A review by tillyj92
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have been enjoying this romantic historical mystery series, and while at first this fourth instalment seemed like just the previous book’s cast of suspicious characters translated into a different setting, I found the eventual solution to the mystery to be quite compelling. Lots of red herrings in this one, as we follow Lady Julia Grey and Brisbane to a tea plantation in the Sikkim region of India, investigating a mysterious death at the behest of a family friend. As always, nothing is as it seems, and dark secrets are uncovered, along with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Some of the tension and momentum of the previous books was missing in this one, which made for a slow start, but I appreciated that our main characters finally got vulnerable and honest with each other, amidst all of the exciting plot revelations. And I continue to love the sisterly dynamic between Julia and Portia, ever each other’s bulwarks in any storm. Not my favourite in the series, but Deanna Raybourn consistently delivers a satisfying mystery.