of a man renowned for his collection of Chinese artifacts and plants and neighbor to Kat's household.Kat surprisingly (or not!--is she prescient?) always seems to be in the right place at the right time. At the market Kat becomes the champion of a Chinese man, a man who later becomes embroiled in the happenings next door and is indeed a scholar, Li Bai Chang.Meanwhile a new housekeeper of a dubious nature is employed by the Mrs. Bywater and Kat finds herself contending with issues on all sides.Daniel, Mr Thanos and Cynthia become involved in the solving of the murder and the cause.A lively and suspenseful read, as Kat and Daniel's relationship develops a wee bit of steam.A NetGalley ARC

[barbararogers-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMGoodness! This series just gets better and better! We have learned more and more about the supporting characters – the mysterious and enigmatic Daniel, James his son, quirky and fun Tess, Davis, the stuffy (not) butler, Lady Cynthia who chafes at having to dress and act as a woman is expected to, Daniel’s friend, the very intelligent scholar Thanos, Kat’s daughter Grace – and just maybe we’ve added a new regular – Mrs. Redfern as the new housekeeper. Together, they are quite a crew and you’ll love them all. We didn’t learn too much new about Daniel in this book, and that was a disappointment. I’m really anxious for the further development of the relationship between Daniel and Kat as well.Kat Holloway is young for a cook, barely 30, but she is one of the best cooks in England. She is very careful about who she works for and has very, very specific requirements for her employment. Luckily, her employment for the last eight months has been in a household she enjoys and that accommodates her requirements. She’s happy there even if she and Mr. Davis have been splitting the duties of housekeeper since the last one left. This sets up a fun subplot for the book – and tells you a lot about the author’s abilities because I quickly learned to detest Mrs. Daly, the new housekeeper. My reaction to her was very strong and it takes a good author to evoke that sort of reaction from me. So, the sub-plot was a great addition to the story.Just as an FYI, there is also a second sub-plot flowing around Lady Harkness – and that makes it sound like there is too much going on in the story, but that isn’t the case. The sub-plots fit into and add to the story rather than detract from it.The main plot of the story revolves around the murder of the next door neighbor, Sir Jacob Harkness. He was a very wealthy man who had been granted a knighthood for services to the empire. He was an expert in all things Chinese and had lived there for many years before returning to England. His collection was eclectic and large. He collected what took his fancy rather than only what was valuable – but – he had many valuable things in his collection. When he was found in his bed, stabbed to death, and an open window in the drawing room, it was assumed that the robbery was the motive - if there was a robbery. Except – a Chinaman had been seen just outside the house . . . What could that mean?Kat was hurrying to run some errands one day and wasn’t paying attention and plowed right into an older Chinese gentleman, knocking him to the ground. She apologized profusely and helped him up. They spoke briefly, introduced themselves, and she liked Mr. Li very well. Later, he turned up at the home where she worked and presented her with a lovely gift to thank her for her kindness.When a witness places a Chinese gentleman near the victim's house at the time of the murder, and Mr. Li is arrested, Kat has to stand up for him because she is convinced that he is not the guilty party. The investigation takes us through lies, deceit, another murder, a very valuable stolen item, and an unexpected villain. The author throws a lot of red herrings at you – and you may suspect who the perpetrator is, but you won’t know for sure until it is all wrapped up.This book is part of a wonderful series, but it could be read as a stand-alone – although you would be missing (and possibly a bit confused) about some of the relationships and back-stories of various individuals. It would be my suggestion to read the series from the beginning – especially since this is only the third book. I definitely recommend this well-written and interesting book. You’ll love the characters and puzzle over the mystery.I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This third Below Stairs mystery has Kat Holloway looking into the death of her next door neighbor Sir Jacob Harkness. She quickly finds herself deep into the case when a Chinese man that she recently met is accused of the crime.Kat met Li Bai Chang when she literally ran into him on the street. She meets him again outside her home in Mayfair when he presents her with a gift of very fine Chinese tea. Sir Jacob was a well known China Hand who gained all sorts of riches in his many trips to China. His home is packed with all the goods he gathered and Kew Gardens has been the recipient of many, many strange and wonderful plants that he gathered on his journeys.Mr. Li has come to speak to him to get back something precious that Sir Jacob stole from his family which would seem to give him a motive for murder. Kat is certain that he is not guilty and needs to convince Daniel MacAdam of her opinion. Daniel is a man of mystery still but Kat does know that he has influence on the police which is strange for a man whose accent and occupation seems so changeable. Meanwhile at home, Kat and the rest of the staff are dealing with a new housekeeper who is stealing things and digging for secrets to blackmail all of them. She quickly ferrets out the existence of Kat's greatest secret - her daughter Grace. Kat's past as the supposed wife of a bigamist has colored her trust in men and could destroy her new respectable life if her employers learn of it. I loved the descriptions of Kew Gardens. I also loved the interesting characters that surround Kat - Lady Cynthia, who wants the freedom men have and dresses in masculine attire; the mysterious Daniel; Mr. Thanos who is Daniel's friend and a scholar of some note and falling for Lady Cynthia; Tess, who is Kat's kitchen assistant and a girl from the street who has potential as a cook. Most of all I like Kat who is proud of her role as a cook and happy with her place in society even if, I feel, her role might not be a great fit for her intelligence and acuity. I can't wait for Kat's next adventure.