This was my first time reading a novel by Ann Granger. Lizzie Martin takes up the post of companion to her godfather's widow. Circumstances and a brief association with a Scotland Yard inspector puts her directly in the path of a murder mystery. Overall, I thought this was a solid story with likable main characters and just enough twists and turns to keep me interested.

I'm a little surprised by the mediocre ratings on Goodreads but as often happens lately, my opinion didn't align with the majority of reviews. I do plan to read book two in the series, [b:A Mortal Curiosity|2717149|A Mortal Curiosity (Lizzie Martin, #2)|Ann Granger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312002825l/2717149._SY75_.jpg|2742745]. ( )

This was an interesting mystery. Elizabeth Martin comes to London to be a companion to her “Aunt Parry” who is widowed from Elizabeth’s godfather. On her way from the train, she sees a body being removed from a demolished area and later learns that it was the previous companion to Mrs. Parry. As it happens the inspector assigned to the case is from the same village that :Lizzie is from and her Doctor father paid for his schooling. She helps him with the investigation by telling him about visitors to the house. Very exciting ending and a cliff hanger for what’s to come for Lizzie and Ross. ( )

1864, Elizabeth Martin has come to London to take the position of companion to a Mrs. Perry, her god-father’s widow.
On her way to the Perry residence, she encounters a wagon carrying the remains of a young woman. Being the daughter of a country doctor, she isn’t affected by the sight, but interested in the how and why of the death. Especially when it is later learned the woman was Mrs. Perry’s previous companion, who had gone missing.

Elizabeth wants to know how and why the woman was murdered, but is a bit restricted by the expected behaviour of women in this particular era. Even still, she takes it upon herself to investigate and finds she has an ally in Inspector Benjamin Ross. It seems they come from the same town and had met as children, but weren’t from the same social levels. There turns out to be other connections.

The story is interesting, but for me it sometimes dragged when reading parts about the expected behaviour of women and the restrictions put on them. I did enjoy the fact that Elizabeth was a strong character and Inspector Ross respected her for that and her intelligence. ( )

A resounding eh. ( )

The first in a new series set in London in the 1860's. There are two main characters who appear in all of the books,the first is Lizzie Martin,and the other is Ben Ross. Martin is a strong-willed young woman who takes a position of a lady's companion with a family of seeming respectability. The previous companion has,it appears ,eloped and left the family without prior warning. Her body is later discovered within a partly demolished house.
Ben Ross,who is an up and coming Police Inspector at Scotland Yard is called in to investigate and on meeting Lizzie,recognizes her from their childhood. In their different ways,they begin to piece the crime together and eventually solve the mystery. We have here two very strong and likable characters who carry the plot along nicely. The atmosphere of Victorian London is believable and well described too. ( )