A review by rachelsread
Eliza Mace by Sarah Burton, Jem Poster

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was an interesting and unique take on the murder mystery genre, set in 1870s Wales. At first, I was worried that the murder was going to take place almost immediately, which I personally dislike as it is difficult to care about the victim without getting to know them first, but I was glad to realise that this wasn't the case. Eliza Mace was a refreshing character to listen to; a headstrong teenager fighting for independence from her controlling and manipulative parents. The detective, Dafydd Pritchard was also an interesting character, and I cannot express how relieved I was to find out that they didn't end up together at the end, given Eliza's age. Thankfully, there was very little romance throughout the novel and the main focus was on finding the killer, who just as thankfully, wasn't entirely obvious until the end of the story.