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annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
England Expects is the third Mirabelle Bevan mystery by Sara Sheridan. Published 27th March 2018 (originally pub. 2014) by Kensington, it's 256 pages and available in ebook format (earlier editions are available in hardcover and paperback formats).
This is a nice period mystery set in 1950s Brighton. The plot is fairly straightforward with a satisfying pace and a number of twisty surprises. The ensemble cast is varied and deftly written. Even though the female lead (Mirabelle) outshines everyone around her, I really like that her associates have and follow their own motivations and the end result is a team effort. There were a few over-the-top scenes, but it's a 1950s mystery/thriller.
It's a clean book, there's no explicit language or sexual content. There is scattered (contextual) racism and several murders (including one throat slashing which was pretty brutal, but not graphic). The book has a sort of noir-light feel in my opinion. It's traditional, but definitely not a cozy.
I did get the sense that the author is very invested in Mirabelle and yes, at times she's a stylish ninja supergirl model secret agent. And yes, the evil illuminati masons conspiracy is a trifle overused, but honestly the plotting and characterization are so perfect and so spot on that I really didn't mind. This is an eminently readable and enjoyable book. The characters (even Ms. Superwoman Mirabelle herself) are well written and (mostly) believable and in character throughout.
I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone, there's a lot of past history which would be lost with a solo read.
All around enjoyable series and this installment lives up to the quality of the previous books. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (there are 6 books and a handful of shorter works at this point).
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
England Expects is the third Mirabelle Bevan mystery by Sara Sheridan. Published 27th March 2018 (originally pub. 2014) by Kensington, it's 256 pages and available in ebook format (earlier editions are available in hardcover and paperback formats).
This is a nice period mystery set in 1950s Brighton. The plot is fairly straightforward with a satisfying pace and a number of twisty surprises. The ensemble cast is varied and deftly written. Even though the female lead (Mirabelle) outshines everyone around her, I really like that her associates have and follow their own motivations and the end result is a team effort. There were a few over-the-top scenes, but it's a 1950s mystery/thriller.
It's a clean book, there's no explicit language or sexual content. There is scattered (contextual) racism and several murders (including one throat slashing which was pretty brutal, but not graphic). The book has a sort of noir-light feel in my opinion. It's traditional, but definitely not a cozy.
I did get the sense that the author is very invested in Mirabelle and yes, at times she's a stylish ninja supergirl model secret agent. And yes, the evil illuminati masons conspiracy is a trifle overused, but honestly the plotting and characterization are so perfect and so spot on that I really didn't mind. This is an eminently readable and enjoyable book. The characters (even Ms. Superwoman Mirabelle herself) are well written and (mostly) believable and in character throughout.
I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone, there's a lot of past history which would be lost with a solo read.
All around enjoyable series and this installment lives up to the quality of the previous books. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (there are 6 books and a handful of shorter works at this point).
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
3.0
Brighton’s favorite secret agent turned debt collector turned amateur sleuth is back with another intriguing case! In this third Mirabelle Bevan book, the dignified heroine continues to recover from the loss of her paramour – much the same way England continues its own postwar recovery. Clever dialog and familiar characters carry on the lighter ‘dignified cozy’ tone of the series, and Mirabelle and Vesta make a solid team. In this particular case, the number of bodies piles up – as do the suspects – and sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of them all. A few scenes do require some suspension of disbelief, and it’s a shame that Vesta’s character is not yet more developed.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I read the first and second Mirabelle mysteries so it took me a while to get back into her world. But once I did this was a fascinating trip through the machinations of Masons in 1950s Brighton. Having been to the (restored) Pavillion it was nice to see that featuring in its then dilapidated state. I like the characters and I like the series and having finished this I feel like I need to go and look out for the next one.
lauren_sleight's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
helenh's review
5.0
Sara Sheridan has, in Mirabelle Bevan, created a character that will stay with the reader long after the last page of “England Expects.” In this, her third adventure (hopefully you’ll have read the first two; it isn’t absolutely necessary, but it’s always good to get a thorough grounding in the dramatis personae), she is asked to look into the murder of a sportswriter by the man’s sister. Shortly thereafter, based on some interesting information (which becomes the theme of the story), she finds herself at a Brighton location when the building’s cleaner dies suddenly -- and Mirabelle can tell she’s been poisoned. There’s got to be a connection, she thinks, between these two deaths -- and she and Vesta Churchill, her debt collection coworker and sidekick, are off and running.
What everyone realizes from the get go is that the first murder isn’t quite as simple as the police would like you to believe -- and things evolve from there (notes at the back of the book explains the author’s research). Since this is a historical mystery, I appreciated the sense of time and place that’s evident, especially the information about the Royal Pavilion, which becomes a part of the setting.
What is paramount here is Ms. Sheridan’s ability to carry the story along while crafting intricate plotting and situations. Vesta and Charlie, Vesta’s boyfriend and would-be fiancé, and Bill, the ex-policeman at the firm, make contributions that keep the plot rolling. Superintendent McGregor is here, too. There’s much from him about his feelings towards Mirabelle, who remains as enigmatic a character as ever. I’m hoping that more will be revealed in future books. This is one of those stories that keeps you riveted to the pages, and I found myself reading it in one session. I think you might, too.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ebook copy I received, in exchange for an honest review.
What everyone realizes from the get go is that the first murder isn’t quite as simple as the police would like you to believe -- and things evolve from there (notes at the back of the book explains the author’s research). Since this is a historical mystery, I appreciated the sense of time and place that’s evident, especially the information about the Royal Pavilion, which becomes a part of the setting.
What is paramount here is Ms. Sheridan’s ability to carry the story along while crafting intricate plotting and situations. Vesta and Charlie, Vesta’s boyfriend and would-be fiancé, and Bill, the ex-policeman at the firm, make contributions that keep the plot rolling. Superintendent McGregor is here, too. There’s much from him about his feelings towards Mirabelle, who remains as enigmatic a character as ever. I’m hoping that more will be revealed in future books. This is one of those stories that keeps you riveted to the pages, and I found myself reading it in one session. I think you might, too.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ebook copy I received, in exchange for an honest review.
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