Andrea PickensRezensionen
Autor von Murder on Black Swan Lane
Rezensionen
Don't get me wrong: I'm okay with a little romance as long as the writing isn't too purply. This particular trope (spunky girl/bad boy) is as old as moldy bread, but Penrose manages to keep things classy without breaking any new ground. (There are no brooding stares or throbbing organs, thank god!) Her prose style is wordy and repetitive (this could be 100pgs shorter without sacrificing anything of substance) and she has this weird obsession with onomatopoeia (things always seem to be going *crunch crunch!* or *clink clink!*), but her period research feels sound and her cast of supporting characters are endearing of not particularly original.
It's the accompanying mystery involving the investigation of the murder of Charlotte's cousin Cedric, an aspiring gentleman-scientist, that ruined this for me. Penrose's gimmicks is that her two protagonists are big fans of scientific method and critical thinking; they don't let their emotions interfere with their reason. But there's nothing logical about this so-called investigation ... just a series of silly assumptions and contrived dilemmas that provide distracting dramatic fodder but reveal themselves as preposterous if you actually bother to think about them, as I made the mistake of doing.
Characters behaving in a rational way, for instance, would presumably be bothered by the fact that the suspects they are investigating - while they may be involved in some shady scientific endeavors - actually have zero motive for committing any of the crimes.
Characters behaving in a rational way wouldn't rely on clues that are as problematic as - well, as problematic as Galvanism, a field of science that was briefly en vogue in the late 1800s but summarily debunked when it was discovered that while electricity can make the muscles of dead things twitch, it can't actually bring dead things back to life. (Yes, this was the scientific discipline that inspired Shelley's Frankenstein.) What rational person, having discovered traces of snuff near a bench in a highly trafficked public park, would automatically assume that it must have been left by the murderer? Is using snuff before (or after) you murder someone some sort of Regency custom?
Characters behaving in a rational way would find much, much easier ways to pursue their inquiries than repeatedly placing themselves in false dilemmas or physical peril.
And then the solution to the mystery, when it's finally revealed, turns out to be so strained and farfetched, wrapped up in a denouement so melodramatic and cheesy, that I officially gave up and skimmed the final pages in a state of disgust.
Come to think of it, this book actually has a lot in common with Galvanism, in that not even an unobjectionable current of romantic tension (or the story's cast of likeable if unoriginal hangers-on) ends up providing enough juice to animate the novel's labored and unsatisfying mystery plot.
I’d heard of Lady Hester Stanhope before but I didn’t know much about her. There is much to admire about a lady who was determined to live life according to her own rules. At the same time, I’m not sure I would have liked her if I’d met her. She seems to have been someone ruled by her emotions and little self-control.
The plot moves at an even pace and the details of the time were enjoyable. Much of the story revolves around her various love affairs. Hester throws herself into each one, risking scandal and censure each time. Although the sex scenes were not detailed, they were enough to make me uncomfortable.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fictional biographies about a historical figure. I received an advance copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was everything Wrexford and Sloane should be. Excitement, murder, spies, and politics. However, there were fewer instances of reactions to Quill's caricatures, and I was a little disappointed in that they did not play more of a part of the story. That, and the extreme use of the words "villain" and "Damnation" were what prevented it from being a 5-star rating. Once you got past everyone saying one or both of the two words on seemingly every page (and sometimes multiple times in a conversation), it was great!
I began this title whilst in the middle of another genre. Caught up in that read, I put this away for a time, wondering if I’d make it back. I’m glad I did!
The more I read about Lady Hester Stanhope, the more intrigued I became.
The volatile, intelligent Lady Hester, a superb rider, an extraordinary “amazon” of a woman, of “fierce intellect and ambition”. A woman who stepped into the world of men, navigating her way through a closely strewn minefield of political, social and familial relationships that changed frequently, except for the latter. “Witty and often cynically pragmatic” we are told in Penrose’s excellent Author’s Note.
Her time as her beloved uncle, William Pitt’s hostess at Walker Castle and later, when Pitt formed government, as Pitt’s ‘Private Secretary’ gave her the chance to blossom, as she served as his sounding board and confidant for various political actions.
She was a close acquaintance of Brummell. She and her cousin the wildly unpredictable Lord Camelford sparked off each other, a tempestuous relationship. Her relations with Lord Granville Leveson Gower, later Ambassador to Russia left her damaged. With Lieutenant-General John Moore however, she was able to be herself. She was shattered by the tidings of his death during the retreat of the British at Corunna.
Still she walked on with life, wounded but determined. Remembering John’s words, “It was the journey that mattered” and “Fortune favors the bold.”
This fictionalised biography of Hetty’s life until she left Portsmouth with her brother James, whilst he recuperated before returning for duty at Gibraltar, really touched me. A woman fighting her times. Hetty journeyed on to the Middle East, to the Levant, an explorer, archaeologist and adventurer. Never to return to England. Her story had me transfixed in the end. Her pain, her courage, all extraordinary.
A Kensington ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
3 stars
This is the fifth book in the Wexford & Sloan series. I usually enjoy listening to this kind of cozy historical mystery. But, I’ve given up on the reader of these books. His narration is too ponderous and his female voices are painful. In text this was a quick read and I find it easier to skim over awkward sentences and stilted dialog.
I do have problems with the writing. However, I enjoy the characters. There’s a predictable pattern to the murder mystery that entertains without keeping me awake at night. The historical setting always includes a well researched inclusion of 19th century scientific advances. This mystery revolves around botanical medicine with lush descriptions of the plants in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It made me want to take a time traveling visit.
An intriguing mystery which includes interesting information about a life changing invention.
Sofia considers herself lacking what her sisters-in-arms, the heroines of THE SPY WORE SILK and SEDUCED BY A SPY Siena and Shannon, must have. The two of them had already been called to duty while Sofia had been regulated to learning etiquette and drawing room manners. However, Lord Lynsley tells her 'Each Merlin is called upon to undertake a different sort of mission'. For Sofia, her inherent graceful deportment and nobility are necessary for the mission Lord Lynsley sends her on.
Prior knowledge of the first two books isn't necessary unless you want to know the story behind Siena and Shannon's own missions. Siena's mission is mentioned, as her husband is close friends with our hero of the story, Lord Deverill Osborne, and he has questions pertaining to the mysteriousness of it, but that doesn't effect the overall book.
Lord Deverill Osborne, Dev to most of his friends, spends much of the book trying to understand why Sofia is merely only civil to him when all the other ladies of the ton throw themselves at him. When he's not busy trying to win her over, he is either indulging in a good self-pity bout or helping out a friend in a government branch office with his accounts.
Some of the funniest scenes in the book are when Dev tries to tell Lord Lynsley that Sofia (under guise as the daughter of an old family friend of his) is utterly crazy. As he tries to point out that everything she does is contradictory to what Lord Lynsley should want for her, Lynsley merely reads his paper and says 'She'll be fine, just leave her be' completely unruffled.
This was a fun fast read for me. I spent a little over three hours reading the book, and it is certainly worth picking up if you like your heroines a little feisty and action oriented. I guarantee you'll not guess who the true villain is before she does.
I ask for very few things in my historical romances honestly. I want to be entertained, I want clever banter between the characters, I want chemistry and I want the author to either go full out with the accuracy or just toss it to the wind in favor of fun. Cara Elliott delivers all of this and more in this last "Hellions of High Street" book. Centered around Caro, the youngest of the Sloane sisters and an accomplished poet, as she struggles to find that SOMETHING that will make her poetry really come alive.
Alec, a Scottish Baron last seen skulking around in SINFULLY YOURS--trading barbs, quips and grumbles with Caro no less--returns to be just as grouchy growly and in general vexing. Some of Alec's attitude did put me off--he has sudden turns of mood that seemed to come and go like shadows on a pond, but for the most part I thought he was a good foil to Caro.
Andover, who was courting Anna in the last two books and is now just a confidant and blissfully unaware sidekick to Caro's schemes, is also a good foil to Caro. I'm glad Elliott made it clear early on that these two just enjoy each other's company because neither expects anything. Isobel, Alec's younger (half)sister, was also a biddable secondary character. She certainly rang the peal over Alec's head enough to make him rethink treating her like an invalid!
The ongoing plot of Alec's radical ideas (from SINFULLY) re-emerges to a shocking turn. Trust the Scottish to turn Bath into a den of murderers, kidnappers, thieves and wild men. Alec's past heartache also makes things difficult, but honestly I could care less about that part since he angsted over it too much and for no real reasoning to my mind.
Unlike the previous books Caro's sisters are not present throughout most of it. There's the occasional letter from Anna, but not until the very end do they make an appearance and I think Caro was better for it. Much like Alec with Isobel, Olivia and Anna didn't quite see Caro as grown up or mature, but she showed a definite practical streak against the villain!
In all this was a wonderful ending chapter to the Hellions books. It was refreshing to read about three sisters who not only had a close bond, but who also refused to bend to the will of society. Oh they had pretty enough manners, but they weren't called Hellions for no good reason!
As an example - Davenport helped Olivia and Wexham in the first book ([b:Scandalously Yours|18711413|Scandalously Yours (Hellions of High Street, #1)|Cara Elliott|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1382509793s/18711413.jpg|25253704], which is how Anna met Davenport and their flirtation began. Its not necessary to this book, but after having read [b:Passionately Yours|20550539|Passionately Yours|Cara Elliott|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1389742671s/20550539.jpg|25539351], and seeing how Caro and Alec started THEIR flirtation in this book, I can see how it would have gone a long way to making some things make sense.
This was, simply put, a madcap romance. I'm tempted to say that Elliott didn't give a fig for how implausible the plot was, but I think that was part of the charm. The "Hellions of High Street" as the Sloane Sisters are known as, defy every convention of the time and rejoice in that defiance. Not once does Anna think that if she was more demure and proper she'd have less trouble. If anything she wishes she could be MORE audacious so she could solve more of her troubles without so much dancing around.
I appreciated the fact that Davenport, known as 'The Devil' (for a multitude of reasons...many well founded, some not so much), didn't try to dissuade Anna from her chosen attitude because he found it wrong or improper, but because he could very clearly see the danger she was setting herself up for that she was all but ignoring. And later, when some of Anna's more literary secrets are revealed, he's pretty much "Well. We really need to work on those romance scenes don't we?" without so much as batting an eyelash.
As I said the plot itself is a bit ludicrous and implausible, but this book is really more about the characters and their interactions. From the high minded poetry debates between Caro and Alec, to the veiled discussions the girls have in front of their mother in regards to their clandestine literary pursuits, this is a fun, enjoyable romance with some very heated moments.
My only quibble is that when books reveal the identity of a villain to a main character but initially withhold it from the reader, I am pulled out of the story, wondering if I'm picturing the scene correctly.
Overall, this was a solid read, and I will definitely be continuing this series.
Lady Hester Stanhope was a British adventurer, writer, antiquarian, one of the most famous travellers of her age, and closely related to the Pitt family. She is also The Diamond of London, just like the legendary jewel that was the basis of the Pitt family fortune.
This well researched presentation is as if a memoir of the first thirty-odd years of her life. The writing is seamless and really does seem as if it is the woman herself who is relating it all. The author is very clear about where she has taken poetic license and when it is simply the kind of rewording used from Ms Stanhope's own writings. I loved it as I have only read bits and pieces she has whitten about her own life after she left England.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Lord Wrexford receives a short note from the librarian, Neville Greely, at Merton Library imploring him to come to Oxford as he has some vital information. Greely had served with Wrexford’s late brother in Portugal during the war. Wrexford immediately sets off for Oxford, but when he arrives, Wrexford finds that Greely has been murdered and a valuable manuscript has been stolen. Wrexford will soon learn that Greely had an argument with someone shortly before his death, and Wrexford’s name comes up; this leads Wrexford to want to learn more about Greely’s death and gain an understanding of his brother’s death.
In the meantime, Charlotte also has a mystery to look into also. Two consortiums are racing to develop a steam engine and propeller to make travel on the ocean faster and more economical. When a fire occurs at a warehouse of one of the consortiums, which appears to be arson, Charlotte is on the scene wondering if the fire was arson. Important drawings were stolen before the fire started. Charlotte also wonders what Wrexford’s close friend, Kit Sheffield, was doing at the fire scene. Raven, Falcon, and Peregrine will provide important information about one of the consortium's works.
Charlotte’s Aunt Alison has a more important role in this book. The introduction of her nephew, Horatio, Raven, and Falcon, nicknamed his Osprey, is essential in solving the mystery. The story is well-written and plotted with an exciting cast of well-developed characters. There were enough twists and turns that I kept guessing who the killer was until the end of the book. The weaving of scientific events into the story is always enjoyable. The author provides an informative Author Note at the end of the book.
I will be looking forward to the next book in this enjoyable series.
Wrexham, Charlotte and the weasels find themselves confronted with the truth behind a British reconnaissance mission in Portugal where Wrex’s beloved brother Thomas was killed in action. The English had been betrayed. Somehow a traitor, probably highly placed, had passed information to the French.
Called to a meeting at Oxford library at Merton Hall by his brother’s friend, Wrexham arrives to find that Neville Greeley has been murdered, and as he later discovers, most mysteriously a renaissance paper in Latin has been stole.
Coincidentally, Peregrine has been invited by a friend of his uncle’s workshop. Mr. Tilden is an inventor.
Worth mentioning is that currently, beginning to catch investors’ attention is the race, in scientific, political and international circles, to invent a steam powered engine able to sail the oceans.
Wrexham and the ‘family’ become caught up in nefarious plots to steal plans of several naval prototypes, and the destruction of important workshops designing and experimenting with parts.
The weasels have another young person join their bird named group. This time a young midshipman, great nephew to the Dowager Duchess Alison, Countess of Peake. Of course they aptly name him Osprey. Let’s just say that the beginning of their relationship was not auspicious.
Characters from Charlotte’s maid Mac’s (McClellan) past appear who seem closely aligned with a consortium of investors for the production of steam power for the high seas.
A.J. Quill is kept busy as are all the group as they finagle their way through a morass of intrigue, betrayal and danger.
Another superb episode in the lives of my favorite miscreants.
I love the way Penrose combines the excitement of this era, the innovations and political events into a solid tale.
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Neville Greeley came home from the Napoleonic wars terribly scarred in both mind and body. He loves the peace and tranquility of working as the head librarian at Merton College Library. Lately, flashes of memory have been coming back to him and he knows he must contact Wexford to tell him what he is remembering. Greeley was the only survivor of an ambush that took the life of his best friend Thomas (Wexford’s brother), and the rest of their group of soldiers. What is he remembering? He’ll never be able to tell because he is found murdered the next morning.
Charlotte Stone, Countess of Wrexford, is in her disguise as Magpie while she watches a huge warehouse/workshop burn. Was the fire set deliberately? Is it something her other alter ego, A.J. Quill, needs to become involved in? She leaves – unsure. However, when she discovers what her wards – collectively known as the weasels – have to share, she knows she’ll have to at least ask questions. The building that burned was the workshop of a gifted inventor who was trying to develop a way to adapt steam to power large ships that could cross the sea. Sabotage? When she discovers their friend Kit has been approached to invest in a consortium that is trying to do the same thing, she knows she has to be involved.
As they work through the clues they come to realize the cases are related – to each other and to a traitorous atrocity from the war years. The villain is as sly and ruthless as they come. Can they discover the villain? Will they catch him before he escapes?
This was a fun and interesting read with the villain(s) about as vile as they come. One thing I really always enjoy in these books is the Author’s Notes. I know – right? The author always bases the books on some set of scientific inventions, etc. that was happening at the time and we always learn so much. I love that! Then, she always explains in the Author’s Notes where she deviated from fact – and she shares more facts. For me, it is always like getting dessert after having a delicious dinner.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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A minister (reverend? clergy of some sort) is murdered. A woman named Charlotte (?) has been looking after (in a way) two boys and trying to teach them to speak “the King’s English”, as well as some manners. A second murder happens partway through. There is some society called “The Ancients”.
Second book in a row where I was not interested enough to really pay attention to what was going on nor did I really care. I was curious about the two boys, but it wasn’t enough to know what happened in the book. This is the first in a series and I obviously won’t continue.½