Tag: mystery

Mini-Reviews: Phillip, Private, Do-Over

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Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, with Love

This installment of the Bridgerton series features Eloise, a lively and opinionated young woman who has never lacked suitors, but who somehow finds herself still unmarried at 28. She strikes up a correspondence with Sir Phillip Crane, who was married to her distant cousin Marina until the latter’s death, and is intrigued when he asks her to visit and see whether they might be well suited for marriage. But when Eloise meets Sir Phillip, he’s nothing like she imagined — he’s gruff and taciturn and distant, even from his two children, who are clearly desperate for his attention. Can such a man be a good match for the talkative, affectionate Eloise? The Bridgerton books have been hit or miss for me, but I really liked this one. Phillip’s backstory is difficult, and his reactions (especially to the death of his first wife) are not always sympathetic, but they are understandable. I loved him and Eloise together, and I think they bring out the best in each other. I also liked the brief appearance of several of the Bridgerton brothers; it was nice to be reminded of Eloise’s close relationships with her siblings. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series thus far!

Darcie Wilde, A Purely Private Matter

Rosalind Thorne once again finds herself embroiled in mystery and scandal when Margaretta Seymore appeals to her for help. Her husband is convinced she’s having an affair with the famous actor Fletcher Cavendish — and he’s planning to sue Cavendish to get monetary damages for the harm caused by the alleged adultery. Margaretta denies the affair and wants Rosalind to stop the accusation from causing a public scandal. But things get more complicated when Cavendish is murdered and suspicion inevitably falls on the Seymores. I liked book one in this series, but I think my enthusiasm is already starting to wane a bit. The mystery plot felt too cluttered, and the book needed a better editor — I noticed not only typos but a few significant continuity errors. Still, I like Rosalind and am curious to see how her personal life will unfold, so I’ll continue with the series for now.

Lynn Painter, The Do-Over

Emilie has planned the perfect Valentine’s Day, but things go wrong almost immediately when she gets into a car accident with Nick, her surly chemistry lab partner. Then she gets passed over for an internship she was counting on, and worst of all, she spies her boyfriend kissing his ex. Emilie is relieved when the awful day is done — but when she wakes up the next morning, it’s February 14 again, and she ends up reliving her awful Valentine’s Day over and over. As she tries to escape the time loop, she learns some important things about herself — and about Nick, who always seems to be along for the ride. I’ve enjoyed all of Lynn Painter’s books, and this YA romance is no exception. I especially liked the banter between Emilie and Nick, although he’s a bit too dreamy to be a realistic teenage boy. The book touches on some serious topics like divorce and grief, but the overall tone is upbeat and fun. Recommended if you just want to read something that puts a smile on your face!

Mini-Reviews: Scandal, French, Murder

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Sophie Irwin, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal

Ten years ago, Eliza Courtenay married the wealthy Earl of Somerset out of duty to her family, even though she was in love with Somerset’s nephew at the time. The marriage was restrictive and unhappy, but now the earl has died and left Eliza unexpectedly rich. She decides to take control of her life and set up her own household in Bath. But her newfound independence comes with complications, especially when she’s torn between her old love (who is now the earl) and the charming yet scandalous Lord Melville. I greatly enjoyed Irwin’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, so I had high hopes for this one, but it never quite grabbed me. I liked the development of the love triangle, where Eliza’s choice of man reflects her choice about what kind of life she really wants. But at the same time, that conflict feels very modern; with historical romance, I want to be transported to a different time, and I didn’t feel that here. Overall, I’d call this one good but not great.

Sarah Ready, French Holiday

After watching her sister marry her best friend, with whom she’s been desperately in love for the past four years, Merry DeLuca needs an escape. Her godmother offers to let her stay in her French chateau, and Merry jumps at the chance. But she’s shocked to discover that Noah Wright, the best man at her sister’s wedding, is also staying at the chateau to work on a travel documentary. Merry and Noah have always disliked each other, but now their close proximity causes them to reevaluate their relationship. I enjoyed this contemporary romance, though it feels a little unpolished (which makes sense, as I believe it’s self-published). At times the prose gets a bit overwrought, and some of the humor veers toward cringey, but the romantic/sexual tension is well done, with excellent use of the “only one bed” trope. Definitely worth a read if the premise interests you!

E.C.R. Lorac, Murder by Matchlight

In the opening chapter of this World War II-era mystery, a young man witnesses a murder—but because of the wartime blackout, he doesn’t actually see anything except a face that’s briefly revealed when the victim lights a match in the seconds before his death. Scotland Yard Inspector Macdonald is on the case and soon learns that the key to the truth lies in the dead man’s mysterious identity and background. This vintage mystery was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the wartime setting and its subtle but important effects on the plot — for example, one of Macdonald’s suspect interviews is interrupted by an air raid. The cast of characters is interesting, and Macdonald is a likable sleuth. But I think the mystery itself is a bit weak, and the plot is mostly just Macdonald interviewing people, which gets boring. Overall, though, I’d be interested in reading more by Lorac.

Mini-Reviews: Mischief, Magic, Useful

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Lauren Willig, The Mischief of the Mistletoe

Arabella Dempsey has been a “poor relation” for years, and now she has no choice but to become a teacher at a young ladies’ academy. There she literally runs into Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh, who is visiting his sister, Sally. In the ensuing chaos, Arabella picks up a dropped Christmas pudding and discovers a mysterious French message inside. It might be just a lovers’ assignation — but what if it’s something more sinister? Arabella and Turnip team up to investigate and fall for each other in the process. This is an adorable installment of the Pink Carnation series! Turnip is a big dumb lovable sweetheart, and Arabella is someone who both needs and appreciates his kindness. The spy plot is a mere wisp of a thing, but who cares when the book is so much fun? This is right up there with The Seduction of the Crimson Rose as one of my favorites in the series thus far.

Emma Mills, Something Close to Magic

Aurelie is a baker’s apprentice with a magical gift for seeking and a secret thirst for adventure. So when bounty hunter Iliana asks her for help in finding a particularly elusive target, Aurelie agrees, even when the job takes her away for her bakery and into the dangerous Underwood. There they encounter Prince Hapless and his entourage just in time to foil a kidnapping attempt. Aurelie soon finds herself falling for Hapless, but can she give up the stability of her life as an apprentice for the uncertainties of love? I really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel. The plot isn’t particularly original, but the banter between the main characters is delightful, and the romance between Aurelie and Hapless is very sweet. The book cheekily promises a sequel, and I will definitely seek it out once it’s published!

Darcie Wilde, A Useful Woman

Rosalind Thorne was born into high society, but after a family scandal several years ago, she’s barely clinging to the fringes. Because ladies seek her help in navigating various social situations, she has a reputation as a “useful woman.” When young gentleman Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in the Almack’s ballroom, his sister Honoria begs Rosalind to investigate his death. I previously read this book and remember liking it, and I’m happy to say my positive opinion still holds. Obviously I’m going to read any book whose premise is “murder at Almack’s,” and I really enjoyed the book’s portrayal of just how difficult it was to behave properly in Regency society, where a single wrong step could mean disaster. Rosalind is a sympathetic character, and I look forward to seeing how her family drama and romantic life develop in subsequent books!

Mini-Reviews: Splendor, Remember, Albion

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B.R. Myers, A Dreadful Splendor

Genevieve Timmons is a fake spiritualist who uses her seances to steal from the wealthy families who hire her. When the law catches up with her, she gets an unexpected reprieve: A lawyer hires her to perform a seance for Mr. Pemberton of Somerset Park, whose fiancée tragically died the night before their wedding. The lawyer thinks the seance will bring his employer peace, but when Genevieve arrives at the park, she learns that Pemberton has other ideas — he thinks his fiancée was murdered and wants to use the seance to prompt the guilty party to confess. As Genevieve gets to know the various people living at the park, she uncovers many secrets and possibly even a real ghost or two. This is a decent read, combining gothic historical mystery with a bit of romance, but I felt there was a little too much going on. Between Genevieve’s sad backstory and the various machinations at Somerset, character development takes a backseat. Overall, I didn’t dislike the book, but it didn’t particularly do anything for me either.

Mary Balogh, Remember Me

Lady Philippa Ware is finally making her London society debut at age 22, after delaying it several times due to a family scandal. There she meets Lucas Arden, the Marquess of Routh, whom she once overheard insulting her as “soiled goods.” She hates him at first but is soon drawn to him, and he to her. Both their families encourage a match between them, but can they overcome their painful shared past? This isn’t a bad book, but I found it a frustrating one. Balogh seems much more interested in family dynamics than in the core romance here; Philippa and Lucas are almost afterthoughts in the huge cast of characters, many of whom were introduced in book #1 and will inevitably have their own books in the series. I also found Lucas’s grandparents more overbearing than endearing in their relentless pressure for him to produce an heir. That said, I still want to continue with the series and will hope for stronger romances in subsequent books.

Andre Norton and Rosemary Edghill, The Shadow of Albion

It’s 1805, and Sarah Cunningham has decided to leave her life of drudgery in Baltimore for the promise of good fortune in London. But once she’s in England, her carriage has a terrible accident — and when she wakes up, everyone is calling her the Marchioness of Roxbury. Moreover, the world is strangely different from her own: America never had a revolution and the Stuarts are still on the throne of England. As Sarah struggles to understand her new identity, she also clashes with the Duke of Wessex, Roxbury’s fiancé and a spy for the English king. But Sarah and Wessex must eventually put aside their differences to foil a nefarious French plot. I feel like that summary just barely scratches the surface — suffice to say, this book is a mixture of alternate-history epic, political intrigue, and Regency romance that I really, really loved! It’s a dense read but still somehow a page-turner, and I would highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction (despite the alternate/fantastical elements). Can’t wait to read the sequel!

Mini-Reviews: Rule, Violets, Theoretically

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Sarah Adams, The Off Limits Rule

After losing her job and her boyfriend pretty much simultaneously, Lucy temporarily moves in with her overprotective big brother, Drew. That becomes a problem when Lucy meets — and is immediately smitten with — Drew’s best friend, Cooper. The attraction is mutual, but they’re hesitant to pursue a relationship for fear of Drew’s reaction. This is a cute, quick read, but because Lucy and Cooper are into each other almost immediately, there’s very little romantic tension. The obstacle of Drew’s disapproval seems silly to me; these people are adults and should be beyond the “eww, no dating my sister!” stage. And a lot of the “humor” comes from Lucy’s embarrassment over her cringeworthy behavior, which makes her seem incompetent and immature. All that said, there is something appealing about the novel’s cutesy style and the banter between the main characters, but it’s definitely not destined to be a favorite.

Baynard Kendrick, The Odor of Violets

Duncan Maclain lost his sight in the First World War. Now, at the beginning of the second, he works as a private investigator and does the occasional job for U.S. intelligence. When a fellow spy is murdered, Maclain’s investigation leads him to the prominent Treadwill family, which includes a famous theater producer, an engineer working on secret military equipment, and the dead spy’s ex-wife. This is an odd book that tries to combine a traditional mystery with a spy thriller, and the result is a little half-baked. Because of the book’s split focus, there’s not enough time to flesh out the various suspects or provide meaningful clues. However, I did enjoy the depiction of a blind detective who relies on hearing, touch, and smell to observe the world. Kendrick apparently did a lot of research and tried to make Maclain’s abilities as realistic as possible. Overall, I liked some elements of this novel, but it didn’t quite gel for me.

Ali Hazelwood, Love, Theoretically

Elsie is a theoretical physicist who’s desperate to find a research position, but for now she’s stuck as a poorly paid adjunct professor. To supplement her income, she works for a fake-dating app. While on a “date” with her favorite client, she meets Jack, the client’s brother, who seems disapproving and suspicious of her. Disastrously, she meets him again while interviewing for her dream job at MIT, where Jack—an experimental physicist with a well-known grudge against theorists—is on the search committee. But as Elsie spends more time with Jack, she revises her first impression of him and learns his true feelings for her. The thing about Ali Hazelwood is that I’m often irritated by her books, but I still devour them in one sitting! As with her previous novels, I thought the hero’s level of devotion to the heroine was pretty implausible, and the overabundant science references were clumsily inserted. But I did find Elsie relatable in her need to be liked, though she takes people-pleasing to an unhealthy extreme. This is a flawed but compelling read, and I’ll doubtless continue to read Hazelwood’s work.

Mini-Reviews: Safe, Hero, Willoughby

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Ashley Weaver, Playing It Safe

As bombs fall on London in the autumn of 1940, Ellie McDonnell is summoned to the port city of Sunderland by her handler, Major Ramsey. She doesn’t know the details of her mission, but things get complicated fast when a man dies right in front of her the day she arrives. She and Ramsey both suspect the man has been murdered, possibly because of shady spy activities. As Ellie befriends the dead man’s social circle, she uncovers many secrets and endangers her life in the process. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, mainly for the likable main characters and WW2 setting. I wasn’t as compelled by the mystery — the murderer’s identity seems to come out of nowhere — but there are some good suspenseful scenes. I also liked the developments in Ellie’s relationship with Ramsey. This book just came out, but I’m already impatient for the next one!

Robin McKinley, The Hero and the Crown

Aerin has always felt like an outsider who doesn’t belong. She’s the daughter of the king’s second wife, a reputed witch who supposedly died of disappointment that Aerin wasn’t a boy. She doesn’t have the magical Gift that’s shared by all people of royal blood. Most of her cousins despise her, and she’d rather ride her father’s old warhorse or practice swordplay than be a courtier. But when dragons and demon-magic from the North threaten her kingdom, Aerin discovers she has a crucial role to play. This is a book of my heart; I loved it as a child and am delighted to discover it’s just as good as I remember. Aerin is surprisingly relatable for someone who slays dragons, and Robin McKinley’s writing is pure magic. I’m really happy I revisited this one!

Claudia Gray, The Late Mrs. Willoughby

***Warning: SPOILERS for Sense and Sensibility***

Jonathan Darcy has been invited to Allenham, the estate his old schoolmate John Willoughby has just inherited. Willoughby was a bully during their school days, so Jonathan isn’t particularly excited about the visit — until he meets Juliet Tilney again, who’s staying nearby with her friend Marianne Brandon. He and Juliet are both eager to renew their acquaintance, but things take a dark turn when Willoughby’s wife is murdered. Could Willoughby or Marianne be the culprit? I don’t usually love Austen pastiches, but so far this series has impressed me with its fidelity to Austen’s characters even as it places them within a murder mystery. I was able to identify the murderer pretty early on, but I still enjoyed the plot, and I liked the development of Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship. To get the most out of this book, you definitely have to be familiar with both The Murder of Mr. Wickham and Sense and Sensibility, but if you liked book #1 of the series, you’ll enjoy this one too.

Mini-Reviews: Necessary, Rome, Unknown

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Hannah March, A Necessary Evil

In this fifth and final book of the series, Robert Fairfax trades London for Bath, where he’s tutoring a group of pleasant yet unteachable girls. He also becomes acquainted with Colonel James Delabole and his family, which consists of a wife and daughter, as well as a long-lost daughter from his first marriage, with whom Delabole is trying to reconcile. Tensions are high, so when Delabole is murdered, Robert has more than enough suspects to investigate. As with the other books in this series, this one is well-written, with a complex plot, interesting characters, and an evocative setting. However, I don’t think the author planned this to be a series finale, as there’s no resolution to Robert’s personal life. He seems to end in a worse place than he began, which I found disappointing. I do still recommend the series for those who enjoy historical mysteries, but I wish Robert could have found a little happiness in the end.

Sarah Adams, When in Rome

Pop star Amelia Rose is feeling burned out, so she decides to pull an Audrey Hepburn and go on a Roman holiday — to Rome, Kentucky, that is. But when her car breaks down, she’s forced to rely on the surly yet attractive Noah Walker for help. As they get to know each other, they have a hard time fighting their mutual attraction, but Noah’s life is in Rome and Amelia can’t stay forever, so how could they make a relationship work? This is a sweet contemporary romance that I enjoyed, though I sometimes felt the characters blew hot and cold for no reason. It paints an idyllic picture of life in a small town, which makes the book a fun escape even if it’s not particularly realistic. The author just came out with a novel featuring Noah’s younger sister, and I do plan to read it if I can get it from the library.

Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax

When Lord Darracott’s son and heir dies unexpectedly, Darracott shocks his family by announcing that the new heir is a grandson he’s never met, who grew up in Yorkshire and whose mother was a commoner. When the heir, Hugo, arrives at the estate, the family expects an ignorant yokel, so Hugo plays along — but it’s not long before some members of the family, including his cousin Anthea, recognize his intelligence and true worth. I love Georgette Heyer, but I’d only read this novel once, so I was interested to remind myself why it’s not one of my favorites. I think the answer is that the romance, while appealing, takes a backseat to family drama and a smuggling plot. I wanted more of Hugo and Anthea interacting and fewer conversations about the pros and cons of “free trading.” So for me, this is not one of Heyer’s best.

Mini-Reviews: Tie, Bright, Italian

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Ngaio Marsh, Death in a White Tie

The London Season is in full swing with its debutantes, chaperones, and elaborate parties. Unfortunately, a blackmailer is also making the social rounds, preying upon high-society women. Inspector Roderick Alleyn is on the case, and he asks his friend Lord Robert “Bunchy” Gospell for help, since Bunchy is invited everywhere and will be able to observe suspicious activity firsthand. When Bunchy is murdered, Alleyn will do whatever it takes to bring his killer to justice — but was it the blackmailer or someone else with a grudge against Bunchy? This is another excellent Alleyn novel; I loved getting more insight into his character as he’s forced to investigate the death of a friend and to suspect people he knows and likes personally. I’ll certainly continue with the series and am glad Marsh was so prolific!

Chloe Neill, The Bright and Breaking Sea

In an alternate 19th-century Britain, Kit Brightling is a naval captain who is magically Aligned to water. Her successes at sea have earned her the queen’s favor, and now the queen has ordered her to rescue a spy who’s been caught by the enemy and imprisoned in a pirate fortress. But Kit is also compelled to team up with Rian Grant, a viscount and former soldier. They distrust each other at first, but their opinions change as they’re forced to work together. Meanwhile, they uncover a dangerous conspiracy involving a deposed emperor and a ship capable of weaponizing magic. What a fun book! The plot is full of excitement, from daring escapes to naval battles to espionage at society events. I also really liked Kit and Grant’s relationship, though I found most of the secondary characters underdeveloped and unmemorable. Still, I’d heartily recommend this book if you love historical romance and/or tales of the British navy with a bit of magic thrown in. There’s a sequel that I plan to get my hands on ASAP!

Rebecca Serle, One Italian Summer

After her mother’s tragic death, Katy feels utterly bereft and disconnected. The loss makes her question everything in her life, including her marriage to her college sweetheart. Needing space, Katy decides to go solo on the trip to Italy she’d been planning with her mom. But when she gets to Positano, she’s shocked to meet her mother in the flesh at age 30 (not a spoiler, it’s mentioned in the cover copy). As Katy gets to know this younger version of her mother—and embarks on a flirtation with a handsome stranger—she also learns more about herself and begins to process her grief. I’ll say one thing about this book, it made me want to travel to the Amalfi coast immediately! But I found Katy a frustrating character. Though her grief is understandable, her actions aren’t particularly sympathetic, and while I love my mom, I can’t imagine idolizing her to the extent Katy does! So while I’m now even more eager to travel to Italy one of these days, I wouldn’t particularly recommend this book.

Mini-Reviews: Neighbors, Cluny, Velvet

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Stephanie Burgis, Good Neighbors

Ever since Mia and her father were run out of town by an angry mob wielding torches and pitchforks, she’s tried to appear normal and respectable, hiding her true identity as a metal mage. Too bad her new home is right next door to a necromancer’s castle. Leander has no interest in hiding his own unnatural gifts, and he soon seeks Mia out to form a defensive alliance against the hostile townsfolk. But as Mia and Leander grow closer, the town’s increasing anger toward those with magical powers forces them to take a stand. This is an enjoyable but insubstantial wisp of a book with a heavy-handed message about how society treats those who are perceived as different. The story is a bit sketchy and underdeveloped, and several loose threads are left dangling. I like the author but wouldn’t recommend this particular work — try Masks and Shadows or Congress of Secrets instead.

Margery Sharp, Cluny Brown

Cluny Brown is a young woman who, according to her plumber uncle, doesn’t know her place, so he decides to find one for her as a parlormaid in an English country house. Cluny isn’t a great success as a parlormaid, but she does make several new friends, both upstairs and down. Eventually she decides where (and with whom) she’ll make her true place in the world. This is a quiet slice-of-life novel set just before the outbreak of World War II. It satirizes the English class system but does so in a gentle and affectionate, not mocking, way. The plot centers around romantic complications that all come right in the end, although I did feel sorry for Cluny’s rejected suitor! I also watched the movie starring Charles Boyer and Jennifer Jones, which I didn’t like quite as much as the book (it changed too many things, and I think Boyer was miscast). But I would recommend the book if you like this type of novel!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Velvet Was the Night

This novel, billed as “neo noir,” is set in 1971 against the backdrop of the Mexican Dirty War. Elvis belongs to a gang with shadowy ties to the repressive government; he’s tasked with brutalizing student activists and other left-wing demonstrators. Meanwhile, Maite is dissatisfied with her life and escapes through the pages of romantic magazines. When Maite’s neighbor Leonora, a young woman with possible communist ties, disappears, Elvis and Maite cross paths as they both try to track her down. I’m not a big noir reader, as I generally prefer optimism in my fiction, but I found this novel fascinating. I know shamefully little about Mexican history, so I was happy to learn more about an unfamiliar place and time. I also really enjoyed the story and was able to guess some of the twists and turns. The ending isn’t exactly happy (this is noir, after all!), but it is satisfying and arguably hopeful. Overall, this book impressed me, and I’m eager to try more of Moreno-Garcia’s work.

Mini-Reviews: London, Fortune, Death

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Sarra Manning, London, with Love

This contemporary novel follows Jen Richards from her awkward adolescence in 1986 to her middle age in 2021. When she was 16, she was an insecure kid who strongly identified with Sylvia Plath, and she was desperately in love with her brooding, pretentious best friend, Nick. As the years go by, she and Nick pass in and out of each other’s lives, but they can never completely ignore the strong connection between them. I don’t think this is a bad book, but it ultimately wasn’t for me. While I sympathized and related to adolescent Jen, I found her less likable as she got older and (theoretically) more mature. I also didn’t think her relationship with Nick was healthy, so I was never really rooting for the romance. I think this book might really resonate with people who grew up in London during this specific time — but since I’ve barely even been to London (though would love to go back!), I don’t have that nostalgia. Overall, it’s a decent read, but I just don’t think I’m the ideal audience for it.

Kristin Vayden, Fortune Favors the Duke

Six months ago, Quin’s older brother died tragically and unexpectedly, making Quin the new duke of Wesley. Now a grieving Quin must grapple with his new responsibilities, when all he really wants to do is continue his career as a Cambridge professor. Meanwhile, the late duke’s fiancée, Lady Catherine Greatheart, is grieving too, but she’s accepted that it’s time to move on. As Quin and Catherine support one another in their shared loss, they develop romantic feelings but are unsure whether they ought to pursue a relationship. This was another disappointing Regency romance. The premise — man falls for his dead brother’s fiancée — had so much potential, but it’s barely explored. Quin and Catherine fall for each other pretty quickly, with minimal guilt, and the book’s main conflict turns out to involve an external villain. Where was the guilt, the uncertainty, the struggle against (arguably) inappropriate feelings? In my opinion, exploring that conflict would have been way more interesting than the random troublemaker’s shenanigans. Further, the writing style was awkward and inauthentic, and I didn’t even believe in the central romance. I’m glad I got the e-book for free, but I wouldn’t recommend it even at that price.

Hannah March, Death Be My Theme

After a serious illness, Robert Fairfax is convalescing in the rural outskirts of London when he encounters another mystery: Curmudgeonly Gabriel Chilcott falls to his death down a flight of stairs with an expression of horrified shock on his face. The incident appears to be a tragic accident, but then why did Chilcott’s much younger wife lie about the man seen leaving her bedroom? When a local servant is murdered shortly afterwards, Robert investigates and uncovers a particularly cold-blooded killer. This might be my favorite book of the series yet! The mystery plot is very well done, and I also liked the development of Robert’s ill-fated romance with the married Cordelia. There’s even a cameo appearance by the Mozart family, and a mistake in one of 8-year-old Wolfgang’s compositions proves to be a vital clue. I’m hoping the next (and, alas, final) book will give a satisfying ending to the series!