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A review by amym84
Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
4.0
The same day that Violet's Aunt Adelia is set to leave on a trip to the continent with a new paramour she also drops the bombshell that she's behind the extremely popular advice column Miss Hermione and that now Violet will have to take over in her stead while she's away. Violet being a very level-headed and practical woman figures that she can do the job, no problem. When she stumbles upon a letter from a woman fearing for her life, Violet cannot just sit back, but when she tries to meet up with this woman, Violet discovers she's dead. With a list of suspects all with their own motivations, Violet is determined to see the killer brought to justice.
Violet Manville joins a long line of Victorian lady sleuths that are in rotation in my historical mystery reading and she gives a good start. I think that Of Manners and Murder does a great job in introducing Violet, giving a satisfying mystery, and also making me want more.
The story is told from both Violet and her half sister, Sephora's points of view. I felt like there was a seeming disconnect between the story threads and likewise between the sisters themselves. By the end things are clearer in regards to the story, but it almost felt tacked on a bit. I think the relationship between Violet and Sephora will be one that we see grow throughout the series, at least I hope we do. They are coming from different places in their lives with different values, but there's definitely a familial regard for one another that hasn't been fully fledged out. I think this has to do with the fact that they were raised in very different households. Violet was raises mainly by her father after her mother's death and I think she had a sense of freedom and agency that Sephora doesn't. Sephora is very much a proper society girl. She's of the mind to get married and have a family with very little thought given to what she wants in life. But you kind of see her break out of that a bit by the end.
Also, there's a certain someone that really plays off well with Violet but this person is only introduced in the last few chapters of the book. I wanted more of their interactions and feel like their interactions were a sure setup for more books which, if it actually pays off, I'll forgive the quick introduction.
I will say I guessed the whodoneit at a certain revealing moment close to the middle of the book, but I'd be lying if I didn't second guess myself throughout the remainder of the book, and I did not really guess the how or why of it until it was actually revealed in the end. Overall, though, it was very satisfying and I look forward to reading more of Violet's advice and adventures.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Violet Manville joins a long line of Victorian lady sleuths that are in rotation in my historical mystery reading and she gives a good start. I think that Of Manners and Murder does a great job in introducing Violet, giving a satisfying mystery, and also making me want more.
The story is told from both Violet and her half sister, Sephora's points of view. I felt like there was a seeming disconnect between the story threads and likewise between the sisters themselves. By the end things are clearer in regards to the story, but it almost felt tacked on a bit. I think the relationship between Violet and Sephora will be one that we see grow throughout the series, at least I hope we do. They are coming from different places in their lives with different values, but there's definitely a familial regard for one another that hasn't been fully fledged out. I think this has to do with the fact that they were raised in very different households. Violet was raises mainly by her father after her mother's death and I think she had a sense of freedom and agency that Sephora doesn't. Sephora is very much a proper society girl. She's of the mind to get married and have a family with very little thought given to what she wants in life. But you kind of see her break out of that a bit by the end.
Also, there's a certain someone that really plays off well with Violet but this person is only introduced in the last few chapters of the book. I wanted more of their interactions and feel like their interactions were a sure setup for more books which, if it actually pays off, I'll forgive the quick introduction.
I will say I guessed the whodoneit at a certain revealing moment close to the middle of the book, but I'd be lying if I didn't second guess myself throughout the remainder of the book, and I did not really guess the how or why of it until it was actually revealed in the end. Overall, though, it was very satisfying and I look forward to reading more of Violet's advice and adventures.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.