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A review by bookish_kristina
Death at Fournier Downs by Cara Devlin
4.0
An enjoyable Regency mystery.
This was a better book than the first in the series; the story was tighter and the characters more consistent. This is likely because the first book had to do some heavy lifting introducing the characters, their world and setting up the leads’ partnership. In addition, the author did a better job of show over tell in this book. The actions of the characters spoke for themselves rather than having the reader being told of everything through monologuing, though there was still some of that. I do enjoy seeing how this author is trying to tear down the duke’s character in this one to set him up for being killed off later. This is still the only option I can see for a satisfactory ending for the budding romance between Marsden and the duchess; it’s either that or they have an unsatisfying ending.
The mystery in this was quite fast paced and kept me engaged, but the book lost one star by having the murderer reveal themselves before the investigators could put all the pieces together. I find this a very annoying way to write mysteries, it’s almost a cop out to not give the readers enough clues to figure it out and just have the villain confess in a dramatic scene. I’m ok with a detective setting up a dramatic moment and forcing a confession, but this was not that, unfortunately.
But other than that I am enjoying this series and I hope the author gets better at building a mystery in the next one. I enjoyed the angst and pining between Marsden and Audrey; the will they won’t they and then the almost kiss. I’d hate this in a true romance, but here when I know they won’t be together for awhile - if at all- I’m feeling it.
So this is a decent series of fairly short, action packed reads, it’s worth it for fans of historical fiction and cozy mysteries…fans of historical romance will probably be frustrated though
This was a better book than the first in the series; the story was tighter and the characters more consistent. This is likely because the first book had to do some heavy lifting introducing the characters, their world and setting up the leads’ partnership. In addition, the author did a better job of show over tell in this book. The actions of the characters spoke for themselves rather than having the reader being told of everything through monologuing, though there was still some of that. I do enjoy seeing how this author is trying to tear down the duke’s character in this one to set him up for being killed off later. This is still the only option I can see for a satisfactory ending for the budding romance between Marsden and the duchess; it’s either that or they have an unsatisfying ending.
The mystery in this was quite fast paced and kept me engaged, but the book lost one star by having the murderer reveal themselves before the investigators could put all the pieces together. I find this a very annoying way to write mysteries, it’s almost a cop out to not give the readers enough clues to figure it out and just have the villain confess in a dramatic scene. I’m ok with a detective setting up a dramatic moment and forcing a confession, but this was not that, unfortunately.
But other than that I am enjoying this series and I hope the author gets better at building a mystery in the next one. I enjoyed the angst and pining between Marsden and Audrey; the will they won’t they and then the almost kiss. I’d hate this in a true romance, but here when I know they won’t be together for awhile - if at all- I’m feeling it.
So this is a decent series of fairly short, action packed reads, it’s worth it for fans of historical fiction and cozy mysteries…fans of historical romance will probably be frustrated though