A Rip Through Time #2.5
Even in a short novella, Kelley Armstrong builds a great plot with solid characters and delivers an outstanding experience. Cocktails & Chloroform is a quick zip at 132 pages. Mallory follows Alice and gets herself into a predicament. Something much more devious is occurring as things unfold, and only Mallory can stop it.
The only character I didn’t like in the story was Mae. She’s oblivious and self-centred, after everything her brother and sister have done for or to her. I’m grateful Mallory spoke up on Alice’s behalf at the end, making it clear that Mae will remain a peripheral character.
As usual, the dialogue and interactions between Duncan and Mallory are my favourite things about the series. It’s flirtatious and respectful. Duncan trusts Mallory and doesn’t second guess her judgement. It doesn’t come across as patronizing at all, either. Mallory respects Duncan’s Victorian sensibilities and doesn’t wholly scandalize him at every opportunity. I appreciate that Cocktails & Chloroform is from only Mallory’s perspective, like other books in the series. It gives Duncan a bit of mystery, and the reader doesn’t fully understand his motivations.
The attention to period detail is fantastic. I’ve read hundreds of historical fiction novels, but none discussed the difficulties of using the washroom in petticoats and bloomers. The time travel aspect allows Mallory to use modern concepts when describing Victorian elements. These details don’t interfere with the story at all. Mallory interjects them appropriately, like mentioning that it’s tough to run or breathe heavily when wearing a corset when she’s trying to run from a baddie.
I’m looking forward to book 3, which comes out on May 7, 2024. Kelley Armstrong is a Canadian author. I’m heavily biased toward enjoying Canlit, but it’s easy to want more Mallory and Duncan! I hope there’s also a spin-off series or novella about Isla and McCreaddie.
Links
A Rip Through Time Reviews
#1 – A Rip Through Time
#2 – The Poisoner’s Ring
TheStoryGraph
Kelley Armstrong’s website
sloreads reviews of other books by Kelley Armstrong