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myjourneywithbooks's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Set in the mid nineteenth century, this series follows the mysteries that Mrs Laetitia Rodd finds herself involved in. I haven't read the previous two books but this one seems to work well enough as a standalone, though I enjoyed it enough to want to read its predecessors at some point.
Mrs Rodd, widow of a clergyman, finds herself in the later stages of her life, taking on the role of private detective. In this book, she is entreated by a neighbour to help with settling an issue among two of his close friends, a husband and wife from the theatre crowd who are undergoing a separation following the husband's scandalous infidelity. In what starts off as a simple matter of negotiation between the two parties, Mrs Rodd becomes closely acquainted with the Transome family and their dramas. But very soon, matters turn more sinister as a burnt corpse is discovered in an abandoned building and old events get pulled up from the past to be re-examined.
This was actually quite a fun book to read, more for the characters than the mystery itself. It had many twists and turns, and though I was able to guess some of them beforehand, it was on the whole well written, all the drama to do with the theatre folk adding a certain amount of flair to the story.
Mrs Rodd makes for an interesting narrator, with her droll observations, and though we don't really learn much about her as a character (which seems in keeping with some of the narrators in books of this genre), the other characters were very well defined. The pacing was quite decent, despite lagging slightly here and there, and the mystery, though nothing groundbreaking, was still an interesting one with lots of revelations. But in the end, like I mentioned before, it was the characters that stole the show.
I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in the series and was wondering if there will be more but just discovered that, sadly, the author passed away last year.
Mrs Rodd, widow of a clergyman, finds herself in the later stages of her life, taking on the role of private detective. In this book, she is entreated by a neighbour to help with settling an issue among two of his close friends, a husband and wife from the theatre crowd who are undergoing a separation following the husband's scandalous infidelity. In what starts off as a simple matter of negotiation between the two parties, Mrs Rodd becomes closely acquainted with the Transome family and their dramas. But very soon, matters turn more sinister as a burnt corpse is discovered in an abandoned building and old events get pulled up from the past to be re-examined.
This was actually quite a fun book to read, more for the characters than the mystery itself. It had many twists and turns, and though I was able to guess some of them beforehand, it was on the whole well written, all the drama to do with the theatre folk adding a certain amount of flair to the story.
Mrs Rodd makes for an interesting narrator, with her droll observations, and though we don't really learn much about her as a character (which seems in keeping with some of the narrators in books of this genre), the other characters were very well defined. The pacing was quite decent, despite lagging slightly here and there, and the mystery, though nothing groundbreaking, was still an interesting one with lots of revelations. But in the end, like I mentioned before, it was the characters that stole the show.
I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in the series and was wondering if there will be more but just discovered that, sadly, the author passed away last year.
heroineinabook's review
2.0
One of the reasons I started this blog was because most review sites, nay 95% of them, tend to give you a re-written summary of the book and maybe a personal thought or two. Rarely happens and I'm surprised when it does. (Also, places that offer "reviews" such as Kirkus, Pub Weekly, and so forth do the same damn thing.)
And it's disheartening reading those online reviews because surely I must have missed something if I don't have the same reaction, or even close to the reaction, as other reviewers. (People on Goodreads tend to be more open and forthwith with their thoughts on such things.)
Maybe my taste is that much different? Sometimes it feels like I'm being purposely contrarian to those around me but truly, if I don't dig into a book, then why bother writing frothy reviews of it, let alone finish it?
Now that that preamble is out of the way, I've been in a cozy mystery mood for some time now and this showed up in Netgalley as right up my alley and I took the chance.
Kirkus says,
The fastidious manners, which fit the 19th-century setting, are leavened with enough humor to suit modern tastes.
Are we even reading the same book?
Eh.
I found the plot and pace slow. I read Victorian lit in college and I do not recall works dragging their feet. The mood of The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden seems to be on Victorian brand, though a little heavy handed, and the character development was mostly well thought out but I kept waiting for the pace to pick and carry on with the story. It just wasn't happening. I found myself flipping through my Kindle pages with dry expectations. I felt like I was reading in Jello and there were no marshmallows or canned fruit in it to liven it up.
Goodreads' reviews indicate that many who are fans of the series who find it charming and droll, which I don't see but whatever, but they do note that this book isn't as charming as the first two so it very well could be I picked a wrong place to start. But what I read was enough to note that I probably won't pick up the first two. Saunders is also known for her historical biographies so that may be on the pile first.
tl;dr Slow paced and not quite as funny as proclaimed, only worthy if you're a fan of the series and want a bit more.
And it's disheartening reading those online reviews because surely I must have missed something if I don't have the same reaction, or even close to the reaction, as other reviewers. (People on Goodreads tend to be more open and forthwith with their thoughts on such things.)
Maybe my taste is that much different? Sometimes it feels like I'm being purposely contrarian to those around me but truly, if I don't dig into a book, then why bother writing frothy reviews of it, let alone finish it?
Now that that preamble is out of the way, I've been in a cozy mystery mood for some time now and this showed up in Netgalley as right up my alley and I took the chance.
Kirkus says,
The fastidious manners, which fit the 19th-century setting, are leavened with enough humor to suit modern tastes.
Are we even reading the same book?
Eh.
I found the plot and pace slow. I read Victorian lit in college and I do not recall works dragging their feet. The mood of The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden seems to be on Victorian brand, though a little heavy handed, and the character development was mostly well thought out but I kept waiting for the pace to pick and carry on with the story. It just wasn't happening. I found myself flipping through my Kindle pages with dry expectations. I felt like I was reading in Jello and there were no marshmallows or canned fruit in it to liven it up.
Goodreads' reviews indicate that many who are fans of the series who find it charming and droll, which I don't see but whatever, but they do note that this book isn't as charming as the first two so it very well could be I picked a wrong place to start. But what I read was enough to note that I probably won't pick up the first two. Saunders is also known for her historical biographies so that may be on the pile first.
tl;dr Slow paced and not quite as funny as proclaimed, only worthy if you're a fan of the series and want a bit more.
ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden was a fun little mystery to jump into. Even though I jumped out of order, I still enjoyed the third installment. Definitely makes me want to go back just to see what I missed.
In this, you will meet Laetitia Rodd. She is a widow of a clergyman and is called to help with some final funeral preparations. Upon arrival, her interest and curiosity are piqued. Mostly because she is not one to believe in coincidences lightly either. So, when she's asked to help out in the divorce settlement it's safe to say she put on her detective hat.
Now I loved the theater setting. Everything was dramatic and enjoyable. I had a feeling that another body was going to show up during the investigation too. Just because it's the theater and everything is unexpected. As for the mystery? Well, I enjoyed it all. I honestly had no idea who was behind it all but that's because the twists and turns were so freaking good.
It was a lot harder to keep track of everything too. For example, the clues or the suspects. Or maybe it's just me feeling that way. Either way, I definitely enjoyed this one and look forward to the next mystery!
The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden was a fun little mystery to jump into. Even though I jumped out of order, I still enjoyed the third installment. Definitely makes me want to go back just to see what I missed.
In this, you will meet Laetitia Rodd. She is a widow of a clergyman and is called to help with some final funeral preparations. Upon arrival, her interest and curiosity are piqued. Mostly because she is not one to believe in coincidences lightly either. So, when she's asked to help out in the divorce settlement it's safe to say she put on her detective hat.
Now I loved the theater setting. Everything was dramatic and enjoyable. I had a feeling that another body was going to show up during the investigation too. Just because it's the theater and everything is unexpected. As for the mystery? Well, I enjoyed it all. I honestly had no idea who was behind it all but that's because the twists and turns were so freaking good.
It was a lot harder to keep track of everything too. For example, the clues or the suspects. Or maybe it's just me feeling that way. Either way, I definitely enjoyed this one and look forward to the next mystery!
rebeccabadger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tradepaperback's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Violence
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is an appealing and very well written mystery and the third of the Laetitia Rodd mysteries by Kate Saunders. Released 7th Dec 2021 by Bloomsbury, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an extremely well written period mystery featuring the middle-aged widow of a cleric as the protagonist, an *extremely* discreet private enquiry agent. She's sensible, intelligent, and (luckily) quite aware of the world and its foibles. She assists the official police (to an unusual/anachronistic degree). She's eminently respectable and can talk to people who are otherwise inaccessible to the official police forces.
All of the mysteries in the series are self contained and work perfectly well as standalone reads. There are three books extant at this point which might make them suitable for a mini-binge read. I found some of the plot twists felt unreasonable and challenged my suspension of disbelief, but overall I have really enjoyed the series and look forward to future installments.
This book revolves around the death of a thespian, so many of the characters are from that sphere and the interconnections and personal drama are sometimes a bit over the top.
Four stars. Quite well written and diverting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is an appealing and very well written mystery and the third of the Laetitia Rodd mysteries by Kate Saunders. Released 7th Dec 2021 by Bloomsbury, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an extremely well written period mystery featuring the middle-aged widow of a cleric as the protagonist, an *extremely* discreet private enquiry agent. She's sensible, intelligent, and (luckily) quite aware of the world and its foibles. She assists the official police (to an unusual/anachronistic degree). She's eminently respectable and can talk to people who are otherwise inaccessible to the official police forces.
All of the mysteries in the series are self contained and work perfectly well as standalone reads. There are three books extant at this point which might make them suitable for a mini-binge read. I found some of the plot twists felt unreasonable and challenged my suspension of disbelief, but overall I have really enjoyed the series and look forward to future installments.
This book revolves around the death of a thespian, so many of the characters are from that sphere and the interconnections and personal drama are sometimes a bit over the top.
Four stars. Quite well written and diverting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
hans_cosy_corner's review
4.0
This took a lot of reading. It’s strange how some books you absorb in a day, and some take a solid few weeks to get through. As far as mysteries go, this was alright - it’s not a genre I read much of, but I enjoyed this book; hence the 4 stars. I did guess most of the ‘surprises’ - the one at the very end I’d figured out pretty quickly, and it was a bold choice; though the murderer I hadn’t figured out, and it gained a star for that.
The book itself isn’t that big; about 300 pages; but it felt much longer - the plot itself had so many characters and twists and turns that it kept me engaged, and a little confused, but also felt at times like it was trying to drag itself out.
I think I’m going to look out for more in this series as I return this one to the library, and see what else mrs rodd has for me - I’ve seen the other books had better reviews than this one, so I think I’ll really enjoy those
The book itself isn’t that big; about 300 pages; but it felt much longer - the plot itself had so many characters and twists and turns that it kept me engaged, and a little confused, but also felt at times like it was trying to drag itself out.
I think I’m going to look out for more in this series as I return this one to the library, and see what else mrs rodd has for me - I’ve seen the other books had better reviews than this one, so I think I’ll really enjoy those
r_gale's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I love Miss Marple and victorian based stories so this book seemed perfect for me but I really struggled getting through this.
The pacing was slow and I found myself skipping whole pages because I got bored of yet another description of a back alley leading to an old building or the main character musing for the 10th time how she misses her dead husband.
I managed to work out a few of the twists.
not who the murders where but did managed to work out the fucked parentage to the daughters preganancies early on, really hoped she wouldn't go there, did leave a bit of sour taste in the mouth especially when the guy is never really damned for it outside that one page and even has his gravestone repaired at the end of it all!
The pacing was slow and I found myself skipping whole pages because I got bored of yet another description of a back alley leading to an old building or the main character musing for the 10th time how she misses her dead husband.
I managed to work out a few of the twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Incest, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Sexual assault
encounterswiththemoon's review against another edition
2.0
This story follows Laetitia Rodd is an established second instalment of her case as a private detective in 1853 England. The reader is exposed to a dreary & dark scene wherein the complicated relationships amongst the actors of a theatre intertwine with the murky aristocracy of the times. Though Laetitia is written as an insightful, dedicated, independent character, I struggled very deeply to find any motivation to continue listening to this audiobook & ultimately could not finish.
When I requested this story I had hoped to listen to a cozy, dark, mystery that took place in the scenery which I have been unfamiliar with; the theatre. I reached the 14% mark & found that I had barely been paying attention to the story & often found myself hard-pressed to try & resume my listening. I will attribute this to the fact that some stories are better off reading rather than being told. I did enjoy Sasha Higgins’ narration. I do think she was the appropriate choice for the job. I don’t think my lack of desire to continue this book was in any way accredited to her.
Perhaps, had I begun with the first instalment I might have been pulled into the quirky way that Laetitia & her brother interact. Maybe had I read this book via hardcover I would not have felt like such a third-party player in the story. Unfortunately, I did. When we are first introduced to the conflict of the story I felt that it was difficult to care. Perhaps, this story would thrive on the shelves set for younger audiences or those for whom a long-winded mystery is their cup of tea. As for myself, I was not the target audience & therefore encourage you to take my review with a spoonful of salt. If you enjoy this type of book, set in this type of scene, you will surely enjoy this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, & Kate Saunders for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
When I requested this story I had hoped to listen to a cozy, dark, mystery that took place in the scenery which I have been unfamiliar with; the theatre. I reached the 14% mark & found that I had barely been paying attention to the story & often found myself hard-pressed to try & resume my listening. I will attribute this to the fact that some stories are better off reading rather than being told. I did enjoy Sasha Higgins’ narration. I do think she was the appropriate choice for the job. I don’t think my lack of desire to continue this book was in any way accredited to her.
Perhaps, had I begun with the first instalment I might have been pulled into the quirky way that Laetitia & her brother interact. Maybe had I read this book via hardcover I would not have felt like such a third-party player in the story. Unfortunately, I did. When we are first introduced to the conflict of the story I felt that it was difficult to care. Perhaps, this story would thrive on the shelves set for younger audiences or those for whom a long-winded mystery is their cup of tea. As for myself, I was not the target audience & therefore encourage you to take my review with a spoonful of salt. If you enjoy this type of book, set in this type of scene, you will surely enjoy this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, & Kate Saunders for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!