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Inspector Raft Mystery #3
Come to Dust
In the frigid winter of 1891, with the nation still reeling from the Barings bank crisis, Inspector Philemon Raft returns from an involuntary sabbatical, tasked with solving the kidnapping of highly placed peer Alice Dewberry. Thrust into a sordid underworld where the upper classes indulge in disreputable overseas investments designed to fatten their pocketbooks, Raft finds himself at loose ends without his companion, Constable Freddie Crook. Far from offering their help, the ton use every asset at their disposal to keep Raft from discovering the truth about hapless kidnap victim Alice Dewberry—who may not even exist.
Soon Raft discovers that his old nemesis, the workhouse master John Gallant, has returned to London. Gallant doesn’t say what he wants—but he knows enough to ruin Raft's career and even his life. Raft tries to solve the case with his usual strange insight, but there are other, darker forces at work. This is a frightened London: the London of Whitechapel, of Jack the Ripper, the London of poverty, dirt and despair, where a right turn down the wrong alley could earn Raft a swift trip to the morgue.
Soon Raft discovers that his old nemesis, the workhouse master John Gallant, has returned to London. Gallant doesn’t say what he wants—but he knows enough to ruin Raft's career and even his life. Raft tries to solve the case with his usual strange insight, but there are other, darker forces at work. This is a frightened London: the London of Whitechapel, of Jack the Ripper, the London of poverty, dirt and despair, where a right turn down the wrong alley could earn Raft a swift trip to the morgue.
230 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 23, 2013
If you like a good, solid, murder-mystery plot set in an historical background with a touch of M/M romance thrown in and with a sprinkling of spooky supernatural on top, then this book has the lot!
I love books with strong plots that give the old grey cells a workout which is not sacrificed for the sake of the M/M romance. Rather the romance thread is not necessarily in the focus here, but accompanies the story nicely and adds a nice angle to the whole thing, giving the book a very well rounded feel to it. The romantic attraction and suspense is there, but realistically placed and well timed.
You are kept guessing all the way. The suspense and clues are well paced, culminating in that "a-ha" moment at the end. This was the third book in the series, which I wasn't made aware of after looking at it on Dreamspinner Press, and only found out later. Therefore, I would suggest that the first two books are read in order because I did get the feeling I was missing out on some essential background information to the characters. I'm usually not a cover whore either, but the other thing that bothered me slightly was the men's fashion on the cover, it's a little too modern for 1890s Victorian London. It is more suitable for 1920s fashion. However, after all is said and done it was still a great read, did not detract from the marvellous writing contained within its pages and I got into it very quickly.
Joanne creates a wonderful dark and brooding Victorian London. Creating a superb atmosphere and draws the reader back in time to the streets of London with its sinister alley ways and characters. The historical details are well observed, observing the class distinctions of that time, the type of crime and evidence, how it would have been analysed and followed up. The background of the Baring's Bank crisis and how the upper-classes used their influence also in criminal ways to meet their own ends was a nice point showing crime is evident at all levels of society. All in all providing a wonderful atmospheric backdrop to an intriguing murder-mystery.
Miriam Dewberry, daughter of Lord Dewberry peer in the Houses of Parliament, is kidnapped. The strange thing is that no ransom has been made from the kidnappers. Raft is put in charge of the case and is assigned a new constable, Cholmondely, to aid him. The attraction is there, but this is Victorian London so being careful is a necessity and both characters speak around the subject with the use of subtle innuendos but never stating the obvious. Raft's lover Freddie is in South America recovering from a Laudanum addiction and as Raft has had no news assumes he's possibly dead and therefore sees him in apparitions.
He constantly sees a number of apparitions and is afraid he could be losing his mind, but for me that is a wonderful addition and adds a certain paranormal aspect to the whole thing. Eventually the attraction becomes too much to bear and they both cave in to their desires. In the meantime they still have a case to solve. Dead bodies start turning up, at first with no possible connection to the kidnapping case, but as the noose closes so does the connecting evidence between the murders, the plot thickens and leads to a conclusion with twists and turns along the way that keeps you glued to the pages.
The characters are wonderfully described and the dialogues are well managed to match the era, but not that it’s difficult to read or to understand. This just added to the richness of the story, an essential part of any historical novel. JoAnne brings the characters really into their own; all diverse, all connected in some way, all living in a time where it really meant survival was always an everyday occupation. I also liked the way Raft's mind worked in order to solve the case, he is a little unorthodox and quirky, but that is only a sign of great intelligence. You really get a feel of the type of people who lived in London at this time, from the mudlarks who lived along the banks of the Thames to peers of the realm. Here we have Victorian London in all its diversity, from it's filthiest, sordid poor classes to it's pretentious upper-classes.
All in all, if you’re game is sleuthing like Sherlock in Victorian London, then you’re gonna love this book. Who dunnit? Well, you're going to have to read this book.
A copy of the book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Reading order;
The Inspector Raft Mystery series
1) Willing Flesh
2) Rag & Bones
3) Come to Dust
I love books with strong plots that give the old grey cells a workout which is not sacrificed for the sake of the M/M romance. Rather the romance thread is not necessarily in the focus here, but accompanies the story nicely and adds a nice angle to the whole thing, giving the book a very well rounded feel to it. The romantic attraction and suspense is there, but realistically placed and well timed.
You are kept guessing all the way. The suspense and clues are well paced, culminating in that "a-ha" moment at the end. This was the third book in the series, which I wasn't made aware of after looking at it on Dreamspinner Press, and only found out later. Therefore, I would suggest that the first two books are read in order because I did get the feeling I was missing out on some essential background information to the characters. I'm usually not a cover whore either, but the other thing that bothered me slightly was the men's fashion on the cover, it's a little too modern for 1890s Victorian London. It is more suitable for 1920s fashion. However, after all is said and done it was still a great read, did not detract from the marvellous writing contained within its pages and I got into it very quickly.
Joanne creates a wonderful dark and brooding Victorian London. Creating a superb atmosphere and draws the reader back in time to the streets of London with its sinister alley ways and characters. The historical details are well observed, observing the class distinctions of that time, the type of crime and evidence, how it would have been analysed and followed up. The background of the Baring's Bank crisis and how the upper-classes used their influence also in criminal ways to meet their own ends was a nice point showing crime is evident at all levels of society. All in all providing a wonderful atmospheric backdrop to an intriguing murder-mystery.
Miriam Dewberry, daughter of Lord Dewberry peer in the Houses of Parliament, is kidnapped. The strange thing is that no ransom has been made from the kidnappers. Raft is put in charge of the case and is assigned a new constable, Cholmondely, to aid him. The attraction is there, but this is Victorian London so being careful is a necessity and both characters speak around the subject with the use of subtle innuendos but never stating the obvious. Raft's lover Freddie is in South America recovering from a Laudanum addiction and as Raft has had no news assumes he's possibly dead and therefore sees him in apparitions.
He constantly sees a number of apparitions and is afraid he could be losing his mind, but for me that is a wonderful addition and adds a certain paranormal aspect to the whole thing. Eventually the attraction becomes too much to bear and they both cave in to their desires. In the meantime they still have a case to solve. Dead bodies start turning up, at first with no possible connection to the kidnapping case, but as the noose closes so does the connecting evidence between the murders, the plot thickens and leads to a conclusion with twists and turns along the way that keeps you glued to the pages.
The characters are wonderfully described and the dialogues are well managed to match the era, but not that it’s difficult to read or to understand. This just added to the richness of the story, an essential part of any historical novel. JoAnne brings the characters really into their own; all diverse, all connected in some way, all living in a time where it really meant survival was always an everyday occupation. I also liked the way Raft's mind worked in order to solve the case, he is a little unorthodox and quirky, but that is only a sign of great intelligence. You really get a feel of the type of people who lived in London at this time, from the mudlarks who lived along the banks of the Thames to peers of the realm. Here we have Victorian London in all its diversity, from it's filthiest, sordid poor classes to it's pretentious upper-classes.
All in all, if you’re game is sleuthing like Sherlock in Victorian London, then you’re gonna love this book. Who dunnit? Well, you're going to have to read this book.
A copy of the book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Reading order;
The Inspector Raft Mystery series
1) Willing Flesh
2) Rag & Bones
3) Come to Dust
May 4, 2016
Inspector Philemon Raft has come back from a forced leave of absence with an eye on filling the time since his lover and partner, Constable Freddie Crook, is still in Argentina, recovering from his addiction and helping spy on a certain English gentleman. Still, being handed the curious case of kidnapping victim, Miriam Dewberry, is going to require all his mental faculties, and quite of few from the young Constable Cholmondely, who is assigned to help him uncover where the young lady was spirited off to. But Inspector Raft is not the only one trying to solve this puzzle, and it becomes a race against time and interfering aristocrats, to save the girl from her captors’ hands. The clues keep adding up, but no making any sense, and with more and more suspects running across their path, Raft and Cholmondely, are going to have a hell of a time figuring this puzzle out. If they are good they will save Miriam, if they are lucky they’ll save themselves.
My first thought, when I began this book, was that I really should have read the two previous books in the series. Sadly, I didn’t realize that this book was the third Inspector Raft Mystery novel until it was too late, but I was determined to push through. I love a good ol’ Victorian mystery novel, and something dark and gritty was right up my alley this week. I wanted murder, was craving mystery, and demanded to be let loose on the mean streets of Victorian England–or, as the case may be, the parlors of the Victorian elite.
This story really does start out with a bang, quite literally, and I really liked how the whole story was shaping up in those first few chapters. Sure, there were some parts where I felt lost since clearly these were characters with backstory that I should have known, but didn’t–but it was entertaining and a bit mysterious, so I chose to take the characters as they came, and hoped for the best.
Then…then everything got so bloody confusing. This is probably to blame on the lack of backstory I had, but I spent a majority of the book unsure if Raft was a picnic basket short of a picnic. There were some paranormal/supernatural/alien plot threads going on in this book that I just did not get. Or maybe Raft is just crazy. I didn’t go into this book expecting it to be filled with ghosts and visions and things, so when they popped up I had trouble judging just what was real, and what was not. I was curious as to if these memories or visions were real, but because Raft was such a jumble of contradicting thoughts, I could never find a solid ground.
People and plot points seemed to come out of nowhere, and while I like to be kept guessing, there just didn’t seem to be some common thread to keep me from being so turned around all the time. I think this might be the result of so many different PoVs in this story. While I am not usually a big fan of the multiple point of view mode of storytelling, anyways, I felt that here it did tend to give away too much, too soon. What I really wanted to read was Raft solving a mystery, but he was barely one half of the story, and since I had tried to make him my anchor, when he was gone, I felt a little lost. Others might not find this as troublesome, but it created problems for me. Not to mention I was really confused as to why Miriam was so scared at the beginning, but at the end her personality took a 180. I might have missed something, in my reading, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was constantly running in the opposite direction of everyone else in the story. It made for a really confusing read.
People who have read and liked this series before may absolutely love this book, but for anyone who hasn’t I would advise you to either go read those first, or maybe be ready to take this book slowly so you don’t get lost. I love mystery, love solving puzzles, but this was the equivalent of a rubik cube for me. No matter what way I turn or twist it, I’m left annoyed, confused, and probably chucking the damn thing across the room. 2 stars, with the provision that this is probably not the best way to get into the series, but it might just be a great way to continue it. Still, not my thing at all.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
My first thought, when I began this book, was that I really should have read the two previous books in the series. Sadly, I didn’t realize that this book was the third Inspector Raft Mystery novel until it was too late, but I was determined to push through. I love a good ol’ Victorian mystery novel, and something dark and gritty was right up my alley this week. I wanted murder, was craving mystery, and demanded to be let loose on the mean streets of Victorian England–or, as the case may be, the parlors of the Victorian elite.
This story really does start out with a bang, quite literally, and I really liked how the whole story was shaping up in those first few chapters. Sure, there were some parts where I felt lost since clearly these were characters with backstory that I should have known, but didn’t–but it was entertaining and a bit mysterious, so I chose to take the characters as they came, and hoped for the best.
Then…then everything got so bloody confusing. This is probably to blame on the lack of backstory I had, but I spent a majority of the book unsure if Raft was a picnic basket short of a picnic. There were some paranormal/supernatural/alien plot threads going on in this book that I just did not get. Or maybe Raft is just crazy. I didn’t go into this book expecting it to be filled with ghosts and visions and things, so when they popped up I had trouble judging just what was real, and what was not. I was curious as to if these memories or visions were real, but because Raft was such a jumble of contradicting thoughts, I could never find a solid ground.
People and plot points seemed to come out of nowhere, and while I like to be kept guessing, there just didn’t seem to be some common thread to keep me from being so turned around all the time. I think this might be the result of so many different PoVs in this story. While I am not usually a big fan of the multiple point of view mode of storytelling, anyways, I felt that here it did tend to give away too much, too soon. What I really wanted to read was Raft solving a mystery, but he was barely one half of the story, and since I had tried to make him my anchor, when he was gone, I felt a little lost. Others might not find this as troublesome, but it created problems for me. Not to mention I was really confused as to why Miriam was so scared at the beginning, but at the end her personality took a 180. I might have missed something, in my reading, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was constantly running in the opposite direction of everyone else in the story. It made for a really confusing read.
People who have read and liked this series before may absolutely love this book, but for anyone who hasn’t I would advise you to either go read those first, or maybe be ready to take this book slowly so you don’t get lost. I love mystery, love solving puzzles, but this was the equivalent of a rubik cube for me. No matter what way I turn or twist it, I’m left annoyed, confused, and probably chucking the damn thing across the room. 2 stars, with the provision that this is probably not the best way to get into the series, but it might just be a great way to continue it. Still, not my thing at all.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 10, 2015
Another gripping, dark and twisted mystery that certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, what a treat!
Not only does it explore Victorian London with all its layers from the wealthiest to the poorest, but it also brilliantly shows that the worst of human nature exists at all levels ...
And again, the sense of time, place, characters, dialogue and plot are excellent. Ms. Cook paints here a vivid and meticulous picture of the period.
I really hope that it won't be the last book of the series because there's still so much to discover about Raft's puzzling past and special mind ; I would strongly suggest reading the series in order.
I totally recommend this book (and in fact the whole Inspector Raft Mystery Series) and if you are, like me, a fan of the Victorian detective genre you'll definitely enjoy reading it.
February 23, 2016
Inspector Philemon Raft is back, but he’s without Constable Freddie Crook, his lover. Freddie has gone to Argentina for a year, and Raft is no longer sure if he’s coming back. Raft has to go on, though, and he’s grumpy and lonely and has been stuck with a new constable, Prentiss Cholmondely. As they work together to solve the kidnapping case of Miriam Dewberry, a great respect develops between them and Raft takes note of the talent Cholmondely has as a constable.
I really favored Prentiss, a young man who married at the age of seventeen to a thirty-year-old woman. Now divorced, he has a son he feels guilt for not fighting for. His working relationship becomes so much more with Raft—I loved him and could see him with a story of his own.
J.S. Cook is just amazing at making Scotland Yard and London come alive in the 1800s. Such a twisted murder plot woven with some of Raft’s nemesis and an evil sister. Because the first two books, Willing Flesh and Rag & Bone, are not easy to find, I had just a bit of trouble when I started. Some characters and bits of the previous stories carry over to Come to Dust, but this is still an extraordinary story from this author.
Joel Leslie does a fantastically entertaining interpretation of J.S. Cook’s Come to Dust, with so many different voices and dialects from London, France and South America. There was no issue at all distinguishing between the different characters, and I really liked the emotion Mr. Leslie brought to the story, especially in Prentiss Cholmondely. When he says good-bye to Raft, it’s just so emotional and really tugs at the heart.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
I really favored Prentiss, a young man who married at the age of seventeen to a thirty-year-old woman. Now divorced, he has a son he feels guilt for not fighting for. His working relationship becomes so much more with Raft—I loved him and could see him with a story of his own.
J.S. Cook is just amazing at making Scotland Yard and London come alive in the 1800s. Such a twisted murder plot woven with some of Raft’s nemesis and an evil sister. Because the first two books, Willing Flesh and Rag & Bone, are not easy to find, I had just a bit of trouble when I started. Some characters and bits of the previous stories carry over to Come to Dust, but this is still an extraordinary story from this author.
Joel Leslie does a fantastically entertaining interpretation of J.S. Cook’s Come to Dust, with so many different voices and dialects from London, France and South America. There was no issue at all distinguishing between the different characters, and I really liked the emotion Mr. Leslie brought to the story, especially in Prentiss Cholmondely. When he says good-bye to Raft, it’s just so emotional and really tugs at the heart.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
November 25, 2013
I was so excited to see this latest installment in a series I have really enjoyed. This is an excellent crime/mystery that truly had me turning pages well into the night. When I read,I love feeling as though I am right there in the setting, taking part in the action and this author delivers that and then some. Raft is as compelling as ever. All of the characters are vividly portrayed and fairly leap off the pages. It was wonderful how Raft felt Freddie with him in his heart and mind at all times, even if he was not present in body. I love the paranormal aspect and hope it gets explored further in future books, although perhaps it's meant to be a giant grey area, for Raft as well as the reader. Crossing my fingers that the author has more exploits planned for Inspector Raft.
February 6, 2017
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: I’ve listened to many books narrated by Joel Leslie. He always does a fantastic job creating a multitude of accents and variations in tone to give a unique voice to every character in the book. Sometimes it is hard to believe all the voices come from one person. His narration was a bright spot of this listening experience.
Story: This review is a little hard for me to write. I enjoyed the book and thought it had some really interesting ideas. However, there was so much going on in this book, maybe a little too much. I was left feeling confused and also wanting more. Many of the ideas I would have liked to learn more about. According to Goodreads, this book is listed as book 3, but I don’t see the previous books for sale anywhere. Perhaps those might have cleared up some of my confusion.
We start in 1891 when being gay could be considered a crime. Inspector Philemon Raft is assigned to solve the case of a missing girl. Raft is an interesting character. He seems to see ghosts. I would have liked to have seen his ability be used in solving crimes, but it seems like it is just a facet of the character that doesn’t really go anywhere. He still seems to have excellent powers of deduction and is a respected detective. His lover and sidekick, Constable Freddie Crook, is out of the country battling a laudanum addiction. It is obvious that Raft had great feelings for the man. During moments of the book, Raft would hear or see Freddie. I was left trying to figure out whether he was dead or if it was just daydreams and memories. It played havoc on Raft and on me, too.
With Freddie gone, Raft is assigned a new partner, Prentiss Chalmondley. (I think that is how it is spelled, since I listened to the audio without having the book in front of me.) Prentiss is an interesting character. He talks in a cockney slang that causes others to think he’s not particularly bright, but they’re dead wrong. His intelligence and investigative skills are clearly being misused in his usual position of minding the prisoners in their cells. Prentiss is also a very likable guy. His crush on Raft is returned a bit, but Raft is longing for Freddie.
The mystery itself was interesting. A boat load of twists and turns await, including an intersex character. While the kidnapping case was solved, in a matter of speaking, it’s not without casualties. Several lives are lost, and Raft finds himself maybe-temporarily blinded. I wish I could find out what happens in the future for him. Gallant is a side character who I would have liked to learn more about as well. He and Raft have a past, but I feel like there could have been a whole other story involving that past, because even Raft seems unclear as to what happened. Overall, it is a book I would recommend. It was a good mystery but I wish I didn’t have so many questions left hanging when it ended. My hope is that the previous two books are being republished or there will be a follow up.
7.5/10 Pots of Gold (75% Recommended) – Compares to 3.75/5 Stars
Narration: I’ve listened to many books narrated by Joel Leslie. He always does a fantastic job creating a multitude of accents and variations in tone to give a unique voice to every character in the book. Sometimes it is hard to believe all the voices come from one person. His narration was a bright spot of this listening experience.
Story: This review is a little hard for me to write. I enjoyed the book and thought it had some really interesting ideas. However, there was so much going on in this book, maybe a little too much. I was left feeling confused and also wanting more. Many of the ideas I would have liked to learn more about. According to Goodreads, this book is listed as book 3, but I don’t see the previous books for sale anywhere. Perhaps those might have cleared up some of my confusion.
We start in 1891 when being gay could be considered a crime. Inspector Philemon Raft is assigned to solve the case of a missing girl. Raft is an interesting character. He seems to see ghosts. I would have liked to have seen his ability be used in solving crimes, but it seems like it is just a facet of the character that doesn’t really go anywhere. He still seems to have excellent powers of deduction and is a respected detective. His lover and sidekick, Constable Freddie Crook, is out of the country battling a laudanum addiction. It is obvious that Raft had great feelings for the man. During moments of the book, Raft would hear or see Freddie. I was left trying to figure out whether he was dead or if it was just daydreams and memories. It played havoc on Raft and on me, too.
With Freddie gone, Raft is assigned a new partner, Prentiss Chalmondley. (I think that is how it is spelled, since I listened to the audio without having the book in front of me.) Prentiss is an interesting character. He talks in a cockney slang that causes others to think he’s not particularly bright, but they’re dead wrong. His intelligence and investigative skills are clearly being misused in his usual position of minding the prisoners in their cells. Prentiss is also a very likable guy. His crush on Raft is returned a bit, but Raft is longing for Freddie.
The mystery itself was interesting. A boat load of twists and turns await, including an intersex character. While the kidnapping case was solved, in a matter of speaking, it’s not without casualties. Several lives are lost, and Raft finds himself maybe-temporarily blinded. I wish I could find out what happens in the future for him. Gallant is a side character who I would have liked to learn more about as well. He and Raft have a past, but I feel like there could have been a whole other story involving that past, because even Raft seems unclear as to what happened. Overall, it is a book I would recommend. It was a good mystery but I wish I didn’t have so many questions left hanging when it ended. My hope is that the previous two books are being republished or there will be a follow up.
7.5/10 Pots of Gold (75% Recommended) – Compares to 3.75/5 Stars
August 11, 2015
So this story starts our great... and I already know who's gonna fall in love whom... and the kidnapping mystery keeps you on your toes...and it's super great.
I got this book b/c it was on audible and it was the only one available by this author.
When the story finished and the bad guy/gal(s) were caught -- I was like -- WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?
This is when I realize that this is PART 3 of the friggin series... um, why is audbile not selling part one and two...
Anyway, I enjoyed the story. I'd started this a while ago and wasn't into it but this time around, it consumed me whole...
I suppose I'll go looking for part 1 and 2 even though now it'll have spoilers.
I got this book b/c it was on audible and it was the only one available by this author.
When the story finished and the bad guy/gal(s) were caught -- I was like -- WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?
This is when I realize that this is PART 3 of the friggin series... um, why is audbile not selling part one and two...
Anyway, I enjoyed the story. I'd started this a while ago and wasn't into it but this time around, it consumed me whole...
I suppose I'll go looking for part 1 and 2 even though now it'll have spoilers.
July 21, 2015
So I read this on scribd, and it was not labeled as part of a series, and there's no note in the book that labels it as part of a series and not a standalone.
So, I read the entire thing feeling like I was missing a chunk. I guess I was, as here I come to find that there were 2 books before it! I might try it again from the beginning.
I'd say that publishers should be more careful when posting on scribd, but since m/m publishers are no longer going to be publishing there it's moot.
So, I read the entire thing feeling like I was missing a chunk. I guess I was, as here I come to find that there were 2 books before it! I might try it again from the beginning.
I'd say that publishers should be more careful when posting on scribd, but since m/m publishers are no longer going to be publishing there it's moot.
August 24, 2021
In this third 'Inspector Raft Mystery', set in early 1890s Victorian London, Philemon Raft is still pining for his lover and sidekick Freddie Crook who's in South America recovering from his laudanum addiction (or is he?) When called upon to investigate the kidnapping of a rich heiress, Miriam Dewberry, Raft throws himself into the case with all his customary intelligence and enthusiasm, only to come up against brick wall after brick wall - for one thing, there's been no ransom demand, and for another, dead bodies keep turning up whose connection with the case is frustratingly unclear.
Fortunately, Phil has been assigned a new Detective Constable to assist him - blond, blue-eyed Constable Prentiss Cholmondley, lonely after having been deserted by his wife and eager to please. Their affair provides some much-needed light relief as the waters become increasingly muddied - literally so when a hired barge named 'The Laddie of Shalot' (note the mis-spelling) is found floating in the Thames with yet another dead lady on board, arranged as though lying on a bier and bedecked with bright red flowers of South American origin.
It soon transpires that this 'lady' is not what she appears to be - and no more is Miriam Dewberry, whose 'kidnap' Raft has suspected from the beginning to be a stunt designed to hide more nefarious goings-on.
As with the two previous Inspector Raft mysteries, the plot does become very convoluted, as the reappearance of the mysterious John Gallant dredges up yet more half-forgotten memories for our hero, the reluctant psychic with a previous life that haunts his dreams. Then he receives a visit from his estranged sister, Ada, who bears him a lifelong grudge and will, it seems, stop at nothing to prevent him from pursuing this particular investigation ...
Will Raft ever fully recover his buried memories of another time and place? Will he solve the mystery of Miriam Dewberry? Will he and Freddie Crook be reunited? Not all of the loose ends are neatly tied up in bitter-sweet conclusion, but it's a hugely enjoyable and immersive read, and the atmosphere of Victorian London is conjured up so vividly that it lingers long after the reader has put down the book.
Fortunately, Phil has been assigned a new Detective Constable to assist him - blond, blue-eyed Constable Prentiss Cholmondley, lonely after having been deserted by his wife and eager to please. Their affair provides some much-needed light relief as the waters become increasingly muddied - literally so when a hired barge named 'The Laddie of Shalot' (note the mis-spelling) is found floating in the Thames with yet another dead lady on board, arranged as though lying on a bier and bedecked with bright red flowers of South American origin.
It soon transpires that this 'lady' is not what she appears to be - and no more is Miriam Dewberry, whose 'kidnap' Raft has suspected from the beginning to be a stunt designed to hide more nefarious goings-on.
As with the two previous Inspector Raft mysteries, the plot does become very convoluted, as the reappearance of the mysterious John Gallant dredges up yet more half-forgotten memories for our hero, the reluctant psychic with a previous life that haunts his dreams. Then he receives a visit from his estranged sister, Ada, who bears him a lifelong grudge and will, it seems, stop at nothing to prevent him from pursuing this particular investigation ...
Will Raft ever fully recover his buried memories of another time and place? Will he solve the mystery of Miriam Dewberry? Will he and Freddie Crook be reunited? Not all of the loose ends are neatly tied up in bitter-sweet conclusion, but it's a hugely enjoyable and immersive read, and the atmosphere of Victorian London is conjured up so vividly that it lingers long after the reader has put down the book.
May 26, 2026
I’m reasonably certain not a page of this made sense.
This is the 3rd book in the series— something not noted anywhere in the book. Maybe things would make a bit more sense if I had read the first two, but I honestly don’t think it would make much of a difference.
It’s definitely got something fantasy/paranormal going on, with Gallant and Raft being reincarnations or something, having been “selected by the elders” and being The Chosen. Not to mention the ghosts, or whatever they are.
There are far too many characters (why do I need to know the name of a madam that pops up once?), and too many POVs (there were four alone in the first 4%).
I think this is supposed to have a good dose of humour, but most of it is in poor taste or just straight up not funny.
Raft is also completely unlikeable, and not a very good inspector. His every thought and word towards Cholmondely is extremely off-putting. Though how he comports himself if general is unpleasant.
Take, for instance, this scene where he observes the coroner doing an autopsy on a murder victim.
(Even if you disregard how grotesque that passage is, it doesn’t even make sense to have Raft think of Doyle making the joke, thinking he would have made the same joke, while also not saying he because he couldn’t think of anything to say.)
This is the 3rd book in the series— something not noted anywhere in the book. Maybe things would make a bit more sense if I had read the first two, but I honestly don’t think it would make much of a difference.
It’s definitely got something fantasy/paranormal going on, with Gallant and Raft being reincarnations or something, having been “selected by the elders” and being The Chosen. Not to mention the ghosts, or whatever they are.
There are far too many characters (why do I need to know the name of a madam that pops up once?), and too many POVs (there were four alone in the first 4%).
I think this is supposed to have a good dose of humour, but most of it is in poor taste or just straight up not funny.
Raft is also completely unlikeable, and not a very good inspector. His every thought and word towards Cholmondely is extremely off-putting. Though how he comports himself if general is unpleasant.
Take, for instance, this scene where he observes the coroner doing an autopsy on a murder victim.
It was routine, he knew, but the sight of the big man’s fingers buried in the girl’s vaginal entrance unnerved him. He kept waiting for Doyle to make some joke about being inside a woman. Raft would have made the same joke, except he couldn’t think of anything to say.
(Even if you disregard how grotesque that passage is, it doesn’t even make sense to have Raft think of Doyle making the joke, thinking he would have made the same joke, while also not saying he because he couldn’t think of anything to say.)
November 1, 2018
Audiobook review
This is book three of a series. Not having read the previous books I was at first a little confused as to what had happened before. Just when I thought I was following the story there were references to characters or things that had happened in previous books and it left me a little confused again. After awhile I settled into the story this was mostly due to the excellent narration by Joel Leslie.
I wouldn’t say this was a romance per se more of a mystery with romance elements. Philemon Raft is pining after his lover Freddy Crook who throughout the story is in South America. The mystery also links into South America. It revolves around a missing girl. There is a lot of twists and turns that I found myself listening over again to make sure I got the gist of what was happening. There was also a paranormal element. It seems like Raft can see ghosts but denies their existence. possibly another element explained in the previous books. So many characters all with their part to play. I only kept track of them because Joel Leslie gave them their personality and distinctive voices. From these voices and tones I was able to get a marvellous picture of them in my head. Made the story for me. It’s just a shame this is book 3 and the previous books aren’t available as audiobooks. I think it’s best to read the first two before starting this one.
copy provided in exchange for an honest review
This is book three of a series. Not having read the previous books I was at first a little confused as to what had happened before. Just when I thought I was following the story there were references to characters or things that had happened in previous books and it left me a little confused again. After awhile I settled into the story this was mostly due to the excellent narration by Joel Leslie.
I wouldn’t say this was a romance per se more of a mystery with romance elements. Philemon Raft is pining after his lover Freddy Crook who throughout the story is in South America. The mystery also links into South America. It revolves around a missing girl. There is a lot of twists and turns that I found myself listening over again to make sure I got the gist of what was happening. There was also a paranormal element. It seems like Raft can see ghosts but denies their existence. possibly another element explained in the previous books. So many characters all with their part to play. I only kept track of them because Joel Leslie gave them their personality and distinctive voices. From these voices and tones I was able to get a marvellous picture of them in my head. Made the story for me. It’s just a shame this is book 3 and the previous books aren’t available as audiobooks. I think it’s best to read the first two before starting this one.
copy provided in exchange for an honest review
December 10, 2021
I really, really wish the previous books were still available. I wish there were another book after this. There are just SO many unanswered questions and so many things I don't know if I understand - or if I'm meant to understand. I spent a great deal of the time listening feeling as if I was almost understanding, but not quite.
I wasn't entirely pleased with the end. Risking spoiling, it's not exactly a HAPPY end. A great deal of the book is gruesome, twisted, and downright sad. But I'm still curious and if there were a book to come after this, after all these years, and if the previous books were re-released, I'd read it all from the start, just out of a desire to understand it better.
As for the audio, it was pretty good - the emotion and expression was quite good. I only wish that Mr. Leslie had given a slightly greater pause between some changes in perspective. The POV changes frequently and it was a bit whiplash like at times. I think in print, the change would've been more obvious - paragraph marks perhaps. I'm not really sure, having not read the print. But I think if I were to read this again, I'd do the print. And then perhaps I could also re-read portions with greater ease, because again, this was one confusing tale.
I wasn't entirely pleased with the end. Risking spoiling, it's not exactly a HAPPY end. A great deal of the book is gruesome, twisted, and downright sad. But I'm still curious and if there were a book to come after this, after all these years, and if the previous books were re-released, I'd read it all from the start, just out of a desire to understand it better.
As for the audio, it was pretty good - the emotion and expression was quite good. I only wish that Mr. Leslie had given a slightly greater pause between some changes in perspective. The POV changes frequently and it was a bit whiplash like at times. I think in print, the change would've been more obvious - paragraph marks perhaps. I'm not really sure, having not read the print. But I think if I were to read this again, I'd do the print. And then perhaps I could also re-read portions with greater ease, because again, this was one confusing tale.
September 27, 2020
So, the thing is I really liked the mystery part of this story, but it's obvious that I should have read the previous two books to really understand what's really going on.
So I'll come back to this one once I have done that :P
So I'll come back to this one once I have done that :P
April 6, 2015
I really liked this book good mystery.
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