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threerings's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this one. I liked the characters and thought they were well drawn. The India setting was well-described and evocative. The mystery wasn't all that mysterious and I found myself losing interest the closer to the ending that I got. But I will seek out and read the other books in the series.
robinwalter's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting story, with a great plot and a mystery that surprises at the end. I don't know how accurate are the historical details but the book manages to create the sense of what might have been India toward the end of the British domination.
And yes, it's always a little down-putting to read from the point of view of the colonizers, but their bias is so evident that you know it's there with that very purpose.
The only thing that kept distracting me is that I have listened to Terry Wale as Sherlock Holmes and my mind kept going there :P
An evocative, attractive mystery, and a good beginning to the series. I'm already listening to the second one :)
And yes, it's always a little down-putting to read from the point of view of the colonizers, but their bias is so evident that you know it's there with that very purpose.
The only thing that kept distracting me is that I have listened to Terry Wale as Sherlock Holmes and my mind kept going there :P
An evocative, attractive mystery, and a good beginning to the series. I'm already listening to the second one :)
cleocleveland's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting historical mystery with an unusual setting and a likeable protagonist. The thing keeping it from four stars was that some of it seems a little overwritten. There are sentences I had to read twice in order to get their meaning. This is the author's first book so that may certainly tighten up. I'll definitely read other books in this series, as despite some of the confusing sentence structure the book was still a quick, enjoyable read.
jgeisler's review against another edition
4.0
What a terrific mystery: interesting setting (India), varied characters and a mystery that, with careful thought, could have been solved by the reader! It was a little like reading an Agatha Christie mystery.....such a relief to not have to wade through detailed, violent episodes, car chases, etc.
Well done, Beverly Cleverly!
Well done, Beverly Cleverly!
mohogan2063's review against another edition
4.0
Great historical mystery. I want to read more from this author.
lenavanausdle's review
4.0
Where to start with this book? I enjoyed the characters, mostly; they were fairly well developed for a mystery novel. The story was engaging, if not slightly predictable. I think the author did well in conjuring 1920's India, though I think she could have gone further in her descriptions to make it more vivid. All in all a good book if your looking for a somewhat lighthearted read.
expendablemudge's review
3.0
Rating: 3* of five
The Publisher Says: In a land of saffron sunsets and blazing summer heat, an Englishwoman has been found dead, her wrists slit, her body floating in a bathtub of blood and water. But is it suicide or murder? The case falls to Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands, who survived the horror of the Western Front and has endured six sultry months in English-ruled Calcutta. Sandilands is ordered to investigate, and soon discovers that there have been other mysterious deaths, hearkening sinister ties to the present case. Now, as the sovereignty of Britain is in decline and an insurgent India is on the rise, Sandilands must navigate the treacherous corridors of political decorum to bring a cunning killer to justice…knowing the next victim is already marked to die.
My Review: This series begins on a high note, with the character of Joe Sandilands romping through soon-to-be-de-Britished India. He is an appealing character. He isn't, however, interesting enough to make me want to read more books in the series.
About the mystery itself, I was a little bit more interested in its solution than I expected to be. I was pretty sure I knew who was murdering the women, and was suspicious about why...but honestly I was surprised by the motivation of the killer. I was a little more involved than I expected to be as the body count mounted.
What I wasn't was convinced that the killings were in any way part of a pattern that convinced me. Sandilands appears to be chasing his own tail, and I'm never clear that he's actually investigating and solving the actual crime.
Well, it's not a terrible book. It's nicely written. India is a good backdrop, and it's well evoked. But what we have here is a failure to launch. I'm...well...oh heck, I have to say it...bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.
Cross posted at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
The Publisher Says: In a land of saffron sunsets and blazing summer heat, an Englishwoman has been found dead, her wrists slit, her body floating in a bathtub of blood and water. But is it suicide or murder? The case falls to Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands, who survived the horror of the Western Front and has endured six sultry months in English-ruled Calcutta. Sandilands is ordered to investigate, and soon discovers that there have been other mysterious deaths, hearkening sinister ties to the present case. Now, as the sovereignty of Britain is in decline and an insurgent India is on the rise, Sandilands must navigate the treacherous corridors of political decorum to bring a cunning killer to justice…knowing the next victim is already marked to die.
My Review: This series begins on a high note, with the character of Joe Sandilands romping through soon-to-be-de-Britished India. He is an appealing character. He isn't, however, interesting enough to make me want to read more books in the series.
About the mystery itself, I was a little bit more interested in its solution than I expected to be. I was pretty sure I knew who was murdering the women, and was suspicious about why...but honestly I was surprised by the motivation of the killer. I was a little more involved than I expected to be as the body count mounted.
What I wasn't was convinced that the killings were in any way part of a pattern that convinced me. Sandilands appears to be chasing his own tail, and I'm never clear that he's actually investigating and solving the actual crime.
Well, it's not a terrible book. It's nicely written. India is a good backdrop, and it's well evoked. But what we have here is a failure to launch. I'm...well...oh heck, I have to say it...bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.
Cross posted at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
cspiwak's review
3.0
picked this up from the library the other day only to realize I'd already read it. Set in the time of the raj- it is well plotted and I loved the idea of people dying according to their phobia's
well done
well done