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meganstreb's review
4.0
I enjoyed it. Still playing around with the narrative structure, but I thought it worked well.
impalalove's review against another edition
3.0
Low three stars. The entire series are interesting historical novels and realistic for the time periods. Unfortunately, that also means the racism, the misogynistic attitude (particularly since they didn't have the respect of their male counterparts in jobs, like Ogden, who worked as a coroner, and Amy Slade, who worked as an enlightened teacher and had to toe the line carefully as not to offend the upper management with her unusual teaching methods); and the ethical issues of different religious members in a marriage, abortion, and the idea of divorce are in the series.
Interesting read, regardless of the rather gritty and sad realism (which isn't to my taste).
Interesting read, regardless of the rather gritty and sad realism (which isn't to my taste).
j_dyzzle's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit that I fell in and out of the plot on this one a bit. It was interesting, but the timelines and characters seemed to get convoluted and confusing. I still liked the writing, but the story did not seem quite on par with the rest of the series. The ending of the personal story for Murdoch also seemed almost like an afterthought, which seemed unfair considering it is book 7 in his series. I would have liked to see a little more resolution on the part of the character.
bookcrone_'s review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up on a Monday and had finished it by Tuesday. I was thoroughly entertained, couldn’t put it down, and subsequently spent some time researching the historical incident on which it was based.
This is the 7th in Jennings’ Detective Murdoch series. I read the first one and enjoyed it, and I think that the series gets even better as it goes along. Set in 1890′s Toronto, the novels are more serious than Murdoch Mysteries, the enjoyable and slightly tongue-in-cheek tv show based on them. Both the books and the tv show give more space to vigorous, intelligent female characters and social themes than is often the case in mysteries that feature a male protagonist. Thanks Maureen Jennings!
The murders to be solved in A Journeyman to Grief are connected with incidents that occurred 40 years earlier when Blacks were still slaves in the southern U.S. and Toronto was a destination on the Underground Railroad. The story is gripping and it was only after I finished reading the book that I questioned some of the intricacies in the plot.
The historical aspect of it was convincing and well done. I learned that the expression “up to scratch” comes from bare-fisted (and illegal) boxing, as does “throw in the towel.” Jennings was inspired to write this book by a historical incident reported in Recollections and records of Toronto of Old by William H. Pearson. Published in 1914, this book records Pearson’s memoirs of mid 19th century Toronto. At Adelaide and Church
"where the Post Office now stands, was the livery stable of James Mink, a colored man and somewhat notable character. He was a very well-known citizen, a man of marked individuality, considerable intelligence and good business ability. He was stout and rather fine-looking. He had a violent temper and used to deal very roughly with the boys, so that we gave his place a pretty wide berth. His livery stable was a large one and he kept a number of good horses. He did a large business and was reported as being well off. In addition to his stables he kept a hotel called the “Mansion House Inn.”
He had a daughter who was very black, though she had good features, was tall and quite dignified, and attracted considerable notice. Her father, wishing to improve her social position, openly stated that he would give a considerable sum of money to any respectable white man who would marry her. By-and-by a suitor came along, won the heart of Miss Mink and was accepted by her father, and it was not long before they were married, and with her the husband obtained the promised pecuniary consideration. He took her for an extended trip in the United States, and when they arrived at South Carolina the disreputable scoundrel cruelly sold his young wife into slavery, and she being young, healthy and good-looking brought a considerable sum of money. The father, on learning of the dastardly trick played upon himself and his daughter, took
immediate steps to repurchase her and brought her back to Toronto. Poor Mr. Mink had to pay very dearly for the coveted honor of having a white man for his son- in-law !" (p 63-64)
The story of James Mink and his daughter was also made into a tv movie (Captive Heart) with Lou Gosett Jr., which played rather loose with the facts but is worth renting. Better yet, read a Murdoch mystery for yourself!
This is the 7th in Jennings’ Detective Murdoch series. I read the first one and enjoyed it, and I think that the series gets even better as it goes along. Set in 1890′s Toronto, the novels are more serious than Murdoch Mysteries, the enjoyable and slightly tongue-in-cheek tv show based on them. Both the books and the tv show give more space to vigorous, intelligent female characters and social themes than is often the case in mysteries that feature a male protagonist. Thanks Maureen Jennings!
The murders to be solved in A Journeyman to Grief are connected with incidents that occurred 40 years earlier when Blacks were still slaves in the southern U.S. and Toronto was a destination on the Underground Railroad. The story is gripping and it was only after I finished reading the book that I questioned some of the intricacies in the plot.
The historical aspect of it was convincing and well done. I learned that the expression “up to scratch” comes from bare-fisted (and illegal) boxing, as does “throw in the towel.” Jennings was inspired to write this book by a historical incident reported in Recollections and records of Toronto of Old by William H. Pearson. Published in 1914, this book records Pearson’s memoirs of mid 19th century Toronto. At Adelaide and Church
"where the Post Office now stands, was the livery stable of James Mink, a colored man and somewhat notable character. He was a very well-known citizen, a man of marked individuality, considerable intelligence and good business ability. He was stout and rather fine-looking. He had a violent temper and used to deal very roughly with the boys, so that we gave his place a pretty wide berth. His livery stable was a large one and he kept a number of good horses. He did a large business and was reported as being well off. In addition to his stables he kept a hotel called the “Mansion House Inn.”
He had a daughter who was very black, though she had good features, was tall and quite dignified, and attracted considerable notice. Her father, wishing to improve her social position, openly stated that he would give a considerable sum of money to any respectable white man who would marry her. By-and-by a suitor came along, won the heart of Miss Mink and was accepted by her father, and it was not long before they were married, and with her the husband obtained the promised pecuniary consideration. He took her for an extended trip in the United States, and when they arrived at South Carolina the disreputable scoundrel cruelly sold his young wife into slavery, and she being young, healthy and good-looking brought a considerable sum of money. The father, on learning of the dastardly trick played upon himself and his daughter, took
immediate steps to repurchase her and brought her back to Toronto. Poor Mr. Mink had to pay very dearly for the coveted honor of having a white man for his son- in-law !" (p 63-64)
The story of James Mink and his daughter was also made into a tv movie (Captive Heart) with Lou Gosett Jr., which played rather loose with the facts but is worth renting. Better yet, read a Murdoch mystery for yourself!
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