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book_lover_andrea's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. I so enjoyed the first three books that I was not sure if the fourth would live up to my expectations (especially because the 3rd book seemed like it was meant to be the end of a trilogy). However, Dark Road to Darjeeling was a good read. It followed Julia and Brisbane on their honeymoon and took them to India to solve a mystery regarding Julia's sister's ex-lover's husband's death. (Yes, sounds convoluted but it all makes sense in context.) I will say that at times the plot was convoluted...but it kept me guessing until the very end. I would have liked to see more of Brisbane (he was absent for a good portion of the book) and the ending was very sad. I am very much looking forward to reading the next Lady Julia book!!!
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised how well a fourth novel managed to fit into the scheme of things. While the original trilogy seemed complete in itself, it's to the credit of the author that the character development is as intriguing as ever and shows that a tale doesn't have to end after the protagonists have gotten their happily ever after.
cammmiam's review against another edition
3.0
In the final days before they are to return to England from their honeymoon tour, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane are run to ground by her brother and sister. The appeal made is for Julia and Brisbane to travel with them to India and to the aid of a family friend named Jane. Heavily pregnant and newly widowed, Jane is plagued with uncertainty about the nature of her late husband’s demise and what a potential murder could mean for the safety of their unborn child.
Julia -- as always -- wants nothing more than to be an active investigation partner to her husband, while he objects to her inclusion based upon the danger she might find due to her inexperience. So husband and wife continue on as they were before they married: they appear to work together while simultaneously keeping knowledge they have gained to themselves. Can Julia and Brisbane ever be partners in an investigation? Only time will tell. And it appears that this battle will be the prevalent source of tension between them from now on. From my point of view, I am glad that tension remains between Julia and Brisbane, but I am also already missing the delicious sexual tension that had existed before they wed. An element of chemistry appears as if it is almost gone now that they are together...
I have read many of Deanna Raybourn’s books, and in comparison I would have to say that her sense of setting in this book is not as beautifully painted as it will come to be in her later novels. India is an exotic locale, and this book did include plenty of descriptions about Julia’s surrounding. But I was not carried away into the location as much as I wanted to be. I feel as if the mystery should have tied into the location a bit more as well. In conclusion, I would say that this was a good (but far from incredible) addition to the Lady Julia series. It was the end of the book that created the most interest from me, as it revealed more about certain characters and altered the paths that some characters might have otherwise traveled. There was also an intriguing character introduced in this installment who I hope will return to the lives of Julia and Brisbane with more of the devilish actions that he seems to be capable of.
Julia -- as always -- wants nothing more than to be an active investigation partner to her husband, while he objects to her inclusion based upon the danger she might find due to her inexperience. So husband and wife continue on as they were before they married: they appear to work together while simultaneously keeping knowledge they have gained to themselves. Can Julia and Brisbane ever be partners in an investigation? Only time will tell. And it appears that this battle will be the prevalent source of tension between them from now on. From my point of view, I am glad that tension remains between Julia and Brisbane, but I am also already missing the delicious sexual tension that had existed before they wed. An element of chemistry appears as if it is almost gone now that they are together...
I have read many of Deanna Raybourn’s books, and in comparison I would have to say that her sense of setting in this book is not as beautifully painted as it will come to be in her later novels. India is an exotic locale, and this book did include plenty of descriptions about Julia’s surrounding. But I was not carried away into the location as much as I wanted to be. I feel as if the mystery should have tied into the location a bit more as well. In conclusion, I would say that this was a good (but far from incredible) addition to the Lady Julia series. It was the end of the book that created the most interest from me, as it revealed more about certain characters and altered the paths that some characters might have otherwise traveled. There was also an intriguing character introduced in this installment who I hope will return to the lives of Julia and Brisbane with more of the devilish actions that he seems to be capable of.
vanitas's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
maferg01's review against another edition
4.0
I rather enjoyed this book. The story was full of twists that kept me guessing until the end, which I totally did not anticipate at all. Seeing how Julia and Brisbane work toward solidifying their relationship as a couple and professional partners also added depth to the novel. This is an excellent addition to the series that leaves me waiting for the next book.
plpr1590's review against another edition
3.0
The Dark Road to Darjeeling is the 4th book in the Lady Grey mystery series. Now married, Lady Grey and Brisbane have been traveling for thier honeymoon finding that married life isn't nearly as adventurous as they might have hoped. Both seem ready to stir the proverbial pot when a potential mystery is dropped into thier lap.
Pros: Let me begin by saying I am a fan of the Lady Grey series, so I was anxious to read this next installment. With Raybourne taking her characters to an exotic local was an unexpected turn and I was curious to see how they would react to a new environment. I liked many of the minor characters in the book, specifically the Doctor and Harry. And of course, we see different sides of some of our recurring characters as well.
Warning Spoilers Ahead:
Cons: This addition to the series, however, seemed to be lacking some of the qualities I so loved about the other books. The verbal sparing between Lady Grey and Brisbane was lacking and the conclusion to to the mystery left me feeling a bit let down. It was obvious which minor set of characters the murderer would come from, but I felt it was tidied up a bit too quickly and it just felt creepy that the only one shocked by what the reverend had done was Brisbane himself. Lady Grey has always come across on the page as a strong, capable, woman of means yet in this book we see her constantly second guessing herself and fumbling along almost as if she has lost her rudder. Much like the peacock on his own was nothing but an annoyance,until a mate arrived and gave him purpose, so it was with Julia until Brisbane revealed himself. Let us hope that in future installments, they (and the author) have learned that that are much better together and the dynamics of thier partnership make for a much more entertaining read.
Overall: Not bad, I didn't feel I had wasted my money. It doesn't quite live up to the previous 3 books. But there is room for growth and some change in the series as Brisbane and Julia finally accept thier respective roles in thier marriage and partnership, which should keep fans enticed enough to purchase the next in the series.
Pros: Let me begin by saying I am a fan of the Lady Grey series, so I was anxious to read this next installment. With Raybourne taking her characters to an exotic local was an unexpected turn and I was curious to see how they would react to a new environment. I liked many of the minor characters in the book, specifically the Doctor and Harry. And of course, we see different sides of some of our recurring characters as well.
Warning Spoilers Ahead:
Cons: This addition to the series, however, seemed to be lacking some of the qualities I so loved about the other books. The verbal sparing between Lady Grey and Brisbane was lacking and the conclusion to to the mystery left me feeling a bit let down. It was obvious which minor set of characters the murderer would come from, but I felt it was tidied up a bit too quickly and it just felt creepy that the only one shocked by what the reverend had done was Brisbane himself. Lady Grey has always come across on the page as a strong, capable, woman of means yet in this book we see her constantly second guessing herself and fumbling along almost as if she has lost her rudder. Much like the peacock on his own was nothing but an annoyance,until a mate arrived and gave him purpose, so it was with Julia until Brisbane revealed himself. Let us hope that in future installments, they (and the author) have learned that that are much better together and the dynamics of thier partnership make for a much more entertaining read.
Overall: Not bad, I didn't feel I had wasted my money. It doesn't quite live up to the previous 3 books. But there is room for growth and some change in the series as Brisbane and Julia finally accept thier respective roles in thier marriage and partnership, which should keep fans enticed enough to purchase the next in the series.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
"After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child - and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?
Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary." (From Amazon)
ark Road to Darjeeling is the fourth book in Lady Julia Grey mysteries. So far it is my least favourite of the series. Julia and her siblings Portia, Plum along with her new husband, Brisbane travel to India when Jane's (Portia's former lover) husband dies leaving her pregnant and alone. The mystery was not that great and the Indian characters lacked dimension.
"After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child - and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?
Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary." (From Amazon)
ark Road to Darjeeling is the fourth book in Lady Julia Grey mysteries. So far it is my least favourite of the series. Julia and her siblings Portia, Plum along with her new husband, Brisbane travel to India when Jane's (Portia's former lover) husband dies leaving her pregnant and alone. The mystery was not that great and the Indian characters lacked dimension.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Road to Darjeeling
4 Stars
Lady Julia and her new husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel to a remote provence of India at the request of her sister Portia who is concerned about her former lover. It seems that Jane Cavendish’s husband has died under mysterious circumstances and she is afraid for her life and that of her unborn child. So begins the Brisbane’s quest to uncover the truth, but can their newfound happiness withstand the pressure?
Although the lush and exotic setting is immersive, the mystery leaves much to be desired. To begin with, the pacing is even slower than that of the previous installments and the question of whether there has even been a murder remains open for much of the book. In addition, most of the twists and turns of the storyline are obvious and there are few clues to the eventual explanation of events. Moreover, the resolution is anti-climactic with very little tension and suspense.
Nevertheless, the progression of Nicholas and Julia’s relationship manages to compensate for the mediocre mystery. Unlike numerous reviewers who view the ups and downs of their marriage in a negative light, for me it is only natural that they should be testing the boundaries with one another. Considering Julia’s fervent desire to be an equal partner and her husband’s equally determined need to keep her safe, it is not at all surprising that they should be at loggerheads.
In sum, not one of the better books in the series but an entertaining read nonetheless and I’m eager to read the final book to see whether Nicholas and Julia will finally find a balance between their personal and professional needs.
4 Stars
Lady Julia and her new husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel to a remote provence of India at the request of her sister Portia who is concerned about her former lover. It seems that Jane Cavendish’s husband has died under mysterious circumstances and she is afraid for her life and that of her unborn child. So begins the Brisbane’s quest to uncover the truth, but can their newfound happiness withstand the pressure?
Although the lush and exotic setting is immersive, the mystery leaves much to be desired. To begin with, the pacing is even slower than that of the previous installments and the question of whether there has even been a murder remains open for much of the book. In addition, most of the twists and turns of the storyline are obvious and there are few clues to the eventual explanation of events. Moreover, the resolution is anti-climactic with very little tension and suspense.
Nevertheless, the progression of Nicholas and Julia’s relationship manages to compensate for the mediocre mystery. Unlike numerous reviewers who view the ups and downs of their marriage in a negative light, for me it is only natural that they should be testing the boundaries with one another. Considering Julia’s fervent desire to be an equal partner and her husband’s equally determined need to keep her safe, it is not at all surprising that they should be at loggerheads.
In sum, not one of the better books in the series but an entertaining read nonetheless and I’m eager to read the final book to see whether Nicholas and Julia will finally find a balance between their personal and professional needs.
drrawsonreads's review against another edition
3.0
Lady Julia is no Amelia Peabody, but this was a mostly-enjoyable and easy-to-read mystery. I won't rush out to read the rest of the series though!
eb2114's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5