Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley Narrator: Kymberley Cochrane
Series: Kat Holloway Mysteries #9
Published by Dreamscape Media on August 11, 2026
Genres: Historical Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 23 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.
The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.
I haven’t listened to previous books on audio, but when I got denied on Netgalley I was able to get Murder in Blackfriars on Hoopla. The Kat Holloway series is one of my favorites in the historical mystery genre. We’re well into the series now and I would read these books in order.
Daniel is mostly finished with the police and is looking to learn more about his heritage. Kat continues to cook for the difficult Bywaters but also starts a market stall with the help of her daughter and Tess. There are big changes happening and I worried throughout how they would manage them.
A man comes to Daniel with information about his parentage as they were with the same woman and then workhouse as boys and then he’s murdered. Daniel is arrested but mostly he is questioned. He and Kat go to work on solving the murder.  They talk to everyone who he might have had problems with.
Kat gathered from the brief bit he told Daniel that the boy Daniel had liked an old children’s book with pictures of the sea. She starts research from that end. She has Cynthia and Thanos searching records of births and deaths at Somerset House around the time Daniel was born.
Daniel does not seem very effective in his research but he has the disadvantage of being too close to the problem. Kat is extraordinary at finding small clues which lead to more information. They do solve the murder and the mystery of Daniel’s history. I wonder what he will do between now (October) and next June when the wedding is planned. I guess he can figure out his next plans for earning his living, beyond the delivery business which provided cover for the police work he did.
I enjoyed the realistic aspects of how the changes happened and were managed by them. Although they were both clever and lucky to get resolution. I look forward to seeing how they put things together for their future. And what about the friends and coworkers Kat is used to having in her daily life?
Narration:
I have not previously listened to this narrator. Once I settled into the story, I found her voices to be very comfortable for the male and female characters with some accents (although I don’t know if they were accurate for the region). The only voice I found odd was Daniel. He seemed rather dull; I expected more life from the clever and risk-taking man he is. I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Jennifer Ashley
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley has lived and traveled all over the world, and now lives in the Southwest. She writes historical, paranormal, and contemporary romance as Jennifer Ashley; mysteries as Ashley Gardner; and paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James.
Jennifer’s/Allyson’s/Ashley’s more than 100 novels and novellas have won RWA’s RITA award, RT Reviewer’s Choice awards, and the Prism award, among others. Jennifer’s novels have been also been translated into French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Norwegian, Hungarian, Italian, Thai, Indonesian, and several other languages.
Jennifer enjoys writing and reading above all else, but her hobbies include cooking, hiking, playing flute and guitar, painting, and building miniature rooms and dollhouses.
Author photo credit to Berkley Prime Crime (TR) 2022
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
Glad you were able to get this on Hoopla! It’s been years since I read this author. Nice review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. This is one I usually read the ebook so I can’t blame it on audios being harder to get either.
Love that cover! I read the first book in this series, but haven’t read any of the others. This one does sound good.
I love the mysteries and the food.
I love Jennifer Ashley — haven’t read this particular series, but I’m glad you were able to grab a copy. Great review, it sounds like an interesting read!
Thank you Sarah. It’s a great series. I do recommend it to be read in order to build all the character and relationship details as it goes along.
I didn’t request this and instead put in for a library copy and was excited when it came through right away and now I need to listen to it! Love this series!
Glad you were able to get it. Enjoy!
I think I’ve listened to one book in this series on audio and really enjoyed it but have read most of the others. This is definitely one I really need to catch up on as I believe I’m at least two books behind. I’m glad to see that overall you really enjoyed it.
yes t’s a great series. And fits into your wheelhouse I think. I don’t read much historical except historical mysteries.
Skipped the review completely because I don’t want any spoilers. I haven’t even read the blurb. I’ve got the audiobook downloaded but it I need to finish another book before I get to this one. Yea!!
I hope you love it too.
Yay for Hoopla. Glad you enjoyed it as well.
Thank you Kimberly.
I also got the audio and I’m listening to it right now. I love Kat and Daniel and their adventures.
It’s a good one with lots of changes.
Maybe, someday I’ll get back into this series.
I like the food.