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smitchy's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries series and it is a fun and intriguing romp through an era in Australian / New South Wales history I certainly don't know much about (I'm from Victoria). Sydney in 1931-32 is a powder keg. The Great Depression is biting hard and unemployment is rising. Communism and unionism is appealing to the increasing hungry masses and in response there is a growing conservative movement that is rapidly building to fascism.
Right in the middle of this combustive mix is Rowland Sinclair, upper crust gentleman by birth and dissolute artist by choice. Rowland lives in comfort thanks to his family money - he has opened his family's city home to a mix of fellow artists and writers, all of whom have socialist sentiments or outright communist leanings. Rowland is the black sheep of his conservative family and the death of Rowland's uncle and a trip to his brother's country estate throws Rowland into more intrigue than he bargained on.
Soon Rowland is playing a dangerous game of double bluff as he deals with the New Guard, the Old Guard, Communists and the Police.
Gentill does a great job of blending history and fiction in this book and if you loved Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher series or enjoy a bit of classic Christie-style crime then this series is for you.
Right in the middle of this combustive mix is Rowland Sinclair, upper crust gentleman by birth and dissolute artist by choice. Rowland lives in comfort thanks to his family money - he has opened his family's city home to a mix of fellow artists and writers, all of whom have socialist sentiments or outright communist leanings. Rowland is the black sheep of his conservative family and the death of Rowland's uncle and a trip to his brother's country estate throws Rowland into more intrigue than he bargained on.
Soon Rowland is playing a dangerous game of double bluff as he deals with the New Guard, the Old Guard, Communists and the Police.
Gentill does a great job of blending history and fiction in this book and if you loved Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher series or enjoy a bit of classic Christie-style crime then this series is for you.
myfrogmonster's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was an interesting look into the politics of Australia after WW1 during the years of the depression. We are fans of both Miss Fisher's Mysteries and Dr. Blake and both of those shows touched briefly on Australian politics so to get more details was quite fascinating.
It was also terrifying as it all too clearly reflects the dangerous precipice the US is currently wobbling on. Unfortunately history repeats itself. We don't learn from past terrors and the atrocities of fascism.
The main characters in this story are wonderful. I love Rowland and his band of merry artists. I look forward to spending more time with them in future books.
The Woman in the Library is how I came across this author. It was an amazing book and I was absolutely delighted to discover it was not her first/only book. There are enough Sinclair mysteries to keep me happy for quite a while.
It was also terrifying as it all too clearly reflects the dangerous precipice the US is currently wobbling on. Unfortunately history repeats itself. We don't learn from past terrors and the atrocities of fascism.
The main characters in this story are wonderful. I love Rowland and his band of merry artists. I look forward to spending more time with them in future books.
The Woman in the Library is how I came across this author. It was an amazing book and I was absolutely delighted to discover it was not her first/only book. There are enough Sinclair mysteries to keep me happy for quite a while.
gettheetoalibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
seriouslybookish's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think I've ever read an Australian historical mystery before so I was bloody excited when I came across this.
It's well written, there is no denying that. The characters are well developed and each have their own thing that makes them unique and interesting. I loved that they were artists. Art and murder mystery is not a combination I've read before so it was something different. I enjoyed used politics as a central element of the story but without having the characters deeply entrenched in politics. (It has me intrigued about Australian politics after WWI. I'm excited to read up on it).
Now what I didn't really enjoy was the excessive historical facts that took up a significant portion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some if it but half way through the book and I was skin reading those parts. The plot was nothing special. The author did a good job as a way of introducing Rowly to the sluething investigatuve life but it was missing a lot. It felt a little like cut and paste. Also the real reason that started the thing just wasn't executed properly.
I get that this is the first book in the series but it needed more when it came to the plot. The last 25% really let this book down in my opinion.
I do think I'll continue with the series so I hope it get better.
It's well written, there is no denying that. The characters are well developed and each have their own thing that makes them unique and interesting. I loved that they were artists. Art and murder mystery is not a combination I've read before so it was something different. I enjoyed used politics as a central element of the story but without having the characters deeply entrenched in politics. (It has me intrigued about Australian politics after WWI. I'm excited to read up on it).
Now what I didn't really enjoy was the excessive historical facts that took up a significant portion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some if it but half way through the book and I was skin reading those parts. The plot was nothing special. The author did a good job as a way of introducing Rowly to the sluething investigatuve life but it was missing a lot. It felt a little like cut and paste. Also the real reason that started the thing just wasn't executed properly.
I get that this is the first book in the series but it needed more when it came to the plot. The last 25% really let this book down in my opinion.
I do think I'll continue with the series so I hope it get better.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
First published in 2010, this is a re-release by Pantera Press in paperback format. Written by Sulari Gentill and set in 1930s Australia, it's beautifully written and redolent of classic golden age detective fiction.
The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. I have been most impressed with Ms. Gentill's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there.
This is the first book in the series and introduces the dashing (and charmingly egalitarian) Rowland Sinclair and an ensemble cast of friends and associates along with a beautifully drawn depression-era Australia.
Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. I can't imagine how many books ahead she had planned when writing the first book, but there are foreshadowings in this book which play out in book 8 in the series. In addition, each book is complete in itself. Honestly, I read them out of order when I could find them, and never felt lost or cheated. They're really well written enjoyable books. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no 'evil twins' etc etc).
Other reviewers have done a good job of describing the plot, so I've concentrated on the books as a series. I did review book 8 on my blog here. I've seen this series compared to Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books, but apart from the setting (depression era Australia), I don't see it. Both series are fun, but while Phryne's sort of a fantasy cozy, the Sinclair books have a lot more in common with Ngaio Marsh than Kerry Greenwood.
Well written, solid from this, the first, book, beautifully plotted. 323 pages, but I never found my interest flagging. Well worth a read.
Four solid stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
First published in 2010, this is a re-release by Pantera Press in paperback format. Written by Sulari Gentill and set in 1930s Australia, it's beautifully written and redolent of classic golden age detective fiction.
The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. I have been most impressed with Ms. Gentill's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there.
This is the first book in the series and introduces the dashing (and charmingly egalitarian) Rowland Sinclair and an ensemble cast of friends and associates along with a beautifully drawn depression-era Australia.
Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. I can't imagine how many books ahead she had planned when writing the first book, but there are foreshadowings in this book which play out in book 8 in the series. In addition, each book is complete in itself. Honestly, I read them out of order when I could find them, and never felt lost or cheated. They're really well written enjoyable books. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no 'evil twins' etc etc).
Other reviewers have done a good job of describing the plot, so I've concentrated on the books as a series. I did review book 8 on my blog here. I've seen this series compared to Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books, but apart from the setting (depression era Australia), I don't see it. Both series are fun, but while Phryne's sort of a fantasy cozy, the Sinclair books have a lot more in common with Ngaio Marsh than Kerry Greenwood.
Well written, solid from this, the first, book, beautifully plotted. 323 pages, but I never found my interest flagging. Well worth a read.
Four solid stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
elnell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gillyreads's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed reading this, but it took me a long time as I just wasn’t often motivated to pick it up often.
I particularly enjoyed reading a mystery set in a period I don’t know that much about - the 30s in Australian.
I will probably continue with the series.
I particularly enjoyed reading a mystery set in a period I don’t know that much about - the 30s in Australian.
I will probably continue with the series.
cwalter01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Once again, an ambiguous ending to a book in a bigger series
h1339's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
libbeta's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0