Death In The Last Reel is the second book to feature Dr. Margaret Demeray. Set in the pre- First World War years, it is a historical mystery that hooked me straight away.

Stop standing in the way of bullets.’

‘I will if you will.’

Does the camera ever lie?

1911: After the violent murder of three policemen in the line of duty, tensions between London constabulary and Whitechapel anarchists simmer. Meanwhile accusations and counter accusations of espionage further weaken relations between Germany and Britain. Can Margaret Demeray and Fox find out which potential enemy is behind a threat to the capital before it’s too late?

In the shadow of violence in the East End, just as Dr Margaret Demeray starts to gain recognition for her pathology work, a personal decision puts her career at the hospital under threat. Needing to explore alternative options, she tries working with another female doctor in Glassmakers Lane. But in that genteel street, a new moving-picture studio is the only thing of any interest, and Margaret’s boredom and frustration lead to an obsessive interest in the natural death of a young woman in a town far away.

Meanwhile, intelligence agent Fox is trying to establish whether rumours of a major threat to London are linked to known anarchist gangs or someone outside Britain with a different agenda. When another mission fails and he asks Margaret to help find out who provided the false intelligence that led him in the wrong direction, she can’t wait to assist.

But, enquiries in wealthy Hampstead and then assaults in Whitechapel backstreets lead unexpectedly back to Glassmakers Lane. How can such a quiet place be important? And is the dead young woman Margaret can’t forget a critical link or a coincidental irrelevance?

Margaret and Fox need to work together, but both of them are independent, private, and stubborn and have yet to negotiate the terms of their relationship.

How can Margaret persuade Fox to stop protecting her so that she can ask the questions he can’t? And even if she does, how can they discover is behind the threat to London when it’s not entirely clear what the threat actually is?

Another Dr. Margaret Demeray instalment and another mystery that took me straight to 1911 in Edwardian England. A very cleverly written book in which Paula Harmon has created such a multi layered story that blends historical facts of the time with fiction. This is done so well. I was never sure where the fiction ended, and the facts began. This is the sign of a great storyteller for me.

The era this is set in is obviously a time in which females were almost like a second-class citizen, and this book charts the beginning of the suffragette movement. We also see Margarets’ struggles with her chosen profession. An occupation that is normally reserved for men. We see these begin in the first book, which I have read, and it doesn’t improve much in this time. I felt for Margaret as she has struggled and truly connected with her.

I thought the humour that the author has brought was great to bring a lighter side to the story. The characters are well drawn and easy to invest in. You feel like you know them pretty quickly. This is part of a series, but it is a plausible standalone, too. My personal opinion is if you would like to get to know your characters to a greater depth and fully understand what motivates them, read book one first.

A fully immersive read that had me fully ensconced in the pre war years. I do hope to see more of Dr Margaret as she is fascinating, too.

Thanks to ZooLoo’s Book Tours and Paula Harmon for the copy of the book to bring you my thoughts.