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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I adore this series and am happy to be rereading them. Lady Julia and Brisbane are perhaps my favorite sleuthing pair.
This came recommended to me as a "fun" mystery series with a historical spin and modern day themes. It was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the supporting characters. The main characters combined with my impression that there was just too much of everything tossed into the story made it difficult for me to really like this book very much. For example, I could seeing adding in one of what I refer to as modern day themes - porn, prostitution, drug addiction, homosexuality, feminism - but all of them? Too much. And then there's Lady Grey's new found independence. But she's not really independent. She's entitled, pushy, completely lack of any developed critical thinking skills, and not very bright (despite the frequency with which she's praised for her intelligence). As for Brisbane, I haven't completely sworn off continuing with the series (at some point) because I just don't "get" him and it's nagging at me. So I'm curious to learn more...about him. But overall, his character was one of many things that had too much of everything piled on. The author should have picked one unusual trait to focus on. Not a half dozen. It muddles him for the reader and makes him rather unbelievable.
It seemed quite promising, and it was quite amusing in some places but all in all I had to make myself finish it. It wasn't a great mystery, quite boring actually.
2.5 stars
After the first quarter of the book, I was willing to recommend it to anyone. Half way through and my appreciation started slipping, but I assumed it would clear 3 stars. Three fourths through and I wondered if I should bother finishing. By the time I reached the end, I wanted to throw it at some(one)thing
Sigh.
I think I just expected more. I expected more after that intriguing beginning and delightful introduction to characters. Having just muddled through a few heavy-handed books, I appreciated Raybourn's clear writing style. If her foreshadowing got a little much, it at least helped create a sense of suspense. I guessed the villain almost immediately but (initially) enjoyed puzzling out the motives. The book has action, too, and varying scenes around London, from townhouses to brothels to Gypsy camps. I really liked Julia (initially). She had character change and I am a sucker for anyone from a big family. I even (initially) found quite some chemistry between her and Brisbane.
When did it go wrong?
I'm not sure. After page 200 maybe? Lady Julia would be clever and intelligent and then do something utterly stupid or miss a huge clue. And she just continued to do dumb things as the plot progressed. She moons over men and excuses everything by the fact that she hasn't been touched/loved/kissed in a while. I got sick of her "modern" sentiments. Her entire family is progressive and unbelievable. A Father who believes in educating daughters, etc. is one thing, but one who encourages his daughter to take a lover? After a while the book strained even my sense of credulity. Basically every social issue gets hit on, including abortion, homosexuality, racism, women's rights and prostitution. Almost Every. Bloody. Character. takes an open, sweeping view on everything. You can't sweep that all under "eccentricity." Frankly, it wasn't the historical inaccuracy that bugged me as much as the lack of diversity in opinions (unless, of course, you are Evil and Bigoted) found among all the characters. Everyone is pretentiously enlightened and understanding.
Brisbane...well, I liked him at first. Right up until he gets sick. Maybe. He's just so melodramatic. His secret was obvious from the beginning. He is too much. Tall and dark and handsome and brooding with an intense past and secret pains and loyal friends and a serious inability to control his temper. Like seriously. While initially I could play it off as chemistry with Lady Julia, he has serious anger management issues. He's constantly making threats and behaving badly. That is the sort of person you don't want to hang around and certainly not someone you should be romantically involved with.
Now, there are some truly excellent side characters in this novel and I don't have a complaint with them. Particularly Aquinas. That man was fantastic. I like Morag and Magda and even Monk. This book is populated with secondary characters and for the most part they are distinct and add to the story. My biggest issues are really with the 'enlightened understanding' of the Marches, but even they are easy to like. I look forward to meeting more of them (because, yes, despite all my complaints I'm going to give the sequel a try.)
The mystery and resolution however...were pretty awful.
The house went up in flames WAY TOO FAST. Like, Simon throws a lantern and suddenly everything is on fire? A convenient way to dispose of things, perhaps, and move Lady Julia on but really, is this house made and filled with dry wood? Why did she dismiss all the servants when she confronted Simon?
I am left with so many questions. Was Lady Julia really that dense that she missed all the love affairs happening in her own house? But really, even genders aside, I find the entire thing distasteful and not something I want to read about.
Not a book I recommend because of that melodramatic, random ending. However, I will probably look up the sequel as I continue my never ending search for lived-up-to-potential.
After the first quarter of the book, I was willing to recommend it to anyone. Half way through and my appreciation started slipping, but I assumed it would clear 3 stars. Three fourths through and I wondered if I should bother finishing. By the time I reached the end, I wanted to throw it at some(
Sigh.
I think I just expected more. I expected more after that intriguing beginning and delightful introduction to characters. Having just muddled through a few heavy-handed books, I appreciated Raybourn's clear writing style. If her foreshadowing got a little much, it at least helped create a sense of suspense. I guessed the villain almost immediately but (initially) enjoyed puzzling out the motives. The book has action, too, and varying scenes around London, from townhouses to brothels to Gypsy camps. I really liked Julia (initially). She had character change and I am a sucker for anyone from a big family. I even (initially) found quite some chemistry between her and Brisbane.
When did it go wrong?
I'm not sure. After page 200 maybe? Lady Julia would be clever and intelligent and then do something utterly stupid or miss a huge clue. And she just continued to do dumb things as the plot progressed. She moons over men and excuses everything by the fact that she hasn't been touched/loved/kissed in a while. I got sick of her "modern" sentiments. Her entire family is progressive and unbelievable. A Father who believes in educating daughters, etc. is one thing, but one who encourages his daughter to take a lover? After a while the book strained even my sense of credulity. Basically every social issue gets hit on, including abortion, homosexuality, racism, women's rights and prostitution. Almost Every. Bloody. Character. takes an open, sweeping view on everything. You can't sweep that all under "eccentricity." Frankly, it wasn't the historical inaccuracy that bugged me as much as the lack of diversity in opinions (unless, of course, you are Evil and Bigoted) found among all the characters. Everyone is pretentiously enlightened and understanding.
Brisbane...well, I liked him at first. Right up until he gets sick. Maybe. He's just so melodramatic. His secret was obvious from the beginning. He is too much. Tall and dark and handsome and brooding with an intense past and secret pains and loyal friends and a serious inability to control his temper. Like seriously. While initially I could play it off as chemistry with Lady Julia, he has serious anger management issues. He's constantly making threats and behaving badly. That is the sort of person you don't want to hang around and certainly not someone you should be romantically involved with.
Now, there are some truly excellent side characters in this novel and I don't have a complaint with them. Particularly Aquinas. That man was fantastic. I like Morag and Magda and even Monk. This book is populated with secondary characters and for the most part they are distinct and add to the story. My biggest issues are really with the 'enlightened understanding' of the Marches, but even they are easy to like. I look forward to meeting more of them (because, yes, despite all my complaints I'm going to give the sequel a try.)
The mystery and resolution however...were pretty awful.
Spoiler
The ending gets so sordid and melodramatic! The actions of the characters did not fit the way they were portrayed at all. Of course I knew it was Simon but I thought it might be for some noble(r) reason, like he loved Lady Julia and couldn't stand the fact that Edward cheated on her with prostitutes. Edward's STD and male lovers come out of nowhere and fit nowhere. Simon goes from being some mild mannered, dying man to a fiend and crazy, crossed lover and his taunting over their one never-again-mentioned kiss makes no bloody sense. Talk about extreme personality change. The footman sending the notes makes no sense either. The constant references to condoms near the end was rather crass and unneeded. Perhaps that is how I would define the entire conclusion, crass and unneeded.The house went up in flames WAY TOO FAST. Like, Simon throws a lantern and suddenly everything is on fire? A convenient way to dispose of things, perhaps, and move Lady Julia on but really, is this house made and filled with dry wood? Why did she dismiss all the servants when she confronted Simon?
I am left with so many questions. Was Lady Julia really that dense that she missed all the love affairs happening in her own house? But really, even genders aside, I find the entire thing distasteful and not something I want to read about.
Not a book I recommend because of that melodramatic, random ending. However, I will probably look up the sequel as I continue my never ending search for lived-up-to-potential.
A very interesting book that kept me engaged throughout, despite the .
We are introduced to Lady Julia Grey, during the scene of her husband's death, that wasn't wholly unexpected, since he had been ailing for years. When Nicholas Brisbane, private investigator and one of his acquaintances who was present at the time of his death, suggests to Julia that his death might not have been due to natural causes, however, she refuses to even entertain the notion.
She spends her year of grieving trying to find herself again, since, as we discover,, and has made plans for her future and a trip to Italy, when she discovers proof that what Nicholas told her might not have been so far-fetched after all.
Determined to get to the truth, she engages his services and starts looking into the case herself, discovering a number of surprising things. It turns out that
Julia, who had cared for Simon, was beyond taken aback when she realized that he was the one who poisoned her husband after all, wanting to take his revenge on him for continuing his affair with one of the servants after he'd promised he'd stop.
There are a few things that I saw coming, and more than a few that I didn't, and I was engrossed enough in the mystery that I wasn't too bothered by the almost non-existent progress of the romance between Julia and Nicholas.
By the end of the book, Julia.
I am looking forward to reading more of their stories, starting with Silent in the Sanctuary, where hopefully the romance will be a bit more prominent.
Spoiler
lack of sparks and romance for most of itWe are introduced to Lady Julia Grey, during the scene of her husband's death, that wasn't wholly unexpected, since he had been ailing for years. When Nicholas Brisbane, private investigator and one of his acquaintances who was present at the time of his death, suggests to Julia that his death might not have been due to natural causes, however, she refuses to even entertain the notion.
She spends her year of grieving trying to find herself again, since, as we discover,
Spoiler
her husband was a controlling bastard who kept her in so tight a leash that she barely knew herself anymoreDetermined to get to the truth, she engages his services and starts looking into the case herself, discovering a number of surprising things. It turns out that
Spoiler
her husband had been avoiding her bed for the past years because he discovered that he had syphilis and didn't want to give it to her as well, but had no trouble shtupping his male servants and his closest cousin, Simon, who was also slowly dying in Julia's house.Julia, who had cared for Simon, was beyond taken aback when she realized that he was the one who poisoned her husband after all, wanting to take his revenge on him for continuing his affair with one of the servants after he'd promised he'd stop
There are a few things that I saw coming, and more than a few that I didn't, and I was engrossed enough in the mystery that I wasn't too bothered by the almost non-existent progress of the romance between Julia and Nicholas.
By the end of the book, Julia
Spoiler
who is understandably upset after what she discovered, is about to embark on the trip she wanted, while Nicholas remains behind, leaving things unresolved between them, despite gifting her his beloved pendantI am looking forward to reading more of their stories, starting with Silent in the Sanctuary, where hopefully the romance will be a bit more prominent.
Nothing like a spontaneous reread to make you remember how stunningly good Deanna Raybourn is. This first Lady Julia book could be read as a standalone…one you’ll devour in a day if you have the time. It’s amazing that a 500+ page book is a quick read, but that’s how well this story is laid out. You just can’t put it down.
As a reread, I think what I love best is the little details that wind up in later books by this author. I almost see her male leads like the layers of drawings used by animators. At the base, we have Brisbane from this series. Add a layer and we have Ryder from Spear of Summer Grass. Throw in a little Sebastian from Night of a Thousand Stars and Gabriel from City of Jasmine and we eventually find Stoker from the Speedwell series. Each is a unique character, but the connections are clear. Raybourn has a type and she writes it well. I’m here for it.
So, despite a long TBR, I stayed up until 1:30 AM rereading this one and have already opened the next book.
As a reread, I think what I love best is the little details that wind up in later books by this author. I almost see her male leads like the layers of drawings used by animators. At the base, we have Brisbane from this series. Add a layer and we have Ryder from Spear of Summer Grass. Throw in a little Sebastian from Night of a Thousand Stars and Gabriel from City of Jasmine and we eventually find Stoker from the Speedwell series. Each is a unique character, but the connections are clear. Raybourn has a type and she writes it well. I’m here for it.
So, despite a long TBR, I stayed up until 1:30 AM rereading this one and have already opened the next book.
Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.
I enjoyed Silent in the Grave, but I'm still not sure why. There were many things that should have stopped me from reading very early on: the writing was decent, but not very strong; the plot didn't really seem to matter because our protagonist kept doing other things; there was the most random acceptance of feminism and homosexuality for the time period; the lead male and possible romantic aspect was waaaay too Interesting and Different and Perfect. But I still read on. I STILL READ ON. Maybe it was Lady Julia herself, maybe it was the fact that she didn't just blunder into clues and when she did do something stupid, she got called out on it. I don't know. I just know that I still read and was interested in every single chapter despite my problems with it.
I enjoyed Silent in the Grave, but I'm still not sure why. There were many things that should have stopped me from reading very early on: the writing was decent, but not very strong; the plot didn't really seem to matter because our protagonist kept doing other things; there was the most random acceptance of feminism and homosexuality for the time period; the lead male and possible romantic aspect was waaaay too Interesting and Different and Perfect. But I still read on. I STILL READ ON. Maybe it was Lady Julia herself, maybe it was the fact that she didn't just blunder into clues and when she did do something stupid, she got called out on it. I don't know. I just know that I still read and was interested in every single chapter despite my problems with it.