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gmamartha's review
4.0
1830. Scotland. Artist who helps investigate murder. Good beginning to Lady Darby Mystery series.
paigestooksbury's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This probably will sink lower as I think about it. It just didn’t feel immersive at all and the characters were annoying without exception. Our main character is a lot of telling instead of showing, which is a pet peeve of mine. The whole baby thing felt like it was in there just for shock value. It was gross and sadistic and didn’t feel like it added to the plot besides convincing us at the end that the perpetrator is insane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
aganethadyck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
4.0
mostlyfated's review
4.0
Would definitely recommend this series if you are a fan of Deanna Raybourn. There are a lot of similarities between the Lady Darby and Lady Julia Grey series as both are narrated by strong independently minded protagonists. The Lady Darby series takes place in the 1830s Scottish highlands (as oppose to Victorian England) that also involves a very strong male lead. Aside from the similaritity of being inquiry agents, Sebastian Gage is physically and characteristically different than Deanna Raybourn’s Nicholas Brisbane.
I absolutely enjoyed learning about the history of the Burke & Hare of Edinburgh that was terrorizing most of Great Britain in 1830 that was incorporated seamlessly into the story line of the protagonist - Kiera. The mystery and romantic suspense between Kiera and Sebastian Gage were just right to propel the main plot/story and their relationship forward. I definitely will be reading the second book and the rest of the series to see where the mystery, characters development, and blossoming romance between Kiera and Gage will lead.
I absolutely enjoyed learning about the history of the Burke & Hare of Edinburgh that was terrorizing most of Great Britain in 1830 that was incorporated seamlessly into the story line of the protagonist - Kiera. The mystery and romantic suspense between Kiera and Sebastian Gage were just right to propel the main plot/story and their relationship forward. I definitely will be reading the second book and the rest of the series to see where the mystery, characters development, and blossoming romance between Kiera and Gage will lead.
annevere01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
4.5
hollsbooks's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jackiehorne's review
3.0
2.5 OK for a first novel, but not as great as the awards and hype would suggest. Lots of telling rather than showing, a murder plot with an all-too-obvious villain, a heroine who spends far too much time fearful and crying (and who fails to tell her family about an important discovery at a key point, just so she can become an almost-victim of the villain for plot reasons), and a hero who comes across as anything but appealing. I got especially annoyed by the many linguistic anachronisms (using "they" instead of "he" for the singular person of unknown gender, for example)...