Review: The Hidden City by Charles Finch

The Hidden City (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #12)

by Charles Finch

Release Date: September 6, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Softcover ARC; 288 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250767165

ASIN: B0B9KW8YQZ

Audiobook: B0BJLBQ68Z

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. 

At the same time, Lenox must contend with the complexities of his personal life: a surprising tension with his steadfast wife, Lady Jane, over her public support of the early movement for women's suffrage; the arrival of Angela Lenox, a mysterious young cousin from India, with an unexpected companion; and the dizzying ascent of his brother, Sir Edmund Lenox, to one of the highest political posts in the land. 

 

My Thoughts

The Hidden City is one of those book to which I was looking forward because of the events in the previous book and how it ended.  I was curious as to his convalescence as well as the repercussions to the events in the United States. However, while I found the historical details to be captivating and the character development continues to be  top notch, the mystery itself was lacklustre and quite frankly, boring. 

 

What did I like about this book? Everything except for the mystery. Lenox' cousin show up from India and add a complexity to the story that I really enjoyed and highlighted more of the women's issues that were plaguing England during this time period.  This worked well with the secondary story line of Lenox' wife who has taken an interest in the suffrage movement with Lenox unsure how to support her in her cause and unsure of the backlash an earl's daughter could receive with such doings.  There are things going on in Lenox' world that I absolutely loved, but then I am a history nerd and lap up that stuff. Tell me about the food, what everyone is wearing, the disdainful looks when someone does something inappropriate, yes, bring it on.  These things with friends are the highlight of the book and I really enjoyed the interactions with family and friends.  

 

While all of the above were great, the mystery itself was...boring.  And definitely not up to the usual intensity we have seen in previous books.  And that's a shame as I thought the villain was actually worthy of a good mystery.  And yes, I was totally sympathetic towards the villain and their situation, but a little more tension, a little more mystery, a little more investigation would have made this more interesting. I did enjoy the peek into early medicine via apothecaries and how even then they mixed improper things into their medicines because of a lack of ingredients. As well as the peek into making illegal ingredients. But that didn't make up for a meandering mystery that was actually quite slow.

 

Verdict

The Hidden City is a well-written book and I definitely enjoyed the attention to the historical details and the world the author brought to life. The character development is always very good. However, the mystery meandered all over the place and dragged quite a bit and had, I will admit, a bit of an unsatisfactory conclusion.  What does that mean for me in terms of continuing the series? This author is great at making you feel immersed in the time period, and for that, I will definitely read the next book in the series, Midnight in the House of Commons, which I already received as an ARC. 

 

Review: Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

Death at a Highland Wedding (A Rip Through Time, #4)

by Kelley Armstrong

Release Date: May 20, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Softcover Edition; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250321312

ASIN: B0D89278JQ

Audiobook: B0DG99K68D

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.

 

My Thoughts

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth book in the Rip Through Time series and while I had some issues with the third book in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest addition to Mallory's story.  Mallory continues to embrace her role as assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray and is learning a lot more about the time period in which she has now decided will remain her home.  I enjoyed learning more about Hugh McCreadie, his past, and his family, and thought the mystery was quite interesting.  

 

The author continues to explore the lives of the characters in these books and in this one we learn a lot more about Hugh McCreadie, his sister Fiona as well as about his former relationship with his ex-fiancee Violet.  I thought the author did a great job bringing women's roles to the forefront during this time period  as well as the difficulties they faced through both Violet and Fiona, women bound by their status who fought to be more independent but are stifled by societal rules and what is expected of them. We also tend to see this a lot through Isla, but it is definitely more apparent in this book, especially with Violet and I felt so much empathy for this character. Mallory herself is a character that is full of depth and complexity and we see this through her relationship with Duncan as well as with Isla, but with the addition of Fiona and Violet, we got to see how these women can manipulate and use what they have to their advantage as well and I found this aspect to be quite interesting.  The way they voice their opinions is true dialogue gold. 

 

The plot itself was interesting, and there were quite a few twists and turns, some of which caught me off guard.  It certainly went in a darker direction than I thought it would, and this was an area I thought the author could have explored a bit more. While there are certainly hints that Isla's former marriage was abusive, it is just hints and not really discussed, but this book brings out that aspect of her marriage and hints at the much darker side of a woman's plight when things go badly wrong and there is nobody to protect them.  The author's writing style in these books is very fluid, and while the pace doesn't quite move along as quickly as in previous books, there is a reason for that and it works very well.  I was still captivated by the story line as well as the darker themes of this book.  

 

Verdict

Death at a Highland Wedding certainly went in a direction I wasn't expecting, but the overall tension was good and the character development continues to be top notch.  There is certainly a lot to explore in this book with regards to thematic elements, everything from women's roles and rights, sexual abuse, societal expectations, marriage, loyalty, honesty, deceit, betrayal, secrets, and so much more.  I enjoyed the world-building and admire Mallory's ability to keep quiet about the future and what she knows as I don't know if I could. Looking forward to reading the next installment of this series, An Ordinary Sort of Evil, which releases in May.  

 

Review: The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor (The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire, Book 2)

by Syrie James 

Release Date: June 28, 2025

2025 Independently Published 

Ebook ARC; 382 Pages

ISBN: 979- 8288628207

ASIN: B0DWHMYCVY

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the grand and storied Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a new beginning. But the estate’s dark past quickly resurfaces when a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances—and whispers stir of a murder committed nine years earlier, a crime for which Ian Vernon’s sister was convicted.

Athena believes the two cases are connected. Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, insists she’s wrong—and warns her to leave the past buried. But Athena is as fearless as she is determined, and her investigation brings her into close quarters with the man who should be her adversary… yet soon proves to be something much more.

As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena finds herself in terrifying danger, caught between the pursuit of justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.

 

My Thoughts

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is the second book in this series, and I very much enjoyed the continuing story of the Taylor sisters. The book has a great gothic vibe to it, something that drew me to it in the first place, set on an estate with abundant mysteries and secrets from the past, and also comes with former brooding owner who naturally takes center stage in Athena's life.  The current mystery connects with the older one in an intriguing manner, and the twists and turns were quite interesting. 

 

Athena and Selena have opened up a school for girls, but naturally things are difficult from the beginning due to the rumours surrounding the estate from it past history as well as the currently murder being investigated. The focus on this book is Athena and I quite enjoyed getting to know her better. Athena is a determined and relentless woman who decides to take matters into her own hands when the current investigation starts affecting enrollment at her school.  And while she could be a bit reckless at times and perhaps a bit too bold, I liked her character. However, being bold and asking too many questions also landed her in a heap of trouble.  But, the situations were believable, not contrived just to push along the story, something that I liked. 

 

The secondary characters, including Selena, were quite diverse and many had secrets of their own of which only some have come to light in this book so I am looking forward to the next book to see what is revealed. This doesn't affect this story in any way however, just makes you understand the depth to a village and how much a little one can hide.  The closed door romance between Athena and Ian was delightful and didn't impact the overall story at all. Sometimes the romance can overpower the mystery, but I thought the author did a great job balancing the two, keeping the tension of the mystery going even with the little personal touches and day-to-day goings on. I did figure out the culprit very early on in the story, but still enjoyed the way the author tried to confuse the reader through the twists and turns. The plot moved rather quickly and the overall setting was quite atmospheric with hints of ghosts and other happenings all leading to a very satisfying conclusion.

 

Verdict

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor was a delight to read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The plot moved rather quickly and I enjoyed the way the author incorporated the gothic tones into the story which added to the tension and the atmosphere.  You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but it does add to the sister dynamic if you do. I am definitely looking forward to Selena's story in the next book.  

 

 

 

Review: One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver

One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell, #5)

by Ashley Weaver

Release Date: June 3, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook Edition; 304 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250350930

ASIN: B0D82XB6PF

Audiobook: B0DT7JX6LP

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Ellie McDonnell is about to embark on her most perilous mission go to Lisbon, Portugal to save her beloved cousin Toby who has reportedly escaped from a German prisoner of war camp. Toby has been missing since the Battle of Dunkirk and Ellie had all but lost hope in ever seeing him again until Major Ramsey, the British military intelligence officer she had been working closely with over the past few months, shared the news he’d intercepted.

Nothing will stop Ellie from finding her cousin, not even the awkward experience of having to travel to an unknown country with Ramsey after he’d dismissed her for being untrustworthy just as she’d realized she had fallen in love with him. Under the supervision of Captain Archie Blandings, a charming intelligence officer based in Lisbon, Ellie meets with undercover operatives to track down where Toby might be hiding from the Nazis and whether they are too late to safely recover him, all the while fighting her feelings for Ramsey and the incessant burden of war looming around her at every turn.

 

My Thoughts

One Final Turn is the final book in the Electra McDonnell mystery books and is one that I was really looking forward to reading. Unfortunately, it was the weakest book in the series for me, and aside from some really nice sight-seeing while they were in Lisbon, there was little to no mystery all wrapped up in the ongoing relationship issues she had with Ramsey.  

 

So, let's start with Electra. I may be against consensus here, but I actually thought she was in the wrong with the way she behaved in the previous book and needed to take responsibility for her actions. I was hoping for a more mature Electra, one that would realize she put people in danger, one that would understand she was fired due to her own actions.  But, no. I think the author wants us to feel sorry for Electra, to feel bad for how she was treated and I just can't do that. They are in the middle of a war and people's lives hang in the balance through choices made by others and it is hard to just let that go. Personally, I am pro-Ramsey all the way and would have just walked away as well.  When they do get together in Lisbon, Electra acts all indignant and hurt around Ramsey, very rarely acknowledging her role in what happened. And even with all that happens next, she never really acknowledges her part in what happened. 

 

The plot itself was rather weak, but then most of it seemed to revolved around Electra's issues with Ramsey anyways. I got tired of the repetitiveness and the sight-seeing and wanted to see some action. It was why they were there after all. But nope, it just kept going and going. And when something did happen, the plot holes were a mile wide. And don't even get me started on the whole relationship contrivance thing with regards to marriage and Archie and Ramsey.  And in the end, when things finally started moving, it all was rather too pat, but I did get closure in the end even if it didn't get there smoothly or elegantly.

 

Verdict

One Final Turn was not my favourite book in the series as I had issues with the lack of character development as well as plot development.  There were just too many coincidences used as plot devices for my liking, and I was really starting to dislike Electra as she was getting on my nerves with her immaturity. Overall, this book leans way too much into the romance which seriously affects the mystery and the tension. And while a lot of things wrap up nicely, it was due to contrivance and not good plot flow that it happened, something of which I am not a fan. And an aside, the big mystery to her past had only a brief mention, something in which I was disappointed as I was waiting four books to find out what happened. 

 

Review: Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor

Die Around Sundown (Inspector Henri Lefort, Book #1)

by Mark Pryor

Release Date: August 16, 2022

2022 Minotaur Books

Kindle Edition; 320 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250824820

ASIN: B09CNFG195

Audiobook: B0B5FMHJQB

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Summer 1940: In German-occupied Paris, Inspector Henri Lefort has been given just five days to solve the murder of a German major that took place in the Louvre Museum. Blocked from the crime scene but given a list of suspects, Henri encounters a group of artists, including Pablo Picasso, who know more than they're willing to share.

With the clock ticking, Henri must uncover a web of lies while overcoming impossible odds to save his own life and prove his loyalty to his country. Will he rise to the task or become another tragic story of a tragic time?

 

 

My Thoughts

Die Around Sundown is the first book in a new series by this author.  While I did find the overall story enjoyable with two separate mysteries to unravel, I found I was not as engaged in the story as I thought I would be.  That being said, this is the first book where the author is setting the scene, the characters, the atmosphere, and so on, and I do think there is a lot of potential here for some really interesting story lines to develop.  

 

First of all, I did find the main character to be quite engaging. Detective Henri Lefort is an interesting character, a wise-cracking older detective who served in WW1 and struggles with shell shock. Angry at the German invasion into his city and the subsequent subjugation of the French people, Lefort has to temper his prejudices and learn to deal with the Germans and their growing crackdown on his people. Although the author doesn't directly state he has shell shock, Lefort has trouble dealing with everyday loud sounds so the reader understands what is happening without it being discussed.  Personally, I like how his quirks were introduced as part of his personality and the reader slowly gains an understanding of his past through learning about those 'quirks' and realizing how serious they really are. The more I learned, the more I developed empathy for him.  

 

The rest of the characters were nicely developed as well and I look forward to learning more about them in subsequent books.  I particularly enjoyed Mimi Bonaparte, a descendant of Napoleon; she was known for her interest in psychology, a new and somewhat scary field during this time period, a study which women were not really encouraged to pursue so I was fascinated by the scenes in which she was involved.  I do know a bit about her background so I am really curious as to how the author will use her in future books.

 

The plot itself was somewhat predictable, especially the second one involving Lefort.  I did find it interesting however, even if I figured it out quite early on.  I wondered how the author was going to conclude the situation and I wasn't disappointed. There was one clue that I missed completely so I was a bit gobsmacked at learning that truth, something I appreciated.  It's always nice when you don't see a twist coming your way even thought the signs were there. 

 

I felt like the author did a really good job at describing the tense atmosphere during this time period.  Lefort is quite a complex character, but I did feel like the Germans were much more one-dimensional stereotypical characters with little depth to them. I hope as the series progresses, the author does pay more attention to all of the characters as it will definitely enrich the overall story.  I also thought the pacing of the story was somewhat uneven where the tension was quite high, but then it was broken completely by the other mystery.  While I did enjoy the two mysteries, I did feel like they interfered with each other and created the uneven feel to the book; it did affect the tension and the overall fel of the story.  

 

Verdict

Die Around Sundown was a solid start to a new series.  I liked the fact the story is told from the point of view of the French police during this time period and I am looking forward to some real conflict as the war continues and sides need to be taken as they didn't have an easy time during the Occupation.  This was a quick read and I do think readers will appreciate the insights into life at the beginning of the Occupation and the start of the Resistance.  The mystery itself was a standard mystery, a bit predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless.  I am interested in seeing what is in story for Henri in the next book, The Dark Edge of Night.

 

Review: When Blood Lies by C.S. Harris

When Blood Lies (Sebastian St. Cyr, Book #17)

by C.S. Harris

Release Date: April 5, 2022

2022 Berkley

Kindle Edition; 355 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593102695

ASIN: B098PWYHZR

Audiobook: B09JY66TTC

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary

March, 1815. The Bourbon King Louis XVIII has been restored to the throne of France, Napoleon is in exile on the isle of Elba, and Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and his wife, Hero, have traveled to Paris in hopes of tracing his long-lost mother, Sophie, the errant Countess of Hendon. But his search ends in tragedy when he comes upon the dying Countess in the wasteland at the tip of the Île de la Cité. Stabbed—apparently with a stiletto—and thrown from the bastions of the island’s ancient stone bridge, Sophie dies without naming her murderer.

Sophie had been living in Paris under an assumed name as the mistress of Maréchal Alexandre McClellan, the scion of a noble Scottish Jacobite family that took refuge in France after the Forty-Five Rebellion. Once one of Napoleon’s most trusted and successful generals, McClellan has now sworn allegiance to the Bourbons and is serving in the delegation negotiating on behalf of France at the Congress of Vienna. It doesn’t take Sebastian long to realize that the French authorities have no interest in involving themselves in the murder of a notorious Englishwoman at such a delicate time. And so, grieving and shattered by his mother’s death, Sebastian takes it upon himself to hunt down her killer. But what he learns will not only shock him but could upend a hard-won world peace.

 

My Thoughts

When Blood Lies is the next book in the long-running Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. This one resolves a long-running subplot, the search for Sebastian's mother, and the journey takes us to Paris after the fall of Napoleon.  I have always enjoyed these books for the rich historical details, and this one is no exception.  The books are always well-written, full of extensive research, but is there a point where the research overshadows the mystery? Absolutely, and this is exactly what has been happening with the latest books in this series, of which this one falls victim as well. 

Having a history background, I love the historical information, but there really is a point where too much is really too much.  There was just some information thrown in that was not necessary to the plot and actually bogged it down.  Fine for a historical novel, but not so good when reading a mystery novel that depends on a certain level of tension and ruins the emotional moments of the plot.  

Overall, the plot wasn't horrible, but I was incredibly disappointed with the death of Sebastian's mother simply because so many previous books had this subplot leading to their reunion and this is not how I imagined it would go down.  And while trying to work out the mystery, something that was not too difficult if you have any understanding of French history during this time period, I was fervently hoping it wouldn't go down the road that it did, but unfortunately, it did.  I was fervently hoping for something a little bit different, something less global. And to be honest, I get tired of Jarvis showing up everywhere as I don't think it's necessary.  And Sebastian and Hero's investigations are sort of repetitive to previous books.  He investigates while constantly being told not to intervene and ruffles some feathers, and naturally, at some point, he will be attacked. Hero will interview the destitute and magically come across some tidbit of information that will give a huge clue to solving the case, and Jarvis will threaten everyone if they continue investigating.  Same old, same old.  And now we are left with another mystery, details surrounding Sebastian's actual father.

Verdict

When Blood Lies was a bit of a disappointment, but I have been too invested in Sebastian's story to give up at this point.  I would have liked a different solution for his reunion with his mother as I felt the mystery in this one was rather weak and rambling, solely to incorporate the historical events of the time into the book.  I also feel that a mystery that has had fans involved for sixteen books also deserved a much better reward than the one given in this book.  I did like the historical details sketched out in this book as it showed the extensive research by the author, but they did overshadow the mystery and made any attempt to develop empathy for the characters difficult.  And now we are left with another mystery, Sebastian's actual father. Who exactly is this man?

 

Review: The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss

The Ghosts of Paris (Billie Walker Mystery, Book #2)

by Tara Moss

Release Date: June 7, 2022

2022 Dutton

Kindle Edition; 384 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593182680

ASIN: B09GN6W1B8

Audiobook: B09HSQNZKV

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.75 / 5 Stars

Summary

It's 1947. The world continues to grapple with the fallout of the Second World War, and former war reporter Billie Walker is finding her feet as an investigator. When a wealthy client hires Billie and her assistant Sam to track down her missing husband, the trail leads Billie back to London and Paris, where Billie's own painful memories also lurk.

As Billie's search for her client's husband takes her to both the swanky bars at Paris's famous Ritz hotel and to the dank basements of the infamous Paris morgue, she'll need to keep her gun at the ready, because something even more terrible than a few painful memories might be following her around the city of lights . . .

 

My Thoughts

The Ghosts of Paris is the second book in the Billie Walker Mystery series, and I enjoyed it quite a bit and had no trouble following along even though I have no yet read the first book in this series.  It did take quite a while for things to get moving, but when it did pick up, there was plenty to keep you engaged and interested.  I am always fascinated by the time period after the war as people try to rebuild their lives and deal with the actions and betrayals of the war, so I found this book, with all of its secrets, to be engrossing.  It's a bit lighter than the typical spy novel, but it was a lot of fun to read nonetheless.

 

I enjoyed Billie as a main character and liked her spunk as she dealt with the attitudes towards females and female independence during this time period.  A lot of women really came into their own during WWII and achieved so many things, things that were difficult to let go when the war ended and the men returned expecting them to resume the rules and regulations that existed before the war.  Watching Billie explore this new world, trying to deal with those older viewpoints, comments, and expectations, was frustrating and you get an idea of what is was like for women during this time period.  The author really captured the atmosphere and it was evident she did a lot of research to be able to share the feelings as well as the frustrations with the reader through dialogue as well as actions. The descriptions of the clothing, the food, the buildings, that airplane ride, the beliefs, etc... really enhanced the overall reading experience and I enjoyed it tremendously.

I did enjoy this writer's writing style and thought her descriptions were wonderful, but I did think the story had moments where it dragged and was repetitive.  I understand the author was trying to introduce characters and set-up different story lines as well as remind the reader of previous story lines that were incomplete from the previous book, something I did appreciate, but I did have to push through as I wondered when the actual story was going to start.  When it did, it was quite explosive and very interesting.  However, the ending was abrupt and a bit unsatisfactory.  I did learn quite a bit about the LGBTQ community that existed during this time period, both in France as well as Australia, and I appreciated learning more about some of the laws that existed if one were caught; the author did a great job highlighting the homophobia that existed as well.  

Verdict

The Ghosts of Paris deals with some fascinating issues of the time period, and I appreciated the research the author put into including those details into the story.  I really enjoyed the characters and for the most part, the story lines were interesting; the abrupt ending of one of them left me feeling a bit unsatisfied, and I am still not sure what I think about the other one as I felt it was contrived simply to make room for a relationship for Billie which didn't quite sit well with me.  Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting story set after WWII.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Winspear

A Sunlit Weapon (Maisie Dobbs, Book #17)

by Jacqueline Winspear

Release Date: March 22, 2022

2022 Harper

Kindle Edition; 358 Pages

ISBN: 978-0063142268

ASIN:B097RN7JZB

Audiobook: B09HL42Y5B

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

October 1942. Jo Hardy, a 22-year-old ferry pilot, is delivering a Supermarine Spitfire--the fastest fighter aircraft in the world--to Biggin Hill Aerodrome, when she realizes someone is shooting at her aircraft from the ground. Returning to the location on foot, she finds an American serviceman in a barn, bound and gagged. 

 

At the suggestion of one of her colleagues, Jo seeks the help of psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs. Meanwhile, Maisie's husband, a high-ranking political attachée based at the American embassy, is in the thick of ensuring security is tight for the first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, during her visit to the Britain. There's already evidence that German agents have been circling: the wife of a president represents a high value target. Mrs. Roosevelt is clearly in danger, and there may well be a direct connection to the death of the woman ferry pilot and the recent activities of two American servicemen.

My Thoughts

A Sunlit Weapon is the next instalment of the long-running Maisie Dobbs series, and because it seemed to focus on women pilots, I was really hoping for the magic of the earlier books and some interesting details into the historical details and political issues that existed for the women who risked their lives, sometimes facing some serious family fallout, in order to follow their dreams.  After all, they were the first women who were close to achieving pay equity and even though they didn't necessarily fly combat missions at this point, they were able to fly all sorts of different planes in some dangerous situations.  However, the overall story got bogged down by a convoluted plot, repetitive actions, and some rather unbelievable coincidences.  

I am one of those people who would have preferred Maisie to have remained unmarried.  While I like Mark, I am not a fan of the relationship as it just seems forced and it always seems like there has to be some aspect of Mark's job involved in the plot.  Personally, I really enjoyed the plot with the women pilots and I think the book would have been just fine if it had simply focused on that mystery; however, now we have the added bonus of Eleanor Roosevelt's visit with all of the shenanigans revolving around that as well as Anna's bullying at school.  While I can handle convoluted plots, too much can bog down a book, which this does.  It also takes away from the importance of the women pilots and their job, something with which I was not happy as I wanted to learn more about them. I felt like the author was downplaying their roles, and while I don't think it was intentional, it certainly felt that way, just to include Mark.  Why is it so wrong to put Mark on the back-burner and just highlight Maisie's activities? After all, we did just fine for many books without him.  It also seems to take away from the importance of Maisie's job, and her constant reassurances that she will look after her own safety gets repetitive after a while.  

My favourite character has always been Billy, and I would like to see him developed even more.  I was happy to see him promoted, but not necessarily happy by how it was done.  Although there is no doubt Maisie cares for him and is worried about him, the cavalier way she makes decisions for him rather turns me off. What happened to discussing important things like adults? With negotiations involved?

And the bullying and racism in the story? I was quite happy to see that included as it was an important aspect of WWII, but I am not sure I liked the way the author went about doing it in this story, through Anna's difficulties in school.  I am not opposed to the bullying itself as that definitely happened, but Maisie's confrontation with the headmistress kind of turned me off as it just seemed unrealistic.  Creating drama just for drama's sake. However, I thought the discussions about racism within the American military stationed in Great Britain were quite informative, and although they didn't go into as much detail as I would have liked, highlighted some social aspects of the war that are not necessarily discussed. 

Verdict

A Sunlit Weapon had the potential to reach the level of mystery and suspense of earlier books, but the focus on too many convoluted plot threads ruined that with too many unbelievable coincidences and a lack of focus on any particularly aspect or theme.  This idea that Mark's job needs to be included in every book is a turnoff for me as I would like the mystery to be on Maisie and her investigations which would have meant more effort and energy developing the women pilot story line, something that would have been extremely fascinating and would have highlighted a fascinating piece of history.  Unfortunately, adding Mark to the story line has not strengthened this series.  I do like this author's writing style and would like to see her develop the social prejudice story lines in future books, but without all the added drama, just tell the story.  Overall, the author's historical research is really good and the writing style is interesting, but the mystery was weak. It was still an overall interesting read.

 

 

Review: A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber

A Perilous Perspective (Lady Darby Mysteries, Book #10)

by Anna Lee Huber

Release Date: April 19, 2022

2022 Berkley

Kindle & Audiobook Editions; 387 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593198469

ASIN:B098PWRX1V

Audiobook: B09V6YY21K

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4.25 / 5 Stars

Summary

Argyll, Scotland. July 1832. After a trying few months in Edinburgh, Kiera and her husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, are eager to escape to the Highlands with their three-month-old child.

But when Kiera is invited to peruse Barbreck’s extensive art collection, she is disturbed to discover that one of his most priceless paintings seems to be a forgery.

Matters turn more ominous when a maid from a neighboring estate is found murdered where the forged painting hangs. Is her death connected to the forgeries, perhaps a grisly warning of what awaits those who dare to probe deeper? 

 

My thoughts

A Perilous Perspective is the next entry in the Lady Darby Mystery series, and I am always excited when I learn a new book is about to be released as I have enjoyed every book. Following Kiera's journey throughout the years has been an absolute delight, and this book continues to amaze with strong character development and an interesting mystery.

 

The relationship between Kiera and Gage continues to develop in this book, and I love the addition of Emma, their daughter, as it certainly adds a new dimension to both their personal and working relationship.  As inquiry agents, they have often put themselves in danger more than once, but with Emma now in the picture, I enjoyed the discussions about the risks that that entailed.  Kiera still wants to investigate, but now has to think about more than just herself; it certainly puts a new perspective on things and I enjoyed the discussions around that topic.  The author definitely managed to convey the feelings a new mother would feel about her child as well as the anxiety and fear that makes one think twice about one's actions.  

 

The author definitely pays attention to character development without sacrificing plot development so I was happy to learn a lot more about Kiera's mother in this book.  Her story was worked into the plot quite well, even if it left Kiera quite unsettled, adding an extra layer of depth to Kiera's past..  Children always tend to view their parents in a certain light so I always like it when an author can twist all of that and reveal parents as flawed, who make mistakes, who love deeply, and are maybe sometimes quite different than who they thought they were.  I actually find it fascinating, and can admire an author who can do that well, with compassion and understanding, as characters struggle to see people in a new way.

The plot was quite interesting, and considering this is book ten, you would think the author would be running out of ideas, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Focusing on Kiera's knowledge of art and the way her education would be viewed by others during this time period was quite fascinating, with constant criticism from others who doubt a woman would have such knowledge.  And when there is a murder in the house, Kiera again has to use her medical knowledge to try to help.  While it's not blatant, the author is quite good at showing subtle skepticism which is one of the reasons I love her books as it makes you think about the time period and how women were perceived.  The investigation itself was quite methodical, which I enjoyed, but it's the characters that really make this book interesting.

Verdict

A Perilous Perspective is a great addition to the Lady Darby Mystery series.  With an interesting, methodical investigation and a host of fascinating characters, plus a setting that I loved, this book had everything I come to expect from this series.  There were new revelations about Kiera's past as well as a new daughter to enjoy, and everything linked together nicely to a satisfying conclusion.  However, the whirlwind ending did set up the next book, A Fatal Illusion (April 1st, 2023), for some interesting twists and turns to come, and I can't wait.

 

Review: An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn

An Impossible Impostor (Veronica Speedwell, Book #7)

by Deanna Raybourn

Release Date: February 15, 2022

2022 Berkley Books

Kindle Edition; 325 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593197295

ASIN: B0951KW1VB

Audiobook: B097CD2SH4

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

4.25 / 5 Stars

Summary

London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before.

Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good.

 

My Thoughts

An Impossible Impostor is the next entry in the Veronica Speedwell books, and I have to say, I was quite happy to say it was an improvement from the previous two instalments in this series. Maybe it had something to do with the setting as I tend to be a sucker for anything that has a Gothic feel to it, and this definitely had that in spades for the first half of the novel, but I also liked the tension between the two main characters as they navigated some interesting information from Veronica's past that was revealed.

 

First of all, I hadn't been a fan of Veronica's character development in several of the previous books as someone with her character would be chaffing at domesticity and longing for more opportunities to explore, despite her relationship with Stoker.  What I really liked about this book was the exploration of Veronica's feelings as she examined her relationship with Stoker and what that could possibly entail for her future.  And I enjoyed every little nuance, every moment of resistance she had as I felt that was truer to her character.  And when this big twist happened, which actually caught me off guard, I loved it as I thought, great, more complications for a relationship that should have some type of fire to it as their lives were so complicated.   Naturally, it did have a too-pat ending for my liking as I think it would have been fun to see that complication explored a bit more in future books, but you can't have everything. But exploring Veronica's past was a good move on the author's past as I do think it really added to her character development, rounded her out a lot more, added depth to her character.

I did feel like the author sort of neglected Stoker in this story, made him seem...petulant, it's the only word I can think of.  Although I did learn a lot about some creature called a thylacine?, the whole thing between Veronica and Stoker did feel forced, at times, and I wish the author had fleshed out their issues a bit more as their banter and dialogue is often fun to read, and you see how they appreciate each other's quirks, and that would have been a great way to add some depth to their relationship.  However, in the end, I enjoy these two together and readers know these two are meant to be together.

 

The mystery is a bit slow, but I appreciated the setting, the drama, and the set-up, and the author didn't lose sight of the mystery in the midst of a secondary drama between Stoker and Veronica, which was nice.  It did get a bit more complicated than I was expecting, but it was fun, and although I did think the ending was a bit pat, I enjoyed it.  

 

Verdict

An Impossible Impostor was a lot of fun, and finally, we get to learn a bit more about Veronica's past.  I thought the character development was really good and although I thought Stoker was more of a secondary character as the events focused on Veronica and how she handled the big reveal, it all worked out in the end.  This book brought back the magic of the first few books, and I am happy to recommend this to anybody who is a Veronica Speedwell fan.  If you are new to the series, while this could be read as a standalone, I don't recommend it as you will miss important information about the main characters and their relationship development. 

 

Review: Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose by T.A. Willberg

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose (Marion Lane, Book #2)

by T.A. Willberg

Release Date: February 1st, 2022

2022 Park Row

Kindle Edition; 304 Pages

ISBN: 978-0778311942

ASIN: B08ZSQK99R

Audiobook: B09K4KQKL6

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary

It's 1959 and a new killer haunts the streets of London, having baffled Scotland Yard. The newspapers call him The Florist because of the rose he brands on his victims. The police have turned yet again to the Inquirers at Miss Brickett's for assistance, and second-year Marion Lane is assigned the case.

But she's already dealing with a mystery of her own, having received an unsigned letter warning her that one of the three new recruits should not be trusted. She dismisses the letter at first, focusing on The Florist case, but her informer seems to be one step ahead, predicting what will happen before it does. But when a fellow second-year Inquirer is murdered, Marion takes matters into her own hands and must come face-to-face with her informer--who predicted the murder--to find out everything they know. 

 

My Thoughts

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose is the second book in this historical mystery series, and while I loved the world, the interesting gadgets and inventions, the secret tunnels, and everything else that smacks of secrecy, I did feel like something was missing from the story. Parts of it did drag considerably and does everything have to have a love triangle?  

Marion Lane was an interesting main character and I do feel like there is plenty of room to develop her character in future books considering she is still an apprentice and not a full-blown investigator. I like how the author creates issues between her and her friends as she is asked to investigate certain activities under secrecy; I personally think the issues don't go far enough and the author missed a golden opportunity to really explore how important trust is in such a profession and how it can erode a working relationship.  

While I enjoyed the overall story, I couldn't overlook the plot holes that existed throughout. The choppy writing style didn't help and as I had not read the first novel, I was paying close attention to relationships and characters, so I did notice some inconsistencies which could be confusing.  And while most of the action took place at Miss Brickett's, I only have vague notions as to what anyone actually does outside of the institution. Considering this is the Cold War, the whole institution seems a bit simplistic to me, and very mismanaged, and I really feel like all of them would actually be killed quite easily if they were involved in some actual missions.  

Verdict

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose is one of those books over which I had mixed feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, loved the idea of it, but felt it lacked in actual reality especially if you have any good knowledge of Cold War exploits. However, taking place in 1959 does give the author plenty of scope to develop Cold War intrigue and conspiracies and having a heroine who is not a full-fledged investigator also allows for character development, but the author has not yet taken advantage of this as of yet.  There was enough interesting aspects to the plot to keep my interest, but there were sections that were slow and needed some development. As always, I recommend you check this book out for yourself, but at this point, I am not sure if I will read the next book in the series.

 

Review: A Secret Never Told by Shelley Noble

A Secret Never Told (Lady Dunbridge Mystery, Book #4)

by Shelley Noble

Release Date: November 16, 2021

2021 Forge Books

Kindle Edition; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250750457

ASIN: B08PSNGTZF

Audiobook: B09J6HPHYD

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Fate obliges when Phil is called upon to host a dinner party in honor of a visiting Austrian psychologist whose revolutionary theories may be of interest to the War Department, not to mention various foreign powers, and who may have already survived one attempt on his life. The guest list includes a wealthy industrialist, various rival scientists and academics, a party hypnotist, a flamboyant party-crasher, and a damaged beauty whose cloudy psyche is lost in a world of its own. Before the night is out, one of the guests is dead with a bullet between the eyes and Phil finds herself with another mystery on her hands, even if it’s unclear who exactly the intended victim was meant to be.

Worse yet, the police’s prime suspect is a mystery man who Phil happens to be rather intimately acquainted with. Now it’s up to Lady Dunbridge, with the invaluable assistance of her intrepid butler and lady’s maid, to find the real culprit before the police nab the wrong one . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Secret Never Told is the next book in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series, and I think one of the reasons I keep reading this series is for the historical descriptions. This one featured some aspects of Coney Island as well as delving into the early fields of psychology, something that fascinated me.  

 

I am a huge fan of historical mysteries so I really loved the descriptions of the time period. Coney Island was hugely popular in the early 1900s so I was intrigued about it being used as a setting for a murder as it was chock full of those things; I didn't want to learn about the rides and the fun stuff, I wanted the underbelly, the wheelings and dealings of the criminal world.  And while the story definitely alluded to that, and the characters did come across some shady stuff, I really felt like all they did was touch upon it and didn't really delve into it.  

The author's writing style is great though, and has this way of drawing you into the story.  I definitely enjoyed her descriptions of the time period and thought the character development (from the first book) was good.  Phil, to be honest, is the most annoying of the characters, but her heart is in the right place and she wants to do well by her friends and her servants, whom she considers friends.  Personally, she drives me crazy. And I am not a fan of her relationship with Mr. X.  I don't know who this man is, but I have my suspicions; I don't have any objections to the teasing and flirting, etc...but I can't put my finger on why the whole thing makes me uneasy. Maybe it's because Phil also flirts with the detective and finds him attractive as well, and I have never been a fan of those love triangle things, not that this is what it is, but I am really hoping it doesn't go there.  That being said, I am fascinated by both Lily and Preswick, her servants, and their skill set, and know there is a story there to be told and am waiting patiently for the day it happens.  

I did enjoy the mystery and thought there were plenty of twists and turns; however, it was kind of easy to figure out if you paid attention.  I am not a psychology major, but I did have to take a few classes in uni and I was always fascinated by the development of the field so I found the arguments between the various characters, who were split into various fields and followers, quite interesting.  I also know it was very political, especially considering the state of world politics during this time period as various countries were building their military forces and looking at many different things to augment them.  I was a bit disappointed that we didn't discover more about the reasons why Phil's boss wanted her involved, but I guess that will be revealed in future books.  The lack of knowledge about the War Department's involvement is starting to get on my nerves though.  And this is where I do have knowledge, considering the time period, as we head into WWI. I want to know more about the political stuff, about Mr. X., and about the War Department. 

 

Verdict

A Secret Never Told was a quick and fun read, chock full of interesting facts about Coney Island and the development of psychology in the early 1900s.  I thought the author had a great writing style and I found her characters interesting, but I am not a huge fan of the main character and some of the things do require some suspension of belief.  I am intrigued by Mr. X and the War Department's involvement and look forward to learning more about them in future books.  Recommend if you are looking for a fun historical mystery series.  

 

Review: The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear

The Consequences of Fear (Maisie Dobbs, Book #16)

by Jacqueline Winspear

Release Date: March 23, 2021

2021 Harper

Kindle Edition; 352 Pages

ISBN: 978-0062868022

ASIN: B08BLLQDZF

Audiobook: B08BWWZQC7

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery 

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

September 1941. While on a delivery, young Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. Crouching in the doorway of a bombed-out house, Freddie waits until the coast is clear. But when he arrives at the delivery address, he’s shocked to come face to face with the killer.

Dismissed by the police when he attempts to report the crime, Freddie goes in search of a woman he once met when delivering a message: Maisie Dobbs. While Maisie believes the boy and wants to help, she must maintain extreme caution: she’s working secretly for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for crucial work with the French resistance. Her two worlds collide when she spots the killer in a place she least expects. She soon realizes she’s been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill—reasons that go back to the last war.

 

My Thoughts

The Consequences of Fear is the latest in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series, and unfortunately, it was not one of my favourites in this series.  I have been reading this series since the first book was published, and it definitely hurts me to give this book a lower rating, but I just didn't find the story, and mystery, as interesting as usual.

 

First of all, I thought with WWII and most of the able-bodied men on the front lines, the story would finally focus on the heroic efforts of those left behind as there is so much fodder for the author to draw on for her characters in war-torn London.  Having Maisie work on her cases, with Billy, during this time period would have been so fascinating and she could have still done her work for the SOE, on the side.  However, the author has chosen to make that work the forefront of the story, put Billy in the background yet again, and created this convoluted story that, while interesting, just doesn't fit well into the Maisie Dobbs world.  Frankly, I am surprised that, out of all the stories that existed during this time period, that was the one that was chosen.   

I normally love Maisie, but I loved her when she was independent and wasn't afraid to make her own decisions and take risks because she thought those risks were worth it.  This Daisy was different, and although I understand she now has a child to take care of, and is in a romantic relationship, and is struggling between those two worlds, having her sit in her office while others do the work will be rather boring and why would I read about that? I've never understood why romance always needs to be included in a woman's life for a character to feel fulfilled.  I also thought the author tried to hard to make Mark sound American which made him sound foolish. 

The author's writing skills are never in doubt, but Maisie was a mess of emotions in this one, and frankly, I was on Robby's side when it came to decision-making: Maisie was using her emotions rather than her common sense to make important decisions and frankly, I am not sure why she would have been chosen for such an important role in the first place.  I have read all the books, and I must have missed something important, but how did Maisie suddenly become a factor in who gets chosen to go as a spy for the Resistance in France?  What qualifications does she have to be able to do so just by reading a file and doing an interview?  I feel that was pushing historical details just a bit too far in my opinion. And for whatever reason, I also thought the author spent a lot of time recapping previous cases when Maisie has to rely on old acquaintances for help.  Personally, I think this is lazy writing and isn't necessary, especially if it happens frequently in the story as it bogs down the overall plot and makes it hard to read.  

And as a Canadian, one of my biggest issues is the author's constant reference to Great Britain fighting alone during this time period when Canada definitely declared war on September 10, 1939 against Germany. Australia, New Zealand, and India declared on September 3.  I think the author made a huge mistake by constantly mentioning the fact they were waiting for their American saviours and ignoring the heroic efforts by these other countries during this time period.  

Verdict

The Consequences of Fear is probably my least favourite Maisie Dobbs novel.  While I enjoyed the interactions between Maisie and her family and friends, and I absolutely adore Billy, I really feel like this novel has taken a turn in a direction I was hoping it wouldn't. The focus used to be on cases centred around London, with Billy and Maisie investigating, and their dynamics were quite interesting and fascinating as they worked together in an intriguing historical setting.  The mystery took a backseat to her relationships in this one, and in the previous one as well, and this is the first time I actually had to stop reading and read something else for a while.  One conversation between Brenda and Maisie almost made me DNF the entire book.  I am really hoping that in the next one, Maisie and Billy will go back to their investigations as they were so much more interesting. 

Review: What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris

What the Devil Knows (Sebastian St. Cyr, Book #16)

by C.S. Harris

Release Date: April 6th 2021

2021 Berkley Books

Kindle Edition; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593102664

ASIN: B08

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect--a young seaman named John Williams--was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more.

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym's colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question--who was and why are they dead set on killing again?

 

My Thoughts

What the Devil Knows is the next entry in the long-running Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  This series has been a favourite of mine since the first book was published and I have been an avid fan ever since, following Sebastian's story as he negotiated the treacherous politics of Regency England.  What I have always like about these books is the way the author manages to insert real-life events into her story lines, and this book is no exception, this time incorporating the Ratcliff Highway Murders into this story.  The stories are believable, solid, and interesting, with good character development from both the main and secondary characters, witty dialogue, and subtle political entanglements and power plays.  I thought this book was a solid entry, but didn't quite have that excitement and tension of previous books; it had a good plot, but I felt like it was setting the reader up for some future plot lines to come.

 

I love Sebastian St. Cyr as a character, but I love his wife, Hero, even more, and wish more of the plot centred on her doings.  Sebastian is still struggling to solve the mystery of his mother and his true paternity, so I feel like this aspect of the book slowed the book down a bit.  I do have to give the author credit though, as it could so easily have gone off course here, but she managed to keep the search for Sebastian's mother a secondary plot line even though you had this sense it would soon become something big in the future.  I do however, miss the more fiery Hero and her passion for helping those in need.  She really seems to have calmed down quite a bit and I feel like this is a weakness in the book. I also really missed Paul Gibson as we only got a few glimpses of him in this book.  

 

The mystery itself was quite solid, and I liked how the author inserted a real-life mystery, the Ratcliff Highway Murders, into this book, as well as other historical details and people.  It has always been one of the things I really liked about these books, the research and historical detail.  The plot was more of a police procedural-type mystery, with Sebastian going around investigating and interrogating a lot of people, there were an unusual amount of deaths in this one, and a plot twist I actually didn't see coming.  I did feel like Sebastian was going through the motions though, and I wasn't as invested in the story like I usually am.  Part of the problem is I felt like the author was setting up the book for future stories surrounding Sebastian's mother and Hero's father.  

Verdict

What the Devil Knows was a solid historical mystery, but I don't think it was necessarily the best one of the series.  The characters were interesting as always, but I didn't really see a lot of development.  I did feel like this was a transitional book, a filler, to set up future plot lines.  The mystery itself was fascinating though, as the author uses a blend of true and invented stories to create a story that kept me guessing until the end, with plenty of twists and turns.  While you don't have to read the books in the series to understand this one, I do recommend you start from the beginning to get a sense of the underlying story lines that are being set up for future books and to understand some of the tensions between the characters.