I loved the first book by Knecht, Who is Vera Kelly? so I was very happy to receive a review copy of its sequel. These books combine a couple of things I really love – a complicated main character, a mystery, and the history and politics of other countries. In the first novel, heroine Vera…
I really enjoyed this Victorian-era mystery/thriller by Karen Odden, although I did have some issues with the pacing at the end. Nell Hallam is a young woman who sneaks out of her brother’s home every night to play piano at the Octavian Music House. She’s masquerading as a man so she can earn enough money…
This was another read for Read Harder 2018, which checks two boxes: it’s a mystery by a woman of color and it’s set in India. It’s also a period mystery, which I love. It’s set in 1921, the first in a series about Perveen Mistry, who’s a lawyer in her father’s firm and is loosely…
I read this book for the Read Harder 2018 challenge, because it had a female protagonist over the age of 60 (thanks to those who recommended it). I was surprised by how few books have protagonists (male or female) over 60, and when they do, much of the book is spent in reminiscing about the…
Anne Perry is my favorite historical mystery writer, because she writes with a lot of detail, creates interesting characters, and her books raise difficult social and legal issues of their time. On the flip side, she tends to be a bit repetitive and can be long-winded, but I’ll forgive that in a writer if the…
I really enjoy Victorian mysteries, so was pleased to accept a copy of this book from the author. I should note first off that this is the third book in the D.S. Billings Victorian Mystery series, and I much prefer to read a series in order, but was willing to read Book 3 on the…
I don’t read a lot of books set in Tudor England (I find it a rather dismal period) but I love a good historical mystery, and I really enjoyed this book, which was sent to me by author Mary Lawrence. I violated one of my reading rules by coming into this series at Book Three,…
I loved the first book about Constance Kopp, Girl Waits with Gun, and this one thankfully gave me more of the same. In this book, Constance really wrestles with the responsibilities of her job as a female deputy sheriff in 1915, when a dangerous convict escapes on her watch. To make matters worse, the sheriff…
If you’ve finished the Lady Julia Grey series, you’ll be excited about this new series by Deanna Raybourn. Raybourn seems to have started three other series in the last few years (A Blade of Summer Grass, City of Jasmine, and Night of a Thousand Stars), so I’m not quite sure if this one will stick.…
Mysteries are a perfect genre for informing readers about difficult political or historical issues. The Unquiet Dead is a perfect example. It begins with a case about a Canadian man who falls off a cliff. But it delves into much more sensitive matter when it’s discovered that the dead man is actually a war criminal…
I don’t usually review a Book 2 in a series, but I wanted to write about this one because I just didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. I love a good historical mystery, and Bess Crawford is a strong character as a British World War I nurse serving in France. The first book…
This was a fun book that combines a 19th century mystery with fairy tale folklore and a good dose of modern-day snark. Ophelia and Prudence are friends traveling to Europe for an acting job. Along the way, they lose their jobs and lie their way into maid positions with Mrs. Coop, who has a castle…
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Book Reviews & The Written Word
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
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"She had read novels while other people perused the Sunday papers" - Mary Elizabeth Braddon
A Classic Literature Journey
Thoughts on Literature, Expressing Creativity, Being Authentic
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