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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I decided I needed to take a month and read other genres since I was on a major Romantasy roll and started to get that itchy feeling, everything was a blur and the same issues in different series started to jump out and bug me. A netflix binge helped me jump the rail and onto a Historical Mystery with a smidge of romance genre switch. And I've thoroughly enjoyed diving into "new to me" authors.
As I've been reading and liking Deanna Raybourn's Victoria Speedwell series, I thought I'd try out her older series. I really liked parts of this story while equally feeling wholly disconnected and bored during the rest. It was very disconcerting and I'm not sure what compelled me to keep reading but I made it to the end, having guessed the murderer but not the motive. And our Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane had negative amounts of chemistry, imo. Lady Julia's unconventional family provided a much needed sense of fun because there was none to be had anywhere else in this story.
As I've been reading and liking Deanna Raybourn's Victoria Speedwell series, I thought I'd try out her older series. I really liked parts of this story while equally feeling wholly disconnected and bored during the rest. It was very disconcerting and I'm not sure what compelled me to keep reading but I made it to the end, having guessed the murderer but not the motive. And our Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane had negative amounts of chemistry, imo. Lady Julia's unconventional family provided a much needed sense of fun because there was none to be had anywhere else in this story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This book was a quick read and very entertaining. Sir Edward Grey collapses in the midst of his wife, Lady Julia Grey and party guests. Nicholas Brisbane is one of the first guests to offer assistance and get Edward to his room. Later that night Sir Edward dies. The doctor rules the death of natural causes because Edward had been ill for many years of a heart condition. A week passes and Nicholas Brisbane tells Julia that he was an investigator hired to look into some threatening letters Edward had been receiving. He suggests that perhaps Edward was murdered. Julia immediately dissmisses this, but regrets it a year later when she finds one of the notes in Edward's desk. She decides to have Nicholas investigate her husband's death and intends to help any way she can. The book is over 500 pages, but I never found myself bored. It was a page turner.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Another snobby-yet-caring aristocratic sleuth uncovering secrets, and crimes of passion. A very curious sub-genre, which is somewhat entertaining even as it is ultimately quite predictable.
May read more....
May read more....
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Historical Mystery (primary genre – murder investigation in Victorian London)
Gothic Romance (dark atmosphere, ominous threats, brooding hero)
Whodunit (classic murder puzzle with clues & red herrings)
Widowed Heroine (Julia seeking justice for her husband)
Enigmatic Detective (Brisbane’s mysterious, warning presence)
Victorian Era (strict societal rules, gaslit London setting)
Slow Burn Romance (if tension builds between Julia & Brisbane)
Femme Fatale / Female Sleuth (Julia’s determination to investigate)
Creepy Atmosphere (Psalms threat, ominous foreshadowing)
Series Starter (if this begins the Lady Julia Grey novels)
Gothic Romance (dark atmosphere, ominous threats, brooding hero)
Whodunit (classic murder puzzle with clues & red herrings)
Widowed Heroine (Julia seeking justice for her husband)
Enigmatic Detective (Brisbane’s mysterious, warning presence)
Victorian Era (strict societal rules, gaslit London setting)
Slow Burn Romance (if tension builds between Julia & Brisbane)
Femme Fatale / Female Sleuth (Julia’s determination to investigate)
Creepy Atmosphere (Psalms threat, ominous foreshadowing)
Series Starter (if this begins the Lady Julia Grey novels)
First time audiobook - didn't love it as much on a re-read, but I also vaguely remembered who the villain was, which took away from the experience. Might be a bad sign that my favorite characters are Aquinas and Morag.
mysterious
medium-paced