Tag: series

Mini-Reviews: Ghosts, Secret, Masked

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Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts

The Great War has left Laura Iven an orphan. Her parents were recently killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, and now she’s received word that her only sibling, Freddie, is missing presumed dead after the Battle of Passchendaele. But if he’s missing, how could she have received his uniform and identification tags? Something doesn’t add up, so Laura goes to Europe looking for answers. This novel alternates between Laura’s story and Freddie’s, which takes place a few months earlier and reveals how he escaped the war’s horrors only to fall prey to something even worse. This book is beautifully written and emotionally harrowing; Arden’s depiction of the war and its all-consuming effects is relentlessly grim and graphically vivid. I found it a very hard read at times, but I’m glad I persevered and came to a whisper of hope in the end. I also loved how the story engages with literature and legends about the devil, who is very much present in the book. Highly recommended if you’re in the mood for something dark!

Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Ernie Cunningham gets involved in a “holiday special” murder when his ex-wife, Erin, calls on him for help: Her current boyfriend, Lyle, was killed in their home, and she’s been arrested for the murder. Ernie’s investigation centers around Lyle’s philanthropic work at a theater in the Blue Mountains, which is currently staging a famous magic act. This means Ernie is surrounded by people familiar with stage magic and skilled in the art of misdirection—in other words, the perfect set of suspects. Can he clear Erin’s name and find the real murderer in time for Christmas? This novella is a fun installment of the series that makes good use of the time-honored detective novel trappings of theater, magic, and of course Christmas. I was able to guess the murderer but didn’t unravel the whole plan, and I enjoyed Ernie’s conviction that there are rules for holiday specials as well as for mysteries. Recommended if you’ve enjoyed previous books in the series.

Genevieve Cogman, The Masked City

Irene is happy with her new job as the Librarian-in-Residence in a steampunk version of Victorian London. But when her apprentice, Kai—the youngest son of a noble dragon family—is kidnapped, she must leave her (relatively) comfortable new position to rescue him and prevent an all-out war between dragons and Fae. To do so, she travels to an unfamiliar, extremely chaotic world that’s dominated by the Fae: a fairytale version of Venice where it’s always Carnival. This book is a pretty good follow-up to The Invisible Library, with exciting action scenes and some fun snark about the Fae’s addiction to storytelling tropes. I enjoyed Irene’s cleverness and practicality, though I missed Kai and Vale, who didn’t get a lot of page time in this installment. But overall, it’s a fun read, and I’m looking forward to book #3 next month.

Mini-Reviews: Librarian, Lady, Call

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C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane

In a fantasy version of post-World War I England, Sylvia Ashe supports herself by working as a librarian. Her path crosses with that of Gabriel Glass, a nobleman and the son of a famous magician, as he investigates the theft of a possibly magical painting. When he inadvertently gets Sylvia fired, he finds her a new job at a library specializing in magical tomes. He also draws her into both his investigation and his circle of friends. As Sylvia gets closer to Gabe, she also resaerches whether her family might possess silver magic, as her brother (who died in the war) believed. In terms of genre, this book is right up my alley—it’s essentially a historical mystery, with a few magical trappings and a hint of romance. The trouble is that I’ve read a lot of books in this genre, and after a while they all tend to feel pretty similar, unless there’s something truly remarkable about them. This book isn’t remarkable, but it’s a perfectly decent read. I certainly wouldn’t mind continuing with the series, but it’s not a high priority for me.

Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience

This fifth (and final?) book in the Somerset series features the oldest Beresford brother, James, who is the heir to an earldom and is determined to rehabilitate the family name by making an advantageous marriage. His plans don’t include falling in love with Hannah Heywood, the shy daughter of an untitled naval officer, yet he finds himself struggling with unexpected feelings. Meanwhile, Hannah is attracted to James but doesn’t think they will be compatible in the long term. Can James convince her to give him a chance? I really enjoyed this book, which is somewhat in the Pride and Prejudice vein – James is a Darcy-esque, starchy, uptight hero who is slowly transformed by love. I liked Hannah too; she’s shy and quiet but still has a spine. Some aspects of the plot felt a bit rushed, but otherwise this is a strong installment of an entertaining series. Recommended if you enjoy steamless historical romance!

Kristen Britain, First Rider’s Call

Karigan G’ladheon tried to fight her destiny as a Green Rider and return to her former life as a rich merchant’s daughter. But she ultimately couldn’t resist the Riders’ call, though she’s now experiencing odd glitches in her magic and seeing visions of the long-dead First Rider, who seems to be desperately trying to tell her something. Meanwhile, an ancient evil is stirring in Blackveil Forest, and Karigan must dig deep into her country’s history to figure out how to stop it. This second book in the Green Rider series is a worthy sequel: It’s a solid fantasy novel with interesting world-building and a likable (if perhaps a little too special) heroine. The setting in particular is thoughtfully done; though the menace of Blackveil drives the main plot, the characters also have to deal with the problems of their everyday lives, such as court politics and romantic turmoil. I’m fairly invested in this series now and am looking forward to reading book #3 next month.

Mini-Reviews: Appointment, Doctor, Invisible

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Mimi Matthews, Appointment in Bath

Meg Burton-Smythe is a shy wallflower with unfashionable red hair, freckles, and a stammer. Her neighbor Ivo Beresford, by contrast, is handsome, well off, and worldly. He’d never look at her twice—especially because their parents have been enemies since before she was born (as detailed in Gentleman Jim). So when Ivo goes out of his way to befriend her, Meg is suspicious at first but soon comes to hope that he might actually be interested in her. But will their parents’ feud quash their budding romance? Mimi Matthews continues to be one of my go-to authors for steamless historical romance, and I really enjoyed this book! I love a wallflower heroine, and Meg’s loneliness is especially poignant when contrasted with Ivo’s boisterous, loving family. I was rooting for her happily-ever-after and liked seeing her gain confidence throughout the book. Now I’m even more excited for the next installment of the series!

P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally

This short comic novel features Sally Smith, a doctor whom no one takes seriously because she’s a young and attractive woman. “Doctor Sally” has no interest in falling in love, but her resolve is tested when Bill Bannister is instantly smitten with her. Unfortunately, he’s trying to extract himself from a previous romantic entanglement with a lower-class woman who isn’t willing to let him go. Luckily, Bill’s affable but dimwitted friend, Lord Tidmouth, is on hand to come to the rescue. This little book is pure delight—Wodehouse is an absolute master of comic farce, and Lord Tidmouth is a lovable idiot worthy of Bertie Wooster. If you’re looking for a nice quick read that will make you laugh out loud, I highly recommend this one!

Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library

Irene works for the Library, a secret organization that collects rare and unique books throughout the multiverse. Her latest mission is to retrieve a particular Grimm manuscript from an alternate Victorian world, and her partner will be a student assistant, Kai, who hasn’t been on a mission yet. What should be a fairly routine retrieval immediately goes awry: The manuscript has been stolen, and they’re not the only ones trying to find it. Not to mention, a rogue Librarian seems bent on destroying both this world and the Library itself—unless Irene and Kai can stop him first. This is a fun read with a lot of action and interesting world-building. The writing style is confident and made me feel like the author knows what she’s doing. I do think this book barely scratches the surface of the possibilities of this world, but fortunately there are several more books in the series! I’m excited to continue with book #2 next month.

Mini-Reviews: Howling, Charity, Rider

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Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling

Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and is about to take up her first position as a governess. When she arrives at the vast estate of Ashton Place, she soon learns that the three children under her care aren’t the biological children of Lord and Lady Ashton. Rather, they were found in the forest surrounding the estate, apparently having been raised by wolves. As Penelope teaches Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia how to speak and behave like human children, she notices several sinister aspects of her new life, such as Lord Frederick’s obsession with hunting and an apparently deliberate plot to make the children regress into wolflike behavior. This is a fun, cheeky read with more than a few nods to Victorian gothic novels. I liked Penelope and the children and enjoyed reading about their shenanigans. My only complaint is that the larger questions about the children’s identity and background are unanswered; I may just have to continue with the series to find out more!

Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl

The young, rich, and handsome Viscount Desford gets into a scrape when he meets Charity “Cherry” Steane, the poor relation of a family he happens to be visiting. The day after their meeting, he discovers her running away from her family’s cruel treatment, and he feels honor-bound to help her reach her grandfather in London. But of course, when they reach London, her grandfather is nowhere to be found; so Desford leaves Cherry with his old friend, Lady Henrietta, and sets off to discover the grandfather’s whereabouts. In the midst of these events, romance blooms in an unexpected place. Much as I adore Heyer, this novel isn’t one I frequently revisit, and now I remember why. Too much of the book is spent on Desford’s solo adventures and on introducing characters who appear in just one or two scenes. As a result, the romance gets short shrift and almost feels like an afterthought. The book is still a pleasant read with a lot of funny moments, but it’s not one of Heyer’s best, in my opinion.

Kristen Britain, Green Rider

Karigan G’ladheon is a university student who’s on her way home after being unfairly suspended. She unexpectedly crosses paths with a Green Rider, one of the king’s messengers, who is dying with two black arrows in his back. He urges her to complete his mission and take the message he’s carrying to the king. Karigan somewhat reluctantly agrees and is immediately plunged into a series of dangerous adventures. Meanwhile, King Zachary faces many threats, including the ambition of his disgruntled brother and the dark powers of a supernatural being known only as the Gray One. I first read this book back in 2010 and liked it enough to pick up the next two in the series. Rereading it now, I still enjoyed it, though it’s pretty standard sword and sorcery. Karigan definitely seems to be some kind of “chosen one,” though I liked that she wasn’t amazing at everything and often needed help to complete her mission. All in all, I’m interested in continuing with the series to see what’s next for Karigan and her new friends and allies.

Mini-Reviews: Spade, Satterthwaite, Conjuring

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Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

Passionate chemist and adolescent sleuth Flavia de Luce is back on the case when Buckshaw’s cook, Mrs. Mullet, is accused of killing a Bishop’s Lacey resident with poisoned mushrooms. Flavia knows Mrs. Mullet is innocent and decides to clear her name. The dead man, Major Greyleigh, seemed reasonably well liked, so who had a motive to kill him? As Flavia digs deeper, she uncovers a shocking secret that will upend her whole life. I’ve read every book in this series, which I enjoy for Flavia’s breezy, often hilarious narration (though I’m not convinced she’s a realistic or even a coherent character). But the mysteries tend to be weak, and that’s certainly the case here. I also don’t love the direction in which this book seems to be taking the series; it doubles down on some of my least favorite plot elements from previous books. Overall, it’s mid, as the kids say. But if another Flavia book comes out, I’ll most likely read it!

Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court

This Victorian romance centers around Lieutenant Charles Heywood, son of the couple from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford, daughter of the couple from Gentleman Jim. They meet in passing and are instantly smitten, and their relationship develops as they investigate an anonymous letter that hints at a past wrongdoing involving Charles’s mother. Much as I love Mimi Matthews, this is not one of my favorites by her. The central romance just seemed a bit bland to me; Charles and Kate didn’t feel like fully fleshed out characters, though I did like that Kate knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Still, I found myself much more interested in the hints of romance among the secondary characters—two of Kate’s brothers are the heroes of the next two books in the series. It’s a perfectly good (and steamless!) historical romance, and I did enjoy reading it, but it didn’t blow me away.

V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light

Immediately after the events of A Gathering of Shadows, Kell finds himself in White London being confronted by Osaron, a god (or demon) whose magic threatens to ruin everything in its path. Kell defies Osaron, but the latter still manages to get to Red London, where he promptly enslaves or murders most of its residents. It’s up to Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard et al. to stop Osaron before he destroys their entire world—and perhaps the neighboring worlds as well. This conclusion to the Shades of Magic trilogy is huge—my hardcover is more than 600 pages long, and the margins are small—but it’s also a page-turner. That said, I would have preferred a shorter book; we didn’t really need all the flashbacks, nor the chapters from non-protagonist POVs. I did enjoy the story and think this book gives a satisfying ending to the series (though I believe the author has since written more books in this world). Overall, I’m glad I finally read this whole trilogy, but it’s not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Apprentice, Flowers, Moon

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Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain

This book picks up shortly after Assistant to the Villain left off: Trystan has been captured by the nefarious King Benedict, and Evie & co. must find a way to rescue him. They then learn that the magic in their kingdom is fading, and it seems the solution is to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, an ancient piece of lore that most people view as a myth. As Trystan and Evie seek the elements they need to fulfill the prophecy – and avoid capture by Benedict’s army – they continue to fight their mutual attraction. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to read this book, since I thought the previous one was just okay. The main characters still feel like they belong in teen fanfiction, and their waffling over whether they can give into their feelings gave me constant emotional whiplash. I still found myself entertained enough that I will probably read the third book when it comes out…but I’m really hoping that will be the end of the series!

Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm

Christian Langland, the duke of Jervaulks, is a well-known rake and libertine—and also a mathematical prodigy writing a paper on non-Euclidean geometry with Quaker mathematician John Timms. John’s daughter, Maddy, despises Christian’s worldly ways; but when he suffers a brain injury and is confined to a lunatic asylum, she’s aghast at his treatment and becomes convinced of his sanity, despite his near inability to communicate. Maddy feels called to help Christian and is forced to take drastic measures when his family tries to have him declared legally incompetent. I read this book years ago but didn’t remember much about it, so I’m very happy to say I loved it this time around! Both Christian and Maddy are flawed yet appealing characters: He’s often stubborn and autocratic but slowly learning to be more patient, and she’s judgmental but also principled and courageous. The angst quotient is pretty high, which isn’t usually my preference in a romance novel, but in this case it genuinely worked for me. I definitely need to seek out more of Kinsale’s backlist!

Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon

This sequel to StarCrossed sees Digger back in her hometown of Gerse, where tensions are high due to civil war: King Bardolph and his anti-magic Inquisition on the one side, Prince Wierolf and a group of refugee magicians on the other. But Digger is concerned with a more personal problem: Her friend Durrell Decath has been arrested for the murder of his wife, but Digger knows he’s innocent. As she investigates to learn who really killed the woman, Digger also finds evidence of organized crime and human trafficking. This is an odd sequel in that book #1 was largely about the buildup to the civil war, but in this book the war is really just a backdrop for the murder mystery. I did enjoy the plot and the writing style, but I wanted more continuity between the books. Frustratingly, the author clearly intended to write more in the series – this book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger – but more than 10 years later, she hasn’t come out with book #3, so I think this is all we get. Overall, the series had a lot of potential but never really fulfilled it, for me.

Mini-Reviews: Sorceress, 84, Duchess, Gathering

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T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call

Cordelia has always feared her mother, Evangeline, who has the power to take over Cordelia’s body and manipulate it like a puppet. They live an isolated life in a small village, but Evangeline wants to marry a wealthy man and soon sets her sights on a nearby squire. When they move into the squire’s home, his sister, Hester, immediately senses something wrong about Evangeline and tries to help the terrified Cordelia. But Evangeline’s dark powers soon threaten Hester and everyone she holds dear. This is another absolutely outstanding novel by Kingfisher – sort of her take on a Regency romance, but with a dark fantasy edge. Evangeline’s abuse of Cordelia is terrible to read, and there are a few scenes that veer into straight-up horror. But Hester and Cordelia, the two viewpoint characters, are wonderful, and I also adored Hester’s friends and love interest. So for me, there was enough light and humor to balance out the dark stuff, and I can’t recommend this novel highly enough!

Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street

American writer Helene Hanff first writes to the British bookstore Marks & Co. in 1949, sending a wishlist of books she can’t find closer to home. Frank Doel, one of the store’s employees, promises to hunt for her requests. The ensuing correspondence, collected in 84, Charing Cross Road, reflects a friendship spanning two decades, as Helene and Frank discuss their work lives, their families and friends, and the books they love. In 1971, Helene finally travels to England and meets Frank’s wife (Frank himself had sadly died by that time), recounting her adventures in The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. These books are perfect little gems for literature lovers, funny and bighearted and brimming with goodwill. They also provide a snapshot of the late 20th century, from postwar rationing (Helene has meat and eggs sent to her British friends) to the popularity of the Beatles (Frank “rather likes” them – “if only their fans didn’t scream so”). I will definitely revisit these books whenever I need to feel some joy or restore my faith in humanity!

V.E. Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows

***Warning: SPOILERS for A Darker Shade of Magic***

Four months after Red London was nearly destroyed, Kell is angry and restless. To save Rhy’s life, he tied it to his own, but now anytime Kell is hurt, Rhy feels it in his body – and vice versa. Rhy also resents this bond and feels guilty for living on borrowed time. Meanwhile, Lila has achieved her ambition of sailing on a pirate ship but doesn’t trust her newfound happiness. When her ship returns to Red London for a magical tournament, the stage is set for dramatic meetings – and an unexpected threat from White London. I must confess, I found this book something of a slog. Nothing actually happens to move the plot forward until well over halfway through. I still like the main characters, including Lila’s captain, Alucard Emery, and I appreciated Rhy’s development. But I wanted more of Kell and Lila actually interacting with each other! Unfortunately, I think this book makes the common “book 2 of a trilogy” mistake – it’s basically just a setup for book 3. Not sure I’ll be keeping this series on my shelves, honestly.

Mini-Reviews: Like, Gentleman, Aristocrat

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Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Mini-Reviews: Dance, Star, Strange

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Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance

In high school, Shiloh and Cary were inseparable—best friends who knew they were destined to be in each other’s lives forever. But 14 years later, they’ve completely lost touch. Shiloh has been married and divorced, and now she and her two young children live in her childhood home with her mother. Meanwhile, Cary joined the Navy and hardly ever comes home. But when they both attend their good friend Mikey’s wedding, they get a chance to figure out what went wrong between them and possibly build a future together. I’ve long been a Rainbow Rowell fan and was delighted to discover she’d come out with another adult romance, so I snapped up the hardcover immediately. Overall I liked it a lot; she’s such a good writer, and she does a great job of depicting complex emotions in a relatable, realistic way. There’s not much of a plot, nor is there as much humor and joy as in my favorite of her books (Attachments), but I’d still highly recommend this one to fans of contemporary romance.

Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed

Digger is a street thief in a country that’s being unjustly oppressed by both the king and his fanatical Inquisition/secret police. She has no interest in politics – she’s just trying to stay alive and not get caught – but after a job gone wrong, she falls in with a group of young nobles and becomes a lady-in-waiting to one of them. At her employer’s mountain castle, Digger is blackmailed into spying on the castle’s owners and their guests, who are concealing many secrets that could have ramifications throughout the kingdom. I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, which combines a streetwise, fish-out-of-water heroine with some solid political intrigue. It’s well written, with several twists and turns of the plot to keep things interesting. While the book has a reasonably solid ending, there’s plenty of room for a sequel, which I’m excited to read next month!

Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World

The decline in traditional religiosity in America over the past several decades is well known, but along with this decline has come a surge in Americans who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” or as religiously unaffiliated. Burton’s thesis is that many contemporary Americans do still acknowledge a spiritual component to their lives; they just look for it in places other than traditional religious institutions. She discusses several ways in which contemporary Americans pursue spiritual fulfillment, including fandom, wellness culture, witchcraft, and political activism. I find Burton’s central thesis compelling and her examples incredibly entertaining – once you start to look for the oddly spiritual language in modern marketing, you can’t unsee it! The book does feel a bit dated now; it was published in 2020, and much of the data is from the mid-2010s. Still, I’d recommend the book to those interested in the subject, and I plan to read Burton’s next book, Self Made, at some point.

Mini-Reviews: Frederica, Crusade, Perils

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Georgette Heyer, Frederica

The Marquis of Alverstoke is rich, influential, and sought-after in London society, but he’s also jaded and quickly grows bored with most people. That changes, however, when he meets the Merrivilles, distant family connections who have just moved to London. Frederica, the eldest, wants her beautiful younger sister to have a Season so that she can make an advantageous marriage, and she asks Alverstoke for help. Somewhat to his own surprise, he agrees – and soon finds himself invested in the welfare of all the Merrivilles, but perhaps Frederica most of all. This is such an enjoyable Heyer novel, with schoolboys Jessamy and (especially) Felix Merriville stealing every scene they’re in! I also love how the romance between Frederica and Alverstoke develops; they become good friends first, and they often find common ground as the only two rational adults in the room. I’m glad I revisited this one – it’s always a treat to immerse myself in Heyer’s Regency world!

Poul Anderson, The High Crusade

This is a “first contact” story with an unexpected twist: The aliens come to Earth, expecting to conquer it with minimal trouble, as they’ve done with many other planets. But it’s the Year of Our Lord 1345, and when the spaceship opens, it’s immediately stormed and overrun by Sir Roger de Tourneville and his band of merry Englishmen. They plan to use the ship to invade France, and then perhaps take it on crusade to the Holy Land. But a treacherous alien survivor takes them into outer space instead, where they encounter strange planets, hostile aliens, and baffling new technologies. I really enjoyed this book, which is written in the style of a medieval chronicle. The narrator, Brother Parvus, is earnest, religious, and sincere in his belief that despite the aliens’ superior knowledge and technology, they’re no match for true God-fearing Englishmen. The book is full of adventure and humor, with creative battle sequences and even a love story. I’d definitely recommend this one if the premise appeals to you!

Claudia Gray, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney—now known in their social circles as talented amateur investigators—receive a summons to Rosings, where Lady Catherine de Bourgh has recently endured several attempts on her life. She orders them to find the person responsible, but the only possible suspects seem to be family and close friends—Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne; her son-in-law, Colonel Fitzwilliam; her neighbors, the Collinses; or the servants, who have been with the family for many years. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Juliet have developed strong feelings for one another, but each is convinced the other doesn’t reciprocate. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, which does a good job of imagining the continuing lives of Austen’s characters. I liked the decision to pair Anne with Colonel Fitzwilliam and was interested in their relationship. I also really enjoyed the side plot of the antagonism between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Henry Tilney—both great guys, but I can see how they’d rub each other the wrong way at first! Recommended for fans of Austen-inspired mysteries, but start with book 1, The Murder of Mr. Wickham.