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Mysterious Devices #1
The Bride Wore Constant White
Book one of the Mysterious Devices series of clockwork cozies set in the Magnificent Devices world!
A bride in search of safety. Young ladies in search of their father. A man in search of self-respect. But in the Wild West, you always find more than you’re looking for...
Margrethe Amelia Linden (Daisy to her friends) is a young woman of gentle upbringing, some talent as a watercolorist, and firm opinions that often get her into trouble. Determined to find her missing father, in the summer of 1895 she sets out for the last place he was seen: the Wild West. It’s a rude shock when her younger sister stows away on the airship—such behavior no doubt the result of her unsuitable friendship with Maggie Polgarth and the Carrick House set.
On the journey, friendship blooms between Daisy and Miss Emma Makepeace, who is traveling to the Texican Territories as a mail-order bride. When Emma begs the girls to delay their search by a day or two in order to stand with her at the altar, Daisy is delighted to accept.
But the wedding day dawns on a dreadful discovery. Within hours the Texican Rangers have their man—but even in her grief, Daisy is convinced he cannot have killed her friend. She must right this terrible mistake before he hangs ... and before the real culprit realizes that two very observant young ladies are not going to allow him to get away with murder ...
A bride in search of safety. Young ladies in search of their father. A man in search of self-respect. But in the Wild West, you always find more than you’re looking for...
Margrethe Amelia Linden (Daisy to her friends) is a young woman of gentle upbringing, some talent as a watercolorist, and firm opinions that often get her into trouble. Determined to find her missing father, in the summer of 1895 she sets out for the last place he was seen: the Wild West. It’s a rude shock when her younger sister stows away on the airship—such behavior no doubt the result of her unsuitable friendship with Maggie Polgarth and the Carrick House set.
On the journey, friendship blooms between Daisy and Miss Emma Makepeace, who is traveling to the Texican Territories as a mail-order bride. When Emma begs the girls to delay their search by a day or two in order to stand with her at the altar, Daisy is delighted to accept.
But the wedding day dawns on a dreadful discovery. Within hours the Texican Rangers have their man—but even in her grief, Daisy is convinced he cannot have killed her friend. She must right this terrible mistake before he hangs ... and before the real culprit realizes that two very observant young ladies are not going to allow him to get away with murder ...
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2018
About the author
Shelley Adina
91 books628 followersShelley Adina is the author of 24 novels published by Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette, and a dozen more published by Moonshell Books, Inc., her own independent press. She writes steampunk and contemporary romance as Shelley Adina, and as Adina Senft, writes Amish women’s fiction. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. She won RWA’s RITA Award® in 2005, and was a finalist in 2006. When she’s not writing, Shelley is usually quilting, sewing historical costumes, or hanging out in the garden with her flock of rescued chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 22, 2018
I just adore this series and the ones that lead up to it!
Yes, in the beginning some of the writing was clunky. Yes, some of the plots are admittedly just corny or trite. But the author gets better and better with every book and the characters have been wonderful from the very beginning. And what a refreshing thing to have powerful women running the plots, enjoying the partnership of men, but not being helpless and dependent on them and-for heaven sake!-Not always babbling on about the virtues of the male of the species. Fun plots, wonderful characters, and just fantastic imagination! I will read everything this author writes forever.
Yes, in the beginning some of the writing was clunky. Yes, some of the plots are admittedly just corny or trite. But the author gets better and better with every book and the characters have been wonderful from the very beginning. And what a refreshing thing to have powerful women running the plots, enjoying the partnership of men, but not being helpless and dependent on them and-for heaven sake!-Not always babbling on about the virtues of the male of the species. Fun plots, wonderful characters, and just fantastic imagination! I will read everything this author writes forever.
September 24, 2025
4 stars
I think receive this title through a "Stuff Your Kindle" event.
Spoilers Ahead:
Daisy is a sorely uninformed and naive fmc. She's clever but also incredibly simple minded because she's so caught up in having the right manners for polite society. I absolutely loved that about her. She was so caught up in her own ways that she was unable to solve a mystery when the answer was literally given to her. She derailed me from my original suspicions due to her inability to accept to take her sister seriously. While their relationship could use better work, I like that Daisy is not an intentionally unreliable character, it's just her dismissive nature.
My biggest qualm character-wise is that Freddie, Daisy's sister, didn't play as key of a role as I think she should've. She popped in and out of the story in seemingly random fashion. It seems that the author remembered her existence when convenient, hence the usage of her knowledge of contacts and ability to see fetch. She's a very interesting character that I would have loved to see more of in this story. Especially when it comes to her ideas of societal graces and the gray areas that exist within.
My issue with the plot is the simplistic nature of the mystery. Solving the mystery was very believable but I don't think the initial reveal of the character's murderer was a great idea. It made me very frustrated for all the times I struggled with decoding the mystery. When I wasn't reading it, I was definitely thinking heavily about the story, so the initial reveal felt like a mockery.
I'm heavily considering spending my coins to read the next title. Even more so since I'm curious about the continued character development. I wasn't really expecting it but this steampunk mystery was a really good fit for my reading slump.
I think receive this title through a "Stuff Your Kindle" event.
Spoilers Ahead:
Daisy is a sorely uninformed and naive fmc. She's clever but also incredibly simple minded because she's so caught up in having the right manners for polite society. I absolutely loved that about her. She was so caught up in her own ways that she was unable to solve a mystery when the answer was literally given to her. She derailed me from my original suspicions due to her inability to accept to take her sister seriously. While their relationship could use better work, I like that Daisy is not an intentionally unreliable character, it's just her dismissive nature.
My biggest qualm character-wise is that Freddie, Daisy's sister, didn't play as key of a role as I think she should've. She popped in and out of the story in seemingly random fashion. It seems that the author remembered her existence when convenient, hence the usage of her knowledge of contacts and ability to see fetch. She's a very interesting character that I would have loved to see more of in this story. Especially when it comes to her ideas of societal graces and the gray areas that exist within.
My issue with the plot is the simplistic nature of the mystery. Solving the mystery was very believable but I don't think the initial reveal of the character's murderer was a great idea. It made me very frustrated for all the times I struggled with decoding the mystery. When I wasn't reading it, I was definitely thinking heavily about the story, so the initial reveal felt like a mockery.
I'm heavily considering spending my coins to read the next title. Even more so since I'm curious about the continued character development. I wasn't really expecting it but this steampunk mystery was a really good fit for my reading slump.
January 29, 2020
For the most part I enjoyed this first entry in the author's new series featuring two young English women who are in the western U.S. searching for their father who disappeared years earlier. Apparently the book features numerous characters from her previous lengthy Magnificent Devices series. I haven't read the previous series and this one worked for me as a standalone. That being said, before continuing with this series I'm going to go back and give the previous series a try.
As other reviewers have noted, this is a bit steampunk light, with the steampunk portions taking a backseat to the mystery Daisy and her sister Freddy spend most of the book investigating. I'll be interested to see what happens with some of the characters Daisy and Freddy met, and who seem likely to become involved in their future investigations.
The opening chapters were a bit choppy for me, but once I got into the story I enjoyed it. Overall I'd give it a B-, so rounding to four stars here.
As other reviewers have noted, this is a bit steampunk light, with the steampunk portions taking a backseat to the mystery Daisy and her sister Freddy spend most of the book investigating. I'll be interested to see what happens with some of the characters Daisy and Freddy met, and who seem likely to become involved in their future investigations.
The opening chapters were a bit choppy for me, but once I got into the story I enjoyed it. Overall I'd give it a B-, so rounding to four stars here.
March 17, 2018
After Daisy’s mother died after her father disappeared, Daisy became the responsibility of her aunt and uncle. And they would very much like to marry her off and get her out of their hair
Daisy is not thrilled with the chinless future planned for… and instead is more determined to find her missing father; in the Texican Territories, a continent away
Her sister joins her on the voyage - but when there’s a murder on her journey and an innocent man seems likely to hang for it, she cannot justy move on; not until she tries for justice, especially since no-one else seems willing
This is a continuation of Shelley Adina’s Magnificent Devices series - being set in the same world and with many excellent call outs and connections to the characters within that series. But those connections are small, none of the main characters are particularly intimate or involved with those characters, those characters have not adventured with these characters and have no real draw upon them. And I think this is important. Claire and all her friends and family and flock are awesome characters but their stories have all progressed to a whole new level. Between them they have vast resources, extremely powerful, loyal friends and connections at the highest possible level of society. They are not the plucky underdogs standing firm against the vast world. They are integral to that vast world. That doesn’t mean Claire & co can’t have plenty of stories yet - but the scale and scope of them, by necessity, need to be much grander. We already saw this in the last few books - defeating invasions of England, stopping a war between the Californios and the Texican territory. The Story of Claire, Gloria, Alice, the Mopsies et al has, by necessity, become far grander and far more epic than how it started
So when returning somewhat to the root of the story, while keeping the connection and call outs to the old books for excellent recognition and confirmation that this is the same world, we also have a protagonist who will not be able to send up the batsignal and expect all the arsenal of Claire’s flock to rain down. Similarly, while you can pick up any of the books in the Magnificent Devices series and not need to have read the previous books: but this
Also there’s Mr. Featherstonehaugh who is sadly lacking in the chin department and so very suitable. Alas this poor man, may he one day actually find a bride.
So we have Daisy - and she’s a wonderful character - different again from all the previous protagonists we’ve seen before: yet still strong, capable, determined, brave and intelligent. It’s one of the gems of this greater world and series that we all of these women who are so very very different from each other yet still have their own strengths
In Daisy’s case, she’s probably much more conservative than most of her fellow protagonists. She doesn’t exactly rail against the mores of society exactly, and even her sister finds her unnecessarily proper. I actually like this, especially next to the other series, because it shows competent and capable women not just those exceptions who move against society as competent: a common theme in the series. But she does object to her uncle and aunt trying to pawn her off on any suitable, albeit dull and chinless, men they can find, at least in part to remove their duty to support her.
Despite Daisy obviously having issues with this, I like how they aren’t demonised per se so much as it is seen as frustrating that her uncle and aunt’s finances drive them to such a level. And so Daisy decides the best way out of this is to run away with her sister to find their missing father
I do rather like how while looking for a different male relative, while along the way she proves to everyone just how very capable she is, especially when read in the context of the 13 other books and several examples within this book of women who are quite capable of looking after themselves.
The plot brings us a murder mystery, though I think that implies the story is a whodunnit, when it really isn’t. The villain is pretty clearly identified as the villain as soon as he appears, there’s no real effort to identify him and the methods for entrapping him do not require their intelligence and capability so much as their courage
What this book does do is introduce the characters, their motivations, their conflicts and the situation they find themselves in. This series has always been a character driven story and this is no exception. Seeing Daisy manage in a strange land, her moral compass that refuses to allow an injustice to happen even when everyone else seems willing to sleepwalk into it, navigating through the difficult social mores and risking her reputation even when it becomes necessary all gives us an excellent picture of Daisy and her sister. As well as introduce Barney - who is an interesting male character with something of a more involved past with several twists and complications: this is something of a new direction in the books where the focus has been very much on the awesome women leading the series. There are men who are important part of the series but they don’t have as complicated lives as the female characters. Barney was also taught by Alaia, a first nations character we saw in previous books
We also have an Asian girl, Lin who has come through very hard experiences and has to challenge a lot of class and race prejudice - including Daisy’s own reputation consciousness at times: there’s also a street urchin - all of which are definitely going to be recurring characters
Read More
Daisy is not thrilled with the chinless future planned for… and instead is more determined to find her missing father; in the Texican Territories, a continent away
Her sister joins her on the voyage - but when there’s a murder on her journey and an innocent man seems likely to hang for it, she cannot justy move on; not until she tries for justice, especially since no-one else seems willing
This is a continuation of Shelley Adina’s Magnificent Devices series - being set in the same world and with many excellent call outs and connections to the characters within that series. But those connections are small, none of the main characters are particularly intimate or involved with those characters, those characters have not adventured with these characters and have no real draw upon them. And I think this is important. Claire and all her friends and family and flock are awesome characters but their stories have all progressed to a whole new level. Between them they have vast resources, extremely powerful, loyal friends and connections at the highest possible level of society. They are not the plucky underdogs standing firm against the vast world. They are integral to that vast world. That doesn’t mean Claire & co can’t have plenty of stories yet - but the scale and scope of them, by necessity, need to be much grander. We already saw this in the last few books - defeating invasions of England, stopping a war between the Californios and the Texican territory. The Story of Claire, Gloria, Alice, the Mopsies et al has, by necessity, become far grander and far more epic than how it started
So when returning somewhat to the root of the story, while keeping the connection and call outs to the old books for excellent recognition and confirmation that this is the same world, we also have a protagonist who will not be able to send up the batsignal and expect all the arsenal of Claire’s flock to rain down. Similarly, while you can pick up any of the books in the Magnificent Devices series and not need to have read the previous books: but this
Also there’s Mr. Featherstonehaugh who is sadly lacking in the chin department and so very suitable. Alas this poor man, may he one day actually find a bride.
So we have Daisy - and she’s a wonderful character - different again from all the previous protagonists we’ve seen before: yet still strong, capable, determined, brave and intelligent. It’s one of the gems of this greater world and series that we all of these women who are so very very different from each other yet still have their own strengths
In Daisy’s case, she’s probably much more conservative than most of her fellow protagonists. She doesn’t exactly rail against the mores of society exactly, and even her sister finds her unnecessarily proper. I actually like this, especially next to the other series, because it shows competent and capable women not just those exceptions who move against society as competent: a common theme in the series. But she does object to her uncle and aunt trying to pawn her off on any suitable, albeit dull and chinless, men they can find, at least in part to remove their duty to support her.
Despite Daisy obviously having issues with this, I like how they aren’t demonised per se so much as it is seen as frustrating that her uncle and aunt’s finances drive them to such a level. And so Daisy decides the best way out of this is to run away with her sister to find their missing father
I do rather like how while looking for a different male relative, while along the way she proves to everyone just how very capable she is, especially when read in the context of the 13 other books and several examples within this book of women who are quite capable of looking after themselves.
The plot brings us a murder mystery, though I think that implies the story is a whodunnit, when it really isn’t. The villain is pretty clearly identified as the villain as soon as he appears, there’s no real effort to identify him and the methods for entrapping him do not require their intelligence and capability so much as their courage
What this book does do is introduce the characters, their motivations, their conflicts and the situation they find themselves in. This series has always been a character driven story and this is no exception. Seeing Daisy manage in a strange land, her moral compass that refuses to allow an injustice to happen even when everyone else seems willing to sleepwalk into it, navigating through the difficult social mores and risking her reputation even when it becomes necessary all gives us an excellent picture of Daisy and her sister. As well as introduce Barney - who is an interesting male character with something of a more involved past with several twists and complications: this is something of a new direction in the books where the focus has been very much on the awesome women leading the series. There are men who are important part of the series but they don’t have as complicated lives as the female characters. Barney was also taught by Alaia, a first nations character we saw in previous books
We also have an Asian girl, Lin who has come through very hard experiences and has to challenge a lot of class and race prejudice - including Daisy’s own reputation consciousness at times: there’s also a street urchin - all of which are definitely going to be recurring characters
Read More
June 19, 2020
Book one in the Mysterious Devices series finds sisters Daisy and Freddie traveling from England in search of their missing father. While on the airship, they meet Emma an unapologetic mail-order bride traveling to Colorado to meet her future husband. They become friends and agree to be her bridesmaids before they set off on their quest. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and they become caught up in the search to find the culprit. Along the way, they join forces with a snake-oil salesman, an laundress and a small spy. it was fun and mysterious. It's always fun to discover a new series.
September 7, 2018
Pleasant, in a mild way. A Victorian amateur detective tale, with a light Steampunk dressing.
July 3, 2021
This is a spin off of the Magnificent Devices series, with some characters from it making cameos. This has much more suspense and it is a murder mystery. Daisy and her sister Frederica (Freddy) are going to search for their father in the Texican Territories. On the way she makes friends with lovely Emma Makepeace who is a mail order bride. Daisy becomes her friend and agrees to be her Maid of Honor. However, poor Emma meets an untimely end. Daisy decides she must find the culprit while an innocent man is jailed for the crime and could hang for it. They decide they will postpone the search for their father until they find answers to this murder.
This was classic Adina, brave plucky gals who get through dangerous/difficult circumstances with help of their wits and good friends. I truly love these stories, they are so refreshing from the damsels in distress of that era and lots of fun steampunky devices show up as well.
Just bought the 4th book in this series and can't wait to start it too.
This was classic Adina, brave plucky gals who get through dangerous/difficult circumstances with help of their wits and good friends. I truly love these stories, they are so refreshing from the damsels in distress of that era and lots of fun steampunky devices show up as well.
Just bought the 4th book in this series and can't wait to start it too.
March 23, 2018
An excellent read by a great author. I had the privilege of being in Georgetown, Colorado last year at the Ghosttown Writer's Conference where Ms. Adina was a featured author, and this book is set there. Ms. Adina is the acknowledged queen of steampunk, so if you like steampunk- (or mystery, sweet romance, or just plain good stories) this is for you. She writes so well that you cannot put the book down, unless you're like me and lose it for two VERY unhappy days. Had other things to do, but... you know what it's like when the book is this good. I'll clean tomorrow, but today I had to read "The Bride Wore Constant White", and I'm VERY glad I did. Can't wait to read on.
April 10, 2018
Kobo edition
A new entry to the Devices series - this one begins a new plot strand with two new leading characters, though familiar names (and one or two faces) make an appearance from time to time - and so do some chickens. Although Lady Claire doesn't feature her influence can still be felt - and there is one particularly fine device (the Surreptitious Speech Transcriptor) which has a cameo but which, sadly, fails to make it to the end.
A worthy continuation - with more to come!
A new entry to the Devices series - this one begins a new plot strand with two new leading characters, though familiar names (and one or two faces) make an appearance from time to time - and so do some chickens. Although Lady Claire doesn't feature her influence can still be felt - and there is one particularly fine device (the Surreptitious Speech Transcriptor) which has a cameo but which, sadly, fails to make it to the end.
A worthy continuation - with more to come!
April 4, 2023
Good Book, Probably Better if You are Familiar with the Other Series
I had quite a mixed experience reading The Bride Wore Constant White. It is the first book I have read by Shelley Adina, & also the first book of a new series set in the same world as her extremely lengthy Magnificent Devices series. I liked the mystery aspect & the blurb said you could start here as book 1 without having had to read the other series.
For the first 10% or so I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the book. It took me awhile to get into it, part of which I blame on the fact that I did not particularly care for the main character, Daisy. I found her sister Freddie much more likeable, with her sunny personality. And also much more intriguing, as it seems she has a slight bit of second sight or the like. While Daisy did grow on me before the end of the book, she was hard to like at first due to her extreme prissiness. Now, I get that this is an alternate world set in the late 1800s, so her behavior would probably have been normal for a lady of the period, but sometimes I just found her grating.
Eventually I did warm up to the story. I liked the secondary characters a lot. Freddie was the perfect cheerful foil to Daisy's propriety. Barney was also quite charming, but Davey & Lin stole the show. (I might've actually squealed with delight upon reading the epilogue involving the two of them!!) I thought the mystery was well structured if a little obvious.
My main complaint is this: I think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read the previous series. There were numerous side characters in the early part of the book that seemed like cameos of characters that I was supposed to recognize. Throughout the book, many references were made to random places or people or events that didn't seem important to the story— unless it was as an Easter egg for the previous series. And I do feel like that was part of the reason I had a hard time getting into the book at first.
Now, that said, once I got far enough into the story that the mystery caught my attention, & I started to get to know the characters, I found the book very entertaining & I quite enjoyed it. So, yes, you can read the book without the first series, but as a reader who did just that, I wouldn't recommend it. Good thing is it turns out I already have book 1 of that series (it's free on Kindle!) & the rest of the series is available on Kindle Unlimited (I LOVE KU!) & now that I know I like Shelley Adina's writing style, I will likely check that out before continuing this series. I will continue it, & I would recommend it, as Adina's style makes for an easy & fun read peppered with a few quotes that I highlighted as well.
I had quite a mixed experience reading The Bride Wore Constant White. It is the first book I have read by Shelley Adina, & also the first book of a new series set in the same world as her extremely lengthy Magnificent Devices series. I liked the mystery aspect & the blurb said you could start here as book 1 without having had to read the other series.
For the first 10% or so I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the book. It took me awhile to get into it, part of which I blame on the fact that I did not particularly care for the main character, Daisy. I found her sister Freddie much more likeable, with her sunny personality. And also much more intriguing, as it seems she has a slight bit of second sight or the like. While Daisy did grow on me before the end of the book, she was hard to like at first due to her extreme prissiness. Now, I get that this is an alternate world set in the late 1800s, so her behavior would probably have been normal for a lady of the period, but sometimes I just found her grating.
Eventually I did warm up to the story. I liked the secondary characters a lot. Freddie was the perfect cheerful foil to Daisy's propriety. Barney was also quite charming, but Davey & Lin stole the show. (I might've actually squealed with delight upon reading the epilogue involving the two of them!!) I thought the mystery was well structured if a little obvious.
My main complaint is this: I think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read the previous series. There were numerous side characters in the early part of the book that seemed like cameos of characters that I was supposed to recognize. Throughout the book, many references were made to random places or people or events that didn't seem important to the story— unless it was as an Easter egg for the previous series. And I do feel like that was part of the reason I had a hard time getting into the book at first.
Now, that said, once I got far enough into the story that the mystery caught my attention, & I started to get to know the characters, I found the book very entertaining & I quite enjoyed it. So, yes, you can read the book without the first series, but as a reader who did just that, I wouldn't recommend it. Good thing is it turns out I already have book 1 of that series (it's free on Kindle!) & the rest of the series is available on Kindle Unlimited (I LOVE KU!) & now that I know I like Shelley Adina's writing style, I will likely check that out before continuing this series. I will continue it, & I would recommend it, as Adina's style makes for an easy & fun read peppered with a few quotes that I highlighted as well.
October 8, 2019
I'm so excited about this expansion of the Magnificent Devices universe! I'm also super excited about the addition of murder mysteries to the series, and possibly an element of the supernatural...
I love the world Shelley Adina has built, and I'm never ready to leave it, so keep 'em coming!!
Daisy and her sister Freddie (Frederica) are delayed in the search for their missing father initially to celebrate the nuptials of a new friend, but the tides turn quickly when the bride is found murdered. Certainly Daisy and Freddie cannot pull up stakes and leave with an innocent man jailed for the murder of their friend, so they enlist the help of a colorful flock of their own (even if they don't know they're a flock just yet!) including street urchin Davey, medicine man Barney, a flower house washer woman (girl), and the ever-persistent Hugh Merriwether Astor.
Barney is the newest character - a "medicine man" of sorts, mentored by a snake oil salesman, but trained in legitimate healing arts with herbs and natural remedies, floats around in a flying caravan. Pretty sure he's not leaving the series any time soon, and I'm excited to see where he goes.
I love Daisy's hobby for watercolors, and how it ended up playing a role in solving the mystery (as well as titling the series.) I can truly relate to a character who creates art to focus and manage stress.
This expansion proves to be a bit grittier as far as its subject matter, what with murders and the horrible motives for it in the minds of man, but certainly still no graphic descriptions or explicit material. As always, Ms. Adina keeps it clean and classy.
I'm so glad I have two more books to read further while I wait on number 4!
I love the world Shelley Adina has built, and I'm never ready to leave it, so keep 'em coming!!
Daisy and her sister Freddie (Frederica) are delayed in the search for their missing father initially to celebrate the nuptials of a new friend, but the tides turn quickly when the bride is found murdered. Certainly Daisy and Freddie cannot pull up stakes and leave with an innocent man jailed for the murder of their friend, so they enlist the help of a colorful flock of their own (even if they don't know they're a flock just yet!) including street urchin Davey, medicine man Barney, a flower house washer woman (girl), and the ever-persistent Hugh Merriwether Astor.
Barney is the newest character - a "medicine man" of sorts, mentored by a snake oil salesman, but trained in legitimate healing arts with herbs and natural remedies, floats around in a flying caravan. Pretty sure he's not leaving the series any time soon, and I'm excited to see where he goes.
I love Daisy's hobby for watercolors, and how it ended up playing a role in solving the mystery (as well as titling the series.) I can truly relate to a character who creates art to focus and manage stress.
This expansion proves to be a bit grittier as far as its subject matter, what with murders and the horrible motives for it in the minds of man, but certainly still no graphic descriptions or explicit material. As always, Ms. Adina keeps it clean and classy.
I'm so glad I have two more books to read further while I wait on number 4!
December 27, 2025
The Bride Wore Constant White is the kind of story that quietly wins you over and then refuses to let go. Set against Shelley Adina’s vividly imagined steampunk Wild West, the novel blends mystery, friendship, and social observation with a light but confident hand. Margrethe Amelia Linden Daisy to those who know her is a wonderfully drawn heroine: intelligent, observant, artistically inclined, and just stubborn enough to land herself in trouble. Her journey west in search of her missing father is already compelling, but the emotional core of the novel lies in the friendships she forms along the way, particularly with the warm, hopeful Emma Makepeace. That these bonds are forged just before tragedy strikes makes the story’s opening mystery all the more affecting.
What truly stands out is the balance Adina achieves between gentility and grit. The murder investigation unfolds with careful logic and genuine tension, yet never loses its humane center. Daisy’s refusal to accept an easy answer and her determination to save an innocent man from the gallows feels earned, driven by both intellect and compassion. The steampunk elements are seamlessly integrated, enhancing the atmosphere without overwhelming the plot, and the Texican Territories setting feels textured, lived-in, and morally complex. By the final pages, the mystery resolves with satisfying clarity, while the threads of family, purpose, and quiet romance promise much more to come. Elegant, clever, and deeply engaging, this is a superb introduction to the Mysterious Devices series and a reminder of how delightful a well-crafted, character-driven mystery can be.
What truly stands out is the balance Adina achieves between gentility and grit. The murder investigation unfolds with careful logic and genuine tension, yet never loses its humane center. Daisy’s refusal to accept an easy answer and her determination to save an innocent man from the gallows feels earned, driven by both intellect and compassion. The steampunk elements are seamlessly integrated, enhancing the atmosphere without overwhelming the plot, and the Texican Territories setting feels textured, lived-in, and morally complex. By the final pages, the mystery resolves with satisfying clarity, while the threads of family, purpose, and quiet romance promise much more to come. Elegant, clever, and deeply engaging, this is a superb introduction to the Mysterious Devices series and a reminder of how delightful a well-crafted, character-driven mystery can be.
May 3, 2018
When bride-to-be Emma is brutally murdered on the eve of her wedding, a set of sisters (Daisy and Freddie, her intended bridesmaids) take it upon themselves to solve the crime. The local police seem to be botching the case--badly. They've jailed her fiance, deeming it an open-and-shut case based on what they pass off as a (rather flimsy) motive.
But the circumstances are mysterious. Emma herself was a newcomer to Georgetown, having traveled there for the first time to wed her fiance. Also strangers to Georgetown are Daisy and Freddie, who only stopped there shortly to witness Emma's nuptials. Distrusted and resented (likely as much for the late nineteenth-century setting, which prescribed narrow roles for women), the amateur sleuths have few allies in their quest.
Yet, nothing stops them, and they are soon miles ahead of the police and on to Emma's killer. That doesn't mean justice--they know the truth, but still have much to prove. All is complicated by Emma's secrets (which I won't reveal), and their powerlessness within the framework of a male-dominated era. Will they transcend these obstacles, or will Emma's killer remain on the loose?
But the circumstances are mysterious. Emma herself was a newcomer to Georgetown, having traveled there for the first time to wed her fiance. Also strangers to Georgetown are Daisy and Freddie, who only stopped there shortly to witness Emma's nuptials. Distrusted and resented (likely as much for the late nineteenth-century setting, which prescribed narrow roles for women), the amateur sleuths have few allies in their quest.
Yet, nothing stops them, and they are soon miles ahead of the police and on to Emma's killer. That doesn't mean justice--they know the truth, but still have much to prove. All is complicated by Emma's secrets (which I won't reveal), and their powerlessness within the framework of a male-dominated era. Will they transcend these obstacles, or will Emma's killer remain on the loose?
December 21, 2019
This is book 1 of Mysterious Devices series, a spin-off or companion series to the Magnificent Devices I've so loved. It's set in the same world, but just adds a murder mystery to the story too - blending two of my favourite kind of books! I'm not going to go into the story details and give away spoilers, but I just want to say that I loved how inventive the author was in the use of the painter's view to describe colours (like in the title) and scenes, how she pulled all the strands of the story together, and eventually reached the climatic conclusion. I also loved the appearance of characters and locations from the Magnificent Devices series - a lovely treat for fans! A brilliant read that I'd definitely recommend to all fans of the author, of steampunk and of mysteries. Can't wait to continue the series - good job I've already got the next book!
September 7, 2018
This new series takes us on the adventures of Daisy and Freddie Linden as they leave their aunt's home in Bath, England in search of their father who was captured by the Spanish Kingdom 2 years previous. They meet with sever people we know from The Lady of Devices stories and find out their was last seen in Santa Fe in the Texican Territories. But first there's a detour to celebrate the wedding of their traveling companion and new friend, the mail-order bride Emma Makepeace. Alas, things do not go as planned and there are soiled doves, murders, precocious children, a handsome traveling apothecary and Texican Rangers to be dealt with before they can get back to looking for their father.
March 1, 2019
Just enough mentions and appearances of characters from prior Magnificent Devices books to tie this first of a new series into Ms. Adina's wonderful steampunk world. I love how Daisy has to finally admit to her sister that Maggie Polgarth is a real human and not a figment of Freddie's overactive imagination.
Davey, Lin, and Barney are going to be fun characters to watch as the series progresses. The Texican Territory gets to star in this series and the alternate history has just enough reality in it to satisfy this native Texan.
Davey, Lin, and Barney are going to be fun characters to watch as the series progresses. The Texican Territory gets to star in this series and the alternate history has just enough reality in it to satisfy this native Texan.
February 14, 2021
A Fun Cozy Mystery
It has been awhile since I read Shelley Adina's Magnificent Devices series, so entering back into that world with this newer series was a fun reminder of what I enjoyed. While definitely geared towards the young adult set, this book has the adventure of a wild West setting (not my usual cup of tea, but still entertaining), the clever quirks of a Steampunk adventure, and enough who-done-it suspense to be an enjoyable quick read. I can see myself at least diving into the next book to see where the series goes.
It has been awhile since I read Shelley Adina's Magnificent Devices series, so entering back into that world with this newer series was a fun reminder of what I enjoyed. While definitely geared towards the young adult set, this book has the adventure of a wild West setting (not my usual cup of tea, but still entertaining), the clever quirks of a Steampunk adventure, and enough who-done-it suspense to be an enjoyable quick read. I can see myself at least diving into the next book to see where the series goes.
July 30, 2018
I've loved Shelley Adina's universe for quite a while now, and I've always loved a good cozy mystery. Of course I dove into this book with anticipation, and I really enjoyed it! The characters were interesting and well-fleshed out. The setting in the old west was quite a good choice, it helped make the predicaments of the various female characters more precarious and compelling. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series.
January 18, 2024
Felt like a cozy mystery and this steampunk gem was just the perfect cup of tea. Two young ladies venture into an alternative history Wild West in search of a missing father. On the way, they meet charming gentlemen and true villains. On this first stop of their search, they must search for the murderer of a mail-order bride. While there are guest appearances from the author's larger steampunk series, this one is easy to follow without having read the rest of the novels.
October 27, 2021
I listened to an audio book version read by Fiona Hardingham -- I absolutely love her narration style! The story was entertaining, humorous at times, and quickly-paced enough. I enjoyed the competent female heroines, and somewhat ragtag cast of characters. Despite the topics of murder, violence, and prostitution, the story was clean.
December 14, 2022
Decent first in this series. While touted as steampunk, it doesn’t drive the plot, but serves as background. Two young ladies head to the American west in search of their father but stop temporarily to solve the murder of a new friend in a mining town. Good mystery, potentially strong and likable characters.
May 3, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the characters, the setting, and the plot. This was my first read from this author and first reading a book with steampunk elements. Didn't really know what that was, so some of the travel/machinery elements threw me off a bit. Other than that, I would enjoy reading the next in the series.
February 20, 2018
Glad
Am so glad Shelley decided to continue the series😁 Absolutely loved the first series. This one did not quite "grab" me as much, however, I am sure I will enjoy the rest too. Can't wait to read the next one. (Love the artistic "asides"!).
Am so glad Shelley decided to continue the series😁 Absolutely loved the first series. This one did not quite "grab" me as much, however, I am sure I will enjoy the rest too. Can't wait to read the next one. (Love the artistic "asides"!).
March 12, 2018
Delightful
As with every other book in this series, I was entranced by the dynamic women and their adventures. It is wonderful to know that a new series has begun. The adventures continue!
As with every other book in this series, I was entranced by the dynamic women and their adventures. It is wonderful to know that a new series has begun. The adventures continue!
March 13, 2018
Marvelous!
I loved this book! What a wonderful adventure and continuation of the Marvelous series! Daisy and Freddie lead the reader at a wonderful pace through this delicious mystery as they risk their lives and reputations to uncover a killer in the Wild West.
I loved this book! What a wonderful adventure and continuation of the Marvelous series! Daisy and Freddie lead the reader at a wonderful pace through this delicious mystery as they risk their lives and reputations to uncover a killer in the Wild West.
April 10, 2019
I positively love every shelley Adina's book I've read.
Fast paced, with multiple story arcs twining and twisting around each other, I could still keep up easily with what was hapening.
A great follow up for the previous series.
Fast paced, with multiple story arcs twining and twisting around each other, I could still keep up easily with what was hapening.
A great follow up for the previous series.
May 31, 2020
Steampunk Mystery on Steroids
Oh poor lovely Emma. Such a sweet and generous woman, with a tragic tale and end. Thankfully the sister heroines will not rest until justice is found. Great book. Love the sisters, Daisy and Frederika aka Freddie. The sisters travel in search of their missing father, and encounter danger and mystery in their travels.
Oh poor lovely Emma. Such a sweet and generous woman, with a tragic tale and end. Thankfully the sister heroines will not rest until justice is found. Great book. Love the sisters, Daisy and Frederika aka Freddie. The sisters travel in search of their missing father, and encounter danger and mystery in their travels.
Read
February 28, 2023The description of this book sounds fun, but I've tried twice to read the first couple of chapters and it cannot hold my attention. All of the characters are terribly dull, and there are moments in the prose that definitely deserve side-eye. DNF.
July 24, 2023
77%
This book series be really fun if we get more titles like this the first entry into her mystery work was really fun.
I enjoyed talking about prostitutes and going through the different possible suspects
This book series be really fun if we get more titles like this the first entry into her mystery work was really fun.
I enjoyed talking about prostitutes and going through the different possible suspects
November 28, 2023
There is a renewed energy in this book, which combines the best of the previous world building and the freshness of new central characters. This is much more a mystery than an adventure. Very enjoyable.
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