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soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Another mystery with surprises. This one had sections which unfortunately veered more toward the romance genre but it was still fun.
armitageflying's review
4.0
Much better than the first book in the series! I am looking forward to the third book.
lexy1707's review against another edition
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
4.0
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane novel by Deanna Raybourn, if you have not read the first then do so, though this book will fill in some of the background story you will not get the full picture of their relationship and all its underlying currents.
Lady Julia is recovering from her ordeal in the previous book in Italy with two of her brothers Plum and Ly, but their father wants them all back home for Christmas, and for Ly to bring his new Italian bride with him. They come home bringing with them Alessandro, a friend from Italy who harbours a secret passion for Lady Julia to their country pile Bellmont Abbey or March Manor, where they are greeted by many members of their rather funny and eccentric family as well as a surprise or two and the mysterious Lord Wargrave. But is he mysterious or does Lady Julia already know him?
What then transpires is something which brings all great detective novels together - a murder. Who has committed this murder and why? And why has one of the house guests and cousin of sorts to Lady Julia claimed sanctuary in the chapel attached to the abbey? Did they really commit the murder or are they protecting someone.
Brisbane investigates with some help from Lady Julia, who whilst helping in one investigation ends up causing friction in another - the real reason that Brisbane has descended on Bellmot Abbey. Everyone is under suspicion and as the snow closes any access in or out of the murder, items go missing and the body of the victim is stored (and a post mortem carried out) in the game larder. It rather puts some of the guests (and the cook) of the food!
Raybourn has brought the two characters of Lady Julia and Brisbane back to life again, and this book reads as a witty tale of (despite the murder) escape into life in Victorian England. Ten out of ten for capturing so much of the society by an author who is an American but not once does this book slip from what it is all about - England. If like me you love reading about that upper class society world in an age gone by and you are not averse to a bit of murder and intrigue then this is the series of books for you. Raybourn successfully leads the ending of the story into the next one and I cannot wait to read it.
Lady Julia is recovering from her ordeal in the previous book in Italy with two of her brothers Plum and Ly, but their father wants them all back home for Christmas, and for Ly to bring his new Italian bride with him. They come home bringing with them Alessandro, a friend from Italy who harbours a secret passion for Lady Julia to their country pile Bellmont Abbey or March Manor, where they are greeted by many members of their rather funny and eccentric family as well as a surprise or two and the mysterious Lord Wargrave. But is he mysterious or does Lady Julia already know him?
What then transpires is something which brings all great detective novels together - a murder. Who has committed this murder and why? And why has one of the house guests and cousin of sorts to Lady Julia claimed sanctuary in the chapel attached to the abbey? Did they really commit the murder or are they protecting someone.
Brisbane investigates with some help from Lady Julia, who whilst helping in one investigation ends up causing friction in another - the real reason that Brisbane has descended on Bellmot Abbey. Everyone is under suspicion and as the snow closes any access in or out of the murder, items go missing and the body of the victim is stored (and a post mortem carried out) in the game larder. It rather puts some of the guests (and the cook) of the food!
Raybourn has brought the two characters of Lady Julia and Brisbane back to life again, and this book reads as a witty tale of (despite the murder) escape into life in Victorian England. Ten out of ten for capturing so much of the society by an author who is an American but not once does this book slip from what it is all about - England. If like me you love reading about that upper class society world in an age gone by and you are not averse to a bit of murder and intrigue then this is the series of books for you. Raybourn successfully leads the ending of the story into the next one and I cannot wait to read it.
courtney_etiva's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
reemeyer's review
5.0
Really glad I read Veronica Speedwell first, but I am loving the Lady Julia books. Slow burn romance, quirky large family, heroine who is coming into her own strength, mysterious hero, twisty light mysteries. Right up my alley.
tessisreading2's review
2.0
I'm officially done with this series. The Roma - always an uncomfortable topic when addressed in a historical context by authors with a romantic bent - are even more prominent here than they were in the last book, and it's just as awkward as before. Nineteenth-century attitudes are presented as clues that a character is Absolutely Awful, which throws into stark relief the anachronistically modern opinions and behaviors of the narrator and her family. I had finally had enough, however, when we met the poor relations. The writing is bright and spritely and everyone is wildly charming but that just doesn't make up for the fact that they're all horrible people.
Spoiler
Apparently the March family's unconventionality and largesse, while it extends to giving away priceless gems to random Roma, does not extend to penniless orphaned family members. It was clear immediately upon introduction of the cousins that they were going to have Dark and Terrible Secrets in their past, and probably Evil Deeds as well. They did - and those secrets and deeds were entirely prompted by their poverty and their miserable upbringing, neither of which the family attempted to ameliorate in the slightest at any point. Julia spends a fair amount of time lamenting the cousins' sad fates... but doesn't trouble herself to do anything about it or feel any guilt for not having done anything about it in the past. This makes absolutely no sense given what else we've seen about the Marches; it is a Victorian set-up for what we have already seen are an incredibly un-Victorian family. The Marches are, by authorial fiat, incredibly insulated from any sort of economic reality, so how can we bypass the fact that they haven't bothered to help out their penniless cousins? I was frankly rooting for Emma to off the lot of them.mjwerts's review
5.0
This sequel to Silent in the Grave reintroduces many of the entertaining personalities that populated Grave, but moves them to a new setting and expands the acquaintance list, resulting in another enjoyable Lady Julia Grey adventure.
The mystery — or mysteries, as is more accurate — this time around is multifaceted, leading to more suspects and more possibilities.
The most delightful part of the novel is the continuation and progression of the relationship between Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane. While each character can be frustrating or unlikeable at times — as every real person is — together, they are magic.
The mystery — or mysteries, as is more accurate — this time around is multifaceted, leading to more suspects and more possibilities.
The most delightful part of the novel is the continuation and progression of the relationship between Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane. While each character can be frustrating or unlikeable at times — as every real person is — together, they are magic.
seshat59's review
4.0
Silent in the Sanctuary was a very entertaining sequel in the Lady Julia Grey series.
Having returned from an excursion with two of her brothers in Italy to spend Christmas at home by summons of her illustrious father, Julia is confronted with Brisbane as well as his new, frivolous fiancée. Soon a murder falls into their laps. Snowed in, the pair team up once more to investigate.
The house guest mystery troupe was well done, and the sexual tension between Julia and Brisbane was thick as English fog. Despite Julia’s massive development as a character in the first installment, this second book still provides her room to grow and to better understand not only herself but what she must have out of a relationship. Two new March brothers (of the enormous ten children, notoriously eccentric household) to meet provide for entertainment amidst the far more normal Victorian guests. It only bothered me minutely that the March behavior has become even more egregiously anachronistic (excused of course by their eccentricity), but due to the mystery and characters themselves, I was mostly able to accept it without too much conscious criticism.
For its genre, I’m really enjoying the Lady Julia series. As a comparison to the Amelia Peabody series, it surpasses the Lady Emily series by far and is far better written. So far.
Having returned from an excursion with two of her brothers in Italy to spend Christmas at home by summons of her illustrious father, Julia is confronted with Brisbane as well as his new, frivolous fiancée. Soon a murder falls into their laps. Snowed in, the pair team up once more to investigate.
The house guest mystery troupe was well done, and the sexual tension between Julia and Brisbane was thick as English fog. Despite Julia’s massive development as a character in the first installment, this second book still provides her room to grow and to better understand not only herself but what she must have out of a relationship. Two new March brothers (of the enormous ten children, notoriously eccentric household) to meet provide for entertainment amidst the far more normal Victorian guests. It only bothered me minutely that the March behavior has become even more egregiously anachronistic (excused of course by their eccentricity), but due to the mystery and characters themselves, I was mostly able to accept it without too much conscious criticism.
For its genre, I’m really enjoying the Lady Julia series. As a comparison to the Amelia Peabody series, it surpasses the Lady Emily series by far and is far better written. So far.