#Review - Kirkyards & Kindness by Kelley Armstrong #Historical #Mystery

Series: Rip Through Time #4.5
Format: 158 pages, Kindle Edition

Release Date: December 2, 2025
Publisher: K.L.A Fricke Inc
Source: Amazon
Genre: Historical / Mystery

Mallory Mitchell and Dr. Duncan Gray take a break from investigating murder to find the most famous dog in Victorian Scotland.

A year ago, twenty-first-century detective Mallory found herself in 1869 Edinburgh, in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid working for Dr. Duncan Gray, a pioneer in forensic science. Shortly after she arrived, she made the unfortunate acquaintance of Catriona’s former criminal mentor, Davina, an entanglement that nearly got Mallory killed. Now she’s about to meet Davina again.

Greyfriars Bobby has disappeared. The little terrier is already a legend, and Davina has made a tidy living showing him off on graveyard tours…while picking the pockets of her guests. When the elderly dog vanishes, Davina calls in a favor from her old student. Mallory agrees to help find Bobby in return for the one thing she’s been unable to get from Davina—the mysterious Catriona’s life story.

Kelley Armstrong's Kirkyards & Kindness is a 158-page novella in the author's A Rip Through Time series, set after Death at a Highland Wedding. Mallory Atkinson continues to settle into 19th-century Scotland while keeping her secret of time travel, which only 3 people know. She remains stuck in the body of 19-year-old Catriona Mitchell, working for Dr. Duncan Gray, a pioneer in forensic science. To date, she remains unaware of Catriona’s past, though the criminally-minded Davina has much she could tell. This is where part of this story is driven. 

Mallory needs to know about Catriona's past so she can avoid the pitfalls that may have affected Catriona. Meanwhile, Greyfriars Bobby, a popular terrier, has disappeared from the cemetery where he stood in silence. Davina seeks Mallory’s assistance, as the little pup has helped bring in a large sum of coins and has helped Davina trick hapless people who agree to graveyard tours. Mallory decides to take up the case, bringing Dr. Gray along with her, hoping this will cement a promise that Davina will share the truth about Catriona’s past. 

This is the third novella in this series, and it doesn't push the romance possibility between Mallory and Duncan forward. We know Isla will likely get married soon, which means things will have to change for Mallory and Duncan. These novellas give us glimpses of the minor cases for Gray and Mallory, who have become famous thanks to Jack, the infamous crime writer, and focus more on them than on our other characters. The ending is also warm and happy, thanks to a bit of surprise for a little girl. 

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#Review - The Last Wizards' Ball by Charlaine Harris #Fantasy #Historical

Series: Gunnie Rose # 6
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages 
Release Date: July 22, 2025
Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Alt Historical

#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the sixth and final installment in the critically acclaimed Gunnie Rose series as sisters Lizbeth Rose and Felicia must face their fates at the last Wizards’ Ball.

Lizbeth Rose’s sister Felicia attends the Grand Wizards’ Ball, and as one of the most powerful—and beautiful—death wizards in a generation, she is highly sought after as one of the belles of the ball.

However, war and violence are on the rise in Europe as German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia…and some are refusing to take no for an answer.

As the façade of genteel wizard society turns deadly, Lizbeth must learn to not only protect her sister, but also navigate the arcane world that is pulling her sister and husband into a dangerous dance with death that could change the world as they know it.

#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris has crafted a murderous and magical family drama in this sixth and final installment to the beloved and bestselling Gunnie Rose series.

The Last Wizards' Ball is the 6th and final installment in author Charlaine Harris' Gunnie Rose series. Set in an alternate, fractured United States where magic is real and the country has been carved into regions like Texoma, Britannia, New America, and the Holy Russian Empire, the Gunnie Rose series follows Lizbeth “Gunnie” Rose, a sharpshooting mercenary with a knack for survival. In The Last Wizards’ Ball, the narrative shifts from the dusty trails of Texoma to the opulent yet treacherous setting of the triennial Wizards’ Ball, held in San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden. 

This event, a supernatural equivalent of the Regency-era London Season, serves as a marriage market for the magically gifted, where deals are struck, spells are exchanged, and power plays unfold. Lizbeth and Prince Eli Savarov function as chaperones to Lizbeth’s sister Felicia during the week-long Wizards’ Ball, where young magical practitioners from across the globe hope to make a romantic match and strengthen alliances. The focus of the ball quickly becomes apparent. 

Everyone wants to get close to Lizbeth's younger sister, Felicia Karkarova Dominguez, a powerful death wizard and belle of the ball, whose beauty and magical prowess attract dangerous suitors, including German and Japanese wizards tied to rising global tensions. Lizbeth is tasked with protecting Felicia in a world of arcane politics and deadly intrigue, far removed from her usual straightforward approach of shooting problems away. The backdrop of an impending World War II, reimagined in this magical context, adds a layer of geopolitical tension to the personal stakes. 

Lizbeth remains a standout protagonist—a tough, no-nonsense gunslinger who is fiercely loyal yet out of her depth in the polished, manipulative world of wizard society. Her discomfort in borrowed dresses and low heels, navigating a setting where her gun skills are secondary to social finesse, is both relatable and endearing. Her internal struggles, particularly her protectiveness over Felicia and her strained connection with Eli’s magical world, add depth to her arc. 

Felicia is a formidable death wizard and a vulnerable teenager caught in a web of unwanted attention. But don't underestimate her determination. The sisterly bond between Lizbeth and Felicia is the emotional core of the novel, delivering moments of tenderness and tension that resonate. Lizbeth's relationship with Eli is one that most readers will be discussing for a while, and perhaps not in a positive way. No Spoilers!!! 

The alternate history, with a fractured U.S. and a looming World War II, adds intrigue, though it’s not without flaws. The integration of World War II and figures like Hitler into this alternate timeline is a bold choice. Certain subplots, particularly those involving Eli’s grigori duties and the international wizards’ schemes, feel rushed or underexplored. For me, the most disappointing part of this story was the ending and I don't want to discuss my reasons here for fear of spoiling what happens. Let's just say that after 6 books featuring Lizbeth and her sister, the ending was shocking, to say the least. 

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