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sleepy_giraffe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.25
randikaye's review
5.0
To Disguise the Truth is the third book in The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. While I think you might get a full understanding about the various personalities of the women of the agency by reading the previous books in the series, I do believe it could be read just fine as a standalone as well.
In previous books, one character that has always left me quite curious to know her story was Eunice... and in this one, we actually get to dig deeper into her past and hear her story... and boy what a story it is! Filled with secrets and drama and the kind of humor and mischief that I have come to expect from a Jen Turano novel, this was one book that I could not put down. It seems that each book in this series just keeps getting better and better, and I absolutely loved it! Jen Turano does a great job of blending humor, romance, mystery and wit to create these stories that I cannot help but enjoy! If you enjoy historical romance with a good dose of humor, this is one series and book not to be missed!
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
In previous books, one character that has always left me quite curious to know her story was Eunice... and in this one, we actually get to dig deeper into her past and hear her story... and boy what a story it is! Filled with secrets and drama and the kind of humor and mischief that I have come to expect from a Jen Turano novel, this was one book that I could not put down. It seems that each book in this series just keeps getting better and better, and I absolutely loved it! Jen Turano does a great job of blending humor, romance, mystery and wit to create these stories that I cannot help but enjoy! If you enjoy historical romance with a good dose of humor, this is one series and book not to be missed!
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
adventuresofaliterarynature's review
4.0
Nobody does eccentric historical humor like Jen Turano! Going in you know exactly what you are going to get except you have no idea just how it will play out!
Eunice has been quite the mysterious character in the first books of this series so it was fun to get to finally know her backstory and get a better look at who she was. She was definitely independent and tenacious but she also had a softer side that had been mostly hidden as she kept a low profile.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Arthur at first but he quickly grew on me and I liked the way he was determined to see to Eunice’s safety and best interests.
They made a strong couple and I liked them together!
There were some parts of the story that confused me as to why they were included since they didn’t seem necessary and were overly detailed. And things definitely got a little chaotic at the end but that’s par for the course with a Turano novel!
Overall this was a fun read and a satisfying conclusion to the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Eunice has been quite the mysterious character in the first books of this series so it was fun to get to finally know her backstory and get a better look at who she was. She was definitely independent and tenacious but she also had a softer side that had been mostly hidden as she kept a low profile.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Arthur at first but he quickly grew on me and I liked the way he was determined to see to Eunice’s safety and best interests.
They made a strong couple and I liked them together!
There were some parts of the story that confused me as to why they were included since they didn’t seem necessary and were overly detailed. And things definitely got a little chaotic at the end but that’s par for the course with a Turano novel!
Overall this was a fun read and a satisfying conclusion to the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
meezcarrie's review
5.0
It must be somewhat disconcerting – and more than a bit comical – to be hired to find yourself… but readers have grown to expect nothing less from a Jen Turano read! The author is skilled at putting her characters into awkwardly delightful & hilarious predicaments, and the one in which our dear Eunice finds herself at the start of To Disguise the Truth may be the most intriguing yet!
Fans of The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series have been fascinated from book one by Eunice’s general mysteriousness. We weren’t quite sure whether her ever present widow’s weeds and heavy veils were a classic Turano quirk for a future heroine or if they indeed served a disguising purpose. As you might guess by the title of this third book, we get the answers we’ve been waiting for – and what a delicious dish of intrigue, mystery, and family drama it turns out to be! I thoroughly enjoyed watching her story unfold and getting to really know her character a lot better. While I’ve always been interested in Eunice for reasons I’ve already explained, I truly came to love her in To Disguise the Truth.
And Arthur. Ah, Arthur. I wasn’t quite sure that any man could replace Norman Nesbit as my favorite Turano hero, but Arthur definitely gives him a run for his money. Equal parts awkward and endearing, he and Eunice have an interesting history, and their present seems to be off to a similar start.
“Considering she’d once shot the man sitting across from her, Eunice Holbrooke was beginning to get the sneaking suspicion her past had finally caught up to her.”
Right from the first line of this hilarious story, I was chuckling at what I knew would be a certainly fun path to happily-ever-after for these two characters. Needless to say, I was right and the bumps along the way (in quintessential Turano fashion) made it all the more so.
But there’s also a couple of more serious points that, while not overshadowing the romcom nature of the story in any way, bear mentioning. First is a brief look at the horrible conditions that women found themselves after being (often forcibly and deviously) committed to the insane asylums of Gilded Age New York. (Side note: Is it too much to hope that we might see a future spin-off series from this author related to some of the characters we met there?) Second, there is a subtle but sweet faith-related thread that is so timely to the world in which we find ourselves. Both of these subplots add further layers to the main characters & remind us that even hilarity can be meaningful when you look closely enough.
Bottom Line: To Disguise the Truth is another wonderful foray by Jen Turano into Gilded Age New York – the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of this storied time in US History. Vividly drawn characters, hilarious hijinks, and lots of heart grace these pages, as well as a swoony romance (with a man who wants it to be known that he knows his way around a kiss!) and answers readers have been waiting for. Eunice and Arthur are delightful in every way, as are all the supporting players we get to visit with along the way. A must-read if you want to be uplifted with the power of laughter & love!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Fans of The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series have been fascinated from book one by Eunice’s general mysteriousness. We weren’t quite sure whether her ever present widow’s weeds and heavy veils were a classic Turano quirk for a future heroine or if they indeed served a disguising purpose. As you might guess by the title of this third book, we get the answers we’ve been waiting for – and what a delicious dish of intrigue, mystery, and family drama it turns out to be! I thoroughly enjoyed watching her story unfold and getting to really know her character a lot better. While I’ve always been interested in Eunice for reasons I’ve already explained, I truly came to love her in To Disguise the Truth.
And Arthur. Ah, Arthur. I wasn’t quite sure that any man could replace Norman Nesbit as my favorite Turano hero, but Arthur definitely gives him a run for his money. Equal parts awkward and endearing, he and Eunice have an interesting history, and their present seems to be off to a similar start.
“Considering she’d once shot the man sitting across from her, Eunice Holbrooke was beginning to get the sneaking suspicion her past had finally caught up to her.”
Right from the first line of this hilarious story, I was chuckling at what I knew would be a certainly fun path to happily-ever-after for these two characters. Needless to say, I was right and the bumps along the way (in quintessential Turano fashion) made it all the more so.
But there’s also a couple of more serious points that, while not overshadowing the romcom nature of the story in any way, bear mentioning. First is a brief look at the horrible conditions that women found themselves after being (often forcibly and deviously) committed to the insane asylums of Gilded Age New York. (Side note: Is it too much to hope that we might see a future spin-off series from this author related to some of the characters we met there?) Second, there is a subtle but sweet faith-related thread that is so timely to the world in which we find ourselves. Both of these subplots add further layers to the main characters & remind us that even hilarity can be meaningful when you look closely enough.
Bottom Line: To Disguise the Truth is another wonderful foray by Jen Turano into Gilded Age New York – the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of this storied time in US History. Vividly drawn characters, hilarious hijinks, and lots of heart grace these pages, as well as a swoony romance (with a man who wants it to be known that he knows his way around a kiss!) and answers readers have been waiting for. Eunice and Arthur are delightful in every way, as are all the supporting players we get to visit with along the way. A must-read if you want to be uplifted with the power of laughter & love!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
kbaney's review
5.0
Eunice Holbrook's mysterious past finally catches up to her. When a man from her past shows up at her inquiry agency, she's fearful of her future.
Arthur Livingston spent years searching for his former employer's heir. His honor demands that he keep his promise.
When events spin out of control, Eunice must rely on Arthur despite her misgivings.
What I liked about this book:
- The plot kept me engaged until the end. The intrigue showed the right balance between secrets and reveals at the right time.
- Turano's witty dialogue and rich, off-the-wall characters continued to deliver a funny, fast-paced story.
- I felt like Eunice and Arthur's back stories created nice layers of complexity and depth.
- The descriptions of the settings brought the story to life.
Like I've mentioned in other reviews for Turano, she repeats dialogue word-for-word between characters. This comes across better in the audio version of the book, but is a little off-putting when reading the written word. One thing that would improve the dialogue banter is to vary the wording more between the characters. Keep the character's point of view and personality in mind and let it influence the word choice during these exchanges.
Time Period: Gilded Age
Locations: New York (high society), Montana
Romance: Sweet and clean. Only some kissing.
Faith: The faith element appeared only in a few scenes and not woven throughout the book.
Arthur Livingston spent years searching for his former employer's heir. His honor demands that he keep his promise.
When events spin out of control, Eunice must rely on Arthur despite her misgivings.
What I liked about this book:
- The plot kept me engaged until the end. The intrigue showed the right balance between secrets and reveals at the right time.
- Turano's witty dialogue and rich, off-the-wall characters continued to deliver a funny, fast-paced story.
- I felt like Eunice and Arthur's back stories created nice layers of complexity and depth.
- The descriptions of the settings brought the story to life.
Like I've mentioned in other reviews for Turano, she repeats dialogue word-for-word between characters. This comes across better in the audio version of the book, but is a little off-putting when reading the written word. One thing that would improve the dialogue banter is to vary the wording more between the characters. Keep the character's point of view and personality in mind and let it influence the word choice during these exchanges.
Time Period: Gilded Age
Locations: New York (high society), Montana
Romance: Sweet and clean. Only some kissing.
Faith: The faith element appeared only in a few scenes and not woven throughout the book.