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attytheresa's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent historical mystery set in the streets of Victorian London's Mayfair and Soho. Nell, disguised as a boy, has been playing piano at a music hall to raise the tuition to study at the Royal Academy. She soon learns enough about the corruption and Ddangerous criminal underbelly to put her own life - and those she's grown to care for - at grave risk before all is exposed and brought to justice by Nell's brother, a Scotland Yard detective.
This is also a story about dualities, in fact far too many that ultimately overburdened the plot. Almost every significant character was somehow leading 2 lives in some way, and a couple of those 'duets' were forced and unnecessary.
What kept me wholly engaged was Nell herself, her gift for music and life. Nell has long lived under scrutiny and fear that she would at some point exhibit the mental illness (bipolar disease) that so disastrously drove her mother to rash acts before she abandoned her husband and children. By the end, Nell has acquired a far deeper understanding of her own strength and stability of temperament.
Music, and the piano itself, are front and center: the music played, the instrument and it's care and restoration, and a famous pianist or two.
This is also a story about dualities, in fact far too many that ultimately overburdened the plot. Almost every significant character was somehow leading 2 lives in some way, and a couple of those 'duets' were forced and unnecessary.
What kept me wholly engaged was Nell herself, her gift for music and life. Nell has long lived under scrutiny and fear that she would at some point exhibit the mental illness (bipolar disease) that so disastrously drove her mother to rash acts before she abandoned her husband and children. By the end, Nell has acquired a far deeper understanding of her own strength and stability of temperament.
Music, and the piano itself, are front and center: the music played, the instrument and it's care and restoration, and a famous pianist or two.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
Oh what a great surprise. I really liked Nell and Jack. It was a great adventure and I really want to read more from Karen Odden.
amarieconnolly's review against another edition
3.0
I probably would say this was more 3.5 stars. It was interesting and a solid start for this character, but sometimes it felt long. I'm curious where the story will go in the sequel.
arwen_evenstar's review
4.0
Very often, books that are a mystery set in the Victorian era are my favorites and this one has certainly been added to the constantly growing list of those favorites.
The perils Nell faced both personally and dressing as a man to keep her job and discovering the sinister crime ring had my heart racing with each page turn.
I very much enjoyed Mrs. Odden's writing style and how she portrayed the close bond between Nell and her brother Matthew and the relationship of Nell and Jack, whose romance I just adored.
I actually learned about the author, Karen Odden, through a family member whose in a local book club they're both apart of. I of course went to sign up for her newsletter, but I didn't straight away see the pop-up for signing up and ended up actually contacting her directly then we got to emailing back and forth, me explaining I'm a writer as well and that I too love writing Victorian mysteries. Long story short, I hope we can meet up for that coffee and discussions of both our works when the time permits!
A fantastic read for those who love a good Victorian mystery, I'm looking forward to reading the second installment too!
The perils Nell faced both personally and dressing as a man to keep her job and discovering the sinister crime ring had my heart racing with each page turn.
I very much enjoyed Mrs. Odden's writing style and how she portrayed the close bond between Nell and her brother Matthew and the relationship of Nell and Jack, whose romance I just adored.
I actually learned about the author, Karen Odden, through a family member whose in a local book club they're both apart of. I of course went to sign up for her newsletter, but I didn't straight away see the pop-up for signing up and ended up actually contacting her directly then we got to emailing back and forth, me explaining I'm a writer as well and that I too love writing Victorian mysteries. Long story short, I hope we can meet up for that coffee and discussions of both our works when the time permits!
A fantastic read for those who love a good Victorian mystery, I'm looking forward to reading the second installment too!
vlynnk89's review
5.0
This type of book is right up my alley and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a different sort of historical fiction. Loved it.
krisrid's review
2.0
This was a DNF at about the halfway point. It wasn't bad, I think it just wasn't for me.
I found that there was nothing I could really connect to in this book. The characters were . . . fine. The story was . . . okay. The presentation of foggy London was . . . adequate.
Everything about this was just . . . okay. There was nothing that set this apart for me from the many other books with similar setting, plot and characters. I've read lots of 1800s London mysteries, and many of them I loved. This just wasn't one of those.
I felt like I was skimming along the surface here. I hung in there hoping something really thrilling would come along a draw me in, but that never happened. So I'm moving on to the next.
I found that there was nothing I could really connect to in this book. The characters were . . . fine. The story was . . . okay. The presentation of foggy London was . . . adequate.
Everything about this was just . . . okay. There was nothing that set this apart for me from the many other books with similar setting, plot and characters. I've read lots of 1800s London mysteries, and many of them I loved. This just wasn't one of those.
I felt like I was skimming along the surface here. I hung in there hoping something really thrilling would come along a draw me in, but that never happened. So I'm moving on to the next.
veronika_wordy_and_whimsical's review
3.0
you can find this & other cool stuff @ The Regal Critiques
Much thanks to the publisher who provided me with an ARC through Edelweiss!
THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT
I'm not sure what it was about A Dangerous Duet, but it had my attention from the first moment I laid my eyes upon the title on Edelweiss. Perhaps my fascination had to do with the way the quietness and simplicity of cover reminded me of soft piano music, while the word "dangerous" in the title promised an edge-of-your-seat Victorian mystery. Either way, I was hooked from the get go, and dove into this beauty with more than a little bit of excitement.
The premise, while simple and, to be fair, not the most unique, sounded like something Odden could put her own spin on. I was tremendously excited to meet our main character, get swept off my feet by the romance and lost in the mystery of the Octavian. Alas, I set myself up for disappointment. From the get go I felt like something essential was missing from every aspect of the novel - the writing, the characters and the plot all lacked the strength that could have elevated them to greatness from mediocre.
LACKING IN SUBSTANCE
I struggle to form a coherent critique here, because I know this is supposed to be a quiet, slow-moving novel, so calling it 'boring' feels ignorant, but it is what it is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Had this not been a review copy I very likely would have put it down, never to be picked up again. The biggest problem with A Dangerous Duet is its utter confusion of what it wants to be - is this a romance? a mystery? a character-driven novel? It dips its toes into multiple genres but ultimately fails to excel at any of them, thus, instead of being a beautiful mix of topics, it ends up feeling messy.
And the saddest thing is that there are so many bits and pieces hidden in there that would have been fantastic had they been written in more detail; the relationship between Nell and her brother, Jack's complicated feelings towards his father, multiple supporting characters who we barely scratch the surface of and the list goes on...
MENTAL HEALTH?
If I'm honest, it was the portrayal of mental health where Odden lost me. I doubt she meant to offend anyone, however, I did feel that her inclusion of mental health issues could have been done better. Knowing that her mother suffered from mental health issues Nell, and those that surround her, are very conscious of her moods. She has to restrict herself in multiple ways, including while playing the piano, as her doctor believes that becoming too passionate and emotional may make her mental state worse. Obviously, these tips and tricks were meant to be realistic for the era, not for ours, which is fair enough.
However, when a better part of the novel was spent in absolute fear that Nell might develop the same symptoms her mother's had, I expected more of a closure than what we were given. I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you, so let it be enough that instead of a nuanced description of mental health, Odden opted for the very easy way out that did nothing to destigmatize mental illness.
PASSION FOR THE PIANO AND OTHER POSITIVES
Still, A Dangerous Duet has some merits, most notably Nell's love for the piano. In spite - or perhaps because - of not playing any musical instruments I'm immensely fascinated by musician characters. Besides enjoying learning about details I haven't yet known, I believe my liking for these stories stems from how much I adore reading about characters who have a passion. I'm a firm believer that we, all of us, have something we love to do, and oh my, what a delight it was to read about Nell's passion! Her work ethic and willingness to do anything to reach her dreams was incredibly admirable.
LACKLUSTER BUT OKAY
Overall, I have to say, A Dangerous Duet wasn't in any way awful - but it certainly could have been so much better. A little of this, a little of that only works if at least some of those "little" things are executed well - if everything is pretty much on the same level, a low one at that, it's impossible to be truly engrossed in a novel. And sadly, the choppy plot can very easily result in mediocre characters, which is what happened here. I can give A Dangerous Duet no more and no less than three stars, because while it was disappointing, it was also enjoyable and it had some unique elements.
Recommended to...
- those who enjoy when multiple genres are mixed together
- readers who are interested in finding out more about the Victorian era
- fans of slower, cozy mystery novels & romance
- pianists! - there's so much love for the piano here
you can find this & other cool stuff @ The Regal Critiques
Much thanks to the publisher who provided me with an ARC through Edelweiss!
THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT
I'm not sure what it was about A Dangerous Duet, but it had my attention from the first moment I laid my eyes upon the title on Edelweiss. Perhaps my fascination had to do with the way the quietness and simplicity of cover reminded me of soft piano music, while the word "dangerous" in the title promised an edge-of-your-seat Victorian mystery. Either way, I was hooked from the get go, and dove into this beauty with more than a little bit of excitement.
The premise, while simple and, to be fair, not the most unique, sounded like something Odden could put her own spin on. I was tremendously excited to meet our main character, get swept off my feet by the romance and lost in the mystery of the Octavian. Alas, I set myself up for disappointment. From the get go I felt like something essential was missing from every aspect of the novel - the writing, the characters and the plot all lacked the strength that could have elevated them to greatness from mediocre.
LACKING IN SUBSTANCE
I struggle to form a coherent critique here, because I know this is supposed to be a quiet, slow-moving novel, so calling it 'boring' feels ignorant, but it is what it is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Had this not been a review copy I very likely would have put it down, never to be picked up again. The biggest problem with A Dangerous Duet is its utter confusion of what it wants to be - is this a romance? a mystery? a character-driven novel? It dips its toes into multiple genres but ultimately fails to excel at any of them, thus, instead of being a beautiful mix of topics, it ends up feeling messy.
And the saddest thing is that there are so many bits and pieces hidden in there that would have been fantastic had they been written in more detail; the relationship between Nell and her brother, Jack's complicated feelings towards his father, multiple supporting characters who we barely scratch the surface of and the list goes on...
MENTAL HEALTH?
If I'm honest, it was the portrayal of mental health where Odden lost me. I doubt she meant to offend anyone, however, I did feel that her inclusion of mental health issues could have been done better. Knowing that her mother suffered from mental health issues Nell, and those that surround her, are very conscious of her moods. She has to restrict herself in multiple ways, including while playing the piano, as her doctor believes that becoming too passionate and emotional may make her mental state worse. Obviously, these tips and tricks were meant to be realistic for the era, not for ours, which is fair enough.
However, when a better part of the novel was spent in absolute fear that Nell might develop the same symptoms her mother's had, I expected more of a closure than what we were given. I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you, so let it be enough that instead of a nuanced description of mental health, Odden opted for the very easy way out that did nothing to destigmatize mental illness.
PASSION FOR THE PIANO AND OTHER POSITIVES
Still, A Dangerous Duet has some merits, most notably Nell's love for the piano. In spite - or perhaps because - of not playing any musical instruments I'm immensely fascinated by musician characters. Besides enjoying learning about details I haven't yet known, I believe my liking for these stories stems from how much I adore reading about characters who have a passion. I'm a firm believer that we, all of us, have something we love to do, and oh my, what a delight it was to read about Nell's passion! Her work ethic and willingness to do anything to reach her dreams was incredibly admirable.
LACKLUSTER BUT OKAY
Overall, I have to say, A Dangerous Duet wasn't in any way awful - but it certainly could have been so much better. A little of this, a little of that only works if at least some of those "little" things are executed well - if everything is pretty much on the same level, a low one at that, it's impossible to be truly engrossed in a novel. And sadly, the choppy plot can very easily result in mediocre characters, which is what happened here. I can give A Dangerous Duet no more and no less than three stars, because while it was disappointing, it was also enjoyable and it had some unique elements.
Recommended to...
- those who enjoy when multiple genres are mixed together
- readers who are interested in finding out more about the Victorian era
- fans of slower, cozy mystery novels & romance
- pianists! - there's so much love for the piano here
you can find this & other cool stuff @ The Regal Critiques
tishbee's review against another edition
4.0
A good story, well paced and a good read despite the heroine spilling her secrets, life story, fear that she may develop a mental illness and knowledge of an extensive crime ring to every person she meets, often on the first meeting. I enjoyed it despite her infuriating tendency to have the self preservation instincts of a lemming.
oddandbookish's review
4.0
I received this book for free free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.
This was a very intriguing historical fiction mystery.
The book’s strongest point was that it was very atmospheric. It nailed that grimy Victorian England vibe perfectly. The author did a tremendous job bringing that world to life and evoking an air of mystery.
I liked how the book focused on the unsavory parts of Victorian England. From the life of orphans to brothels, this book showcased it all. It was really interesting to see that mixed in with the musical element. It all worked really well together.
As for the mystery, I thought it was good up until the end. It was a fairly straight forward mystery so I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. It was pretty much solved about 75% of the way through. The rest of the book was just the resolution and aftermath of it all. That being said, it was a very action packed last quarter.
There was a little bit of romance in this as well, but I could have done without it. It felt a little forced. The book would have been just as strong had it not been there.
Overall, this was a compelling historical mystery that will make you feel like you are actually in Victorian England.
This was a very intriguing historical fiction mystery.
The book’s strongest point was that it was very atmospheric. It nailed that grimy Victorian England vibe perfectly. The author did a tremendous job bringing that world to life and evoking an air of mystery.
I liked how the book focused on the unsavory parts of Victorian England. From the life of orphans to brothels, this book showcased it all. It was really interesting to see that mixed in with the musical element. It all worked really well together.
As for the mystery, I thought it was good up until the end. It was a fairly straight forward mystery so I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. It was pretty much solved about 75% of the way through. The rest of the book was just the resolution and aftermath of it all. That being said, it was a very action packed last quarter.
There was a little bit of romance in this as well, but I could have done without it. It felt a little forced. The book would have been just as strong had it not been there.
Overall, this was a compelling historical mystery that will make you feel like you are actually in Victorian England.