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weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
If Sandra Brown’s novels had been set in Victorian England …
Upon the death of her father, Lizzie Martin found herself quite penniless. Necessity spoke and Ms Martin was happy to accept a situation as a lady's companion to her late godfather’s widow, Julia Parry. Immediately upon her arrival in the intimidating city of London, the odd events begin to accumulate. Ms Martin witnesses the transport of a newly deceased body to the morgue and also quickly discovers that her predecessor in Mrs. Parry’s employ left the house under, well, we’ll call it unusual circumstances. In these kinds of mysteries, the oft-repeated Sherlock Holmes aphorism, “The game is afoot” applies and Ms Martin soon finds herself up to her neck in the investigation of her predecessor’s disappearance.
THE COMPANION is a thoroughly enjoyable character driven historical mystery and romance that pushes on the boundaries of what one would characterize as slightly less than cozy without ever venturing into the realities of violence, sex, or profanity. Murder, deaths, danger and post mortems, for example, are completely real but never fully revealed by pulling aside the narrative curtains behind which they take place. The personalities of the household above stairs and the staff below stairs are brilliantly described and they very much come to life in Ms Granger’s skilled hands. Ms Martin’s courageous and forthright ability to deal with the blunt misogyny that she encounters from all of the men around her, not to mention the irritating and outrageously sanctimonious religious preaching of Dr Tibbett, an erstwhile assistant curate and schoolmaster, is wonderfully entertaining and uplifting.
Quick, fun, and easy reading, THE COMPANION is the debut appearance of Lizzie Martin in a series. A MORTAL CURIOSITY, the second novel in the series, is a definite addition to my reading list.
Paul Weiss
Upon the death of her father, Lizzie Martin found herself quite penniless. Necessity spoke and Ms Martin was happy to accept a situation as a lady's companion to her late godfather’s widow, Julia Parry. Immediately upon her arrival in the intimidating city of London, the odd events begin to accumulate. Ms Martin witnesses the transport of a newly deceased body to the morgue and also quickly discovers that her predecessor in Mrs. Parry’s employ left the house under, well, we’ll call it unusual circumstances. In these kinds of mysteries, the oft-repeated Sherlock Holmes aphorism, “The game is afoot” applies and Ms Martin soon finds herself up to her neck in the investigation of her predecessor’s disappearance.
THE COMPANION is a thoroughly enjoyable character driven historical mystery and romance that pushes on the boundaries of what one would characterize as slightly less than cozy without ever venturing into the realities of violence, sex, or profanity. Murder, deaths, danger and post mortems, for example, are completely real but never fully revealed by pulling aside the narrative curtains behind which they take place. The personalities of the household above stairs and the staff below stairs are brilliantly described and they very much come to life in Ms Granger’s skilled hands. Ms Martin’s courageous and forthright ability to deal with the blunt misogyny that she encounters from all of the men around her, not to mention the irritating and outrageously sanctimonious religious preaching of Dr Tibbett, an erstwhile assistant curate and schoolmaster, is wonderfully entertaining and uplifting.
Quick, fun, and easy reading, THE COMPANION is the debut appearance of Lizzie Martin in a series. A MORTAL CURIOSITY, the second novel in the series, is a definite addition to my reading list.
Paul Weiss
dmwhipp's review
4.0
When outspoken Lizzie Martin is left destitute upon her father's death, she jumps at the chance to be a companion to her late godfather's widow. When it turns out the previous companion was murdered and the investigation is being led by someone from Lizzie's youth, she becomes involved.
This was a well done Victorian mystery with engaging characters. Very happy this is a series and am looking forward to reading the next.
This was a well done Victorian mystery with engaging characters. Very happy this is a series and am looking forward to reading the next.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
3.0
This is another of my escapist reads over the past week or so. Forays into tough stuff like glaucoma need (for me) to be balanced by some easier fare.
This novel opens with Elizabeth (Lizzie) Martin arriving in London in 1864. The death of Lizzie’s father has left her in straitened circumstances so when her late godfather’s widow, Mrs Parry, invites her to London as her companion Lizzie accepts. Lizzie barely arrives in London before being caught up in a series of disturbing events: her cab from the railway station crosses paths with a cart transporting a dead body. Shortly after arriving at her employer’s home, Lizzie learns that her predecessor departed suddenly in what seem to be suspicious circumstances.
Lizzie Martin is a likeable character whose amateur sleuthing is not in the least constrained by society’s idea of what is acceptable behaviour for a young woman of her class. However improbable aspects of this story are, the journey makes for an interesting, page turning read. Who murdered Madeleine Hexham, and why? There are a number of suspects, some delightful red herrings and some interesting descriptions of a London deep in the throes of change.
Aspects are predictable, but somehow that adds to the general enjoyment of the story. This is the first in a series to feature Lizzie Martin. The second is ‘A Mortal Curiosity’ and I’ve ordered it already. Ms Granger has a number of other novels to her credit, and I will also be looking to read those as time permits.
This novel opens with Elizabeth (Lizzie) Martin arriving in London in 1864. The death of Lizzie’s father has left her in straitened circumstances so when her late godfather’s widow, Mrs Parry, invites her to London as her companion Lizzie accepts. Lizzie barely arrives in London before being caught up in a series of disturbing events: her cab from the railway station crosses paths with a cart transporting a dead body. Shortly after arriving at her employer’s home, Lizzie learns that her predecessor departed suddenly in what seem to be suspicious circumstances.
Lizzie Martin is a likeable character whose amateur sleuthing is not in the least constrained by society’s idea of what is acceptable behaviour for a young woman of her class. However improbable aspects of this story are, the journey makes for an interesting, page turning read. Who murdered Madeleine Hexham, and why? There are a number of suspects, some delightful red herrings and some interesting descriptions of a London deep in the throes of change.
Aspects are predictable, but somehow that adds to the general enjoyment of the story. This is the first in a series to feature Lizzie Martin. The second is ‘A Mortal Curiosity’ and I’ve ordered it already. Ms Granger has a number of other novels to her credit, and I will also be looking to read those as time permits.
nocto's review
2.0
It looks like the Mitchell & Markby series which I've always found entertaining is now history. And Ann Granger is now writing this new series, which is history (London, 1864 to be precise). I didn't really get into this book until near the end, it was a little too "cozy" for me and not really my kind of thing.
gawronma's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed the story. Looking forward to further entries in the series.
iphigenie72's review
3.0
I really liked the atmosphere in the book, the descriptions made the reader use all his senses; I thought on that level it was so well written : I could see the places, I could smell the odors, etc. I'm not sure that I am as satisfied of it as a mystery, it was very easy to guess the murderer and that's too bad because I don't think the red herrings worked as well as they should have. I liked the characters of Ben and Lizzie and since that's the first book of a series, I think that's fairly important since that's the element that will make me read the rest of this series.
cmbohn's review against another edition
3.0
Lizzie Martin arrives in London for the first time. As her cabdriver takes her to her new address, they pass a body covered with a shroud. The body turns out to belong to Madeline Hexham, whom Lizzie is replacing as paid companion. Lizzie can't help wondering about Madeline and who could have wanted her dead.
I enjoyed this one. There was some great background about coal mining and life among the working class. Lizzie and the police inspector, Ben Ross, were strong characters.
This book reads like the first in a series, and if so, I wouldn't mind reading another one.
I enjoyed this one. There was some great background about coal mining and life among the working class. Lizzie and the police inspector, Ben Ross, were strong characters.
This book reads like the first in a series, and if so, I wouldn't mind reading another one.
meli65's review against another edition
4.0
A most enjoyable Victorian murder mystery -- a good story (and not too gorey or depressing), lots of well-written social history, and a love story as well.
thereadingrachel's review
3.0
I found this book to be really charming. It was a better work of historical fiction than mystery tho, in my opinion. The authors descriptions of the streets of London in the Victorian age really whisked me away. However, it got to feel a bit long and wordy, and the mystery aspect didn’t really hold my interest as much. But I still appreciated it for what it is.
em_da5h's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable for a quick and easy read, but wouldn't recommend it. I liked the main character, but the plot was underdeveloped and had some gaps. At times I would wonder, "Wait... how did that happen? When did she learn to do that?"
That being said, it was a good book for me to knock out quickly and get back in the swing of things. Definitely a "beach read."
That being said, it was a good book for me to knock out quickly and get back in the swing of things. Definitely a "beach read."