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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I liked book #2 in some ways more than the first, and in other ways, less than the first.
I thought that the mystery in this book was weaker. The plot of it wasn't as good. But, I really liked the characters in this book more; I enjoyed their interplay more. I especially liked that Julia Grey was much more honest about her feelings for Brisbane. She wasn't denying anything to herself. I found it refreshing to hear her honesty to herself about the situations.
I thought that the mystery in this book was weaker. The plot of it wasn't as good. But, I really liked the characters in this book more; I enjoyed their interplay more. I especially liked that Julia Grey was much more honest about her feelings for Brisbane. She wasn't denying anything to herself. I found it refreshing to hear her honesty to herself about the situations.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
The second book in the series picks up a few months after the end of the first book. Julia has been in Italy with two of her brothers and they are summoned home for the holidays. With a house full of guests a murder is the last thing on everyone's minds.
I liked this book a little more than the previous book in the series. The limited list of suspects was should have made the murderer easy to spot, but Deannna Raybourn did a great job of throwing in many twists and turns along the way. While I wasn't surprised about who the killer was, I was a little surprised at some of the events.
I enjoyed that we were able to see more of the March family. I find them a wonderful group of characters and I can only hope that more of them will be featured in stories to come.
So far I think this is a good series. There are moments that I wish certain events would move along quicker (ahem Julia and Brisbane), but regardless I'm happy to see where the story goes. Until Then!
I liked this book a little more than the previous book in the series. The limited list of suspects was should have made the murderer easy to spot, but Deannna Raybourn did a great job of throwing in many twists and turns along the way. While I wasn't surprised about who the killer was, I was a little surprised at some of the events.
I enjoyed that we were able to see more of the March family. I find them a wonderful group of characters and I can only hope that more of them will be featured in stories to come.
So far I think this is a good series. There are moments that I wish certain events would move along quicker (ahem Julia and Brisbane), but regardless I'm happy to see where the story goes. Until Then!
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like all the characters involved became more unlikeable this book, but I don't think I was supposed to feel this way. The 'amusing quirk' of Julia's father not remembering the names of his servants so calling them all William is, I'm sure, a pretty accurate way a lot of Victorians felt about their servants, but from my perspective it's not amusing or quirky but terrible and elitist. Ditto the opinions of Julia on poor relations, crime, and just in general other people. Which I would be on board for if I thought the author was doing this deliberately, because reading about terrible people can be incredibly entertaining, but I don't think it is deliberate, and I think I'm supposed to be genuinely rooting for Julia and co, which was aggravating. Also, truly, the relationship between Brisbane and Julia is doing nothing for me, though they're both arrogant enough and convinced they're the smartest person in the room that I can kind of see why they're both into it.
I did finish the book though, and enjoyed the completely bonkers resolutions to all the various crimes. I don't think I'll be reading the next one though.
I did finish the book though, and enjoyed the completely bonkers resolutions to all the various crimes. I don't think I'll be reading the next one though.
Like the first book in the series, it starts out really slow. It seems like it takes half the book for someone to actually die. But I am hooked on Deanna Raybourn's style of writing, her character development, and the multiple crazy endings that I couldn't guess, but somehow feel I should have .
I keep reading these books, but more and more things are rubbing me the wrong way. Here are some issues with this book:
The father refuses to learn the names of the servants and instead calls them all William (number). This is thrown out as a small detail to show how quirky he is, but I found it awful. If you can remember a number you can remember a name.
Brisbane's relationship with Julia has shades of abuse at times. There's multiple times in the books where he grabs her so hard he hurts her, often times bruising her. "Where Brisbane had grasped my arm there were bruises rising, faintly violet in the candlelight. The sleeve itself was crushed, and no amount of sponging would salvage it. I thrust the gown into the wardrobe and closed the door. I would not wear it again."
I still don't really get how Julia ruined everything for Brisbane trying to catch Charlotte. Why didn't he just follow her at a later time? And why were they so willing to just let her go? Julia is the only one who attempts to even search her things before she leaves.
So they are all sad that Lucy has to marry a guy who is obviously going to be controlling/abusive to her, but she has to do it because she has no other means of support. Except they are all super rich. And no one can just give her money for her and her sister to hide away somewhere?
There was one nice quote where Julia tells Alessandro that she doesn't want to feel like he is giving up anything by marrying her, but instead winning. That was nice. But overall a lot in this book that bugged me.
The father refuses to learn the names of the servants and instead calls them all William (number). This is thrown out as a small detail to show how quirky he is, but I found it awful. If you can remember a number you can remember a name.
Brisbane's relationship with Julia has shades of abuse at times. There's multiple times in the books where he grabs her so hard he hurts her, often times bruising her. "Where Brisbane had grasped my arm there were bruises rising, faintly violet in the candlelight. The sleeve itself was crushed, and no amount of sponging would salvage it. I thrust the gown into the wardrobe and closed the door. I would not wear it again."
I still don't really get how Julia ruined everything for Brisbane trying to catch Charlotte. Why didn't he just follow her at a later time? And why were they so willing to just let her go? Julia is the only one who attempts to even search her things before she leaves.
So they are all sad that Lucy has to marry a guy who is obviously going to be controlling/abusive to her, but she has to do it because she has no other means of support. Except they are all super rich. And no one can just give her money for her and her sister to hide away somewhere?
There was one nice quote where Julia tells Alessandro that she doesn't want to feel like he is giving up anything by marrying her, but instead winning. That was nice. But overall a lot in this book that bugged me.
read for Popsugar 2019 Advanced Reading Challenge: a book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
Oh my goodness this series is just like a bag of chips: I can't read just one!!!
Oh my goodness this series is just like a bag of chips: I can't read just one!!!
Fortunately, Deanna Raybourn is not one of those authors who has a wonderful first book and then slowly goes downhill. Writing in the tradition of the detective stories that remain with the characters as time goes on, Raybourn's second book in the Lady Julia Grey series is quite as good as the first, with the same breathtaking fun and suspenseful storytelling as before. She reminds me of both Dorothy Sayers and Lauren Willig, in vastly different ways, of course, but her talent for writing mysteries with compelling, three dimensional characters has not abated and, were it not very close to my bedtime, I would be hauling out the third book and starting to inhale it as well.
mysterious
medium-paced
A bit too long for its story, but the final few chapters were good so you are left feeling pleased about the book. Not much silence near any of the sanctuaries, but alliteration in titles is always charming.