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nolegirl's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say, I adore Deanna Raybourn's books. I love the characters, the settings and the way she has of putting it all together. This was no exception.
Lady Julia Grey has to figure out once and for all of she and Nicholas Brisbane can find a way to be together and be happy. But first some skeletons have to be gotten rid of and some mysteries have to be solved. Brisbane is keeping more from Julia then normal and she's determined to figure it all out. Of course some of Julia's family are around to help, or not help as the case may be.
Another great book in this series that just keeps getting better. Couldn't wait to start the latest in the series and thankfully I had pre-ordered it and it was waiting for me on my Kindle.
Lady Julia Grey has to figure out once and for all of she and Nicholas Brisbane can find a way to be together and be happy. But first some skeletons have to be gotten rid of and some mysteries have to be solved. Brisbane is keeping more from Julia then normal and she's determined to figure it all out. Of course some of Julia's family are around to help, or not help as the case may be.
Another great book in this series that just keeps getting better. Couldn't wait to start the latest in the series and thankfully I had pre-ordered it and it was waiting for me on my Kindle.
indecisivesailorscout's review
3.0
I really don't know why I just picked up this series in the middle without reading the first two books, but sometimes insomnia is like that. I honestly enjoyed it despite the lack of context, although I had two major issues with it: first, consistently ending chapters with a variation of, "little did I know that THIS major plot thing would happen shortly after..." and secondly how they basically get together because of all of the manipulations Brisbane used in order to get the outcome he desired. It wasn't my flavor of the day, to say the least. But everything else, especially Julia herself, was absolutely lovely.
violetcat's review
5.0
I can be added to the long list of readers who don't like the new covers for this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story though and look forward to the next book from Deanna Raybourn.
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third in the Lady Julia Grey Mysteries certainly better than the second and probably as good as the first, Deanna Raybourn has found her way with this character as well as other supporting characters.
Lady Julia Grey along with her sister Portia decide to go and stay with Nicholas Brisbane, the man that Lady Julia met whilst stood over her husband's dead body (see Silent in the Grave). His new property is in Yorkshire and there is something not quite right about it and the remaining residents the Allenby's who are intrinsically connected to the house and somehow to Brisbane. Lady Allenby is widowed and only has her two daughters Hilda and Ailith Allenby for company within the house, her son Redwall died after returning from Egypt after being exposed in Egyptology circles and ruining his reputation. However Redwall's fascination with Egyptology leads Lady Julia to start cataloguing his treasures from Egypt to keep her mind off the annoyance in her life that is Brisbane. This cataloguing leads to the opening up of the past, walls and coffins which results in some devastating actions.
Lady Julia also spends time with Rosalie, living on the crossroads on the moor, a gypsy who elects to stay in one place for a personal reason but helps many people with tonics and teas from everything natural. Rosalie has connections with Brisbane, and Lady Julia discovers a lot about his past, in turn Brisbane also has much confirmed about his background.
Raybourn has used her obvious love of all things gothic with this book - it has resonances of Jane Eyre, what is the history behind the women seemingly stuck in the house. Wuthering Heights, the wildness of the moor is described beautifully and poetically that it really gave a grave and dark foreboding sense to the property ironically called Grimsgrave. There is the witticism, and I love Lady Julia Grey's sister Portia who bounces off all the characters very well, despite her own life story. Their relationships with their maids' makes for amusing reading, and one wonders who is really in charge them or Morag and Minna. Romance is the air as we see it grow further into the open with Lady Julia and Brisbane. My only concern is that if they get together then will we lose that wonderful sparring and bantering they have which makes for their rich characters.
The story does seem somewhat slow, but whilst it is not a classic whodunit it has some depth, and makes you question the actions of those who are trapped at Grimsgrave. It is a wonderful insight to Victorian society not just from the upper echelons but also the lower ones, the maids stories are covered, even the wandering Gypsies(prominent in all these books) are covered with such care, that it becomes a book to show what life was like at that time, and how it affects others. In some cases the attempted murders become a back story.
I do hope there will be another book, hinted at definitely in the last couple of pages, but please do not lose the wonderful relationship that Lady Julia and Brisbane have developed.
Lady Julia Grey along with her sister Portia decide to go and stay with Nicholas Brisbane, the man that Lady Julia met whilst stood over her husband's dead body (see Silent in the Grave). His new property is in Yorkshire and there is something not quite right about it and the remaining residents the Allenby's who are intrinsically connected to the house and somehow to Brisbane. Lady Allenby is widowed and only has her two daughters Hilda and Ailith Allenby for company within the house, her son Redwall died after returning from Egypt after being exposed in Egyptology circles and ruining his reputation. However Redwall's fascination with Egyptology leads Lady Julia to start cataloguing his treasures from Egypt to keep her mind off the annoyance in her life that is Brisbane. This cataloguing leads to the opening up of the past, walls and coffins which results in some devastating actions.
Lady Julia also spends time with Rosalie, living on the crossroads on the moor, a gypsy who elects to stay in one place for a personal reason but helps many people with tonics and teas from everything natural. Rosalie has connections with Brisbane, and Lady Julia discovers a lot about his past, in turn Brisbane also has much confirmed about his background.
Raybourn has used her obvious love of all things gothic with this book - it has resonances of Jane Eyre, what is the history behind the women seemingly stuck in the house. Wuthering Heights, the wildness of the moor is described beautifully and poetically that it really gave a grave and dark foreboding sense to the property ironically called Grimsgrave. There is the witticism, and I love Lady Julia Grey's sister Portia who bounces off all the characters very well, despite her own life story. Their relationships with their maids' makes for amusing reading, and one wonders who is really in charge them or Morag and Minna. Romance is the air as we see it grow further into the open with Lady Julia and Brisbane. My only concern is that if they get together then will we lose that wonderful sparring and bantering they have which makes for their rich characters.
The story does seem somewhat slow, but whilst it is not a classic whodunit it has some depth, and makes you question the actions of those who are trapped at Grimsgrave. It is a wonderful insight to Victorian society not just from the upper echelons but also the lower ones, the maids stories are covered, even the wandering Gypsies(prominent in all these books) are covered with such care, that it becomes a book to show what life was like at that time, and how it affects others. In some cases the attempted murders become a back story.
I do hope there will be another book, hinted at definitely in the last couple of pages, but please do not lose the wonderful relationship that Lady Julia and Brisbane have developed.
emetrock's review
4.0
Still enjoying the series, but am rather ticked off at the person who decided, three books into it, to change the cover art so the books look like cheap romances. Sure, there's a romantic subplot, but it isn't exactly of the heaving bosom variety.
courtney_etiva's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sandin954's review
4.0
Not quite as humorous or romantic as the previous books in the series (kind of gothic in tone) but still a very enjoyable read.
maggienack's review
3.0
The plot relies too much on deeply implausible occurrences and unlikely strokes of luck.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
jenmcmaynes's review
3.0
I liked the beginning of the series better, but I was glad to see things wrap up.
kbogdano80's review
3.0
A nice, pleasant Victorian mystery. Think decaying old houses, the Brontes, wild moors, family secrets, skeletons in the closet, etc. It wasn't a typical or complicated whodunit mystery. Things were revealed bit by bit and without fuss. There were also bits of humor and romantic tension.
This is actually the third in the series but I didn't feel that you needed to read the first two in order to uderstand or enjoy this. Also this book does not give away anything that occurred in the previous books. I enjoyed it enough to read the rest of the series eventually.
This is actually the third in the series but I didn't feel that you needed to read the first two in order to uderstand or enjoy this. Also this book does not give away anything that occurred in the previous books. I enjoyed it enough to read the rest of the series eventually.