4.5 stars.

Garden of Sins by Laura Joh Rowland is a multi-layered historical mystery. Although the sixth installment in the fabulous Victorian Mystery series, this newest release can be read as a standalone.

Photographer Sarah Bain Barrett is on leave from the newspaper where she works while waiting for her father Benjamin’s murder trial to begin. She and her half-sister Sally Albert are at odds over his innocence. So, Sarah welcomes the distraction when she and her husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett are assigned to a secret investigation by the police commissioner.

Sarah and Barrett were on a train when it derailed and they stumbled across a woman who was murdered. Sarah takes the woman’s camera and after the film is developed, they manage to find the hotel where was staying. The photos were taken in the Cremorne Gardens so that is where Sarah and Barrett start looking for answers. Cremorne’s owners are former circus members who also perform at their business.

In between their attempt to find out why the murder victim was interested in the Cremorne, Sarah also attends her father’s trial. She grows increasing tense as the prosecution lays out its damning case. With a guilty verdict a distinct possibility, Sarah’s effort to exonerate her father unexpectedly leads to new information. Will this discovery prove his innocence?

Garden of Sins is an atmospheric mystery with a fast-paced storyline. Despite her recent marriage, Sarah is still independent and incredibly stubborn. Old issues arise between her and Barrett and their marriage is suddenly under immense strain. The secret investigation also causes friction as Sarah makes rash decisions while angry. Benjamin’s fate hangs in the balance and results in even more tension between Sarah and Barrett.  With breathtaking twists and clever turns, Laura Joh Rowland brings this gripping mystery to a shocking conclusion. Old and new are sure to enjoy this latest addition to the Victorian Mystery series.