From the Ashes (Ravenwood Mysteries #1) by Sabrina Flynn - "A story reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes meeting Nick and Nora Charles meeting Veronica Mars."

"Sabrina Flynn is author of the bestselling Ravenwood Mysteries set in Victorian San Francisco. When she's not exploring the seedy alleyways of the Barbary Coast, she dabbles in fantasy and steampunk, and has a habit of throwing herself into wild oceans and gator-infested lakes.

She lives in perpetual fog and sunshine with a rock troll and two crazy imps. She spent her youth trailing after insanity, jumping off bridges, climbing towers, and riding down waterfalls in barrels. After spending fifteen years wrestling giant hounds and battling pint-sized tigers, she now travels everywhere via watery portals leading to anywhere." ~https://www.sabrinaflynn.com/about

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"The road to redemption has never been so fierce."

"Atticus Riot wants to leave his tortured past behind, but his partner’s murder haunts his every step. Before he can find peace, the gunfighter turned detective needs to find the killer. But then a missing heiress draws him into a conspiracy of lies.

A young woman’s life is at stake, so why won’t her rich, older husband tell the whole truth about her disappearance?

The clock is ticking and Riot must unravel a twisted trail before an innocent life is lost. But deceit runs deeper than he imagined, and he’s soon thrown into the path of a fiercely independent woman who’s his match in every way.

A thrilling historical mystery in San Francisco’s infamous Barbary Coast. For fans of Laurie R. King, Raymond Chandler, Deanna Raybourn, and Craig Johnson."

~Amazon

Numeric Breakdown:

1: didn't like it
2: it was okay
3. liked it
4. really liked it
5. it was amazing

"A story reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes meeting Nick and Nora Charles meeting Veronica Mars."

It's been a while since I've been ADDICTED to a series, and I have to say Ravenwood Mysteries delivers to the fullest extent!!! Author Sabrina Flynn gives a double-whammy of sass, magnetism, and vivacity in a 233 page novel. First in a seven book series, with the most current having come out in May of 2020, From the Ashes is a suspenseful, historical fiction novel that keeps transporting readers to a new world.

I finished the entire series within a two week time period, reading every second that I could. House work and writing time were taken up by the delightful antics of Isobel Amsel Kingston and Atticus James Riot. The author introduces us to two eccentric and original characters who are the greatest duo I've ever read in the longest time!!

Atticus James Riot has just returned to San Francisco after three years away. The death of his partner and founder of Ravenwood Detective Agency, as well as his own narrow escape with death, catapulted Riot from the California shores. His homecoming was only to dismantle his inheritance, the agency and home of his dead partner and mentor, before leaving again. However, he didn't count on getting pulled into the mystery of a kidnapped wife once his feet hit the doorstep. What follows is a tricky quest to find a wild woman and wife of an unscrupulous lawyer before she ends up dead, too.

Nothing works out as planned.

Isobel, aka Bel, is on her way to visit her family when she's kidnapped and held hostage for days. While on her own, she attempts to set herself free and fight against the men who've held her captive. Fearing her husband is behind the duplicity, she struggles to keep alive and out of the public eye. Diabolical characters and a harrowing plot ensue as the reader gets to see the world from Bel's point of view.

However, sometimes dying and staying dead is the only way to really live.

This story incorporates two points of view that draw you in. If a book could intoxicate you, this one would have you drunk in no time. The give and take of each character, the building relationship between the two main characters, the sub-characters, the themes of independence, feminism, race, gender, and life in San Francisco during the 1900s is insightful, heartbreaking, crucial, and devine in more ways than one.

Bel is a vibrant, energetic, and dynamic character who steals the spotlight. She's a young lady with her own agenda, and she's ready to fight for her freedom, family, and friends. Her bravery, ingenuity, and intelligence make her a uncommon and perfect protagonist.

Bel's character also gives the reader a sense that she's dealing with something akin to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, with mood swings that put one in the mind of someone dealing with bipolar disorder. If so, the author sheds light on the activity, symptoms, and behaviors of someone suffering from either of these disorders without calling them by name. It's an excellent way to share the effects of each disorder and how they manifest themselves in someone who would most likely be sent to an institution if they were diagnosed with either during the early 1900s. Just another way the author packs her story with details, 3D characterization, and the exceptional brilliance and bravery of her characters.

Atticus's character has quite a few quirks of his own from his love of hats, incredible stealth, accomplished thought-process, quick draw, and a talented way of reading others. With his intense mannerisms, calm demeanor, and logical way of following clues, you're put in the mind of an ingenious protagonist reminiscent of Sherlock, Nick Charles, and even a little Poirot thrown in for good measure. The way he puts together the pieces of the kidnapping is awe-inspiring. You fall in love with his personality for more than one reason, but his battle of wits pitted against his female counterpart, Bel, is a sensational read and will have readers salivating for more of him and her.

The writing style is fast-paced, action and adventure culminating in every step. The narrative is vibrant and alert. Language flows whether in descriptions of scenery and setting, historical perspective, or lively dialogue. It fits the time period and carries you along, but if I had one issue to contend with in the entire book, it would be some of the language (certain curse words). Otherwise, it's a terrific balance of show and tell as well as the chance to get to know your main characters. The author provides an authentic setting and shares numerous true facts within her fictional world, and one of the things I like most about her books are the "historical afterwards" she has at the end to share what she's learned with her readers. Including real life events into her story grounds it in reality even more and adds genuine and factual balance.

I'm impressed with the author's use of imagery, fact, diction, conflict, flashbacks and foreshadowing, two stellar povs, a ghost's voice, and echoing themes of tragedy, loss, struggle, sacrifice, and love. We learn so much about the characters, their background, and more. I love learning about Bel's upbringing as well as Atticus's. It lends a down-to-earth, realistic, and sympathetic composition to their personal stories which helps the reader to feel even more connected to them. I'm sure there are many other positive points I could share, but I highly recommend readers take the chance to read this stellar book and series firsthand!

Taking into consideration all the glorious parts of this plot, writing style, character development, historical insight, engaging and addictive content, illumination of important facts, and smooth detective skills, I'm in LOVE with this book and its series, and I give it a 5/5 rating.

You have to give this series a try!!
I don't have enough adjectives to do its excellence justice.

Anyone who loves mysteries, detectives/private investigators, historical fiction, and sensational characters will not be disappointed in From the Ashes (Ravenwood Mysteries).