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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
A strong follow-up to the first book of the series.
I'm officially done with this series. The Roma - always an uncomfortable topic when addressed in a historical context by authors with a romantic bent - are even more prominent here than they were in the last book, and it's just as awkward as before. Nineteenth-century attitudes are presented as clues that a character is Absolutely Awful, which throws into stark relief the anachronistically modern opinions and behaviors of the narrator and her family. I had finally had enough, however, when we met the poor relations. The writing is bright and spritely and everyone is wildly charming but that just doesn't make up for the fact that they're all horrible people.
Spoiler
Apparently the March family's unconventionality and largesse, while it extends to giving away priceless gems to random Roma, does not extend to penniless orphaned family members. It was clear immediately upon introduction of the cousins that they were going to have Dark and Terrible Secrets in their past, and probably Evil Deeds as well. They did - and those secrets and deeds were entirely prompted by their poverty and their miserable upbringing, neither of which the family attempted to ameliorate in the slightest at any point. Julia spends a fair amount of time lamenting the cousins' sad fates... but doesn't trouble herself to do anything about it or feel any guilt for not having done anything about it in the past. This makes absolutely no sense given what else we've seen about the Marches; it is a Victorian set-up for what we have already seen are an incredibly un-Victorian family. The Marches are, by authorial fiat, incredibly insulated from any sort of economic reality, so how can we bypass the fact that they haven't bothered to help out their penniless cousins? I was frankly rooting for Emma to off the lot of them.
This sequel to Silent in the Grave reintroduces many of the entertaining personalities that populated Grave, but moves them to a new setting and expands the acquaintance list, resulting in another enjoyable Lady Julia Grey adventure.
The mystery — or mysteries, as is more accurate — this time around is multifaceted, leading to more suspects and more possibilities.
The most delightful part of the novel is the continuation and progression of the relationship between Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane. While each character can be frustrating or unlikeable at times — as every real person is — together, they are magic.
The mystery — or mysteries, as is more accurate — this time around is multifaceted, leading to more suspects and more possibilities.
The most delightful part of the novel is the continuation and progression of the relationship between Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane. While each character can be frustrating or unlikeable at times — as every real person is — together, they are magic.
Silent in the Sanctuary was a very entertaining sequel in the Lady Julia Grey series.
Having returned from an excursion with two of her brothers in Italy to spend Christmas at home by summons of her illustrious father, Julia is confronted with Brisbane as well as his new, frivolous fiancée. Soon a murder falls into their laps. Snowed in, the pair team up once more to investigate.
The house guest mystery troupe was well done, and the sexual tension between Julia and Brisbane was thick as English fog. Despite Julia’s massive development as a character in the first installment, this second book still provides her room to grow and to better understand not only herself but what she must have out of a relationship. Two new March brothers (of the enormous ten children, notoriously eccentric household) to meet provide for entertainment amidst the far more normal Victorian guests. It only bothered me minutely that the March behavior has become even more egregiously anachronistic (excused of course by their eccentricity), but due to the mystery and characters themselves, I was mostly able to accept it without too much conscious criticism.
For its genre, I’m really enjoying the Lady Julia series. As a comparison to the Amelia Peabody series, it surpasses the Lady Emily series by far and is far better written. So far.
Having returned from an excursion with two of her brothers in Italy to spend Christmas at home by summons of her illustrious father, Julia is confronted with Brisbane as well as his new, frivolous fiancée. Soon a murder falls into their laps. Snowed in, the pair team up once more to investigate.
The house guest mystery troupe was well done, and the sexual tension between Julia and Brisbane was thick as English fog. Despite Julia’s massive development as a character in the first installment, this second book still provides her room to grow and to better understand not only herself but what she must have out of a relationship. Two new March brothers (of the enormous ten children, notoriously eccentric household) to meet provide for entertainment amidst the far more normal Victorian guests. It only bothered me minutely that the March behavior has become even more egregiously anachronistic (excused of course by their eccentricity), but due to the mystery and characters themselves, I was mostly able to accept it without too much conscious criticism.
For its genre, I’m really enjoying the Lady Julia series. As a comparison to the Amelia Peabody series, it surpasses the Lady Emily series by far and is far better written. So far.
Much better than the first instalment in the series. Every interaction between Julia and Brisbane was magnificent. Julia's March blood has finally come through in this book. Speaking of the Marches, what a delightful bunch they are!
Looking forward to read the next book.
Looking forward to read the next book.
Silent in the Sanctuary is just as good as Silent in the Grave- after page 207, when someone actually gets murdered. Until that it is slow, and dragging, Raybourn has interestingly quirky characters, but they can't carry a book alone, totally without plot. I would have loved to read a book starting with the murder, briefly recapping the previous half of Silent in the Sanctuary - I'm started Silent on the Moor next and I'm really hoping for a bit of a better pace.
4.5 stars
SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED.
Morag might be my new favorite. She and Aquinas are fantastic and if anything ever happens to either of them I'll riot. I hope Florence crops up again, for continuity's sake (after all, Grim and Puggy made return appearances). And we seem to slowly be meeting Julia's siblings - I think we've fully interacted with Portia, Valerius, Plum, and Lysander by now. More please! (Benedick looks like Kenneth Branagh in my head shhhh)
Also, in reference to the whole Trafalgar Square thing - Wikipedia lists FOUR different Bloody Sundays over the years pertaining to Ireland.
The climax/ending actually scared me with how straightforward itwas first appeared. And the decisions to let other characters live with their consequences rather than chasing after them was an interesting one. Everything fitted together in the end, of course, so no sleep was lost on my part. And we learned a little more about our darling alpha detective, Brisbane.
SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED.
Morag might be my new favorite. She and Aquinas are fantastic and if anything ever happens to either of them I'll riot. I hope Florence crops up again, for continuity's sake (after all, Grim and Puggy made return appearances). And we seem to slowly be meeting Julia's siblings - I think we've fully interacted with Portia, Valerius, Plum, and Lysander by now. More please! (Benedick looks like Kenneth Branagh in my head shhhh)
Also, in reference to the whole Trafalgar Square thing - Wikipedia lists FOUR different Bloody Sundays over the years pertaining to Ireland.
The climax/ending actually scared me with how straightforward it
I loved this book. I love the plot building and how once it gets exciting we get the mystery. I like Alessandro and I like that him and Julia are friends. I felt so bad for Lucy because she took the blame for the murder even though she wouldn’t harm a fly. Also I feel bad for her because she takes the hit for her sister and her lover. I love how they discover that Charlotte is a jewel thief and how they get their things along with other stolen jewels back. I don’t like Emma and I hate what she did. Overall this book was a great read. 5/5 stars.