What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady Julia Grey #2
Silent in the Sanctuary
England, 1887
“There is a dead man stinking in the game larder. I hardly think a few missing pearls will be the ruin of this house party.” Lady Julia Grey’s eccentric family and friends have gathered to keep Christmas in Bellmont Abbey.
But when Lady Julia notices the enigmatic detective Nicholas Brisbane in the party, she is less than delighted – trouble is sure to follow. Her prediction is proved correct when festivities are brought to an abrupt halt by a murder in the chapel.
Blood dripping from her hands, Lady Julia’s cousin claims the ancient right of sanctuary. Forced to resume her deliciously intriguing partnership with Brisbane, Lady Julia is intent on proving her cousin’s innocence. Still, the truth is rarely pure and never simple…
494 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2007
587 people are currently reading
5911 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Raybourn
40 books9,431 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna's first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022. (Please note: Deanna is not active on GR.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,320 reviews
May 5, 2019
This Victorian-era murder mystery gets a mixed verdict from me. I enjoy the characters and the world Raybourn has created, and I'm pretty much into the tortured romance of the main characters, even though they go months without seeing each other and spend more time insulting each other than kissing. I think Lady Julia and her eccentric family are too much 21st century with their socially liberal attitudes, but I already complained about that in the first book, so that one's on me if I decide to keep reading the series anyway.
No, my real complaint with this book is the murder mystery itself. First, it took forever to get going. I mean, I do enjoy Raybourn's writing and hanging out with these characters, but over 200 pages of exposition before the murder mystery actually gets going? Seems excessive. And second, once the mystery(ies) start to get solved and Everything is Explained, it was really an overly complex resolution, not to mention wildly unlikely. I'm not the best person at picking up all the clues and solving the murder mystery before the book explains it to you, but this one just struck me as impossible to solve, in an unfair kind of way.
Also, the Grey Pearls? This just felt wrong.
No, my real complaint with this book is the murder mystery itself. First, it took forever to get going. I mean, I do enjoy Raybourn's writing and hanging out with these characters, but over 200 pages of exposition before the murder mystery actually gets going? Seems excessive. And second, once the mystery(ies) start to get solved and Everything is Explained, it was really an overly complex resolution, not to mention wildly unlikely. I'm not the best person at picking up all the clues and solving the murder mystery before the book explains it to you, but this one just struck me as impossible to solve, in an unfair kind of way.
Also, the Grey Pearls? This just felt wrong.
January 26, 2015
Given how much I loved Silent in the Grave, I felt a tingle of thrill and anxiety as I cracked open the sequel. The first book had what I consider to be a "perfect" ending. I couldn't have asked for more and wouldn't have wished it different in any way. Such endings are rare and to find one at the end of the first book in a series is rarer still. So, could Silent in the Sanctuary live up to its predecessor? I really, really hoped it could.
The second volume picks up several months after the end of the first. Lady Julia is on vacation in Italy, attempting to recover from the traumatic events of her investigation into her husband's death by basking in the Tuscan sun. Her recuperation is cut short, however, when she and her brothers (the delightfully named Plum and Lysander) receive a summons home to England for the Christmas holidays. At the last minute, they decide to take along a young Italian count who has become a friend to all three, but who also seems to have formed a rather strong attachment to Julia. Hmm. Back in England, all of Julia's hilarious and quirky family members are present and accounted for while a few unexpected Christmas guests round out the mix, including a few cousins, an uncle, a dubious clergyman, and one Mr. Nicholas Brisbane.
What follows reminded me of a wonderfully late night game of Clue. All the players are charming and suspect in turn and the murder even takes place in the sanctuary with the candlestick! And it remains Julia's and Brisbane's task to ferret out the identity of the killer. May I just say, I continue to love these two reluctant partners. Julia, in all her incorrigible intrepidity, serves as the perfect foil for Brisbane and his ruthless pursuit of the murderer. This second volume includes a few more tantalizing insights into the darkness that is Brisbane, as well as some cracking good repartee between our two lead characters. I went in with the highest of expectations and Silent in the Sanctuary more than lived up to them. This series is right on track to become an all-time favorite. Seriously, it has everything you could ask for. Charmingly dry-humored heroine? Check. Tortured and broody hero? Check. Humor, danger, genuine creepiness? Check, check, check. I'm recommending them left and right and can't wait to get my hands on the third installment, Silent on the Moor, due out in March.
The second volume picks up several months after the end of the first. Lady Julia is on vacation in Italy, attempting to recover from the traumatic events of her investigation into her husband's death by basking in the Tuscan sun. Her recuperation is cut short, however, when she and her brothers (the delightfully named Plum and Lysander) receive a summons home to England for the Christmas holidays. At the last minute, they decide to take along a young Italian count who has become a friend to all three, but who also seems to have formed a rather strong attachment to Julia. Hmm. Back in England, all of Julia's hilarious and quirky family members are present and accounted for while a few unexpected Christmas guests round out the mix, including a few cousins, an uncle, a dubious clergyman, and one Mr. Nicholas Brisbane.
What follows reminded me of a wonderfully late night game of Clue. All the players are charming and suspect in turn and the murder even takes place in the sanctuary with the candlestick! And it remains Julia's and Brisbane's task to ferret out the identity of the killer. May I just say, I continue to love these two reluctant partners. Julia, in all her incorrigible intrepidity, serves as the perfect foil for Brisbane and his ruthless pursuit of the murderer. This second volume includes a few more tantalizing insights into the darkness that is Brisbane, as well as some cracking good repartee between our two lead characters. I went in with the highest of expectations and Silent in the Sanctuary more than lived up to them. This series is right on track to become an all-time favorite. Seriously, it has everything you could ask for. Charmingly dry-humored heroine? Check. Tortured and broody hero? Check. Humor, danger, genuine creepiness? Check, check, check. I'm recommending them left and right and can't wait to get my hands on the third installment, Silent on the Moor, due out in March.
September 13, 2022
This is a perfectly good mystery that I just had trouble getting interested in. I picked it up and set it down 3 or 4 times before I settled into the story. The mystery did not really grab me, so I tended to skip pages quite a bit. The ending was interesting and had multiple threads tied up. Often the characters seemed too modern...too rich....to eccentric....Will I continue the series...probably.
April 30, 2009
Oooh goodness, I love this series! A nice break from the urban fantasy jag I've been on. I started reading it in England and the lovely characters and sheer Britishness of it really made my trip fuller. I love the mysteries, however simple they are, and the tone of the book, the sense of humor and the tormented hero Brisbane. Lady Julia is a wonderful heroine, smart and snappy.
April 10, 2008
I can't stand that woman. I tried. She should be a favourite, but Lady Julia Grey isn't just too Mary Sue (see author's photo) but a priviledged bitch with nine awesome siblings and one awesome rich father, so Brisbane has to be put down for his one kiss (still not described, while Julia being kissed by a few others in the meantime always was - and while I'm bored with purple prose, SOMETHING would have been preferable rather than the feeling a whole paragraph was missing), and Brisbane's bride is suddenly out of the blue a chatterbox while Julia gets to abuse him and then cry and be the tortured heroine?! For what! Just as the debut was NOT evocative, this is another case of the wrapping being better than the content - nice cover, same annoying 3 blank pages and one stupid proverb between every short chapter, same modernisms, same pseudo-liberalness combined with rich, careless priviledge with a heroine that, when it comes down to it, is plain boring. The genuinely stupid ones in gothic novels this one quotes at least didn't pretend and at least had genuine reasons to be afraid or worried. Julia just has lots of support. As with the non-kiss, the non-denouement of the first novel is here referred to as tragedy, as her heavy burden, again something never seen, and I wish I had never mistaken her as an original, unusual character when her coolness over her dead husband had been meant to indicate weakness (cp. the UK article "What a Carve up" about authorial intent sometimes being bad after all).
ETA: and the book just gets worse. While I still like Brisbane, the further praise of hashish and lack of mention of his second sight, which was a crap idea but just leaving it out now doesn't make anything any better, is insufferable, but nothing is as bad as that damn Julia. What should have been the hightlight, her kissing him, feels as contrived and stupid as the whole book - Raybourne keeps TELLING us she evolved while I never saw a single indication she had been any different at the start of the first book than she is now. None. And she walks into the murderers room again, and men chiding her for once does not make me angry at them but at that stupid bint who then flounces off to cry when yes, she had been stupid and no, I've never seen her exhibit any intelligence. Or anything making her better or more interesting. This is such a waste! Oh, and the font is now bigger and the lines are spaced wider apart to bolster it even more. And I might have to read one more to see if she ever lets them fuck, or if she's going to pull a Beaton since she's unable to do Sayers or Chase.
To have her father tell her she really is his favourite only made me hate her more and him to boot. Why?! She then weeps a bit more. The poor thing. Coz he loves her most and gave her a house and Brisbane risks his life again for her. I can't even like the two evil women - or any character really. They are all truly repellent to me, and they will keep cropping up, if the gipsy Marge is any indication. And since one of the criminals they let escape killed again (as TOLD in the incredibly long epilogues), she plans on and endless eries.
To think that the first novel at least had some vague promise that is now all gone in fake tales about Brisbane that Julia cannot know, not having known him before or seen him since, and the unsufferable superiority of heroine and author.
No, really, such generally unpleasing characters - not because they are dark and dreary but because they are meant to be colourful and all seem like backstabbing housewives. It's one thing to have them be humans, not black and white, and another to never have any reason fro their changes EXCEPT that it fit whatever Raybourne wanted to tell the reader. It's not Perry or Hern she tries to immitate, it's that boring Jane Austen as Detective series by Barron, which has another string-along non-romance that at least historically never came to anything (some excuse there).
Seriously annoying hot air.
ETA-FIFTEEN: she has a blog. My claim she was a Mary Sue is further supported by her other photographs, where she's decked out like her heroine, down to the pendant. Read her entries. I was making CLAWs with my fingers talking about her and how I'd have to wait another two years to read if she let J and B do the carnal thing, since it still seems marketed as romance and readers actually consider the bare bones of nothingness in this self-lauding drivel romantic. I fell for it when she once didn't describe a thing, preferring understatement, but having done it again this time, I think fade-to-black was less coy. And I really need to stop fuming now :)
ETA: and the book just gets worse. While I still like Brisbane, the further praise of hashish and lack of mention of his second sight, which was a crap idea but just leaving it out now doesn't make anything any better, is insufferable, but nothing is as bad as that damn Julia. What should have been the hightlight, her kissing him, feels as contrived and stupid as the whole book - Raybourne keeps TELLING us she evolved while I never saw a single indication she had been any different at the start of the first book than she is now. None. And she walks into the murderers room again, and men chiding her for once does not make me angry at them but at that stupid bint who then flounces off to cry when yes, she had been stupid and no, I've never seen her exhibit any intelligence. Or anything making her better or more interesting. This is such a waste! Oh, and the font is now bigger and the lines are spaced wider apart to bolster it even more. And I might have to read one more to see if she ever lets them fuck, or if she's going to pull a Beaton since she's unable to do Sayers or Chase.
To have her father tell her she really is his favourite only made me hate her more and him to boot. Why?! She then weeps a bit more. The poor thing. Coz he loves her most and gave her a house and Brisbane risks his life again for her. I can't even like the two evil women - or any character really. They are all truly repellent to me, and they will keep cropping up, if the gipsy Marge is any indication. And since one of the criminals they let escape killed again (as TOLD in the incredibly long epilogues), she plans on and endless eries.
To think that the first novel at least had some vague promise that is now all gone in fake tales about Brisbane that Julia cannot know, not having known him before or seen him since, and the unsufferable superiority of heroine and author.
No, really, such generally unpleasing characters - not because they are dark and dreary but because they are meant to be colourful and all seem like backstabbing housewives. It's one thing to have them be humans, not black and white, and another to never have any reason fro their changes EXCEPT that it fit whatever Raybourne wanted to tell the reader. It's not Perry or Hern she tries to immitate, it's that boring Jane Austen as Detective series by Barron, which has another string-along non-romance that at least historically never came to anything (some excuse there).
Seriously annoying hot air.
ETA-FIFTEEN: she has a blog. My claim she was a Mary Sue is further supported by her other photographs, where she's decked out like her heroine, down to the pendant. Read her entries. I was making CLAWs with my fingers talking about her and how I'd have to wait another two years to read if she let J and B do the carnal thing, since it still seems marketed as romance and readers actually consider the bare bones of nothingness in this self-lauding drivel romantic. I fell for it when she once didn't describe a thing, preferring understatement, but having done it again this time, I think fade-to-black was less coy. And I really need to stop fuming now :)
February 19, 2019
I know that this series is generally considered a mystery series, but to me it is more of a romance series. The mystery portion of the plot merely provides the grit around which the pearl of the romance is gradually being formed. As per usual with Gothic romances, the mystery portion unfolds at an extremely leisurely pace and at least half of the fun of the reading experience is the amount of time the couple spends bickering rather than kissing—they seem to get 1-2 kisses per book.
There are the usual romance tropes—a strong willed heroine, a man who doesn’t feel like he quite fits into her world, annoyance gradually changing to passion.
Raybourn also gives me enough amusing dialog to keep me entertained:
However, the ending of the book, with Julia’s final visit to the Roma camp, just didn’t ring true for me. In my humble opinion, she drastically overpaid for the information that she received. Nevertheless, I will be happy to proceed to the next novel.
There are the usual romance tropes—a strong willed heroine, a man who doesn’t feel like he quite fits into her world, annoyance gradually changing to passion.
Raybourn also gives me enough amusing dialog to keep me entertained:
”I suppose it is quite certain he is dead?” I asked faintly.
“There are bits of him stuck to your shoe,” he remarked, rather unhelpfully.
However, the ending of the book, with Julia’s final visit to the Roma camp, just didn’t ring true for me. In my humble opinion, she drastically overpaid for the information that she received. Nevertheless, I will be happy to proceed to the next novel.
September 24, 2017
What was only slightly irritating in the first book became a huge let-down in this one.
Nicholas Brisbane hasn't changed at all, he is still the same mysterious figure who doesn't want to let anyone get a glimpse of his real self, especially Julia. He acts like an asshole to her and conceals anything he knows about the case. But what enrages me the most is that the author hasn't developed his character until now at all, he is still portrayed as an omnipotent man who knows everything but we never see him at work. He just pops out suddenly from somewhere and pronounces "I already know that." And since he hasn't got a POV of his own, we have no idea what he thinks about or feels.
Julia has become a childish moron who only whines about Nicholas not noticing her and getting engaged but that does not stop her from throwing herself at him all the time. I was also disappointed by her character development - the author has reduced her from a smart, witty and complex woman to a whiny, stupid, and selfish idiot. I've come to the conclusion that Nicholas deserves her and vice versa. He is selfish for never trusting anyone but taking trust; while she does not mind using others (e.g. that Italian guy) in order to make Nicholas jealous.
The murder case might have saved the book a bit, but it was actually very boring and dull.
Additionally, the book ends in the same way as the first one, with a freakin' cliffhanger! The relationship between Nicholas and Julia hasn't improved; on the contrary, it's even worse. This reminds me of A Series of Unfortunate Events and of how each book in that series ends THE SAME - without any improvement or plot development. I hate that!
However, I'm still gonna give this series a second chance. I'm interested in the next one that takes place on the moors. The Wuthering Heights setting has always appealed to me.
*SAFETY GANG note: OW/M drama.
Nicholas Brisbane hasn't changed at all, he is still the same mysterious figure who doesn't want to let anyone get a glimpse of his real self, especially Julia. He acts like an asshole to her and conceals anything he knows about the case. But what enrages me the most is that the author hasn't developed his character until now at all, he is still portrayed as an omnipotent man who knows everything but we never see him at work. He just pops out suddenly from somewhere and pronounces "I already know that." And since he hasn't got a POV of his own, we have no idea what he thinks about or feels.
Julia has become a childish moron who only whines about Nicholas not noticing her and getting engaged but that does not stop her from throwing herself at him all the time. I was also disappointed by her character development - the author has reduced her from a smart, witty and complex woman to a whiny, stupid, and selfish idiot. I've come to the conclusion that Nicholas deserves her and vice versa. He is selfish for never trusting anyone but taking trust; while she does not mind using others (e.g. that Italian guy) in order to make Nicholas jealous.
The murder case might have saved the book a bit, but it was actually very boring and dull.
Additionally, the book ends in the same way as the first one, with a freakin' cliffhanger! The relationship between Nicholas and Julia hasn't improved; on the contrary, it's even worse. This reminds me of A Series of Unfortunate Events and of how each book in that series ends THE SAME - without any improvement or plot development. I hate that!
However, I'm still gonna give this series a second chance. I'm interested in the next one that takes place on the moors. The Wuthering Heights setting has always appealed to me.
*SAFETY GANG note: OW/M drama.
April 18, 2021
I have never read a series where I felt more like the whole series could have been read all through as one (huge, though it would be) book. The chemistry didn't falter and the characters didn't lose ANY of their appeal in this sequel, which so often happens in series.
The mysteries are good--sometimes the broader parts of the crimes aren't terribly hard to guess, but there are always smaller intrigues mixed in, and I don't think it would be possible to solve each and every one of them, so I think everyone can reach the end surprised in some fashion, and therefore satisfied.
So many things that usually annoy me to no end barely bother me at all because I love the stories so much. Clunky foreshadowing of the "Little did I know what was lurking just around the corner..." variety is in practically every chapter, and that is usually a major deal breaker for me. With these though I just kinda smile, like I have some sort of an agreement with the author that says "you can make some mistakes as long as the stories stay captivating!" or something.
The mysteries are good--sometimes the broader parts of the crimes aren't terribly hard to guess, but there are always smaller intrigues mixed in, and I don't think it would be possible to solve each and every one of them, so I think everyone can reach the end surprised in some fashion, and therefore satisfied.
So many things that usually annoy me to no end barely bother me at all because I love the stories so much. Clunky foreshadowing of the "Little did I know what was lurking just around the corner..." variety is in practically every chapter, and that is usually a major deal breaker for me. With these though I just kinda smile, like I have some sort of an agreement with the author that says "you can make some mistakes as long as the stories stay captivating!" or something.
September 6, 2017
NO ES UNA NOVELA ROMANTICA que es lo que me gusta leer, por eso aclaro que puede que otra persona le de una puntuación mucho mayor
Me gustó más el primero. Aunque el misterio está mejor y me ha pillado menos prevenida, ha sido una sorpresa a medias. Admito que desde un primer momento estaba convencida de que había sido uno de los personajes y, no andaba mal encaminada.. pero no he acertado al 100%
Eso me gusta, justo leo suspense por eso, me gusta que me mantengan entretenida y alerta con la intriga.
El ambiente muy bien creado y esas dos tramas que evolucionan de forma paralela me ha gustado también.
El problema es que creo que hay una parte importante de la novela que aporta muy poco. sobre todo la parte inicial, que son más de 50 páginas. No entiendo el porqué de alargar algo que después no tendrá un peso especial pues la figura de Alessandro, se queda totalmente olvidada
De todas formas insisto en que es una autora que escribe muy bien y se disfruta mucho de la lectura
Me gustó más el primero. Aunque el misterio está mejor y me ha pillado menos prevenida, ha sido una sorpresa a medias. Admito que desde un primer momento estaba convencida de que había sido uno de los personajes y, no andaba mal encaminada.. pero no he acertado al 100%
Eso me gusta, justo leo suspense por eso, me gusta que me mantengan entretenida y alerta con la intriga.
El ambiente muy bien creado y esas dos tramas que evolucionan de forma paralela me ha gustado también.
El problema es que creo que hay una parte importante de la novela que aporta muy poco. sobre todo la parte inicial, que son más de 50 páginas. No entiendo el porqué de alargar algo que después no tendrá un peso especial pues la figura de Alessandro, se queda totalmente olvidada
De todas formas insisto en que es una autora que escribe muy bien y se disfruta mucho de la lectura
April 3, 2017
So I liked it...but I found myself skimming quite a bit. It felt like half the book was over before someone even died!
And I AM NOT getting the romance aspect of this...I realize that SHE seems to be certain that he is into her, but I am not getting that vibe. Other than looking at her intently he is giving off some bad signals. Mostly the NEVER contacting you part. This is not sexy behavior.
...and I'm sorry...if you are falling all over yourself trying to get me to NOT fall in love with you...then....OH SHIT...that would totally turn me on....dammit. So as you can see...I'm still all in.
Already picked up the third book...but if nothing happens here...let's be honest, then I'll pick up book 4.
And I AM NOT getting the romance aspect of this...I realize that SHE seems to be certain that he is into her, but I am not getting that vibe. Other than looking at her intently he is giving off some bad signals. Mostly the NEVER contacting you part. This is not sexy behavior.
...and I'm sorry...if you are falling all over yourself trying to get me to NOT fall in love with you...then....OH SHIT...that would totally turn me on....dammit. So as you can see...I'm still all in.
Already picked up the third book...but if nothing happens here...let's be honest, then I'll pick up book 4.
April 17, 2021
Multivillain Murder Mystery!
Deftly balancing laid back family drama, scandalous jewel heists, edge-of-your-seat murder mystery, humor and sexual tension Raybourn scores another winner!
April 13, 2019
I am a fool for this series. I’m third in line for the next one at the library. And I keep telling myself that I have plenty to read for the next few weeks while I wait. We both know I’m going to buy the next book by this evening, right?
I’ll reiterate that I’m thankful to have read this after the Veronica Speedwell series. Julia is such a balm to veronica’s prickles. Plus this book has so many similarities to A Dangerous Collaboration but the timing makes it easier. Julia and Brisbane are at odds. But it feels natural after the developments in the first book. And the flight to Italy also feels organic rather than cowardly as when Veronica did it.
I loved the mystery. Or the mysteries - I should say. We had a handful here. One of which I successfully solved. And one that I anticipated.
Plum and Ly were a delight - their storylines, their characters and their relationship with Julia. I hope to see much more of Plum in particular.
Okay. I’m going to read my Buddy Read book. And an ARC. And watch some hockey. And I’ve got $5 that days I start Silent on The Moor by this evening.
I’ll reiterate that I’m thankful to have read this after the Veronica Speedwell series. Julia is such a balm to veronica’s prickles. Plus this book has so many similarities to A Dangerous Collaboration but the timing makes it easier. Julia and Brisbane are at odds. But it feels natural after the developments in the first book. And the flight to Italy also feels organic rather than cowardly as when Veronica did it.
I loved the mystery. Or the mysteries - I should say. We had a handful here. One of which I successfully solved. And one that I anticipated.
Plum and Ly were a delight - their storylines, their characters and their relationship with Julia. I hope to see much more of Plum in particular.
Okay. I’m going to read my Buddy Read book. And an ARC. And watch some hockey. And I’ve got $5 that days I start Silent on The Moor by this evening.
November 16, 2025
November 2035: It’s amazing how you pick up on different things as time goes on. The racism, the pacing issues, the unclear action…it’s more jarring now.
I did remember to take note of Perdita and Tarquin this time since they show up in the next “series” of books.
June 2021: Another finished-in-one-day reread because once I start these Julia Grey books, I can’t put them down.
The one thing that’s a little tough in this is that there are points when Julia, our narrator, figures something out and doesn’t share it with the reader. It’s a common tactic in mysteries, but it was a bigger factor in this book than it was in the last one in the series.
The ending is satisfying in some ways and a let down in others, but we know it can’t be HEA just yet.
I did remember to take note of Perdita and Tarquin this time since they show up in the next “series” of books.
June 2021: Another finished-in-one-day reread because once I start these Julia Grey books, I can’t put them down.
The one thing that’s a little tough in this is that there are points when Julia, our narrator, figures something out and doesn’t share it with the reader. It’s a common tactic in mysteries, but it was a bigger factor in this book than it was in the last one in the series.
The ending is satisfying in some ways and a let down in others, but we know it can’t be HEA just yet.
November 23, 2014
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first in the series. I enjoyed the mystery, the camaraderie of the March family, and Lady Julia. Deanna Raybourn's writing is fantastic. She really knows how to set a scene and describe it so well that it truly feels like you are right there in Victorian England.
September 3, 2020
I liked this one much better. It's what I think of as a layered mystery, with multiple shenanigans going on at once. And while I figure out one almost right away, and another pretty soon after that, there were still more things to guess at and a couple of interesting twists.
Julia's growth was fun to watch. She's coming into her own and learning to speak out. Her family sometimes tease her about it, but it's clear they all love and support each other. She's got a huge family, so seeing a few of her siblings feature in each one is a good way to get to know them without confusing them. Portia continues to be a hoot and her dad is a treasure. I enjoyed getting to meet her brothers Plum and Lysander, and her Aunt Dorcas (with an unfortunate pronunciation that meant I heard "Dorkus" every time her name was said) was an intriguing character as well. Normally, side characters just kind of blend into the background or don't get enough distinction from each other for them to stand out, but that's not the case here.
The one thing I haven't warmed up to is Brisbane, and the romance that he and Julia are obviously going to share. It's like tepid water on a hot day, and Brisbane is like sawdust. I'm just not connecting to him, and I don't get why Julia's so taken with him as a result. I have no idea why. The author has certainly done the work of giving him a complex backstory, and he's not a jerk, exactly, so much as set in his ways and secretive. I just don't care about him and would find these much more enjoyable if he stayed away. Thankfully, so far the stories haven't been as focused on this aspect as other series would be and there's enough else going on that it doesn't drag down the story.
Ellen Archer is back to narrate this and I'm really appreciating how she gives Julia a different "head voice" and "speaking voice." I'm amazed how many narrators don't do this with 1st-person POVs, so that it's sometimes hard to tell if a character is thinking something in their head or speaking it out loud, but that's never the case here. And she does believable male voices as well as female voices.
ETA: I accidentally saw a spoiler for a future development, then went and looked for more and ... I think I'll leave this series here, with mostly fond memories. LOL
Julia's growth was fun to watch. She's coming into her own and learning to speak out. Her family sometimes tease her about it, but it's clear they all love and support each other. She's got a huge family, so seeing a few of her siblings feature in each one is a good way to get to know them without confusing them. Portia continues to be a hoot and her dad is a treasure. I enjoyed getting to meet her brothers Plum and Lysander, and her Aunt Dorcas (with an unfortunate pronunciation that meant I heard "Dorkus" every time her name was said) was an intriguing character as well. Normally, side characters just kind of blend into the background or don't get enough distinction from each other for them to stand out, but that's not the case here.
The one thing I haven't warmed up to is Brisbane, and the romance that he and Julia are obviously going to share. It's like tepid water on a hot day, and Brisbane is like sawdust. I'm just not connecting to him, and I don't get why Julia's so taken with him as a result. I have no idea why. The author has certainly done the work of giving him a complex backstory, and he's not a jerk, exactly, so much as set in his ways and secretive. I just don't care about him and would find these much more enjoyable if he stayed away. Thankfully, so far the stories haven't been as focused on this aspect as other series would be and there's enough else going on that it doesn't drag down the story.
Ellen Archer is back to narrate this and I'm really appreciating how she gives Julia a different "head voice" and "speaking voice." I'm amazed how many narrators don't do this with 1st-person POVs, so that it's sometimes hard to tell if a character is thinking something in their head or speaking it out loud, but that's never the case here. And she does believable male voices as well as female voices.
ETA: I accidentally saw a spoiler for a future development, then went and looked for more and ... I think I'll leave this series here, with mostly fond memories. LOL
September 1, 2017
5 Estrellitas. Cuando pensé que sólo el primer libro estaría bien, y el resto serían para rellenar, me he dado cuenta de que no podía estar más equivocada. ¡Qué tensión ha habido durante toda ésta novela! El primer libro fue muy bueno, con una trama muy bien pensada y trabajada, pero a pesar de ello no deja de ser una introducción en la vida y el amor de Lady Julia Grey.
Tras lo que ocurrió en la primera novela, Lady Julia por fin ha cumplido su deseo de visitar Italia, ha pasado unos meses estupendos con sus hermanos, Plum y Lysander, deseando olvidar lo que ocurrió durante el último año en Inglaterra, y al hombre del que se estaba enamorando: Nicholas Brisbane. Pero una carta de su padre hace que los hermanos vuelvan a Inglaterra. Está próxima la Navidad y su padre ha convocado a toda la familia, pero Julia y sus hermanos traen a un amigo de Italia, que no desentonará nada en dicha reunión familiar, pues no sólo será una reunión familiar, también habrá invitados amigos y conocidos.
La novela se desarrolla casi en su totalidad en Bellmont Abbey, la mansión familiar de los March, y será el escenario perfecto para un asesinato y su posterior investigación. Si hay algo que aplaudo es el ambiente que ha creado Deanna Raybourn para sumergirnos en la novela: Una casa vieja que antiguamente fue una abadía, con todos los detalles góticos y macabros que puede acarrear, un frío invierno que trae un temporal de nieve, dejando aislados a los huéspedes ¿Qué más podemos pedir?
Engaños y secretos familiares que van saliendo a la luz, desconfianza entre todos los huéspedes, la incertidumbre de Julia de pensar que alguno de sus familiares pueda ser un asesino. Pero como he dicho, también habrá amigos y conocidos entre los invitados, y uno de ellos será el enigmático investigador Nicholas Brisbane. Julia habría preferido olvidarle, pero ahora le tiene en su casa y debe resignarse a aceptarle, a él, y a una carga que ha traído, que no desvelaré qué es.
La novela me enganchó desde los primeros capítulos, pero advierto que la trama tarda un poquito en desarrollarse, creo que nada ocurre realmente como esperas, y eso es lo que me ha gustado, una novela debe sorprenderte para no caer en la monotonía. A pesar de ello la prosa emplea una pluma bastante coloquial y directa, siempre sin olvidar que Julia es la hija de un conde, y como tal tiene una posición. Pero en ésta novela vemos el lado más humano de estos personajes, vemos a Julia siendo la mujer que es, a veces egoísta y celosa, pero también una mujer inteligente y adelantada a su época, y tanto ella como sus hermanos y hermanas alentada por su padre para ser fuerte e independiente y no una pusilánime.
Sobre el resto de personajes, sublimes. Creo que no me canso de decir que me encanta el padre de Julia, ojalá todos los padres hubiesen sido así en el pasado. Sus hermanos también han añadido un toque único, me ha encantado conocerlos, sobre todo a Plum, pero he echado de menos a Valerius. Por supuesto también tendremos bastante de la excéntrica Portia, que me ha dejado con ganas de saber qué se trae entre manos con Brisbane. Pero también conoceremos a otros miembros de la familia March, la vieja e insufrible tía Dorcas, y sus primas pobres, Emily y Lucy, de las que me gustaría saber más en futuros libros, pero sobre todo, a quien más destaco es a Nicholas Brisbane, ése hombre oscuro, con un pasado lleno de secretos y misterio, tan inaccesible, pero por el que Julia siente algo más que afecto.
Estoy deseando conocer mucho más de ellos, y ver qué les aguarda a Julia y Brisbane en el siguiente libro, pues ya el final nos deja con las ganas del tercero.
Tras lo que ocurrió en la primera novela, Lady Julia por fin ha cumplido su deseo de visitar Italia, ha pasado unos meses estupendos con sus hermanos, Plum y Lysander, deseando olvidar lo que ocurrió durante el último año en Inglaterra, y al hombre del que se estaba enamorando: Nicholas Brisbane. Pero una carta de su padre hace que los hermanos vuelvan a Inglaterra. Está próxima la Navidad y su padre ha convocado a toda la familia, pero Julia y sus hermanos traen a un amigo de Italia, que no desentonará nada en dicha reunión familiar, pues no sólo será una reunión familiar, también habrá invitados amigos y conocidos.
La novela se desarrolla casi en su totalidad en Bellmont Abbey, la mansión familiar de los March, y será el escenario perfecto para un asesinato y su posterior investigación. Si hay algo que aplaudo es el ambiente que ha creado Deanna Raybourn para sumergirnos en la novela: Una casa vieja que antiguamente fue una abadía, con todos los detalles góticos y macabros que puede acarrear, un frío invierno que trae un temporal de nieve, dejando aislados a los huéspedes ¿Qué más podemos pedir?
Engaños y secretos familiares que van saliendo a la luz, desconfianza entre todos los huéspedes, la incertidumbre de Julia de pensar que alguno de sus familiares pueda ser un asesino. Pero como he dicho, también habrá amigos y conocidos entre los invitados, y uno de ellos será el enigmático investigador Nicholas Brisbane. Julia habría preferido olvidarle, pero ahora le tiene en su casa y debe resignarse a aceptarle, a él, y a una carga que ha traído, que no desvelaré qué es.
La novela me enganchó desde los primeros capítulos, pero advierto que la trama tarda un poquito en desarrollarse, creo que nada ocurre realmente como esperas, y eso es lo que me ha gustado, una novela debe sorprenderte para no caer en la monotonía. A pesar de ello la prosa emplea una pluma bastante coloquial y directa, siempre sin olvidar que Julia es la hija de un conde, y como tal tiene una posición. Pero en ésta novela vemos el lado más humano de estos personajes, vemos a Julia siendo la mujer que es, a veces egoísta y celosa, pero también una mujer inteligente y adelantada a su época, y tanto ella como sus hermanos y hermanas alentada por su padre para ser fuerte e independiente y no una pusilánime.
Sobre el resto de personajes, sublimes. Creo que no me canso de decir que me encanta el padre de Julia, ojalá todos los padres hubiesen sido así en el pasado. Sus hermanos también han añadido un toque único, me ha encantado conocerlos, sobre todo a Plum, pero he echado de menos a Valerius. Por supuesto también tendremos bastante de la excéntrica Portia, que me ha dejado con ganas de saber qué se trae entre manos con Brisbane. Pero también conoceremos a otros miembros de la familia March, la vieja e insufrible tía Dorcas, y sus primas pobres, Emily y Lucy, de las que me gustaría saber más en futuros libros, pero sobre todo, a quien más destaco es a Nicholas Brisbane, ése hombre oscuro, con un pasado lleno de secretos y misterio, tan inaccesible, pero por el que Julia siente algo más que afecto.
Estoy deseando conocer mucho más de ellos, y ver qué les aguarda a Julia y Brisbane en el siguiente libro, pues ya el final nos deja con las ganas del tercero.
September 26, 2007
I really enjoy the main character - Lady Julia Grey. I'm not a big fan of mysteries, and I'm more than willing to admit to being a snob when it comes to the excess of bad mystery series available today, but I really enjoyed this.
The mystery itself isn't as twisted as in the first book, Silent in the Grave, but the characters, especially the supporting ones, are more fun this time around.
Lady Julia is from a family of infamous crazies and rogues and scandal makers, and it doesn't much phase her. Since her husband passed away before the first book in the series, she has quickly come into her own. She's stubborn and intelligent and feisty, while still being gullible and wrong and too stubborn for her own good. Brisbane, her reluctant partner in crime-fighting, is annoyed with her more often than not, and they spend most of their time arguing - whey they're not staring at each other longingly.
That said, it's not a silly or funny series, and it feels a bit darker than most of the books I read. Well written and enjoyable (I finished the 560 page book over the course of two days), and certainly worth picking up the first one.
The mystery itself isn't as twisted as in the first book, Silent in the Grave, but the characters, especially the supporting ones, are more fun this time around.
Lady Julia is from a family of infamous crazies and rogues and scandal makers, and it doesn't much phase her. Since her husband passed away before the first book in the series, she has quickly come into her own. She's stubborn and intelligent and feisty, while still being gullible and wrong and too stubborn for her own good. Brisbane, her reluctant partner in crime-fighting, is annoyed with her more often than not, and they spend most of their time arguing - whey they're not staring at each other longingly.
That said, it's not a silly or funny series, and it feels a bit darker than most of the books I read. Well written and enjoyable (I finished the 560 page book over the course of two days), and certainly worth picking up the first one.
August 6, 2020
4.5 stars
SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED.
Morag might be my new favorite. She and Aquinas are fantastic and if anything ever happens to either of them I'll riot. I hope Florence crops up again, for continuity's sake (after all, Grim and Puggy made return appearances). And we seem to slowly be meeting Julia's siblings - I think we've fully interacted with Portia, Valerius, Plum, and Lysander by now. More please! (Benedick looks like Kenneth Branagh in my head shhhh)
Also, in reference to the whole Trafalgar Square thing - Wikipedia lists FOUR different Bloody Sundays over the years pertaining to Ireland.
The climax/ending actually scared me with how straightforward itwas first appeared. And the decisions to let other characters live with their consequences rather than chasing after them was an interesting one. Everything fitted together in the end, of course, so no sleep was lost on my part. And we learned a little more about our darling alpha detective, Brisbane.
SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED.
Morag might be my new favorite. She and Aquinas are fantastic and if anything ever happens to either of them I'll riot. I hope Florence crops up again, for continuity's sake (after all, Grim and Puggy made return appearances). And we seem to slowly be meeting Julia's siblings - I think we've fully interacted with Portia, Valerius, Plum, and Lysander by now. More please! (Benedick looks like Kenneth Branagh in my head shhhh)
Also, in reference to the whole Trafalgar Square thing - Wikipedia lists FOUR different Bloody Sundays over the years pertaining to Ireland.
The climax/ending actually scared me with how straightforward it
December 21, 2025
First Read: 24 Jan 2016
Second Read: 4 Feb 2019. Upping from 4 to 5 stars. Is it perfect? No. But any book I want to re-read over and over is 5 stars in my book. Another murder. Another mystery to solve. Another few hundred pages of Julia-Brisbane chemistry. Gold. Already started my re-read of book 3.
Third Read: 21 Dec 2025. Glad to be returning to Julia and Brisbane.
Original Review (4 stars)
I was given the first four books in this series by a friend to read and I am thankful to her because as soon as I finished the first I wanted to read the second. Now all I want to do is crack open the third.
This book is set a few months after the previous book ended. Julia has been overseas with two of her brothers and has returned to England (late 1800s) for Xmas. What soon follows is a dead man, a missing aunt and a jewel thief. Yeah! Another mystery :-).
The death actually happens quite a while (half way?) into this book which is very atypical for a murder mystery. The mystery solution makes sense, but I am not sure whether there were enough clues given for the reader to solve it. Julia does some really stupid things, but I forgive her :-). LOVE the chemistry and tension between Julia and Brisbane and .
The relationship between Julia and Brisbane keeps me hooked on this series. Love these characters :-). On to book 3.
Challenges
Aussie Readers Feb 2019 Reading Challenge - Love is in the Air: Read a book from a series I love
Aussie Readers 2025 Annual Calendar of Books: December - Read a book by an author with an initial of D
Second Read: 4 Feb 2019. Upping from 4 to 5 stars. Is it perfect? No. But any book I want to re-read over and over is 5 stars in my book. Another murder. Another mystery to solve. Another few hundred pages of Julia-Brisbane chemistry. Gold. Already started my re-read of book 3.
Third Read: 21 Dec 2025. Glad to be returning to Julia and Brisbane.
Original Review (4 stars)
I was given the first four books in this series by a friend to read and I am thankful to her because as soon as I finished the first I wanted to read the second. Now all I want to do is crack open the third.
This book is set a few months after the previous book ended. Julia has been overseas with two of her brothers and has returned to England (late 1800s) for Xmas. What soon follows is a dead man, a missing aunt and a jewel thief. Yeah! Another mystery :-).
The death actually happens quite a while (half way?) into this book which is very atypical for a murder mystery. The mystery solution makes sense, but I am not sure whether there were enough clues given for the reader to solve it. Julia does some really stupid things, but I forgive her :-). LOVE the chemistry and tension between Julia and Brisbane and .
The relationship between Julia and Brisbane keeps me hooked on this series. Love these characters :-). On to book 3.
Challenges
Aussie Readers Feb 2019 Reading Challenge - Love is in the Air: Read a book from a series I love
Aussie Readers 2025 Annual Calendar of Books: December - Read a book by an author with an initial of D
July 27, 2022
I am an immense fan of Deanna Raybourn’s “Victoria Soeedwell” mystery series and really hope to be also of the “Lady Grey” books, as well. While this one is quite good, a good twist, lots of great characters, I’m finding that of Brisbane to be a bit over done. Seriously, dude.. lighten up! But that said, the Lady is sure fun, even beyond the era she is set in. Her unconventional upbringing and likewise siblings are all refreshing.
Home for Christmas from various locations, it is a gathering of kin, friends and new acquaintances. But when one is found dead and a confession given, it just doesn’t gel for our Lady, so she sets out to remedy that. Of course, Brisbane is brought in to the investigation, given that is his trade and expertise. There are many a facade, fib and folly about as the two butt heads (and certain parts there of) while sleuthing out a murdered, a jewel thief, a ghost, and a middle ground to which they can abide.
The constant denials, separations, snarkiness, and redundant avoidance is just a bit over the top. So far…
Home for Christmas from various locations, it is a gathering of kin, friends and new acquaintances. But when one is found dead and a confession given, it just doesn’t gel for our Lady, so she sets out to remedy that. Of course, Brisbane is brought in to the investigation, given that is his trade and expertise. There are many a facade, fib and folly about as the two butt heads (and certain parts there of) while sleuthing out a murdered, a jewel thief, a ghost, and a middle ground to which they can abide.
The constant denials, separations, snarkiness, and redundant avoidance is just a bit over the top. So far…
February 28, 2008
Took me a bit longer to get into than Silent in the Grave but I did finally get into it. I think part of the problem wiht this book is she brought in way too many new characters right away, then had to give them all a backstory so we would like them,or at least feel comiserate with them. The actual murder doesn't take place until almost the halfway mark. Having said that, I will say that I love her characters, the new as well as the old stand bys, and am glad that alot of the same people are in this book as in the first. The story is good and moves at a relatively fast clip, once it gets moving. When Jane and Nicholas are together the chemistry between them is still there and keeps the interest going. I am not one for purely romance novels but this is more of a mystery series with romance thrown in. Apparently there is another one coming, we will see if the story quality stands up to the test.
August 30, 2017
Reseña completa
De estructura similar a "Me enamoré de un lord" de Katharine Ashe, pero con una historia de misterio mucho más elaborada, supone el reencuentro de Julia y Brisbane durante una fiesta en la que aparece un cuerpo y deben colaborar para esclarecer el caso entre mentiras, secretos, celos y un ambiente muy cerrado.
De estructura similar a "Me enamoré de un lord" de Katharine Ashe, pero con una historia de misterio mucho más elaborada, supone el reencuentro de Julia y Brisbane durante una fiesta en la que aparece un cuerpo y deben colaborar para esclarecer el caso entre mentiras, secretos, celos y un ambiente muy cerrado.
January 1, 2025
H brings his fiance for Christmas with h's chaotic family. Huge cast of characters and at least one of them is a killer. Lots of fun with so many people lying as the murders begin. Love the quirky characters, their pets and clever plot.
May 14, 2019
Lady Julia Grey's adventures continue, picking up six months after the end of the previous book.
After discovering the truth about her late husband and his death Julia has been travelling in Italy in company of two of her brothers, when their father summons them home after learning that one of the two got married. The siblings, along with a new acquaintance that seems to have developed feelings for Julia, are preparing to go home with various degrees of excitement.
The last person Julia expects to find at her family home is Nicholas, whom she's had no word from in all that time. She pretends she was not at all bothered by that fact, or by the beautiful young woman he introduces as his fiance.
Her Christmas holidays seem less restful than she expected, and when someone turns up murdered just as they are all snowed in the manor, Julia is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of the murder, as well as finding out what Nicholas is hiding.
As engaging as the first book, with Julia being more secure in herself and knowing what she wants after all she's been through. There is a tiny bit of progress in her relationship with Nicholas, but the two still have a way to go before reaching even a happy for now, much less a happily ever after.
The series continues with Silent on the Moor and a visit to Nicholas's newly inherited .ruined estate
Previous book reviews:
✦ Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia Grey, #1)
After discovering the truth about her late husband and his death Julia has been travelling in Italy in company of two of her brothers, when their father summons them home after learning that one of the two got married. The siblings, along with a new acquaintance that seems to have developed feelings for Julia, are preparing to go home with various degrees of excitement.
The last person Julia expects to find at her family home is Nicholas, whom she's had no word from in all that time. She pretends she was not at all bothered by that fact, or by the beautiful young woman he introduces as his fiance.
Her Christmas holidays seem less restful than she expected, and when someone turns up murdered just as they are all snowed in the manor, Julia is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of the murder, as well as finding out what Nicholas is hiding.
As engaging as the first book, with Julia being more secure in herself and knowing what she wants after all she's been through. There is a tiny bit of progress in her relationship with Nicholas, but the two still have a way to go before reaching even a happy for now, much less a happily ever after.
The series continues with Silent on the Moor and a visit to Nicholas's newly inherited .ruined estate
Previous book reviews:
✦ Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia Grey, #1)
February 27, 2018
“Now I was more certain than ever of my decision. I could not love a man who did not love Jane Austen.”
3 to 3.5 STARS
I liked this one but not as much as the first book. It seemed to be slower paced and the ending events felt like an episode of Scooby-Doo. To be fair, I probably should not be reading this series so close Sebastian St. Cyr. That series is amazing and on a much higher level than this one. However, I adore this quirky and over the top family and all their antics.
I will definitely return to Lady Grey and Brisbane in the near future.
3 to 3.5 STARS
I liked this one but not as much as the first book. It seemed to be slower paced and the ending events felt like an episode of Scooby-Doo. To be fair, I probably should not be reading this series so close Sebastian St. Cyr. That series is amazing and on a much higher level than this one. However, I adore this quirky and over the top family and all their antics.
I will definitely return to Lady Grey and Brisbane in the near future.
February 19, 2016
I had problems with a few things in Silent in the Grave, particularly the rampant anachronisms, but I found the mystery and characters interesting nevertheless. Unfortunately, I can't even say that for the second book - the mystery was surprisingly dull and while I still like the some of the Marches (one star of the rating is for Papa March alone), Julia herself seems to have confused being rude and full of attitude with having strength of character.
There's a big deal made about the old custom of criminals and outlaws requesting "sanctuary," but after the dramatic scene where the suspected murderer does just that (while covered in blood, no less), the rest of the mystery has nothing whatsoever to do with sanctuary. It's more like a mish-mash of disjointed plot points: missing jewels, poison, missing people, a dead body, a cruel husband... 85% of the mystery is a wild-goose chase with no direction, slow and plodding as well as devoid of tension, before the solution is literally stumbled upon by Julia and wrapped up hastily in the last few pages.
Julia and Brisbane are forced to work together again, but they don't work together to solve the mystery so much as it is an excuse for Brisbane to be an ass to Julia and for Julia to feel drawn to him anyway. The actual investigation only goes as far as a routine search of belongings and extremely half-assed interviewing of suspects (they don't even interview everyone, just a few "obviously" suspicious individuals and at completely different times, i.e. whenever Julia and Brisbane feel like it). Julia at least has the excuse of being an amateur, but Brisbane is supposed to be an experienced investigator - how on earth does he ever solve anything if he doesn't seem to do half the work required? Julia conveniently hands him half the pieces of the puzzle, and it isn't because she's smart, either. It's just necessary for the narrative that Julia should be portrayed as smart and capable.
To be fair to Brisbane, I found him more likable in this book than in the first; he's less violent and abrasive and somewhat more open with Julia. Even so, the few swoony moments happened only at a time when it was convenient for him to cave in to his obvious feelings for Julia, which means I wanted to slap him for the better half of the book. A little bit of denial angst is fine and could be great if played right, but Brisbane's insistence on stubborn denial, knowing that he's hurting Julia all the while, is frustrating and cowardly. Grow up, man! When you start wishing the heroine would have a little respect for herself and move on to find a better man rather than making a fool of herself over one who clearly doesn't value her enough, you know there's a problem with the romance.
Not that Julia behaves in a stellar manner throughout this whole book - she's so absorbed with Brisbane and her own issues that she's frankly rather cold and uncaring towards all her friends and family who deserve her attention and respect. She makes no real attempt to help Portia, who was clearly under tremendous pressure with having to host the house party, barely remembers to speak to Fleur, only chats once to her sick and pregnant sister-in-law as an afterthought and is particularly rude to poor Alessandro. It's the way she encouraged Alessandro's hopes initially so that he followed her and her brothers all the way to England only to ignore him in favour of Brisbane that really bugged me - and she had the nerve to speak to her brothers about how they were terrible hosts to Alessandro. Pfft.
The only real bright spot in this story is Papa March, whose dedication and palpable affection for his ten children and long-dead wife is genuinely touching.
I hope the third book will be better, if only because I picked up the 3-in-1 edition and I feel obliged to read it.
There's a big deal made about the old custom of criminals and outlaws requesting "sanctuary," but after the dramatic scene where the suspected murderer does just that (while covered in blood, no less), the rest of the mystery has nothing whatsoever to do with sanctuary. It's more like a mish-mash of disjointed plot points: missing jewels, poison, missing people, a dead body, a cruel husband... 85% of the mystery is a wild-goose chase with no direction, slow and plodding as well as devoid of tension, before the solution is literally stumbled upon by Julia and wrapped up hastily in the last few pages.
Julia and Brisbane are forced to work together again, but they don't work together to solve the mystery so much as it is an excuse for Brisbane to be an ass to Julia and for Julia to feel drawn to him anyway. The actual investigation only goes as far as a routine search of belongings and extremely half-assed interviewing of suspects (they don't even interview everyone, just a few "obviously" suspicious individuals and at completely different times, i.e. whenever Julia and Brisbane feel like it). Julia at least has the excuse of being an amateur, but Brisbane is supposed to be an experienced investigator - how on earth does he ever solve anything if he doesn't seem to do half the work required? Julia conveniently hands him half the pieces of the puzzle, and it isn't because she's smart, either. It's just necessary for the narrative that Julia should be portrayed as smart and capable.
To be fair to Brisbane, I found him more likable in this book than in the first; he's less violent and abrasive and somewhat more open with Julia. Even so, the few swoony moments happened only at a time when it was convenient for him to cave in to his obvious feelings for Julia, which means I wanted to slap him for the better half of the book. A little bit of denial angst is fine and could be great if played right, but Brisbane's insistence on stubborn denial, knowing that he's hurting Julia all the while, is frustrating and cowardly. Grow up, man! When you start wishing the heroine would have a little respect for herself and move on to find a better man rather than making a fool of herself over one who clearly doesn't value her enough, you know there's a problem with the romance.
Not that Julia behaves in a stellar manner throughout this whole book - she's so absorbed with Brisbane and her own issues that she's frankly rather cold and uncaring towards all her friends and family who deserve her attention and respect. She makes no real attempt to help Portia, who was clearly under tremendous pressure with having to host the house party, barely remembers to speak to Fleur, only chats once to her sick and pregnant sister-in-law as an afterthought and is particularly rude to poor Alessandro. It's the way she encouraged Alessandro's hopes initially so that he followed her and her brothers all the way to England only to ignore him in favour of Brisbane that really bugged me - and she had the nerve to speak to her brothers about how they were terrible hosts to Alessandro. Pfft.
The only real bright spot in this story is Papa March, whose dedication and palpable affection for his ten children and long-dead wife is genuinely touching.
I hope the third book will be better, if only because I picked up the 3-in-1 edition and I feel obliged to read it.
August 16, 2016
This book had much more chemistry for me than the first book! I was so relieved. I felt like there was such a focus on getting to know Lady Julia in the first book and there wasn’t enough romantic tension between the two to really intrigue me that much. However as I said before, Raybourn typically does a magnificent job at developing tension…..so I was willing to give the next book a try.
I felt like the audience got to know Brisbane much more and it was clear that he is fighting his feelings for Lady Julia. I also liked how Lady Julia’s character is evolving and changing from the first book. She is becoming her own woman and isn’t just going to sit around and wait for Brisbane to make up his mind who he loves. In the first book she’s still trying to find out who she is, and in this one I think it’s pretty clear that she knows who she is and what she wants.
The progression of their relationship is intriguing. I like that even in this book there are still unresolved feelings and the romance isn’t “resolved” meaning they haven’t fully acknowledged their relationship or feelings yet which means future books will continue to build the romantic tension which I love so much in Raybourn’s books!
The mystery in this book was also interesting. I liked how it unraveled and how there were gothic elements in the story, even more so than in the first book. This book sort of had a Northanger Abbey feel to it which I thought was fun….the ghosts, the abbey like estate….I loved it. Very well done for setting and ambiance.
While the mystery wasn’t overly complicated, there were enough little twists and different motives of each character to keep the reader guessing. All of Raybourn’s characters are very unique and memorable which I like and because of that, she has a great way of creating suspicion on any number of characters within the story so I really enjoyed that about this novel more so than the first.
I will definitely keep up with this series now that I feel as though things are picking up and evolving. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series as it sounds like something right up my alley!
See my full review here
I felt like the audience got to know Brisbane much more and it was clear that he is fighting his feelings for Lady Julia. I also liked how Lady Julia’s character is evolving and changing from the first book. She is becoming her own woman and isn’t just going to sit around and wait for Brisbane to make up his mind who he loves. In the first book she’s still trying to find out who she is, and in this one I think it’s pretty clear that she knows who she is and what she wants.
The progression of their relationship is intriguing. I like that even in this book there are still unresolved feelings and the romance isn’t “resolved” meaning they haven’t fully acknowledged their relationship or feelings yet which means future books will continue to build the romantic tension which I love so much in Raybourn’s books!
The mystery in this book was also interesting. I liked how it unraveled and how there were gothic elements in the story, even more so than in the first book. This book sort of had a Northanger Abbey feel to it which I thought was fun….the ghosts, the abbey like estate….I loved it. Very well done for setting and ambiance.
While the mystery wasn’t overly complicated, there were enough little twists and different motives of each character to keep the reader guessing. All of Raybourn’s characters are very unique and memorable which I like and because of that, she has a great way of creating suspicion on any number of characters within the story so I really enjoyed that about this novel more so than the first.
I will definitely keep up with this series now that I feel as though things are picking up and evolving. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series as it sounds like something right up my alley!
See my full review here
May 20, 2017
4.5 stars
I don't have much to say that differs from my review in the first title in this series. Julia is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite characters to read about. I just feel like she thinks and acts very much like I do, which isn't to say that she always makes the right decision or behaves sensibly. She doesn't. But I like her all the better for being slightly flawed.
I can honestly say that the mystery here twisted enough to surprise me. I thought everything came together quite nicely, even if I had to suspend disbelief a bit (and probably will continue to have to) that Julia just keeps getting caught up in murders. It's a mystery series; I'll allow it.
The Brisbane/Julia saga continues. There is definitely no instant gratification with these two, but I'm okay with that. I wish Brisbane were a bit less aloof and didn't insist on constantly pushing Julia away, but I'm assuming that his reasons for that will be explained in more detail soon. I would be lying if I said I didn't live for the tidbits that are thrown my way, however. :) You could cut the tension with a knife, as the expression goes.
I just think this is very smart and well-written. It's not great literature or anything- although the writing is very good imo- but I find it exceedingly entertaining and fun. I already reserved the next title in the series from my library. I plan on seeing it through now that it's summer.
But seriously....just bring these two together, already! :P
I don't have much to say that differs from my review in the first title in this series. Julia is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite characters to read about. I just feel like she thinks and acts very much like I do, which isn't to say that she always makes the right decision or behaves sensibly. She doesn't. But I like her all the better for being slightly flawed.
I can honestly say that the mystery here twisted enough to surprise me. I thought everything came together quite nicely, even if I had to suspend disbelief a bit (and probably will continue to have to) that Julia just keeps getting caught up in murders. It's a mystery series; I'll allow it.
The Brisbane/Julia saga continues. There is definitely no instant gratification with these two, but I'm okay with that. I wish Brisbane were a bit less aloof and didn't insist on constantly pushing Julia away, but I'm assuming that his reasons for that will be explained in more detail soon. I would be lying if I said I didn't live for the tidbits that are thrown my way, however. :) You could cut the tension with a knife, as the expression goes.
I just think this is very smart and well-written. It's not great literature or anything- although the writing is very good imo- but I find it exceedingly entertaining and fun. I already reserved the next title in the series from my library. I plan on seeing it through now that it's summer.
But seriously....just bring these two together, already! :P
February 18, 2018
Raybourn hits all the high notes with this book. I can't wait to read the next one.
She has the perfect balance of humor, plot, excellent writing, spots of eerie gothic creepiness.
But the shining stars are the characters, who are plentiful, entertaining, engaging.
Her subtle humor and exquisite dialogue might be my favorite part of the series. Lovely!
Grade: A
She has the perfect balance of humor, plot, excellent writing, spots of eerie gothic creepiness.
But the shining stars are the characters, who are plentiful, entertaining, engaging.
Her subtle humor and exquisite dialogue might be my favorite part of the series. Lovely!
Grade: A
July 17, 2016
I wish I had the 3rd book in hand. This series has been so surprising with the moments of dry humor and the funny moments between Morag and Julia. The side characters really made this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,320 reviews