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A review by leandrathetbrzero
Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!
3.25 stars
For full transparency, even though this is the fourth book in the Lily Adler mystery series, it was my first time following the regency widow as she solves crimes and brings about justice in her own way.
Crooked Lane Books has become my #1 publisher for historical mysteries as of late, from the Lady Librarian series to Viviana Valentine. It is unsurprising that I would be drawn to yet another historical mystery from Crooked Lane, especially one set during a Christmas ball with murderer and guests snowbound together.
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this Christmas mystery. Lily, our amateur sleuth, is thoughtful and patient in her investigation, reminiscent of Rosalind Thorne (A Useful Woman) and Caroline Morton (Miss Morton mysteries). The mystery was well-plotted, and the number of suspicious characters kept me wondering how everything would end. I also appreciated the inclusion of what I would describe as a prototypical demisexual character. My rating stands, however, because I did find the pacing of the mystery slower than I typically like. I wanted to feel more invested in characters' struggles than I did, and some of the character arcs felt underdeveloped or in need of more explanation, especially those involving blackmail.
3.25 stars
For full transparency, even though this is the fourth book in the Lily Adler mystery series, it was my first time following the regency widow as she solves crimes and brings about justice in her own way.
Crooked Lane Books has become my #1 publisher for historical mysteries as of late, from the Lady Librarian series to Viviana Valentine. It is unsurprising that I would be drawn to yet another historical mystery from Crooked Lane, especially one set during a Christmas ball with murderer and guests snowbound together.
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this Christmas mystery. Lily, our amateur sleuth, is thoughtful and patient in her investigation, reminiscent of Rosalind Thorne (A Useful Woman) and Caroline Morton (Miss Morton mysteries). The mystery was well-plotted, and the number of suspicious characters kept me wondering how everything would end. I also appreciated the inclusion of what I would describe as a prototypical demisexual character. My rating stands, however, because I did find the pacing of the mystery slower than I typically like. I wanted to feel more invested in characters' struggles than I did, and some of the character arcs felt underdeveloped or in need of more explanation, especially those involving blackmail.