Midsummer Night

Lady Julia Grey #3.5

by Deanna Raybourn

Don't miss any of the Lady Julia Gray stories! Rediscover the mystery and romance of Deanna Raybourn's bestselling series in this classic novella.

Midsummer in England—an auspicious time for a wedding. Brisbane has taken charge of the music. Julia has, perhaps mistakenly, authorized her sisters to choose the dress. And Belmont Abbey is overflowing with guests awaiting the blessed day. What could go wrong?

Combine the close-knit chaos of village life, pagan traditions bursting through staid Victorian conventions, and the congenial madness that tends to swirl around Lady Julia's family, and you get an unforgettable wedding. But add in a dangerous past nemesis who has come to wish them not-so-well, and their day to remember just might take a fatal turn…

Originally published in 2013

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Novella

77 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna's first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022. (Please note: Deanna is not active on GR.)

Reviews

[Lady Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all of the Lady Julia Grey books; they are among my favorites. In the first book, Silent in the Grave, Lady Julia meets Nicholas Brisbane, a private enquiry agent investigating her husband's death. They fall in love, marry, and go on to further adventures, with Lady Julia trying to help Brisbane in his profession and Brisbane trying to protect her from danger.

We never got to see their wedding, however, but this short novella solves that problem delightfully. We see lots of Lady Julia's eccentric family, and even some of Brisbane's Roma relatives. Although the story is quite complete in itself, I would not recommend this book if you haven't read at least the first story. Preferably, the first three. (These are included in The Lady Julia Grey Bundle, only US$9.99 for the Kindle version. A bargain price for three full-length novels!)

If you like mysteries and you like romance, the Lady Julia Grey books are a wonderful combination of both; more mystery than romance really, but the presence of the swoonworthy Brisbane makes what romance there is glorious.

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

.
Brisbane and Julia's wedding and a little attempted thievery.
It's cute and even cloyingly sweet. Which was odd, since the first 3 books are so spare of sweetness.
Still fade to black but with lots of very heavy handed suggestions about how awesome their sex life is.
I did feel that Brisbane and Julia were on more even footing in this one.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely pointless, silly filler novella. If I hadn't read the first couple of books in this series, I would have been totally fine with this. It's light and fluffy and fun. The problem is that this doesn't fit the tone of the novels at all, which are darker and more serious- even if Julia is regularly sarcastic and witty. This was gooey and just didn't feel right to me. Not to mention bringing back a character from a previous title Charlotte King in a way that felt unnecessary and completely unrealistic.....twice! Brisbane was so different that I hardly knew him- he went from fighting his attraction to Julia for 3 entire novels to all of a sudden wanting to constantly kiss her and even wink at her! I guess some readers probably enjoyed this, but again, it felt wrong to me. Julia and Brisbane shouldn't be cheekily flirting- their whole relationship began in a more serious, dramatic, deep way, and for them to be giggling like they're young (he's 40 and she's 30)- I don't know. I thought it was silly. I felt very much transported into a Julia Quinn novel, but I just don't think that worked here.

[Karma♥Bites ^.~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

READ (ebook) Oct 2019 (★★)

Easy, fun read. Would've enjoyed it more if not for somewhat OTT & kitchen-sink flavour.

But really, my main sticking point is this: when the hell did Crab undergo gender change, given that s/he 'threw a litter' in book #1?! Seriously??

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am besotted with Lady Julia Grey and her dark, handsome Gypsy, Nicolas Brisbane. It's simply a delight to read their witty, playful conversations and watch to see which one will persevere in getting his/her way in their unconventional relationship. Coming from such different backgrounds, their blending into a married couple is full of cultural and life style differences, even though Brisbane has for some time been away from the Gypsy community. In Midsummer Night, Deanna Raybourn shows us that the blending is also a chance to bring together the Roma and the English, who mistrust them. Brisbane's Gypsy relations are often a dark, brooding bunch, but they also have a great capacity for loyalty and love. Julia's family of March relatives are truly a mixed bag of nuts, and they, too, are capable of pleasant surprises when a family member's happiness is at stake. This novella gives readers a much desired account of the wedding of Julia and Brisbane, with all the family shenanigans included. I've become a big fan of the novella in series reading to fill in life between novels. I'm looking forward to the next adventure of these two favorite characters, hopefully soon.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heartily approve of this newer trend to fill in the gaps of the larger stories in a series with bits that couldn't be included in the earlier story as one of the reasons. Brisbane and Julia's wedding was a lovely addition to the series and of course it wouldn't be them if family craziness and a mystery didn't intrude on their plans.

Julia and her family gather at Bellmont Abbey for the occasion of her wedding and her soon to be husband is settled with Uncle Fly down in the vicarage. Wedding details are tedious to her and she only desires to be with Brisbane, but incidents around the Abbey distract her. A portent issued from a gypsy lady and a kidnapping on Midsummer's Eve along with battles over the wedding dress and the special meals lead Julia to discover that someone is plotting in the shadows of her special day.

This one is a shorty, but well-paced and tightly plotted that includes all the wonderful, colorful characters and historical details that I have come to love from this series. I wouldn't change a thing and I loved getting this lighter slice of Brisbane and Julia's life tucked between the deeper and darker stories that are their usual fare.

Those who enjoy historical mysteries with a romantic detective team, richly drawn secondary characters and historic backdrop along with a strong plot should try these.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely treat for Julia and Brisbane fans. It took some events from book three and expanded on them a bit. I needed a little distance from the Veronica books before diving back in because I'm not sure these will ever love up to that now. But this was a great way to ease back in.

[Heather | Nerdy By Nature Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how lighthearted this was compared to the previous books. It didn't bring much to the story, but it was a quick, fun read.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really want to rate this one higher. This short novella occurring between books 3 and 4 of the Lady Julia Grey series features the wedding of Julia to Nicholas Brisbane, half gypsy great nephew of a Duke private detective that has featured heavily since book 1. For the first time in this series, I actually believed in Julia and Nicholas' romance in a way I didn't in the full length books. But...there is a ridiculous side mystery that just had me wishing Julia was smarter or at least less ditsy or something.

[Allison]

I've saved the novellas to read all at once, hoping that it will help me to say goodbye to this series in a somewhat satisfying way now that I know they're all that's left. So far it's not working. I may need to go back and re-read the full novels for that. It's not that the novellas are bad - this one is fun. They're just not enough.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review to come

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella tells the story of Julia Grey’s wedding to Nicholas Brisbane, and after loving the main historical mystery series, I had a lovely time revisiting these characters. In true March family fashion, there was chaos from every corner, and even a tiny mystery with some attempted arson at Bellmont Abbey. I love Raybourn’s narrative voice in this series, and the whole story felt cozy, sweet, and fun. While I will always wish for more depth from novellas, this was a joy to read.

[Lisa Traasdahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little read

[Lynn Horton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've rated the previous installments in this book at three or four stars, and liked them well enough to purchase the Kindle package from Amazon. That's where things started to unravel for me.

Amazon didn't make it clear that the ensuing books were novellas. I wouldn't have purchased the package had I known. I. HATE. NOVELLAS. It's as if the author and publisher don't want to go to the trouble of creating an entire story, so they produce a short story. A novella that occupies me for an hour or so just isn't fulfilling. Also, it's danged-near impossible to develop characters or nuanced pacing in a novella. The work is just a blast of information, a story sketch, that leaves me cold. So instead of developing Midsummer Night (and the novellas that follow it, most of which occur on the heels of each other) into one book that would keep me interested for hours, the author and publisher decided to string things out.

I think this is a lazy approach to fiction, and it cost them a reader.

[TheMadHatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Read: 31 Jan 2016 (Three Stars)
Second Read: 8 Feb 2019 (Upping to Four Stars on re-read as I just love this series).

Original Review
SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE EARLIER BOOKS

This is a short story set a few months after book 3 ends. It is less than 100 pages so easily read in an hour.

Not much of a mystery contained in this one, although a previous loose end is tied up with the jewel thief from book 2 getting her ending.

This book I would classify as 100% romance (and no mystery) as it is all about the wedding of Julia and Brisbane complete with house fire, gypsies and the return of said jewel thief.

I would only recommend this to people who love the series. Short books rarely add much value or have much substance (thus the 3 stars). However, as someone who loves this series, I am glad I read it as I have wanted this ending for so long.

[Kusanagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une courte nouvelle (65 pages) qui fait suite à la première partie des aventures de Lady Julia Grey et Nicholas Brisbane.

Et qui nous raconte leur(mouvementé) mariage. Une petite pause bienvenue, avec un soupçon d'enquête en mode prétexte, où l'on retrouve avec plaisir Bellmont Abbey et la famille March, et c'est surtout le prétexte à des scénettes drôles et délicieuses dans la campagne anglaise sur le thème "comment supporter sa famille?" et "comment avoir 5 minutes de tranquillité entre fiancés avec 150 personnes sur le dos" XD

On recroise aussi un précédent personnage, une sorte d'Irène Adler de Nicholas Brisbane ^^

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely!

I think I read this a while back. I don$t know why I didn't review it then, but I loved it. The setting, the characters, the story, and the lovely writing. And the humor, too! Lady Julia Grey mysteries rock!

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick story, read in under an hour, about Lady Julia Grey's wedding.

More wordy: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/120330...

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never reviewed this when I read it the first time. It’s a cute, little novella about Julia’s wedding and a wedding crasher from a previous book. We get updates on other characters/villains, too.

[Tina M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Novella, Packed With Plenty Of Adventure And Intrigue! Library Loan

I apparently kick off every review for my latest reading of Deanna Raybourn’s with sterling boasts and brags that she is one of the greatest authors out there in her genre. Not even about the book, but rather her! I imagine this comes from the my conviction she has such a unique style and perspective of putting word to paper, it makes it nye impossible to dislike anything she places her gift to.

This one was no exception. Even with it being a novella, there’s plenty of adventure and intrigue, I’ve come to expect in a Julia Grey addition. All this does is make me want to continue being a part of the two main character’s theatrics, and lives.

Whether they’re witty, loving, highly intelligent, they’re still presented in a vision which roars human, just as much as the next, and has just as many issues to work through in relationships, trust, upbringings and their effects on us as adults, as well as minor conflicts with self esteem.

Maybe their lives are a bit more glamorous than the average reader, but you don’t see them flaunting or misusing their power to the point of abusive evil.

I adore the March family, with all their quirky behaviors. I love that it’s beginning to show the Nicholas Brisbane has a few of these on his side as well. Shows me exactly why they’re such a perfect match for one another.

Very much looking forward to sticking with this series, and anxious to start the next one immediately!

Keep your writing coming Deanna! You have plenty of diehard fans out there!

[Sally Kilpatrick]

I'll never say no to anything Deanna writes, and I'm glad I have a few novellas to mete out while I wait for the next Veronica Speedwell book. This one tells the story of Julia and Brisbane's marriage. Things go about as one would expect for a March wedding. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Grade: B

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this novella that let us get an inside look at the wedding that readers had been waiting for 😊

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this little novella. It wasn't so much a mystery as it was a great missing interlude showing us Julia & Brisbane's wedding. Reading it made me realize how much I missed this series.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novella that chronicles the wedding.

[Leslie Nava · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was short and sweet. I wish the wedding and events leading up to the wedding were a bit longer but I’ll take what I can get of Lady Julia and her love

[Cameran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars.

With Midsummer Night, Deanna Raybourn has achieved what is very close to the prefect novella. Fans of the Lady Julia series will surely want to know about Julia and Nicholas Brisbane’s wedding, and since all of the hilarious and eccentric March clan is involved in the day, the short story lives up to expectation.

I think the great success of this novella is that it does not revolve around a mystery. The Lady Julia series fits within the historical mystery genre, yet Raybourn allows Julia and Brisbane to have their day. A murder and investigation would have never fit within the joy of the occasion or the constraints of a novella’s size. It was the absolute right choice to focus in on the things that were relevant: the mutters from society and family because Julia is in love with a man who is half-Gypsy, or the dislike of his family as he prepares to marry someone who is not of his kind. Nothing was overdone in matters of family and resolutions were just right. All of the characters involved had already been established with back stories and personalities, which meant the author could jump right into the story she wished to tell and have it all make sense.

Did I like the brief inclusion of a nemesis from a past investigation? Not particularly, since it seemed unnecessary even if you wanted some aspect of subterfuge. But I can overlook this since it will never be an aspect of the novella that I will remember. I will remember the wedding, the family, the charm, and the happiness of two people who have waited a long time for each other and who have been allowed by their creator to grow on their own until they could see each other. Well done!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Twelfth Night approaches, a tipsy Julia pens a letter to her niece Ophelia, a bride-to-be. Julia describes the days before the wedding and the heady daze she felt, yet the wedding almost didn't happen! There were bickering sisters, a hideous wedding dress, a mysterious fire, a temperamental cook and dire gypsy fortunes. What else could possibly go wrong? How about a visitor from Julia's past?

This is a 5 star read for fans of the series. It's all very light and breezy, even the little mystery isn't much of a mystery and handled with humor. Deanna Raybourn amps up the heat factor in the story. Though Julia and Brisbane are not permitted to be alone, they seize every opportunity they can to be together for "interesting interludes." The interludes are clean but sexy. The story concludes with her feelings on their wedding night and the lead up to Dark Road to Darjeeling.

Julia is her usual irrepressible self and Brisbane is not brooding for once. He's mooning though because he loves Julia and her family won't allow them to be alone together. As usual, her zany relatives provide the comic relief and we even get to meet more of Brisbane's equally eccentric family. I love the way Julia deals with them and how everything turns out. Marigold sounds like an interesting character and I hope there's more Lady Julia mysteries so we can see more of her. She sounds complex and I see where Brisbane gets his brooding from.

The only bad part about this story is that it's short and leaves me wanting more Lady Julia adventures.

[Andrea Seaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful novella is a perfect slice of Julia and Brisbane's story. One that leaves me wanting more,I'm afraid, but then, I always wish for more from this entertaining pair. After Silent On the Moor, when (finally!) Julia and Brisbane move towards the altar, there is precious little detail for us besotted readers. Granted, enough to understand the circus that would have been their nuptials, and then, off to the honeymoon. In Midsummer Night, Raybourn brings us the full story of their wedding, the March madness, the gypsy interference, and of course, a touch of crime to solve. It was neatly done, and in no way jarring that it came out of order. Needless to say I was pleased with the visit to the quirky, touching, and maddening characters that populate this series. The crime (or rather mystery) was no great puzzle, but one that suited the quick , lighthearted pace of the novella, and the return of a character I'd quite liked last time round. Portia's quick thinking on the dress, and Julia's optimistic nonchalance were highly entertaining. Simply cannot wait for the next full length novel! I must console myself with the wait for City of Jasmine, and another independent jazz age heroine. No great hardship, that.

[Minh · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the big Julia Grey (now Brisbane!) moments seem to occur during the novellas. I've read them backwards now and have gone from a scene where they are joint preparing to open their Detective agency back to the beginning of their marriage where Brisbane still thinks to deny Julia an equal role in their partnership.

There doesn't seem to be a publish date for book 6 in the series sadly enough, going back to this series has made me want more sharp Detective novels set in this era with heroines who make me crave adventure.