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Doyle & Acton #1
Murder In Thrall
Can London's most elusive killer elude the keen minds of Scotland Yard's most unlikely pair of detectives?
An Irish redhead of humble beginnings and modest means, Kathleen Doyle is the antithesis of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, the brilliant but enigmatic lord with a knack for solving London's most high profile homicides. When a horse trainer is found dead at a racetrack, the duo's investigation does little to deter the killer at large. Jeopardizing the case are their colleagues at CID headquarters, whose nosing into the nature of Doyle and Acton's after hours relationship threatens to lay bare the most classified information of all. As the murders pile up, Doyle and Acton uncover something far more sinisiter than they could have imagined. Now that they know too much, their partnership could be very brief indeed. . .
An Irish redhead of humble beginnings and modest means, Kathleen Doyle is the antithesis of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, the brilliant but enigmatic lord with a knack for solving London's most high profile homicides. When a horse trainer is found dead at a racetrack, the duo's investigation does little to deter the killer at large. Jeopardizing the case are their colleagues at CID headquarters, whose nosing into the nature of Doyle and Acton's after hours relationship threatens to lay bare the most classified information of all. As the murders pile up, Doyle and Acton uncover something far more sinisiter than they could have imagined. Now that they know too much, their partnership could be very brief indeed. . .
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2013
919 people are currently reading
4398 people want to read
About the author
Anne Cleeland
36 books473 followersAnne Cleeland writes a contemporary Scotland Yard mystery series that is featured in the Amazon top 100 best sellers. She also writes a historical series of stand-alone books set in the Regency period. A member of International Thriller Writers, The Historical Novel Society, and Mystery Writers of America, she lives in California and has four children. www.annecleeland.com; @annecleeland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 658 reviews
September 18, 2020
This book was such a surprise! I had expected a quality mystery, but got something I find hard to classify. It is part mystery, part Fifty Shades, and part absurdity. I don't like writing negative reviews, but this book really irked me. It wasn't just disappointing it was disturbing, because the main character, DC Doyle, is so compliant and weird. I think we're supposed to read this amazing chemistry into her relationship with DCI Acton (her boss and STALKER), but it is just creepy. I don't want to go deeply into this to avoid spoilers, however, I found it upsetting that the author tried to make Doyle and Acton's creepy and ridiculous relationship seem wonderful and passionate. Are readers supposed to find it romantic to read about a man who follows his young protege's every step (GPS tracking, following her to church, knowing all about her family and friends), and root for their so-called relationship? Such behavior is appalling and I can't believe this is going to be a series.
Doyle, for her part is impossible for me to credit as well. Shot at, wound open and untreated, she thinks, 'oh why not have sex with my weird stalkery, creep of a husband'?!? Further, she repeatedly says that he is better and smarter than her, and this even though she suspects him of murder! This book was so full of moments where I just felt it was more fantasy than mystery, and disturbing fantasy at that!
If I had only disliked the story, I would have not written a review at all, but I felt it sent a very wrong message. The fact that this is written by a woman is doubly disappointing.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Doyle, for her part is impossible for me to credit as well. Shot at, wound open and untreated, she thinks, 'oh why not have sex with my weird stalkery, creep of a husband'?!? Further, she repeatedly says that he is better and smarter than her, and this even though she suspects him of murder! This book was so full of moments where I just felt it was more fantasy than mystery, and disturbing fantasy at that!
If I had only disliked the story, I would have not written a review at all, but I felt it sent a very wrong message. The fact that this is written by a woman is doubly disappointing.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
March 2, 2021
Acton, the hero, is the heroine's stalker and admirer, a brilliant detective obsessed with her.
Doyle accepts his ways (putting it mildly😂) when she gets to know about his little "I can't help stalking you baby" peculiarity.
Did I find it creepy? Fuck NO😂 I was *not so secretly* thrilled just like the cute heroine of this story.
People call it unhealthy... but healthy is overrated. Lol.
I expected more mystery, yet the atmosphere created was dark and enticing. Murder mystery ❣️
The author is very talented!
I was very much intrigued by both the plot and relationship development😌
Doyle accepts his ways (putting it mildly😂) when she gets to know about his little "I can't help stalking you baby" peculiarity.
Did I find it creepy? Fuck NO😂 I was *not so secretly* thrilled just like the cute heroine of this story.
People call it unhealthy... but healthy is overrated. Lol.
I expected more mystery, yet the atmosphere created was dark and enticing. Murder mystery ❣️
The author is very talented!
I was very much intrigued by both the plot and relationship development😌
September 14, 2021
One of the most atmospheric books I've ever read. Nice balance between unconventional romantic relationship in progress and crime mystery. Recommended!🖤
April 27, 2016
I won this book through a Goodreads First Read giveaway and I wish that I could rate it higher but I just can't. The story is told primarily through the POV of Kathleen Doyle, a rookie in Scotland Yard, as she gets pulled into a murder investigation by a famous and higher ranking veteran officer. We're given the reasons for Doyle's special abilities that would justify such an elevation of responsibility but, frankly, she never came across as particulary bright to me.
The high ranking officer who takes an interest in her is Lord Acton and his reasons for doing so are creepy. He makes a confession to Doyle fairly early on, after detouring their professional relationship into what-the-hell territory in the blink of an eye, that should have caused Doyle to run screaming in the opposite direction but, as I mentioned earlier, she's not too bright. She should be worried about ending up chopped into tiny pieces and shoved into Acton's deep freeze. This relationship didn't work for me on any level. And as if the creepy, stalker aspects of it weren't enough to get me to sign off, there's also the fact that Doyle spends far too much time trying to impress Acton with her big girl vocabulary words and apologizing anytime she expressed a desire for things to be other than the way Acton wanted them. Stupid girl.
Oh yeah, there's a murder investigation going on too but it's so overshadowed by the total dreck that is the Doyle/Acton relationship that I didn't care who killed whom or why.
The high ranking officer who takes an interest in her is Lord Acton and his reasons for doing so are creepy. He makes a confession to Doyle fairly early on, after detouring their professional relationship into what-the-hell territory in the blink of an eye, that should have caused Doyle to run screaming in the opposite direction but, as I mentioned earlier, she's not too bright. She should be worried about ending up chopped into tiny pieces and shoved into Acton's deep freeze. This relationship didn't work for me on any level. And as if the creepy, stalker aspects of it weren't enough to get me to sign off, there's also the fact that Doyle spends far too much time trying to impress Acton with her big girl vocabulary words and apologizing anytime she expressed a desire for things to be other than the way Acton wanted them. Stupid girl.
Oh yeah, there's a murder investigation going on too but it's so overshadowed by the total dreck that is the Doyle/Acton relationship that I didn't care who killed whom or why.
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October 3, 2019I am not going to finish it so I won't "star" it. I think most of you know me well enough here to know my opinions on "Irish" books... I either love 'em or hate 'em! I don't even mean books that are set solely in Ireland, it is primarily books with Irish characters. AND ... it is not just non-Irish authors that make a total shite of it... believe me, there have been one or two Irish authors who have made a total hash of Irish characters with their misrepresentations of accents, characterisation etc. I won't name names! Kathleen is a young, Irish constable in the British police force. The description of the book on amazon is as follows ...
An Irish redhead of humble beginnings and modest means, Kathleen Doyle is the antithesis of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, the brilliant but enigmatic lord with a knack for solving London's most high profile homicides ...
Of course she is a redhead (she is Irish).
Of "humble beginnings" - sure, why not? We are still getting over the feckin' potato famine in Ireland. God forbid, she'd be well off.
As for Acton. In the beginning, he intrigued me but as I kept reading all I could picture is the following for him!! Apologies, in advance.
I know, I know - too much talk of Brexit is doing my head in.
Lets overemphasise the red hair for Kathleen ...
I feel like a bit of a bitch giving critical reviews. Seriously, it is not in my nature!
Every time she used a word ending in the letter "g", it was not pronounced... "walkin', talkin', speakin', havin', somethin', askin'"!
I don't know. I kind of blame Hollywood... maybe some people think Tom Cruise in "Far and Away" had a credible Irish accent... your man in "PS, I love you", Gerard Butler ... God almighty, talk about cringeworthy. Julia Roberts has tried. Even Pierce Brosnan (who is actually Irish) hams it up sometimes with the "Irish" accent.
As for her use of the phrase "Mother a' Mercy"! Give me a fucking break. An Irish person would be more inclined to say "For Fuck's Sake" - at least I would.
Have I anything good to say about it... not sure. I did like the premise of the book. Irish girl, working with a member of the aristocracy in the British police establishment ... but the characterisation of both of them did nothing for me. There was one phrase about halfway through that just made me give up ... really??
Wish I could be more positive. Plenty of you enjoyed it and continued with it ... there are plenty of other things I could have mentioned, things that annoyed me but I will desist!
An Irish redhead of humble beginnings and modest means, Kathleen Doyle is the antithesis of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, the brilliant but enigmatic lord with a knack for solving London's most high profile homicides ...
Of course she is a redhead (she is Irish).
Of "humble beginnings" - sure, why not? We are still getting over the feckin' potato famine in Ireland. God forbid, she'd be well off.
As for Acton. In the beginning, he intrigued me but as I kept reading all I could picture is the following for him!! Apologies, in advance.
I know, I know - too much talk of Brexit is doing my head in.
Lets overemphasise the red hair for Kathleen ...
I feel like a bit of a bitch giving critical reviews. Seriously, it is not in my nature!
Every time she used a word ending in the letter "g", it was not pronounced... "walkin', talkin', speakin', havin', somethin', askin'"!
I don't know. I kind of blame Hollywood... maybe some people think Tom Cruise in "Far and Away" had a credible Irish accent... your man in "PS, I love you", Gerard Butler ... God almighty, talk about cringeworthy. Julia Roberts has tried. Even Pierce Brosnan (who is actually Irish) hams it up sometimes with the "Irish" accent.
As for her use of the phrase "Mother a' Mercy"! Give me a fucking break. An Irish person would be more inclined to say "For Fuck's Sake" - at least I would.
Have I anything good to say about it... not sure. I did like the premise of the book. Irish girl, working with a member of the aristocracy in the British police establishment ... but the characterisation of both of them did nothing for me. There was one phrase about halfway through that just made me give up ... really??
Wish I could be more positive. Plenty of you enjoyed it and continued with it ... there are plenty of other things I could have mentioned, things that annoyed me but I will desist!
March 23, 2017
First rate- truly first rate - murder mystery!! And wonderful and original contemporary romance as well, the way both of these were interwoven into each other was so integral to the story - one couldn't have existed without the other.
I adored the author's voice - and hence the h, bcos the book was in her POV - she was so adorable and brave and humble and quirky and smart and kind and generous and loving - one of the best flawed h's I ever read. The H was brilliant but obsessive - the real deal, he was clinically stalkerish and obsessed with h - he was also borderline Asperger's.
The h had some kind of intuitive Irish thing which let her know when people were lying, she intuitively knows that the H would give his life for her and she would be safe with him - so in turn she lets the H know that he is safe with her. She accepts him as he is - stalker tendencies and all. I felt the h and H were very lucky to find each other; it was heartwarming to see them being kind with each other and to see how they put the other first above everything else in their life.
It was a nail biter of a plot and till the end I wasn't completely sure whodunit or why. The book was very well written and very readable. The setting - homicide detectives based in the UK - was unique at least for me. The author has also done her research about forensics and other detective stuff ( am thinking she worked in this field). The romance was beautiful as well and I enjoyed this book very much, it was unlike any contemporary romantic suspense I ever read before.
5 stars!!
Safety:
I adored the author's voice - and hence the h, bcos the book was in her POV - she was so adorable and brave and humble and quirky and smart and kind and generous and loving - one of the best flawed h's I ever read. The H was brilliant but obsessive - the real deal, he was clinically stalkerish and obsessed with h - he was also borderline Asperger's.
The h had some kind of intuitive Irish thing which let her know when people were lying, she intuitively knows that the H would give his life for her and she would be safe with him - so in turn she lets the H know that he is safe with her. She accepts him as he is - stalker tendencies and all. I felt the h and H were very lucky to find each other; it was heartwarming to see them being kind with each other and to see how they put the other first above everything else in their life.
It was a nail biter of a plot and till the end I wasn't completely sure whodunit or why. The book was very well written and very readable. The setting - homicide detectives based in the UK - was unique at least for me. The author has also done her research about forensics and other detective stuff ( am thinking she worked in this field). The romance was beautiful as well and I enjoyed this book very much, it was unlike any contemporary romantic suspense I ever read before.
5 stars!!
Safety:
April 13, 2019
Rgreader got me interested in this series and in between HPlandia outings, this is better than binging on Britbox.
Excellent series and AC has the knack of blending a super stalkerific hero with a very savvy unicorn grooming heroine and a lot of excellent mystery. I cannot recommend these enough, the whole series is captivating, intriguing and so much fun to read.
Excellent series and AC has the knack of blending a super stalkerific hero with a very savvy unicorn grooming heroine and a lot of excellent mystery. I cannot recommend these enough, the whole series is captivating, intriguing and so much fun to read.
May 2, 2014
One -- I don't think it's a horrible spoiler to say this is one of those blended romance/murder mysteries. Which there seems to be a market for, but I don't much like.
Secondly, oh my goodness one of the protagonists is uber creepy, and while I'm only half way thru the book right now, it doesn't look like the other protagonist shares my point of view about this even a little and that's skeeving me out even more.
I suspect i'll end up finding the mystery itself interesting enough, but the trappings are just.... really off-putting.
ETA: omg most unhealthy relationship ever, totally being presented as romantic and charming and totally acceptable. It's almost like the author took a list of warning signs about unbalanced partnerships and developed the characters off of that. I actually feel sick to my stomach.
Secondly, oh my goodness one of the protagonists is uber creepy, and while I'm only half way thru the book right now, it doesn't look like the other protagonist shares my point of view about this even a little and that's skeeving me out even more.
I suspect i'll end up finding the mystery itself interesting enough, but the trappings are just.... really off-putting.
ETA: omg most unhealthy relationship ever, totally being presented as romantic and charming and totally acceptable. It's almost like the author took a list of warning signs about unbalanced partnerships and developed the characters off of that. I actually feel sick to my stomach.
April 30, 2019
After reading my friend's Ira's review, I decided to give this series a try and I was not sorry! ;-)
English is not my mother tongue and spoken Irish is incomprehensible to me, but here I loved the way Kathleen "spoke"! I totally could get her jokes and quips! :)
She's just the perfect woman for Michael! He's stiff and stolkerish while she's shy, under educated and religious, but things are not just that simple!
Acton has actually stolkered Doyle and we are left to understand what happened to him to make him so (and that's why I'll be reading this series since here it is not explained! LOL)!
Doyle is also a kind of medium: she just "knows" when somebody is lying and feels the emotions of the people around her. That explains why she appears shy and withdrawn where she's actually very smart and warm!
What I found a little strange is how the past and resent where mixed. Sometimes I could place the moment. Only after several pages I got where it was taking place! But even that was interesting. For example the book ends with the beginning! :)
English is not my mother tongue and spoken Irish is incomprehensible to me, but here I loved the way Kathleen "spoke"! I totally could get her jokes and quips! :)
She's just the perfect woman for Michael! He's stiff and stolkerish while she's shy, under educated and religious, but things are not just that simple!
Acton has actually stolkered Doyle and we are left to understand what happened to him to make him so (and that's why I'll be reading this series since here it is not explained! LOL)!
Doyle is also a kind of medium: she just "knows" when somebody is lying and feels the emotions of the people around her. That explains why she appears shy and withdrawn where she's actually very smart and warm!
What I found a little strange is how the past and resent where mixed. Sometimes I could place the moment. Only after several pages I got where it was taking place! But even that was interesting. For example the book ends with the beginning! :)
August 1, 2013
This is without doubt the best crime novel I have read for ages! I couldn't put it down, and when I finished it, I immediately started it all over again. The most wonderful twist, totally engaging characters and a great story. Well done Anne Cleeland, please get the next one asap!! Love Acton, love Doyle and can't say anything more without giving the whole thing away. Best of the best.
April 15, 2019
Gosh! I love this book! ❤️
A stalker hero, no really, he admitted himself, he is a Section Seven, a stalker toward heroine.
Every chapter in this book started with his mind of thinking. Honestly, I would find it creepy if I’m not sure how the heroine thought about him.
Oh well, she looking at him with her eyes full of stars! 😂😂
And she doesn’t mind and secretly thrilled 😳😂
This two have a dysfunctional sweet relationship, 🙄😂
I don’t mind either, give me a stalker hero who crazy about the heroine anytime!
I love that in my romance read! 😘
The mystery is fantastic too, the story is rather dark and so many got killed.
I already started book #2 and it was getting dark, incl. Acton’s character.
But hello our heroine might be naive but she is an intelligent girl and if she is happy, I’m happy too:)
❤️❤️❤️
I probably will add more review later:)
A stalker hero, no really, he admitted himself, he is a Section Seven, a stalker toward heroine.
Every chapter in this book started with his mind of thinking. Honestly, I would find it creepy if I’m not sure how the heroine thought about him.
Oh well, she looking at him with her eyes full of stars! 😂😂
And she doesn’t mind and secretly thrilled 😳😂
This two have a dysfunctional sweet relationship, 🙄😂
I don’t mind either, give me a stalker hero who crazy about the heroine anytime!
I love that in my romance read! 😘
The mystery is fantastic too, the story is rather dark and so many got killed.
I already started book #2 and it was getting dark, incl. Acton’s character.
But hello our heroine might be naive but she is an intelligent girl and if she is happy, I’m happy too:)
❤️❤️❤️
I probably will add more review later:)
August 18, 2021
4.5
The really nice thing about coming to a mature series is that I have a big back list of books to read now, and this first book completely convinced me that the Doyle & Acton mystery/romance series is worth my time.
Lots of readers have noted the unconventional nature of the series. I'm challenged to find the right word to describe the charismatic hero who is a self-professed clinical depressive stalker, but who is also wonderfully caring of his work partner in his own way, and witty and brilliant to boot. Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, seems potentially a sociopath in that he has few morals other than his own rules for living, and like the infamous Holmes for whom he is nicknamed at Scotland Yard, watching him interrogate and solve crimes is a real pleasure of the novel. Thankfully, Acton is not paired in this series with an "ordinary" woman, as that would risk victimizing someone. Instead, Kathleen Doyle is eccentric in ways that serve her well in this deviant romance. She is, like Acton, socially isolated due to her paranormal intuitive abilities. She can feel people's emotions and read people's body language, which puts her on a somewhat level playing field with Acton's otherworldly investigative abilities. Together once they pair up as crime-solving partners, they are in a class of their own at Scotland Yard. However, only Acton seems to understand Doyle's paranormal abilities. I hope the series develops this aspect of Doyle and delves into how it has impacted her life. This first book touches on many of the ways in which both main characters are social misfits and why they are drawn to each other, but it seems obvious there is so much more to them as individuals as well as a couple.
Murder in Thrall offers us the start of a romance that some readers refer to as dysfunctional. I'm not sure I see it that way though because for Doyle and Acton, they seem to function pretty well together under the parameters of their own moral limits. For instance, Doyle is unfazed by Acton's stalking of her own unless it interferes with her ability to solve a crime. I did laugh a number of times at the strangeness of what they find romantic, including embracing in the vicinity of dead bodies and decomposing odors. Do they actually choose to have sex after one of them has been shot? Why, yes they do, lol. There is also the addition of an unreliable narrator just to keep readers guessing about events and motivations.
Not your typical police procedural by any means, but utterly entertaining and even romantic. Can't wait for the second book as I have so many questions.
The really nice thing about coming to a mature series is that I have a big back list of books to read now, and this first book completely convinced me that the Doyle & Acton mystery/romance series is worth my time.
Lots of readers have noted the unconventional nature of the series. I'm challenged to find the right word to describe the charismatic hero who is a self-professed clinical depressive stalker, but who is also wonderfully caring of his work partner in his own way, and witty and brilliant to boot. Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, seems potentially a sociopath in that he has few morals other than his own rules for living, and like the infamous Holmes for whom he is nicknamed at Scotland Yard, watching him interrogate and solve crimes is a real pleasure of the novel. Thankfully, Acton is not paired in this series with an "ordinary" woman, as that would risk victimizing someone. Instead, Kathleen Doyle is eccentric in ways that serve her well in this deviant romance. She is, like Acton, socially isolated due to her paranormal intuitive abilities. She can feel people's emotions and read people's body language, which puts her on a somewhat level playing field with Acton's otherworldly investigative abilities. Together once they pair up as crime-solving partners, they are in a class of their own at Scotland Yard. However, only Acton seems to understand Doyle's paranormal abilities. I hope the series develops this aspect of Doyle and delves into how it has impacted her life. This first book touches on many of the ways in which both main characters are social misfits and why they are drawn to each other, but it seems obvious there is so much more to them as individuals as well as a couple.
Murder in Thrall offers us the start of a romance that some readers refer to as dysfunctional. I'm not sure I see it that way though because for Doyle and Acton, they seem to function pretty well together under the parameters of their own moral limits. For instance, Doyle is unfazed by Acton's stalking of her own unless it interferes with her ability to solve a crime. I did laugh a number of times at the strangeness of what they find romantic, including embracing in the vicinity of dead bodies and decomposing odors. Do they actually choose to have sex after one of them has been shot? Why, yes they do, lol. There is also the addition of an unreliable narrator just to keep readers guessing about events and motivations.
Not your typical police procedural by any means, but utterly entertaining and even romantic. Can't wait for the second book as I have so many questions.
August 27, 2013
Delighted is what I am with this new mystery from Anne Cleeland. It has me speaking like the fair lass, DC Kathleen Doyle, that is half of the Scotland Yard team in this first in the series of Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard Mysteries. Cleeland presents this story in a fresh, original style that opens each chapter with the very private thoughts of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, who also happens to be Lord Acton and the other half of the Scotland Yard team and brilliant, revered detective. Acton has tapped Doyle to work with him, finding most useful her intuitive skills discerning a witness's veracity.
The murder that begins the complex sequence of events in this mystery is that of a horse trainer at a London racetrack. Acton and Doyle begin interviewing witnesses with a prearranged signal from Doyle if interviewee is lying. Before 24 hours has passed, another murder has occurred, and thus begins a trail of bodies and mixed clues that make solving this case particularly difficult. Doyle's fellow DCs are disgruntled that she has been handpicked to assist Acton, and some wonder if it's more than just Doyle's detective skills that are admired. The partners play their personal lives close to the vest, so no one has any real ammunition to support any rumors. As Acton and Doyle find themselves involved in a quagmire of leads and false leads, they get to know each other on a personal level, too. It's a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, trying to finger the rotten apple in the barrel.
I enjoyed the dialogue between Kathleen Doyle and Michael Acton as much as I've ever enjoyed a dialogue. Kathleen's Irishness is full of good humor and cheer, and Acton's often dry humored responses are a perfect match. I found myself laughing aloud at some points, and at all times, I was just mesmerized at how seamlessly the dialogue flowed. If ever there were a book to use as an example of great dialogue, this one is it. I am truly smitten with this two new characters, and I can hardly wait to hear them talk again.
The murder that begins the complex sequence of events in this mystery is that of a horse trainer at a London racetrack. Acton and Doyle begin interviewing witnesses with a prearranged signal from Doyle if interviewee is lying. Before 24 hours has passed, another murder has occurred, and thus begins a trail of bodies and mixed clues that make solving this case particularly difficult. Doyle's fellow DCs are disgruntled that she has been handpicked to assist Acton, and some wonder if it's more than just Doyle's detective skills that are admired. The partners play their personal lives close to the vest, so no one has any real ammunition to support any rumors. As Acton and Doyle find themselves involved in a quagmire of leads and false leads, they get to know each other on a personal level, too. It's a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, trying to finger the rotten apple in the barrel.
I enjoyed the dialogue between Kathleen Doyle and Michael Acton as much as I've ever enjoyed a dialogue. Kathleen's Irishness is full of good humor and cheer, and Acton's often dry humored responses are a perfect match. I found myself laughing aloud at some points, and at all times, I was just mesmerized at how seamlessly the dialogue flowed. If ever there were a book to use as an example of great dialogue, this one is it. I am truly smitten with this two new characters, and I can hardly wait to hear them talk again.
December 12, 2013
By far this is my favorite book by Anne Cleeland right now. In fact, it's so awesome I want to either re-read it or get my hands onto the next book in series which will only be out in summer next year.
If I was attempting to describe this book I would have said it's an unholy mix of Peabody (a secondary heroine from In Death series by Nora Roberts) and Sherlock (the brilliant character from the newest BBC adaptation) with a pinch of Ben Aaronovitch' Peter Grant series.
This is a classic mystery with a Sherlock-type detective inspector, Lord Acton, in modern London investigating a series of murders. What is unexpected in this book is his rookie assistant, Kathleen Doyle and a fantastic romantic story which tramples the whole investigation by its emotional impact.
I've said it before that Anne Cleeland excels in a sly, quiet, non-showy romance in her books. The romance in Murder in Thrall is superb.
Acton and Doyle are both social misfits with their own unique gifts which keep them aside from the rest of the crowd, so the interactions between them are not what we would call socially acceptable and they do not follow an expected pattern of behavior. But, my God, their conversations of a very few words and their actions towards each other cut me to the bone! I can't quite put my finger on what exactly snagged me, but I LOVED this couple and I would say they were one of my favorites this year.
I understand that not everyone would savor this type of quirky writing, but Anne Cleeland is totally my author, and I highly recommend her to you, my dear readers.
If I was attempting to describe this book I would have said it's an unholy mix of Peabody (a secondary heroine from In Death series by Nora Roberts) and Sherlock (the brilliant character from the newest BBC adaptation) with a pinch of Ben Aaronovitch' Peter Grant series.
This is a classic mystery with a Sherlock-type detective inspector, Lord Acton, in modern London investigating a series of murders. What is unexpected in this book is his rookie assistant, Kathleen Doyle and a fantastic romantic story which tramples the whole investigation by its emotional impact.
I've said it before that Anne Cleeland excels in a sly, quiet, non-showy romance in her books. The romance in Murder in Thrall is superb.
Acton and Doyle are both social misfits with their own unique gifts which keep them aside from the rest of the crowd, so the interactions between them are not what we would call socially acceptable and they do not follow an expected pattern of behavior. But, my God, their conversations of a very few words and their actions towards each other cut me to the bone! I can't quite put my finger on what exactly snagged me, but I LOVED this couple and I would say they were one of my favorites this year.
I understand that not everyone would savor this type of quirky writing, but Anne Cleeland is totally my author, and I highly recommend her to you, my dear readers.
April 18, 2017
Review written April 17, 2017
3.9 Stars - Slightly tricky crime but captivating good. Hooked by these characters and style. Wanted just more
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A crime thriller with a splash of romantic suspense. Part #1 in a the New Scotland Yard / Doyle and Acton series (5 books so far).
Kathleen Doyle a fresh Detective Constable in London is lucky to get the chance to work with the very famous Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector, Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton. Investigating the murder of a trainer at a racetrack it soon appears that the handsome CI also have some quite intense likings for stalking the woman he fancy. ... a read headed Irish girl. To start with it felt a bit no-no but I ended up approving. Great heroine as well.
In my opinion a interesting crime solving mystery as well as a strangely odd, but nevertheless very touching, romantic suspense book. Looking forward to the next part in this serial. Want to know more about this mysterious CI lord-hero.
Well enough narrated 9:18 hrs audiobook by Marcella Riordan also. My overall likings...
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I LIKE - captivating interesting plots with damaged alpha heroes
3.9 Stars - Slightly tricky crime but captivating good. Hooked by these characters and style. Wanted just more
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A crime thriller with a splash of romantic suspense. Part #1 in a the New Scotland Yard / Doyle and Acton series (5 books so far).
Kathleen Doyle a fresh Detective Constable in London is lucky to get the chance to work with the very famous Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector, Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton. Investigating the murder of a trainer at a racetrack it soon appears that the handsome CI also have some quite intense likings for stalking the woman he fancy. ... a read headed Irish girl. To start with it felt a bit no-no but I ended up approving. Great heroine as well.
In my opinion a interesting crime solving mystery as well as a strangely odd, but nevertheless very touching, romantic suspense book. Looking forward to the next part in this serial. Want to know more about this mysterious CI lord-hero.
Well enough narrated 9:18 hrs audiobook by Marcella Riordan also. My overall likings...
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I LIKE - captivating interesting plots with damaged alpha heroes
September 17, 2019
Update - I read this 3 years ago and then forgot about it. I saw it mentioned on Facebook And remembered that I wanted to read the series. I grabbed this one again without checking my review or my notes so I didn’t spoil it for myself. It was better this time around and going on my best of the year list.
I feel like I’m a smarter more-aware reader. Acton is not the hero for everyone. But boy is he the hero for me.
*Original Review April 2016*
Okay. Realistically this is a 4 star book. But it's my review, and I'll do what I want.
I. Loved. This. Book. Like weird-girly-squeal loved it.
Plot summary thingy - Acton is a genius detective with a teeny mental issue. Doyle is a lowly cop. They work together. And a relationship develops. (There. That sounded reasonable, didn't it?)
It's a murder mystery. And a romance. (Hehehe. Sure. I'll call it a romance.)
For me a good book is about the holy trinity - writing, characters or plot. Give me any one of those, and I'm a happy reader. This book gave me all 3. I'm not sure if I love Doyle or Acton more. I can make arguments for both. And the writing perfectly showcased their....nuances. Plus the murder mystery was fun.
The little Acton paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter were my favorite thing about the book. Each insight into his total weirdness was a treat. Ole boy is fucked-up as a soup sandwich, but I can't get enough of him. Stoked for the next one!
I feel like I’m a smarter more-aware reader. Acton is not the hero for everyone. But boy is he the hero for me.
*Original Review April 2016*
Okay. Realistically this is a 4 star book. But it's my review, and I'll do what I want.
I. Loved. This. Book. Like weird-girly-squeal loved it.
Plot summary thingy - Acton is a genius detective with a teeny mental issue. Doyle is a lowly cop. They work together. And a relationship develops. (There. That sounded reasonable, didn't it?)
It's a murder mystery. And a romance. (Hehehe. Sure. I'll call it a romance.)
For me a good book is about the holy trinity - writing, characters or plot. Give me any one of those, and I'm a happy reader. This book gave me all 3. I'm not sure if I love Doyle or Acton more. I can make arguments for both. And the writing perfectly showcased their....nuances. Plus the murder mystery was fun.
The little Acton paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter were my favorite thing about the book. Each insight into his total weirdness was a treat. Ole boy is fucked-up as a soup sandwich, but I can't get enough of him. Stoked for the next one!
February 21, 2017
Dear Anne Cleeland,
STOP GLAMORIZING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS ROMANTIC! This would have been an alright mystery novel if the author had left out the incredibly disturbing relationship. Everything I say now is not a spoiler, it happens fast.
HE. IS. A. STALKER.
Let me say that again for those in the back, HE. IS. A. STALKER. Unapologetically so. He tells her to her face. She knows he's a stalker, and because she's impetuous(?) she just decides to marry him, before dating, and pretty much modifies her behavior as to not upset him, because HE IS A STALKER. *EDIT* Editing to add, HE IS HER SUPERIOR OFFICER! He abuses his position over her to essentially trap her into being in a relationship with him. This is not romantic, this is grooming.
This entire relationship is so beyond screwed up it took me out of the story which could have been good. I didn't guess who the killer was. But, instead I spent most of this book being utterly disgusted.
I'll end with this, if Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, was young, poor, not a lord, and let's face it, unattractive in any way, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR STALKING Kathleen Doyle because she would have found him creepy. BUT! Because he is 13 YEARS OLDER THAN HER, rich, a lord, and conventionally attractive, she is like, nah, this is cool, he's a little weird, but it's cool because I'm not like other girls and I'm a little weird too.
This book is garbage and I wouldn't even wipe my ass with it.
STOP GLAMORIZING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS ROMANTIC! This would have been an alright mystery novel if the author had left out the incredibly disturbing relationship. Everything I say now is not a spoiler, it happens fast.
HE. IS. A. STALKER.
Let me say that again for those in the back, HE. IS. A. STALKER. Unapologetically so. He tells her to her face. She knows he's a stalker, and because she's impetuous(?) she just decides to marry him, before dating, and pretty much modifies her behavior as to not upset him, because HE IS A STALKER. *EDIT* Editing to add, HE IS HER SUPERIOR OFFICER! He abuses his position over her to essentially trap her into being in a relationship with him. This is not romantic, this is grooming.
This entire relationship is so beyond screwed up it took me out of the story which could have been good. I didn't guess who the killer was. But, instead I spent most of this book being utterly disgusted.
I'll end with this, if Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, was young, poor, not a lord, and let's face it, unattractive in any way, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR STALKING Kathleen Doyle because she would have found him creepy. BUT! Because he is 13 YEARS OLDER THAN HER, rich, a lord, and conventionally attractive, she is like, nah, this is cool, he's a little weird, but it's cool because I'm not like other girls and I'm a little weird too.
This book is garbage and I wouldn't even wipe my ass with it.
January 14, 2017
Favorite book of 2017.
The hero......gawd I love him. Obsessed. Devious. Stalker. Totally into the heroine. Would slay dragons for the heroine. Sigh. Yessssss.
The heroine.....likable. Capable. Ordinary. I like that she goes to Church tho wish she was more of practicing Catholic....sex before marriage she does but not birth control...inconsistent but at least she's a virgin and the hero her only lover....
The storytelling....compelling. I read and couldn't stop. An all nighter.
On to the next book in this series
The hero......gawd I love him. Obsessed. Devious. Stalker. Totally into the heroine. Would slay dragons for the heroine. Sigh. Yessssss.
The heroine.....likable. Capable. Ordinary. I like that she goes to Church tho wish she was more of practicing Catholic....sex before marriage she does but not birth control...inconsistent but at least she's a virgin and the hero her only lover....
The storytelling....compelling. I read and couldn't stop. An all nighter.
On to the next book in this series
August 19, 2014
Cleeland obviously intends for this series to be a blend of police procedural and romance with a frisson of the supernatural to boot. (Her heroine has a touch of fey.)
An intriguing premise, but Cleeland's writing is repetitive, her narrative confusing in critical spots, and her crime plot thin & predictable.
I did finish it - but honestly, I wish I hadn't. Murder in Thrall reads as if E.L. James decided to knock off Elizabeth George.
An intriguing premise, but Cleeland's writing is repetitive, her narrative confusing in critical spots, and her crime plot thin & predictable.
I did finish it - but honestly, I wish I hadn't. Murder in Thrall reads as if E.L. James decided to knock off Elizabeth George.
August 15, 2013
In picking books to read, I usually rely most heavily on the description, and such was the case with “Murder in Thrall” by Anne Cleeland. To make it sweeter, I won my copy in a goodreads.com giveaway. I’m very fond of British police procedurals, and this one is a crackerjack! I can’t say anything about the plot (except that it kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down) without creating spoilers, and the plot twists and developments are half the fun of this rewarding read. I will say that author Cleeland plays fair with the reader, and the reader who pays attention should be able to at least narrow down the lists of suspects before the denouncement. One of the joys of reading this book was the fluency and literacy of the writing. Another was the development of the characters, a number of whom were highly unusual and even captivating as well as fully developed.
I’m always amazed that American writers can pull off writing a British mystery. However, two things jarred me. One was when one of the two main characters referred to whiskey as “scotch,” something no Englishman aristocrat would do. No doubt this was inadvertent and something Cleeland’s editor should have caught and corrected. The second thing was clearly deliberate: naming the male protagonist “Lord Acton.” Given her education, author Cleeland clearly knows about John Dalberg-Acton, the illustrious nineteenth century British historian, the famous Lord Acton who said “power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I look forward to the second Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard mystery.
I’m always amazed that American writers can pull off writing a British mystery. However, two things jarred me. One was when one of the two main characters referred to whiskey as “scotch,” something no Englishman aristocrat would do. No doubt this was inadvertent and something Cleeland’s editor should have caught and corrected. The second thing was clearly deliberate: naming the male protagonist “Lord Acton.” Given her education, author Cleeland clearly knows about John Dalberg-Acton, the illustrious nineteenth century British historian, the famous Lord Acton who said “power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I look forward to the second Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard mystery.
June 28, 2017
Murder in Thrall
2 Stars
In one word: Disappointing.
While the basic premise of a young, female Detective Constable working together with a more experienced Detective Chief Inspector who just happens to be a Peer (think the Inspector Lynley series) is very appealing, Cleeland’s execution leaves much to be desired.
To begin with, aside from her almost psychic ability to read people’s emotional status, Kathleen Doyle is a TSTL heroine and her contribution to the investigation is minimal at best. Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, is nothing short of a stalker and his behavior toward Doyle is just plain creepy.
The murder mystery takes a back seat to Doyle and Sinclair’s romantic entanglement, which is completely unrealistic not only due to their positions in Scotland Yard but also their social status. The resolution to the crime is obvious from the start and the climax scene is completely illogical.
Finally, the writing style is also problematic with repetitive word choices and descriptions as well as numerous colloquialisms that non-British/Irish readers may not fully grasp.
In sum, this is my first and last Cleeland book.
2 Stars
In one word: Disappointing.
While the basic premise of a young, female Detective Constable working together with a more experienced Detective Chief Inspector who just happens to be a Peer (think the Inspector Lynley series) is very appealing, Cleeland’s execution leaves much to be desired.
To begin with, aside from her almost psychic ability to read people’s emotional status, Kathleen Doyle is a TSTL heroine and her contribution to the investigation is minimal at best. Michael Sinclair, Lord Acton, is nothing short of a stalker and his behavior toward Doyle is just plain creepy.
The murder mystery takes a back seat to Doyle and Sinclair’s romantic entanglement, which is completely unrealistic not only due to their positions in Scotland Yard but also their social status. The resolution to the crime is obvious from the start and the climax scene is completely illogical.
Finally, the writing style is also problematic with repetitive word choices and descriptions as well as numerous colloquialisms that non-British/Irish readers may not fully grasp.
In sum, this is my first and last Cleeland book.
May 30, 2015
I had the opportunity to read one of the author's regency era books and loved her writing, the characters, dialogue and suspense so I was eager to give her contemporary detective romantic suspense a try. This Scotland Yard police procedural was a lovely surprise and a fantastic reading experience and I definitely want to keep going with the series.
The story opens with Detective Constable Kathleen Doyle out on a new case with her lead, Detective Chief Inspector Lord Acton. She has been his junior partner and mentoree for the last six months and they've done well as a team. He is brilliant and deductive and she is intuitive. His star is already high in the sky and he is highly respected and high profile amongst the powers that be while she is pretty much an Irish upstart. Her fairy gift, as she calls her ability to sort lies and motives, and his genius keep them isolated from others, but share an understanding between them. And it will take all their combined gifts to sort out this latest death and what follows. Doyle discovers that Acton has one big surprise among many up his sleeve that gives her more than their case to keep her busy. Then the case turns dangerously personal and they must work to solve it before the killer gets to them.
When I started reading, I had that sense that I was dropped into the middle of something and it was a little dizzying, but I got my feet under me and caught the rhythm of the writing. Many murder mysteries do that so it wasn't a huge surprise. I found the murder mystery a nice little challenge though sadly I cottoned to the killer nearly from the moment I encountered the person and figured out the motive not long after. Fortunately, there is much more going on and I was vested in the characters and all the little extras that I had plenty to keep me reading. I could sense that while this was a complete story and the case does get solved, there was also the sense that this was setting up for a series story arc, too.
The main characters are a wonderful tribute to older detective teams including the famous Sherlock Holmes. The author doesn't shy away from the comparison though I have to say that Doyle is no Watson. She's intuitive and can be brash in her words, but she is a capable detective who doesn't miss the clues or their significance. She might be inferior as to class and education, but Acton sees beyond that and treats her with respect. They are not full partners in that he is essentially her boss and he has the lead which she occasionally chafes under, but they don't get acrimonious about it. They also become romantically involved and that was a source of enjoyment the way the author developed that aspect. Doyle is the predominant narrator and she cracks me up particularly after they become involved. She has a wry wit and a prosaic outlook which stands her well with a personality like Acton's that intimidates and steamrolls lesser people.
All that being said, I had a wonderful time with this new detective series and I will definitely be going back for more. I would recommend this for those who enjoy romantically involved detective teams and a moderately challenging murder mystery.
I received this book as a giveaway prize, but this did not influence my honest review.
The story opens with Detective Constable Kathleen Doyle out on a new case with her lead, Detective Chief Inspector Lord Acton. She has been his junior partner and mentoree for the last six months and they've done well as a team. He is brilliant and deductive and she is intuitive. His star is already high in the sky and he is highly respected and high profile amongst the powers that be while she is pretty much an Irish upstart. Her fairy gift, as she calls her ability to sort lies and motives, and his genius keep them isolated from others, but share an understanding between them. And it will take all their combined gifts to sort out this latest death and what follows. Doyle discovers that Acton has one big surprise among many up his sleeve that gives her more than their case to keep her busy. Then the case turns dangerously personal and they must work to solve it before the killer gets to them.
When I started reading, I had that sense that I was dropped into the middle of something and it was a little dizzying, but I got my feet under me and caught the rhythm of the writing. Many murder mysteries do that so it wasn't a huge surprise. I found the murder mystery a nice little challenge though sadly I cottoned to the killer nearly from the moment I encountered the person and figured out the motive not long after. Fortunately, there is much more going on and I was vested in the characters and all the little extras that I had plenty to keep me reading. I could sense that while this was a complete story and the case does get solved, there was also the sense that this was setting up for a series story arc, too.
The main characters are a wonderful tribute to older detective teams including the famous Sherlock Holmes. The author doesn't shy away from the comparison though I have to say that Doyle is no Watson. She's intuitive and can be brash in her words, but she is a capable detective who doesn't miss the clues or their significance. She might be inferior as to class and education, but Acton sees beyond that and treats her with respect. They are not full partners in that he is essentially her boss and he has the lead which she occasionally chafes under, but they don't get acrimonious about it. They also become romantically involved and that was a source of enjoyment the way the author developed that aspect. Doyle is the predominant narrator and she cracks me up particularly after they become involved. She has a wry wit and a prosaic outlook which stands her well with a personality like Acton's that intimidates and steamrolls lesser people.
All that being said, I had a wonderful time with this new detective series and I will definitely be going back for more. I would recommend this for those who enjoy romantically involved detective teams and a moderately challenging murder mystery.
I received this book as a giveaway prize, but this did not influence my honest review.
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January 26, 2025
A VERY unexpected book. You think you're getting the classic police procedural novel, maybe with the tiniest dash of romance thrown in, and then you end up with:
- a hero who's been obsessed with the heroine since he first saw her and manoeuvred her into working with him
- a hero who secretly takes nude photos of the heroine while she sleeps
- a hero who's a chief inspector at Scotland Yard but also a murderous criminal
- a heroine who's an avowed Roman Catholic and doesn't believe in birth control (to be fair, it's nice to see a heroine with religious convictions in a non-explicitly-religious romance novel, there aren't many of those)
- a heroine who barely blinks an eye at learning that her boss is an obsessed criminal
- a totally wild mishmash of plot where you have no idea what's happening but you don't care because you're only reading for the romance anyway
So, 3 stars overall.
- a hero who's been obsessed with the heroine since he first saw her and manoeuvred her into working with him
- a hero who secretly takes nude photos of the heroine while she sleeps
- a hero who's a chief inspector at Scotland Yard but also a murderous criminal
- a heroine who's an avowed Roman Catholic and doesn't believe in birth control (to be fair, it's nice to see a heroine with religious convictions in a non-explicitly-religious romance novel, there aren't many of those)
- a heroine who barely blinks an eye at learning that her boss is an obsessed criminal
- a totally wild mishmash of plot where you have no idea what's happening but you don't care because you're only reading for the romance anyway
So, 3 stars overall.
October 22, 2019
My tag, ‘Hero Gives Chase’, has new meaning. Anne Cleeland has done the unthinkable and written a H who stalks his partner and soon-to-be wife. I don’t think of these as spoilers because all of this happens early-on. Each chapter begins with his thoughts and yes, it is somewhat disturbing.
I tried to avoid reading anyone’s review beforehand because I noticed most people either enjoyed this dark mystery/police-procedural or they gave it one star. There was little leeway. And I am *almost* ashamed to admit it but Lord Acton intrigued me. I had so many questions as I read Murder In Thrall. Was he born like this? Besides the short clips at the beginning of each chapter, will I read Michael’s POV in future stories? I can only hope. Where did he learn his sense of justice? He is a chief inspector for Scotland Yard and he is also a _______. No, I am not going to tell you, you have to read the story.
I liked Kathleen aka Doyle but I assume her Irish brogue, talking to herself (she is fey) and her lowbrow personality will eventually cause some problems for me. For the moment, I will continue with this series because of Michael, Lord Acton. I want to know more about him.
I tried to avoid reading anyone’s review beforehand because I noticed most people either enjoyed this dark mystery/police-procedural or they gave it one star. There was little leeway. And I am *almost* ashamed to admit it but Lord Acton intrigued me. I had so many questions as I read Murder In Thrall. Was he born like this? Besides the short clips at the beginning of each chapter, will I read Michael’s POV in future stories? I can only hope. Where did he learn his sense of justice? He is a chief inspector for Scotland Yard and he is also a _______. No, I am not going to tell you, you have to read the story.
I liked Kathleen aka Doyle but I assume her Irish brogue, talking to herself (she is fey) and her lowbrow personality will eventually cause some problems for me. For the moment, I will continue with this series because of Michael, Lord Acton. I want to know more about him.
February 11, 2019
Murder In Thrall is book one in the New Scotland Yard/Doyle and Acton, series by Anne Cleeland. New Scotland Yard Detective Kathleen Doyle was team up with Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair to investigate the death of a horse trainer. At first chance, the murder of the horse trainer was a simple case of being in the wrong place and the wrong time. However, the longer the investigation went on, the more dangerous it becomes for both Sinclair and Doyle. The readers of Murder In Thrall will continue to follow the twist and turns in Detective Kathleen Doyle and Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair investigation and to see what happens.
I enjoyed reading Murder In Thrall. I notice by the ratings that some readers of Murder In Thrall did not like the characters or the plot. However, I found the characters interesting and the plot of Murder In Thrall engaged me from the first chapter. Murder In Thrall is well written and researched by Anne Cleeland.
The readers of Murder In Thrall will learn about the problems and consequences of office base jealousies on everyone who is involved. Also, the readers will learn about policies and procedures of New Scotland Yard.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Murder In Thrall. I notice by the ratings that some readers of Murder In Thrall did not like the characters or the plot. However, I found the characters interesting and the plot of Murder In Thrall engaged me from the first chapter. Murder In Thrall is well written and researched by Anne Cleeland.
The readers of Murder In Thrall will learn about the problems and consequences of office base jealousies on everyone who is involved. Also, the readers will learn about policies and procedures of New Scotland Yard.
I recommend this book.
March 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this very British book and am looking forward to book 2, though the ending disappointed--all of those murders remain officially unsolved. I am curious to see if there is any follow.up in Bk 2.
August 30, 2015
Overall rating: 4 "Sector Seven" stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Sex with om/ow:
Love triangle:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
I really enjoyed this book. I ended up loving the writing style and the heroine's quirkiness, although initially I was very unsure. I love murder mysteries so this was perfect because it also had an obsessed hero and a lovable heroine.
Why 4 stars, instead of 5? I would have loved a little more insight into the hero's POV. I know we get a glimpse at the end and in the beginning of each chapter, but I really wanted more. I would have loved for a FEW sex scenes that were not fade to black. I would have loved just a bit more romantic dialogue and ALSO I did read the blurbs and some reviews for the next few books and I am not impressed. It upsets me to know what the heroine will go through in the next book and I have no idea where the plotline came from for book 3. .
In the future - I will pay closer attention to knowing if books are standalone or are part of a series! ;)
Triggers:
Cheating:
Sex with om/ow:
Love triangle:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
I really enjoyed this book. I ended up loving the writing style and the heroine's quirkiness, although initially I was very unsure. I love murder mysteries so this was perfect because it also had an obsessed hero and a lovable heroine.
Why 4 stars, instead of 5? I would have loved a little more insight into the hero's POV. I know we get a glimpse at the end and in the beginning of each chapter, but I really wanted more. I would have loved for a FEW sex scenes that were not fade to black. I would have loved just a bit more romantic dialogue and ALSO I did read the blurbs and some reviews for the next few books and I am not impressed. It upsets me to know what the heroine will go through in the next book and I have no idea where the plotline came from for book 3. .
In the future - I will pay closer attention to knowing if books are standalone or are part of a series! ;)
December 31, 2015
A 2.5 that I've knocked down to 2. This review is slightly rant-ish.
Look, this book is not my cup of tea. I generally enjoy crime novels, and the crime aspect of this was pretty good, however it was the relationship between the two main characters that completely turned me off.
Doyle and Acton's relationship with each other is not romantic, unless being stalked by someone who is one sandwich shy of a full hamper is your idea of romance. There are snippets at the beginning of each chapter that show Acton's inner thoughts, and let me tell you that they are creepy. He monitors her location, breaks into her house while she sleeps and has hacked her computer so he can see what she's working on. When they eventually fall into a "relationship" with each other, she must check in at all hours of the day or else he has a tantrum.
Doyle is little better. She is a Mary Sue, able to supernaturally tell when characters are lying and so beautiful that everyone wants to start a relationship with her. Her demeanour crosses the boundary from eternally chipper to constantly simpering, and when Acton confesses that he's a creepy stalker she immediately starts a relationship with him.
I have major issues with stalkers in fiction and I really struggle to reconcile a stalker's behaviour with the idea that he's doing it because he loves her so much. Stalking someone isn't romantic. Invasion of privacy isn't romantic. Boundaries, confidence in the relationship you have with another person and respect are.
Rant over.
Look, this book is not my cup of tea. I generally enjoy crime novels, and the crime aspect of this was pretty good, however it was the relationship between the two main characters that completely turned me off.
Doyle and Acton's relationship with each other is not romantic, unless being stalked by someone who is one sandwich shy of a full hamper is your idea of romance. There are snippets at the beginning of each chapter that show Acton's inner thoughts, and let me tell you that they are creepy. He monitors her location, breaks into her house while she sleeps and has hacked her computer so he can see what she's working on. When they eventually fall into a "relationship" with each other, she must check in at all hours of the day or else he has a tantrum.
Doyle is little better. She is a Mary Sue, able to supernaturally tell when characters are lying and so beautiful that everyone wants to start a relationship with her. Her demeanour crosses the boundary from eternally chipper to constantly simpering, and when Acton confesses that he's a creepy stalker she immediately starts a relationship with him.
I have major issues with stalkers in fiction and I really struggle to reconcile a stalker's behaviour with the idea that he's doing it because he loves her so much. Stalking someone isn't romantic. Invasion of privacy isn't romantic. Boundaries, confidence in the relationship you have with another person and respect are.
Rant over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2013
I received an early eArc from Netgalley. I love British mysteries. I have to admit that I have not been reading straight mysteries for a while. But, this mystery does have a twist in it and it makes it more interesting. Murder in Thrall is the story about a DC, Kathleen Doyle, from Dublin who moves to London to work for the police and is given a chance to work with one of the most famous investigators on the force who also happens to be an aristocrat, Lord Acton. Part of what is interesting about this story is its layout, the order in which the story is told. We join the story with the duo already mid-investigation of a murder. One of the things that I did not like about Murder in Thrall is that though I liked the attempt at how the story was arranged it did at times confuse me. Some of the Irish slang also was a bit baffling to me at times. I am having trouble determining the definition of a section seven. It appears to have several different meanings. I will go with stalker laws. We get a better feel for this as the story moves along. There are some great red herrings in this story and as Doyle moves along throughout her day her talent for interrogation and reading people tells a lot of the story.
One of the great things about Murder in Thrall is the cast of characters. I did miss having a better sense of place. I love London and the story just does not give a good feel for where the story happens. There are some pretty diverse people in this police department. They are flawed and quite interesting. They make the story stand out more. Everyone has these quirks in their personalities that make it plausible for them to be the killer. The first two murders just do not seem to have any rhyme or reason that make sense so finding out who the killer is and why really makes you sit back and think "I just could not have seen that". I had the feeling that this is the first of a series and I have to admit that I liked the Epilogue and the information that it gave. It was an interesting way of giving something good about Acton and Doyle and makes me look forward to seeing more of their story.
Review can also be seen at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
One of the great things about Murder in Thrall is the cast of characters. I did miss having a better sense of place. I love London and the story just does not give a good feel for where the story happens. There are some pretty diverse people in this police department. They are flawed and quite interesting. They make the story stand out more. Everyone has these quirks in their personalities that make it plausible for them to be the killer. The first two murders just do not seem to have any rhyme or reason that make sense so finding out who the killer is and why really makes you sit back and think "I just could not have seen that". I had the feeling that this is the first of a series and I have to admit that I liked the Epilogue and the information that it gave. It was an interesting way of giving something good about Acton and Doyle and makes me look forward to seeing more of their story.
Review can also be seen at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
January 20, 2019
For the whodunit and police procedural aspect of the plot, I give this book 4 stars, hands down. So why the three star rating then? Chief Inspector Acton, one of the two main protagonists, is not only a brilliant detective and a lord of the realm, but an obsessed stalker.
The object of his obsession is a first-year detective constable, Kathleen Doyle, whom Acton has taken under his wing at work. Their relationship develops and is the second main plot line of the story.
I almost didn't read past the first few chapters, so distasteful did I find this part of the plot. Were I not snowed in with the book, I would not have finished it. But there I was, and so I did --finish, that is. If you can keep from thinking about how obsession/stalking is the underlying impetus of 'sand Doyle's professional and personal relationship, you should enjoy the rest of the book.
The object of his obsession is a first-year detective constable, Kathleen Doyle, whom Acton has taken under his wing at work. Their relationship develops and is the second main plot line of the story.
I almost didn't read past the first few chapters, so distasteful did I find this part of the plot. Were I not snowed in with the book, I would not have finished it. But there I was, and so I did --finish, that is. If you can keep from thinking about how obsession/stalking is the underlying impetus of 'sand Doyle's professional and personal relationship, you should enjoy the rest of the book.
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