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A review by skrau
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
3.0
Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm continuing to read this series. I read the second book first without realizing it when I checked it out from the library, wasn't a huge fan but figured I'd give the first one a try, and I was curious about the references to the previous book's characters & plot. It was a little better, but the third one is the closest I've come to really liking it. Giving A Fatal Waltz 3 stars is stretching it a bit actually, but based on the fact that I was finally surprised by the solution to the mystery (and wrong in my own prediction), its probably fair.
I'm a sucker for historical mysteries with strong, rebellious female protagonists, but either I have read too many or this series is too derivative with not enough innovation. Lady Emily gets a bit boring, and Colin Hargreaves is almost too sweet. The characters, as well as the plots, are pretty predictable, and its the minor characters and the settings (and the fashion) that are keeping my interest I think.
I find myself comparing Emily & Colin to the exploits of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia & Brisbane a LOT, to which this series does not measure up in my opinion. Maybe that's why I'm finding it so hard to properly like. Plus the dark & brooding Brisbane and his somewhat steamier scenes with Julia is more interesting than the more Victorian society-conscious Colin & the author's glossing over of their romance. I don't need outright sex, but a kiss described in more than a sentence is always nice in books clearly aimed towards women, despite being described as "a novel of suspense" on every book's cover.
I do intend to read all of the series so far though, because I do still have hope that they'll get progressively better. Plus, they are actually addicting and extremely quick reads, and after a semester of graduate history classes & the readings that go with it, these books are proving an effective way to un-fry my brain and enjoy reading again.
I'm a sucker for historical mysteries with strong, rebellious female protagonists, but either I have read too many or this series is too derivative with not enough innovation. Lady Emily gets a bit boring, and Colin Hargreaves is almost too sweet. The characters, as well as the plots, are pretty predictable, and its the minor characters and the settings (and the fashion) that are keeping my interest I think.
I find myself comparing Emily & Colin to the exploits of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia & Brisbane a LOT, to which this series does not measure up in my opinion. Maybe that's why I'm finding it so hard to properly like. Plus the dark & brooding Brisbane and his somewhat steamier scenes with Julia is more interesting than the more Victorian society-conscious Colin & the author's glossing over of their romance. I don't need outright sex, but a kiss described in more than a sentence is always nice in books clearly aimed towards women, despite being described as "a novel of suspense" on every book's cover.
I do intend to read all of the series so far though, because I do still have hope that they'll get progressively better. Plus, they are actually addicting and extremely quick reads, and after a semester of graduate history classes & the readings that go with it, these books are proving an effective way to un-fry my brain and enjoy reading again.