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kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
A proper Victorian murder mystery with a touch of emotional philosophy
I was hoping for a bit of romance with this one like the Lady Julia grey series....but this one was more manners and drawing room conversation than emotional arc. There are a series of grisly stranglings that impact a family living in modest luxury on cater street in Victorian London.
Secrets and sins are revealed and the family members fall in and out of trust with each other. There is a great deal of conversation about what is proper for women and sending women upstairs to lie down when they confront uncomfortable truths...so much so that at times I found it a bit tedious.
I hung on because I wanted to find out if my reading of the somewhat obvious clues two thirds of the way through the book about the killer were right. They were. I also hung on because of the delicious potential for emotional growth the main character, Charlotte has when she is courted by the investigating policeman. There is a bit of flavor there, but too much time spent in other character povs to really appreciate the difficulty due to different social class this entails. Too much affronted victorian sensibility and not enough dwelling on emotional upheaval for me.
I was hoping for a bit of romance with this one like the Lady Julia grey series....but this one was more manners and drawing room conversation than emotional arc. There are a series of grisly stranglings that impact a family living in modest luxury on cater street in Victorian London.
Secrets and sins are revealed and the family members fall in and out of trust with each other. There is a great deal of conversation about what is proper for women and sending women upstairs to lie down when they confront uncomfortable truths...so much so that at times I found it a bit tedious.
I hung on because I wanted to find out if my reading of the somewhat obvious clues two thirds of the way through the book about the killer were right. They were. I also hung on because of the delicious potential for emotional growth the main character, Charlotte has when she is courted by the investigating policeman. There is a bit of flavor there, but too much time spent in other character povs to really appreciate the difficulty due to different social class this entails. Too much affronted victorian sensibility and not enough dwelling on emotional upheaval for me.
vireogirl's review against another edition
4.0
A bit dated but I enjoyed the glimpse of Victorian practices, intermingled with an unlikely pairing and shocking murders. Lots of talking. Lots of third-person negative self-introspection.
cakereads's review against another edition
3.0
Why should it be unpardonable sin for a woman to betray a man, but a mere peccadillo, nothing to raise the eyebrows, if a man betrays a woman? Surely a sin is a sin, whoever commits it; only some may be extended forgiveness because of ignorance or greater weakness? Is that man's plea, greater weakness?
A good book - interesting mystery, strong & interesting characters.
I enjoyed this book more than Perry's other series, [b:The Face of a Stranger|583883|The Face of a Stranger (William Monk, #1)|Anne Perry|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320469225s/583883.jpg|6440293]. The book switches POVs now and then, and it's very well done. Each character has a distinct voice, and you get to see the other character from the view of the others, which really helps to enhance your understanding and liking of all of them. They are all flawed, and yet incredible in their own way.
My first thought going into this book was, "This is such a female book." in the sense you are really entrenched in the feminine world here (
Spoiler
which makes sense considering the lesbian killerEither they called on someone, perching on unfamiliar chairs in some other withdrawing room and making self-conscious coversation, or one of them received callers here. Sarah had young married friends whose conversations were indescribably boring to Charlotte. Emily's friends were little better; all romantic speculation, fashion, who as, or was about to be, courting whom.
The strength of this book is definitely the portrayal of all the different circumstances women exist in Victorian England. In this upper middle class family, we see the bitter old dowager, the devoted wife and mother, the moral young wife, the stubborn straightforward middle daughter, and the youngest prettiest daughter with aspirations. They are all vividly portrayed in all their flaws and strengths. These women know and understand their strengths, and in their own way, manipulate and question the unfair moral system they are placed in. It's really a very feminist book.
My only complain is the resolution of the mystery. The killer is easily sussed out three-quarters into the book, but the ensuing drama of betrayal and love in the story makes me want to carry on reading to see how it would end. Unfortunately, the end was quite abrupt. Very odd, considering how slow-moving the rest of the book is.
Spoiler
The killer is caught, Charlotte is rescued, and then ... it ends? Very weird.Still, a good book - the mystery is bloody and gory enough for my liking (I mean, what's a murder mystery without some blood and a few bodies and delicious scandals, right?) and I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series!
rachbreads's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this series on the high recommendation of my aunt, who considers this to be one of her favorite series ever. To me, this book reads as the beginning of a series, but does not stand well on its own. The character development is minimal, and all of the characters still have a long way to go to be more well-rounded. The mystery itself was not interesting enough to put up with a cast of characters that was honestly really annoying. The constant harping on social structures, and class, and manners was boring, and I wanted a lot more action. Don't get me started on the romance that wasn't developed AT ALL and then appeared out of nowhere.
On second thought, bumping my star-rating down, I really wouldn't recommend this book at all. Much better options out there for this sort of thing - I would recommend Deanna Raybourn.
On second thought, bumping my star-rating down, I really wouldn't recommend this book at all. Much better options out there for this sort of thing - I would recommend Deanna Raybourn.
linds01ou's review against another edition
5.0
Wow the ending was amazing! Great book a nd a very quick read.
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book in the long running Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. A maid in the Ellison household is strangled and other women are being killed in the neighborhood in the same way. Detective Thomas Pitt is sent to investigate and he becomes infatuated with Charlotte Ellison, a sister to one of the victims, even as he gathers evidence in the serial killings. While there is a mystery to be solved, and Thomas Pitt successfully does that, this book is primarily a social commentary on the class structure and social norms in Victorian London.
amandajeanne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0