The young son of Sir Gerald Mariner has been kidnapped and with weeks having past with no child found by the police he hires Sarah Bain and Hugh Staunton, private investigators.
The book is written in the present tense, and I didn't really take to the style of writing or to the two main characters, so I doubt I will seek out the first in the series. Their method seems to be to accuse everyone until someone confesses.
It is probably more a 2.5 star rating
A NetGalley Book ( )

A Mortal Likeness is the second book in the Victorian Mystery series. I have not yet read the first book, The Ripper's Shadow, but was easily able to follow the plot and characters in this story. So, it isn't necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this newest book in this series. There are references to the first book, however. I very much enjoyed this book, so I'm going to backtrack and read The Ripper's Shadow.

Sarah Bain is a photographer and a detective. Sarah is hired by Sir Gerald Mariner to find his infant son, Robin. Sir Gerald says the boy has been kidnapped, but the case turns out to be much more complex than a child abduction. As Sarah and her partner investigate the baby's disappearance, some secrets from Sarah's past complicate things. The story moves at a nice pace and builds suspense. Some nice twists and turns definitely kept my interest for the entire story. There is also some character development for Sarah in this newest book, along with a bit of romantic tension as well.

The cover art is excellent! The cover is what first got my attention and made me want to read this book. :)

I'm going to read The Ripper's Shadow now! I like the characters in this series, and can't wait to read the next book!

Sarah Joh Rowland is also the author of the Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte series and the Sano Ichiro series.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

A Mortal Likeness by Laura Joh Rowland is a twisty turny historical mystery. This second installment in the Victorian Mystery series easily stands on its own, but I highly recommend book one, The Ripper's Shadow, as well.

Photographer Sarah Bain and her close friend Lord Hugh Staunton are attempting to get their private inquiry business up and running. Their current case involves suspected adultery and while attempting to obtain photographic proof, Sarah and Hugh inadvertently stumble into the middle of a double homicide and a kidnapping case involving a baby. Sir Gerald Mariner, whose son Robin is missing, suspects the kidnapper is someone close to the family so he hires them to investigate. Will Sarah and Hugh uncover the kidnapper's identity? Will they find Robin before harm befalls the missing boy? And what will the personal fallout be once Sarah's Police Constable boyfriend, Thomas Barrett, discovers she has not been completely honest with him about her involvement in the case?

Upon their arrival at Sir Gerald's estate, Hugh and Sarah must investigate a rather large pool of suspects. Robin's mother, Lady Alexandra is keeping to herself with only her sister Tabitha Jenkins by her side. They also discover Gerald has a bit of a strained relationship with his children from his previous marriages. Oldest son Tristan is a member of the clergy and he is no longer in line to inherit his father's vast wealth. Seventeen year old daughter Olivia is rather volatile, impetuous and angry with her father for shipping her off to boarding school. Non family members include bodyguard John Pierce who resents Hugh and Sarah's presence and their investigation. Sarah is deeply suspicious of medium Raphael DeQuincey but just because she believes he is a charlatan does not necessarily mean he is involved in Robin's disappearance.

Then there is the matter of baby Robin's last photograph which was taken about six months before his disappearance. Sarah picks up on a bit of an irregularity in the picture that deeply troubles her. She and Hugh learn some rather disquieting information from the servants that might support Sarah's suspicions. However, this theory is just one of many they consider throughout their investigation.

A Mortal Likeness is an intriguing mystery with a very perplexing crime to solve. Sarah and Hugh are extremely close but they find themselves at odds throughout their investigation and their friendship becomes precarious as they search for the truth. Sarah is dismayed when her romance with Thomas is threatened when he discovers her involvement in Robin's case. Laura Joh Rowland brilliantly keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a dazzling array of stunning twists and turns. While the current case is completely wrapped up by the novel's end, Sarah's discoveries about her long missing father will leave fans breathlessly awaiting the next installment in the Victorian Mystery series. ( )

A Mortal Likeness is second in Laura Joh Rowland's Victorian Mysteries series. In the aftermath of the Ripper case, Miss Sarah Bain and Lord Hugh Staunton set up a detective agency. Cases are sparse, and funds sparser. While tracking an adulterous husband, the pair stumble upon evidence that may be of help regarding a prominent kidnapping case. When they take the information to Sir Gerald, father of the missing Robin Mariner, he hires them to investigate the possibility of the kidnapping being an inside job. There are stipulations to employment though- they must sign a confidentiality agreement and must move into Mariner House for the duration of the case. From the start, these conditions cause problems. Sarah ends up having to lie to her new fiance. Both have to lie to Mick, their young charge. He's too smart though, and tracks them down. Life at Mariner House is fraught with danger for the trio. The family and servants are hostile to questioning. Deadly accidents plague the investigators, and personal agendas begin to cloud their objectivity and drive a wedge between Sarah and Hugh, and between Sarah and her fiance. Can they solve Robin's kidnapping, and keep their relationships intact?

Ok, so this was my first foray into Rowland's Victorian Mysteries series. I didn't realise it at first. Mentions are made of the events in Ripper, enough that I got the gist of what happened. I do plan to read it soon! I want the full story. I love stories set in Victorian times, and this read didn't disappoint. The mystery itself was interesting, and called to mind the true kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Sarah is a photographer, a profession fostered by her father before his disappearance, and she brings that talent to the investigation business. It was neat to learn about earlier photography. Rowland has a certain gift for bringing place to life. It's easy to immerse myself in her stories and feel as if I'm there. I adore her Sano Ichiro series set in feudal Japan.

I feel Sarah and Hugh both have a lot of growing up to do. There were times when Mick, the teen, seemed the adult of the group. This was probably due to him being a street kid and needing to grow up very fast. Hugh, on the other hand, lived a life of privilege until being disowned. Sarah seems in the middle of the two, personality-wise. There were still times I wanted to thwack her for her behaviour. The insistence that Hugh be objective regarding Tristan was ludicrous given her thoughts regarding Sir Gerald, or the times it felt like she was twisting evidence to fit certain people. Especially Tristan, which I feel was due to her fear that he would lure Hugh from their partnership. I'm looking forward to reading the first, and the next, in the series. Recommended for those who love mysteries and historical fiction!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for the Tulsa Book Review. ( )

The book was enjoyable, but I was surprised at the language used by Victorian English people. Did they really use words like “Nope?” Despite that I enjoyed this mystery in which a single female photographer and a gay member of the aristocracy team up to solve the mysterious death of a child. I wish I’d read the first book in the series that dealt with Jack the Ripper, but not having read that didn’t impact my understanding of this book. ( )