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A review by frompemberleytomiltonblog
The Lady's Guide to Death and Deception by Katherine Cowley
5.0
Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/2022/09/08/a-ladys-guide-to-death-and-deception-by-katherine-cowley/
A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception by Katherine Cowley is the third installment in The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet series and I must say it just keeps getting better and better. I am completely hooked to this series, and I truly hope we will have more works to read in the future.
In this story Miss Mary Bennet travels with Mr. Withrow and Lady Trafford to Brussels where she will be at the center of the Napoleonic wars. I loved all the new secondary characters that appeared on this story and the fact that apart from the spying game, we are also privy to personal griefs and different ways of coping with them, domestic incidents and the usual feelings that come along with them and even some war scenes that will leave scars hard to forget. But above all, I love how this author continues to present Mary’s character to the reader.
Mary Bennet has been growing on many different levels throughout this series, but in this book the author gave her even more dept by forcing her to deal with feelings she had never felt before. Mary will feel what love is for the very first time, she will make new friendships and learn how to trust and confide in people, she will realize how much the love for a sibling can be conflicting, and she will have to deal with the feeling of loss, regret and guilt at the same time. I believe this is a feeling that will change and scar Mary forever, and I absolutely loved to see that the author made her a three-dimensional character, someone who has her own thoughts, concerns, beliefs, desires, traumas. backstory and ultimately someone who feels real.
When it comes to her spying, Mary is at the best of her game in this novel! I was amazed with how much Mary’s character has evolved, how much she has learned, and especially how she improved her skills, she has learned new talents and perfectioned old ones, and I believe she will no longer need the assistance of more experienced spies.
From the fist book in the series, I’ve mentioned that the lack of romance was a positive aspect but that a romantic relationship seemed to be building and I would love for it to be developed in the third novel. It appears the author answered my prayers, as Mary is finally entitled to her own love story. I loved how true to character this romance was. It was unique and completely in line with Mary’s character and experiences. I loved the fact that this would not have been a love story easily applicable to any other young lady. It was simply Mary’s story! The unique and interesting love story was also due to the romantic hero in this book who has also demonstrated a fascinating development, and whom I’ve come to love. If there is a fourth book, I want to know more about him!
Just like in previous books, Mary’s sisters play a part in the story, and I liked the fact that a different sister is explored by the author in A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception. Not only it was interesting to see a new sibling dynamic, but also to see how Lydia’s life has been since her father’s death in the first volume of the series. Her character was also very remarkable and well developed. In fact, the author’s ability to develop characters is impressive and probably my favorite characteristic in her books.
A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception is a smooth and balanced continuation of a wonderful series which I hope to continue reading. This book is incredibly well written, well thought of, engaging, and fast paced. There was so much I loved in it, and how the story is presented to the reader, that I truly hope to see another book in the bookstores soon.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/2022/09/08/a-ladys-guide-to-death-and-deception-by-katherine-cowley/
A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception by Katherine Cowley is the third installment in The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet series and I must say it just keeps getting better and better. I am completely hooked to this series, and I truly hope we will have more works to read in the future.
In this story Miss Mary Bennet travels with Mr. Withrow and Lady Trafford to Brussels where she will be at the center of the Napoleonic wars. I loved all the new secondary characters that appeared on this story and the fact that apart from the spying game, we are also privy to personal griefs and different ways of coping with them, domestic incidents and the usual feelings that come along with them and even some war scenes that will leave scars hard to forget. But above all, I love how this author continues to present Mary’s character to the reader.
Mary Bennet has been growing on many different levels throughout this series, but in this book the author gave her even more dept by forcing her to deal with feelings she had never felt before. Mary will feel what love is for the very first time, she will make new friendships and learn how to trust and confide in people, she will realize how much the love for a sibling can be conflicting, and she will have to deal with the feeling of loss, regret and guilt at the same time. I believe this is a feeling that will change and scar Mary forever, and I absolutely loved to see that the author made her a three-dimensional character, someone who has her own thoughts, concerns, beliefs, desires, traumas. backstory and ultimately someone who feels real.
When it comes to her spying, Mary is at the best of her game in this novel! I was amazed with how much Mary’s character has evolved, how much she has learned, and especially how she improved her skills, she has learned new talents and perfectioned old ones, and I believe she will no longer need the assistance of more experienced spies.
From the fist book in the series, I’ve mentioned that the lack of romance was a positive aspect but that a romantic relationship seemed to be building and I would love for it to be developed in the third novel. It appears the author answered my prayers, as Mary is finally entitled to her own love story. I loved how true to character this romance was. It was unique and completely in line with Mary’s character and experiences. I loved the fact that this would not have been a love story easily applicable to any other young lady. It was simply Mary’s story! The unique and interesting love story was also due to the romantic hero in this book who has also demonstrated a fascinating development, and whom I’ve come to love. If there is a fourth book, I want to know more about him!
Just like in previous books, Mary’s sisters play a part in the story, and I liked the fact that a different sister is explored by the author in A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception. Not only it was interesting to see a new sibling dynamic, but also to see how Lydia’s life has been since her father’s death in the first volume of the series. Her character was also very remarkable and well developed. In fact, the author’s ability to develop characters is impressive and probably my favorite characteristic in her books.
A Lady's Guide to Death and Deception is a smooth and balanced continuation of a wonderful series which I hope to continue reading. This book is incredibly well written, well thought of, engaging, and fast paced. There was so much I loved in it, and how the story is presented to the reader, that I truly hope to see another book in the bookstores soon.