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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This was a great read. I loved the fallible main character. Sometimes she was stupid but I could see why, her sheltered life, her innocence. It was rather painful to have the 'whiteness' of her life removed one dirty layer at a time however, I enjoyed the book immensely. Brisbane was a bit too good to be believable but I love me a too good to be true hero so it did not bother me too much. I would definitely recommend. Planning on hitting the library tomorrow for the second book.
I honestly can't remember why I picked this one up. I think I liked the title and it was from a charity shop so it was very cheap as well. But the length has been putting me off for a while and after I have finished it, I can say that I enjoyed it but it definitely did not need to be over 500 pages.
This book is about Julia Grey, whose husband died in front of her at the start of the book. She thinks it is congenital heart defect which caused his death but one of the guests, Nicholas Brisbane, said it was murder. As she was investigating it, she stumbled across secret after secret, not only of her husband, but also of her staff and her family.
First of all, I did really enjoy this book. Julia was an intriguing character to get behind, if a little dim to what seemed to be obvious facts. I liked seeing her interacting with her family, especially her brother, Val, and her staff, especially the butler, Aquinas. She was growing and developing as a character, being far more considerate of people as the book went on. I liked the development of the mystery. We got clues along the way as to who was behind Edward's murder (though some clues skated by Julia's head when the reader would be able to guess it just on context) and I enjoyed learning more about the other characters, such as Aquinas, Magda, Val and Edward himself. It made for an interesting cast and I liked side characters developing as their own people, while not taking up centre stage.
That said, one major drawback of this book for me, was Brisbane. He's a Sherlock Holmes knockoff, with being a private detective, black moods, a drug habit, a master at the violin and scientific experiments. Though maybe I should say he's a Sherlock Holmes knockoff of what Holmes is in popular culture, rather than how he actually appears in the Doyle stories. His background and his romance with Julia were really the only ways he differed from Holmes, he even had a doctor companion. I didn't like his romance with Julia either, I think I could have stomached him if it hadn't been such a major character in this book.
I was very excited at the end of the book whenit looked like Brisbane was going to be the murderer but nope, that was just a false lead . If that lead had turned out correct, I would have continued on with the series. But it wasn't correct so I'm not tempted to continue on, despite my liking for the writing style, the characters and Julia herself.
If it wasn't for Brisbane, this would be 4.5 stars (it was far too long for the story it told). But since he is there and he's not going anywhere, 3.5 stars!
This book is about Julia Grey, whose husband died in front of her at the start of the book. She thinks it is congenital heart defect which caused his death but one of the guests, Nicholas Brisbane, said it was murder. As she was investigating it, she stumbled across secret after secret, not only of her husband, but also of her staff and her family.
First of all, I did really enjoy this book. Julia was an intriguing character to get behind, if a little dim to what seemed to be obvious facts. I liked seeing her interacting with her family, especially her brother, Val, and her staff, especially the butler, Aquinas. She was growing and developing as a character, being far more considerate of people as the book went on. I liked the development of the mystery. We got clues along the way as to who was behind Edward's murder (though some clues skated by Julia's head when the reader would be able to guess it just on context) and I enjoyed learning more about the other characters, such as Aquinas, Magda, Val and Edward himself. It made for an interesting cast and I liked side characters developing as their own people, while not taking up centre stage.
That said, one major drawback of this book for me, was Brisbane. He's a Sherlock Holmes knockoff, with being a private detective, black moods, a drug habit, a master at the violin and scientific experiments. Though maybe I should say he's a Sherlock Holmes knockoff of what Holmes is in popular culture, rather than how he actually appears in the Doyle stories. His background and his romance with Julia were really the only ways he differed from Holmes, he even had a doctor companion. I didn't like his romance with Julia either, I think I could have stomached him if it hadn't been such a major character in this book.
I was very excited at the end of the book when
If it wasn't for Brisbane, this would be 4.5 stars (it was far too long for the story it told). But since he is there and he's not going anywhere, 3.5 stars!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I love Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series and have wanted to rad her Lady Julia Grey series for a while. I find Nicholas Brisbane an intriguing character. He has an interesting background which should serve the series well. I also like the the hint of attraction between Julia and Nichola as they jointly try to solve her husband's murder. It was a little slow in the middle but ended with a surprising twist and is, after all, the first in the series. I'll read the 2nd installment.
The foreshadowing is pretty heavy ("little did I know my life would never be the same" kind of stuff) but overall I enjoyed this one. I'm a sucker for a good gothic and it did have a bit of a gothic feel. If Lady Julia isn't quite as naive as most gothic heroines, she's certainly more naive in the beginning of the book than by the end. And, although their romance is not reconciled by the end, Brisbane has the makings of an excellent gothic hero, dark, brooding, maybe dangerous and certainly mysterious. There's even an excellent pet raven!
Regarding the mystery, I have to say that I did figure out who did it, but I was completely incorrect in my reasoning why. Way, way, incorrect actually. So it's always nice to be surprised by a mystery, especially when you're feeling smug about it.
I've had this book hanging around forever and I'm glad I finally got to it. I'm making it a point to get back to the historical mysteries that I always enjoy, so far it's off to a good start.
Regarding the mystery, I have to say that I did figure out who did it, but I was completely incorrect in my reasoning why. Way, way, incorrect actually. So it's always nice to be surprised by a mystery, especially when you're feeling smug about it.
I've had this book hanging around forever and I'm glad I finally got to it. I'm making it a point to get back to the historical mysteries that I always enjoy, so far it's off to a good start.
A bit of a slow start, but by the time I reached the 20% marker, I was hooked. The character, particularly the secondary characters, are interesting and colorful. Lady Julia Gray has a pleasant voice and makes for interesting company. I learned a wide assortment of interesting tidbits.
I have no hesitation about recommending this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I have no hesitation about recommending this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I am sure there have been times when you finished a book and did not want to start a new one right away ....you needed time with the characters from the one you just finished to hold sway in your memory. This is one of those books. I loved it. I posted in a few places the opening line which is why I actually bought it, happily enough that is not the plateau. This book is full of wit and sarcasm, I got a bit misty near the end (but I can be a bit girly at times). All of the characters are really fleshed out and believable.Most are a joy.
The scenes with Nicholas Brisbane and Lady Jane are of course very well written. I loved Jane's Butler Aquinas and her brother Valerius as well as the gypsy Laundress Magda. THe one gripe I would have (if there was one) is she used alot of lines like "my plans were set for the next day to Blah blah blah , little did I know the danger that was in those plans " A bit annoying but not enough to remove a whole star.
The scenes with Nicholas Brisbane and Lady Jane are of course very well written. I loved Jane's Butler Aquinas and her brother Valerius as well as the gypsy Laundress Magda. THe one gripe I would have (if there was one) is she used alot of lines like "my plans were set for the next day to Blah blah blah , little did I know the danger that was in those plans " A bit annoying but not enough to remove a whole star.
A riveting, strong historical mystery set in late 1800s London. Lady Jane Grey, recently widowed, is shocked to find out a PI believes her husband was murdered. Lady Jane and the PI then head into an exciting investigation that leads Lady Jane into all sorts of un-Victorian areas for a lady. But, she's tough and brash...though all the while keeping her demeanor as a bright, demur lady of London. A GREAT mystery!
Probably 3.5
It took me a long time to get into the book. And I guessed the murderer long before the end. And I never do that.
It took me a long time to get into the book. And I guessed the murderer long before the end. And I never do that.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes