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kansas_girl's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
littletaiko's review
4.0
First in the Victorian Mystery series, this features Nell, a pianist who aspires to be in the Royal Academy. In order to raise the money to attend, she's found a job playing in a music hall but must dress as a man in order to play there. Her brother is a Scotland Yard detective. When a case he is investigating crosses paths with the music hall, Nell can't help but get involved. Really strong character and quite an enjoyable mystery.
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
Spunky, charming heroine. Immersive Dickensian settting. Talented Gothic storytelling. Great narration. Enjoyable!
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
A historical mystery will always win over a modern one. It's darker, and harder to catch bad guys.
Nell is a pianist and she needs to earn money. What else to do than to dress up like a guy and play at a music hall. She is careful, and she wouldn't have gotten away with it if her brother had not been coming home late every night. Music is her passion and she wants to study and learn more.
I must say I was quite fascinated by her Scotland Yard detective brother. I would love to learn more about him and see him solve a crime, and hey maybe find that special someone. Now he is busy solving murder and thefts.
As for the story. Nell works hard. She finds that the owner's son seems nice. And then she learns something dangerous. Foul deeds at the music hall. Then the clock starts ticking. Will her brother solve the case in time for her to be safe.
I enjoyed the story, and I do hope she writes one about the brother!
Narrator
I liked her narration. Everyone had a distinct voice and she kept the drama coming
Nell is a pianist and she needs to earn money. What else to do than to dress up like a guy and play at a music hall. She is careful, and she wouldn't have gotten away with it if her brother had not been coming home late every night. Music is her passion and she wants to study and learn more.
I must say I was quite fascinated by her Scotland Yard detective brother. I would love to learn more about him and see him solve a crime, and hey maybe find that special someone. Now he is busy solving murder and thefts.
As for the story. Nell works hard. She finds that the owner's son seems nice. And then she learns something dangerous. Foul deeds at the music hall. Then the clock starts ticking. Will her brother solve the case in time for her to be safe.
I enjoyed the story, and I do hope she writes one about the brother!
Narrator
I liked her narration. Everyone had a distinct voice and she kept the drama coming
waclements7's review
4.0
After reading so many historical novels where proprietary was the utmost concern, it took me a bit to adjust to the more laid back attitude in A Dangerous Duet. Given the situation, however, it made sense that Nell would have more wriggle room, even if she wasn’t always the smartest with it. I really liked that she was determined enough in her desire to be a pianist that she came up with her plan and pulled it off.
I also liked that the plot wasn’t completely predictable, although I was suspicious of Stephen pretty quickly because he had a grudge against everyone. Marceline and Sebastian were interesting characters, and I enjoyed their story.
Jack is a very complex and interesting character, I think he’s the most interesting one in the book. He has a lot of layers and is really torn between lives.
The whole mystery aspect is really intriguing without seeming overdone—it seems like a feasible thing that could happen.
I was unsure of the ending, but Matthew , while being a protective older brother, may have gone for such a scenario? It just seemed like since Jack had a male relative he was on good terms with it would have made more sense for Jack to stay with him. As it stands, the end pushes proprietary a bit much for my suspension of disbelief.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed this novel, and would recommend it as it is interesting and not your run of the mill romance. It may take some stretching of society standards to get into it, but they’re not really a typical brother and sister as it stands.
This book was received as an ARC through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program. My opinions are entirely my own.
I also liked that the plot wasn’t completely predictable, although I was suspicious of Stephen pretty quickly because he had a grudge against everyone. Marceline and Sebastian were interesting characters, and I enjoyed their story.
Jack is a very complex and interesting character, I think he’s the most interesting one in the book. He has a lot of layers and is really torn between lives.
The whole mystery aspect is really intriguing without seeming overdone—it seems like a feasible thing that could happen.
I was unsure of the ending, but Matthew , while being a protective older brother, may have gone for such a scenario? It just seemed like since Jack had a male relative he was on good terms with it would have made more sense for Jack to stay with him. As it stands, the end pushes proprietary a bit much for my suspension of disbelief.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed this novel, and would recommend it as it is interesting and not your run of the mill romance. It may take some stretching of society standards to get into it, but they’re not really a typical brother and sister as it stands.
This book was received as an ARC through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program. My opinions are entirely my own.
msnyderk's review
5.0
So engrossing. Utterly loved this story, the characters and the setting. Was so immersed. Can not wait to read the next.
andipants's review
3.0
I loved the setup here, and the first half was very engaging. The setting and the atmosphere were spot on, and I liked the variety of interesting and complex characters. Unfortunately, the plot didn't really follow through. For a supposed mystery, Nell does very little in terms of detective work; she goes about her daily life, things happen to and around her, then there's a flurry of (ultimately pretty ineffectual) activity at the end, and it's over. In the end, . The thread of the mental illness plot is essentially left dangling; Nell gets no real growth or closure on that front, and the conclusion with regards to her piano playing doesn't make much sense. The line about her having a place and being able to choose (p. 382) would make sense if she'd felt trapped, or like she didn't have a choice before, but at no point in the book does she let anyone dictate her life to her; it's a consistent character trait (and one that I liked) that she makes her own choices and finds a way to get what she wants in spite of the obstacles in her path, so this is a flimsy conclusion at best.
Overall, the very weak plot is mitigated somewhat by the wonderful characters and setting, but not enough to make it really great. I'd call it a solid fair-to-middling: three stars.
Spoiler
she doesn't solve the mystery; her brother does. Her only real part to play is saving her boyfriendOverall, the very weak plot is mitigated somewhat by the wonderful characters and setting, but not enough to make it really great. I'd call it a solid fair-to-middling: three stars.
kalie_universe_pristineprose's review
5.0
This is the second book I've read by Karen Odden and I've definitely found a new favorite author. The way she writes her stories and characters. They way that everyone is living their own story and somehow come in and out of each other's lives feels so real. I've never read anything that makes me feel more like I'm reading about a wonderful realistic story than Odden's works.
A Dangerous Duet has so many unique and wonderful elements.
- Music is a huge aspect of this story and the way it's written feels so deep and true. As if the author is a musician herself and really understands what playing is like. Also, I've never found tuning a piano so fascinating in my life and want to know more now!!
- The love interest is not who you assume it will be at the very beginning of the book which is very refreshing. Also, love him to pieces. And that they went on a normal date, that doesn't happen a lot in Victorian novels and I found it really cute.
-Her brother Matthew. I really love this guy. A wonderfully written sibling relationship. And he's an inspector that sounds very, very attractive. Honestly I'd read a second book about Mathew's love story.
-And of course the mystery!!! Honestly, I love the way Odden writes her mysteries. They are such complex and different crimes from most books that our heroine wants nothing to do with, but can't look the other way on either. I do wish she had told Matthew what she knew sooner, but understand why she didn't.
The way everything played out in the end was exciting, fascinating, and left me wanting more.
(highly recommend the audio book. the narrator is chef's kisses)
A Dangerous Duet has so many unique and wonderful elements.
- Music is a huge aspect of this story and the way it's written feels so deep and true. As if the author is a musician herself and really understands what playing is like. Also, I've never found tuning a piano so fascinating in my life and want to know more now!!
- The love interest is not who you assume it will be at the very beginning of the book which is very refreshing. Also, love him to pieces. And that they went on a normal date, that doesn't happen a lot in Victorian novels and I found it really cute.
-Her brother Matthew. I really love this guy. A wonderfully written sibling relationship. And he's an inspector that sounds very, very attractive. Honestly I'd read a second book about Mathew's love story.
-And of course the mystery!!! Honestly, I love the way Odden writes her mysteries. They are such complex and different crimes from most books that our heroine wants nothing to do with, but can't look the other way on either. I do wish she had told Matthew what she knew sooner, but understand why she didn't.
The way everything played out in the end was exciting, fascinating, and left me wanting more.
(highly recommend the audio book. the narrator is chef's kisses)
lecrockett's review
3.0
Great audio narrator. Entertaining. The last third (or what felt like a third) took place over one entire day and it seemed strange all of that happened between 6pm and 4am...but what do I know. It was a rush and, again, entertaining. I guessed at the mystery way ahead, but was curious to see how it would end. I loved the music moments. I’d be interested in reading/listening to the second in the series.
dapper's review
1.0
The rating was so good, I’m very disappointed.
Firstly, the main hero is into the business of exploiting children for profit. His main defense is “other people will exploit them if we dont” and goes on to say that sometimes he even buys them food. Uhhh
Firstly, the main hero is into the business of exploiting children for profit. His main defense is “other people will exploit them if we dont” and goes on to say that sometimes he even buys them food. Uhhh