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A review by laurenjodi
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn
4.0
Dark Road to Darjeeling
4 Stars
Lady Julia and her new husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel to a remote provence of India at the request of her sister Portia who is concerned about her former lover. It seems that Jane Cavendish’s husband has died under mysterious circumstances and she is afraid for her life and that of her unborn child. So begins the Brisbane’s quest to uncover the truth, but can their newfound happiness withstand the pressure?
Although the lush and exotic setting is immersive, the mystery leaves much to be desired. To begin with, the pacing is even slower than that of the previous installments and the question of whether there has even been a murder remains open for much of the book. In addition, most of the twists and turns of the storyline are obvious and there are few clues to the eventual explanation of events. Moreover, the resolution is anti-climactic with very little tension and suspense.
Nevertheless, the progression of Nicholas and Julia’s relationship manages to compensate for the mediocre mystery. Unlike numerous reviewers who view the ups and downs of their marriage in a negative light, for me it is only natural that they should be testing the boundaries with one another. Considering Julia’s fervent desire to be an equal partner and her husband’s equally determined need to keep her safe, it is not at all surprising that they should be at loggerheads.
In sum, not one of the better books in the series but an entertaining read nonetheless and I’m eager to read the final book to see whether Nicholas and Julia will finally find a balance between their personal and professional needs.
4 Stars
Lady Julia and her new husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel to a remote provence of India at the request of her sister Portia who is concerned about her former lover. It seems that Jane Cavendish’s husband has died under mysterious circumstances and she is afraid for her life and that of her unborn child. So begins the Brisbane’s quest to uncover the truth, but can their newfound happiness withstand the pressure?
Although the lush and exotic setting is immersive, the mystery leaves much to be desired. To begin with, the pacing is even slower than that of the previous installments and the question of whether there has even been a murder remains open for much of the book. In addition, most of the twists and turns of the storyline are obvious and there are few clues to the eventual explanation of events. Moreover, the resolution is anti-climactic with very little tension and suspense.
Nevertheless, the progression of Nicholas and Julia’s relationship manages to compensate for the mediocre mystery. Unlike numerous reviewers who view the ups and downs of their marriage in a negative light, for me it is only natural that they should be testing the boundaries with one another. Considering Julia’s fervent desire to be an equal partner and her husband’s equally determined need to keep her safe, it is not at all surprising that they should be at loggerheads.
In sum, not one of the better books in the series but an entertaining read nonetheless and I’m eager to read the final book to see whether Nicholas and Julia will finally find a balance between their personal and professional needs.