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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I hate to admit to being disappointed in any of Heyer's books, but this novel was a bit of effort for me to read. None of it was bad. It was just more of a mystery and adventure than of a romance--while the romance is intrinsic to the story, it's not the story. The mystery and the murder is the story. the character were fun and likable (even if John Staple IS a little crazy.), the language was rich and funny and enjoyable, the story was interesting, and the setting was different than the usual London or Yorkshire of so many British novels I've read. It was a nice light touch to read in sections while trying to concurrently work my way through heavier and darker books. I think if you go into this book knowing that it's a mystery and advneture, and that the romance, while sweet, is just a part of that mystery, you'll enjoy the story more. For myself, I'd have to say for mysterious adventures with romance (by Heyer), I preferred the Reluctant Widow.
Classic Heyer fun! This is more mystery focused than romance, cover art notwithstanding.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
What is about Heyer's tall & strong (& usually Peninsula War vet) heroes - paired up with decent heroine! No simpering miss here! Add in baddies and mystery, and it's all go.
I found this one hard work. It can't write decide between being a mystery and a romance: as a mystery, it's overly simple; as a romance, it's dull. Captain John and Nell seem to have a lot of potential as a couple - he's got that care-free, swashbuckling confidence and she seems wonderfully independent. But her character is given very little room to roam, and is required to be a very positive actor as John swashbuckles about.
The thing that was hardest is that Heyer seemed to pick this book to show off her full knowledge of historic idiom and cant: a little is delightful and scenic, but this much feels like wading through conversation. Not a statement could be made without some archaism and while each is not difficult alone, after pages of it, it starts to feel more like an exercise in translation than her normal joyous romp.
The thing that was hardest is that Heyer seemed to pick this book to show off her full knowledge of historic idiom and cant: a little is delightful and scenic, but this much feels like wading through conversation. Not a statement could be made without some archaism and while each is not difficult alone, after pages of it, it starts to feel more like an exercise in translation than her normal joyous romp.
John "Crazy Jack" Staple is rich, well-bred and, since the end of the Napoleonic wars, bored. A chance meeting at a toll-gate with the beautiful granddaughter of the local squire leads Jack to stay in a small village. While he woos Nell, he notices a number of unlikely coincidences...and eventually figures out a deadly local plot. Although I liked both Nell and Jack, and thought them well-matched, Nell basically disappears after the first third of the novel. The rest of it is Jack's adventures with the local criminals, which are particularly annoying due to the heavy dose of "theives' cant" they provide. Heyer's novels would have been greatly improved if at least half the Regency slang was removed. This is a better Heyer romance than many, but not the best.
Finally, a Georgette Heyer romance I did not like at all. The hero is John Staples, an ex militia man, a younger son, who takes of for the Peak District for no known reason, and due to bad weather at night puts up at a toll-booth run by an 11 year old. The very next morning he sees Nell, the heroine, daughter of the area's old Squire driving her gig to church and on the spot falls in love. The rest of the story involves thieves, excise men, the missing toll-gate man, and a vast number of very iffy persons all of whom are beaten by John Staples. No balls, no parties, even John is not very well dressed. I skipped a lot.
This was entertaining but mostly just ok--the fourth star is for an absolutely wonderful scene at the end of the book in which everyone has come together and all is resolved, but in a completely farcical manner. Reminded me of the end of a Mozart opera.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A low-tier Heyer book. Read something else by her instead.