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kazen 's review for:
Silent in the Grave
by Deanna Raybourn
My part of Japan has been buffeted by tons of typhoons this season. In anticipation of yet another worrying night I started Silent in the Grave and it was just the escapism I needed.
The good:
- World building is here and in spades as Raybourn builds out a corner of Victorian London for us. We don't see a wide swath but we are shown is well crafted and interesting.
- The writing grabbed me from the first line.
- This combination of world building and just-my-style writing made this the perfect escapist read. What, is that a typhoon howling outside? Sorry, I can't hear it, we're on the hunt for a killer!
- In my estimation it's a setting-heavy novel, and they are so rare!
- It's a very feminist tale at heart. Some people have gripped about it being unrealistic or too much for the times, but in our year of 2018 I will take whatever feminist escapism I can get, thank you.
- There are topics I've rarely seen broached in lighter historical fiction, like (happy!) lgbtqia+ folx and flattering depictions of the Romani.
- I didn't have a firm idea who the killer was... but then again, I never do.
The not-so-good:
- The espousing of feminist values will be too much for some. Likewise, historical sticklers will be shocked that a Lady had a conversation about xyz with her brother/servant/whomever.
- If you know a lot about the Victorian era some parts may feel over-explained.
- The plot has a bunch of moving parts and there are many characters to keep straight. It didn't bother me but it may irk some.
- If you're looking for a straight up mystery with lots of investigating you'll be disappointed. This is a bit more holistic. As I keep saying, it was fine by me but others may not care for it.
- Lady Grey doesn't always make the most logical decisions. In fact, she makes a bunch of poor ones, things you can see are wrong off the bat. A couple of them made me sigh but it was never enough to keep me away from the page.
If you're interested in this book the best advice I can give is to hunt down a sample of the first chapter. If you're smitten rock on, but if it leaves you wanting you may want to look elsewhere. Personally I can see the flaws but the world and escapism mixed with mystery made this the right book at the right time. I'll definitely be reading the next one on a long flight or during a period of exceptionally bad existential angst.
The good:
- World building is here and in spades as Raybourn builds out a corner of Victorian London for us. We don't see a wide swath but we are shown is well crafted and interesting.
- The writing grabbed me from the first line.
To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching on the floor.
- This combination of world building and just-my-style writing made this the perfect escapist read. What, is that a typhoon howling outside? Sorry, I can't hear it, we're on the hunt for a killer!
- In my estimation it's a setting-heavy novel, and they are so rare!
- It's a very feminist tale at heart. Some people have gripped about it being unrealistic or too much for the times, but in our year of 2018 I will take whatever feminist escapism I can get, thank you.
- There are topics I've rarely seen broached in lighter historical fiction, like (happy!) lgbtqia+ folx and flattering depictions of the Romani.
- I didn't have a firm idea who the killer was... but then again, I never do.
The not-so-good:
- The espousing of feminist values will be too much for some. Likewise, historical sticklers will be shocked that a Lady had a conversation about xyz with her brother/servant/whomever.
- If you know a lot about the Victorian era some parts may feel over-explained.
- The plot has a bunch of moving parts and there are many characters to keep straight. It didn't bother me but it may irk some.
- If you're looking for a straight up mystery with lots of investigating you'll be disappointed. This is a bit more holistic. As I keep saying, it was fine by me but others may not care for it.
- Lady Grey doesn't always make the most logical decisions. In fact, she makes a bunch of poor ones, things you can see are wrong off the bat. A couple of them made me sigh but it was never enough to keep me away from the page.
If you're interested in this book the best advice I can give is to hunt down a sample of the first chapter. If you're smitten rock on, but if it leaves you wanting you may want to look elsewhere. Personally I can see the flaws but the world and escapism mixed with mystery made this the right book at the right time. I'll definitely be reading the next one on a long flight or during a period of exceptionally bad existential angst.