Reviews

Cute - I'll keep going with this series as I really enjoy the characters and the narrator does a good job. This story wasn't as good as the first - they tried to cram too many things into one story. Still enjoy the banter and writing.

frollo13's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted mysterious

3.0

emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious

orsoshesaid's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

amyreading2024's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Got lost in the middle of the audio somewhere so the ending was satisfactory in that I did indeed finish, not so much because I correctly guessed the murderers or enjoyed spending time with the characters. 3x saying “I didn’t know what I was looking for but I knew I’d know when I found it” is 2 too many times in a single novel. Narrater is growing on me but I still fantasize about the lady herself narrating.

molly_appleby's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

lezreadalot's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Thankfully, I don't feel as devastatingly apathetic about this book as I did the first book in the series, so that does justify my decision to continue reading the series. At least a little. It had too many hallmarks of things I really like for me to give up on it completely. The writing is fun and quippy, the characters are hilarious and have so much good banter, and really, an older lady and the maid who is more of her BFF teaming up to kick ass and solve mysteries is just the kind of book that I should be really into... but there's just something about this that doesn't QUITE work. I don't know what! I don't know how to describe it! I know exactly the vibe and feeling it's going for. It's a cosy mystery, but with a little more teeth than you usually get in those. I love the unconventional cross-class friendship between the two main characters; it genuinely warms my heart. The mystery was also better written than in the first book; when all the little mysteries came together it didn't seem quite as haphazard. It really is a good book overall; I just failed to be swept away by it? The pacing was weird; I spent a lot of time being bored. There were a few standout side characters, but most of them were bland and forgettable. The book and setting oozes with charm and none of that sticks to the characters (imo). When the big reveal came and we find out who's responsible, I had to scroll back like, 'which person is that again?' IDK. I just didn't like this as much as I was expecting, and maybe that's a sign to give up on the series.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Elizabeth Knowelden, which was excellent as always; I adore her different voices. I love a fancy fussy old lady, and she does a great fancy fussy old lady voice. Especially for Lady Farley-Stroud. The pronunciation of 'Eugénie' did keep throwing me though. I'd still recommend this to people who are looking for cosy historical mysteries; I think I just have to admit it's not for me.

More...