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kermitology's review
2.0
I found that this really dragged. It spent so much time kind of bumbling around with pieces of the story that didn't really matter all that much, then just sort of threw everything together at the end a bit too perfectly.
There was a lot more potential with the war time and espionage hints that never played out. Shame.
There was a lot more potential with the war time and espionage hints that never played out. Shame.
vesper1931's review
4.0
January 1940 London and D.C.I. Frank Merlin and his team have several cases to investigate. Detective Johnson is charge of an hit and run of a scientist, while Merlin and D.S. Sam Bridges are making inquiries concerning the body of a female employee of the American Embassy which has been discovered in the River Thames.
I enjoyed this mystery set in wartime London and liked the main characters. A good solid start to this series.
I enjoyed this mystery set in wartime London and liked the main characters. A good solid start to this series.
brittski's review
4.0
I've read quite the variety of detective novels in my day, but this one has definitely been a bit different.
Detective Frank Merlin is stuck in the police force at Scotland Yard, when he really wants to be in service for his beloved England on the battlefield of WWII. But crime does not stop in war, and with Scotland Yard low on man power, Merlin is forced to stay.
A young woman, in the employ of the American Embassy, has been found murdered in the river. Merlin and Sargent Sam Bridges begin questioning the staff of the Embassy, but they must tread lightly to avoid tensions between the Americans and English. When yet another employee of the Embassy is found murdered, things start to escalate. Merlin discovers that there is more to this case than meets the eye.
This book is a different type of detective novel because it is not solely focused on Merlin. There are a wide range of characters, Merlin himself has a team of four. Not to mention all the insights we get from the suspects. The story really shows Merlin's team working together to solve this case. I really enjoyed Ellis's spin on a detective novel and cannot wait to read more.
Detective Frank Merlin is stuck in the police force at Scotland Yard, when he really wants to be in service for his beloved England on the battlefield of WWII. But crime does not stop in war, and with Scotland Yard low on man power, Merlin is forced to stay.
A young woman, in the employ of the American Embassy, has been found murdered in the river. Merlin and Sargent Sam Bridges begin questioning the staff of the Embassy, but they must tread lightly to avoid tensions between the Americans and English. When yet another employee of the Embassy is found murdered, things start to escalate. Merlin discovers that there is more to this case than meets the eye.
This book is a different type of detective novel because it is not solely focused on Merlin. There are a wide range of characters, Merlin himself has a team of four. Not to mention all the insights we get from the suspects. The story really shows Merlin's team working together to solve this case. I really enjoyed Ellis's spin on a detective novel and cannot wait to read more.
lisabreads's review
3.0
I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review by the author. All opinions are my own.
Prince’s Gate is one of the first historical police procedurals that I believe I have ever read.
Chief Inspector Merlin is quite a nice gentleman and good at his job. The story was relatively common for a police procedural but I did enjoy the extra aspect of the American diplomacy around the time before WWII. The fact that some of the suspects were American diplomats added an interesting layer of complication as the British were trying to get the Americans on their side again Hitler at the time.
An interesting start to a series in a new for me genre.
Prince’s Gate is one of the first historical police procedurals that I believe I have ever read.
Chief Inspector Merlin is quite a nice gentleman and good at his job. The story was relatively common for a police procedural but I did enjoy the extra aspect of the American diplomacy around the time before WWII. The fact that some of the suspects were American diplomats added an interesting layer of complication as the British were trying to get the Americans on their side again Hitler at the time.
An interesting start to a series in a new for me genre.
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