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roshk99's review
5.0
Fantastic, gripping book that satisfied in every aspect. There were constant plot twists and revelations to keep the book interesting, Weaver is an admirable main character who is not annoying (as many main characters are), and the ending was fabulous. Liss has created a masterpiece mystery with excellent historical context, and I can't wait to read the next book.
onceuponasarah's review
4.0
This wasn't as good as the first two in the series, but I still want more and it was still a good addition.
ellenjoannecampbell's review
2.0
Maybe I'd enjoy this at another time. It's part of a series and I didn't read the first 2. However, for a period book, it's quite short on history and heavy on intrigue.
sawyerbell's review
4.0
I loved this story. Liss is very good at creating vivid characters and settings and it was very enjoyable to spend time in the seedy streets of 18th century London and in the corrupt world of the East India Company.
The audiobook narration by Mr. Golden Voice, Simon Vance, was perfect, as always.
The audiobook narration by Mr. Golden Voice, Simon Vance, was perfect, as always.
jhbandcats's review against another edition
3.0
I hate that feeling at the end of a book or movie where nothing has made sense.* Is it just me? Am I stupid or something? So, I confess I was completely confused by the ending - confused about who had done what and why, and I found it all very frustrating.
This time the story takes place against the backdrop of the East India Company and its control over the workers, the politicians, and even the people of England - after all, the customers can only buy what is offered. The Company works to make money, and the more money it makes, the richer England becomes. Therefore the politicians want to keep the East India Company happy and flourishing.
Into this comes a convoluted story of spies and polygamy and death and debt - a lot of debt. By the end a lot of people had tricked the hero, Benjamin Weaver, in a lot of different ways, and he felt wrung out. I ended this feeling wrung out as well but determined to read the fourth in the series.
[Update to review a week later: I keep thinking about the polygamy aspect. If the husband had died, there would have been a funeral. Well, did all the wives come to the same funeral and somehow not see each other, or were there multiple funerals so each wife got her own? The complications of polygamy and deceit were glossed over - disappointing.]
This gets as many as three stars because of the research behind the stories, the life that the author brings to the tale through his meticulous details.
*Full disclosure: I’m really tired. Maybe it really *is* just me and I just wasn’t thinking straight enough to make sense of a somewhat straightforward ending.
UPDATE: I just read some reviews and a lot of other people felt the same way I did. Whew. It wasn’t just me being stupid.
This time the story takes place against the backdrop of the East India Company and its control over the workers, the politicians, and even the people of England - after all, the customers can only buy what is offered. The Company works to make money, and the more money it makes, the richer England becomes. Therefore the politicians want to keep the East India Company happy and flourishing.
Into this comes a convoluted story of spies and polygamy and death and debt - a lot of debt. By the end a lot of people had tricked the hero, Benjamin Weaver, in a lot of different ways, and he felt wrung out. I ended this feeling wrung out as well but determined to read the fourth in the series.
[Update to review a week later: I keep thinking about the polygamy aspect. If the husband had died, there would have been a funeral. Well, did all the wives come to the same funeral and somehow not see each other, or were there multiple funerals so each wife got her own? The complications of polygamy and deceit were glossed over - disappointing.]
This gets as many as three stars because of the research behind the stories, the life that the author brings to the tale through his meticulous details.
*Full disclosure: I’m really tired. Maybe it really *is* just me and I just wasn’t thinking straight enough to make sense of a somewhat straightforward ending.
UPDATE: I just read some reviews and a lot of other people felt the same way I did. Whew. It wasn’t just me being stupid.
ekmook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Racism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
em_da5h's review
3.0
Slow to start, then you start getting more invested in the characters and Liss does a good job of keeping a fast pace with lots of excitement. However, towards the end it feels like he is just wrapping things up because it is time to finish. The twists are solved as another one evolves and all of a sudden the protagonist knows what's going on. In short, it feels like Liss came up with the great mystery when he started writing but never thought through the "how's" and "why's," so the ending feels a little trite.
Enjoyable but not great.
Enjoyable but not great.
sarahconnor89757's review
3.0
I hadn't been introduced to and book by David Liss before this, so I was lucky enough to win this book in the giveaway. It's not a book I would have selected for myself, so I was pleasently surprised. The writing was clever and eloquent and the characters well rounded. An interesting story and worth your time.
kedawen's review
4.0
Very enjoyable! Just as good as the first two books and gave an interesting look into England in the 1720s.