Historical Mystery Book Reviews
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Historical Mystery Reviews
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And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander
After having to endear constant matchmaking efforts, Lady Emily Bromley married Viscount Philip Ashton to escape her overbearing mother. When Philip was killed on safari, not long after their wedding, Lady Emily found it hard to grieve for him, a man she barely knew. But two years later, Emily found journals her husband had written and she sees a different side of Philip, a man who truly loved her and was devoted to her.Because Lady Emily was astonished to see this side of her husband, she decided to learn more about him. Unfortunately, doing this leads her to a dangerous mystery revolving around stolen artifacts.
While looking for information regarding her newly deceased husband, Lady Emily meets a Parisian women, Cecile who becomes her good friend and fellow sleuth. Emily and Cecile work to discover if Philip Ashton was involve in art forgeries, and if the rumor that Philip is still alive, is true. Along the way, Emily meets Colin Hargreaves, a man she is attracted to, but fears may have involved her late husband in art theft and forgery.
This first book in the Lady Ashton series does a good job of drawing the reader in with its witty dialogue and engaging heroine. You feel Emily's pain as she starts to really get to know her husband and even fall a little in love with the man he was. Lady Emily is smart and ahead of her time, as she is independent and self assured. Throw in a little mystery and the possibility of a new romance and you have a winning combination.
Tasha Alexander has written a tightly woven, wonderful Victorian historical
“"And Only to Deceive is the great 1st book in the Lady Emily historical mystery series. Check it out”
Spotlight on And Only To Deceive
And Only to Deceive (Lady Emily)
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 06/02/2012)
The Best Line Ever from the book
The best line ever:
"Philip differed little from other men I met, and I had no interest in continuing the acquaintance. No interest, that is, until I decided to accept the inevitable and agree to marry."
Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
Tears of Pearl is a mystery starring Lady Emily and her now husband Colin Hargreaves. Emily and Colin are on their honeymoon in Turkey, but things don't go according to their plans. Their first night in Turkey, they learn that a girl from a harem is found murdered. The girl is found in the courtyard of a Sultan's Palace.A gentleman that Lady Emily and Colin had just met on the train, Sir Richard recognizes the dead girl as his long lost daughter, Ceyden. Lady Emily and Colin promise Sir Richard that they will find his daughter's killer. They also promised to find out where Ceyden had been all the years she was missing and presumed dead.
Because she is a woman, Emily can infiltrate the harem and question some of those who were familiar with Ceyden. Being the independent woman that she is, Emily has trouble dealing with the way she sees woman being treated in the harem. She also becomes suspicious of most of the people she meets.
Throughout the story, Emily goes along, headstrong as always, intent on solving not one but three murders. She also tries to help a woman, romantically connected to Ceyden's brother, escape the harem, never once really considering the risks to herself and her possible unborn child.
Lady Emily is a strong character that will pull out all the stops to help someone she believes has been wronged. Sometimes she seems a little to independent, making you wonder whether or not her marriage to Colin will last. However, this fourth book in the series is as enjoyable as the previous three and will keep you interested throughout.
Spotlight on Tears of Pearl
Tears of Pearl: A Novel of Suspense (Lady Emily Mysteries)
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
A Fatal Waltz is the third book in the Lady Emily Ashton series, set in Victorian England. In this installment, Emily agrees to attend a party at the home of Lord Fortescue, a powerful man who Emily also finds loathsome. But her good friend Ivy asked her to come, so what is Emily to do?
But dealing with the obnoxious Lord Fortescue is nothing compared to what Emily ends up dealing with. First, one of the guests that Lady Emily encounters, an Austrian countess, by the name of Kristiana was once linked romantically to Colin Hargreaves, Emily's fianc. Then their host, Lord Fortescue is founded murdered, and his protege, Robert Brandon, Ivy's husband, stands accused.
As Emily delves into the secrets and mysteries of Vienna, she finds that someone who was at Lord Fortescues party has followed her to Vienna, and has left very obvious threats. He somehow has gotten access to her room and left bullets there. She also finds bullets in her clothing pockets and her purse.
Emily and her friends have to solve the murder before she or someone close to her is murdered. She also has to find a way of ridding herself and Colin of the countess. But as luck would have it, Emily ends up needing help from the countess in order to keep Colin safe.
Spotlight on A Fatal Waltz
A Fatal Waltz
Amazon Price: $5.50 (as of 06/01/2012)
Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn
In Deanna Raybourn's latest Lady Julia Grey book Silent On the Moor, Julia travels to the moors in Grimsgrave determined to settle things between herself and the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane once and for all. Here Lady Julia finds herself entwined with not only the mystery surrounding Nicholas but the ones surrounding the residents of the manor.
Determined to see who Nicholas is involved with and why her sister Portia knew where Brisbane had disappeared to and why she planned on visiting him, Julia decides to invite herself along. When their eldest brother discovers what his two younger sisters have in mind he is aghast and decides that he must accompany them. So along with their pets and their brother Valerius, Julia and Portia head to Grimsgrave. Surprised that Brisbane has chosen Grimsgrave as a place to live instead of a more suitable place, Julia is determined to figure out what secrets Nicholas and the Allenby family are guarding so closely.
In addition to these family secrets, Julia learns more about Nicolas Brisbane's heritage and his connection with the gypsies. As Julia starts to dig into the Allenby family past, Nicholas's life is threatened and some very horrible things come to light.
As with the previous two novels, the author does a good job with the details of the story and showing the often tumultuous relationship between Lady Julia and Brisbane. It is easy to forget that you are in the present with all of the Victorian details which are interspersed throughout the book.
The author's description of the moor or wastelands sets a vivid picture of the gloomy residence where Brisbane has decided to live. It gives credibility to the dreamy, spooky home that Brisbane and the Allenby family live in. Determined to discover the home's and family's secrets, Lady Julia risks all to save the man she loves without ever thinking about herself and any danger she may be in.
Silent on the Moor is a really interesting read. Lady Julia is a sassy, witty heroine who never gives up on the man she loves, even as he continually tries to push her away for what he feels is her own good. While this is an interesting book, there are situations which can be disturbing and may make some readers uncomfortable. However, over all this is a worthy installment in the Lady Julia mystery series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Spotlight on Silent on the Moor
Silent On The Moor (A Lady Julia Grey Novel)
Amazon Price: $5.47 (as of 06/01/2012)
“"Lady Julia Grey is a smart, savvy heroine who stops at nothing to protect those she loves."”
The best line ever from the novel
After being reamed out by her brother when he found out Julia was going to visit Nicholas Brisbane, Julia's response was:" I sighed and stared longingly at the whisky decanter."
A Royal Pain
Lady Georgiana, 34th in line for the English throne in 1932 is affectionately known as Georgie, and has a lot on her plate in this second novel of the series, after Her Royal Spyness. Her Royal Highness the queen has asked Georgie to entertain a princess by the name of Hannelore, or Hanni for short. It seems that England's queen wants to steer Hanni in the direction of her majesties son, a playboy prince and away from an older unsuitable married American he is seeing.
What the queen doesn't know is that Georgie has no money to do all of the things the princess may be expecting, but Georgie just can't say no to the Queen. So resourceful Georgie "hires" her grandfather and his lady friend to be her butler and cook for the duration of the princesses stay. However, princess Hanni has just come from a convent and as Georgie soon finds out, the princess has a knack for shoplifting and hitting on men, in particular Darcy, a man who has already stolen Georgie's heart. Add to this, it seems that wherever Hanni goes, problems ensue, from her interest in communists to the death of her companion, the dreadful Baroness.
This book is a fun read which includes a few of the characters from the first book. However, none of them are in this book a great deal. We see very little of Georgie's brother Binky and his wife and Georgie's grandfather is featured more in this book. Georgie's love interest Darcy is seen only on occasion. There is murder, communists, and deep dark secrets galore in this book. Trouble has a way of following Hanni wherever she goes. The reading is fast paced and keeps your interest.
Spotlight on A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
Amazon Price: $7.15 (as of 06/01/2012)
“"A Royal Pain is the second book in the Royal Spyness mystery series by Rhys Bowen."”
The Best Line From the Book
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." My father did both of these and look what happened to him. He died penniless at 49.
A Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen
Georgie, as she likes to be called is living alone in London as is waiting for her annual trip to the family home at Balmoral. Georgie "opens" or readies homes for the rich to make some money, but in the summer, her clients are all elsewhere. After meeting with her flighty friend Belinda, Georgie thinks of a brilliant way to earn some money. As luck would have it, Georgie decides to find herself a job going out to dine or dance with single men. Unfortunately, naive Georgie's newspaper ad sounds like something else and she ends up in hot water on a "date" only to be saved from further embarrassment from her on again, off again boyfriend, Darcy.To avoid further notoriety, Georgie is given an assignment to look into mysterious happenings at the family estate, near Balmoral. It seems that there have been some close calls with attacks on the royal family, including Georgie's brother Binky. While Georgie is looking forward to seeing her brother, she is not thrilled with seeing her sister-in-law Fig. However, Georgie is surprised to find out that Fig is actually happy to see Georgie, whom she expects to help her out with a house full of American visitors.
Soon, Georgie is thrust into the middle of danger while climbing and another guest is hit in the head with a falling object when in the bathroom. While these incidents are happening, Georgie is trying to fend off the advances of an unlikeable man, trying to get some time with Darcy, and visiting with her beloved grandfather.There is some comic relief with Binkie and Fig and also with Belinda, Georgie's good friend who is now dating a man named Paolo who nearly runs Georgie off the road.
Spotlight on Royal Flush
Royal Flush (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
Amazon Price: $3.37 (as of 06/01/2012)
“"Royal Flush is the third book in the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen."”
The Best Line from the novel
" A girl of my standing, 34th in line for the throne- is good for only a few things: perfecting my curtsy, hosting fetes,-oh and marrying into a noble family for the ever so romantic reason of securing allies."
In A Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen
In A Gilded Cage is the 8th book in the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen. In this book, Molly is involved with women of Vassar and their suffragette movement. Molly is just recovering from the seasonal influenza but that doesn't stop her from marching in the Easter parade with Gus, Sid and the rest of their Vassar friends. Unfortunately for them, their marching creates a ruckus and they end up in jail.Fortunately for Molly through this experience, she meet two potential clients, Emily, whose nasty uncle kicked her out of the house, leaving her to fend for herself, and Fanny, who thinks that her husband is cheating on her and wants Molly's help in finding out. Unfortunately for everyone, one of the women dies from what seems like the flu. However, when another member of the Vassar women dies, Molly suspects that someone is murdering them, possibly with poison. When Molly is nearly run over by a speeding vehicle right outside of her house, things really get personal.
As we have in the previous books in this series, we get many details of the times in New York City. While there are other aspects of history mentioned in the book (for example the Boxer Rebellion and the unregulated medicine industry), this book focuses more on women's issues and what changes are about to occur. Although this book takes place near the turn of the century, the women's movement is in full swing with the right to vote only 17 years away.
If you are interested in historical mysteries, with a feisty heroine, the Molly Murphy series is for you.
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Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen is the first book in the series about Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, affectionately known as Georgie, and is set in 1930's London. Georgie is a girl that is thirty fourth in line for the throne as she is the daughter of a duke, and is the cousin of King George the fifth of England. She has been living with her brother Binky and his wife Fig. However, Binky and Fig are short money and can no longer afford to have Georgie living with them. To make matters worse, they are trying to match Georgie up with Prince Siegfried of Romania, someone Georgia likes to call fish-face. So Georgie does what she feels she has to do. She leaves her brothers home and tries to get a job! It couldn't possibly be easy living as a commoner in1832!
Georgie decides to go live in an old family home called Rannoch house. She is on her own with no servants and she has to figure out how to do even the simplest of things, like cook an egg. She goes to visit her grandfather who has to teach her how to light a fire. Georgie who has no money has to get a job, simply unthinkable for a royal according to Binky. She ends up getting a job as a maid of sorts, preparing houses and rooms for visits by other royals and she even gets hired as a spy by Her Royal Majesty who is trying to find out the intentions of a woman her son is infatuated with. Georgie is having fun, meeting all sorts of interesting people when she gate crashes a wedding.
Things are going along great until a man is found dead in Georgie's bath tub, and she meets a rather charming minor royal who is Irish, Catholic and of course all wrong for her. Soon her brother is blamed for the death of the Frenchman found in her tub. With her intelligence and wit and some help with family and friends, Georgie must try to find who has murdered the man before her brother goes to jail or is hanged, and before she herself is killed. Georgie may be accident prone, but some of the things which happen to her are definitely not accidents.
This is a great book which is fast paced and well written.
Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen
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Who Is Sebastian St. Cyr?
He is a master of disguises, a Viscount ( British nobility), an investigator and a former Army officer. Join him as he travels the globe in his quest for the truth.
Where Shadows Dance
Sebastian has to solve the murder of a man whose body was illegally stolen from body snatchers. He also has to deal with personal problems related to Hero Jarvis, the woman he wants to marry and who is carrying his child.But the paths of his personal and professional lives cross when Sebastian realizes that both Hero and her father know more than they are saying about the dead man. Join Sebastian as he travels to the United States, Russia and the Turkish Empire searching for a killer that he hopes isn't involved with his soon to be wife!
Where Shadows Dance
What Remains of Heaven
Two men have been found murdered in an ancient crypt. One of the men is the Bishop of London, the other a mystery man from a previous century. The man's attire makes him appear like someone from the 1700's. Sebastian has been asked by his aunt to help solve the mystery and he may not like what he finds. Seems that his lady friend Hero was the last person to see the Bishop alive!
What Remains of Heaven
Spotlight on The War Against Miss Winter
The War Against Miss Winter
Amazon Price: $3.78 (as of 06/01/2012)
The War Against Miss Winter is the first book in the Rosie Winter series. This story takes place in 1943 during World War 2. Rosie has to deal with rationing, overdue rent, her missing in action boyfriend and her antagonist and neighbor, Ruby.
Rosie works at a detective agency as a part time file clerk. One day she walks into the office to find her boss dead in the office closet when it appears he has hung himself (at least it appears that way to the police).
Rosie ends up trying to run the business herself while working on a play, playing amateur detective and trying to solve her bosses' murder all at the same time. She finds that the murder may be linked to a missing play script. Meanwhile, Ruby, Rosie's neighbor and some time antagonist tries her best to sabotage Rosie's budding show biz career.
This book is very interesting and it shows Rosie as a woman well ahead of her time. She has grit, determination and fortitude as she deals with a murder, annoying acquaintances, a missing in action boyfriend, rationing and other war related issues. The plot is fast paced and the characters are well developed and make for a great debut book in this series.
Spotlight On The Winter of Her Discontent
The Winter of Her Discontent: A Rosie Winter Mystery (Rosie Winter Mysteries)
Amazon Price: $2.48 (as of 06/01/2012)
The Winter of Her Discontent is the 2nd book in the Rosie Winter series by Kathryn Miller Haines. Like its precursor, The War against Miss Winter, it again features Rosie, best friend Jayne and antagonist Ruby.
The story takes place in New York City during World War Two. Men are off to war including Rosie's absentee boyfriend Jack and meat, stockings and butter are all being rationed. Rosie's pal Al (a mob muscle man) is wrongly accused of murder and sent to jail. To make matters worse, Al confesses to the crime.
This book is very interesting, particularly if you are interested in history. The story includes a lot of background information regarding what is happening in New York at the time of World War 2. The book combines this historical view with a more personal view of Rosie and her friend Jane, and her antagonist Ruby.
The author weaves the various stories well and you really start to feel as if you know the characters personally. It shows how Rosie works hard to help a friend wrongly accused of a crime because she has a keen sense of loyalty.
Spotlight On Winter in June
Winter in June: A Rosie Winter Mystery (Rosie Winter Mysteries)
Amazon Price: $4.80 (as of 06/02/2012)
Winter in June is the latest book in the Rosie Winter series by Kathryn Miller Haines, and I found it to be the best. In the first two novels of the series, The War Against Miss Winter and the Winter of Her Discontent, the action takes place in New York City at war time and revolves around the theatre where Rosie, Jane and antagonist Ruby are working.
In this third novel, Rosie and Jane have decided to join the USO camp shows. Rosie sees this as the perfect opportunity to hunt down her missing in action ex-boyfriend Jack. Before Rosie and Jane could even board the Queen of the Ocean ship to start their journey, a woman's body is discovered face down in the water. When Rosie looks at the woman, she seems familiar, but it isn't until later in the novel that we discover why.
While on the boat, Rosie and Jane meet Kay, Violet and Gilda, a rising star. Although meeting the other performing women is a treat, Rosie has difficulty finding her sea legs, and ends up spending a great deal of the trip sick.
Once overseas at Tulagi, the main South Pacific base, Rosie starts to question all around her in hopes of finding out any type of information regarding Jack. However, few if any appear to know anything about Jack's disappearance. Rosie and the women start to perform for the soldiers while trying to keep some type of normalcy amongst themselves, the WAC's (who don't like them), and the soldiers.
The mystery starts to pick up when a sniper kills one of the performers and injures another and the identity of the mysterious dead women back at the harbor is identified as a former WAC connected to acting.
This is a great mystery within a mystery as the murders; missing supplies and the disappearance of Jack are all tied in together well.
Spotlight On When WInter Returns
When Winter Returns: A Rosie Winter Mystery (Rosie Winter Mysteries)
Amazon Price: $3.28 (as of 06/02/2012)
When Winter Returns is the latest Rosie Winter mystery by Kathryn Miller Haines. Like its predecesers, this mystery is a really good one. Rosie and her best friend Jane return from a USO trip to the South Pacific to find that their room has been rented to someone else. They find that Jane has to room with the new person and Rosie has to stay with her nemesis Ruby.
All the women find that they are unable to get any jobs due to their work against a mobster who is out for revenge. The girls also learn that Rosie's one time boyfriend Jack not only is in trouble for desertion but has severe war injuries, and Jane's deceased fiancee isn't who he appeared to be. The girls also find themselves trying to hide Jane's friend Al from her former boyfriend, mobster Tony.
All in all a great read with the same enjoyable characters that are present in the previous novels. Hopefully there are more Rosie Winter novels to come!
Some Great Rosie Winter!
Google News on Katheryn Miller Haines
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Spotlight On Death Was the Other Women
Death Was the Other Woman: A Mystery
Amazon Price: $4.30 (as of 06/02/2012)
Death Was the Other Woman stars private investigator Dex Theroux, and his loyal secretary Kitty Pangborn. While Dex may be the private investigator, Kitty really holds things together. You see, Dex had a penchant for booze and lots of it. So when Dex and Kitty get the case of Rita Heppelwaite, Kitty has to not only help her boss with the case, but also with his sobriety. Dex and Kitty are asked by Rita to trail her lover; Harrison Dempsey who Rita thinks is cheating on her.
This was an enjoyable mystery filled with disappearing dead bodies, and a lot of 1930's details. The mystery starts has sharp dialogue and well defined characters. Kitty and Dex soon learn, that cheating is only the tip of the iceberg in this well written, fast paced period mystery.
Spotlight on Death Was In the Picture
Death Was in the Picture: A Mystery
Amazon Price: (as of 06/02/2012)
Death Was in The Picture is the second book in the Kitty Pangborn series, which stars Kitty and her private investigator boss, Dex Theroux. In this installment, Dex is hired to trail Laird Windham a movie star with supposed questionable morals. When Dex goes to a party, he sees Windham leaving the scene of a murder.
It doesn't take long for Dex and Kitty to realize that Xander Dean, the man who hired them set them up to see the murder, or rather, the after affects of the murder. Windham then hires Dex to prove his innocence.
This is a great follow-up mystery to Death Was The Other Woman. It has everything a great mystery needs; a lot of twists and turns and red herrings. All is not as it seems with any of the clients in the story. Again, there is great descriptions of life during the 1930's and the depression.
Great Books by Linda L. Richards
Some more great female sleuths!
Some Great Historical Mysteries
Who Is Your Favorite Female Mystery Author?
My Lenses
Be My Guest
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Jrucch
Feb 13, 2012 @ 8:17 pm | delete
- Great Lens.
You definitely must be a big mystery reader!
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tssfacts
Dec 8, 2010 @ 3:29 pm | delete
- Nice selection. Some I had heard of most I hadn't. It gives me a list to look for when I go to get a book to read. Great review.
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LizMac60 Dec 8, 2010 @ 1:08 pm | delete
- Good selection of mystery books. Blessed by a squid angel.
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