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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As always a solid mystery with Lady Emily. This one was a bit creepier than some of the others. It also had me second guessing visiting the crypts in Paris in the future. It also had me MORE determined to visit Pere Lachaise cemetary in Paris.
A few of thoughts on this one: I could have used with a bit less of the one-for-one alternating chapters between Emily and Estella. I feel like Estella's part could have been a bit more compact and we could have used more action on Emily's end & Colin's investigaiton.
Second note: I started this one in February thinking I was getting a winter time mystery based on the snow covered Pere Lachaise image on the front. Instead 99% of this book happens over the course of the summer with the epilogue just before Christmas. A little bit of a weird choice on the publisher.
Third: It's weird to me that Emily & Colin were basically able to up and leave for a month? 2? to Paris with only occasional thought of their three babies? I get that it was a different time when nannies ruled the day, but it's a LONG time to not see your kids and be kind of ambivalent about it even if you are on a job, and receiving letters regularly about their status and plan to buy them toys in Paris.
And as always I love Emily and Colin & I enjoyed that TA didn't completely smooth over Jeremy's ongoing crush on her and Colin's awareness of it. It would be hard to believe, even with the years that have passed to pretend like what happened in Vienna hadn't occurred.
I do however miss Ivy & Margaret and hope they pop up again soon.
A few of thoughts on this one: I could have used with a bit less of the one-for-one alternating chapters between Emily and Estella. I feel like Estella's part could have been a bit more compact and we could have used more action on Emily's end & Colin's investigaiton.
Second note: I started this one in February thinking I was getting a winter time mystery based on the snow covered Pere Lachaise image on the front. Instead 99% of this book happens over the course of the summer with the epilogue just before Christmas. A little bit of a weird choice on the publisher.
Third: It's weird to me that Emily & Colin were basically able to up and leave for a month? 2? to Paris with only occasional thought of their three babies? I get that it was a different time when nannies ruled the day, but it's a LONG time to not see your kids and be kind of ambivalent about it even if you are on a job, and receiving letters regularly about their status and plan to buy them toys in Paris.
And as always I love Emily and Colin & I enjoyed that TA didn't completely smooth over Jeremy's ongoing crush on her and Colin's awareness of it. It would be hard to believe, even with the years that have passed to pretend like what happened in Vienna hadn't occurred.
I do however miss Ivy & Margaret and hope they pop up again soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I keep saying I'm giving up on this series, but here I am, again. This one managed to keep me in suspense for a little while, but ultimately it was relatively boring and nothing was half as clever as I could feel it trying so hard to be. Frankly, the writing is just not good, and the characters, the reason I keep coming back, get only flatter. This series started out promising and always has great covers, but individually these books get weaker and weaker, while it could have been much more.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Well done mystery. I very much enjoyed it - it had been quite a while since I read the first books in the series, and was able to jump back into the story without a problem.
After loving the previous 8 installments in the Lady Emily series, I confess to being underwhelmed by this offering. I feel like the mystery at the heart of the story didn't truly develop or become interesting until over halfway through the book; the usually sparkling characters felt flat and listless; and while there was some satisfaction to be had in the ending, I think the book wasn't over-all intriguing enough to leave a good taste in my mouth.
I desperately wanted this book to be more engaging, after the months I spent waiting for it, but... Here's hoping the next installment is an improvement/return to previous form.
I desperately wanted this book to be more engaging, after the months I spent waiting for it, but... Here's hoping the next installment is an improvement/return to previous form.
This one was ok. A fun mystery and all that. But the story was a bit weird and dark for me, so it wasn't as enjoyable as some of the others.
Another great Lady Emily mystery! This was particularly creepy with catacombs in France, porcelain dolls, and lots of nods to Dickens. Looking forward to another book.
3.5 Stars. This was an interesting premise and it did keep me guessing even though I sort of figured out what was going on. Not the best entry in the Lady Emily series, but not the worst either.
I liked that this book is more of a kidnapping investigation than a murder investigation, although I have to admit that the story which kept me turning pages was Estella's account. Even though I had an inkling of where it was going, it still was fascinating to watch it unfold.