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margaretpinard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
p246-7: "YOUTH OF TODAY IS SKEPTICAL F. SCOTT FITZGERALD THINKS; CONFIDENT IS LOST IN GROWN-UPS, HE BELIEVES ..."Young people of today have a negative philosophy which they obtained from their elders. They are not long idealists. Too much has happened. Most generations grow up surrounded by strong walls of idealism, but the expression, Oh yeah!' comes closer to expressing the feelings of the young people of today than any other two words. They are like all mankind, essentially spiritual, but they haven't found leadership that they can honestly accept..." --Star Gazette, Elmira, NY 8-15-1935
reneesmith's review
5.0
I enjoyed so much about this cozy mystery series! Sympathetic, likable characters, tight writing, immersive setting, great storytelling, fab narration . . . I can do without the whole carrying a torch for the woman he can never have trope. Maybe the author will change that someday :)
polyhy_14's review
5.0
I love the way the author continues to involve real historical characters and events in her stories. The protagonists are so likeable we can’t help caring about what happens to them and the plotting is wonderful. My only criticism is that I get through these books way too quickly, and the have a long wait before the next one comes out.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘I don’t know why Danny appointed me his executor.’
1935. Rowland Sinclair and his friends Clyde Watson Jones, Edna Higgins and Milton Isaacs are in Singapore on their way back to Australia when Rowly receives a telegram. His American millionaire friend Daniel Cartwright, whom he had met at Oxford University, has been shot dead. His body, dressed in evening attire, was found in Harvard Yard. Rowly has been named executor of the will. And so, Rowly and his friends travel to the USA.
Who murdered Daniel Cartwright and why did he name Rowland Sinclair as his executor? When the will is read, Daniel Cartwright’s siblings find that he has left the bulk of his estate to an Otis Norcross, whom no-one seems to know. Rowly and his friends set out to try to locate Otis Norcross, and things quickly become ugly. Members of Daniel’s family want to challenge the will, but Rowly is determined to do his best to locate Otis Norcross – even when it becomes clear that he and his friends are in danger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tenth instalment in Ms Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair series (also published as ‘A Testament of Character’). The cast of characters includes cameo appearances by Marion Davies, Errol Fynn, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald as well as Joseph Kennedy. The backdrop is complex as well: organised crime, family secrets and a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by those in same sex relationships during this period. Ms Gentill kept me guessing who killed Daniel Cartwright until close to the end. There are more than a few twists,with some obvious (and not so obvious) villains. Another action-filled adventure for Rowly, Edna, Milt and Clyde.
And, given a surprise twist towards the end, I really wonder what will happen next.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
1935. Rowland Sinclair and his friends Clyde Watson Jones, Edna Higgins and Milton Isaacs are in Singapore on their way back to Australia when Rowly receives a telegram. His American millionaire friend Daniel Cartwright, whom he had met at Oxford University, has been shot dead. His body, dressed in evening attire, was found in Harvard Yard. Rowly has been named executor of the will. And so, Rowly and his friends travel to the USA.
Who murdered Daniel Cartwright and why did he name Rowland Sinclair as his executor? When the will is read, Daniel Cartwright’s siblings find that he has left the bulk of his estate to an Otis Norcross, whom no-one seems to know. Rowly and his friends set out to try to locate Otis Norcross, and things quickly become ugly. Members of Daniel’s family want to challenge the will, but Rowly is determined to do his best to locate Otis Norcross – even when it becomes clear that he and his friends are in danger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tenth instalment in Ms Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair series (also published as ‘A Testament of Character’). The cast of characters includes cameo appearances by Marion Davies, Errol Fynn, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald as well as Joseph Kennedy. The backdrop is complex as well: organised crime, family secrets and a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by those in same sex relationships during this period. Ms Gentill kept me guessing who killed Daniel Cartwright until close to the end. There are more than a few twists,with some obvious (and not so obvious) villains. Another action-filled adventure for Rowly, Edna, Milt and Clyde.
And, given a surprise twist towards the end, I really wonder what will happen next.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
mlafaive's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
avadore's review
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A little bit preposterous how many historical characters end up in the story but a lot of fun none the less. I gave this a go as a standalone for bookclub but it's exciting to know there is a whole series of mysteries and escapades I can go back and read. Kind of like an Australian Poirot with more of an explicitly political bent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Hate crime, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Outing, Homophobia, and Antisemitism
archytas's review
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I'm not really ready to deal with the fact there is currently no more in this series. I have a copy of Gentill's new, and highly acclaimed, Woman in the Library awaiting my attention, but this is the first time I have caught up in this excellent series and I will miss it.
I can't imagine when she started writing about the rise of fascism through the eyes of a wealthy bohemian artist with a penchant for getting accused of murder, that Gentill predicted how significant these themes (fascism not implausible murder accusations) would become to society. But I have really enjoyed how subtly she has shifted the tone of the series to better reflect the darkness of the world that Rowly is living in, and the increasing shadow over our own.
I had expected this excursion to deal with homophobia, and it does, but Gentill wisely doesn't centre on prejudice, instead populating the book with a struggle against institutional homophobia, and highlighting the vibrant queer resistance of the time. The mystery was highly predictable, but that didn't really matter, because the story was elegant and worth reading just for itself.
I can understand why it gets harder to keep a series going, but I do hope we get a few more adventures with this group.
I can't imagine when she started writing about the rise of fascism through the eyes of a wealthy bohemian artist with a penchant for getting accused of murder, that Gentill predicted how significant these themes (fascism not implausible murder accusations) would become to society. But I have really enjoyed how subtly she has shifted the tone of the series to better reflect the darkness of the world that Rowly is living in, and the increasing shadow over our own.
I had expected this excursion to deal with homophobia, and it does, but Gentill wisely doesn't centre on prejudice, instead populating the book with a struggle against institutional homophobia, and highlighting the vibrant queer resistance of the time. The mystery was highly predictable, but that didn't really matter, because the story was elegant and worth reading just for itself.
I can understand why it gets harder to keep a series going, but I do hope we get a few more adventures with this group.
shamfeldt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Tbf I can’t tell a Melbourne accent from a Sidney one but the Bowery has never been in Beantown