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emilywemily6's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! If you like witty banter, a clever FMC who strays from the stereotypical, and a historical mystery, this book is for you. I found that I really liked the writing style and was sucked in to these characters. The only thing I didn’t like was the pacing of this book, which made many of the dramatic moments in the book feel inconsequential. I guess I expected more drama in the writing considering how much their lives were threatened, but we breezed through a lot of perilous scenes. I adore Veronica and found her relatable yet refreshingly distinct, and while she would be considered an odd duck in this time period it felt like her characterization fit in with the story and felt realistic. Though she was overly stubborn when Stoker thought she was connected to the murder (which she was!). I loved the direction this book went and I definitely did not see the major plot line going the direction it went, which was so fun to read. I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Colonisation, and Pregnancy
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am in a distinct minority in that I was not bowled over by this book. It’s a feather-light trifle, fairly bloodless, without much tension.
The two main characters are fun, both outsiders in Victorian society. I enjoyed them a lot but the plot was so-so. Veronica, the heroine, is noted for her cleverness but she seems astonishingly dense for about the first half of the book. I *never* can figure out mysteries but even I knew what was happening from almost the beginning - though the circus was a surprise.
I’m not intrigued enough to read the next eight in the series. It just felt like the author was trying too hard. I don’t know how to explain it better. I read her Killers of a Certain Age and thought it was delightful. This was merely okay.
The two main characters are fun, both outsiders in Victorian society. I enjoyed them a lot but the plot was so-so. Veronica, the heroine, is noted for her cleverness but she seems astonishingly dense for about the first half of the book. I *never* can figure out mysteries but even I knew what was happening from almost the beginning - though the circus was a surprise.
I’m not intrigued enough to read the next eight in the series. It just felt like the author was trying too hard. I don’t know how to explain it better. I read her Killers of a Certain Age and thought it was delightful. This was merely okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Murder, and Violence
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Alcohol, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
eleek0609's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Death, Fatphobia, Murder, Ableism, Abandonment, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I found the pages and pages of witty dialogue, though enjoyable at first, they became incredibly tedious. I found myself skimming the majority of the end until the twist/revelation around the 70% mark. From there, the story gets interesting! But all the meandering side plots before then really weighed the story down, in my opinion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Cursing, Pregnancy, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Sexism, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
genny's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
3.75
This book is tagged as mystery/historical fiction which had me expecting a classic, slow-paced "whodunnit", but this was much more of an Adventure with a capital A. It feels like a classic quest story. Angèle Masters as the audiobook narrator is a perfect fit. It's just a good (ludicrous, often unrealistic) time!
The highlight, of course, is the budding relationship between Veronica and Stoker. I love them! I like that they have actual jobs separate from their "investigators" shtick. They go through so many classic tropes- forced proximity, there's only one bed, hurt and comfort, fake marriage, "pretend we're kissing so the police don't look too closely" ...and yet I can't get enough of them! They have real chemistry so the tropey-ness doesn't feel corny. I like that Veronica admits to herself that she finds Stoker attractive, but it's still a very slow burn. I look forward to seeing their friendship (and eventual romance, I expect) develop throughout the series.
The "big reveal" made me raise an eyebrow because it was outlandish and cliché, and was resolved too neatly for all the political implications that they talked about. I'm hoping that consequences will pop up in the next book/s because I wasn't satisfied with that. I was into the characters way more than I was into the plot. A Perilous Undertaking better deliver on the actual mystery! Give me some good ol' sleuthing, come on!
The highlight, of course, is the budding relationship between Veronica and Stoker. I love them! I like that they have actual jobs separate from their "investigators" shtick. They go through so many classic tropes
The "big reveal" made me raise an eyebrow because it was outlandish and cliché, and was resolved too neatly for all the political implications that they talked about. I'm hoping that consequences will pop up in the next book/s because I wasn't satisfied with that. I was into the characters way more than I was into the plot. A Perilous Undertaking better deliver on the actual mystery! Give me some good ol' sleuthing, come on!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, and Death of parent
em_swanson's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
If you want a fun, light hearted mystery set in Victorian Era London this is a good choice. The main characters are engaging and well written. The plot is unique and fun but easy to follow. There isn't much of a tie in to actual hysterical events however, and some of the characters seem out of their time period.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Alcohol, and Sexual content
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