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sheila713's review against another edition
4.0
I received this ebook as a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoy Victorian mysteries. As the title indicates, this one takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 1880. It is the third book in the Ian Hamilton mystery series, and the first one I've read. I'm hoping to read the previous two.
Ian Hamilton is a Detective Inspector with the Edinburgh police. There are several other main characters, including Chief Crawford, Sergeant Dickerson, Constable Turnbull, Ian's brother Donald, their Aunt Lillian and medical student Conan Doyle. Ian's Chief has given him the task of finding the source of misinformation being provided to the police, especially about the rumor of an impending major robbery. Ian suspects there may be a mole in the department.
There isn't a lot of action in the first part of the story, but that gradually changes after the first murder. The police were dependent on either walking or cabs for transportation. They also relied heavily on informants. I'm just wondering how Ian managed to afford to take so many cab rides, pay his informants and and make charitable donations to street vendors and orphans.
While I was reading the book I could picture the settings, hear the sounds in the crowded pub, see the characters, etc. I enjoy a story that draws me into the scene itself and this one did. If you enjoy Victorian mysteries you will like the Ian Hamilton mystery series.
I enjoy Victorian mysteries. As the title indicates, this one takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 1880. It is the third book in the Ian Hamilton mystery series, and the first one I've read. I'm hoping to read the previous two.
Ian Hamilton is a Detective Inspector with the Edinburgh police. There are several other main characters, including Chief Crawford, Sergeant Dickerson, Constable Turnbull, Ian's brother Donald, their Aunt Lillian and medical student Conan Doyle. Ian's Chief has given him the task of finding the source of misinformation being provided to the police, especially about the rumor of an impending major robbery. Ian suspects there may be a mole in the department.
There isn't a lot of action in the first part of the story, but that gradually changes after the first murder. The police were dependent on either walking or cabs for transportation. They also relied heavily on informants. I'm just wondering how Ian managed to afford to take so many cab rides, pay his informants and and make charitable donations to street vendors and orphans.
While I was reading the book I could picture the settings, hear the sounds in the crowded pub, see the characters, etc. I enjoy a story that draws me into the scene itself and this one did. If you enjoy Victorian mysteries you will like the Ian Hamilton mystery series.
dawn_marie's review
1.0
Edinburgh Midnight, the third book in the Ian Hamilton series is not good. At all. It was bad; a thoroughly unpleasant read.
The strengths that Carole Lawrence demonstrated in the first two books, notably in tone, atmosphere, and prose, was completely missing in the third book. The prose that evoked 1880 Edinburgh was replaced with pedantic passages detailing the historic significance of various buildings or statues (and at one time a funeral prayer hymnal). I have no issue infusing historic details in a novel, just not to the point where the book feels less like a novel and more like a history text (as is the case here). These passages brought the story line to a screeching halt.
In Edinburgh Midnight, Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton is so busy pursing not one, not two, but three separate cases (séance murders, fire that killed his parents, and police/informant corruption) that he manages to miss three dates with (the still horrible) Fiona Stuart. – I continue to be baffled as to why I am supposed to root for a romantic paring that is based on petty and spiteful, childish behavior (which continues in this novel); even when Ian and Fiona “apologize”, the apology comes across as condescending and surly. Not only does the reader have to content with a convoluted plot and romantic angst, (s)he is treated to middle school antics when Dickerson’s jealousy over DI Hamilton’s friendship with Arthur Conan Doyle sends him into the arms of the school, erm, police station bully and all around bad guy Turnbull.
So many of the characters have devolved, becoming flat and boring - Lillian is a plot device, Donald stands in for an exposition dump, and Derek has become deus ex machine. DI Hamilton started the series as a smart, determined, and dedicated investigator - we are told by everyone that DI Hamilton is “brilliant” and “the best;” however, I have my doubts as Hamilton has the stuffing beat out of him on a regular basis, has been ambushed several times, is completely oblivious to the fact that he is constantly followed (by Derek, by Corbin, by Doyle, by the murderer(s), by street gang members, etc.) and misses key clues (that are often pointed out to him by others). It seems (to me anyway) that Hamilton “solves” the case by the efforts of others and not his “brilliant” investigative prowess.
I do not know if there will Ian Hamilton mysteries published in the future, regardless, I plan on taking a hard pass on them. If I want to reach about a brilliant detective solve unusual crimes in Victoriana Era England/Scotland, I will stick with the original (and still the best) Sherlock Holmes.
The strengths that Carole Lawrence demonstrated in the first two books, notably in tone, atmosphere, and prose, was completely missing in the third book. The prose that evoked 1880 Edinburgh was replaced with pedantic passages detailing the historic significance of various buildings or statues (and at one time a funeral prayer hymnal). I have no issue infusing historic details in a novel, just not to the point where the book feels less like a novel and more like a history text (as is the case here). These passages brought the story line to a screeching halt.
In Edinburgh Midnight, Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton is so busy pursing not one, not two, but three separate cases (séance murders, fire that killed his parents, and police/informant corruption) that he manages to miss three dates with (the still horrible) Fiona Stuart. – I continue to be baffled as to why I am supposed to root for a romantic paring that is based on petty and spiteful, childish behavior (which continues in this novel); even when Ian and Fiona “apologize”, the apology comes across as condescending and surly. Not only does the reader have to content with a convoluted plot and romantic angst, (s)he is treated to middle school antics when Dickerson’s jealousy over DI Hamilton’s friendship with Arthur Conan Doyle sends him into the arms of the school, erm, police station bully and all around bad guy Turnbull.
So many of the characters have devolved, becoming flat and boring - Lillian is a plot device, Donald stands in for an exposition dump, and Derek has become deus ex machine. DI Hamilton started the series as a smart, determined, and dedicated investigator - we are told by everyone that DI Hamilton is “brilliant” and “the best;” however, I have my doubts as Hamilton has the stuffing beat out of him on a regular basis, has been ambushed several times, is completely oblivious to the fact that he is constantly followed (by Derek, by Corbin, by Doyle, by the murderer(s), by street gang members, etc.) and misses key clues (that are often pointed out to him by others). It seems (to me anyway) that Hamilton “solves” the case by the efforts of others and not his “brilliant” investigative prowess.
I do not know if there will Ian Hamilton mysteries published in the future, regardless, I plan on taking a hard pass on them. If I want to reach about a brilliant detective solve unusual crimes in Victoriana Era England/Scotland, I will stick with the original (and still the best) Sherlock Holmes.
gawronma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow! What an interesting book with just a hint to the world of Sherlock Holmes. I so hope there will be another book in the Ian Hamilton series.
cpjeanz's review against another edition
4.0
You know you've read something you've enjoyed when you walk away sad or bittersweet it's over. This was a fun one, and sadly seems like the last entry in the series as 2023 is almost over. I would happily check back in with Ian, Dickerson, Crawford, and Doyle again. These stories are rich in historical detail, and the crimes are well written and enjoyable. You won't necessarily walk away with the Christie WOW, but that's okay because they are high quality regardless. This one had a solid crime, that was interwoven well with the larger overarching story of Ian's past. I would honestly say that's my only major complaint: there's not much resolution for the story we've been exploring for 3 books. So I walk away feeling a bit incomplete. It feels like a larger thread is missing. I get that this might just be a period of Ian's life we were lucky to read about, leaving room for you to know there are future untold stories. But for something so important to his character, it feels a bit like a let down to get no real resolution. With that being said, the rest was great. The drama this time around felt a lot more natural, and the underlying decisions and behavior felt a lot more believable. Ian was clearly overwhelmed in this book, and it made sense why he made the decisions he did. The writing and pacing was the same as the other books; all really digestible. If you're a historical mystery fan, I would highly recommend reading this series. It has good historical detail, good characters, and solid mysteries. I'm sad that it's over (still hoping there's maybe 1 more book in the works that concludes the story), but I'm glad I read it.
Quick hits:
+ Characters are well written, and their character growth pays off.
+ Decisions and behavior felt natural and earned this time around.
+ The crime was well written and mysterious in how it related to Ian's past.
- The ending was a bit of a let down. There wasn't much resolution on some big points and it feels like there's a bigger piece missing from this overall story.
I hope we get another book, but if not, I'm satisfied with having read the serious. I'd definitely recommend to historical mystery fans. 4/5 stars.
Quick hits:
+ Characters are well written, and their character growth pays off.
+ Decisions and behavior felt natural and earned this time around.
+ The crime was well written and mysterious in how it related to Ian's past.
- The ending was a bit of a let down. There wasn't much resolution on some big points and it feels like there's a bigger piece missing from this overall story.
I hope we get another book, but if not, I'm satisfied with having read the serious. I'd definitely recommend to historical mystery fans. 4/5 stars.
nataliewright1995's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
lucyknitsandreads's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely better than the second one, but damn, now I want more!
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
1880 Edinburgh. Detective Hamilton's Aunt Lillian invites him to a seance held by Madame Veselka. But soon one of the guests is murdered. Then another. He investigates while still searching for the killer of his parents.
Another entertaining and well-written historical mystery in this series with its likeable characters
Another entertaining and well-written historical mystery in this series with its likeable characters