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Lizzie Martin #2
A Mortal Curiosity
It’s 1864 and Lizzie Martin is leaving London for the south coast of England to be the companion of Lucy Craven, a teenager who lives in seclusion with her aunts and has recently lost an infant daughter to illness. En route, Lizzie meets Doctor Lefebre, a slightly off-putting gentleman headed for the same destination. Lefebre, it turns out, is an alienist hired by Lucy’s family to determine whether the young woman is mad. And he discloses something shocking: Lucy Craven doesn’t believe her daughter is dead; she insists the baby was stolen from her.
In Hampshire, complications mount. Late at night, Lizzie hears furtive voices outside, there’s a gentleman farmer whose demeanor with Lucy seems unusually familiar, and, while Lucy proves a bit moody, she hardly seems deranged. The girl’s aunts are clearly withholding something. . . . These tensions come to a head when a man is found dead in the garden, stabbed with a knife from the aunts’ home.
Lizzie calls upon her beau, Inspector Benjamin Ross. Together, they find themselves entangled in a mystery as bewildering as any they’ve faced.
In Hampshire, complications mount. Late at night, Lizzie hears furtive voices outside, there’s a gentleman farmer whose demeanor with Lucy seems unusually familiar, and, while Lucy proves a bit moody, she hardly seems deranged. The girl’s aunts are clearly withholding something. . . . These tensions come to a head when a man is found dead in the garden, stabbed with a knife from the aunts’ home.
Lizzie calls upon her beau, Inspector Benjamin Ross. Together, they find themselves entangled in a mystery as bewildering as any they’ve faced.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
128 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Ann Granger
76 books301 followersAnn Granger attended the Northern Grammar School for Girls, and had thoughts about becoming a veterinarian, but discovered women were not accepted into vet schools because they were not believed to be strong enough. Instead she earned a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, where she first developed a desire to become a writer. worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They had two children.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
October 10, 2022
The first book wasn't available on my book app so I decided to jump strain to the second one. But I'm not very sold on the series but might give the third one a try before I make my mind
February 27, 2024
“Dr Lefebre’s interest, his business, is insanity. He is an alienist.”
One supposes it was just time. With no undue ceremony, Lizzie Martin and her Aunt Parry, with whom Lizzie resides, have reached the clear mutual agreement that their relationship has passed its best-by date and it is time for Lizzie to move on in her life.
Aunt Parry (with Lizzie’s best virginal interests as a proper young lady at heart, of course) has arranged for her to make the trip out of London to a small forested enclave on the coast. She is to assume the position of paid companion to Lucy Craven, the young married niece of the wealthy Roche family. Mrs Craven was “not long since delivered of her first child but sadly the infant died after only two days.” The proverbial fly in the ointment? Suffering from what seems to be a serious case of post-partum depression (up to and including what the family feels may reach into insanity), Mrs Craven refuses to accept that her child is actually deceased. The family has engaged a prominent “alienist” who operates a nearby asylum to assess the situation.
“Please try not to use the word “loss” when you speak to her … She won’t accept the baby’s dead and if you talk as if it is, she gets very agitated … This is a very – very unhealthy house … That’s my feeling about it all.”
A rather gothic foundation for a mystery, if I may say so, that I thought rather reminiscent of Count Fosco and his dastardly manipulation of Anne Catherick, the mentally frail eponymous heroine of Wilkie Collins’ classic THE WOMAN IN WHITE.
What has to this point in the story merely been a well-staged and cleverly established late Victorian atmospheric character drama is now set to move into high gear as a full out murder mystery. A local ne’er-do-well rat-catcher is brutally murdered, Lucy Craven is found delirious beside the body covered with his blood, and Ben Ross, Lizzie Martin’s erstwhile sweetheart back "home" in London and a promising rising star in the ranks of Scotland Yard’s detectives, is brought in to solve the murder. Well, we all know what Sherlock Holmes would have had to say about that!
Kudos to author Ann Granger for creating a story in which Lizzie Martin’s brainpower and amateur sleuthing abilities are given room to shine without completely overshadowing and embarrassing her detective “partner” Ben Ross. A MORTAL CURIOSITY has everything one would expect of a first rate mystery – atmosphere; solid character development; clever, convincing dialogue; twists, turns, red herrings and clues to help out us baffled readers; plus plenty of interesting commentary on Victorian married life, romantic pre-nuptial relationships and the stuffiness of Victorian social practices and class divisions.
Definitely enjoyable from first to last and easy to recommend to lovers of the historical mystery genre.
Paul Weiss
One supposes it was just time. With no undue ceremony, Lizzie Martin and her Aunt Parry, with whom Lizzie resides, have reached the clear mutual agreement that their relationship has passed its best-by date and it is time for Lizzie to move on in her life.
Aunt Parry (with Lizzie’s best virginal interests as a proper young lady at heart, of course) has arranged for her to make the trip out of London to a small forested enclave on the coast. She is to assume the position of paid companion to Lucy Craven, the young married niece of the wealthy Roche family. Mrs Craven was “not long since delivered of her first child but sadly the infant died after only two days.” The proverbial fly in the ointment? Suffering from what seems to be a serious case of post-partum depression (up to and including what the family feels may reach into insanity), Mrs Craven refuses to accept that her child is actually deceased. The family has engaged a prominent “alienist” who operates a nearby asylum to assess the situation.
“Please try not to use the word “loss” when you speak to her … She won’t accept the baby’s dead and if you talk as if it is, she gets very agitated … This is a very – very unhealthy house … That’s my feeling about it all.”
A rather gothic foundation for a mystery, if I may say so, that I thought rather reminiscent of Count Fosco and his dastardly manipulation of Anne Catherick, the mentally frail eponymous heroine of Wilkie Collins’ classic THE WOMAN IN WHITE.
What has to this point in the story merely been a well-staged and cleverly established late Victorian atmospheric character drama is now set to move into high gear as a full out murder mystery. A local ne’er-do-well rat-catcher is brutally murdered, Lucy Craven is found delirious beside the body covered with his blood, and Ben Ross, Lizzie Martin’s erstwhile sweetheart back "home" in London and a promising rising star in the ranks of Scotland Yard’s detectives, is brought in to solve the murder. Well, we all know what Sherlock Holmes would have had to say about that!
Kudos to author Ann Granger for creating a story in which Lizzie Martin’s brainpower and amateur sleuthing abilities are given room to shine without completely overshadowing and embarrassing her detective “partner” Ben Ross. A MORTAL CURIOSITY has everything one would expect of a first rate mystery – atmosphere; solid character development; clever, convincing dialogue; twists, turns, red herrings and clues to help out us baffled readers; plus plenty of interesting commentary on Victorian married life, romantic pre-nuptial relationships and the stuffiness of Victorian social practices and class divisions.
Definitely enjoyable from first to last and easy to recommend to lovers of the historical mystery genre.
Paul Weiss
November 17, 2024
Another strong 4-4.5 from Granger. Really enjoying this author. I enjoy her writing and the way she can put you into a totally different time and place without you feeling that this is a modern historical work. Her books almost read like a lighter classic. Many period details without you feeling she’s showing off her research. Just the right balance.
I also like the developing relationship between the female main character and the police detective inspector. They have a mutual respect. He wants to protect her but he respects her intellect and independence too.
I always prefer the character relationships to the mystery in most every series I read, but the mystery is always good in these. There is little violence beyond what you’d need in a murder mystery, and no sex. We don’t witness the murder; we follow the investigation after the fact. The men have the power bc this is 1864, but the women are no wilting violets and often have more smarts.
I love British crime that is less violent and no idea how I’ve never discovered this author before now (thanks again to Lisa sun for the rec), but I’m glad I’ve found her now! Most of her audiobooks are available on Hoopla and Audible, and for this series anyway, they are very well done.
If you’re looking for an atmospheric historical British crime series with good period detail and character development, it’s hard to go wrong with this one. The author has written several series, roughly 70 books in all, and is still writing today. Planning to read more from her, for sure.
I also like the developing relationship between the female main character and the police detective inspector. They have a mutual respect. He wants to protect her but he respects her intellect and independence too.
I always prefer the character relationships to the mystery in most every series I read, but the mystery is always good in these. There is little violence beyond what you’d need in a murder mystery, and no sex. We don’t witness the murder; we follow the investigation after the fact. The men have the power bc this is 1864, but the women are no wilting violets and often have more smarts.
I love British crime that is less violent and no idea how I’ve never discovered this author before now (thanks again to Lisa sun for the rec), but I’m glad I’ve found her now! Most of her audiobooks are available on Hoopla and Audible, and for this series anyway, they are very well done.
If you’re looking for an atmospheric historical British crime series with good period detail and character development, it’s hard to go wrong with this one. The author has written several series, roughly 70 books in all, and is still writing today. Planning to read more from her, for sure.
August 22, 2020
Reviewed for Books and livres
I loved reading book #1, so here's book #2 !
And here is Lizzie again, the doctor's daughter turned companion for a living, who now goes to Hampshire. I found the atmosphere a mix of The hound of the Baskervilles and Jamaica Inn, with the moor, the sea, the gothic house, the old aunts : good, I love those books. Of course, when Lizzie arrives somewhere, a murder follows so she calls Ben Ross, the Scotland Yard detective, for help.
It's a very enjoyable series, easy to read, good atmosphere, good ending (not the one you'd wish, but believable). I really like Lizzie, she's very human but has a will of her own. I won't tell you you'll never forget this novel, but while reading it, you'll have a real good time, so don't be picky !
PS : I looked up pictures of the Solent and the isle of Wight, veeeery nice place !
I loved reading book #1, so here's book #2 !
And here is Lizzie again, the doctor's daughter turned companion for a living, who now goes to Hampshire. I found the atmosphere a mix of The hound of the Baskervilles and Jamaica Inn, with the moor, the sea, the gothic house, the old aunts : good, I love those books. Of course, when Lizzie arrives somewhere, a murder follows so she calls Ben Ross, the Scotland Yard detective, for help.
It's a very enjoyable series, easy to read, good atmosphere, good ending (not the one you'd wish, but believable). I really like Lizzie, she's very human but has a will of her own. I won't tell you you'll never forget this novel, but while reading it, you'll have a real good time, so don't be picky !
PS : I looked up pictures of the Solent and the isle of Wight, veeeery nice place !
October 30, 2015
J'aime beaucoup cette série, surtout le côté point de vue des deux personnages . J'aime toujours autant Ben Ross (mais Lizie est bien aussi hein ^^) Et moins de descriptions ici on rentre plus dans le vif du sujet.
Pour les thématique, c'est assez proche de ce qu'on a dans les Pitt ou les Monk d'Anne Perry.... petits secrets troubles de la bourgeoisie, etc....
Pour les thématique, c'est assez proche de ce qu'on a dans les Pitt ou les Monk d'Anne Perry.... petits secrets troubles de la bourgeoisie, etc....
July 11, 2019
Une histoire plus originale, bien menée, des personnages bien écrits, une pointe d'humour, une écriture agréable et facile, décidément la série me plaît. Je passe au suivant !
November 6, 2022
4/5 ⭐️
Cette histoire m'a beaucoup plu malgré un creux au milieu. Le personnage de Lizzie ne recule devant rien et se retrouve à nouveau dans une situation épineuse. Son duo avec l'inspecteur Ross est intéressant. Je lirai la suite avec plaisir.
Cette histoire m'a beaucoup plu malgré un creux au milieu. Le personnage de Lizzie ne recule devant rien et se retrouve à nouveau dans une situation épineuse. Son duo avec l'inspecteur Ross est intéressant. Je lirai la suite avec plaisir.
July 31, 2018
Décidément, c'est un été qui commence sous le signe des enquêtes anglaises ! 😁
C'était un plaisir de retrouver Lizzie Martin et Ben Ross.
C'était un plaisir de retrouver Lizzie Martin et Ben Ross.
November 30, 2021
Ein sehr gemächlicher historischer Krimi in schöner Landschaft.
Der Fall ist eigentlich ganz interessant und sehr atmosphärisch.
Kritisieren möchte ich gleich vorne weg, dass Lizzie Martin eine unglaublich schlechte Detektivin ist. Lucy Craven sagt in einer Tour, dass ihr Baby nicht tot ist, und Lizzie, die gerade erst eingetroffen ist und keine Ahnung von gar nichts hat, kommt nicht einmal auf die Idee wenigstens mal NACHZUFRAGEN, was eigentlich passiert ist oder WIESO Lucy das denkt (ehrlich, das wäre doch wohl die erste Frage, die ich stellen würde???), sondern ist immerzu nur "Ach, das bilden Sie sich nur ein, meine Liebe".
Generell stellt Lizzie sehr wenig Fragen oder hört Leuten einfach mal zu. (Und viele könnten ihr ja durchaus was Spannendes erzählen!) Stattdessen bildet sie sich in Windeseile über alles eine Meinung, ohne überhaupt alle Fakten zu kennen oder verschiedenen Versionen angehört zu haben und hält eisern daran fest. Poirot hätte da Einges zu kritisieren.
Außerdem glaubt sie immer einfach der ersten Person, die ihr etwas sagt. Lucy behauptet Dr. Lefebre sei ihretwegen gekommen - Lizzie nimmt das einfach so hin und ist ab da total feindselig zu ihm, ohne auf die Idee zu kommen das mal bei ihm anzusprechen (er ist nämlich eigentlich sehr nett zu ihr und gibt ihr keinerlei Anlass für so viel Misstrauen?). Charles Roche erzählt Lizzie Lucys Baby sei gestorben - auch das akzptiert sie als die Wahrheit und hört danach auf keine andere Meinung mehr (obwohl wir sehr schnell erfahren, dass er nicht mal ANWESEND war während der Geburt. Jesus Christ Lizzie!)
Ehrlich Lizzie. Menschen LÜGEN. *Haare rauf* Du kannst doch nicht immer dem Ersten, der dir was erzählt einfach so glauben??? Poirot wäre entsetzt. (Der Belgier mit den kleinen grauen Zellen ist nämlich prinzipiell immer davon ausgegangen, dass einfach ALLE lügen und hatte meistens Recht.)
Auch die Beziehung zwischen ihr und Ben ist mir einfach zu ... unromantisch. Sie sind immer so unglaublich pragmatisch und sachlich miteinander, wie ein Ehepaar, das seit zwanzig Jahren verheiratet ist und sich nicht mehr allzu viel zu sagen hat. Das ist natürlich absolut persönlich und subjektiv, aber ich würde mir manchmal wünschen, dass sie mehr emotionale Momente miteinander hätten. Sie wirken halt absolut nicht verliebt auf mich, sondern eher wie Bekannte, die sich vage sympathisch finden.
Abgesehen davon trotzdem ein netter, gemächlicher Krimi.
Der Fall ist eigentlich ganz interessant und sehr atmosphärisch.
Kritisieren möchte ich gleich vorne weg, dass Lizzie Martin eine unglaublich schlechte Detektivin ist. Lucy Craven sagt in einer Tour, dass ihr Baby nicht tot ist, und Lizzie, die gerade erst eingetroffen ist und keine Ahnung von gar nichts hat, kommt nicht einmal auf die Idee wenigstens mal NACHZUFRAGEN, was eigentlich passiert ist oder WIESO Lucy das denkt (ehrlich, das wäre doch wohl die erste Frage, die ich stellen würde???), sondern ist immerzu nur "Ach, das bilden Sie sich nur ein, meine Liebe".
Generell stellt Lizzie sehr wenig Fragen oder hört Leuten einfach mal zu. (Und viele könnten ihr ja durchaus was Spannendes erzählen!) Stattdessen bildet sie sich in Windeseile über alles eine Meinung, ohne überhaupt alle Fakten zu kennen oder verschiedenen Versionen angehört zu haben und hält eisern daran fest. Poirot hätte da Einges zu kritisieren.
Außerdem glaubt sie immer einfach der ersten Person, die ihr etwas sagt. Lucy behauptet Dr. Lefebre sei ihretwegen gekommen - Lizzie nimmt das einfach so hin und ist ab da total feindselig zu ihm, ohne auf die Idee zu kommen das mal bei ihm anzusprechen (er ist nämlich eigentlich sehr nett zu ihr und gibt ihr keinerlei Anlass für so viel Misstrauen?). Charles Roche erzählt Lizzie Lucys Baby sei gestorben - auch das akzptiert sie als die Wahrheit und hört danach auf keine andere Meinung mehr (obwohl wir sehr schnell erfahren, dass er nicht mal ANWESEND war während der Geburt. Jesus Christ Lizzie!)
Ehrlich Lizzie. Menschen LÜGEN. *Haare rauf* Du kannst doch nicht immer dem Ersten, der dir was erzählt einfach so glauben??? Poirot wäre entsetzt. (Der Belgier mit den kleinen grauen Zellen ist nämlich prinzipiell immer davon ausgegangen, dass einfach ALLE lügen und hatte meistens Recht.)
Auch die Beziehung zwischen ihr und Ben ist mir einfach zu ... unromantisch. Sie sind immer so unglaublich pragmatisch und sachlich miteinander, wie ein Ehepaar, das seit zwanzig Jahren verheiratet ist und sich nicht mehr allzu viel zu sagen hat. Das ist natürlich absolut persönlich und subjektiv, aber ich würde mir manchmal wünschen, dass sie mehr emotionale Momente miteinander hätten. Sie wirken halt absolut nicht verliebt auf mich, sondern eher wie Bekannte, die sich vage sympathisch finden.
Abgesehen davon trotzdem ein netter, gemächlicher Krimi.
February 3, 2012
I normally go out of my way to not read a series of book out of series. If I find a latter one that looks interesting, I'll make sure to start from the beginning. I've only read out of series once before and that was with Anne Perry's Monk books. For some reason, I did the same when I came across this book in the library. Interestingly, both of these series share similar traits. In all of them, I think Granger succeeds better in evoking Victorian England than Perry. A comparison is inevitable, so I'll just get on with it.
The characters of Lizzie and her beau Inspector Benjamin Ross are much more fleshed out and sympathetic than Hester and Monk are in Perry's novels. Lizze and Benjamin are awkward around each other in a manner that is totally natural yet incredibly interesting; as a reader, I just want to slap both Hester and Monk for their ridiculous and childish behavior towards each other. I understand that Perry is trying to make a comment about the repression of emotions in Victorian England, but all she succeeds in doing is making a caricature of them. Granger's characters seem far more real, more interesting, and definitely more sympathetic to the reader.
Similarly, Granger's treatment of the setting and its description are more organic and not so confrontational as opposed to Perry's. The latter tends to beat you over the head with all that was wrong with Victorian society, especially its treatment of women, in every book. Granger's writing is far more subtle and you definitely feel sorry for everyone who had to live like that, male and female, young and old, because they simply knew no other way.
The story itself is clever and tosses a few twists in towards the end to keep you from guessing both the culprit and the true motive. In the end, you are both repulsed and pitiful of the murderer, which, in my view, makes for good reading.
The characters of Lizzie and her beau Inspector Benjamin Ross are much more fleshed out and sympathetic than Hester and Monk are in Perry's novels. Lizze and Benjamin are awkward around each other in a manner that is totally natural yet incredibly interesting; as a reader, I just want to slap both Hester and Monk for their ridiculous and childish behavior towards each other. I understand that Perry is trying to make a comment about the repression of emotions in Victorian England, but all she succeeds in doing is making a caricature of them. Granger's characters seem far more real, more interesting, and definitely more sympathetic to the reader.
Similarly, Granger's treatment of the setting and its description are more organic and not so confrontational as opposed to Perry's. The latter tends to beat you over the head with all that was wrong with Victorian society, especially its treatment of women, in every book. Granger's writing is far more subtle and you definitely feel sorry for everyone who had to live like that, male and female, young and old, because they simply knew no other way.
The story itself is clever and tosses a few twists in towards the end to keep you from guessing both the culprit and the true motive. In the end, you are both repulsed and pitiful of the murderer, which, in my view, makes for good reading.
June 8, 2020
Véletlenül került hozzám, nem szeretek különösebben németül olvasni angol eredetiben megírt könyveket.
Viktoriánus krimi. Ebből a műfajból eddig Anne Perry krimijeit ismertem és kedveltem, tehát ehhez tudom viszonyítani. Ez a könyv túlságosan hosszú lére lett eresztve, rengeteg sokszor fölösleges részletbe megy bele, a cselekmény meg nagyon lassan gördül tovább. Túl hosszú a felvezetés is, már azt hittem, nem fog történni semmi. Aztán végre csak kupán vágtak (de nem is, mert nyakon szúrtak) végre valakit, és beindult a nyomozás. Az 1800-as évek Angliájának életének részletei érdekesek voltak – vidéki udvarház, társalkodónő, gyarmati üzleti kapcsolatok, lelencgyerekek „gondozásba” kiadása és sok egyéb. Néha az embernek óhatatlanul beugrik, hogy „na de miért nem telefonáltak”, aztán persze rájön, hogy hol volt még akkor telefon. Meg autó, meg egy csomó egyéb későbbi kényelmi eszköz.
Nem könnyű sokszor fordításban visszaadni az angol tegezés-magázás finomságait. De azt hiszem, hogy a viktoriánus Angliában egy huszonéves "miss" (társalkodónő) nem tegeződött volna a vele jó barátságban, már-már udvarlásnak nevezhető kapcsolatban lévő "mister"-rel (rendőrnyomozó). És pláne azt nem mondták volna egymásról, hogy „járunk”… Ha csak abból indulok ki, amit a szüleim fiatalkoráról tudok, pedig ők az 1930-as években voltak fiatalok (nem a viktoriánus korban), ez még akkor is elképzelhetetlen volt.
Viktoriánus krimi. Ebből a műfajból eddig Anne Perry krimijeit ismertem és kedveltem, tehát ehhez tudom viszonyítani. Ez a könyv túlságosan hosszú lére lett eresztve, rengeteg sokszor fölösleges részletbe megy bele, a cselekmény meg nagyon lassan gördül tovább. Túl hosszú a felvezetés is, már azt hittem, nem fog történni semmi. Aztán végre csak kupán vágtak (de nem is, mert nyakon szúrtak) végre valakit, és beindult a nyomozás. Az 1800-as évek Angliájának életének részletei érdekesek voltak – vidéki udvarház, társalkodónő, gyarmati üzleti kapcsolatok, lelencgyerekek „gondozásba” kiadása és sok egyéb. Néha az embernek óhatatlanul beugrik, hogy „na de miért nem telefonáltak”, aztán persze rájön, hogy hol volt még akkor telefon. Meg autó, meg egy csomó egyéb későbbi kényelmi eszköz.
Nem könnyű sokszor fordításban visszaadni az angol tegezés-magázás finomságait. De azt hiszem, hogy a viktoriánus Angliában egy huszonéves "miss" (társalkodónő) nem tegeződött volna a vele jó barátságban, már-már udvarlásnak nevezhető kapcsolatban lévő "mister"-rel (rendőrnyomozó). És pláne azt nem mondták volna egymásról, hogy „járunk”… Ha csak abból indulok ki, amit a szüleim fiatalkoráról tudok, pedig ők az 1930-as években voltak fiatalok (nem a viktoriánus korban), ez még akkor is elképzelhetetlen volt.
May 10, 2015
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec la Curiosité est un Péché Mortel?
"Je m'étais jetée sur le premier tome, ce livre me vendait du rêve ou la promesse de découvrir une nouvelle Anne Perry. Même si je n'avais pas été entièrement convaincue, j'avais envie de donner une nouvelle chance à cette saga néanmoins prometteuse."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Lizzie Martin se retrouve à New Forest, dans une maison très isolée où elle doit tenir compagnie à la jeune Lucy Craven qui vient de perdre son bébé. Du moins, c'est ce que lui explique la famille parce que Lucy elle, soutient le contraire."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous?
"J'ai plus aimé ce tome-ci que le précédent. On y retrouve les bons points du premiers comme les très bons personnages de Lizzie et Ben et évidemment l'époque, que j'adore. L'enquête y est à la fois intéressante et bien ficelée et les mystères y sont aussi épais que le brouillard anglais. L'ambiance dépeinte par l'auteur nous permet de nous immerger dans cette histoire avec tous les frissons appropriés même si j'ai parfois trouvé quelques longueurs et lenteurs. Je ne saurais dire si c'est à cause de cela ou d'autre chose, mais j'ai toujours l'impression qu'il manque quelque chose à ces histoires. D'ailleurs, je me rends compte qu'elles me marquent assez peu alors que je pourrais encore vous raconter les enquêtes des premiers Anne Perry que j'ai lu. Je ne sais pas dire à quoi cela tient mais cela laisse donc ces livres dans la catégorie de ceux qui sont agréables à lire, sans plus."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini?
"La fin est tout aussi bien que le reste du livre et, vraiment, je continue à m'interroger sur l'ingrédient qu'il me manque! Pour élucider ce mystère, je lirai très certainement le prochain tome."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Je m'étais jetée sur le premier tome, ce livre me vendait du rêve ou la promesse de découvrir une nouvelle Anne Perry. Même si je n'avais pas été entièrement convaincue, j'avais envie de donner une nouvelle chance à cette saga néanmoins prometteuse."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Lizzie Martin se retrouve à New Forest, dans une maison très isolée où elle doit tenir compagnie à la jeune Lucy Craven qui vient de perdre son bébé. Du moins, c'est ce que lui explique la famille parce que Lucy elle, soutient le contraire."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous?
"J'ai plus aimé ce tome-ci que le précédent. On y retrouve les bons points du premiers comme les très bons personnages de Lizzie et Ben et évidemment l'époque, que j'adore. L'enquête y est à la fois intéressante et bien ficelée et les mystères y sont aussi épais que le brouillard anglais. L'ambiance dépeinte par l'auteur nous permet de nous immerger dans cette histoire avec tous les frissons appropriés même si j'ai parfois trouvé quelques longueurs et lenteurs. Je ne saurais dire si c'est à cause de cela ou d'autre chose, mais j'ai toujours l'impression qu'il manque quelque chose à ces histoires. D'ailleurs, je me rends compte qu'elles me marquent assez peu alors que je pourrais encore vous raconter les enquêtes des premiers Anne Perry que j'ai lu. Je ne sais pas dire à quoi cela tient mais cela laisse donc ces livres dans la catégorie de ceux qui sont agréables à lire, sans plus."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini?
"La fin est tout aussi bien que le reste du livre et, vraiment, je continue à m'interroger sur l'ingrédient qu'il me manque! Pour élucider ce mystère, je lirai très certainement le prochain tome."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
August 8, 2023
The end was just scattered
There was a love interest that went no where. There was a horrible person that just suddenly popped up and you had no idea where that story line would go. Ben and Lizzie’s relationship is hampered by Ben’s job and that is not going to change. It just seems like the author had some ideas of how the story would go and then let them fizzle. Meh.
There was a love interest that went no where. There was a horrible person that just suddenly popped up and you had no idea where that story line would go. Ben and Lizzie’s relationship is hampered by Ben’s job and that is not going to change. It just seems like the author had some ideas of how the story would go and then let them fizzle. Meh.
May 22, 2023
Un peu en dessous du premier mais un plaisir à lire 3,5/5
May 8, 2020
A MORTAL CURIOSITY, Ann Granger, 2008
Set in England in 1864, a wealthy man named Charles Roche is concerned about his 17-year-old niece, Lucy, who lost her baby shortly after birth, supposedly to illness. She is very young and understandably upset, living with two maiden aunts who are neither sympathetic nor comforting while her husband is abroad on a business trip. He asks Lizzie Martin to go to Lucy to be her companion for a short time, while also engaging Doctor Lefebre to evaluate the state of Lucy's mind, as her aunts believe her to be mad because Lucy believes that her child has been stolen, and is alive. Inspector Benjamin Ross, Lizzie's boyfriend, tries to dissuade her from going, but she has decided to try to help the young woman and departs immediately for the South Coast.
Doctor Lefebre is well received by the aunts, but Lizzie is not. Lucy proves to be slightly temperamental, but definitely sane. It is soon evident to Lizzie that something is wrong, that there are secrets being hidden from view. When the shady local rat catcher is found dead in the garden, stabbed with one of the aunts' kitchen knives, Lizzie calls in Inspector Ross, insisting that he can investigate without calling attention to the aunts and causing them embarrassment.
This is a pleasant and easy read, a good look at Victorian England with all of its poverty and class distinctions in full view. The second book in the series of seven featuring Ben Ross and Lizzie Martin, this could be read as a stand-alone, although reading the first in the series, A RARE INTEREST IN CORPSES, reveals how the two first came together.
Set in England in 1864, a wealthy man named Charles Roche is concerned about his 17-year-old niece, Lucy, who lost her baby shortly after birth, supposedly to illness. She is very young and understandably upset, living with two maiden aunts who are neither sympathetic nor comforting while her husband is abroad on a business trip. He asks Lizzie Martin to go to Lucy to be her companion for a short time, while also engaging Doctor Lefebre to evaluate the state of Lucy's mind, as her aunts believe her to be mad because Lucy believes that her child has been stolen, and is alive. Inspector Benjamin Ross, Lizzie's boyfriend, tries to dissuade her from going, but she has decided to try to help the young woman and departs immediately for the South Coast.
Doctor Lefebre is well received by the aunts, but Lizzie is not. Lucy proves to be slightly temperamental, but definitely sane. It is soon evident to Lizzie that something is wrong, that there are secrets being hidden from view. When the shady local rat catcher is found dead in the garden, stabbed with one of the aunts' kitchen knives, Lizzie calls in Inspector Ross, insisting that he can investigate without calling attention to the aunts and causing them embarrassment.
This is a pleasant and easy read, a good look at Victorian England with all of its poverty and class distinctions in full view. The second book in the series of seven featuring Ben Ross and Lizzie Martin, this could be read as a stand-alone, although reading the first in the series, A RARE INTEREST IN CORPSES, reveals how the two first came together.
July 7, 2017
For me, this book is a perfect example of "Don't judge a book by its cover"! Someone loaned me this book. I read all the others in the pile that had more interesting covers, and finally, was left with this one. I didn't have high hopes for it because it's a fairly slim book, and in this case, had a price sticker on it of $1. My assumption was that it was a leftover no one wanted due to poor writing.
I was quite pleasantly surprised! The writing is clean with great grammar and word choices. The voice rang true to the period. I found the setting particularly interesting because of I have ancestors who lived not too far from that area around the same timeframe.
This was not a deep, dark, hard-to-solve mystery, but all and all, a quick, entertaining read with a strong lead female character who was actually likable -- something I rarely come across.
I was quite pleasantly surprised! The writing is clean with great grammar and word choices. The voice rang true to the period. I found the setting particularly interesting because of I have ancestors who lived not too far from that area around the same timeframe.
This was not a deep, dark, hard-to-solve mystery, but all and all, a quick, entertaining read with a strong lead female character who was actually likable -- something I rarely come across.
January 2, 2022
Janvier 2021. Plus un 3,5/5. Quelle belle découverte pour moi! Du style whodunit, ça rassemble ce qui me plaît: littérature anglaise, intrigue policière pas trop sanglante, enquête, romance... Ça se lit tout seul!
June 19, 2016
J'ai trouvé ça sympa mais l'enquête n'était pas très palpitante... Néanmoins je lirai avec plaisir d'autres aventures de ce duo plein de charme !
April 9, 2018
great read - has all features of a nice British historical mystery.
Will definitely follow the series.
Will definitely follow the series.
October 24, 2017
[3,5/5]
Lizzie Martin vit toujours chez la veuve de son parrain, mais l'ambiance est pleine de tensions et cette dernière trouve le moyen idéal de s'extraire de cette situation : Elle envoie Lizzie loin de Londres, afin de veiller sur Lucy Craven, une jeune femme placée sous la tutelle de son oncle et de ses tantes. La famille Roche, a envoyé l'époux de la demoiselle a l'autre bout du monde et celle ci, enceinte au moment du dit départ a accouché puis, perdu son enfant. En prise avec la dépression, Lucy est persuadée que son enfant n'est pas mort. Tout bascule après l'arrivée de Lizzie, quand elle retrouve la jeune fille maculée du sang d'un cadavre qui se trouve à ses pieds...
*
Je suis ravie d'avoir persévéré dans cette saga, malgré le peu d'intérêt qu'avait suscité en moi le premier tome "Un intérêt particulier pour les morts", je m'étais ennuyée ferme et n'était absolument pas rentrée dans l'histoire, vivant cette lecture comme contrainte plus que comme un plaisir.
"La curiosité est un péché mortel" a, pas contre, été une bonne lecture ! J'ai aimé retrouver Lizzie, toujours si indépendante et avec un caractère bien affirmé.
Le seul défaut de ce livre est à mon sens, la longueur du final. Plus de 30 pages après le dénouement c'est un peu beaucoup !
Il manque également un événement fort, mais l'ensemble est tout de même bien mené.
Je vais donc continuer cette saga avec plaisir !
Lizzie Martin vit toujours chez la veuve de son parrain, mais l'ambiance est pleine de tensions et cette dernière trouve le moyen idéal de s'extraire de cette situation : Elle envoie Lizzie loin de Londres, afin de veiller sur Lucy Craven, une jeune femme placée sous la tutelle de son oncle et de ses tantes. La famille Roche, a envoyé l'époux de la demoiselle a l'autre bout du monde et celle ci, enceinte au moment du dit départ a accouché puis, perdu son enfant. En prise avec la dépression, Lucy est persuadée que son enfant n'est pas mort. Tout bascule après l'arrivée de Lizzie, quand elle retrouve la jeune fille maculée du sang d'un cadavre qui se trouve à ses pieds...
*
Je suis ravie d'avoir persévéré dans cette saga, malgré le peu d'intérêt qu'avait suscité en moi le premier tome "Un intérêt particulier pour les morts", je m'étais ennuyée ferme et n'était absolument pas rentrée dans l'histoire, vivant cette lecture comme contrainte plus que comme un plaisir.
"La curiosité est un péché mortel" a, pas contre, été une bonne lecture ! J'ai aimé retrouver Lizzie, toujours si indépendante et avec un caractère bien affirmé.
Le seul défaut de ce livre est à mon sens, la longueur du final. Plus de 30 pages après le dénouement c'est un peu beaucoup !
Il manque également un événement fort, mais l'ensemble est tout de même bien mené.
Je vais donc continuer cette saga avec plaisir !
March 3, 2025
Owing to the embarrassment resulting from the murder of Aunt Parry's previous companion whom Lizzie replaced and whose death was cavalierly dismissed by Aunt Parry though the woman died in the slum property previously owned by her. Also, the killer was known and entertained at her own house where the unfortunate girl met him. So, Distance represented by the New Forest in Hampshire, is the answer to alleviate Aunt Parry's mortification. She then sent Lizzie as a companion to a psychologically distressed young mother who refuses to believe that her baby girl died, just two days after her giving birth to her. There is a Mystery here, what with the young husband sent to China to learn the silk business even before the birth of his child, the husband was also thought to be a fortune hunter; and Lucy the bereft mother, was guarded by two old spinsters whose lives were ruled by tradition and keeping~up appearances. Then there was the murder of the Gypsy Rat~Catcher so Scotland Yard was called and Ben Ross was the requested investigating officer. Before that, was the death of a cat, gifted to Lucy by their Squire~neighbor. The cat's death was blamed on the Rat~Catcher's dogs, but was it? Ross asked the gardener to exhume the body. This is a nice layered Mystery.
September 27, 2020
The second Lizzie Martin/Inspector Ben Ross book is set in 1864 when Lizzie, adrift from her role of companion to her 'Aunt Parry', goes to Hampshire to act as a companiom to a young woman recovering from the loss of her child.
Ben is uneasy about Lizzie going, and his fears are realized when the young woman is found covered in blood and hysterical beside the body of a ratcatcher.
Ben is sent from Scotland Yard to investigate and the stage is set for a fabulous story.
"A Mortal Curiosity" is an absorbing read. The characters spring from the page full of vivacity and idiosyncrasies which make them curiously addictive. I was drawn deeply into the plot and I only put the book down with reluctance.
All of the Lizzie Martin/Ben Ross books can be read out of sequence, because Ms. Granger has the balance of backstory just right. Enough so someone new to the books can work out what is going on, and not so much as to annoy a regular reader of the series.
One of the best books I have read this year. Highly recommended.
Ben is uneasy about Lizzie going, and his fears are realized when the young woman is found covered in blood and hysterical beside the body of a ratcatcher.
Ben is sent from Scotland Yard to investigate and the stage is set for a fabulous story.
"A Mortal Curiosity" is an absorbing read. The characters spring from the page full of vivacity and idiosyncrasies which make them curiously addictive. I was drawn deeply into the plot and I only put the book down with reluctance.
All of the Lizzie Martin/Ben Ross books can be read out of sequence, because Ms. Granger has the balance of backstory just right. Enough so someone new to the books can work out what is going on, and not so much as to annoy a regular reader of the series.
One of the best books I have read this year. Highly recommended.
December 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this. As usual, Ann Granger is able to combine an engaging and fast-paced plot with believeable characters, relatable atmosphere and sometimes complex issues.
This is the second book in the Lizzie Martin & Ben Ross series (following A Rare Interest in Corpses). There are a lot more out now! But I've started them only recently. I'm a big fan of Ann Granger's series about Fran Varady; I have more varied feelings about some of her other books. But this Victorian series is great! I enjoyed the first one, but this second book is at least as good and perhaps better.
I found I was able to relax while reading it, but this doesn't mean it was shallow or overly fluffy. A good balance of enjoyableness and realism.
This is the second book in the Lizzie Martin & Ben Ross series (following A Rare Interest in Corpses). There are a lot more out now! But I've started them only recently. I'm a big fan of Ann Granger's series about Fran Varady; I have more varied feelings about some of her other books. But this Victorian series is great! I enjoyed the first one, but this second book is at least as good and perhaps better.
I found I was able to relax while reading it, but this doesn't mean it was shallow or overly fluffy. A good balance of enjoyableness and realism.
February 15, 2024
Shelved after four chapters. Judging by the ratings, I guess most people like this style of writing however I do not.
The books is well written however it is written in such a way to where I feel like I'm reading classical literature. There are extremely long vivid descriptions of the environment with sparse dialog in between. Four chapters in and nothing of any significance has happened.
With only having so much time each day to read, I feel like the author wastes a lot of time by overindulging in her rather large vocabulary while doing very little to forward the plot, whatever that plot may be. Four chapters in and I don't know the plot? Yeah, this one gets shelved.
The books is well written however it is written in such a way to where I feel like I'm reading classical literature. There are extremely long vivid descriptions of the environment with sparse dialog in between. Four chapters in and nothing of any significance has happened.
With only having so much time each day to read, I feel like the author wastes a lot of time by overindulging in her rather large vocabulary while doing very little to forward the plot, whatever that plot may be. Four chapters in and I don't know the plot? Yeah, this one gets shelved.
June 2, 2017
I quite like this series set in Victorian England. Most of this story is told from Lizzie's viewpoint but some of the chapters are told from the viewpoint of Scotland Yard Detective Inspector, Ben Ross, who at this point is "walking out" with Lizzie though they are married in later books. Lizzie takes a post as a companion with a family in a house in Hampshire and finds a corpse in the garden. This is a good mystery and I did not guess the murderer though all the clues were there. a good read with some social comment too.
February 7, 2017
Cette série "so british" est vraiment sympa. Je n'ai cependant mis que 4 étoiles car , bien que j'ai passé un bon moment avec Lizzie et Ben, l'histoire m'a paru un peu plate : il manque un moment fort dans cette enquête comme une course pursuite, un retournement de situation...De plus, le coupable démasqué, il reste encore une trentaine de pages,ce qui à mon avis, aurait mérité d'être plus court, tel un épilogue.
February 20, 2022
Book 2 in the Ben Ross and Lizzie Martin Victorian mystery series. This addition finds Lizzie sent to the country to act as companion to a young and immature bride who has recently lost her first baby, but believes the infant is still alive. When a rat catcher turns up dead in the garden, Lizzie sends for Ben Ross from Scotland Yard and together they work to solve the case. This was another enjoyable read.
March 9, 2022
Lizzie has been offered a temporary post in Hampshire as companion to Lucy Craven, who has recently lost her baby. Lizzie accepts because she needs to think about her relationship with Ben Ross.
But all it not what it appears in Hampshire and soon there is a body on the lawn. Lizzie is able to call on Ben Ross to investigate a d things become very complicated.
Kept me engaged through to the end,
But all it not what it appears in Hampshire and soon there is a body on the lawn. Lizzie is able to call on Ben Ross to investigate a d things become very complicated.
Kept me engaged through to the end,
July 20, 2025
A new setting for Elizabeth Martin led to an interesting story and mystery. I enjoyed the development of the characters, visualizing periods of an era, understanding the history and conformity required in different time periods or cultures. This mystery caught my interest and gave me much to discover, gnaw on and understand the use of presented norms in relative support of hierarchy of a community, as well as, relevant laws and established protocol.
October 30, 2019
(11) Once again I guessed the entire plot after the first few chapters. It didn’t matter a jot though. The characters are well drawn and beginning to grow on me. The time and place is well invoked and the narrator was very good. Set in one of my favourite parts of England to boot. No hesitation in recommending to the normal crew.
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