Shadows in Chinatown

A Mrs. Kelly Mystery, Book One

Currently long-listed for the Chanticleer CIBA M&M Award

Karine Kelly’s dream of a fresh start as a mail-order bride in booming 1882 San Francisco becomes a nightmare when her charming Irish husband is murdered on their wedding night. Waking to destitute widowhood and fiercely angry in-laws, she discovers a series of shocking secrets that her husband left behind.

Why did he tell no one about their wedding? Why was a Chinese assailant hunting him and now stalking her? Why do residents in the city shadows seem to know more about her husband than she does? And why does the irritating Detective Max Fisher keep turning up like a bad penny?

Faced with appalling apathy and growing suspicion from the police, Karine’s determined to follow the trail of lies to find justice in a lawless city.

Warily working around each other as the killer strikes again, Karine and Detective Fisher uncover a sinister web of corruption, bigotry, and betrayals that circles ever closer to the jade pendant she wears over her heart—all that’s left of her husband’s pledge—and a ticking bomb that threatens to destroy Chinatown.

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You can leave a review for Shadows in Chinatown here!

Irish in Chinatown! What could go wrong? – Adam B, Amazon ★★★★★
Weaving a priceless artifact into an Irish marriage in old San Francisco made an amazing storyline. Throwing murders and social commentary into the mix made this story even more compelling!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book start to finish and would love to read more about the intrepid Mrs. Kelly!

Wild twisty turny mystery! – Shopper in WI, Amazon ★★★★★
I love Mrs. Kelly. She has grace and wit and courage! This story has so much to enjoy. The characters are rich and full. The setting is detailed clearly without getting mired down in specifics that don’t add to the story. The mystery is wild, twisty and delightful. it was a joy to read!

Unreal! – KymmLisa, Amazon ★★★★★
Hard to imagine being a mail order bride, arriving to meet your husband to be, marrying him that same day, then finding him murdered the next morning, but that’s exactly where this story starts. What a beginning! That’s only a small part of the action and drama that goes on in “Shadows in Chinatown” the first book in the “Mrs. Kelly” mystery series. The book was action and adventure from the first chapter and didn’t really let up until the very final pages. What this poor woman went through, through no fault of her own was unbelievable. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than a day. The book did get complicated in some parts so pay attention while reading it but otherwise it was very good. I love a good historical mystery especially one with a female protagonist, so this book was right up my alley. I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Kelly gets into next. Happy Reading!

Jolie has another winner! – Diane, Amazon ★★★★★
I love her spunky female lead characters, her wit and fast-paced action. The attention to detail and amount of research that goes into her historical fiction is awesome!

gritty historical mystery– Robin S, Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Goodreads/Bookbub ★★★★★
Karine Kelly is a mail order bride, traveling from Minnesota to San Francisco, and becoming a widow overnight. This is my first read by this author, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next in this series. Karine is a strong, independent woman in a time and place when such qualities were not considered assets. She is determined to find out what happened to her husband, because the police are not investigating – the lawlessness and corruption of the city are overwhelming their meager resources. Mrs. Kelly has few allies, as she is caught between the Irish, the Chinese, the police, and the corrupt city officials. A gritty historical mystery/drama with a likeable main character, many secrets, and lots of action.

Anonymous – Barnes & Noble/Goodreads ★★★★★
I can’t decide what I like best about this book. I really enjoyed the plot and how the story was developed. But I also enjoyed a look at early San Francisco. I have to say that given the problems Mrs. Kelly faced if I had been in her shoes, and one Scandinavian to another, they would surly have fit, I would have turned around and gone home.

I heartily recommend this book, especially if you like reading something you can sink into but not finish in 4 hours or less. Enjoy!

A read you won’t regret– Sugar J.J., Amazon ★★★★★
This fascinating mystery is set in old San Francisco with horses and carriages and ballgowns and opulence and a seedy underbelly. It grabbed my attention and sucked me into the story—even though the narrator and I were both equally confused as new twists developed. Somehow the protagonist solves the mystery by being in the right places at the right times. The writer made me see the action and pulled me into the story. I was pleased that the e-format was well-edited with no distracting misspellings or grammar errors.

A mystery to love – Indie Author too, Amazon  ★★★★★
If you love historical mysteries and a spunky heroine, you’ll love Jolie Tunnell’s new book, Shadows in Chinatown. The story starts out with Karine arriving in San Francisco as a mail-order bride, and she gets more than she bargains for when the marriage becomes a who-done-it instead. With a cast of other characters that help or hinder, I was wrapped up in the intrigue of this mystery. Entertaining and engaging, it’s a must read!

Another Winner From Tunnell – Jennifer Seibert, Amazon ★★★★★
This book was a page-turner. I’ve read all of Jolie’s Loveda Brown series, and this book has the same feel. It’s suspenseful without being outlandish. Jolie writes in the time period as if she’s lived there herself. I look forward to another Mrs. Kelly mystery!

Mad About Books – Barnes & Noble/Goodreads/Bookbub ★★★★★
I’ve read my fair share of novels about Victorian-era San Francisco, but none quite like Shadows in Chinatown. Jolie Tunnell has penned a thriller that seamlessly blends history and mystery into a captivating tale, tied together with tangled string.

Karine Kelly, née Langland, leaves the Minnesota farm where she grew up to marry a man in San Francisco she has never met. She dreams of being a “lady”—attending the theatre and opera, living a life of leisure. But those illusions are shattered when she meets the charismatic Patrick Kelly, who greets her at the train station and swiftly whisks her off to City Hall for their nuptials. Once married, she finds herself in a poor section of the city known as Dogpatch, living in a basement room beneath a butcher shop. Above the shop reside Brigid and Fergus, Patrick’s sister and brother. The train trip from Omaha to her squalid new home is sprinkled with Karine’s wistful daydreams of a grand city life.
On her wedding night, after attending a boxing match, Patrick is murdered. Despite the police’s indifference, Karine is determined to see justice done for her husband. Her quest reveals deep-seated corruption in the city, entrenched racial bias against the Chinese community, and the secret of a long-lost treasure—one that must be found to prevent further bloodshed.

Shadows in Chinatown is a gripping page-turner that pulls readers from Dogpatch to Market Street to the shadowy alleys of Chinatown, unraveling a tale of deception, ambition, and danger. Whom can we trust? Brigid? Fergus? Lin, the failed assassin? Detective Fisher? There’s enough corruption on all sides to make your head spin.

Fans of historical mysteries and richly detailed period pieces will find themselves enthralled by Karine’s journey through the dark underbelly of San Francisco. With its fast-paced narrative and intricate web of intrigue, Shadows in Chinatown is an unforgettable start to the Kelly family saga.

What a great story! – Ruth McDaniel, Amazon ★★★★★
This was a really good book. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it.
Mrs Kelly, newly arrived in San Francisco as a mail order bride, is left a widow almost as soon as she’s been married. The Irishman she married ends up dead in a horse stall, and from there, things go very downhill and very fast. There are things going down in Chinatown, and somehow, Carine (Kelly) has found herself smack in the middle of it all.
I will not reveal any details, as this is a book worth reading.

Fun Historical Female Detective – Nancy, Amazon ★★★★★
Hooray! A new Jolie Tunnell series! I’ve already devoured all of the Loveda Brown books, what fun to get the exciting backstory of Karine. Whether you’re a returning fan or discovering this fantastic author for the first time, if you enjoy historical mystery stories with gutsy heroines, prepare to be wowed by Mrs Kelly!

ABrahosky – Goodreads ★★★★★
Weaving a priceless artifact into an Irish marriage in old San Francisco made an amazing storyline. Throwing murders and social commentary into the mix made this story even more compelling! I thoroughly enjoyed this book start to finish and would love to read more about the intrepid Mrs. Kelly!

Marry in haste… – Angela M. Sukala, Amazon ★★★★★
When Karine Langland gets off the train in San Francisco, she’s more than ready for the adventure of being a mail-order bride. She’d been desperate to get out of Minnesota and see the rest of the world. It didn’t hurt that her fiancée, Patrick Kelly, was as handsome as his photographs. After a quick wedding at City Hall, they hurried home to his family’s butcher shop to meet his sister and brother. To Karine’s horror she finds out his brother and sister had no idea he was getting married and hate her on sight.

After sharing dinner and wine in their room on their wedding night, Patrick tells her he has a secret fortune set aside and that they’re leaving California in the morning for Canada. Karine can hardly contain her excitement. Unfortunately, instead of heading off on an adventure the next morning, Karine finds her husband’s dead body in the barn and realizes that Patrick’s family and the police, are convinced she had killed her husband.

As Karine sets out to clear her name and find Patrick’s hidden fortune, she meets up with corrupt politicians, deadly gangs from Chinatown and a detective who seems bound and determined to see her hang for Patrick’s murder.

Jolie Tunnell is an excellent storyteller, and Shadows in Chinatown is an excellent read with a smart, pluck heroine and a mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Ms. Tunnell’s historical research is impeccable, and she really makes you feel like you’re in San Francisco in the Gilded Age.

Kat M – Goodreads ★★★★★
This was a strong start to the Mrs. Kelly Mystery series, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was wanting and enjoyed in this type of book. I thought the historical element worked well in this concept and was everything that I wanted in this type of book. The characters were so well written and worked in the time-period. Jolie Tunnell was able to weave a strong tale and characters that I cared about, I’m excited to read more in this series and am excited for more.

A great read – latte, Amazon ★★★★★
A rich, thoughtful historical mystery set in San Francisco. Shadows in Chinatown follows the sharp mail order bride, Mrs. Kelly, as she delves into the heart of the city’s Chinese-American community. Jolie Tunnell blends historical detail, social insight, and suspense with ease. A beautifully written, meaningful read.

Elainec – Amazon ★★★★★
Shadows in Chinatown is a magnificent start to what promises to be a captivating historical mystery series. Set in 1882 San Francisco, the story masterfully blends the intrigue of a classic whodunit with the rich atmosphere of a bygone era. From the very beginning, the novel grips you with the sudden murder of Karine Kelly’s new husband on their wedding night, plunging readers into a chilling mystery involving a missing jade stone and three subsequent murders.

Jolie Tunnell does a brilliant job bringing her characters to life—even those who meet an early demise leave a lasting impression. Karine Kelly, a mail-order bride turned amateur sleuth, proves to be a compelling and intelligent protagonist. Paired with Detective Max Fisher, the duo works to unravel a sinister web of corruption and secrets lurking in Chinatown.

The writing is crisp, immersive, and well-paced, keeping readers engaged through every twist and turn. This debut in the Mrs. Kelly Mysteries series is both richly atmospheric and cleverly plotted.

I highly recommend Shadows in Chinatown to fans of historical mysteries and anyone who enjoys a strong female lead with a keen eye for justice. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment!

Diane Richmond – Goodreads ★★★★★
I loved this book and so happy to know it’s the first in a series, because I can’t wait to read the next one….lots of twists and turns in this historical whodunnit, set in the highs and lows of 19th century San Francisco.

Shimnom – Goodreads ★★★★★
Karine Kelly’s life shatters when she wakes to find her husband dead, his furious family blaming her, and a police force indifferent to yet another murder in San Francisco’s Irish community. What begins as a quest for truth thrusts her into the city’s gritty underbelly, crossing paths with Chinatown’s residents, Jewish shopkeepers, and rival Irish factions. Along the way, a mysterious gift from her late husband, one tied to a trail of bloodshed, forces her to confront two burning questions: Who killed Patrick Kelley? And why does his legacy seem drenched in violence?

I read this thriller in two days, hooked by its pacing and layered mystery. However, the story occasionally veers into melodrama, particularly in Karine’s actions, which sometimes strain believability. While the premise has potential, the characters, from the grieving widow to the shadowy figures she encounters, often feel underdeveloped, more like archetypes than fully realized people.

Despite these minor flaws, the book delivers the twists and urgency thriller fans crave. If you can overlook moments of over-the-top drama and thin characterization, it’s a gripping ride through a vividly rendered historical setting.
Looking forward to reading book two! I appreciate the author for this wonderful gift.

A turn of the century mystery – Shelly M Neinast – Amazon ★★★★★
Shadows in Chinatown is the first book in the Mrs. Kelly Mystery series. I love reading historical fiction mysteries especially when the author shows that she has done extensive research into the time period. Jolie Tunnell created a great storyline and I loved reading about the turn of the century time period and with the author including each character and scenery presented in a realistic setting it made this book very intriguing and interesting to read.

After the way the story ended, I am more than interested in continuing the book series in reading book 2.

Olivia Morris – Goodreads ★★★★★
Karine Kelly isn’t your typical mail order bride and when she finds herself in San Fransisco when the city is nothing more than a hick town, she finds herself wondering just what she has gotten herself into.

It doesn’t take long for madness and mayhem to enter her life. On what was her wedding day, her husband is murdered! That is just the beginning of the plot, there is so much more going on! Karine insists on finding out who would do this! Without much help from the authorities, she takes it upon herself to find out what happened and why.

This book is a page turner that moves very quickly and gives you an idea of what SanFran was like in the “olden” days. Lawlessness and warring factions of Irish, Chinese and many other nationalities are clashing all the time. The truth is sometimes very hard to find.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery with many cultural flavors thrown in as well. A great read!

Loved it – Rose, Amazon ★★★★★
Very well written, full of drama, intrigue, suspense, murder, action, cultures and history. Karine is coming to San Francisco as a mail bride. She wants to travel and have some adventures and nice things- ball, gowns and parties. So when she rads this offer of marriage in the newspaper, she feels it the right choice for her. She and Patrick exchange letters and he sends for her. On arrival , they marry and then he takes her home. His brother and sister are not happy to see her nor learn about their marriage. Their first night together, she has to much to drink and falls asleep. It looks like he slept on the floor. She gets up and is told there are chores to do and head for the barn where she finds him dead. From there on out , the Detective assigned to the case feels she s involved or knows more then she is telling. Karine has to deal with him, the cops and the Chinese while trying to solve his murder.

Has lots of action that keeps you turning the pages. Would strongly recommend to others.

Mrs LIR Linda – Goodreads ★★★★★
Very unusual story of racial tension in the 1880s in San Francisco. It also shows how different the people from a different state were to California.
The tensions are between the Irish, Chinese and the wealthier white people who are the political elite. Karine comes from a Scandinavian- Minnesota background and she has traveled as the bride to an Irish man whose family are poor and hardworking. Karine’s husband is murdered the first night and the story is how she has nowhere to go and the family do not want her. She is hardworking and helps out whilst trying to investigate the murder and get justice. Detective Fisher is too investigating despite political moves to curtail the truth.

Between them they persist despite dangers. The story is well told and very gripping. I like the main characters and hope to read the next books in the series.

Great, fast-paced historical mystery for older teens and adults! – HAL, Amazon ★★★★★
This is a great book! How good? I finished the book three weeks ago and still remember most all the book. A brave lady travels half the continent to marry an unknown Irishman. A nice plan, but she finds married life is harder than she thought. Her husband’s morals were very shady, he is found murdered, and it seems the whole of Chinatown is after her and she doesn’t know why. She better find out fast before she’s a dead widow. Luckily she has a policeman helping her-at least, she’s hoping he is on her side. I loved the strong character of Mrs. Kelly and the few new friends she made in the city.

This is a fast, clean read. There may be a couple swears, maybe not, but the violence is mildly moderate, the corruption intensely rampant and the page turning factor perfect. Though I received Tunnell’s mystery as a free ARC, this review is freely and honestly given with the hope others enjoy immersing themselves in an historical San Francisco mystery as much as I did.

Courtney Pityer – Goodreads ★★★★★
An interesting historical mystery novel set in nineteenth century San Francisco. Karine Kelly gets more than she bargained for when she leaves her Minnesota home to answer an advertisement to be a mail order bride. the day after the wedding her new husband is dead and everyone is suspicious of Karine’s recent arrival in town. Feeling like law enforcement isn’t doing anything to find her husbands killer Karine takes matters into her own hands and goes on her own search meeting various people along the way.

Overall this was very intriguing for a mystery novel. The characters are very interesting such as Karine staying the avenge a man she barely knew and some of the citizens of San Francisco and their rivalries. I look forward to what book 2 brings.

Susan L – Amazon ★★★★★
Shadows in Chinatown is the first book in Jolie Tunnell’s exciting new series, A Mrs. Kelly Mystery. Jolie is a new to me author and historical mystery is a genre that in the past I haven’t chosen to read. It was only after reading The Lady in Blue series, also by a Tule author, H.L. Marsay, that I realized I enjoyed such a trope. Shadows in Chinatown was very well written, had a lot of surprises, historical insights, secrets and intrigue….

This was a very exciting and enjoyable book to read. I am glad to have found this new author. Jolie has provided the great beginning book for her new series. I didn’t know much about San Francisco in the 1880’s so this was quite enlightening. The author was very descriptive of the times, the setting and what the political climate was like at the time of this story. She did a fantastic job in her character development and description. I give this 5 stars and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Great mystery! – Jewel Parker, Amazon ★★★★★
A great mystery! You really feel for Mrs. Kelly in here predicament. Interesting and unexpected turn of events at the end of the book. If you like gem heists, arranged marriage, and a diverse cast of characters, this book is for you!

A Very Complicated Plot – Henry IV, Amazon ★★★★★
As usual, Ms. Tunnell writes very gracefully. I hope she continues to use a lot of exotic cultural background in this new series.

Excellent Series Starter – Melinda Smith, Amazon ★★★★★
Interesting characters and lots of twists and clues that kept me reading until the end. I can’t wait for the next book. A must read.

Delightful historical cozy mystery with an amazing lead character! – Love2Read, Amazon ★★★★★
Karine Langland agreed to become Patrick Kelly’s mail order bride. She traveled across the country, from Minnesota to San Francisco, married him the same day she arrived, and less than 24 hours later, she found herself a widow. Being of good, sturdy Norwegian stock, she’s determined to bring justice to her husband, but so much that doesn’t make sense keeps happening around. Even worse, her life may be in danger, for without her understanding the significance, Patrick had given her a wedding gift of unbelievable value and significance.

Karine will find herself traveling the streets of San Francisco, intermingling with those who are Irish and Chinese, and learning so many things she’d never imagined on her family’s dairy farm. Moving away from wide-open sunny spaces to crowded conditions, an ocean, and fog, Karine will find herself in the middle of multiple murders, poverty, and high society. As confused as she often finds herself, she never backs down, and she never gives up.

This was a delightful historical cozy mystery. While the story is well-researched and well-written, it’s the characters that make this tale come to life. I felt a definite “I Remember Mama” vibe in the pages of this book, and that only added to the enjoyment.
This is the first book in the “A Mrs. Kelly Mystery” series, and if you enjoy historical cozies, amateur female sleuths who are considered suspects, and an array of other possible suspects, then this may be the perfect book for you. I highly recommend it, and can’t wait for the next book in the series to become available.

A Fast-Moving Historical Mystery with a Resourceful Female Protagonist – Village Witch, Amazon ★★★★★
Thirtyish spinster Karine Langland is traveling west to California by train, having left her family home in Minnesota to pursue a new and quite different life path in San Francisco. She dreams of silk dresses, art galleries, fine wines, sophisticated conversations, and a far more exciting and elegant existence than the one she’s been living amongst eight brothers on a Holstein dairy farm, while cooking for everyone to boot. It’s clear a secret grief has also alienated and pushed her away. She also carries along the remembered social advice and sensible admonitions of her Aunt Mary, which often occur to her as she contemplates her changing situation.

Her route to this new life will seem transactional to some contemporary readers, but it was not an uncommon one for the 1880s and the era’s relentless push westward. After reading a personals ad and a flurry of letters, she has agreed to become the mail-order bride of a seemingly ambitious Irish butcher named Patrick Kelly.
The settings everything from elite luxury hotels to back-alley laundries and underground criminal dens. The prejudices and tensions of several highly-different cultures living in close proximity but often with little understanding of, or tolerance for each other, adds both more tension and a convincing backdrop for the action.

Tunnell’s prose conveys specific sensory details and vivid settings. But the action has great forward momentum, and those descriptive scenes and passages are illuminating but never overlong. She brings 1880s San Francisco to life while managing also to set a brisk narrative pace and insert occasional cliffhangers to keep events rocketing along. Her portrayal of the attitudes of some White citizens toward the Chinese and Irish residents I suspect might be slightly optimistic for the times, though still within the realm of credibility.

I would have appreciated a bit more specific backstory shown for Karine – perhaps a few brief but telling actual flashback scenes to the farm, to better understand what situation there she was running from since sometimes her motivations seem a bit too enigmatic. And complications arise at such a breakneck pace, at times the plot developments begin to press against – though never actually overturn – the story’s credibility.
But in the scheme of things these are all minor quibbles, and there is a small, intriguing hint at the end about what actually drove Karine to leave Minnesota. SHADOWS IN CHINATOWN overall is a gripping and entertaining read. Highly recommended, especially for readers who like a fast-moving mystery with historical setting and a strong, sharp-witted female protagonist.