Cocktails & Chloroform

A Rip Through Time

By: Kelley Armstrong

Narrated by: Kate Handford

For modern-day detective Mallory Atkinson, being trapped in the body of a Victorian housemaid means overcoming endless obstacles. Her current challenge is winning over the suspicious young parlormaid, Alice. Mallory’s plan starts with teaching the girl to make Molotov cocktails, which is a perfectly valid science experiment and not at all a desperate ploy to gain Alice’s attention. Before the lesson can begin, though, Alice receives a letter that has her slipping off in the night. Concerned for her safety—and naturally curious—Mallory follows.

Mallory finds Alice at what seems like a simple dance hall, watching young men and women flirting and whirling in pretty dresses and dapper suit-coats. But nothing here is what is seems, and what starts as a simple surveillance exercise turns into a full-scale spy mission with Mallory’s boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, at her side. Before the evening is done, those Molotov cocktails are probably going to come in handy.

Note this is not a full-length novel. It's a novella set between The Poisoner's Ring and Disturbing the Dead

©2023 K.L.A. Fricke Inc (P)2024 K.L.A. Fricke Inc

Cocktails & Chloroform

Cocktails & Chloroform by Kelley Armstrong
A Rip Through Time series, book 2.5. Historical mystery novella, paranormal time shift. Best read in series order.
Detective Mallory Atkinson, in a bizarre twist of fate, has traveled back to the Victorian timeframe, and into the household of Dr Duncan Gray. For practical purposes, she acts as a housemaid since that’s whose life she’s taken over. Mallory’s detective nature helps resolve a potential kidnapping where her modern day knowledge of the Molotov cocktail may come in more handy than expected.

Intriguing mystery for the sadly age-old trafficking situation where Mallory acts true to her nature with modern day problem solving. Entertaining and a wonderful short story adding to the series, giving more depth and background to household servant Alice. Delightful inclusion of Mallory’s sometimes awkward physical expectations twisted with her historical and cumbersome reality of dress, corsets and more.

🎧 I listened to the audiobook of this novella narrated by Kate Hanford on a second read. The performance is fantastic with specific voices for all the main characters. Emotions come through clearly as Mallory follows young Alice and ends up getting kidnapped herself. Those crazy historians and their chloroform as she says over and over again. A bit of humor, a bit of mystery. A fully engaging listen

Women and Crime in the Victorian Age

This story’s main theme is a continuation of a modern woman’s perspective of the Victorian Age. The upper class exploits the poor, especially poor women. The societal contrasts show both how far we have evolved, but sadly how much we have to go toward equality. Right now our society in the US is going backward.
As in the first two books the heroine detective continues her daring police work in the Victorian Age. Her new family and their police friend work hand in glove to solve crimes. Ironically their status and attitude allow her to be her true self in a world where women have few choices.

Love this series!

Thank you to Alison and Kelly for the free copy of this audiobook. I started reading Kelly’s books this summer and I absolutely have loved everything I’ve read so far and she has easily become my new favorite author. I previously read this book and all the books in the series. Listening to this was a great refresher of how much I love this series and am missing the characters while awaiting Schemes and Scandals to be released.

Quick read that packs a punch!

The writing in this series is consistently great, and I’m always drawn in by the mysteries—it’s no different here! This novella, set between books 2 and 3, is a suspenseful treat. Mallory’s curiosity is piqued when she sees Alice receive a mysterious letter. Following Alice, she ends up in a shadowy part of town and uncovers a troubling situation involving Alice’s sister and other young women. The tension builds as Mallory dives deeper into the mystery. It’s a quick read that packs a punch, and I highly recommend it—you won’t be disappointed!

Fun addition to the series

This is a really fun series with appealing characters and a nice mix of historical fiction and mystery. The narration of this novella, as with other titles in the series, is highly engaging and enjoyable.

As good as the full novels.

I loved learning more about Alice's backstory. This story handles the topic of women being exploited with care.

such a great addition to the series

Huge thanks to the author for a free copy of the audiobook! It's always a good day when I get a Kelley Armstrong book for review :)

One of my favorite things about Kelley Armstrong is the way she just keeps gifting us with these awesome novellas. And seeing as I listened to the first two books in this series (and really enjoyed the narrator), I was hoping the novella would come out in that format soon.

What a fun little adventure! This was a quick story with a breakneck pace. The action starts on page one, and it really didn't stop. There were also some great little character moments, and I really enjoyed seeing another side of Alice and her backstory.

I'm so glad I got to read this right in time before I got my copy of the third book. This series is such a fun blend of historical fiction, mystery, and adventure, and I can't get enough.

Entertaining and fast-paced!!!!

Bravo Kelley Armstrong and Kate Handford!!! Even though this is only a short novella it in no way disappoints. Cocktails and Chloroform has all the mystery and intrigue of larger novels in the series. Kelley Armstrong knows how to weave a mystery and keep it interesting and she even likes to throw in a few twists that one might never expect. Kate Hanford is a master of voices and to hear the characters voices like you thought they would sound is exciting!!!!

I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries that keep you guessing along with great character and world building.

overall awesome book

I loved all these books the author captured everything so well especially the switches I loved it

Great addition to the series!

This was a great novella and a good addition to the series! I enjoyed the story line and advancing the relationship between Mallory and Alice. I also enjoyed hearing more of Katrina’s and Alice’s back story! The title is super witty and I love how it all comes together in the end. The reader for this novella was also very good and I enjoyed her performance. All in all, if you love Kelley Armstrong books then it’s you should give it a listen.