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brogansbooks's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jesuu__'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I know i said that the first book wasnt reallyfor me and that there were some issueswith the pacing... but something made me give this series another try and I'm really glad I did.
(But I still think that theres way to many characters and its confusing)
(But I still think that theres way to many characters and its confusing)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Infertility, and Miscarriage
mamap's review
3.0
I will give the author the engaging part, but the dialogue stinks! It's not believable. Forced.
A summer read. Cotton candy.
A couple in a locked room - she dies, he claims intruder, and the secret plans are stolen.
A summer read. Cotton candy.
A couple in a locked room - she dies, he claims intruder, and the secret plans are stolen.
littletaiko's review
4.0
Second in what looks like a total of five books about a Victorian bookshop owner who has befriended a duke. He needs her help along with the society she belongs to whose focus is on righting wrongs.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
3.0
Georgia Fenchurch and the Archivist Society are back on the job. This time someone has stolen top-secret plans for a brand new British warship. The wife of the designer has been killed, the plans are missing, and Kenneth Gattenger, the designer, has been arrested for murder...and treason. The police believe Clara Gattenger discovered that her husband had sold out Britain to Germany and got killed for her knowledge. But Clara was Lady Phyllidia Monthalf's cousin and she doesn't believe a word of it. She wants the society to find the real killer. The Duke of Blackford also wants Georgia...and the society...to investigate on behalf of Queen and country.
Georgia plays the part of Lady Monthalf's widowed cousin, just arrived home from India, and the duke's latest paramour in order to have an entrance to society. For most of the possible suspects travel in much different circles from a middle-class bookshop owner. Between Georgia's sleuthing and a society member who goes undercover in the Admiralty to look for spies, they soon have more suspects than they know what to do with. Kenneth's eye for drawing aids them in producing a good likeness of the thief...now they just have to figure out to whom he will deliver the plans. And they need to do it before a mysterious stranger blows Georgia's cover.
The mystery itself is a good one. I enjoyed following up all the of the suspects and trying to figure out who was hiding what. They all have secrets, but only one of them is a secret spy. So, the intricate nature of the plot earns high points. The main difficulty is the repetitive nature of Georgia's involvement. I know London's a big a place, but surely to goodness it's difficult enough for a middle-class bookshop owner to pretend to be a member of society once without being found out. And she does it again in this book? And somebody does discover her secret (two somebodies, actually) and doesn't let the cat out of the bag? It's a bit much to swallow. She also found the hidden plans a little too easily--especially considering she was in an unfamiliar house. Oh...and for an experienced member of the society, I did think it odd that she blurted out information to Sir Jonah Denby...even after Blackford said he didn't know him.
I enjoy Georgia and all of the other recurring characters. Her relationship with Phyllidia and Emma is particularly good. When she has her mind on the job (and not wool-gathering over Blackford), she makes a pretty good sleuth. I have the next book in the series and am looking forward to it, but I certainly hope Parker takes the investigation in another direction--no more play-acting as a member of London society, please.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Georgia plays the part of Lady Monthalf's widowed cousin, just arrived home from India, and the duke's latest paramour in order to have an entrance to society. For most of the possible suspects travel in much different circles from a middle-class bookshop owner. Between Georgia's sleuthing and a society member who goes undercover in the Admiralty to look for spies, they soon have more suspects than they know what to do with. Kenneth's eye for drawing aids them in producing a good likeness of the thief...now they just have to figure out to whom he will deliver the plans. And they need to do it before a mysterious stranger blows Georgia's cover.
The mystery itself is a good one. I enjoyed following up all the of the suspects and trying to figure out who was hiding what. They all have secrets, but only one of them is a secret spy. So, the intricate nature of the plot earns high points. The main difficulty is the repetitive nature of Georgia's involvement. I know London's a big a place, but surely to goodness it's difficult enough for a middle-class bookshop owner to pretend to be a member of society once without being found out. And she does it again in this book? And somebody does discover her secret (two somebodies, actually) and doesn't let the cat out of the bag? It's a bit much to swallow. She also found the hidden plans a little too easily--especially considering she was in an unfamiliar house. Oh...and for an experienced member of the society, I did think it odd that she blurted out information to Sir Jonah Denby...even after Blackford said he didn't know him.
I enjoy Georgia and all of the other recurring characters. Her relationship with Phyllidia and Emma is particularly good. When she has her mind on the job (and not wool-gathering over Blackford), she makes a pretty good sleuth. I have the next book in the series and am looking forward to it, but I certainly hope Parker takes the investigation in another direction--no more play-acting as a member of London society, please.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
bookscatsbikes's review
4.0
Two books into the Victorian Bookshop Mystery series and I still want to know more about the Archivist Society, a motley crew of individuals with particular sets of skills that help solve crimes from time to time. There have been references to incidents prior to the first book but nothing is fully flushed out. The Archivist Society is as much a mystery as the murder that must be solved.
Lady Phyllida Monthalf hid herself from society decades earlier when her brother was convicted for serial murders. She lives with Georgia Fenchurch, a bookstore owner, and Emma, an associate in the store, member of the Archivist Society, former fallen woman and stunner. When Phyllida’s cousin Clara is killed and her husband Kenneth accused of the murder, she believes wholeheartedly that the husband didn’t do it and works with the Archivist Society to clear his name.
In a sweet twist of fate, the Duke of Blackford makes another appearance in The Counterfeit Lady. He helped on a previous case and gave Georgia a case of the vapors from time to time. He’s a handsome and strong man whom she realizes she has feelings for even as she keep her head on with the fact that he’s a duke and should marry accordingly. Georgia is pleased that the Duke will be working on this case until he reveals that Lady Phyllida Monthalf must reenter society along with a relative, Georgina, in order to learn who truly killed her cousin and why.
(The Duke has been charged by the government, who knows about the Archivist Society – See? More secrets! Why does the British government know about this group? – to determine who was trying to steal warship blueprints from Kenneth’s house. He is the engineer who designed the ship and the German’s want the blueprints.)
Georgia reels from the news that she is to pretend to be of a higher station and enter society, more so because she will need to leave her bookstore in the hands of members of the Society. I appreciated these moments of normalcy. Georgia is a small-business owner who runs her business to survive. It’s not a dabbling hobby of a wealthy woman. The first couple of days ensconced in a new household run by Phyllida and supported by Emma as her lady’s maid are difficult. Georgia stays out late, as one in society does, but drags herself up in the morning to visit the store. Too bad it’s running just fine without her.
To add to Georgia’s dismay over the plan, the Duke has created a backstory for them – they knew each other years ago in India, before Georgina married and moved to Singapore with her husband. Now that she is back and widowed (a handy piece of information that occurred in her real life, her fiancé died before she could marry him; always best to keep as much truth in a lie as possible) the Duke will take her for his paramour. Georgia concedes to flirt with the Duke publicly but insists there will be no paramouring between them. This is more to protect her heart than anything else. She won’t be a mistress and she knows the Duke can’t marry her. Better to flirt a bit when she can and keep her distance the rest of the time.
The suspect list is long and new information keeps shifting the most likely puppet master who hired the man to steal the blueprints, and who inadvertently killed Clara (never part of the plan). The summer is hot in London so a trip is planned to the countryside where there will be a ball and most likely an exchange of the blueprints.
I found the mystery and sleuthing fine but I read this series for the slow-burning romance between the Duke and Georgia. It is obvious that he is fascinated by her and attracted to her. When Georgia brings up him having to marry suitably and even names a couple of appropriate ladies, he laughs them off and proclaims that Georgia is the only interesting woman in England. His earnest attentions unsettle Georgia because they can never be anything more than that – attention.
Of course, as the reader, I can’t help but root for the two of them. The Duke is so powerful he could defy society and marry Georgia Fenchurch, bookseller. And besides, it’s fiction.
There is also a long-burning mystery that carried over from the first installment. Georgia’s parents owned the bookstore before her and were killed by a man who was convinced they had a rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible. When they couldn’t deliver it – because they didn’t have it – he killed them in a fire. Georgia pursues leads when she can to find out who this man is and bring him to justice. At the beginning of the book she learns the supposed “Mr. Wolf” has returned to England. By chance, she sees him in the countryside when she off to the ball but when the Duke accompanies her to the family where he is known to be staying, he has already left. The book ends with a letter from Mr. Wolf that he has already left England to pursue the Bible and she shouldn’t bother to pursue him. I doubt that will happen in the forthcoming third installment.
Lady Phyllida Monthalf hid herself from society decades earlier when her brother was convicted for serial murders. She lives with Georgia Fenchurch, a bookstore owner, and Emma, an associate in the store, member of the Archivist Society, former fallen woman and stunner. When Phyllida’s cousin Clara is killed and her husband Kenneth accused of the murder, she believes wholeheartedly that the husband didn’t do it and works with the Archivist Society to clear his name.
In a sweet twist of fate, the Duke of Blackford makes another appearance in The Counterfeit Lady. He helped on a previous case and gave Georgia a case of the vapors from time to time. He’s a handsome and strong man whom she realizes she has feelings for even as she keep her head on with the fact that he’s a duke and should marry accordingly. Georgia is pleased that the Duke will be working on this case until he reveals that Lady Phyllida Monthalf must reenter society along with a relative, Georgina, in order to learn who truly killed her cousin and why.
(The Duke has been charged by the government, who knows about the Archivist Society – See? More secrets! Why does the British government know about this group? – to determine who was trying to steal warship blueprints from Kenneth’s house. He is the engineer who designed the ship and the German’s want the blueprints.)
Georgia reels from the news that she is to pretend to be of a higher station and enter society, more so because she will need to leave her bookstore in the hands of members of the Society. I appreciated these moments of normalcy. Georgia is a small-business owner who runs her business to survive. It’s not a dabbling hobby of a wealthy woman. The first couple of days ensconced in a new household run by Phyllida and supported by Emma as her lady’s maid are difficult. Georgia stays out late, as one in society does, but drags herself up in the morning to visit the store. Too bad it’s running just fine without her.
To add to Georgia’s dismay over the plan, the Duke has created a backstory for them – they knew each other years ago in India, before Georgina married and moved to Singapore with her husband. Now that she is back and widowed (a handy piece of information that occurred in her real life, her fiancé died before she could marry him; always best to keep as much truth in a lie as possible) the Duke will take her for his paramour. Georgia concedes to flirt with the Duke publicly but insists there will be no paramouring between them. This is more to protect her heart than anything else. She won’t be a mistress and she knows the Duke can’t marry her. Better to flirt a bit when she can and keep her distance the rest of the time.
The suspect list is long and new information keeps shifting the most likely puppet master who hired the man to steal the blueprints, and who inadvertently killed Clara (never part of the plan). The summer is hot in London so a trip is planned to the countryside where there will be a ball and most likely an exchange of the blueprints.
I found the mystery and sleuthing fine but I read this series for the slow-burning romance between the Duke and Georgia. It is obvious that he is fascinated by her and attracted to her. When Georgia brings up him having to marry suitably and even names a couple of appropriate ladies, he laughs them off and proclaims that Georgia is the only interesting woman in England. His earnest attentions unsettle Georgia because they can never be anything more than that – attention.
Of course, as the reader, I can’t help but root for the two of them. The Duke is so powerful he could defy society and marry Georgia Fenchurch, bookseller. And besides, it’s fiction.
There is also a long-burning mystery that carried over from the first installment. Georgia’s parents owned the bookstore before her and were killed by a man who was convinced they had a rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible. When they couldn’t deliver it – because they didn’t have it – he killed them in a fire. Georgia pursues leads when she can to find out who this man is and bring him to justice. At the beginning of the book she learns the supposed “Mr. Wolf” has returned to England. By chance, she sees him in the countryside when she off to the ball but when the Duke accompanies her to the family where he is known to be staying, he has already left. The book ends with a letter from Mr. Wolf that he has already left England to pursue the Bible and she shouldn’t bother to pursue him. I doubt that will happen in the forthcoming third installment.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
In Victorian England Georgia Fenchurch, bookshop owner is also a private investigator for the secret Archivist Societ
When a cousin of Georgia’s friend, Lady Phyllida Monthalf, is killed in her home during which the theft of important blueprints were stolen, then she is asked to investigate. Whitehall have enlisted the Duke of Blackford to help.
I enjoyed this cocy mystery though I am not sure I took to the main female character but I look forward to reading the next in the series. My only problem was the use of the Americanism sidewalk in the story.
When a cousin of Georgia’s friend, Lady Phyllida Monthalf, is killed in her home during which the theft of important blueprints were stolen, then she is asked to investigate. Whitehall have enlisted the Duke of Blackford to help.
I enjoyed this cocy mystery though I am not sure I took to the main female character but I look forward to reading the next in the series. My only problem was the use of the Americanism sidewalk in the story.
krisrid's review
4.0
I loved the second book in this series as much - maybe even a little more - than the first.
I love the character of Georgia, and her ability to balance being a bookstore owner with her job as part of the Archivist Society, investigating and solving mysteries and secret cases. She is a smart, capable, kind and determined woman, who is doing a great job running her own life despite the ridiculous rules and dictates her society imposes on women. She has doubts and worries despite her capability to be an independent woman and that just makes her more real and likable as a character.
The mystery in this book was engaging and well written. It was a well-conceived and plausible story, and the actions the characters take while investigating it - especially the trip to a country house party with the aristocracy - was excellently good fun! I loved how all the characters got to pretend to be people they weren't as part of investigating the cas.
Overall, I love everything about this series! The characters are well-written and interesting. The plots are clever and intriguing and the setting is one of my favourites. I look forward to continuing with the books in this series. It has quickly become one of my favourite series' to read.
I love the character of Georgia, and her ability to balance being a bookstore owner with her job as part of the Archivist Society, investigating and solving mysteries and secret cases. She is a smart, capable, kind and determined woman, who is doing a great job running her own life despite the ridiculous rules and dictates her society imposes on women. She has doubts and worries despite her capability to be an independent woman and that just makes her more real and likable as a character.
The mystery in this book was engaging and well written. It was a well-conceived and plausible story, and the actions the characters take while investigating it - especially the trip to a country house party with the aristocracy - was excellently good fun! I loved how all the characters got to pretend to be people they weren't as part of investigating the cas.
Overall, I love everything about this series! The characters are well-written and interesting. The plots are clever and intriguing and the setting is one of my favourites. I look forward to continuing with the books in this series. It has quickly become one of my favourite series' to read.
dollycas's review
5.0
Who would suspect antiquarian bookseller Georgia Fenchurch of leading a double life—as a private investigator for the clandestine Archivist Society in Victorian London? When England’s national security is compromised, Georgia must pose as a titled lady to root out a spy…
Georgia, Lady Phyllida Monthalf and Emma return in this second Victorian Bookshop Mystery, as do the members of the Archivist Society and The Duke of Blackford. This time of Lady Monthalf’s cousin Clara has been killed and a set of very important blueprints stolen. Clara’s husband has been arrested for treason and his wife’s murder. The Duke of Blackford enlists Georgia, Emma and Lady Phyllida’s help to catch the real killer. The fun begins when Georgia learns she will be playing the part of the duke’s new paramour, as if she doesn’t already get nervous enough around him. Georgia, a middle class bookshop owner posing as a titled Lady, what could go wrong? Well as we have learned with Georgia anything and everything.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Georgia is an extraordinary character and she is doing double duty trying to keep her bookshop afloat with a little help from her Archivist Society members while dashing off to party after party on the arm of the Duke, all in an effort to find the missing plans and the person responsible for a very brutal murder. She is a very intelligent woman but at times the clues take both her and the reader in circles. Plus she finds herself more and more drawn to the Duke of Blackford. Her mind knows a relationship between classes is highly unlikely but her heart is full of hope.
I thought the story had a real Cinderella vibe. From the moment the plan was put together both Georgia and Emma, who is acting at “Lady Georgina’s” maid, are treated to new clothes and all the accessories. Georgia attends fancy balls and dinners with the Duke arriving in the most beautiful carriages.
The mystery was quite good too as it appears that only Clara and her husband Kenneth were in a locked room when the robbery and murder took place. There are several suspects but placing them in that room is tough. Remember this story is set in Victorian times, no CSI techs checking for fingerprints and DNA.
I started reading this book on a beach during our recent Family Fun Day and I quickly noticed this was a book that needed my full attention, so I put it away and picked it back up as soon as I could the next evening and finished it at 2:14 a.m. the next morning. Once I started reading I just could not stop.
Parker takes us back in time and keeps us on our toes with very interesting characters, history and mystery. She adds a nice balance of humor and romance too. The dialogues were very entertaining. Anxious for book #3.
Georgia, Lady Phyllida Monthalf and Emma return in this second Victorian Bookshop Mystery, as do the members of the Archivist Society and The Duke of Blackford. This time of Lady Monthalf’s cousin Clara has been killed and a set of very important blueprints stolen. Clara’s husband has been arrested for treason and his wife’s murder. The Duke of Blackford enlists Georgia, Emma and Lady Phyllida’s help to catch the real killer. The fun begins when Georgia learns she will be playing the part of the duke’s new paramour, as if she doesn’t already get nervous enough around him. Georgia, a middle class bookshop owner posing as a titled Lady, what could go wrong? Well as we have learned with Georgia anything and everything.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Georgia is an extraordinary character and she is doing double duty trying to keep her bookshop afloat with a little help from her Archivist Society members while dashing off to party after party on the arm of the Duke, all in an effort to find the missing plans and the person responsible for a very brutal murder. She is a very intelligent woman but at times the clues take both her and the reader in circles. Plus she finds herself more and more drawn to the Duke of Blackford. Her mind knows a relationship between classes is highly unlikely but her heart is full of hope.
I thought the story had a real Cinderella vibe. From the moment the plan was put together both Georgia and Emma, who is acting at “Lady Georgina’s” maid, are treated to new clothes and all the accessories. Georgia attends fancy balls and dinners with the Duke arriving in the most beautiful carriages.
The mystery was quite good too as it appears that only Clara and her husband Kenneth were in a locked room when the robbery and murder took place. There are several suspects but placing them in that room is tough. Remember this story is set in Victorian times, no CSI techs checking for fingerprints and DNA.
I started reading this book on a beach during our recent Family Fun Day and I quickly noticed this was a book that needed my full attention, so I put it away and picked it back up as soon as I could the next evening and finished it at 2:14 a.m. the next morning. Once I started reading I just could not stop.
Parker takes us back in time and keeps us on our toes with very interesting characters, history and mystery. She adds a nice balance of humor and romance too. The dialogues were very entertaining. Anxious for book #3.