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A Laetitia Rodd Mystery #1
The Secrets of Wishtide
Mrs. Laetitia Rodd, aged fifty-two, is the widow of an archdeacon. Living in Hampstead with her confidante and landlady, Mrs. Benson, who once let rooms to John Keats, Laetitia makes her living as a highly discreet private investigator.
Her brother, Frederick Tyson, is a criminal barrister living in the neighboring village of Highgate with his wife and ten children. Frederick finds the cases, and Laetitia solves them using her arch intelligence, her iron discretion, and her immaculate cover as an unsuspecting widow. When Frederick brings to her attention a case involving the son of the well-respected, highly connected Sir James Calderstone, Laetitia sets off for Lincolnshire to take up a position as the family’s new governess—quickly making herself indispensable.
But the seemingly simple case—looking into young Charles Calderstone’s “inappropriate” love interest—soon takes a rather unpleasant turn. And as the family’s secrets begin to unfold, Laetitia discovers the Calderstones have more to hide than most.
Her brother, Frederick Tyson, is a criminal barrister living in the neighboring village of Highgate with his wife and ten children. Frederick finds the cases, and Laetitia solves them using her arch intelligence, her iron discretion, and her immaculate cover as an unsuspecting widow. When Frederick brings to her attention a case involving the son of the well-respected, highly connected Sir James Calderstone, Laetitia sets off for Lincolnshire to take up a position as the family’s new governess—quickly making herself indispensable.
But the seemingly simple case—looking into young Charles Calderstone’s “inappropriate” love interest—soon takes a rather unpleasant turn. And as the family’s secrets begin to unfold, Laetitia discovers the Calderstones have more to hide than most.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2016
370 people are currently reading
6610 people want to read
About the author
Kate Saunders
77 books447 followersKate Saunders (born 1960) was an English author, actress, and journalist. The daughter of the early public relations advocate Basil Saunders and his journalist wife Betty (née Smith), Saunders has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She, and Cosmopolitan.
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.
Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.
Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews
July 3, 2016
The Secrets of Wishtide is an engaging and atmospheric Victorian historical crime story set in 1850. Laetitia (Letty) Rodd is the widow of an archdeacon. She has to work as she has been reduced to living in genteel poverty with her landlady and close companion, Mary Bentley. Mary helps Letty with her cases. Letty is a discreet, level headed, compassionate and intelligent woman. Her brother, Fred Tyson, is a successful criminal barrister and is the source of the cases that she gets. Letty goes to Wishtide in Lincolnshire to look into Helen Orme. Charles Calderstone, the son of Sir James Calderstone has fallen in love with Helen, who is deemed to be a unsuitable match for Charles. I thought that the narrative was a little too mannered in its style, but once I got into the story, I found it perfect for the story, for Letty, and the other characters.
On arriving at Wishtide, Letty discovers that there are many secrets in the Calderstone family. Sir James is being blackmailed. Letty likes the gentle Helen, whose secrets tug at Letty's heart and arouses her compassion. It becomes clear that despite Helen loving Charles, she is no position to marry Charles. Helen intends to let him know that she cannot marry him. Helen is brutally murdered and Charles is arrested for her murder. Letty is convinced of his innocence and investigates. With a number of murders that include Winifred, Savile, and Lady Calderstone's french maid, Letty becomes aware of the existence of the Prince, a dangerous and ruthless character. Who is he? Will Letty be able to save Charles? This is a story of twists and deception. Letty finds herself becoming better acquainted with Inspector Blackbeard who comes to believe that Charles is innocent.
This is a well plotted, compelling and gripping story that captures Victorian Britain and its attitudes. The precarious positions of women is highlighted and how women and their lives can be blighted and ruined by men. The poverty of so many can be observed through some of the characters in the novel. The book is a take on David Copperfield. A wonderful story which I can recommend without hesitation. Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
On arriving at Wishtide, Letty discovers that there are many secrets in the Calderstone family. Sir James is being blackmailed. Letty likes the gentle Helen, whose secrets tug at Letty's heart and arouses her compassion. It becomes clear that despite Helen loving Charles, she is no position to marry Charles. Helen intends to let him know that she cannot marry him. Helen is brutally murdered and Charles is arrested for her murder. Letty is convinced of his innocence and investigates. With a number of murders that include Winifred, Savile, and Lady Calderstone's french maid, Letty becomes aware of the existence of the Prince, a dangerous and ruthless character. Who is he? Will Letty be able to save Charles? This is a story of twists and deception. Letty finds herself becoming better acquainted with Inspector Blackbeard who comes to believe that Charles is innocent.
This is a well plotted, compelling and gripping story that captures Victorian Britain and its attitudes. The precarious positions of women is highlighted and how women and their lives can be blighted and ruined by men. The poverty of so many can be observed through some of the characters in the novel. The book is a take on David Copperfield. A wonderful story which I can recommend without hesitation. Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
October 5, 2016
I am vacillating between 3 stars and 3.5 stars for The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders.
It was a perfectly pleasant read that got awfully complicated by the end, but it never really grabbed me. I never felt involved, or moved by anything I read, but neither did I ever contemplate not finishing this read.
I liked Laetitia and her landlady, Mrs Benson. Letty's brother Freddy, I blew hot and cold on. I did wonder, with all his money, why he didn't help his sister out a bit more other than by giving her cases to solve, subsidise her living. I generally liked the Calderstones and Inspector Blackbeard. But as I said, the story did become unnecessarily complicated and I felt, also quite unrealistic.
Also the title.......Wishtide is the country house of the Calderstones, and features only in the first part of the story. Although the Calderstones do have a few secrets, the major secret belongs to someone else entirely.
So all up, I think 3 stars is a fair rating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a digital ARC of The Secrets of the Wishtides by Kate Saunders in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
It was a perfectly pleasant read that got awfully complicated by the end, but it never really grabbed me. I never felt involved, or moved by anything I read, but neither did I ever contemplate not finishing this read.
I liked Laetitia and her landlady, Mrs Benson. Letty's brother Freddy, I blew hot and cold on. I did wonder, with all his money, why he didn't help his sister out a bit more other than by giving her cases to solve, subsidise her living. I generally liked the Calderstones and Inspector Blackbeard. But as I said, the story did become unnecessarily complicated and I felt, also quite unrealistic.
Also the title.......Wishtide is the country house of the Calderstones, and features only in the first part of the story. Although the Calderstones do have a few secrets, the major secret belongs to someone else entirely.
So all up, I think 3 stars is a fair rating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a digital ARC of The Secrets of the Wishtides by Kate Saunders in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
July 18, 2024
1851 in England: Laetitia Rodd ist eine Witwe, die für ihren Bruder, der Anwalt ist, kleine Ermittlungen durchführt. Der aktuelle Fall führt sie nach Wishtide Manor. Hier soll sie für den Herrn des Hauses Nachforschungen anstellen über die zukünftige Schwiegertochter. Mitten in den Nachforschungen geschieht ein Mord...
💙 Ich mag Historische Kriminalfälle. Dieses Buch hat mir sehr gut gefallen, weil einfach Zeit und Setting für mich passten. Auch die Charaktere mochte ich.
Laetitia Rodd erzählt ihre Geschichte in der Ich-Erzählform, so dass man sich als Leser sehr gut in sie hineinfühlen kann.
Zudem ist die ganze Geschichte sehr spannend und komplex.
💙 Ich mag Historische Kriminalfälle. Dieses Buch hat mir sehr gut gefallen, weil einfach Zeit und Setting für mich passten. Auch die Charaktere mochte ich.
Laetitia Rodd erzählt ihre Geschichte in der Ich-Erzählform, so dass man sich als Leser sehr gut in sie hineinfühlen kann.
Zudem ist die ganze Geschichte sehr spannend und komplex.
July 18, 2016
This book brings together a number of my literary loves:
• Victorian England
• Crime and detection
• Literary allusions, and
• A companion to take me through the story.
It’s the kind of recipe that it is easy get very wrong, and so I was delighted to find that Kate Saunders gets it very right.
Laetitia Rodd was the widow of an archdeacon, and, with limited means, she had taken lodgings with Mrs Mary Bentley, and they had become good friends.
She had been offered a home by her brother, Frederick Tyson. He was one of London’s most celebrated criminal barristers, but was is also the father of ten children, with another expected, and his wife was a little inclined to see Laetitia as a poor relation and to expect her to take on the role of nurse of governess rather often. She loved the children, she was sorry that she had none of her own, and so she made diplomatic excuses and moved out.
Fred understood, and he did what he could to help her. He knew that ladies could move in circles that gentlemen could not, and that they could find out things that no gentleman could ever find out for himself. And so, from time to time, he called on her services for work she described as ‘Management and Prevention of Scandal.’
That role suited her well. She was what my mother would call ‘a people person’, and at fifty-two, with many years as a minister’s wife behind her she had the life experience as well as the good sense to deal with whatever was required her. She missed her husband and was glad to be kept busy; and that she had a little more money to make life more comfortable for herself and her landlady was a lovely bonus.
I had been worried that this would feel a little contrived, but it didn’t at all. I was delighted that Fred had thought of a wonderful way to help both his sister and himself, and I was caught up with a wonderful band of characters, all so very well drawn, from the very start.
I was a little sorry that all of this had happened before the story began, and that Laetitia already had a number of cases behind her, but the story had such promise, I was so taken with Laetitia’s storytelling, that I was eager to keep reading and to find out what her next case involved.
Sir James Calderstone, head of the Calderstone family of Wishtide in Lincolnshire, had a problem that he wanted to be handled with tact and discretion. His only son, Charles, was set on marrying a lady who he believed was most unsuitable. Sir James wanted a wedding to be prevented at all costs, but he did not want his son to know what he was doing, and he did not want a breath of scandal.
Charles is independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance from his mother’s side of the family, so he had no need of his father’s approval. Except that the lady in question – Helen Orme, a young widow who had arrived at Wishtide to teach those same two girls to speak Italian, before catching the eye of their brother – had said that she would not marry him without his family’s consent.
Laetitia was to travel to Wishtide as a new governess to ‘finish’ the two daughters of the house before they went out into society. And, by way of what her brother described as ‘a little genteel probing and perhaps a modicum of eavesdropping’, to uncover the past of which Helen would say very little.
She found that there was a great deal wrong in the Calderstone family, that there was a great deal that Sir James hadn’t told her, that there was a great family secret; and when she met Helen she liked her very much ….
I won’t say too much about the story, but I will say that it was very well constructed, that it drew in a wonderful range of characters and settings, and that I was always eager to keep turning the pages.
The literary allusions are very well done. If you spot them you’ll appreciate them, but if you don’t it won’t spoil the story at all.
There’s a nice streak of feminism; well planted in the story, because the characters and the events are firmly rooted in their own era
Those events escalated to a wonderfully dramatic ending.
If I was picky I would say that I would have liked a few less crime fiction tropes in that ending, but I don’t want to be picky, because I was engaged and entertained very well by this historical mystery.
I was sorry when the story was over; but I’m very glad that this is the first book of a series, and I’m looking forward to meeting Laetitia and her family and friends again.
• Victorian England
• Crime and detection
• Literary allusions, and
• A companion to take me through the story.
It’s the kind of recipe that it is easy get very wrong, and so I was delighted to find that Kate Saunders gets it very right.
Laetitia Rodd was the widow of an archdeacon, and, with limited means, she had taken lodgings with Mrs Mary Bentley, and they had become good friends.
She had been offered a home by her brother, Frederick Tyson. He was one of London’s most celebrated criminal barristers, but was is also the father of ten children, with another expected, and his wife was a little inclined to see Laetitia as a poor relation and to expect her to take on the role of nurse of governess rather often. She loved the children, she was sorry that she had none of her own, and so she made diplomatic excuses and moved out.
Fred understood, and he did what he could to help her. He knew that ladies could move in circles that gentlemen could not, and that they could find out things that no gentleman could ever find out for himself. And so, from time to time, he called on her services for work she described as ‘Management and Prevention of Scandal.’
That role suited her well. She was what my mother would call ‘a people person’, and at fifty-two, with many years as a minister’s wife behind her she had the life experience as well as the good sense to deal with whatever was required her. She missed her husband and was glad to be kept busy; and that she had a little more money to make life more comfortable for herself and her landlady was a lovely bonus.
I had been worried that this would feel a little contrived, but it didn’t at all. I was delighted that Fred had thought of a wonderful way to help both his sister and himself, and I was caught up with a wonderful band of characters, all so very well drawn, from the very start.
I was a little sorry that all of this had happened before the story began, and that Laetitia already had a number of cases behind her, but the story had such promise, I was so taken with Laetitia’s storytelling, that I was eager to keep reading and to find out what her next case involved.
Sir James Calderstone, head of the Calderstone family of Wishtide in Lincolnshire, had a problem that he wanted to be handled with tact and discretion. His only son, Charles, was set on marrying a lady who he believed was most unsuitable. Sir James wanted a wedding to be prevented at all costs, but he did not want his son to know what he was doing, and he did not want a breath of scandal.
Charles is independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance from his mother’s side of the family, so he had no need of his father’s approval. Except that the lady in question – Helen Orme, a young widow who had arrived at Wishtide to teach those same two girls to speak Italian, before catching the eye of their brother – had said that she would not marry him without his family’s consent.
Laetitia was to travel to Wishtide as a new governess to ‘finish’ the two daughters of the house before they went out into society. And, by way of what her brother described as ‘a little genteel probing and perhaps a modicum of eavesdropping’, to uncover the past of which Helen would say very little.
She found that there was a great deal wrong in the Calderstone family, that there was a great deal that Sir James hadn’t told her, that there was a great family secret; and when she met Helen she liked her very much ….
I won’t say too much about the story, but I will say that it was very well constructed, that it drew in a wonderful range of characters and settings, and that I was always eager to keep turning the pages.
The literary allusions are very well done. If you spot them you’ll appreciate them, but if you don’t it won’t spoil the story at all.
There’s a nice streak of feminism; well planted in the story, because the characters and the events are firmly rooted in their own era
Those events escalated to a wonderfully dramatic ending.
If I was picky I would say that I would have liked a few less crime fiction tropes in that ending, but I don’t want to be picky, because I was engaged and entertained very well by this historical mystery.
I was sorry when the story was over; but I’m very glad that this is the first book of a series, and I’m looking forward to meeting Laetitia and her family and friends again.
September 19, 2018
This was a very enjoyable Victorian murder mystery in what appears to be a new series. Our sleuth is a middle aged widow, Laetitia Rodd (Letty), living in reduced circumstances whose brother Fred, a barrister pays her to help investigate his cases. His current case involves a wealthy family, the Calderstones whose son Charles wants to marry a woman his parents feel certain has a shady past. Acting as a governess to the Calderstone daughters at Wishtide, Letty soon discovers that both the parents have secrets and someone is blackmailing Sir James Calderstone.
The plot is quite complex with secrets dating back many years and several murders ensuing after Letty starts her investigations. Letty is a lovely character, very charming and able to find out information from witnesses where the police have failed. She even wins over the rather dour and grumpy detective on the case and there are some amusing exchanges between them. I look forward to publication of a sequel.
The plot is quite complex with secrets dating back many years and several murders ensuing after Letty starts her investigations. Letty is a lovely character, very charming and able to find out information from witnesses where the police have failed. She even wins over the rather dour and grumpy detective on the case and there are some amusing exchanges between them. I look forward to publication of a sequel.
June 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this mystery. Yes, I guessed the who done it, but it was so good finding out they the why's. The enjoyable part was having a 52 yo Clerics widow as one of the main characters who has friends all throughout the country and is able to blend in with different societies as a detective. The first half is a mystery regarding the backstory of one of the characters with a shift in the story the last half and the introduction of Detective Blackbeard. I give the book a 4.25* and look forward to the next book.
June 2, 2017
Compared to many of my goodreads friends, I'm old. Even so, I have a "thing" for YA paranormal romance. It's my absolute favorite genre and, given a choice, I will always choose it first.
That being said, I've also always had a "thing" for tv shows like Murder She Wrote, Matlock and Perry Mason. I guess I've always been an "old soul". That must be why I absolutely LOVED this book!
Set in Victoria-era England, the story is told by Mrs. Rodd, a widow who is intelligent, intuitive and independent. Her brother is a criminal barrister, with wealthy and influential friends, who employs his sister's talents by placing her undercover as a governess for the daughters of one such friend, so she can get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding their son's love interest.
Mrs. Rodd is a proper lady. Her manners are impeccable. She tries to see the good in everyone and everything, showing kindess to all, regardless of their social status (or lack thereof). I really loved seeing how she maneuvered effortlessly through the customs of that time, in which women were basically second-class citizens, always managing to boldly speak her mind without offending.
The story was well-written and engaging. The characters were well-developed and interesting. The plot had plenty of interesting twists and, although I was hoping for a different ending, the ending was satisfying nevertheless.
If you're looking for a seriously good mystery without unnecessary gore and vulgar language and enjoy historical fiction, you'll love The Secrets of Wishtide.
That being said, I've also always had a "thing" for tv shows like Murder She Wrote, Matlock and Perry Mason. I guess I've always been an "old soul". That must be why I absolutely LOVED this book!
Set in Victoria-era England, the story is told by Mrs. Rodd, a widow who is intelligent, intuitive and independent. Her brother is a criminal barrister, with wealthy and influential friends, who employs his sister's talents by placing her undercover as a governess for the daughters of one such friend, so she can get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding their son's love interest.
Mrs. Rodd is a proper lady. Her manners are impeccable. She tries to see the good in everyone and everything, showing kindess to all, regardless of their social status (or lack thereof). I really loved seeing how she maneuvered effortlessly through the customs of that time, in which women were basically second-class citizens, always managing to boldly speak her mind without offending.
The story was well-written and engaging. The characters were well-developed and interesting. The plot had plenty of interesting twists and, although I was hoping for a different ending, the ending was satisfying nevertheless.
If you're looking for a seriously good mystery without unnecessary gore and vulgar language and enjoy historical fiction, you'll love The Secrets of Wishtide.
September 8, 2017
3,5/5 αστεράκια
September 21, 2016
Finally, I happened upon the first book of an excellent Victorian mystery series just weeks after publication, instead of playing catch up when the author gets a head start of several years on me.
Letitia Rodd is the widow of a curate and lives in "reduced circumstances" in a rundown section of London. Her brother is a successful attorney who gets her cases as a discreet investigator for pay to supplement her income. It seems a 52 year old widow dressed in black can go a lot of places and ask a lot of questions without raising any suspicions Pair that with a great women''s intuition and a logical mind, and voila!, a perfect little mystery with lots of Victorian era details. She is helped by her landlady, Mary, the elderly owner of her rental home, who once rented rooms to Keats, and knows how to boil confusing facts down to their essence.
The author explains in an afterward that Dickens is her favorite author
and "David Copperfield" her favorite book. In fact, several of the characters in this book are based on minor characters from that one; she simply imagined a different ending for them.
I thought the mystery was very well done, and will look forward to the next one. Lots of humor here as well, always a plus with me.
Letitia Rodd is the widow of a curate and lives in "reduced circumstances" in a rundown section of London. Her brother is a successful attorney who gets her cases as a discreet investigator for pay to supplement her income. It seems a 52 year old widow dressed in black can go a lot of places and ask a lot of questions without raising any suspicions Pair that with a great women''s intuition and a logical mind, and voila!, a perfect little mystery with lots of Victorian era details. She is helped by her landlady, Mary, the elderly owner of her rental home, who once rented rooms to Keats, and knows how to boil confusing facts down to their essence.
The author explains in an afterward that Dickens is her favorite author
and "David Copperfield" her favorite book. In fact, several of the characters in this book are based on minor characters from that one; she simply imagined a different ending for them.
I thought the mystery was very well done, and will look forward to the next one. Lots of humor here as well, always a plus with me.
June 28, 2016
Set in 1850, this novel introduces us to Laetitia Rodd a widow who lives in ‘reduced circumstances’ with Mrs Mary Bentley (her previous tenants included Keats). Laetitia Rodd has moved out from her beloved brother, Frederick Tyson’s house. Fred is one of London’s most celebrated criminal barristers, but he is also the father of ten children, with another on the way, and childless, widowed sisters are too often expected to act as nurse or governess for Laetitia’s liking…
One way in which Laetitia does help her brother, is in the ‘management and prevention of scandal.’ So, when a note arrives saying, “Dear Letty, a matter has arisen…” she wastes no time in jumping in his coach and heading to his house. Sir James Calderstone, head of the Calderstone family of Wishtide in Lincolnshire, has a problem and needs someone discreet to investigate. His son, Charles, wants to make a bad marriage and Sir James wishes it to be prevented at all costs. Charles is independently wealthy, so does not need his father’s approval, but the lady in question will not marry him without his family’s consent.
The woman that Charles has fallen for, Helen Orme, had arrived at Wishtide to teach the two daughters of the family to speak Italian. Now Laetitia heads to Lincolnshire to go undercover as a new governess to ‘finish’ the girls before they go into society. She determines to discover the truth, but manages to uncover far more than she anticipated before the end of this delightful novel. I loved Laetitia and all of the characters in this book. Although it is the first in a series, it is obvious that we meet Laetitia after she has already taken place in more than one investigation and so we meet Inspector Thomas Blackbeard, for example, who is already known to Fred and his sister.
This is a really excellent historical mystery. I liked the setting, the characters and the storyline. Although much of the story takes place in the genteel settings of dining rooms and great houses, we are also taken to dangerous backstreet London inns and the depths of Newgate prison. With blackmail, murder and more to deal with, Laetitia needs her wits about her to solve the mystery of what is really going on at Wishtide. Hopefully, this will become a series and I really look forward to reading on. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
One way in which Laetitia does help her brother, is in the ‘management and prevention of scandal.’ So, when a note arrives saying, “Dear Letty, a matter has arisen…” she wastes no time in jumping in his coach and heading to his house. Sir James Calderstone, head of the Calderstone family of Wishtide in Lincolnshire, has a problem and needs someone discreet to investigate. His son, Charles, wants to make a bad marriage and Sir James wishes it to be prevented at all costs. Charles is independently wealthy, so does not need his father’s approval, but the lady in question will not marry him without his family’s consent.
The woman that Charles has fallen for, Helen Orme, had arrived at Wishtide to teach the two daughters of the family to speak Italian. Now Laetitia heads to Lincolnshire to go undercover as a new governess to ‘finish’ the girls before they go into society. She determines to discover the truth, but manages to uncover far more than she anticipated before the end of this delightful novel. I loved Laetitia and all of the characters in this book. Although it is the first in a series, it is obvious that we meet Laetitia after she has already taken place in more than one investigation and so we meet Inspector Thomas Blackbeard, for example, who is already known to Fred and his sister.
This is a really excellent historical mystery. I liked the setting, the characters and the storyline. Although much of the story takes place in the genteel settings of dining rooms and great houses, we are also taken to dangerous backstreet London inns and the depths of Newgate prison. With blackmail, murder and more to deal with, Laetitia needs her wits about her to solve the mystery of what is really going on at Wishtide. Hopefully, this will become a series and I really look forward to reading on. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
September 15, 2023
This is a lively story set in Victorian times and the first in a series. As another reviewer has mentioned it is a little edgy for a cosy mystery. The plucky heroine, Laetitia Rod, is a widow in her middle-age. She is moving forward with her life and seizing opportunities as they come rather than accepting a dull widow's existence of dependence on others.
At the beginning of the book she moves out of her brother's home where she had been relegated to the life of an unpaid governess, and moves in with a friend to embark on a new life of adventure as a detective. The audiobook is narrated well by Anna Bentinck, however my enjoyment was marred by the music soundtrack that runs the entire length of the novel.
At the beginning of the book she moves out of her brother's home where she had been relegated to the life of an unpaid governess, and moves in with a friend to embark on a new life of adventure as a detective. The audiobook is narrated well by Anna Bentinck, however my enjoyment was marred by the music soundtrack that runs the entire length of the novel.
June 17, 2020
Μου αρέσουν τα βιβλία μυστηρίου εποχής και το Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του Σερ Τζέιμς δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση!
Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον έχει η πρωταγωνίστρια που είναι χήρα κληρικού και είναι η ντετέκτιβ της υπόθεσης και θυμίζει λίγο μις Μαρπλ! Επίσης απολαυστικές ήταν και οι στιγμές με τον αδερφό της και μου άρεσε που αν και ενήλικες έχουν μια τρυφερή σχεδόν παιδιάστικη σχέση!
Η συγγραφέας έχει αποδώσει όμορφα την ατμόσφαιρα της εποχής εκείνης και μου άρεσε η φιλία των δύο γυναικών που μένουν κάτω από την ίδια στέγη και νοιάζεται η μια την άλλη!
Η ιστορία είχε αρκετά μπλεξίματα και αρκετά γρήγορο ρυθμό στις εξελίξεις αλλά μετά από ένα σημείο μπόρεσα να καταλάβω ποιος κρύβεται πίσω από τα εγκλήματα!
Επίσης κάτι που βρίσκω πάντα καλό σε μια αστυνομική ιστορία είναι η απουσία ερωτικού δράματος ανάμεσα στην πρωταγωνίστρια και κάποιον συνεργάτη της!
Όσο και αν μου άρεσε δεν μπόρεσα να παραβλεψω κάποιες υπερβολές και αν και μου άρεσε η ιστορία γενικά και αρκετοί χαρακτήρες η βαθμολογία που θα ήθελα να δώσω κανονικά είναι 3.5 αστεράκια γιατί είναι καλύτερη από μια άλλη ανάλογη που διάβασα πέρσι!
Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον έχει η πρωταγωνίστρια που είναι χήρα κληρικού και είναι η ντετέκτιβ της υπόθεσης και θυμίζει λίγο μις Μαρπλ! Επίσης απολαυστικές ήταν και οι στιγμές με τον αδερφό της και μου άρεσε που αν και ενήλικες έχουν μια τρυφερή σχεδόν παιδιάστικη σχέση!
Η συγγραφέας έχει αποδώσει όμορφα την ατμόσφαιρα της εποχής εκείνης και μου άρεσε η φιλία των δύο γυναικών που μένουν κάτω από την ίδια στέγη και νοιάζεται η μια την άλλη!
Η ιστορία είχε αρκετά μπλεξίματα και αρκετά γρήγορο ρυθμό στις εξελίξεις αλλά μετά από ένα σημείο μπόρεσα να καταλάβω ποιος κρύβεται πίσω από τα εγκλήματα!
Επίσης κάτι που βρίσκω πάντα καλό σε μια αστυνομική ιστορία είναι η απουσία ερωτικού δράματος ανάμεσα στην πρωταγωνίστρια και κάποιον συνεργάτη της!
Όσο και αν μου άρεσε δεν μπόρεσα να παραβλεψω κάποιες υπερβολές και αν και μου άρεσε η ιστορία γενικά και αρκετοί χαρακτήρες η βαθμολογία που θα ήθελα να δώσω κανονικά είναι 3.5 αστεράκια γιατί είναι καλύτερη από μια άλλη ανάλογη που διάβασα πέρσι!
May 5, 2020
Αστυνομική ιστορία μυστηρίου με φόντο τη βικτωριανή Αγγλία. Αυτή είναι η πρόταση της συγγραφέως Kate Saunders· μια πρόταση που φαίνεται πως τόσο οι αναγνώστες της αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας, όσο και οι λάτρεις των ιστοριών εποχής, καλοδέχτηκαν με ενθουσιασμό.
Κεντρική ηρωίδα είναι η Λετίσια Ροντ. Χήρα αρχιδιακόνου και αξιοσέβαστο μέλος της λονδρέζικης κοινωνίας, η Λετίσια διαθέτει μια ακόμη ιδιότητα, που ελάχιστοι από τον κύκλο της γνωρίζουν: λατρεύει να λύνει μυστήρια, βοηθώντας τον δικηγόρο αδελφό της κι όσους έχουν ανάγκη τη βοήθειά της. Ένας από αυτούς είναι ο αξιοσέβαστος σερ Τζέιμς Κόλντερστον, του οποίου ο γιος ετοιμάζεται να παντρευτεί μια ‘ακατάλληλη’ –σύμφωνα με την οικογένειά του– γυναίκα ταπεινής καταγωγής. Η Λετίσια καλείται να ανακαλύψει τα σκοτεινά μυστικά της συγκεκριμένης κοπέλας, που υπονοούνται από κάποια ανώνυμα σημειώματα, προκειμένου να μη γίνει ποτέ αυτός ο γάμος.
Όμως η υπόθεση αποδεικνύεται πολύ πιο σκοτεινή απ’ όσο φαίνεται αρχικά. Ξετυλίγοντας σιγά σιγά το κουβάρι της ιστορίας και ξεψαχνίζοντας το παρελθόν όλων των εμπλεκόμενων ατόμων, η Λετίσια θα ανακαλύψει πως τόσο η κοπέλα, όσο και η αξιοσέβαστη οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς βρίθουν άνομων μυστικών, που έχουν παραμείνει για πολύ καιρό καλά κρυμμένα και δεν συμφέρει κανέναν να έρθουν τη δεδομένη στιγμή στο φως.
Τα πράγματα θα ξεφύγουν από τον έλεγχο όταν η συγκεκριμένη γυναίκα, που ο γιος του σερ Τζέιμς ήθελε να παντρευτεί, βρεθεί άγρια δολοφονημένη και ο νεαρός κατηγορηθεί για τον φόνο της. Η Λετίσια κι ο αδελφός της θα κληθούν ν’ αποδείξουν πως ο νεαρός είναι αθώος, ενώ ο χρόνος τρέχει εναντίον τους και η ημερομηνία της δίκης του πλησιάζει. Ποιος είναι άραγε ο δολοφόνος και ποια η σχέση του με την άτυχη γυναίκα; Γιατί τη δολοφόνησε και, το σημαντικότερο, μέχρι πού είναι ικανός να φτάσει προκειμένου να πετύχει τον άγνωστο και επικίνδυνο σκοπό του;
Το «Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς» είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς της Saunders με ηρωίδα την Λετίσια Ροντ. Και πρόκειται για ένα αξιόλογο και πολλά υποσχόμενο ντεμπούτο, αφού περιλαμβάνει όλα τα στοιχεία που κάνουν ένα βιβλίο του είδους επιτυχημένο. Το μυστήριο, οι ίντριγκες, οι δολοπλοκίες, τα πάθη, τα μυστικά, οι ενοχές, οι παράνομοι και νόμιμοι έρωτες, τα αναπάντητα ερωτήματα που ζητούν απαντήσεις και οι αποτρόπαιες δολοφονίες συνθέτουν ένα γαϊτανάκι στο οποίο είναι δύσκολο να αντισταθείς. Ιδιαίτερα όταν το… περιτύλιγμα είναι εξίσου ακαταμάχητο: η βικτωριανή εποχή ως φόντο, με τις ιδιαίτερες συνήθειές της, τα καλά και τα άσχημα φαινόμενα της καθημερινότητας, τον διαφορετικό τρόπο σκέψης, την ευθύνη προς την οικογένεια και το όνομά της, την τήρηση των προσχημάτων και των καλών τρόπων, τον καθωσπρεπισμό, τα άνομα πάθη που σιγοβράζουν κάτω από τις ευγενικές συμπεριφορές και, φυσικά, τις κοινωνικές επιταγές. Που δεν επιτρέπουν σε έναν γόνο ευγενικής οικογένειας να παντρευτεί μια γυναίκα κατώτερης καταγωγής, ούτε σε μια ευυπόληπτη χήρα όπως η Λετίσια Ροντ να εργάζεται, οπότε και εκείνη ‘αναγκάζεται’ να κρατά κρυφή την ενασχόλησή της με την εξιχνίαση εγκλημάτων.
Η πλοκή είναι εξαιρετικά δουλεμένη, καλογραμμένη, με συνεχείς ανατροπές. Αυτό που αρχικά φαίνεται μια υπόθεση με ίντριγκα μεν, αλλά σχετικά αθώα –το να αποτραπεί ένας ‘αταίριαστος’ γάμος– μετατρέπεται σε μια ειδεχθή σειρά δολοφονιών. Η Λετίσια Ροντ και οι υπόλοιποι ήρωες, όπως και οι αναγνώστες, καλούνται τώρα να αφήσουν κατά μέρος τη χαλαρότητά τους και να ανασκουμπωθούν, προκειμένου να ανακαλύψουν έναν επικίνδυνο άνθρωπο κι αδίστακτο δολοφόνο, αλλά και να σώσουν έναν αθώο από την κρεμάλα. Ο χρόνος και τα στοιχεία είναι εναντίον τους, εκείνοι όμως καταφέρνουν να βρουν τη λύση, αφού βέβαια χρησιμοποιήσουν το μυαλό τους, την εμπειρία τους και όλη τους την ευρηματικότητα.
Η συναρπαστική αφήγηση της ιστορίας περιλαμβάνει μια ολόκληρη παλέτα συναισθημάτων· συγκίνηση, αποφασιστικότητα, πείσμα, χιούμορ, απελπισία, φθόνο, τύψεις, έρωτα, έγνοια… Όλα αυτά, κι ακόμα περισσότερα, χρωματίζουν μια πλοκή που καθηλώνει τον αναγνώστη και τον ταξιδεύει σε μια άλλη εποχή, όπου το έγκλημα είχε διαφορετική όψη, αλλά την ίδια αιώνια δυναμική. Εξαιρετικό και το εύρημα της συγγραφέως να τοποθετήσει ως κεντρική ηρωίδα μια μεσόκοπη χήρα, που κανείς δεν θα μπορούσε να φανταστεί πως κερδίζει το ψωμί της λύνοντας μυστήρια. Είναι κάτι εντελώς διαφορετικό από το συνηθισμένο μοτίβο του αστυνομικού επιθεωρητή –αν και υπάρχει και αυτός ο χαρακτήρας στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, όλο κάπου τριγυρίζει, μπλέκεται στα πόδια της ηρωίδας και μάλλον θα έχει αρκετά ακόμα να μας πει στις μελλοντικές περιπέτειες της Λετίσια– και αποτελεί μια διαφορετική πρόταση, που αποδεικνύεται απόλυτα επιτυχημένη.
Η Λετίσια Ροντ έδωσε τις εξετάσεις της με αυτό το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς, πέτυχε και τώρα δεν απομένει παρά να παραμένουμε τη συνέχεια, που ελπίζουμε να μην αργήσει. Μέχρι τότε, το «Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς» αποτελεί μια διαφορετική επιλογή για την αστυνομική λογοτεχνία –και δη εποχής– που υπόσχεται να ικανοποιήσει ακόμα και τους πιο απαιτητικούς αναγνώστες.
Η άποψή μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς
Κεντρική ηρωίδα είναι η Λετίσια Ροντ. Χήρα αρχιδιακόνου και αξιοσέβαστο μέλος της λονδρέζικης κοινωνίας, η Λετίσια διαθέτει μια ακόμη ιδιότητα, που ελάχιστοι από τον κύκλο της γνωρίζουν: λατρεύει να λύνει μυστήρια, βοηθώντας τον δικηγόρο αδελφό της κι όσους έχουν ανάγκη τη βοήθειά της. Ένας από αυτούς είναι ο αξιοσέβαστος σερ Τζέιμς Κόλντερστον, του οποίου ο γιος ετοιμάζεται να παντρευτεί μια ‘ακατάλληλη’ –σύμφωνα με την οικογένειά του– γυναίκα ταπεινής καταγωγής. Η Λετίσια καλείται να ανακαλύψει τα σκοτεινά μυστικά της συγκεκριμένης κοπέλας, που υπονοούνται από κάποια ανώνυμα σημειώματα, προκειμένου να μη γίνει ποτέ αυτός ο γάμος.
Όμως η υπόθεση αποδεικνύεται πολύ πιο σκοτεινή απ’ όσο φαίνεται αρχικά. Ξετυλίγοντας σιγά σιγά το κουβάρι της ιστορίας και ξεψαχνίζοντας το παρελθόν όλων των εμπλεκόμενων ατόμων, η Λετίσια θα ανακαλύψει πως τόσο η κοπέλα, όσο και η αξιοσέβαστη οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς βρίθουν άνομων μυστικών, που έχουν παραμείνει για πολύ καιρό καλά κρυμμένα και δεν συμφέρει κανέναν να έρθουν τη δεδομένη στιγμή στο φως.
Τα πράγματα θα ξεφύγουν από τον έλεγχο όταν η συγκεκριμένη γυναίκα, που ο γιος του σερ Τζέιμς ήθελε να παντρευτεί, βρεθεί άγρια δολοφονημένη και ο νεαρός κατηγορηθεί για τον φόνο της. Η Λετίσια κι ο αδελφός της θα κληθούν ν’ αποδείξουν πως ο νεαρός είναι αθώος, ενώ ο χρόνος τρέχει εναντίον τους και η ημερομηνία της δίκης του πλησιάζει. Ποιος είναι άραγε ο δολοφόνος και ποια η σχέση του με την άτυχη γυναίκα; Γιατί τη δολοφόνησε και, το σημαντικότερο, μέχρι πού είναι ικανός να φτάσει προκειμένου να πετύχει τον άγνωστο και επικίνδυνο σκοπό του;
Το «Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς» είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς της Saunders με ηρωίδα την Λετίσια Ροντ. Και πρόκειται για ένα αξιόλογο και πολλά υποσχόμενο ντεμπούτο, αφού περιλαμβάνει όλα τα στοιχεία που κάνουν ένα βιβλίο του είδους επιτυχημένο. Το μυστήριο, οι ίντριγκες, οι δολοπλοκίες, τα πάθη, τα μυστικά, οι ενοχές, οι παράνομοι και νόμιμοι έρωτες, τα αναπάντητα ερωτήματα που ζητούν απαντήσεις και οι αποτρόπαιες δολοφονίες συνθέτουν ένα γαϊτανάκι στο οποίο είναι δύσκολο να αντισταθείς. Ιδιαίτερα όταν το… περιτύλιγμα είναι εξίσου ακαταμάχητο: η βικτωριανή εποχή ως φόντο, με τις ιδιαίτερες συνήθειές της, τα καλά και τα άσχημα φαινόμενα της καθημερινότητας, τον διαφορετικό τρόπο σκέψης, την ευθύνη προς την οικογένεια και το όνομά της, την τήρηση των προσχημάτων και των καλών τρόπων, τον καθωσπρεπισμό, τα άνομα πάθη που σιγοβράζουν κάτω από τις ευγενικές συμπεριφορές και, φυσικά, τις κοινωνικές επιταγές. Που δεν επιτρέπουν σε έναν γόνο ευγενικής οικογένειας να παντρευτεί μια γυναίκα κατώτερης καταγωγής, ούτε σε μια ευυπόληπτη χήρα όπως η Λετίσια Ροντ να εργάζεται, οπότε και εκείνη ‘αναγκάζεται’ να κρατά κρυφή την ενασχόλησή της με την εξιχνίαση εγκλημάτων.
Η πλοκή είναι εξαιρετικά δουλεμένη, καλογραμμένη, με συνεχείς ανατροπές. Αυτό που αρχικά φαίνεται μια υπόθεση με ίντριγκα μεν, αλλά σχετικά αθώα –το να αποτραπεί ένας ‘αταίριαστος’ γάμος– μετατρέπεται σε μια ειδεχθή σειρά δολοφονιών. Η Λετίσια Ροντ και οι υπόλοιποι ήρωες, όπως και οι αναγνώστες, καλούνται τώρα να αφήσουν κατά μέρος τη χαλαρότητά τους και να ανασκουμπωθούν, προκειμένου να ανακαλύψουν έναν επικίνδυνο άνθρωπο κι αδίστακτο δολοφόνο, αλλά και να σώσουν έναν αθώο από την κρεμάλα. Ο χρόνος και τα στοιχεία είναι εναντίον τους, εκείνοι όμως καταφέρνουν να βρουν τη λύση, αφού βέβαια χρησιμοποιήσουν το μυαλό τους, την εμπειρία τους και όλη τους την ευρηματικότητα.
Η συναρπαστική αφήγηση της ιστορίας περιλαμβάνει μια ολόκληρη παλέτα συναισθημάτων· συγκίνηση, αποφασιστικότητα, πείσμα, χιούμορ, απελπισία, φθόνο, τύψεις, έρωτα, έγνοια… Όλα αυτά, κι ακόμα περισσότερα, χρωματίζουν μια πλοκή που καθηλώνει τον αναγνώστη και τον ταξιδεύει σε μια άλλη εποχή, όπου το έγκλημα είχε διαφορετική όψη, αλλά την ίδια αιώνια δυναμική. Εξαιρετικό και το εύρημα της συγγραφέως να τοποθετήσει ως κεντρική ηρωίδα μια μεσόκοπη χήρα, που κανείς δεν θα μπορούσε να φανταστεί πως κερδίζει το ψωμί της λύνοντας μυστήρια. Είναι κάτι εντελώς διαφορετικό από το συνηθισμένο μοτίβο του αστυνομικού επιθεωρητή –αν και υπάρχει και αυτός ο χαρακτήρας στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, όλο κάπου τριγυρίζει, μπλέκεται στα πόδια της ηρωίδας και μάλλον θα έχει αρκετά ακόμα να μας πει στις μελλοντικές περιπέτειες της Λετίσια– και αποτελεί μια διαφορετική πρόταση, που αποδεικνύεται απόλυτα επιτυχημένη.
Η Λετίσια Ροντ έδωσε τις εξετάσεις της με αυτό το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς, πέτυχε και τώρα δεν απομένει παρά να παραμένουμε τη συνέχεια, που ελπίζουμε να μην αργήσει. Μέχρι τότε, το «Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς» αποτελεί μια διαφορετική επιλογή για την αστυνομική λογοτεχνία –και δη εποχής– που υπόσχεται να ικανοποιήσει ακόμα και τους πιο απαιτητικούς αναγνώστες.
Η άποψή μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς
July 11, 2016
What a treat of story wrapped in its pages! I found the characters to be well developed, the story to flow smoothly, and the layers built into the mystery thick enough to leave a surprise at the end. The Secrets of Wishtide is my first introduction to Kate Saunders and her clever heroine, Laetitia Rodd. What a terrific way to be introduced as we delve into the first layer of the mystery set in Victorian England in 1850.
Laetitia (Letty) Rodd, the widow of a beloved archdeacon, has not been left with a comfortable stipend. Teetering on the edge of poverty and frugality, she is determined not to end up as the poor female relation turned nursemaid to her brother Frederick's brood of children. She cannot allow her sister in law that satisfaction. She loves her brother, Frederick Tyson, prominent criminal barrister and eagerly helps him with the cases he consults her on. The money she makes from consulting helps a bit too. Fred brings her a new case which requires a delicate handling of matters that only a woman has. Wealthy coal industrialist, Sir James Calderstone has a most distressing family matter that needs to be handled with all manner of discretion. His twenty one year old son, Charles, has fallen in love with a most unsuitable woman. Mrs. Helen Orme is a widow with an unclear past. Charles is determined to tear the family apart in his pursuit of her and their pure love. Letty disguises herself as a governess in the Calderstone household to discover Mrs. Orme's true intentions and background. As Letty begins to take an accounting of the workings of the Calderstone home, she quickly realizes there is far more to this tale than prevention of true love. Sir James is being blackmailed. There are other secrets the Calderstone family does not want made known.
Letty feels she has adequately discovered Mrs. Orme's true intentions and sets things right according to Sir Calderstone's wishes; yet she still feels like there is more to this that is unresolved. A string of murders soon occur that leads her to believe there is more to Mrs. Orme than met the eye. She soon finds herself and Fred working to absolve an innocent Charles Calderstone of murders he professes to not committing. Evidence is mounting against him, but Letty is determined to have justice be done.
A lovely read with the poise and mannerisms of a true Victorian. I particularly enjoyed Letty's letters home to her companion, Mary. I was left with the wanting to try her mincemeat pie after the glowing description of it. The childhood game of Snapdragon between Letty and Fred was also extremely interesting. The historical references seem to be on point and it is evident much research went into crafting the details of this tale. A delightful way to spend an afternoon. My many thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Laetitia (Letty) Rodd, the widow of a beloved archdeacon, has not been left with a comfortable stipend. Teetering on the edge of poverty and frugality, she is determined not to end up as the poor female relation turned nursemaid to her brother Frederick's brood of children. She cannot allow her sister in law that satisfaction. She loves her brother, Frederick Tyson, prominent criminal barrister and eagerly helps him with the cases he consults her on. The money she makes from consulting helps a bit too. Fred brings her a new case which requires a delicate handling of matters that only a woman has. Wealthy coal industrialist, Sir James Calderstone has a most distressing family matter that needs to be handled with all manner of discretion. His twenty one year old son, Charles, has fallen in love with a most unsuitable woman. Mrs. Helen Orme is a widow with an unclear past. Charles is determined to tear the family apart in his pursuit of her and their pure love. Letty disguises herself as a governess in the Calderstone household to discover Mrs. Orme's true intentions and background. As Letty begins to take an accounting of the workings of the Calderstone home, she quickly realizes there is far more to this tale than prevention of true love. Sir James is being blackmailed. There are other secrets the Calderstone family does not want made known.
Letty feels she has adequately discovered Mrs. Orme's true intentions and sets things right according to Sir Calderstone's wishes; yet she still feels like there is more to this that is unresolved. A string of murders soon occur that leads her to believe there is more to Mrs. Orme than met the eye. She soon finds herself and Fred working to absolve an innocent Charles Calderstone of murders he professes to not committing. Evidence is mounting against him, but Letty is determined to have justice be done.
A lovely read with the poise and mannerisms of a true Victorian. I particularly enjoyed Letty's letters home to her companion, Mary. I was left with the wanting to try her mincemeat pie after the glowing description of it. The childhood game of Snapdragon between Letty and Fred was also extremely interesting. The historical references seem to be on point and it is evident much research went into crafting the details of this tale. A delightful way to spend an afternoon. My many thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.
April 16, 2018
Ειμαι μεταξυ 2.5 κ 3. Δεν ενθουσιαστηκα! Το βρηκα αργο, με καμια ιδιαιτερη πλοκη. Ελειπε η ενταση κ η αγωνια. Προκειται για μια φλατ αφηγηση. Ελεγα μηπως στο τελος θα γινει η ανατροπη. Ουτε αυτη ηρθε! Απογοητευση!
July 14, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA.
I absolutely enjoyed this novel from first page to last. I read a lot of historical mysteries and I'm delighted to say that Kate Saunders pleased me in all aspects of this novel. The only thing which would add to my enjoyment was knowing there will be more Laetitia Rodd stories. What a well constructed character she was, old enough to be settled and solid without being stodgy (52) and yet having the intelligence to work out feasible answers to the mysteries she investigated. Mrs. Rodd is the widow of a clergyman living in reduced circumstances but making the best of any difficulty she faces. Two years into her widowhood she still misses her husband dreadfully but has found that she can earn money to add to her meager income by helping her brother, a criminal barrister, in the investigations for his cases. Fred one time called her services "Management and Prevention of Scandal". He wasn't far from wrong. In this first book in the series Mrs. Rodd is hired to go to Wishtide in Lincolnshire on behalf of Sir James Calderstone. It seems that the son of Sir James has gotten himself involved with a woman his parents deem unsuitable and they want Mrs. Rodd to investigate and find out the true history of this woman. It all sounded so simple in the beginning.
Taking place in 1850-1851 this wonderfully written period mystery novel has a reasonableness often missed by other authors I've read. I know the times were different then, but I still need to see the characters in a novel react to circumstances in a level-headed way. Too much flightiness and the characters seem to be caricatures of the times, too much stodginess and they are dull and boring. Ms. Saunders hit just the right note for me to like the characters she invented. That is what I always look for because I can't enjoy helping solve a mystery if I don't like the people I'm reading about. This book provided me with some lovely reading time and I'm looking forward to more novels in the future.
I absolutely enjoyed this novel from first page to last. I read a lot of historical mysteries and I'm delighted to say that Kate Saunders pleased me in all aspects of this novel. The only thing which would add to my enjoyment was knowing there will be more Laetitia Rodd stories. What a well constructed character she was, old enough to be settled and solid without being stodgy (52) and yet having the intelligence to work out feasible answers to the mysteries she investigated. Mrs. Rodd is the widow of a clergyman living in reduced circumstances but making the best of any difficulty she faces. Two years into her widowhood she still misses her husband dreadfully but has found that she can earn money to add to her meager income by helping her brother, a criminal barrister, in the investigations for his cases. Fred one time called her services "Management and Prevention of Scandal". He wasn't far from wrong. In this first book in the series Mrs. Rodd is hired to go to Wishtide in Lincolnshire on behalf of Sir James Calderstone. It seems that the son of Sir James has gotten himself involved with a woman his parents deem unsuitable and they want Mrs. Rodd to investigate and find out the true history of this woman. It all sounded so simple in the beginning.
Taking place in 1850-1851 this wonderfully written period mystery novel has a reasonableness often missed by other authors I've read. I know the times were different then, but I still need to see the characters in a novel react to circumstances in a level-headed way. Too much flightiness and the characters seem to be caricatures of the times, too much stodginess and they are dull and boring. Ms. Saunders hit just the right note for me to like the characters she invented. That is what I always look for because I can't enjoy helping solve a mystery if I don't like the people I'm reading about. This book provided me with some lovely reading time and I'm looking forward to more novels in the future.
September 23, 2016
What a delightful find - you know that wonderful feeling when friends tell you about a book that is right up your alley and you finally get hold of it and it's everything you enjoy and more? Well, this book did that for me - I only hope Kate Saunders is hard at work on Mrs. Todd's next mystery...
Historical mysteries are my favorite genre, and this sounded so appealing - well-researched, well-written, great characters, humor, historical accuracy, a very appealing heroine, exciting pace and gripping mystery - almost too good to be true! But for me, recently widowed Mrs. Rodd, her smart, funny, irreverent and successful criminal barrister brother, Fred, and her canny, unflappable confidant and landlady Mrs. Bentley delivered in spades.
Mrs. Laetitia Rodd is the widow of an archdeacon; she still misses her beloved Matt greatly two years after his death, and Saunders writes effectively of how the bottom fell out of our heroine's world. Matt was her true love and best friend but they never had children and he died unexpectedly so she felt truly isolated and set adrift when he died; Saunders wonderfully sums up how desolate Letty was, and how vital her beloved younger brother Fred and dear Mrs. Bentley were to her slowly rebuilding her life after such devastating loss. It really made me warm to all of these characters and appreciate their goodness and strength - and yes, especially the dark humor and pragmatic view they bring to investigating Fred's thornier cases!
Letty earns her living carrying out extremely sensitive and discreet investigations for Fred; Matt's unexpected death left her with very little, and homeless, which is how she came to board at Mrs. Bentley's house. She loves Fred and his bustling brood of 10 (going on 11) children, but the thought of living under his roof with his flighty wife as an unpaid dependent nursemaid leaves Letty cold; she and Mrs. Bentley have become fast friends and the landlady's common sense are invaluable in Letty and Fred's investigations.
This time out (there have clearly been previous cases, time will tell whether Saunders chooses to write them up for our delectation!), the son of the extremely powerful and wealthy Sir James Calderstone has gotten involved with a highly inappropriate young woman; he swears he will marry her, much to the dismay of his parents. Letty heads to Wishtide, the family's Lincolnshire estate, to investigate this young woman - but what seems like a straightforward mystery soon takes an unexpected and ugly turn...
No spoilers, but I found this such an intriguing and satisfying puzzle - despite the Victorian setting it was also gripping in parts, not easy to do when the best one could manage was the pace of a fast carriage! It truly was a fun adventure and I hope I can look forward to another visit with Letty, Fred, Mrs. Bentley and even Inspector Blackbeard!
Historical mysteries are my favorite genre, and this sounded so appealing - well-researched, well-written, great characters, humor, historical accuracy, a very appealing heroine, exciting pace and gripping mystery - almost too good to be true! But for me, recently widowed Mrs. Rodd, her smart, funny, irreverent and successful criminal barrister brother, Fred, and her canny, unflappable confidant and landlady Mrs. Bentley delivered in spades.
Mrs. Laetitia Rodd is the widow of an archdeacon; she still misses her beloved Matt greatly two years after his death, and Saunders writes effectively of how the bottom fell out of our heroine's world. Matt was her true love and best friend but they never had children and he died unexpectedly so she felt truly isolated and set adrift when he died; Saunders wonderfully sums up how desolate Letty was, and how vital her beloved younger brother Fred and dear Mrs. Bentley were to her slowly rebuilding her life after such devastating loss. It really made me warm to all of these characters and appreciate their goodness and strength - and yes, especially the dark humor and pragmatic view they bring to investigating Fred's thornier cases!
Letty earns her living carrying out extremely sensitive and discreet investigations for Fred; Matt's unexpected death left her with very little, and homeless, which is how she came to board at Mrs. Bentley's house. She loves Fred and his bustling brood of 10 (going on 11) children, but the thought of living under his roof with his flighty wife as an unpaid dependent nursemaid leaves Letty cold; she and Mrs. Bentley have become fast friends and the landlady's common sense are invaluable in Letty and Fred's investigations.
This time out (there have clearly been previous cases, time will tell whether Saunders chooses to write them up for our delectation!), the son of the extremely powerful and wealthy Sir James Calderstone has gotten involved with a highly inappropriate young woman; he swears he will marry her, much to the dismay of his parents. Letty heads to Wishtide, the family's Lincolnshire estate, to investigate this young woman - but what seems like a straightforward mystery soon takes an unexpected and ugly turn...
No spoilers, but I found this such an intriguing and satisfying puzzle - despite the Victorian setting it was also gripping in parts, not easy to do when the best one could manage was the pace of a fast carriage! It truly was a fun adventure and I hope I can look forward to another visit with Letty, Fred, Mrs. Bentley and even Inspector Blackbeard!
July 22, 2016
In her acknowledgements at the end, author Kate Saunders references her love for Victorian novels and Charles Dickens, which are imbedded in “The Secrets of Wishtide.” I might have been better off knowing this at the beginning as I plodded through this book. A dark cloud looms over almost every aspect of the 1850 London and country life she describes. Laetitia Rodd, the fifty-two year old widow of an archdeacon, is the protagonist, now living in greatly “reduced circumstances” as a boarder in the home of kindly Mary Bentley. Apparently, since her husband’s death, she has acquired the detective skills necessary to assist her brother, Frederick Tyson, a lawyer, uncovering the goods on villains, to make ends meet. Oh, and Mary is no slouch as a consultant when reviewing the investigation.
Laetitia is hired by Sir James Calderstone to attain background information on the lovely Helen Orme, hopefully enough to discredit her and convince his handsome son, Charles, she is unsuitable to marry a person of his class. Her “cover” to get into the Calderstone mansion, Wishtide, is to pose as a governess to Sir James’ two daughters, Blanche and Elizabeth (who are far too old to need a governess, by the way.) The governess act is abandoned when Charles is arrested for murder, and the entire family is relieved she is working with Fred to prove Charles’ innocence. And we enter the rabbit hole of secrets and deceit.
I thought the author was heavy-handed with her Dickens’ themes. I got it the first time: women were treated as property in 1850 and did not enjoy any legal rights even when abused by drunken husbands or compromised by double standards of behavior or simply disregarded or disrespected. “Oh – yes, a perfect cover…Women are always having those (emergencies.) As to women, they are never radicals, so they’re the key to this election – we may have to resign ourselves to giving a ball…It’s a confounded nuisance, but it can’t be helped; thank the lord they don’t have votes of their own!”
More Dickens’ influences: the novel is packed (an understatement) with the innocent and the worldly, those who are vulnerable and others with nerves of steel, those with a heart of gold and those driven by greed. Blanche, Elizabeth, Charles and Lady Calderstone, Helen Orme and her sister-in-law, Miss Winifred, cousin to Esther Grahame, Mr. Fitzwarren, the local clergyman, the Rutherfords and Adelina, and Inspector Thomas Blackbeard from the Metropolitan Police are only some of the players that the reader must keep track. The plot becomes more complicated with secrets and lies discovered almost single handedly by Laetitia Rodd, requiring one leap of faith after another for me. “But it’s also because I visited the scene of the outrage and felt its atmosphere. I never had such a sense of pure wickedness…It’s a sense you get in a place where someone has tried to drive out all goodness, all holiness – where, for a moment, a shadow has crossed the sun.”
Saunders uses letter writing as a device for Laetitia to update her brother on her investigation progress. The letters include highly detailed accounts of conversations, which stretch credibility a bit. In addition to all the dialogue, the letters summarize Laetitia’s extensive sleuthing here, there, and everywhere moving the plot along conveniently for the author. On a more positive note, though, the brother-sister relationship is genuine and loving even when they are tracking a murderer.
In the end, justice prevails (for some,) and the wicked are punished.
Laetitia is hired by Sir James Calderstone to attain background information on the lovely Helen Orme, hopefully enough to discredit her and convince his handsome son, Charles, she is unsuitable to marry a person of his class. Her “cover” to get into the Calderstone mansion, Wishtide, is to pose as a governess to Sir James’ two daughters, Blanche and Elizabeth (who are far too old to need a governess, by the way.) The governess act is abandoned when Charles is arrested for murder, and the entire family is relieved she is working with Fred to prove Charles’ innocence. And we enter the rabbit hole of secrets and deceit.
I thought the author was heavy-handed with her Dickens’ themes. I got it the first time: women were treated as property in 1850 and did not enjoy any legal rights even when abused by drunken husbands or compromised by double standards of behavior or simply disregarded or disrespected. “Oh – yes, a perfect cover…Women are always having those (emergencies.) As to women, they are never radicals, so they’re the key to this election – we may have to resign ourselves to giving a ball…It’s a confounded nuisance, but it can’t be helped; thank the lord they don’t have votes of their own!”
More Dickens’ influences: the novel is packed (an understatement) with the innocent and the worldly, those who are vulnerable and others with nerves of steel, those with a heart of gold and those driven by greed. Blanche, Elizabeth, Charles and Lady Calderstone, Helen Orme and her sister-in-law, Miss Winifred, cousin to Esther Grahame, Mr. Fitzwarren, the local clergyman, the Rutherfords and Adelina, and Inspector Thomas Blackbeard from the Metropolitan Police are only some of the players that the reader must keep track. The plot becomes more complicated with secrets and lies discovered almost single handedly by Laetitia Rodd, requiring one leap of faith after another for me. “But it’s also because I visited the scene of the outrage and felt its atmosphere. I never had such a sense of pure wickedness…It’s a sense you get in a place where someone has tried to drive out all goodness, all holiness – where, for a moment, a shadow has crossed the sun.”
Saunders uses letter writing as a device for Laetitia to update her brother on her investigation progress. The letters include highly detailed accounts of conversations, which stretch credibility a bit. In addition to all the dialogue, the letters summarize Laetitia’s extensive sleuthing here, there, and everywhere moving the plot along conveniently for the author. On a more positive note, though, the brother-sister relationship is genuine and loving even when they are tracking a murderer.
In the end, justice prevails (for some,) and the wicked are punished.
July 14, 2016
An entertaining, if unremarkable, mystery. 3.5/5 stars.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
This is a mystery/whodunnit set in the Victorian period and narrated in first person by Laetitia Rodd, an unusual cross of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes (although more Marple than Holmes). When choosing this book I was hoping for an entertaining story with a strong heroine that would be a “break” after the dark psychological thrillers and fantasy novels I’ve been reading recently, and that’s exactly what I got. I’ve always enjoyed reading detective-style mysteries set in Victorian England. No matter how dastardly the crime, there’s always something peculiarly genteel and comforting about the rational forces of good tracking down and putting away the villain/s of the piece, usually without gallons of blood and gore.
I would recommend this book particularly to readers who enjoy murder mysteries but have had enough of stories which appear to be more about the investigator than the actual crime. Mrs Rodd is an easy detective to get along with and a personable narrative voice, but her own personality takes a back seat to her investigations. Sometimes this is a good thing, however, sometimes I did wish we knew more about her. More than once I felt as if I were reading the third or fourth book in a series and had missed some vital previous episodes which would have shown me how Mrs Rodd got into the business of being a private investigator. We are told how she came into her new career, but it would have been more fun to see this, and getting to watch her struggle and triumph in her first few cases might have made her character more sympathetic.
The period detail is impressive and the author has clearly done her research. The plot is well-structured and we’re given information gradually in carefully-applied layers of intrigue. When all is finally revealed, events accelerate nicely towards the conclusion. I say “nicely” because I’m a firm believer that once we know everything there is to know, it’s time to skip to the end.
Overall: a solid, if unremarkable series opener which fans of Victorian-period mysteries will enjoy.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
This is a mystery/whodunnit set in the Victorian period and narrated in first person by Laetitia Rodd, an unusual cross of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes (although more Marple than Holmes). When choosing this book I was hoping for an entertaining story with a strong heroine that would be a “break” after the dark psychological thrillers and fantasy novels I’ve been reading recently, and that’s exactly what I got. I’ve always enjoyed reading detective-style mysteries set in Victorian England. No matter how dastardly the crime, there’s always something peculiarly genteel and comforting about the rational forces of good tracking down and putting away the villain/s of the piece, usually without gallons of blood and gore.
I would recommend this book particularly to readers who enjoy murder mysteries but have had enough of stories which appear to be more about the investigator than the actual crime. Mrs Rodd is an easy detective to get along with and a personable narrative voice, but her own personality takes a back seat to her investigations. Sometimes this is a good thing, however, sometimes I did wish we knew more about her. More than once I felt as if I were reading the third or fourth book in a series and had missed some vital previous episodes which would have shown me how Mrs Rodd got into the business of being a private investigator. We are told how she came into her new career, but it would have been more fun to see this, and getting to watch her struggle and triumph in her first few cases might have made her character more sympathetic.
The period detail is impressive and the author has clearly done her research. The plot is well-structured and we’re given information gradually in carefully-applied layers of intrigue. When all is finally revealed, events accelerate nicely towards the conclusion. I say “nicely” because I’m a firm believer that once we know everything there is to know, it’s time to skip to the end.
Overall: a solid, if unremarkable series opener which fans of Victorian-period mysteries will enjoy.
September 23, 2016
3.5 stars to the first in a new series.
Pluses: Laetitia is charming, smart, well-fleshed out, as are her brother Fred and Mary Bentley. The murder mystery part is twisty. I even liked the 'just the facts, ma'am' Inspector Blackbeard, though I wasn't fond of his name. Blackbeard, really?
Minuses: The mystery solution gets just a bit too convoluted by the end. The sub-plots re: Sir James Calderstone, his wife and his mistress seemed to get out of hand. I was fine with who turned out to be the villain--didn't feel the need for his family. The wrap up at the end was, I felt, inadequate. I wanted to know what happened to Sir James , his wife and their younger daughter. And other bits and pieces.
However, in spite of my quibbles, I will gladly read the next whenever it becomes available.
Pluses: Laetitia is charming, smart, well-fleshed out, as are her brother Fred and Mary Bentley. The murder mystery part is twisty. I even liked the 'just the facts, ma'am' Inspector Blackbeard, though I wasn't fond of his name. Blackbeard, really?
Minuses: The mystery solution gets just a bit too convoluted by the end. The sub-plots re: Sir James Calderstone, his wife and his mistress seemed to get out of hand. I was fine with who turned out to be the villain--didn't feel the need for his family. The wrap up at the end was, I felt, inadequate. I wanted to know what happened to Sir James , his wife and their younger daughter. And other bits and pieces.
However, in spite of my quibbles, I will gladly read the next whenever it becomes available.
June 17, 2017
Εντάξει η κριτική μου είναι απόλυτα αναξιόπιστη γιατί είμαι ερωτευμένη μ αυτό το είδος. Άμα διαβάσω τη φράση " ο εφημέριος του Αγριοραδικσον επισκέφθηκε τη λαίδη Βρεστον Χαστον " ξεκινάω από τα 4 αστεράκια. Άμα είναι και καλογραμμένο ,( κι αυτό είναι) τότε πενταστερο αβλεπι.
September 12, 2017
Το φετινό καλοκαίρι η αστυνομική λογοτεχνία είχε την τιμητική της, με τις παραλίες να είναι γεμάτες με αναγνώστες του είδους, που επέλεξαν για συντροφιά τους πληθώρα τίτλων του είδους. Ανάμεσα σε αυτούς, χωρίς αμφιβολία, ξεχωρίσαμε το "Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς", ένα βικτοριανό νουάρ που έκανε τη διαφορά, παντρεύοντας δύο διαφορετικά είδη αισθητικής, σ' ένα βιβλίο ικανό να ικανοποιήσει μεγάλο εύρος αναγνωστών. Η Kate Saunders, εμφανώς επηρεασμένη από ομότεχνούς της όπως η Agatha Cristie, μας ταξίδεψε στο χώρο και στο χρόνο, πλάθοντας μια άκρως ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία που δημιούργησε στο μυαλό μας εικόνες, και που μας παρέσυρε σ' έναν κόσμο μυστηρίου, βάζοντάς μας στα παπούτσια της ηρωίδας της και προσκαλώντας μας να πορευτούμε μαζί της λύνοντας από κοινού ένα μεγάλο μυστήριο.
Βρισκόμαστε στο Χάμστεντ, ένα μεγάλο προάστιο του Λονδίνου, κάπου στα μέσα της βικτοριανής εποχής, όπου ο διαχωρισμός των κοινωνικών τάξεων είναι κανόνας, ενώ οι προσωπικές επιλογές του καθενός επηρεάζονται σαφέστατα απ' αυτόν. Ο γιος, όμως, της οικογένεια Κόλντερστον, Τσαρλς, ετοιμάζεται να κάνει τη μεγάλη ανατροπή, ζητώντας σε γάμο μία γυναίκα που δεν προορίζεται για εκείνον, σύμφωνα με τα πρότυπα της εποχής, κοντράροντάς τα και ακολουθώντας μονοπάτια επαναστατικά κι αντισυμβατικά. Ο πατέρας του, ο σερ Τζέιμς, καταφεύγει στον ποινικολόγο Φρέντερικ Τάισον, προκειμένου να ζητήσει τη βοήθειά του ώστε ν' ανακαλύψουν τα σκοτεινά μυστικά του παρελθόντος της Έλεν Όρμ, πριν να προλάβει αυτή να γίνει νύφη του, με τον Φρέντερικ, με τη σειρά του, να ζητάει την συμβολή της αδερφής του, της πενηνταδιάχρονης Λετίσια, χήρα αρχιδιακόνου και εξαιρετικά οξυδερκής. Η Λετίσια, λοιπόν, αναλαμβάνει χρέη γκουβερνάντας στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς, και κάτω από μεγάλη μυστικότητα, αρχίζει την ανεπίσημη έρευνά της, η οποία φέρνει στο φως μια σειρά από καλά κρυμμένα μυστικά, που όλα μαζί οδηγούν στα ίχνη ενός επικίνδυνου δολοφόνου.
Η Saunders έχει επιλέξει την πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση, μέσα από τα μάτια της Λετίσια, γεγονός που μας επιτρέπει να συνδεθούμε περισσότερο μαζί της, μα και να έχουμε μια πιο προσωπική εικόνα των γεγονότων, των καταστάσεων, μα και των εκάστοτε στοιχείων που κάνουν την εμφάνισή τους στο προσκήνιο, δημιουργώντας ένα ψηφιδωτό που αν όλα τα κομμάτια του μπουν στην σωστή θέση, έχουν μια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία να πουν, μα και μια συγκλονιστική, συγκαλυμμένη αλήθεια, ν' αποκαλύψουν. Όλα είναι μελετημένα, σωστά δομημένα, και τοποθετημένα μέσα στο αφηγηματικό χρονοδιάγραμμα της ιστορίας αυτής με τέτοιον τρόπο που το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη παραμένει αμείωτο καθ' όλη την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, με τις ανατροπές να είναι συνεχώς παρούσες, κάτι που ενισχύει το μυστήριο και την αγωνία, μα και την εξέλιξη της δράσης στην πορεία του μυθιστορήματος αυτού.
Σημαντικό ρόλο παίζουν και οι εμπλεκόμενοι στην ιστορία αυτή, σε όποιο στρατόπεδο κι αν αυτοί ανήκουν, με την συγγραφέα να έχει δημιουργήσει ολοκληρωμένους και άρτια δομημένους χαρακτήρες, οι οποίοι διακρίνονται για την ρεαλιστικότητα και την αυθεντικότητά τους. Δεν θα λέγαμε πως υπάρχει ο χαρακτήρας εκείνος που ξεχωρίζει στη συνείδησή μας, αφού κανένας δεν υπερτερεί σε τέτοιο βαθμό που να κάνει μέσα μας τη διαφορά, όμως, καθένας από αυτούς, έχει μια ανθρωπιστική ταυτότητα που θα μπορούσε κάλλιστα να προσαρμοστεί στα δεδομένα και την πραγματικότητα του καθενός από εμάς. Με αγνά κίνητρα ή μη, οι ήρωες -ή και οι αντιήρωες- της ιστορίας αυτής, σκέφτονται, νιώθουν, δρουν, πράττουν και βιώνουν τις εκάστοτε καταστάσεις με απόλυτα αληθοφανή τρόπο, γεγονός που τους καθιστά πραγματικούς στα μάτια του αναγνώστη, ενώ του επιτρέπεται, με τον τρόπο αυτό, να ταυτιστεί περισσότερο μαζί τους, υιοθετώντας την σκοτεινή ή την φωτεινή πλευρά τους, εκάστοτε, προκειμένου να καταλήξει στα προσωπικά του συμπεράσματα.
Σχετικά μικρό σε όγκο, αλλά χωρίς ν' αφήνει το παραμικρό αφηγηματικό κενό, το "Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς" είναι ένα βιβλίο με σφιχτοδεμένη και καλοδουλεμένη πλοκή, αρκούντως ενδιαφέρουσα για να σε παρασύρει σε μια περιπέτεια αναζήτησης της αλήθειας, μα και ένα βιβλίο που εκτός από σκέψεις και συναισθήματα, δημιουργεί εικόνες και σε ταξιδεύει. Και μπορεί η ταυτότητα του δολοφόνου ν' αποκαλύπτεται αρκετά πριν το τέλος, όμως αυτό δεν μειώνει στο ελάχιστο τη δράση και την αγωνία μας, αφού η Saunders χειρίζεται την υπόθεση με τέτοιο τρόπο που την οδηγεί σε ένα άλλο επίπεδο, ίσως ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον στον πυρήνα του, που κρύβει μεγάλες εκπλήξεις και επικίνδυνες καταστάσεις που κορυφώνουν το σασπένς πριν η αυλαία πέσει οριστικά. Ένα βιβλίο που σίγουρα κέρδισε τις εντυπώσεις, και το στοίχημα σε μια κορεσμένη αγορά, που σας προτείνουμε ανεπιφύλακτα.
Βρισκόμαστε στο Χάμστεντ, ένα μεγάλο προάστιο του Λονδίνου, κάπου στα μέσα της βικτοριανής εποχής, όπου ο διαχωρισμός των κοινωνικών τάξεων είναι κανόνας, ενώ οι προσωπικές επιλογές του καθενός επηρεάζονται σαφέστατα απ' αυτόν. Ο γιος, όμως, της οικογένεια Κόλντερστον, Τσαρλς, ετοιμάζεται να κάνει τη μεγάλη ανατροπή, ζητώντας σε γάμο μία γυναίκα που δεν προορίζεται για εκείνον, σύμφωνα με τα πρότυπα της εποχής, κοντράροντάς τα και ακολουθώντας μονοπάτια επαναστατικά κι αντισυμβατικά. Ο πατέρας του, ο σερ Τζέιμς, καταφεύγει στον ποινικολόγο Φρέντερικ Τάισον, προκειμένου να ζητήσει τη βοήθειά του ώστε ν' ανακαλύψουν τα σκοτεινά μυστικά του παρελθόντος της Έλεν Όρμ, πριν να προλάβει αυτή να γίνει νύφη του, με τον Φρέντερικ, με τη σειρά του, να ζητάει την συμβολή της αδερφής του, της πενηνταδιάχρονης Λετίσια, χήρα αρχιδιακόνου και εξαιρετικά οξυδερκής. Η Λετίσια, λοιπόν, αναλαμβάνει χρέη γκουβερνάντας στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς, και κάτω από μεγάλη μυστικότητα, αρχίζει την ανεπίσημη έρευνά της, η οποία φέρνει στο φως μια σειρά από καλά κρυμμένα μυστικά, που όλα μαζί οδηγούν στα ίχνη ενός επικίνδυνου δολοφόνου.
Η Saunders έχει επιλέξει την πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση, μέσα από τα μάτια της Λετίσια, γεγονός που μας επιτρέπει να συνδεθούμε περισσότερο μαζί της, μα και να έχουμε μια πιο προσωπική εικόνα των γεγονότων, των καταστάσεων, μα και των εκάστοτε στοιχείων που κάνουν την εμφάνισή τους στο προσκήνιο, δημιουργώντας ένα ψηφιδωτό που αν όλα τα κομμάτια του μπουν στην σωστή θέση, έχουν μια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία να πουν, μα και μια συγκλονιστική, συγκαλυμμένη αλήθεια, ν' αποκαλύψουν. Όλα είναι μελετημένα, σωστά δομημένα, και τοποθετημένα μέσα στο αφηγηματικό χρονοδιάγραμμα της ιστορίας αυτής με τέτοιον τρόπο που το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη παραμένει αμείωτο καθ' όλη την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, με τις ανατροπές να είναι συνεχώς παρούσες, κάτι που ενισχύει το μυστήριο και την αγωνία, μα και την εξέλιξη της δράσης στην πορεία του μυθιστορήματος αυτού.
Σημαντικό ρόλο παίζουν και οι εμπλεκόμενοι στην ιστορία αυτή, σε όποιο στρατόπεδο κι αν αυτοί ανήκουν, με την συγγραφέα να έχει δημιουργήσει ολοκληρωμένους και άρτια δομημένους χαρακτήρες, οι οποίοι διακρίνονται για την ρεαλιστικότητα και την αυθεντικότητά τους. Δεν θα λέγαμε πως υπάρχει ο χαρακτήρας εκείνος που ξεχωρίζει στη συνείδησή μας, αφού κανένας δεν υπερτερεί σε τέτοιο βαθμό που να κάνει μέσα μας τη διαφορά, όμως, καθένας από αυτούς, έχει μια ανθρωπιστική ταυτότητα που θα μπορούσε κάλλιστα να προσαρμοστεί στα δεδομένα και την πραγματικότητα του καθενός από εμάς. Με αγνά κίνητρα ή μη, οι ήρωες -ή και οι αντιήρωες- της ιστορίας αυτής, σκέφτονται, νιώθουν, δρουν, πράττουν και βιώνουν τις εκάστοτε καταστάσεις με απόλυτα αληθοφανή τρόπο, γεγονός που τους καθιστά πραγματικούς στα μάτια του αναγνώστη, ενώ του επιτρέπεται, με τον τρόπο αυτό, να ταυτιστεί περισσότερο μαζί τους, υιοθετώντας την σκοτεινή ή την φωτεινή πλευρά τους, εκάστοτε, προκειμένου να καταλήξει στα προσωπικά του συμπεράσματα.
Σχετικά μικρό σε όγκο, αλλά χωρίς ν' αφήνει το παραμικρό αφηγηματικό κενό, το "Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του σερ Τζέιμς" είναι ένα βιβλίο με σφιχτοδεμένη και καλοδουλεμένη πλοκή, αρκούντως ενδιαφέρουσα για να σε παρασύρει σε μια περιπέτεια αναζήτησης της αλήθειας, μα και ένα βιβλίο που εκτός από σκέψεις και συναισθήματα, δημιουργεί εικόνες και σε ταξιδεύει. Και μπορεί η ταυτότητα του δολοφόνου ν' αποκαλύπτεται αρκετά πριν το τέλος, όμως αυτό δεν μειώνει στο ελάχιστο τη δράση και την αγωνία μας, αφού η Saunders χειρίζεται την υπόθεση με τέτοιο τρόπο που την οδηγεί σε ένα άλλο επίπεδο, ίσως ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον στον πυρήνα του, που κρύβει μεγάλες εκπλήξεις και επικίνδυνες καταστάσεις που κορυφώνουν το σασπένς πριν η αυλαία πέσει οριστικά. Ένα βιβλίο που σίγουρα κέρδισε τις εντυπώσεις, και το στοίχημα σε μια κορεσμένη αγορά, που σας προτείνουμε ανεπιφύλακτα.
October 29, 2016
Mrs. Laetitia Rodd is a widow with a knack for solving mysteries. Her brother, Fred, is a barrister and calls in Mrs. Rodd for consulting on cases that need a widow to do the dirty work. Adding to the cast of colorful characters is Mrs. Bentley, another widow who once let rooms to poet John Keats; and Inspector Blackbeard, a dour obstinate widower who seems to be set up as a potential romantic interest. So when Mrs. Rodd is hired to investigate the background of a woman known as Mrs. Orme, she discovers herself on the path of many secrets, most of the sordid and grisly.
1. If I'm right and the Inspector is a potential love interest, I'm declaring right here and now that Saunders is missing a huge opportunity with Mrs. Bentley. (Letty addresses her letters to her as "My dearest Mary"!!! THEY LOVE EACH OTHER OK!!) I, who finds chemistry in all the wrong places, didn't for a moment feel anything between Blackbeard and Letty. It felt forced and awkward and he was a bullheaded boy and ugh, whatever.
2. I called the 'twist' almost immediately, but I'm not sure if that's a bad thing? Like, it didn't necessarily feel like anyone else (other than Boring Blackbeard) was dragging their feet on the thing, so. It was just...an obvious twist, even without any true foreshadowing. Also didn't feel like there were any other avenues that the case could have taken; it wrote itself into a cliched corner and resolved things in the only way it could.
Which isn't to say it wasn't enjoyable because it was! for the most part! There are a few things (detailed below) that rather soured it for me, but I am so there for lady detectives being ON THE CASE. GET IT, GIRLS.
3. I felt like this narrative bought into the "Angels of the Homestead" Victorian bit too much: all the women are good-hearted and love the assholes they're partnered with in spite of the assholes being completely reprehensible in almost every case. Take Lady Calderstone, who invites her husband's mistress into her home so they can make amends. Or Mrs. Gammon, one of 3 so-called wives, who stayed loyal to her abusive drunkard of a partner. It all got to be a bit much, you know?
4. The source of conflict between Letty and Blackbeard is their methodolgy for solving cases. Early in the novel, Letty claims that she only cares for facts. But then Blackbeard is introduced and her preference shifts, ever so slightly, to be focused instead on the intuition that leads her to said facts. Blackbeard, meanwhile, is portrayed as methodical and plodding; he makes no sudden leaps of insights and instead must let the facts tell him how to get to a solution.
Which--whatever. What yanks my chain is the fact that it leaves the ~~feelings in the hands of the female detective and the ~~logic in the hands of the male, furthering the gross gender dynamics I've detailed above. It's lazy, and kind of sloppy, and really the thing that soured my enjoyment of this book the most.
5. So Letty's husband died 2 (?) years before the book opens; in that time, Letty has come down in the world and has taken up solving cases. I.e., this is not her first rodeo. Which was disappointing from an origin story point of view. It's obviously not a huge set back, but it felt like a bit too much of the text was glossing over the meaty history beats: how Blackbeard first met Letty, how he handled her working a case; how she handled her first case; etc. It felt like a shortcut to telling a story, which was wildly disappointing.
Also, the handling of Matt's death was just--not great. We never meet Matt (which, btw, can I just say how odd I found it that she called him MATT? There were actually a few phrases that kind of made me quirk an eyebrow because they didn't feel 'of the times'), so his death meant very little to me. And Letty--the POV character for the first person narration--spends a lot of time pining after her fond memories of him.
But to me, an obviously disinterested 3rd party observer who is actually dead inside, it detracted from the story. I didn't care about Matt except in that he sounded like a too-good-to-be-true idol Letty couldn't let go of. WHICH IS A HORRIBLE FEELING TO HAVE?? I don't know: I wish it had been handled differently is all.
6. Also, in case you are scanning these bullet points quickly because I am far too verbose: IT'S IN FIRST PERSON???
7. There was also kind of a gross "smizing down on the huddled masses" tone that crept into the text whenever the main characters were dealing with the working classes. It grated.
1. If I'm right and the Inspector is a potential love interest, I'm declaring right here and now that Saunders is missing a huge opportunity with Mrs. Bentley. (Letty addresses her letters to her as "My dearest Mary"!!! THEY LOVE EACH OTHER OK!!) I, who finds chemistry in all the wrong places, didn't for a moment feel anything between Blackbeard and Letty. It felt forced and awkward and he was a bullheaded boy and ugh, whatever.
2. I called the 'twist' almost immediately, but I'm not sure if that's a bad thing? Like, it didn't necessarily feel like anyone else (other than Boring Blackbeard) was dragging their feet on the thing, so. It was just...an obvious twist, even without any true foreshadowing. Also didn't feel like there were any other avenues that the case could have taken; it wrote itself into a cliched corner and resolved things in the only way it could.
Which isn't to say it wasn't enjoyable because it was! for the most part! There are a few things (detailed below) that rather soured it for me, but I am so there for lady detectives being ON THE CASE. GET IT, GIRLS.
3. I felt like this narrative bought into the "Angels of the Homestead" Victorian bit too much: all the women are good-hearted and love the assholes they're partnered with in spite of the assholes being completely reprehensible in almost every case. Take Lady Calderstone, who invites her husband's mistress into her home so they can make amends. Or Mrs. Gammon, one of 3 so-called wives, who stayed loyal to her abusive drunkard of a partner. It all got to be a bit much, you know?
4. The source of conflict between Letty and Blackbeard is their methodolgy for solving cases. Early in the novel, Letty claims that she only cares for facts. But then Blackbeard is introduced and her preference shifts, ever so slightly, to be focused instead on the intuition that leads her to said facts. Blackbeard, meanwhile, is portrayed as methodical and plodding; he makes no sudden leaps of insights and instead must let the facts tell him how to get to a solution.
Which--whatever. What yanks my chain is the fact that it leaves the ~~feelings in the hands of the female detective and the ~~logic in the hands of the male, furthering the gross gender dynamics I've detailed above. It's lazy, and kind of sloppy, and really the thing that soured my enjoyment of this book the most.
5. So Letty's husband died 2 (?) years before the book opens; in that time, Letty has come down in the world and has taken up solving cases. I.e., this is not her first rodeo. Which was disappointing from an origin story point of view. It's obviously not a huge set back, but it felt like a bit too much of the text was glossing over the meaty history beats: how Blackbeard first met Letty, how he handled her working a case; how she handled her first case; etc. It felt like a shortcut to telling a story, which was wildly disappointing.
Also, the handling of Matt's death was just--not great. We never meet Matt (which, btw, can I just say how odd I found it that she called him MATT? There were actually a few phrases that kind of made me quirk an eyebrow because they didn't feel 'of the times'), so his death meant very little to me. And Letty--the POV character for the first person narration--spends a lot of time pining after her fond memories of him.
But to me, an obviously disinterested 3rd party observer who is actually dead inside, it detracted from the story. I didn't care about Matt except in that he sounded like a too-good-to-be-true idol Letty couldn't let go of. WHICH IS A HORRIBLE FEELING TO HAVE?? I don't know: I wish it had been handled differently is all.
6. Also, in case you are scanning these bullet points quickly because I am far too verbose: IT'S IN FIRST PERSON???
7. There was also kind of a gross "smizing down on the huddled masses" tone that crept into the text whenever the main characters were dealing with the working classes. It grated.
August 23, 2018
Το βιβλίο «Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του Σερ Τζέιμς» της Kate Saunders είναι ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα εποχής με φόντο το Βικτωριανό Λονδίνο. Λατρεύω τις ιστορίες μυστηρίου που εξελίσσονται στην Βικτωριανή εποχή. Πρωταγωνίστρια είναι η Λετίσια Ροντ, μια πενηντάχρονη χήρα αρχιδιακόνου, που εξιχνιάζει άλυτα μυστήρια με οξυδέρκεια και απόλυτη διακριτικότητα.
Ήταν καλογραμμένο. Στο α’ ενικό, σαν να έγραφε η πρωταγωνίστρια ένα άρθρο για το φόνο ή ένα βιβλίο. Ήταν ανάλαφρο και κυλούσε γρήγορα.
Η Λετίσια Ροντ το αντίθετο παρά καλή ντετέκτιβ ήταν. Όλα της έρχονταν από μηχανής θεού. Σκουντουφλούσε πάνω στα στοιχεία. Και εμένα άμα μου πέταγαν τόσα στοιχεία στα πόδια μου προφανώς και θα καταλάβαινα ποιος το έκανε. Όλοι δια μαγείας μόνο και μόνο επειδή ήταν μεγάλη γυναίκα (αν και πενήντα χρονών δεν την λες μεγάλη) της φέρονταν καλά και ήταν παραπάνω από πρόθυμοι να της δώσουν πληροφορίες.
Είχε τόσες πολλές πιθανότητες να γίνει ένα επικό βιβλίο με γυναίκα πρωταγωνίστρια, σε μια εποχή που οι γυναίκες δεν ήταν και κάτι το ιδιαίτερο, και απλά τα θαλάσσωσε.
Ήταν καλογραμμένο. Στο α’ ενικό, σαν να έγραφε η πρωταγωνίστρια ένα άρθρο για το φόνο ή ένα βιβλίο. Ήταν ανάλαφρο και κυλούσε γρήγορα.
Η Λετίσια Ροντ το αντίθετο παρά καλή ντετέκτιβ ήταν. Όλα της έρχονταν από μηχανής θεού. Σκουντουφλούσε πάνω στα στοιχεία. Και εμένα άμα μου πέταγαν τόσα στοιχεία στα πόδια μου προφανώς και θα καταλάβαινα ποιος το έκανε. Όλοι δια μαγείας μόνο και μόνο επειδή ήταν μεγάλη γυναίκα (αν και πενήντα χρονών δεν την λες μεγάλη) της φέρονταν καλά και ήταν παραπάνω από πρόθυμοι να της δώσουν πληροφορίες.
Είχε τόσες πολλές πιθανότητες να γίνει ένα επικό βιβλίο με γυναίκα πρωταγωνίστρια, σε μια εποχή που οι γυναίκες δεν ήταν και κάτι το ιδιαίτερο, και απλά τα θαλάσσωσε.
May 25, 2018
We live in the age of the remake, the reboot, the rehash. This book is no exception; in the Afterword the author freely admits lifting the plot and characters (if not their names) from Dickens. She says she grew up reading 19th century novels, and "would never do anything to hurt" the fiction she so admires. Well, maybe. Apparently huge linguistic anachronisms don't count. She has a lawyer tell her MC that he's going to "pick her brain" about something, and said MC speaks of the victim "doing the arithmetic" about a situation--about 100 years before those expressions became current. I'm not too sure about "the lysol smell of the prison" she mentions, either. Granted, Lysol was invented in 1889, but that was in Germany; I doubt that Mrs Rodd would use a brand name as an adjective at that time, though the author carefully does not tell us what year the book is meant to be set in. This is fortunate, as her prose and characters become increasingly more (and far too) modern as the tale progresses.
Oh--and about that prose; I don't know how she managed it, but in spite of several grisly murders and an impressive body-count, I found it impossible to engage with either characters or situation. Somehow any excitement was sapped from the narrative and I kept putting it down and reading other things.
Just in passing, it is assumed that Mrs Rodd's late husband was an Anglican minister, since it is not specified that he was any other kind. I have no idea what, if any, religion Saunders espouses, but she obviously doesn't know that Anglican ministers neither administer Last Rites, nor pray for the dead. The title is also misleading, as Wishtide has no secrets to reveal; the mystery involves other people in other places--indeed, mostly in other countries.
Dull, unengaging and full of errors, both linguistical and factual. Epic Fail.
Oh--and about that prose; I don't know how she managed it, but in spite of several grisly murders and an impressive body-count, I found it impossible to engage with either characters or situation. Somehow any excitement was sapped from the narrative and I kept putting it down and reading other things.
Just in passing, it is assumed that Mrs Rodd's late husband was an Anglican minister, since it is not specified that he was any other kind. I have no idea what, if any, religion Saunders espouses, but she obviously doesn't know that Anglican ministers neither administer Last Rites, nor pray for the dead. The title is also misleading, as Wishtide has no secrets to reveal; the mystery involves other people in other places--indeed, mostly in other countries.
Dull, unengaging and full of errors, both linguistical and factual. Epic Fail.
November 17, 2017
If you're looking for a Victorian mystery fix, I can recommend this one.
This story is likely intended as the "pilot" for a series (although as of months later there's no sign of a sequel). We're dropped into her detecting career "in progress" as it were, since previous cases are referenced. Basically, she's investigator Paul Drake to her criminal attorney brother's Perry Mason. The action begins with Letty acting as governess to a noble family in order to ferret out a blackmailer; that angle is seemingly resolved, until a member of that family is caught up in a series of (related) murders, so she and her brother are paid to continue working on the bigger picture. Plotting is well done, although the final showdown seemed a bit dramatic to me, even by Victorian standards. Some might see in-your-face feminism at times, but women were indisputably chattel, suffrage was the least of their issues in the mid 1800s.
Audio narrator did a decent job overall, though I'll agree with others that her male voices ranged from okay to needs-work. Good fit for the material, hope she gets to read the next book.
This story is likely intended as the "pilot" for a series (although as of months later there's no sign of a sequel). We're dropped into her detecting career "in progress" as it were, since previous cases are referenced. Basically, she's investigator Paul Drake to her criminal attorney brother's Perry Mason. The action begins with Letty acting as governess to a noble family in order to ferret out a blackmailer; that angle is seemingly resolved, until a member of that family is caught up in a series of (related) murders, so she and her brother are paid to continue working on the bigger picture. Plotting is well done, although the final showdown seemed a bit dramatic to me, even by Victorian standards. Some might see in-your-face feminism at times, but women were indisputably chattel, suffrage was the least of their issues in the mid 1800s.
Audio narrator did a decent job overall, though I'll agree with others that her male voices ranged from okay to needs-work. Good fit for the material, hope she gets to read the next book.
May 16, 2018
Φανταστείτε πως είστε σ΄ένα προάστιο του Λονδίνου, το Χάμστεντ, με άμαξες να διασχίζουν τα στενά δρομάκια του. Φανταστείτε πως είστε σ΄ένα στενόχωρο, μαυρισμένο απ΄την καπνιά, άβολο μικρό σπίτι – που παλιά είχε κάτι από τη δόξα της διαμονής του Τζον Κιτς εκεί - αλλά τώρα στέκει απλά στριμωγμένο δίπλα σε μια ταβέρνα.
Φανταστείτε και δύο αξιοσέβαστες, στα μάτια της κοινωνίας, γυναίκες να ψιλοκόβουν λαρδί, να το ανακατεύουν με αποξηραμένα φρούτα και εκεί ανάμεσα στα μυστικά της γέμισης για την πίτα, να συζητούν για φόνους και να προσπαθούν να βρουν το δολοφόνο.
'' Η κυρία Μπέντλεϊ έσπρωξε με το μαχαίρι το βουναλάκι του ψιλοκομμένου λαρδιού και το έριξε στο μεγάλο μπολ με τα κόντιτα και τα μπαχαρικά που μοσχοβολούσε. Εγώ, πάντως, αν ήμουν στη θέση του θα ανησυχούσα. Ποιος μας λέει ότι ο δολοφόνος δεν θα ξαναχτυπήσει; ''
Φανταστείτε τέλος πως όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν στη βικτωριανή Αγγλία το 1850, με όλο το ατμοσφαιρικό σκηνικό καλά στημένο, και θα έχετε ήδη το ισχυρό κίνητρο να διαβάσετε ''Το έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του Σερ Τζέϊμς '' !
Η Λετίσια Ροντ, μια 52χρονη ευυπόληπτη χήρα αρχιδιακόνου, έχει το τέλειο προφίλ για μια ερευνήτρια που θέλει να περάσει απαρατήρητη. Αν προσθέσετε σ΄αυτό και τη μεγάλη της αγάπη για περιπέτεια και δράση, έχετε ήδη σχηματίσει ένα μέρος της εικόνας της.
Συνεργάζεται με τον αδελφό της Φρεντ – ένα γνωστό ποινικολόγο του Λονδίνου – για να φέρει εις πέρας υποθέσεις, πότε παρακολούθησης και πότε πιο… δύσκολες όπως αυτή της ιστορίας μας, που ξεκινά από μια απλή συγκέντρωση πληροφοριών και καταλήγει να έχει φόνους στο ενεργητικό της. Βοηθός πολύτιμος είναι η σπιτονοικοκυρά της, Μαίρη Μπέντλεϊ, μια φτωχή χήρα που μοιράζεται τη χαρά της κάθε υπόθεσης μαζί της και που ο οξυδερκής νους της, την οδηγεί σε παρατηρήσεις καίριες και σημαντικές για την επίλυσή της.
Με τις δύο αυτές γοητευτικές κυρίες ξεκινά το μυθιστόρημα η Kate Saunders και με την ευχή της Μαίρης Μπέντλεϊ να τύχει αυτή τη φορά κάποια υπόθεση πιο… ριψοκίνδυνη!
''Ας ελπίσουμε ότι αυτή τη φορά οι αμαρτίες είναι πιο βαριές ! Όχι πως θάθελα να είναι πιο αμαρτωλός απ΄όσο είναι ήδη αυτός ο κόσμος, κυρία, αλλά μια και δεν υπάρχει έλλειψη αμαρτιών, τουλάχιστον ας έρθει και κάποια προς τα εδώ . ''
Ο Σερ Τζέιμς προσλαμβάνει την Λετίσια σαν γκουβερνάντα, με σκοπό να μάθει για το παρελθόν και τις προθέσεις της κ. Έλεν Ορμ. Μιας γοητευτικής κυρίας που έχει πλανέψει το γιο του. Η Λετίσια γρήγορα συνειδητοποιεί πως υπάρχει κάτι περισσότερο από μια ακατάλληλη αγάπη, όπως εκβιασμοί, σκοτεινές προθέσεις και μυστικά .
'' Τα πολύ καλά κρυμμένα μυστικά είναι δέκα η οκά σε αυτόν τον μικρόκοσμο. Όλοι έχουν και κάποιο καλά κρυμμένο μυστικό. Οι καλοί τρόποι επιβάλλουν να προσποιείσαι πως δεν το ξέρεις ''.
Τα πάντα βγαίνουν στο φως σιγά – σιγά, και το τοπίο αλλάζει άρδην από μια σειρά φόνων που συμβαίνουν. Η Λετίσια αναλαμβάνει δράση έχοντας απέναντί της τον επιθεωρητή της Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ Τόμας Μπλάκμπιερντ, έναν μάλλον συντηρητικό στις απόψεις του αστυνομικό – κάτι ανάμεσα σε αριστοκράτη της Αναγέννησης και ανώτατο δημόσιο υπάλληλο – που απεχθάνεται οτιδήποτε έχει τη σφραγίδα του ενστίκτου ή της διαίσθησης. Στοιχεία που είναι σε υπερθετικό βαθμό αναπτυγμένα στο χαρακτήρα της ηρωίδας!
Μέσα σε ένα ατμοσφαιρικό σκηνικό, με έντονη τη μυρωδιά και το χρώμα της βικτωριανής εποχής, η συγγραφέας στήνει την ιστορία της χρησιμοποιώντας σε σωστές δόσεις όλα τα συστατικά που κάνουν ένα βιβλίο να σε κρατά στις σελίδες του. Πολύ καλά δομημένη είναι η πλοκή, ενισχυμένη από τις λεπτομέρειες που ανατρέπουν το κάθε τι στο γύρισμα κάθε κεφαλαίου και με κύριους χαρακτήρες που δεν γίνεται να μην τους αγαπήσεις. Η Λετίσια αεικίνητη, ατρόμητη, έξυπνη, αγνή, με μια πίστη άδολη και μια κοσμοθεωρία που έρχεται σε αντίθεση με όσα αντικρίζει, εμπιστεύεται το ένστικτό της και την σπιτονοικοκυρά της!
Ένα εύρημα της συγγραφέως που δίνει μια διαφορετική ροή - φοβερά ελκυστική - στην αφήγηση, είναι οι επιστολές που στέλνει στον αδελφό της για να τον ενημερώσει για την πορεία των ερευνών!
Σε πρώτο πρόσωπο γραμμένο το κείμενο και σε απλή γ��ώσσα, διανθίζεται από μικρές δόσεις χιούμορ και σκηνές που ζωγραφίζουν την οικογενειακή θαλπωρή.
Το μυστήριο – απαραίτητο συστατικό σε κάθε αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που σέβεται τον εαυτό του και τον αναγνώστη - είναι διάχυτο σ΄όλη την πορεία προς την εξιχνίαση των εγκλημάτων. Το ομιχλώδες τοπίο, το κρύο που περονιάζει τα κόκκαλα, τα βρώμικα στενά δρομάκια, τα φτωχικά σπίτια ,τα έρημα λιβάδια και οι απέραντοι ρεικότοποι, είναι η μία πλευρά της κοινωνίας, που έχει απέναντί της τις επαύλεις με τους στάβλους και τις απέραντες εκτάσεις. Η αντίθεση στα κοινωνικά στρώματα δίνεται σε μικρότερη δόση απ΄ότι στον Ντίκενς, αλλά τα σημεία που αποτυπώνουν τα πνιγηρά ήθη, τις προκαταλήψεις και τα στερεότυπα τα γερά ριζωμένα στην βικτωριανή κοινωνία, θα έλεγα πως έρχονται πλησιέστερα στο ύφος του μεγάλου μυθιστοριογράφου !
Αν και σε αρκετά σημεία του μυθιστορήματος αφήνεται να εννοηθεί πως η φοβερή Λετίσια έχει αναλάβει κι άλλες υποθέσεις από τον αδελφό της, εν τούτοις αυτός είναι ένας έξυπνος τρόπος αναγγελίας από τη συγγραφέα για το ξεκίνημα μιας σειράς βιβλίων με πρωταγωνίστρια την αξιοσέβαστη χήρα!
Θέλω να ελπίζω πως μαζί της θα έχει σαν συμβουλάτορα την σπιτονοικοκυρά της Μαίρη, συνεργάτη τον αδελφό της Φρεντ και ''αντίπαλο '' τον επιθεωρητή της Σκότλαντ Γιάρντ , Τόμας Μπλάκμπιερντ.
Δυνατά σημεία :
1.Γοητευτική αποτύπωση της βικτοριανής εποχής.
2. Ανατροπές και γρήγορη ροή.
3.Χαρακτήρες φτιαγμένοι για να αγαπηθούν.
Φανταστείτε και δύο αξιοσέβαστες, στα μάτια της κοινωνίας, γυναίκες να ψιλοκόβουν λαρδί, να το ανακατεύουν με αποξηραμένα φρούτα και εκεί ανάμεσα στα μυστικά της γέμισης για την πίτα, να συζητούν για φόνους και να προσπαθούν να βρουν το δολοφόνο.
'' Η κυρία Μπέντλεϊ έσπρωξε με το μαχαίρι το βουναλάκι του ψιλοκομμένου λαρδιού και το έριξε στο μεγάλο μπολ με τα κόντιτα και τα μπαχαρικά που μοσχοβολούσε. Εγώ, πάντως, αν ήμουν στη θέση του θα ανησυχούσα. Ποιος μας λέει ότι ο δολοφόνος δεν θα ξαναχτυπήσει; ''
Φανταστείτε τέλος πως όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν στη βικτωριανή Αγγλία το 1850, με όλο το ατμοσφαιρικό σκηνικό καλά στημένο, και θα έχετε ήδη το ισχυρό κίνητρο να διαβάσετε ''Το έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του Σερ Τζέϊμς '' !
Η Λετίσια Ροντ, μια 52χρονη ευυπόληπτη χήρα αρχιδιακόνου, έχει το τέλειο προφίλ για μια ερευνήτρια που θέλει να περάσει απαρατήρητη. Αν προσθέσετε σ΄αυτό και τη μεγάλη της αγάπη για περιπέτεια και δράση, έχετε ήδη σχηματίσει ένα μέρος της εικόνας της.
Συνεργάζεται με τον αδελφό της Φρεντ – ένα γνωστό ποινικολόγο του Λονδίνου – για να φέρει εις πέρας υποθέσεις, πότε παρακολούθησης και πότε πιο… δύσκολες όπως αυτή της ιστορίας μας, που ξεκινά από μια απλή συγκέντρωση πληροφοριών και καταλήγει να έχει φόνους στο ενεργητικό της. Βοηθός πολύτιμος είναι η σπιτονοικοκυρά της, Μαίρη Μπέντλεϊ, μια φτωχή χήρα που μοιράζεται τη χαρά της κάθε υπόθεσης μαζί της και που ο οξυδερκής νους της, την οδηγεί σε παρατηρήσεις καίριες και σημαντικές για την επίλυσή της.
Με τις δύο αυτές γοητευτικές κυρίες ξεκινά το μυθιστόρημα η Kate Saunders και με την ευχή της Μαίρης Μπέντλεϊ να τύχει αυτή τη φορά κάποια υπόθεση πιο… ριψοκίνδυνη!
''Ας ελπίσουμε ότι αυτή τη φορά οι αμαρτίες είναι πιο βαριές ! Όχι πως θάθελα να είναι πιο αμαρτωλός απ΄όσο είναι ήδη αυτός ο κόσμος, κυρία, αλλά μια και δεν υπάρχει έλλειψη αμαρτιών, τουλάχιστον ας έρθει και κάποια προς τα εδώ . ''
Ο Σερ Τζέιμς προσλαμβάνει την Λετίσια σαν γκουβερνάντα, με σκοπό να μάθει για το παρελθόν και τις προθέσεις της κ. Έλεν Ορμ. Μιας γοητευτικής κυρίας που έχει πλανέψει το γιο του. Η Λετίσια γρήγορα συνειδητοποιεί πως υπάρχει κάτι περισσότερο από μια ακατάλληλη αγάπη, όπως εκβιασμοί, σκοτεινές προθέσεις και μυστικά .
'' Τα πολύ καλά κρυμμένα μυστικά είναι δέκα η οκά σε αυτόν τον μικρόκοσμο. Όλοι έχουν και κάποιο καλά κρυμμένο μυστικό. Οι καλοί τρόποι επιβάλλουν να προσποιείσαι πως δεν το ξέρεις ''.
Τα πάντα βγαίνουν στο φως σιγά – σιγά, και το τοπίο αλλάζει άρδην από μια σειρά φόνων που συμβαίνουν. Η Λετίσια αναλαμβάνει δράση έχοντας απέναντί της τον επιθεωρητή της Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ Τόμας Μπλάκμπιερντ, έναν μάλλον συντηρητικό στις απόψεις του αστυνομικό – κάτι ανάμεσα σε αριστοκράτη της Αναγέννησης και ανώτατο δημόσιο υπάλληλο – που απεχθάνεται οτιδήποτε έχει τη σφραγίδα του ενστίκτου ή της διαίσθησης. Στοιχεία που είναι σε υπερθετικό βαθμό αναπτυγμένα στο χαρακτήρα της ηρωίδας!
Μέσα σε ένα ατμοσφαιρικό σκηνικό, με έντονη τη μυρωδιά και το χρώμα της βικτωριανής εποχής, η συγγραφέας στήνει την ιστορία της χρησιμοποιώντας σε σωστές δόσεις όλα τα συστατικά που κάνουν ένα βιβλίο να σε κρατά στις σελίδες του. Πολύ καλά δομημένη είναι η πλοκή, ενισχυμένη από τις λεπτομέρειες που ανατρέπουν το κάθε τι στο γύρισμα κάθε κεφαλαίου και με κύριους χαρακτήρες που δεν γίνεται να μην τους αγαπήσεις. Η Λετίσια αεικίνητη, ατρόμητη, έξυπνη, αγνή, με μια πίστη άδολη και μια κοσμοθεωρία που έρχεται σε αντίθεση με όσα αντικρίζει, εμπιστεύεται το ένστικτό της και την σπιτονοικοκυρά της!
Ένα εύρημα της συγγραφέως που δίνει μια διαφορετική ροή - φοβερά ελκυστική - στην αφήγηση, είναι οι επιστολές που στέλνει στον αδελφό της για να τον ενημερώσει για την πορεία των ερευνών!
Σε πρώτο πρόσωπο γραμμένο το κείμενο και σε απλή γ��ώσσα, διανθίζεται από μικρές δόσεις χιούμορ και σκηνές που ζωγραφίζουν την οικογενειακή θαλπωρή.
Το μυστήριο – απαραίτητο συστατικό σε κάθε αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που σέβεται τον εαυτό του και τον αναγνώστη - είναι διάχυτο σ΄όλη την πορεία προς την εξιχνίαση των εγκλημάτων. Το ομιχλώδες τοπίο, το κρύο που περονιάζει τα κόκκαλα, τα βρώμικα στενά δρομάκια, τα φτωχικά σπίτια ,τα έρημα λιβάδια και οι απέραντοι ρεικότοποι, είναι η μία πλευρά της κοινωνίας, που έχει απέναντί της τις επαύλεις με τους στάβλους και τις απέραντες εκτάσεις. Η αντίθεση στα κοινωνικά στρώματα δίνεται σε μικρότερη δόση απ΄ότι στον Ντίκενς, αλλά τα σημεία που αποτυπώνουν τα πνιγηρά ήθη, τις προκαταλήψεις και τα στερεότυπα τα γερά ριζωμένα στην βικτωριανή κοινωνία, θα έλεγα πως έρχονται πλησιέστερα στο ύφος του μεγάλου μυθιστοριογράφου !
Αν και σε αρκετά σημεία του μυθιστορήματος αφήνεται να εννοηθεί πως η φοβερή Λετίσια έχει αναλάβει κι άλλες υποθέσεις από τον αδελφό της, εν τούτοις αυτός είναι ένας έξυπνος τρόπος αναγγελίας από τη συγγραφέα για το ξεκίνημα μιας σειράς βιβλίων με πρωταγωνίστρια την αξιοσέβαστη χήρα!
Θέλω να ελπίζω πως μαζί της θα έχει σαν συμβουλάτορα την σπιτονοικοκυρά της Μαίρη, συνεργάτη τον αδελφό της Φρεντ και ''αντίπαλο '' τον επιθεωρητή της Σκότλαντ Γιάρντ , Τόμας Μπλάκμπιερντ.
Δυνατά σημεία :
1.Γοητευτική αποτύπωση της βικτοριανής εποχής.
2. Ανατροπές και γρήγορη ροή.
3.Χαρακτήρες φτιαγμένοι για να αγαπηθούν.
July 9, 2020
I’d seen this title around for quite a while and yesterday I finally gave it a go - and I was pleasantly surprised. Saunders puts together a decent historical murder mystery, set in the mid 19th century.
I particularly appreciated her choice of main character, an older woman in her 50s, who recently lost her archdeacon husband, and who sustains herself by being a 'discreet investigator’, under the cover of unsuspecting widowhood. Not only this, Laetitia Rodd has a great relationship with her younger brother, Frank Tyson, a criminal barrister, who brings her cases and who values her intelligence and opinion! Totally refreshing! Furthermore, our heroine is not afraid to re-assess her perceptions time and again, putting herself in the shoes of the people she meets - very modern and yet not anachronistic.
Loved it and shall carry on :O)
I particularly appreciated her choice of main character, an older woman in her 50s, who recently lost her archdeacon husband, and who sustains herself by being a 'discreet investigator’, under the cover of unsuspecting widowhood. Not only this, Laetitia Rodd has a great relationship with her younger brother, Frank Tyson, a criminal barrister, who brings her cases and who values her intelligence and opinion! Totally refreshing! Furthermore, our heroine is not afraid to re-assess her perceptions time and again, putting herself in the shoes of the people she meets - very modern and yet not anachronistic.
Loved it and shall carry on :O)
August 20, 2016
The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders is the first book of in a new series of six detective novels, featuring amateur sleuth Laetitia Rodd. This is a novel that easily reminds of a traditional English mystery novel, along the same lines as Agatha Christie.
The Secrets of Wishtide introduces the reader to a middle aged widow of an archdeacon, Laetitia Rodd. A significant shift in circumstances has lead to Laetitia having to find her own means to survive on a day to day basis. Laetitia decides to put her wit and keen eye for detail to use, when she becomes a private investigator to her barrister brother. The Secrets of Wishtide first sees Laetitia look into a complicated family matter for her brother and secrets are gradually revealed by Laetitia’s investigations. The addition of murder after murder, adds to the drama and intrigue of the novel. Laetitia gets swept up into solving the events, using her unique charm and sense of adventure.
British author Kate Saunders writes with conviction and a clear understanding of the era in which she is depicting – Victorian England. The dialogue between the characters featured in The Secrets of Wishtide was reflective of the time period, which was a joy to read. The banter that occurs between Laetitia, the main character and the fellow characters she interacts with, such as her landlord Mrs Bentley and fellow detective Mr Blackbeard, was humorous. It was obvious the author had fun writing the novel and creating the characters that fill the pages of the book. The beginning mystery was enough to keep me entertained and interested in how events in the novel would transpire. Saunders adds further subplots to mix surrounding more murders, which encouraged me to follow on with the novel to the end. My final word and positive note on The Secrets of Wishtide was the author’s device of using the main character Laetitia Rodd. It was simply refreshing to see to see a heroine cast who is a middle aged widow, trying the get by on her own means and solving some great mysteries along the way!
If you enjoy being immersed in settings from the past, look no further than The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders. This fine sense of period atmosphere, combined with an appealing heroine, along with themes of murder, family secrets and good old fashioned detective work, makes this book the perfect cosy weekend read.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Australia and The Reading Room for providing a copy of this book for review.
*This review also appears on my blog:
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
The Secrets of Wishtide introduces the reader to a middle aged widow of an archdeacon, Laetitia Rodd. A significant shift in circumstances has lead to Laetitia having to find her own means to survive on a day to day basis. Laetitia decides to put her wit and keen eye for detail to use, when she becomes a private investigator to her barrister brother. The Secrets of Wishtide first sees Laetitia look into a complicated family matter for her brother and secrets are gradually revealed by Laetitia’s investigations. The addition of murder after murder, adds to the drama and intrigue of the novel. Laetitia gets swept up into solving the events, using her unique charm and sense of adventure.
British author Kate Saunders writes with conviction and a clear understanding of the era in which she is depicting – Victorian England. The dialogue between the characters featured in The Secrets of Wishtide was reflective of the time period, which was a joy to read. The banter that occurs between Laetitia, the main character and the fellow characters she interacts with, such as her landlord Mrs Bentley and fellow detective Mr Blackbeard, was humorous. It was obvious the author had fun writing the novel and creating the characters that fill the pages of the book. The beginning mystery was enough to keep me entertained and interested in how events in the novel would transpire. Saunders adds further subplots to mix surrounding more murders, which encouraged me to follow on with the novel to the end. My final word and positive note on The Secrets of Wishtide was the author’s device of using the main character Laetitia Rodd. It was simply refreshing to see to see a heroine cast who is a middle aged widow, trying the get by on her own means and solving some great mysteries along the way!
If you enjoy being immersed in settings from the past, look no further than The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders. This fine sense of period atmosphere, combined with an appealing heroine, along with themes of murder, family secrets and good old fashioned detective work, makes this book the perfect cosy weekend read.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Australia and The Reading Room for providing a copy of this book for review.
*This review also appears on my blog:
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
January 10, 2018
Πριν μερικές μέρες τέλειωσα το Έγκλημα στην οικογένεια του Σερ Τζέιμς και οφείλω να ομολογήσω ότι ήταν ένα ευχάριστο διάλειμμα από τα στυγερά και αιματοβαμμένα εγκλήματα που συνηθίζω να διαβάζω. Πρόκειται για μια πολύ γοητευτική ιστορία της Βικτωριανής εποχής, με στοιχεία noir romance.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο για περάσεις ευχάριστα και δροσερά τις καλοκαιρινές σου ώρες. Είναι η ευλογημένη σκιά μετά από ώρες περπάτημα στον ήλιο! Πραγματικά σε ξεκουράζει.
Εντυπωσιακός είναι ο τρόπος γραφής της Σώντερς, η οποία μέσα στην μυθοπλαστική της διάθεση, πετάει ενίοτε κάποιες σκληρές διαχρονικές αλήθειες για την κοινωνία και τις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι αυτές κάποιες φορές, μέσα στον ρου της γλώσσας περνούν απαρατήρητες αλλά εν τέλει αυτό που σου αφήνει είναι η αίσθηση της αληθοφάνειας της ιστορίας και του «πόσο σωστά τα λέει».
Υπέροχη είναι κι η Βικτωριανή ατμόσφαιρα, που θυμίζει τις αδελφές Μπροντέ, τον Κάρολο Ντίκενς, με τα ήθη και την ηθική της εποχής. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι πολύ καλοδουλεμένοι, αν και κατά την γνώμη μου δεν ξεχωρίζει κανείς ιδιαίτερα έναντι των υπολοίπων, ούτε καν η βασική ηρωίδα. Δεν ξέρω αν αυτό είναι καλό ή κακό από λογοτεχνικής άποψης, απλώς το αναφέρω ως παρατήρηση δική μου. Ωστόσο, αυτό που μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα, είναι η τάση της πρωταγωνίστριας Λετίσια Ροντ, να αντιστέκεται σθεναρά στη νοοτροπία της εποχής, που ήθελε τις γυναίκες πολίτες β’ κατηγορίας και το ταλέντο που την διέκρινε να δημιουργεί όμορφο αποτέλεσμα μέσα από άσχημες συνθήκες.
Εν ολίγοις, πρόκειται για ένα πολύ ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα που θα ικανοποιήσει ιδιαιτέρους τους λάτρεις των έργων «Εποχής» σαν και την πάρτη μου. Θα ήθελα να διαβάσω και κάτι ακόμη δικό της για να αποκτήσω σφαιρική άποψη.
Από μένα 8,5/10.
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
Είναι ένα βιβλίο για περάσεις ευχάριστα και δροσερά τις καλοκαιρινές σου ώρες. Είναι η ευλογημένη σκιά μετά από ώρες περπάτημα στον ήλιο! Πραγματικά σε ξεκουράζει.
Εντυπωσιακός είναι ο τρόπος γραφής της Σώντερς, η οποία μέσα στην μυθοπλαστική της διάθεση, πετάει ενίοτε κάποιες σκληρές διαχρονικές αλήθειες για την κοινωνία και τις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι αυτές κάποιες φορές, μέσα στον ρου της γλώσσας περνούν απαρατήρητες αλλά εν τέλει αυτό που σου αφήνει είναι η αίσθηση της αληθοφάνειας της ιστορίας και του «πόσο σωστά τα λέει».
Υπέροχη είναι κι η Βικτωριανή ατμόσφαιρα, που θυμίζει τις αδελφές Μπροντέ, τον Κάρολο Ντίκενς, με τα ήθη και την ηθική της εποχής. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι πολύ καλοδουλεμένοι, αν και κατά την γνώμη μου δεν ξεχωρίζει κανείς ιδιαίτερα έναντι των υπολοίπων, ούτε καν η βασική ηρωίδα. Δεν ξέρω αν αυτό είναι καλό ή κακό από λογοτεχνικής άποψης, απλώς το αναφέρω ως παρατήρηση δική μου. Ωστόσο, αυτό που μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα, είναι η τάση της πρωταγωνίστριας Λετίσια Ροντ, να αντιστέκεται σθεναρά στη νοοτροπία της εποχής, που ήθελε τις γυναίκες πολίτες β’ κατηγορίας και το ταλέντο που την διέκρινε να δημιουργεί όμορφο αποτέλεσμα μέσα από άσχημες συνθήκες.
Εν ολίγοις, πρόκειται για ένα πολύ ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα που θα ικανοποιήσει ιδιαιτέρους τους λάτρεις των έργων «Εποχής» σαν και την πάρτη μου. Θα ήθελα να διαβάσω και κάτι ακόμη δικό της για να αποκτήσω σφαιρική άποψη.
Από μένα 8,5/10.
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
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