You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I loved this book so much! Mind you that was probably because i was so proud because it was the first chapter book i had FINISHED in a few years. But that's the point! I can't believe i actually finished it. It is really rare that i finish a book and this shows that it must have been a pretty good book.
Although, i did figure out the big crime thing in this book very early on but i really really enjoyed this book. I don't even know why!
I recommend reading this book if you like an easy read.
Oh, but there were a few things that bothered me. I don't thing the main character would really act the way she did in this book if she were actually in that time period... I think that's the only problem i really had apart from the predictability of the culprit.
I can honestly say that i wasn't expecting that little revelation about her husband that she dug up when she was investigating. I sat there for a few seconds thinking 'wow' because i. did. not. see. that. coming... But overall i enjoyed this book so much. I still have yet to read the other ones but i'm not sure if i will. I enjoyed this one a lot but i'm not sure i will end up reading the others in the series any time soon.
Once again i think i put more opinion in this than keeping it a solid review...
Although, i did figure out the big crime thing in this book very early on but i really really enjoyed this book. I don't even know why!
I recommend reading this book if you like an easy read.
Oh, but there were a few things that bothered me. I don't thing the main character would really act the way she did in this book if she were actually in that time period... I think that's the only problem i really had apart from the predictability of the culprit.
I can honestly say that i wasn't expecting that little revelation about her husband that she dug up when she was investigating. I sat there for a few seconds thinking 'wow' because i. did. not. see. that. coming... But overall i enjoyed this book so much. I still have yet to read the other ones but i'm not sure if i will. I enjoyed this one a lot but i'm not sure i will end up reading the others in the series any time soon.
Once again i think i put more opinion in this than keeping it a solid review...
This series was excellent!!! (I think I love the Veronica Speedwell series better.)
But this was fantastic!
But this was fantastic!
So I picked up the first Veronica Speedwell novel last year and wasn't sure I liked it (don't worry I realized how wrong I was by the time I got to the second book), so I decided to try Raybourn's other series.
I liked the book enough to continue reading the rest of the series - the mystery was a touch unpredictable, a teeny bit racy, with a heroine that wants to be more than she is expected to be. There are a few unexpected twists with characters trying to be their whole selves in spite of societal limitations. Not quite a romance, and not quite a hard boiled detective story Raybourn has a lot of fun putting her people in situations that require them to react in unexpected ways. Which is what makes them so much fun.
I liked the book enough to continue reading the rest of the series - the mystery was a touch unpredictable, a teeny bit racy, with a heroine that wants to be more than she is expected to be. There are a few unexpected twists with characters trying to be their whole selves in spite of societal limitations. Not quite a romance, and not quite a hard boiled detective story Raybourn has a lot of fun putting her people in situations that require them to react in unexpected ways. Which is what makes them so much fun.
Really fun, great for a binge read. Some of the power dynamics in the central relationship bugged me, but not enough to ruin the book.
Great to reread this book, to see how Julia and Brisbane first met, it was so good!
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.