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The Gower Street Detective #2
Der Fluch des Hauses Foskett
Sidney Grice ist zurück, und seine Laune ist nicht besser geworden. Die Stimmung in der Gower Street 125 ist mies. Seit Sidney Grice durch seine Ermittlungen einen unschuldigen Mann an den Galgen gebracht hat, laufen die Geschäfte schlecht. Der scharfsinnigste Detektiv des viktorianischen England liegt stundenlang apathisch in der Badewanne. Selbst zum Einsetzen seines Glasauges fehlt ihm die Kraft. March Middleton, Sidneys Patentochter, langweilt sich zu Tode … Bis zu dem Tag, an dem ein Mitglied des bizarren Clubs »Finaler Sterbefallverein« sein Leben aushaucht – mitten in Sidneys Wohnzimmer. Immerhin haben Sidney und March endlich wieder etwas zu tun. Und das nicht zu knapp, denn es bleibt nicht bei dieser einen Leiche. Die Ermittlungen führen das ungleiche Paar von London bis nach Kew in ein unheimliches Herrenhaus, dessen Eigentümerin, die enigmatische Baroness Foskett, eine alte Bekannte Sidneys ist.
494 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2014
171 people are currently reading
2912 people want to read
About the author
M.R.C. Kasasian
30 books515 followersMartin Kasasian was raised in Lancashire. He has had careers as varied as factory hand, wine waiter, veterinary assistant, fairground worker and dentist. He lives with his wife in Suffolk in the summer and in a village in Malta in the winter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
February 19, 2020
Second instalment of The Gower Street Detective
This is proving to be a fascinating series, morbidly so. The narrative picks up after the events of the first book, Sidney Grice feeling the adverse effects of solving the case too late and thus leading an 'innocent' person to prison and letting the culprit escape. His reputation is not only in tatters, but the whole of London sees him as a laughing figure.
Of course there needs to be a new case and it comes in the shape of the Final Death Society. One of its members offers our duo a job, only to fall dead in their very presence! And that is not the end of it. Each new person visited seems to be dying on the spot. Not the best for the detective’s name!
The plot is again very dark - darker still - and very immersive. It starts slowly, leading us to each piece of the puzzle, seemingly with no reason. Kasasian’s portrayal of the capital is macabre and yet engrossing, but it is in the characters that the author excels. Grice is still obnoxious and arrogant but we’re starting to get more details on what makes him tick. As for March Middleton, she once more steals the show. Weaved throughout her narration, we get glimpses of her past, and finally piece together what happened. The relationship between the two main characters deepens too in complexity, between their vocal sparring (very funny for the reader) and behaviour. And what is Grice’s connection to March’s mother?
Kasasian used the Gruesome with a smattering of dark humour to great effect, and the result is very compelling. Bring on part 3!
This is proving to be a fascinating series, morbidly so. The narrative picks up after the events of the first book, Sidney Grice feeling the adverse effects of solving the case too late and thus leading an 'innocent' person to prison and letting the culprit escape. His reputation is not only in tatters, but the whole of London sees him as a laughing figure.
Of course there needs to be a new case and it comes in the shape of the Final Death Society. One of its members offers our duo a job, only to fall dead in their very presence! And that is not the end of it. Each new person visited seems to be dying on the spot. Not the best for the detective’s name!
The plot is again very dark - darker still - and very immersive. It starts slowly, leading us to each piece of the puzzle, seemingly with no reason. Kasasian’s portrayal of the capital is macabre and yet engrossing, but it is in the characters that the author excels. Grice is still obnoxious and arrogant but we’re starting to get more details on what makes him tick. As for March Middleton, she once more steals the show. Weaved throughout her narration, we get glimpses of her past, and finally piece together what happened. The relationship between the two main characters deepens too in complexity, between their vocal sparring (very funny for the reader) and behaviour. And what is Grice’s connection to March’s mother?
Kasasian used the Gruesome with a smattering of dark humour to great effect, and the result is very compelling. Bring on part 3!
July 24, 2019
I'm now a steadfast fan of Grice and March. This sequel delves more into the dark parts of their pasts as glimpses of old hurts and guilt come through as they work to solve the mystery of the murders of members of the Final Death Society. Grace had previously been in a state of depression over his last case and the unsavory reputation he had developed. Reinvigorated once again, he is determined to find the murderer or murderers before their target becomes the Baroness Foskett. The Fosckett family played an integral part in Grice's life; well, as integral part as anyone can have in the life of a genius. (insert a March eye roll). March wrestles with her own demons and the truth of Edward's death is finally revealed. She works to assist Grice and finds herself drawing closer to Inspector Pound through a series of unexpected events. The murders become more and more vicious and it becomes apparent that this may be a personal vendetta against Grice.
My thoughts: The sequel has more gruesome parts than the former. Perhaps because the darker parts of the main characters are being revealed? Yet, readers are given glimpses of the importance to Grice that March is becoming. We see this before March is given that glimpse. I continue to love the witty dialogue and cut downs between March and Grice. The plot is masterfully done and I only had a few inklings towards the end about the killer's identity. But never did I guess the biggest plot twist that involved a horrible medical diagnosis. I can't share too much because it will spoil the suspense and guesswork. A delight of a mystery that truly is in a class of its own. I really haven't read another series to compare it to and I think that is another reason that draws me in so much to these characters.
My thoughts: The sequel has more gruesome parts than the former. Perhaps because the darker parts of the main characters are being revealed? Yet, readers are given glimpses of the importance to Grice that March is becoming. We see this before March is given that glimpse. I continue to love the witty dialogue and cut downs between March and Grice. The plot is masterfully done and I only had a few inklings towards the end about the killer's identity. But never did I guess the biggest plot twist that involved a horrible medical diagnosis. I can't share too much because it will spoil the suspense and guesswork. A delight of a mystery that truly is in a class of its own. I really haven't read another series to compare it to and I think that is another reason that draws me in so much to these characters.
May 22, 2015
I read the first book in this series and wasn't sure I wanted to continue with the series, mainly because I found Sidney Grice, who is supposed to be Holmes-like but isn't, unlikeable. And I don't want to spend time with a main character I find unlikeable. But, in the interests of fairness, to see if perhaps Grice would develop, I wanted to read this, the second novel.
I'm not sure what to make of this series. Is it a kind of Lemony Snickett story for adults? I don't know — am I supposed to find the insults, the horribly cooked vegetables with rotten spots, the gruesome deaths, and the maggots appealing? Interesting? I suspect: (a) I am indeed meant to find them appealing and even humorous; (b) this series is not for me.
However, I give the book three stars because, all the maggots and rot aside, the plot and the unraveling of the crime make sense.
I'm not sure what to make of this series. Is it a kind of Lemony Snickett story for adults? I don't know — am I supposed to find the insults, the horribly cooked vegetables with rotten spots, the gruesome deaths, and the maggots appealing? Interesting? I suspect: (a) I am indeed meant to find them appealing and even humorous; (b) this series is not for me.
However, I give the book three stars because, all the maggots and rot aside, the plot and the unraveling of the crime make sense.
January 22, 2022
Second book in a historical murder mystery series that I wouldn't call straight-forward in terms of content/genre... but I am loving it!
Notes:
It's very gruesome (do not read whilst eating).
It's very sexist (within the context of the times but still so frustrating).
It's very elitist (again it's consistent with the times and laid bare for scrutiny but gahhhhh).
The relationships are really complicated and will make you really mad!
There isn't just one mystery.
There are LOTS of dead people.
It's hard to see how people can triumph out of a plethora of dead people (is that the same as the last point ??)
It's funny despite all of the above 😂
That is all!
Notes:
It's very gruesome (do not read whilst eating).
It's very sexist (within the context of the times but still so frustrating).
It's very elitist (again it's consistent with the times and laid bare for scrutiny but gahhhhh).
The relationships are really complicated and will make you really mad!
There isn't just one mystery.
There are LOTS of dead people.
It's hard to see how people can triumph out of a plethora of dead people (is that the same as the last point ??)
It's funny despite all of the above 😂
That is all!
December 26, 2025
Secondo capitolo dei gialli di Gower Street, è una lettura piacevole, la soluzione del mistero non è scontata, anzi, fino alla fine sei convinto di sapere chi sia il colpevole...solo leggendo gli ultimi capitoli ti viene il dubbio che quello che pensi di aver capito finora è (quasi) del tutto sbagliato e che qualcosa non torna ancora.
Molto divertenti – a tratti esilaranti – i dialoghi tra Sidney e March, lei che lo punzecchia continuamente, mettendo in luce le sue ridigità e la sua ottusa mentalità ottocentesca, lui che non si smuove di un millesimo di millimetro dalla sua convinzione di essere sempre e comunque migliore del resto dell'umanità.
***
Second novel of the mysteries of Gower Street, it is a pleasant read, the mystery's solution is not obvious, indeed, until the end you are sure you know who the culprit is ... only by reading the last chapters, you begin to doubt about your mind, you understand that you are (almost) completely wrong and that something is still missing.
Very amusing - at times hilarious - the dialogues between Sidney and March, she who teases him continuously, highlighting his rigidity and his dull nineteenth-century mentality, he who does not move a thousandth of a millimeter from his conviction of being always and forever better than the rest of humanity.
Molto divertenti – a tratti esilaranti – i dialoghi tra Sidney e March, lei che lo punzecchia continuamente, mettendo in luce le sue ridigità e la sua ottusa mentalità ottocentesca, lui che non si smuove di un millesimo di millimetro dalla sua convinzione di essere sempre e comunque migliore del resto dell'umanità.
***
Second novel of the mysteries of Gower Street, it is a pleasant read, the mystery's solution is not obvious, indeed, until the end you are sure you know who the culprit is ... only by reading the last chapters, you begin to doubt about your mind, you understand that you are (almost) completely wrong and that something is still missing.
Very amusing - at times hilarious - the dialogues between Sidney and March, she who teases him continuously, highlighting his rigidity and his dull nineteenth-century mentality, he who does not move a thousandth of a millimeter from his conviction of being always and forever better than the rest of humanity.
December 19, 2016
March Middleton is a wonderful character. She drinks, smokes, cares about animal rights, has opinions, wants the vote and, most damming of all for a young Victoria lady, wants to be a Personal Detective.
This second book of the series is darker than the first and a lot more of her backstory is revealed. I found it enjoyable and somewhat humorous but there were fewer comic exchanges between March and her guardian, the famed Detective Sidney Grice, than in the previous book.
The story closes with a very unexpected twist to the plot.
This second book of the series is darker than the first and a lot more of her backstory is revealed. I found it enjoyable and somewhat humorous but there were fewer comic exchanges between March and her guardian, the famed Detective Sidney Grice, than in the previous book.
The story closes with a very unexpected twist to the plot.
May 24, 2015
Once again we're back with Grice and Middleton, though how she manages to stop herself strangling him I don't know.
This time Grice is investigating a murder in his own home, mainly to prevent him from being accused.
Fun read with a few good twists, some characters you can despise and March.
This time Grice is investigating a murder in his own home, mainly to prevent him from being accused.
Fun read with a few good twists, some characters you can despise and March.
June 27, 2019
Der erste Band hatte mich ja schon positiv überrascht, der zweite hier hat mich dann regelrecht begeistert :D
Wir sind im London des Jahres 1882 unterwegs und folgen March Middleton, die ihren detektivischen Einsatz mit ihrem Vormund Sidney Grice zusammen verfolgt. Eine winzige Spur erinnern die beiden an Sherlock und Watson, denn March berichtet alles über Spuren, mutmaßliche Indizien und mögliche Täter. Sidney Grice hingegen ermittelt mithilfe der Deduktioin, wie man sie eben von Holmes kennt - und trotzdem kann man die "Pärchen" nicht miteinander vergleichen.
March ist eine starke Person, die sich in ihrer Rolle als Frau gerne über Konventionen hinwegsetzt - und durchaus auch mal eine Zigarette raucht oder ein Glas Gin trinkt, auch wenn es sich für ihren Stand nicht gehört. Vor allem hat sie ein schlagkräftiges Mundwerk, mit dem sie sich sehr gut zu helfen weiß.
Sie scheint keine rechte Schönheit zu sein, was ihr auch immer wieder recht uncharmant ins Gesicht gesagt wird, doch sie hat damit kein großes Problem und weiß sich sehr gut zu wehren.
Sidney Grice hat in seinem Mündel einen perfekten Gegenpart gefunden, denn er ist für seine Spitzfindigkeit bekannt, die oftmals auch in grobe Beleidigungen münden. Sein Kredo ist Wahrheit, egal wie verletzend oder unpassend sie eingesetzt wird, und das schnöde Geld. Man kann ihn tatsächlich geizig nennen und die Verstorbenen, deren Schicksal er aufzuklären erhofft, interessieren ihn nur hinsichtlich der Entdeckung der Fakten und der möglichen Belohnung.
Allerdings, wie es meist bei so hartherzig wirkenden Menschen der Fall ist, steckt auch in ihm ein weicher Kern, doch er tut alles, damit ihn auch ja keiner entdeckt.
March allerdings konnte ab und an schon einen Blick hinter seine Fassade erhaschen und da sie auf ihn angewiesen ist hat sie gelernt, mit ihm zurecht zu kommen.
Der Schlagabtausch zwischen den beiden ist einfach genial. Ironie und trockener Humor prägen ihre Gespräche und es macht unheimlich viel Spaß, das beim Lesen mitzuerleben.
Die Handlung ist dieses Mal sehr komplex durch die vielen Beteiligten, aber man kommt gut mit, auch wenn es zackig vorangeht. Der Schreibstil wirkt wirklich energisch, denn es gibt keine ruhigen Phasen zwischendurch sondern es geht unermüdlich vorwärts. Auch die kurzen Kapitel unterstützen das Tempo und die Seiten fliegen beim Lesen nur so dahin.
Ich finde es auch sehr schön an die damalige Zeit angepasst und es gibt viele eingestreute Details über das öffentliche Leben, die Klassengesellschaft, die Umgangsformen und viele Überzeugungen wie das Frauenwahlrecht oder die ärztliche Versorgung, die ein sehr anschauliches Bild transportieren. Ich hab mich jedenfalls direkt in die Vergangenheit versetzt gefühlt und war immer mittendrin im Geschehen.
Man erfährt auch durch die zwischendurch eingeworfenen Gedanken von March zu ihrem früheren Geliebten Edward mehr über das schlimme Schicksal, dass die beiden auseinandergebracht hat - wie auch schon im ersten Teil. Marchs Rolle und ihre verhängnisvollen Entscheidungen werden dadurch immer deutlicher.
Die Auflösung war überraschend, auch wenn ich dann am Ende kurz davor schon auf die Lösung gekommen bin - und es wird keine Frage offen gelassen. Allerdings gibt es noch einen fiesen Cliffhanger ganz am Ende, der mich super neugierig auf die Fortsetzung gemacht hat.
Weltenwanderer
Wir sind im London des Jahres 1882 unterwegs und folgen March Middleton, die ihren detektivischen Einsatz mit ihrem Vormund Sidney Grice zusammen verfolgt. Eine winzige Spur erinnern die beiden an Sherlock und Watson, denn March berichtet alles über Spuren, mutmaßliche Indizien und mögliche Täter. Sidney Grice hingegen ermittelt mithilfe der Deduktioin, wie man sie eben von Holmes kennt - und trotzdem kann man die "Pärchen" nicht miteinander vergleichen.
March ist eine starke Person, die sich in ihrer Rolle als Frau gerne über Konventionen hinwegsetzt - und durchaus auch mal eine Zigarette raucht oder ein Glas Gin trinkt, auch wenn es sich für ihren Stand nicht gehört. Vor allem hat sie ein schlagkräftiges Mundwerk, mit dem sie sich sehr gut zu helfen weiß.
Sie scheint keine rechte Schönheit zu sein, was ihr auch immer wieder recht uncharmant ins Gesicht gesagt wird, doch sie hat damit kein großes Problem und weiß sich sehr gut zu wehren.
Sidney Grice hat in seinem Mündel einen perfekten Gegenpart gefunden, denn er ist für seine Spitzfindigkeit bekannt, die oftmals auch in grobe Beleidigungen münden. Sein Kredo ist Wahrheit, egal wie verletzend oder unpassend sie eingesetzt wird, und das schnöde Geld. Man kann ihn tatsächlich geizig nennen und die Verstorbenen, deren Schicksal er aufzuklären erhofft, interessieren ihn nur hinsichtlich der Entdeckung der Fakten und der möglichen Belohnung.
Allerdings, wie es meist bei so hartherzig wirkenden Menschen der Fall ist, steckt auch in ihm ein weicher Kern, doch er tut alles, damit ihn auch ja keiner entdeckt.
March allerdings konnte ab und an schon einen Blick hinter seine Fassade erhaschen und da sie auf ihn angewiesen ist hat sie gelernt, mit ihm zurecht zu kommen.
Der Schlagabtausch zwischen den beiden ist einfach genial. Ironie und trockener Humor prägen ihre Gespräche und es macht unheimlich viel Spaß, das beim Lesen mitzuerleben.
Die Handlung ist dieses Mal sehr komplex durch die vielen Beteiligten, aber man kommt gut mit, auch wenn es zackig vorangeht. Der Schreibstil wirkt wirklich energisch, denn es gibt keine ruhigen Phasen zwischendurch sondern es geht unermüdlich vorwärts. Auch die kurzen Kapitel unterstützen das Tempo und die Seiten fliegen beim Lesen nur so dahin.
Ich finde es auch sehr schön an die damalige Zeit angepasst und es gibt viele eingestreute Details über das öffentliche Leben, die Klassengesellschaft, die Umgangsformen und viele Überzeugungen wie das Frauenwahlrecht oder die ärztliche Versorgung, die ein sehr anschauliches Bild transportieren. Ich hab mich jedenfalls direkt in die Vergangenheit versetzt gefühlt und war immer mittendrin im Geschehen.
Man erfährt auch durch die zwischendurch eingeworfenen Gedanken von March zu ihrem früheren Geliebten Edward mehr über das schlimme Schicksal, dass die beiden auseinandergebracht hat - wie auch schon im ersten Teil. Marchs Rolle und ihre verhängnisvollen Entscheidungen werden dadurch immer deutlicher.
Die Auflösung war überraschend, auch wenn ich dann am Ende kurz davor schon auf die Lösung gekommen bin - und es wird keine Frage offen gelassen. Allerdings gibt es noch einen fiesen Cliffhanger ganz am Ende, der mich super neugierig auf die Fortsetzung gemacht hat.
Weltenwanderer
June 23, 2014
The Curse of the House of Foskett – Bang on!
Welcome back to the grumpiest yet best personal detective of the Victorian era, Sidney Grice, along with his ward March Middleton. The Curse of the House of Foskett is the brilliant follow up to his hit debut The Mangle Street Murders. MRC Kasasian has created and continued with the most delightful new crime duo who are rapidly becoming cult heroes amongst crime readers.
Once again the plot is sharp yet funny and fresh with March being the ‘straight man’ to Grice’s comedic lead while getting the job done. Once again Kasasian has shown that he is comfortable writing historical crime fiction with wonderful and evocative prose bringing every page alive placing you in the midst of the story.
Grice’s reputation has been dashed by his previous case and the national press are making him a laughing stock and people do not wish to employ him. It is not until a member of a Final Death Society, turns up unannounced and tells him he is being employed to investigate the deaths of all its members. Then he has the temerity to die on his study floor which draws Grice and Middleton in, especially when he learns one of the Society’s members is Baroness Foskett someone Grice has respected and known personally since childhood.
As the bodies start to pile up across London Grice wants to protect the Baroness at all costs, but she is having none of it. Her son Rupert had once been a close friend of Grice’s and he will do whatever he can to protect her. While all around Grice murder continues he slowly puts together the clues to reveal at the end who is the murderer.
Kasasian prose is so descriptive and evocative you can see the smog and the smells of the docks on the Thames. You can hear the hustle and bustle of Victorian London with the horses on the cobbles, not only their hooves but the rose growing presents they leave. The street urchins running around everyone a target, really a case of; “the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate”.
Once again Kasasian has written a winning historical crime novel which can be enjoyed time and time again. With a sneaking jealousy of how Grice treats people and the wish that you could do it too and live to tell the tale. With this novel the cult of Sidney Grice and March Middleton will continue to grow.
Welcome back to the grumpiest yet best personal detective of the Victorian era, Sidney Grice, along with his ward March Middleton. The Curse of the House of Foskett is the brilliant follow up to his hit debut The Mangle Street Murders. MRC Kasasian has created and continued with the most delightful new crime duo who are rapidly becoming cult heroes amongst crime readers.
Once again the plot is sharp yet funny and fresh with March being the ‘straight man’ to Grice’s comedic lead while getting the job done. Once again Kasasian has shown that he is comfortable writing historical crime fiction with wonderful and evocative prose bringing every page alive placing you in the midst of the story.
Grice’s reputation has been dashed by his previous case and the national press are making him a laughing stock and people do not wish to employ him. It is not until a member of a Final Death Society, turns up unannounced and tells him he is being employed to investigate the deaths of all its members. Then he has the temerity to die on his study floor which draws Grice and Middleton in, especially when he learns one of the Society’s members is Baroness Foskett someone Grice has respected and known personally since childhood.
As the bodies start to pile up across London Grice wants to protect the Baroness at all costs, but she is having none of it. Her son Rupert had once been a close friend of Grice’s and he will do whatever he can to protect her. While all around Grice murder continues he slowly puts together the clues to reveal at the end who is the murderer.
Kasasian prose is so descriptive and evocative you can see the smog and the smells of the docks on the Thames. You can hear the hustle and bustle of Victorian London with the horses on the cobbles, not only their hooves but the rose growing presents they leave. The street urchins running around everyone a target, really a case of; “the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate”.
Once again Kasasian has written a winning historical crime novel which can be enjoyed time and time again. With a sneaking jealousy of how Grice treats people and the wish that you could do it too and live to tell the tale. With this novel the cult of Sidney Grice and March Middleton will continue to grow.
October 1, 2021
Some of the premises of this mystery was confusing to me but I like how the author continued some of the consequences from the last book. I like how influential the last murder has on this story and the characters' lives and their actions and their interactions with society have on this murder and how it was solved.
May 9, 2021
2,5
Ciò che ho maggiormente apprezzato di questo libro sono state le interazioni tra il personaggio di Miss Middleton e quello di Mr. Grice, il carattere di quest'ultimo, nonché tutta la parte relativa .
Purtroppo ciò che mi ha delusa è stato ciò che dovrebbe essere il punto forte di un'opera di questo genere: la risoluzione del caso. Infatti, nonostante il libro sia ricco di omicidi, l'indagine che li accompagna lascia molto a desiderare, a tal punto che la conclusione non sembra essere sopportata da sufficienti indizi precedenti. Ciò comporta anche il fatto che il lettore, invece di vedere i progressi dell'indagine un po' alla volta, si debba invece sorbire interi capitoli finali nei quali Mr. Grice ricostruisce, insieme a March, gli avvenimenti che hanno avuto luogo e che hanno portato all'uccisione di tutte le varie vittime.
Ciò che ho maggiormente apprezzato di questo libro sono state le interazioni tra il personaggio di Miss Middleton e quello di Mr. Grice, il carattere di quest'ultimo, nonché tutta la parte relativa .
Purtroppo ciò che mi ha delusa è stato ciò che dovrebbe essere il punto forte di un'opera di questo genere: la risoluzione del caso. Infatti, nonostante il libro sia ricco di omicidi, l'indagine che li accompagna lascia molto a desiderare, a tal punto che la conclusione non sembra essere sopportata da sufficienti indizi precedenti. Ciò comporta anche il fatto che il lettore, invece di vedere i progressi dell'indagine un po' alla volta, si debba invece sorbire interi capitoli finali nei quali Mr. Grice ricostruisce, insieme a March, gli avvenimenti che hanno avuto luogo e che hanno portato all'uccisione di tutte le varie vittime.
June 18, 2022
Ambientazione simile a quelle di Sherlock Holmes, solo che stavolta il buon Watson è sostituito da una ragazza. Secondo di una serie, sono però riuscita a leggerlo tranquillamente pur non avendo letto il primo.
Non raggiunge ovviamente le vette di intreccio di sir Arthur Conan Doyle, ma non mi è dispiaciuto. Forse un poco raffazzonato il finale
Non raggiunge ovviamente le vette di intreccio di sir Arthur Conan Doyle, ma non mi è dispiaciuto. Forse un poco raffazzonato il finale
September 24, 2015
Once, when we were sitting by that fireplace, I asked my father if he resented me for killing his wife and he told me that he had 'for fully two minutes until I saw you - a scrunched-up magenta monster struggling to get out of your swaddling - and then what could I do but love you?'
Sidney Grice is growing on me. He’s still a detestable man and he still needs heaps of character development (come on! It’s been two books!!) but I was less inclined to want to quit reading during this book.
Again, this book suffers from having a Brilliant Detective™ because there is no way anyone else could have connected the dots to come up with the actual murderer. There were pretty much no clues whatsoever as to who they were and it is so frustrating. Maybe I should just go for guessing it’s the ones . That the murderer just so happened to be was a bit iffy I thought. Oh well, at least that shouldn’t happen in book 3 (fingers crossed).
Once again, March was great, especially against Inspector Quigley (who is way worse than Inspector Pound with misogyny). Although, I don’t understand the fascination of other characters asking if she’s ever been kissed. It’s happened three times in two books: Harriet (on the train, first meeting…… kinda creepy, no?), Dorna, and Inspector Pound (sorry, but when did they get close? Was it the stint in hospital that did it? Or did it happen between books?). It’s just a bit strange, honestly.
Sidney Grice still pisses me off no end, but there were one or two signs of kindness towards March (either that’s some actual character development or it is as he explained it, not wanting people to think he didn’t look after his ward). Other than that he was as objectionable as ever, but judging from the synopsis of book three he may be on the verge of getting some sort of comeuppance or humiliation (*rubs hands in glee*).
I think this book was possibly better than the first, but it wasn’t so good that I’d give it 4 stars. I’m hoping the next one improves on that.
February 8, 2015
This was okay, I liked some of the characters and the time period of Victorian London is always a favorite, however, the main character was so cranky and rude that it got old after the first couple of chapters. I know that was supposed to be his schtick, but when essentially every line he speaks to his ward is demeaning, it just wore on me. There were also so many characters deaths to keep track of and the culprit seemed a little obvious. I did like the storyline with the Inspector and March and was intrigued by the little cliffhanger at the end, but I don't think it would be enough to read the next book. Also, the guy that killed the cats was just too much yuck for me.
March 27, 2017
The second book featuring personal (not private!) detective Sidney Grice and his ward March Middleton is very much a piece with the first. Humor (usually involving Sidney's glass eye, the atrocious food, Molly the maid) and gruesome death (rendered in a bit too much detail at times) are woven together, sometimes uneasily.
The blurb sets the stage: Sidney is hired by this Final Death Society to investigate the death of each member as it occurs--as each member assumes each other member may resort to murder in order to be the last person standing (and thus 'win' all the money). As the members start dying (each in a tortuous manner), it is clear that the murderer is doing his/her best to discredit Grice as well as be the sole survivor.
Warning: to all cat lovers--there is on page deliberate death to cats in this book. Not for the faint of heart.
The 'whodunnit' is very twisty and I am not sure I really bought the villain's motivation. However, the identity of the villain made sense. The villain also manages to drop a bombshell on March, as villains are wont to do.
March is very much a part of the story; smoking her cigarettes, drinking her gin and offering sage observations, when she isn't getting into trouble. Inspector Pound nearly comes to a bad end, but March manages to save his life. Could there be a bit of romance be brewing?
One final note: The names of many of the secondary characters are very Dickensian. I was especially fond of the newspaperman, Waterloo Trafalgar Agincourt Trumpington, whose friends call him 'Traf'. I was less fond of Mr Piggety, whose name suited him perfectly.
I think I will take a break before I read the next book. Sidney Grice is best in small doses, spread out over time.
The blurb sets the stage: Sidney is hired by this Final Death Society to investigate the death of each member as it occurs--as each member assumes each other member may resort to murder in order to be the last person standing (and thus 'win' all the money). As the members start dying (each in a tortuous manner), it is clear that the murderer is doing his/her best to discredit Grice as well as be the sole survivor.
Warning: to all cat lovers--there is on page deliberate death to cats in this book. Not for the faint of heart.
The 'whodunnit' is very twisty and I am not sure I really bought the villain's motivation. However, the identity of the villain made sense. The villain also manages to drop a bombshell on March, as villains are wont to do.
March is very much a part of the story; smoking her cigarettes, drinking her gin and offering sage observations, when she isn't getting into trouble. Inspector Pound nearly comes to a bad end, but March manages to save his life. Could there be a bit of romance be brewing?
One final note: The names of many of the secondary characters are very Dickensian. I was especially fond of the newspaperman, Waterloo Trafalgar Agincourt Trumpington, whose friends call him 'Traf'. I was less fond of Mr Piggety, whose name suited him perfectly.
I think I will take a break before I read the next book. Sidney Grice is best in small doses, spread out over time.
September 19, 2023
The Curse of the House of Foskett by MRC Kasasian sets up outing number two with Sidney Grice, PERSONAL detective, and his young ward, March Middleton. A man comes to him as part of the Final Death Society in which the last man (or woman) standing gets a pool of funds, and said man is unwilling to perish so soon. Alas for him, he expires in Grice’s lodging, and this sets off a slew of murders where Grice and March are just a step behind the murderer—or murderers.
I really loved this outing. It has the same comedy, the same dreary city backdrop, and the murders have only increased both in volume and grisliness (a vicar is crucified in his own church!). Sidney Grice is showing signs of obvious softening and a heart somewhere beneath a tough, abrasive shell, and March is as trusting and as kind as always, furthering her connection with their Inspector friend Pound.
If I had a quibble (and boy do I) it’s that I just simply don’t understand why either of them like Berry to that extent. March talked to her only a few times and both of them knew her for a “few weeks”, yet they seem utterly taken with her and doing everything they can to help her, even to the extent of trying to make her execution as painless and quick as possible. The woman was behind countless excruciating murders, slaughtered a bunch of kittens, and tried to maim and blind March. She’s like a supervillain level of bad! I guess I just couldn’t wrap my head around the emotions of Sidney Grice and March Middleton toward her.
Can’t wait to pick up the third volume; these books have been some of my favourites that I’ve read this entire year! Can’t recommend them enough for people who love murder mysteries written firmly tongue in cheek.
I really loved this outing. It has the same comedy, the same dreary city backdrop, and the murders have only increased both in volume and grisliness (a vicar is crucified in his own church!). Sidney Grice is showing signs of obvious softening and a heart somewhere beneath a tough, abrasive shell, and March is as trusting and as kind as always, furthering her connection with their Inspector friend Pound.
If I had a quibble (and boy do I) it’s that I just simply don’t understand why either of them like Berry to that extent. March talked to her only a few times and both of them knew her for a “few weeks”, yet they seem utterly taken with her and doing everything they can to help her, even to the extent of trying to make her execution as painless and quick as possible. The woman was behind countless excruciating murders, slaughtered a bunch of kittens, and tried to maim and blind March. She’s like a supervillain level of bad! I guess I just couldn’t wrap my head around the emotions of Sidney Grice and March Middleton toward her.
Can’t wait to pick up the third volume; these books have been some of my favourites that I’ve read this entire year! Can’t recommend them enough for people who love murder mysteries written firmly tongue in cheek.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2017
Auf Instagram hatte ich mich zu Anfang noch begeistert echauffiert, man bräuchte den Vorgänger der Gower-Reihe nicht gelesen haben, um Sidney Grice und seinem Mündel March Middelton beizustehen. Jetzt, nach Beendigung des Buches, nehme ich alles zurück und behaupte das Gegenteil. Man sollte Band 1 besser gelesen haben, da auf den Vorgängerfall stark Bezug genommen wird und außerdem auch ein paar Aspekte aus Marchs Vergangenheit aufgerollt werden.
Mein Eindruck nach dem Lesen des Buches ist leider ziemlich durchwachsen. Zu Beginn fand ich die sarkastischen Wortspiele zwischen Sidney und seiner Umwelt sehr amüsant und musste auch oft schmunzeln. Doch je mehr Schlagabtausche in diesem Band vorkamen, desto "gezwungener" kamen sie mir vor und zuletzt drehte sich meiner Meinung alles mehr und mehr um zynische Possenreißer, als um den Fall selbst, der in meinen Augen auch noch sehr unoriginell war. Der Leser wird, dank Sidneys unübertrefflichem Gespür, direkt zum Mörder geführt. Für mich war das leider nichts.
Mein Fazit
Für mich ein überspitzes Detektivspiel, was zum Ende hin immer anstrengender wurde.
Mein Eindruck nach dem Lesen des Buches ist leider ziemlich durchwachsen. Zu Beginn fand ich die sarkastischen Wortspiele zwischen Sidney und seiner Umwelt sehr amüsant und musste auch oft schmunzeln. Doch je mehr Schlagabtausche in diesem Band vorkamen, desto "gezwungener" kamen sie mir vor und zuletzt drehte sich meiner Meinung alles mehr und mehr um zynische Possenreißer, als um den Fall selbst, der in meinen Augen auch noch sehr unoriginell war. Der Leser wird, dank Sidneys unübertrefflichem Gespür, direkt zum Mörder geführt. Für mich war das leider nichts.
Mein Fazit
Für mich ein überspitzes Detektivspiel, was zum Ende hin immer anstrengender wurde.
March 9, 2015
First of all: read The Mangle Street Murders first for context, otherwise you'll miss a lot here.
That having been said, this book proves a good sequel, though my fourth star includes Lindy Nettleton's awesome narration; the plot itself is really three stars, especially as there are regular flashbacks to March's time in India that detracted for me, especially in audio where they appeared almost randomly without any notice. Still, it's great to see Sidney and March's characters grow (though Sidney does his best to hide that). One of the best scenes was March (who had been raised in India) bravely facing an English dish of "curried vegetables" that bore as much relation to the original as passing off a can of Dinty Moore beef stew as "homemade Russian stroganoff."
Shocker of an ending makes the next book a Must Read!
That having been said, this book proves a good sequel, though my fourth star includes Lindy Nettleton's awesome narration; the plot itself is really three stars, especially as there are regular flashbacks to March's time in India that detracted for me, especially in audio where they appeared almost randomly without any notice. Still, it's great to see Sidney and March's characters grow (though Sidney does his best to hide that). One of the best scenes was March (who had been raised in India) bravely facing an English dish of "curried vegetables" that bore as much relation to the original as passing off a can of Dinty Moore beef stew as "homemade Russian stroganoff."
Shocker of an ending makes the next book a Must Read!
March 10, 2016
Personal detective Sidney Grice and his side kick/female ward Marge Middleton are back. Keeping with the author’s first novel in this series the murder scenes are graphic. This is a standalone story and the author is an artist at painting the picture of the time period. The plot and subplots are good. This mystery will keep you guessing as there are several suspects and the author does well with misdirection. There were many twists and diversions but it all came together really well. As with the first book in the series, this one is well worth the read. I purposely avoided too many details as to not spoil anything for the reader. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 4, 2017
The mystery itself was interesting, although unnecessarily complicated, the characters unlikable at best. and the humor not amusing. The detective, Grice, makes Sherlock Holmes appear affable and has a nasty habit of removing his prosthetic eye from its sometimes bloody socket in company. His young ward, March Middleton, makes wise cracks, smokes and drinks, puts herself at undue risk and puts up with Grice's insults. The servants in the Grice household provide "comic relief" but the slapstick nature of this, as in March's wise cracks, subtracts from the story rather than enhances it. In total, I did not find this books a very satisfying one and do not recommend it.
July 22, 2014
I've been waiting for The Curse of The House of Foskett to come out, eager to revisit the dynamic duo - personal detective Sidney Grice and his ward, the young March Middleton. And I was not disappointed. Yet again we're taken on a great ride into Victorian London and the brutality and horrors that lurk. Sidney Grice still has a love for tea and soggy vegetables and is as sharp and arrogant as ever, and March is every bit as plain, feisty and heart broken as in The Mangle Street Murders.
This time around Sidney Grice and March get involved in investigating the brutal murders of the members of the Final Death Society - a club where the last man, or woman, standing will inherit the large sums the other members has contributed to the fund. The members of the Final Death Society has as a precaution agreed that Sidney Grice is to be engaged to investigate their deaths to prevent and/or solve possible murders within the society.
When the first member dies shortly after the founding of the society, Sidney gets a visit from another member, Horatio Green, but before the visit is over Mr. Green himself has suffered a horrible death and in the process ruined the rug Sidney Grice got as a present from Napoleon III. Grice is not happy about the ruined rug or the involvement with "an association of fools with large estates and microscopic traces of common sense" but to his surprise Baroness Foskett, the mother of his childhood friend Rupert, is a member, and so he feels obliged to look into the matter. All too soon it becomes clear that despite hiring Grice, the members of the society seem to die like flies in ever more horrible ways when he and March are around, and the clues points in all directions as the bodies pile.
Again the tone is unique and quite hilarious at times, and Molly and Inspector Pound from the previous book are still around to add to the development of the characters and plot. March still writes her diary and Sidney still reads it when he sees fit, and underneath the fun lurks hints of sadness and more serious issues of loss and longing for love and family.
Thankfully the book closes with a couple of cliff hangers and unanswered questions, so I'm confident there will be at least one more book with this, despite themselves, utterly charming duo. I'm hooked.
This time around Sidney Grice and March get involved in investigating the brutal murders of the members of the Final Death Society - a club where the last man, or woman, standing will inherit the large sums the other members has contributed to the fund. The members of the Final Death Society has as a precaution agreed that Sidney Grice is to be engaged to investigate their deaths to prevent and/or solve possible murders within the society.
When the first member dies shortly after the founding of the society, Sidney gets a visit from another member, Horatio Green, but before the visit is over Mr. Green himself has suffered a horrible death and in the process ruined the rug Sidney Grice got as a present from Napoleon III. Grice is not happy about the ruined rug or the involvement with "an association of fools with large estates and microscopic traces of common sense" but to his surprise Baroness Foskett, the mother of his childhood friend Rupert, is a member, and so he feels obliged to look into the matter. All too soon it becomes clear that despite hiring Grice, the members of the society seem to die like flies in ever more horrible ways when he and March are around, and the clues points in all directions as the bodies pile.
Again the tone is unique and quite hilarious at times, and Molly and Inspector Pound from the previous book are still around to add to the development of the characters and plot. March still writes her diary and Sidney still reads it when he sees fit, and underneath the fun lurks hints of sadness and more serious issues of loss and longing for love and family.
Thankfully the book closes with a couple of cliff hangers and unanswered questions, so I'm confident there will be at least one more book with this, despite themselves, utterly charming duo. I'm hooked.
July 17, 2014
This is the second book in the Gower Street Detective series. When I see a new mystery series, particularly a Victorian one, I am keen to try it, but am often disappointed by derivative plots and cliched characters. This series so far has kept my interest and made me want more! Although the detective, Sydney Grice, is the stereotypical egotistical sleuth like Sherlock and Poirot, his little quirks and humourous speech really sets him apart. I love the relationship and banter between him and his ward, March. March is a great female character; with her own mystery in her past.
The story follows Grice and March as they try to save members of a 'death club' who each die a gruesome and brutal death, one after another. Grice quickly realises that the deaths are not only for financial gain, but it seems the murderer has a personal vendetta against Grice.
The Victorian setting is done well, and the mystery was suspenseful, I can't wait till the next book in this series comes out!
The story follows Grice and March as they try to save members of a 'death club' who each die a gruesome and brutal death, one after another. Grice quickly realises that the deaths are not only for financial gain, but it seems the murderer has a personal vendetta against Grice.
The Victorian setting is done well, and the mystery was suspenseful, I can't wait till the next book in this series comes out!
August 15, 2016
1882, return of two Victorian Personal Detectives, Sidney Grice & March Middleton. They are at a stalemate due to Grice's last case led an innocent man to the gallows. Horatio Green's untimely death in Grice's study while discussing the Final Death Society & Grice's part in investigating any members death. The curse of the Fosketts has followed male & female members of the peerage, all of them died in very strange, horrifying deaths. This "theme" continues with each death seeming even stranger than the one before! I found the 19th century verbiage sometimes extremely difficult to follow. But will be interested to see what further adventures this duo will explore, especially with the impression that Miss March will be more actively involved in the action. Want to Thank Pegasus Crime, for the chance to read & review this giveaway book.
March 31, 2019
As a lifelong owner of pets and lover of animals, this book was upsetting, disgusting, and horrific. I only got half way through before I couldn't take the scenes of animal abuse and cruelty any more. And what upset me further is that I couldn't see why the author kept putting them into the narrative! Perhaps it would have made more sense at the conclusion of the work but I couldn't keep reading. It was too much and seemingly unnecessary. This novel was extremely disappointing. I had enjoyed the first one very much and couldn't wait to start the second but it was a massive letdown.
January 22, 2019
Entertaining, cerebral detective, maybe autistic, maybe just a curmudgeon. Might be interesting to read another to watch the personality of the female side kick.
June 28, 2014
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
Last year I read MRC Kasasian’s first book in in The Gower Street Detective The Mangle Street Murders and I thoroughly enjoyed that book. During that time I had read quite a few detective books, most of them Sherlock Holmes, and found The Mangle Street Murders a great variation on the traditional Sherlock Holmes books. Though The Gower Street Detective features a similar detective duo, there is enough difference compared to Sherlock and Watson. The one thing that struck me most about the first book in the series is that Sidney Grice, how smart he may be, wasn’t able to solve his case on time for the authorities and an innocent man was send to prison. This is one of those things that I hadn’t read before a detective not able to solve the case and gave a nice twist in the end and made the story in all that much more gripping, because it doesn’t all ways end with a happily ever after…
The story of The Curse of the House of Foskett picks up a short while after the events of The Mangled Street Murders. Sidney Grice who in The Mangled Street Murders wasn’t able to save his man from being sent to prison, is suffering badly from it. He is clinging to this failure big time and just can’t seem to let hit go, he doesn’t let his failure down easily. And being so strict for himself he is slowly faltering away neglecting himself and his ward March Middleton as well. Added this comes the fact that nobody wants to hire Sidney any longer since he failed miserably… But just as when it seems that Sidney has reached the all time low, he gets one very special job offer from one of the members of the Final Death Society. One involving murders… lots of them and unexplainable ones… Sidney being still in a heavy depression and doesn’t feel like really undertaking anything is somehow intrigued when one and one doesn’t add up to two, like the person requesting for his help, who suddenly dies during their conversation, Sidney is interest is piqued and his mood rejuvenated and takes on this investigation. I was impressed with the story that MRC Kasasian wrote in The Mangled Street Murders but even more impressed with what I got to read in The Curse of the House of Foskett, again the plot is a slowburner but none the less very interesting and it is just what such a detective needs. As Sidney makes his inquiries with several persons of the Last Death Society and several of their friends/dentist/physician everything becomes weirder and weirder and actually unexplainable. A tight plot is woven from the start that expands and expands as the story progresses, some of the characters that you meet up might all have a motive… but the who, who actually did it… well you will be left guessing in the end. It was an engaging story to read, well executed and very, very clever.
In The Mangled Street Murders MRC Kasasian introduced his own detective duo, Sidney Grice the ever clever, sharp minded and witty detective and his ward March Middleton, a young women having come overseas to look after Sidney. From their first introductions I was a big fan of both. And we see their characters shine once more in The Curse of the House of Foskett. Sidney though struck by his failure, once rejuvenated and back on the case he is his old self once again, making those sharp comments that have a tendency to really cut. But he also has this sort of boisterous humorous air around him, where some people only see the negative sides, Sidney always tries to see the positive side in most of the situations. March Middleton is a direct opposite pole of Sidney, where Sidney likes to act in the spur of the moment, March is much more resolved, however she also has something of competiveness inside her. She is a a women who wants to break free from the Victorian “rules” set for men and women. She wants to be a detective of her own, and working with the best in town, she can cleverly watch and learn. But she isn’t one who keeps always to herself, it great to see her character shine when she speaks her mind. Added to the main protagonists of the series, MRC Kasasian also introduces some mysterious characters of the Final Death Society, they definitely have their own oddities that readily set them apart from the others also some add a certain macabre tint to the story that is just spot on in the Victorian inspired setting.
One thing where The Curse of the House of Fosket gets a great pacing from the writing style and narration that MRC Kasasian uses. The book follows the point of view from March Middleton in the first person perspective, this is somewhat similar to Watson’s in the Sherlock books, following indirect the mind of a detective, and especially that of Sidney Grice is a lot of fun to read about because you can both the admiration and frustrations that Sidney Grice causes. Added to this comes interludes that feature of March’s troubled past, though the focus is on Sidney the indirect focus on March adds great flavour to the whole of the story. And to top it all off, the descriptions of the Victorian London that MRC Kasasian uses in his story is explained in a colourful yet dark strokes.
With The Curse of the House of Foskett, MRC Kasasian has lived up to his debut The Mangled Street Murders. This sequel has everything and much much more than I dared to imagine. He shows that his enigmatic detective duo Sidney Grice and March Middleton is here to stay. Detectives comes in many forms and shapes and for me the Victorian setting is one that lends itself the best for such a setting, and MRC Kasasian shows his vision on the Victorian age in many different colors from the bright happy times to the dark ones. There are plenty of humorous times but also some more macabre settings. The ending of The Curse of the House of Foskett is interesting to say the least. There is a definite eye opener right there and will undoubtedly lead to one interesting third book.
Last year I read MRC Kasasian’s first book in in The Gower Street Detective The Mangle Street Murders and I thoroughly enjoyed that book. During that time I had read quite a few detective books, most of them Sherlock Holmes, and found The Mangle Street Murders a great variation on the traditional Sherlock Holmes books. Though The Gower Street Detective features a similar detective duo, there is enough difference compared to Sherlock and Watson. The one thing that struck me most about the first book in the series is that Sidney Grice, how smart he may be, wasn’t able to solve his case on time for the authorities and an innocent man was send to prison. This is one of those things that I hadn’t read before a detective not able to solve the case and gave a nice twist in the end and made the story in all that much more gripping, because it doesn’t all ways end with a happily ever after…
The story of The Curse of the House of Foskett picks up a short while after the events of The Mangled Street Murders. Sidney Grice who in The Mangled Street Murders wasn’t able to save his man from being sent to prison, is suffering badly from it. He is clinging to this failure big time and just can’t seem to let hit go, he doesn’t let his failure down easily. And being so strict for himself he is slowly faltering away neglecting himself and his ward March Middleton as well. Added this comes the fact that nobody wants to hire Sidney any longer since he failed miserably… But just as when it seems that Sidney has reached the all time low, he gets one very special job offer from one of the members of the Final Death Society. One involving murders… lots of them and unexplainable ones… Sidney being still in a heavy depression and doesn’t feel like really undertaking anything is somehow intrigued when one and one doesn’t add up to two, like the person requesting for his help, who suddenly dies during their conversation, Sidney is interest is piqued and his mood rejuvenated and takes on this investigation. I was impressed with the story that MRC Kasasian wrote in The Mangled Street Murders but even more impressed with what I got to read in The Curse of the House of Foskett, again the plot is a slowburner but none the less very interesting and it is just what such a detective needs. As Sidney makes his inquiries with several persons of the Last Death Society and several of their friends/dentist/physician everything becomes weirder and weirder and actually unexplainable. A tight plot is woven from the start that expands and expands as the story progresses, some of the characters that you meet up might all have a motive… but the who, who actually did it… well you will be left guessing in the end. It was an engaging story to read, well executed and very, very clever.
In The Mangled Street Murders MRC Kasasian introduced his own detective duo, Sidney Grice the ever clever, sharp minded and witty detective and his ward March Middleton, a young women having come overseas to look after Sidney. From their first introductions I was a big fan of both. And we see their characters shine once more in The Curse of the House of Foskett. Sidney though struck by his failure, once rejuvenated and back on the case he is his old self once again, making those sharp comments that have a tendency to really cut. But he also has this sort of boisterous humorous air around him, where some people only see the negative sides, Sidney always tries to see the positive side in most of the situations. March Middleton is a direct opposite pole of Sidney, where Sidney likes to act in the spur of the moment, March is much more resolved, however she also has something of competiveness inside her. She is a a women who wants to break free from the Victorian “rules” set for men and women. She wants to be a detective of her own, and working with the best in town, she can cleverly watch and learn. But she isn’t one who keeps always to herself, it great to see her character shine when she speaks her mind. Added to the main protagonists of the series, MRC Kasasian also introduces some mysterious characters of the Final Death Society, they definitely have their own oddities that readily set them apart from the others also some add a certain macabre tint to the story that is just spot on in the Victorian inspired setting.
One thing where The Curse of the House of Fosket gets a great pacing from the writing style and narration that MRC Kasasian uses. The book follows the point of view from March Middleton in the first person perspective, this is somewhat similar to Watson’s in the Sherlock books, following indirect the mind of a detective, and especially that of Sidney Grice is a lot of fun to read about because you can both the admiration and frustrations that Sidney Grice causes. Added to this comes interludes that feature of March’s troubled past, though the focus is on Sidney the indirect focus on March adds great flavour to the whole of the story. And to top it all off, the descriptions of the Victorian London that MRC Kasasian uses in his story is explained in a colourful yet dark strokes.
With The Curse of the House of Foskett, MRC Kasasian has lived up to his debut The Mangled Street Murders. This sequel has everything and much much more than I dared to imagine. He shows that his enigmatic detective duo Sidney Grice and March Middleton is here to stay. Detectives comes in many forms and shapes and for me the Victorian setting is one that lends itself the best for such a setting, and MRC Kasasian shows his vision on the Victorian age in many different colors from the bright happy times to the dark ones. There are plenty of humorous times but also some more macabre settings. The ending of The Curse of the House of Foskett is interesting to say the least. There is a definite eye opener right there and will undoubtedly lead to one interesting third book.
April 13, 2018
Recensione completa sul blog Librintavola
Molti sono i pregi di questo giallo ambientato alla fine del 1800 e sicuramente l’ironia è la parte migliore del romanzo. In un epoca dove le donne sono considerate poco più che dei soprammobili March Middleton – ma non è l’unica – si distingue per intelligenza, spirito d’iniziativa e acume.
La storia è ricchissima di particolari e personaggi inusuali che ne rendono la lettura davvero coinvolgente. Ci troviamo al cospetto di un ingegnoso agente della scientifica che non esita a sperimentare, toccare e fare, sempre con un piglio freddo e determinato, spesso messo un po’ in ridicolo da questa ragazza che mi aveva già conquistata nel precedente volume, ma che adesso brilla ancor di più.
La narrazione è fluida e come vi dicevo molto divertente, ma come accaduto la scorsa volta, nel finale avrei preferito qualcosa di più semplice e lineare, un po’ meno ingarbugliato insomma.
A parte questo piccolo appunto, il romanzo mi ha davvero coinvolta sia a livello emotivo, mai visto un Sidney Grice così turbato, che a livello di ingegno proprio perchè finemente strutturato.
Stavolta devo solo far attenzione a non far passare troppo tempo con la prossima avventura di March e Mr G.!
Molti sono i pregi di questo giallo ambientato alla fine del 1800 e sicuramente l’ironia è la parte migliore del romanzo. In un epoca dove le donne sono considerate poco più che dei soprammobili March Middleton – ma non è l’unica – si distingue per intelligenza, spirito d’iniziativa e acume.
La storia è ricchissima di particolari e personaggi inusuali che ne rendono la lettura davvero coinvolgente. Ci troviamo al cospetto di un ingegnoso agente della scientifica che non esita a sperimentare, toccare e fare, sempre con un piglio freddo e determinato, spesso messo un po’ in ridicolo da questa ragazza che mi aveva già conquistata nel precedente volume, ma che adesso brilla ancor di più.
La narrazione è fluida e come vi dicevo molto divertente, ma come accaduto la scorsa volta, nel finale avrei preferito qualcosa di più semplice e lineare, un po’ meno ingarbugliato insomma.
A parte questo piccolo appunto, il romanzo mi ha davvero coinvolta sia a livello emotivo, mai visto un Sidney Grice così turbato, che a livello di ingegno proprio perchè finemente strutturato.
Stavolta devo solo far attenzione a non far passare troppo tempo con la prossima avventura di March e Mr G.!
May 26, 2020
I had enjoyed the first book in the series, and believed I had found a new favourite character to add to my hoard in March, but feared that it may have been a one-off. I don't often find that book series hold their quality as they progress, but having now finished this sequel I can firmly say that this series is great, and I do indeed absolutely love March Middleton. She is intelligent and sharp-witted, and a perfect match for Sidney Grice, who is a brilliant personal detective but also an absolute grade A arsehole.
The cases that Sidney Grice and March work on together are always interesting and detailed, but the real joy of these books is the relationships between the characters and their often hilarious dialogue.
The cases that Sidney Grice and March work on together are always interesting and detailed, but the real joy of these books is the relationships between the characters and their often hilarious dialogue.
July 14, 2021
In the beginning, I almost hated this book. It's a pretty obvious rip-off on Sherlock Holmes except that the detective is much more impolite, and far less clever. He is very rude to his younger "ward," named March. March is a far more interesting character than the male detective, Sidney Grice.
I hated the book less as Grice got a bit more pleasant, and the book also started to focus on March Middleton more. Her backstory was more interesting, and if the author either: 1. ditched the male detective completely, or 2. made him less rude, or 3. focused significantly more on the female character, March, I might possibly read another book when I have lots of spare time.
Overall, though, I would say that there are far better "light" detective novels to read.
I hated the book less as Grice got a bit more pleasant, and the book also started to focus on March Middleton more. Her backstory was more interesting, and if the author either: 1. ditched the male detective completely, or 2. made him less rude, or 3. focused significantly more on the female character, March, I might possibly read another book when I have lots of spare time.
Overall, though, I would say that there are far better "light" detective novels to read.
March 23, 2021
Second in the series, but these books can be read in whichever order the cases are contained to one book and the overarching connection does not overpower the individual books.
Sidney Gryce, private detective, and March Middleton, his ward, are at it again.
This series is great for anyone who loves a combination of historical fiction and mystery. The setting in Victorian London is marvelously done.
I love the way the main characters converse with each other. I absolutely enjoy the witty banter and the author's great attention to detail. The author describes the scenes so graphically you can easily picture the Victorian settings.
There are quite a few murders and they are gruesome but the witty dialogue between the main characters takes away from the gruesome details and provides comic relief. There are so many unexpected twists in the plot you just have to see how it ends.
Sidney Gryce, private detective, and March Middleton, his ward, are at it again.
This series is great for anyone who loves a combination of historical fiction and mystery. The setting in Victorian London is marvelously done.
I love the way the main characters converse with each other. I absolutely enjoy the witty banter and the author's great attention to detail. The author describes the scenes so graphically you can easily picture the Victorian settings.
There are quite a few murders and they are gruesome but the witty dialogue between the main characters takes away from the gruesome details and provides comic relief. There are so many unexpected twists in the plot you just have to see how it ends.
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