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jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
When a young married woman is found stabbed to death in her bed the answer is simple, her husband did it and the Brighton Police don't investigate further. however for his childhood friend, McGregor, it's not that simple. Unable to look into the crime because he is part of the police force, McGregor engages the services of Mirabelle Bevan, his private investigator girlfriend. As Mirabelle probes further she is drawn into a dangerous game where individuals become expendable and corruption leads all the way to the top.
Having read one of the earlier Mirabelle Bevan stories I was sure that I was going to get a slightly more gritty adventure than one might think for the setting in post-War Brighton. This almost has shades of 'Brighton Rock' in the way that the seedier underbelly is exposed. I love the fact that one of the main characters is black and that Mirabelle is not a young woman - racism, sexism and ageism are all covered but in a subtle and integral part of the storyline. As far as the plot goes, there is something for everyone.
Having read one of the earlier Mirabelle Bevan stories I was sure that I was going to get a slightly more gritty adventure than one might think for the setting in post-War Brighton. This almost has shades of 'Brighton Rock' in the way that the seedier underbelly is exposed. I love the fact that one of the main characters is black and that Mirabelle is not a young woman - racism, sexism and ageism are all covered but in a subtle and integral part of the storyline. As far as the plot goes, there is something for everyone.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Visit the locations in the novel: Brighton bound
Russian Roulette -even sounds deliciously dark doesn't it? Well it is, and this Brighton based mystery heads over into the Sussex Downs where things get deadlier still
There are some good mysteries and some great ones and this one is the later. Evocative and dark – there are some seedy places in Brighton if this is to go by! A few crimes and a maze of mysteries to navigate with more than enough twists to rival the streets of Kemptown. Brighton in the 1950s is great setting and there’s a lot to look at. Mirabelle is a great character and finds herself in a real fix this time and her life more complicated than ever before which makes it all the more interesting.
The setting as I’ve said before really adds to the story here – The Grand Hotel carries more than a few secrets and there are thrillseekers galore in and around the town. There’s multilayers to this novel and yes, its a war time mystery but one with poison, gin, prostitutes and more. One crime scene in particular really intrigued me. Oh and that title. Read this and appreciate it even more.
robinwalter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I gave this series six chances. Six chances for the lead protagonist to grow to be at least a little less unlikeable. In the end, though, it wasn't her self-absorbed misandry that killed the last flicker of my interest. It was her incompetent investigative style compounded by the stodgy, wooden writing. That the only likeable regular character is a support role made it easier to admit defeat and dump the series.
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