What do you think?
Rate this book
A Curious Woman
A funny, fabulous, cozy mystery filled with quirkiness and a sweet serve of lesbian romance.
Bess Campbell has escaped to the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir, determined to begin her life again. She is loving her fresh start, thanks to her fun job running a hip gallery, her territorial chickens, and a lot of self-help books to find her new, better self.
Port Bannir local Margaret Gale runs an austere maritime museum, and rules her staff with an iron fist. She has no time for that crazy modern gallery or upbeat, earnest Bess sweeping around town on her hipster bicycle.
After a heated dispute over an antique collectible dildo, there’s little hope Margaret and Bess will ever see eye to eye.
But when Port Bannir is rocked by a senseless murder, both women find themselves implicated. Can they work together to expose the truth––or will the truth prove far too dangerous?
Bess Campbell has escaped to the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir, determined to begin her life again. She is loving her fresh start, thanks to her fun job running a hip gallery, her territorial chickens, and a lot of self-help books to find her new, better self.
Port Bannir local Margaret Gale runs an austere maritime museum, and rules her staff with an iron fist. She has no time for that crazy modern gallery or upbeat, earnest Bess sweeping around town on her hipster bicycle.
After a heated dispute over an antique collectible dildo, there’s little hope Margaret and Bess will ever see eye to eye.
But when Port Bannir is rocked by a senseless murder, both women find themselves implicated. Can they work together to expose the truth––or will the truth prove far too dangerous?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2019
47 people are currently reading
990 people want to read
About the author
Jess Lea
13 books56 followersJess writes lesbian fiction. Her novels, 'A Curious Woman', 'A Curious Visit', 'A Curious Journey', and 'Looking for Trouble', and her collection of short stories, 'The Taste of Her', are available from Ylva Publishing. You can also read her short stories in the collections 'Don't Be Shy', 'Laid Bare', 'First Kisses', 'Meet Cute', and 'Tales of the Grimoire'. https://www.ylva-publishing.com/autho... You can contact Jess at jessleacontact@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
March 31, 2019
'ARC provided by Ylva-Publishing in exchange for an honest review'
**'A good lesson for any writer: make each sentence worth reading and something in it will lead the readers into the next one.Good writers write not just in sentences but with sentences.Get them right and everything else solves itself or ceases to matter...'
3.5 stars!
I was overcome with a desire to fit together the many pieces of this somewhat intriguing,suspenseful and fine amateur detective mystery of art history,bitterness,anger and the unmasking of a killer or killers. Time and again Ms.Lea sways a bit from the overall point of the story to give readers a chronicle of certain artifacts with it's secrets and whether it was of modern or contemporary around the museums.
For me,I do think that Ms.Lea took a topic that seems at the outset to be and at the very least mundane if not downright tedious at times, however adding her skill in telling a story -- especially one that might be completely factual -- to shine through from page to page.
A chance encounter because of business reasons starts the two main characters talking; then Margaret realizes that she might have underestimated Bess, whose unique outlook on the world and surprising insight into the inner operations of a museum worker/curator -- did peak her interest
As Margaret begins to take stock of the entanglement, evidence and witnesses growing against her, there comes a short brief of time where she was forced to ask herself if it was worth it in her returning to her hometown. Then there was Bess who on the otherhand was trying to learn the truth behind the murder of her boss -- even to her detriment became a pawn to the cops and other suspicious characters with their own agenda. She even suspect the killer that she seeks might be one out for revenge and as the murders multiply, her quest grew more urgent to get to the truth -- with the help of some abscure individuals seeking to decipher the killer's taunting riddles .
In the end, secrets prove more valuable than either Bess or Margaret could ever have known and hope for -- not only to the cops and town folks. Is it an easy read, No -- but i'm still recommending it!
**'A good lesson for any writer: make each sentence worth reading and something in it will lead the readers into the next one.Good writers write not just in sentences but with sentences.Get them right and everything else solves itself or ceases to matter...'
3.5 stars!
I was overcome with a desire to fit together the many pieces of this somewhat intriguing,suspenseful and fine amateur detective mystery of art history,bitterness,anger and the unmasking of a killer or killers. Time and again Ms.Lea sways a bit from the overall point of the story to give readers a chronicle of certain artifacts with it's secrets and whether it was of modern or contemporary around the museums.
For me,I do think that Ms.Lea took a topic that seems at the outset to be and at the very least mundane if not downright tedious at times, however adding her skill in telling a story -- especially one that might be completely factual -- to shine through from page to page.
A chance encounter because of business reasons starts the two main characters talking; then Margaret realizes that she might have underestimated Bess, whose unique outlook on the world and surprising insight into the inner operations of a museum worker/curator -- did peak her interest
As Margaret begins to take stock of the entanglement, evidence and witnesses growing against her, there comes a short brief of time where she was forced to ask herself if it was worth it in her returning to her hometown. Then there was Bess who on the otherhand was trying to learn the truth behind the murder of her boss -- even to her detriment became a pawn to the cops and other suspicious characters with their own agenda. She even suspect the killer that she seeks might be one out for revenge and as the murders multiply, her quest grew more urgent to get to the truth -- with the help of some abscure individuals seeking to decipher the killer's taunting riddles .
In the end, secrets prove more valuable than either Bess or Margaret could ever have known and hope for -- not only to the cops and town folks. Is it an easy read, No -- but i'm still recommending it!
April 5, 2019
3.25 Stars. This was a really oddball book. I’m a big mystery fan and I love books that are different, but unfortunately this didn’t really work for me. The writing itself was good, I just didn’t really connect with Lea’s story choices.
I guess you could call this a cozy mystery (more on why I guess later) with a very slight romance between an ice queen-ish character and a slightly bohemian free spirited character.
As I mentioned already I thought the writing was good. I was immersed in the setting and didn’t have any trouble reading the book even if I didn’t always care for what I was reading. Even with me not really caring for this book, I would read another full length story by Lea.
My biggest issue really was the characters. All the character, including the mains, was not the easiest to like. The mains did eventually grow on me but the rest of the people in the town are pretty awful. There is all this talk about how one of the mains loves this small town setting, and I had to think really, with all these creepy people? As I mentioned both mains did win me over, but I still didn’t feel as connected to either as much as I prefer in book I really enjoy.
The reason I’m a little on the fence with calling this a true cozy mystery is because it had a sex scene. Usually cozy’s are very low on violence and have no or fade to black sex scenes. While the sex scene wasn’t super steamy it was explicit enough to almost knock it out of the cozy category in my opinion. And even with a sex scene, this book is very romance lite. I would not read this book looking for a romance, more if you want a zany mystery.
This book had that really sort of off the wall feeling. With oddball characters that were out there for sure. I think it was supposed to be funny. This could totally be on me but I never laughed once. Humor books are tough for me so other readers might like this more than me. Or maybe I’m wrong and it’s not supposed to be funny and I just didn’t get it. Oh well, not a book for me but the writing is there and I see potential in the author.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
I guess you could call this a cozy mystery (more on why I guess later) with a very slight romance between an ice queen-ish character and a slightly bohemian free spirited character.
As I mentioned already I thought the writing was good. I was immersed in the setting and didn’t have any trouble reading the book even if I didn’t always care for what I was reading. Even with me not really caring for this book, I would read another full length story by Lea.
My biggest issue really was the characters. All the character, including the mains, was not the easiest to like. The mains did eventually grow on me but the rest of the people in the town are pretty awful. There is all this talk about how one of the mains loves this small town setting, and I had to think really, with all these creepy people? As I mentioned both mains did win me over, but I still didn’t feel as connected to either as much as I prefer in book I really enjoy.
The reason I’m a little on the fence with calling this a true cozy mystery is because it had a sex scene. Usually cozy’s are very low on violence and have no or fade to black sex scenes. While the sex scene wasn’t super steamy it was explicit enough to almost knock it out of the cozy category in my opinion. And even with a sex scene, this book is very romance lite. I would not read this book looking for a romance, more if you want a zany mystery.
This book had that really sort of off the wall feeling. With oddball characters that were out there for sure. I think it was supposed to be funny. This could totally be on me but I never laughed once. Humor books are tough for me so other readers might like this more than me. Or maybe I’m wrong and it’s not supposed to be funny and I just didn’t get it. Oh well, not a book for me but the writing is there and I see potential in the author.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
April 2, 2019
Jess Lea’s A Taste of Her Vol 2 is one of the very few anthologies of short stories that I’ve given five stars to because every story was great. Her first novel didn’t disappoint either. Margaret Gale is a severe woman from her dress, her dealings with her staff, the way she runs her museum to the way she interacts with her community. Her staff members are terrified of her but she genuinely believes her mentorship will make them better curators. Bess Campbell works at a nearby gallery of curiosities run by a flamboyant hipster who thrives of controversy. Bess desperately wants to get hold of an unusual antiquity to display in their gallery but unfortunately it’s in storage at the Maritime Museum run by Margaret Gale.
Because Margaret refuses to acknowledge or return Bess’ calls, Bess decides to turn up at the museum without an appointment. Margaret is quite intrigued by this woman who isn’t cowered by her demeanor but there’s still no way she’s letting her antiquity be used in a freak show. Then things in the small town take a turn for the worse when they’re both implicated in murder.
Margaret is a fantastic character with her unrelenting austerity. Even Bess’ perpetually positive nature barely makes a dent. Their interaction is witty and the story has a lovely dark humour and quirkiness that runs through it. The unravelling of the mystery is very clever and wonderfully complex with a number of secondary characters who all add to the richness of the plot. It’s lovely to have main characters with diversity of body type and looks and even better that there isn’t an overt focus on it. I liked the characters so much that the only thing that disappointed me was that the focus was weighted much more in favour of the mystery than the romance.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Because Margaret refuses to acknowledge or return Bess’ calls, Bess decides to turn up at the museum without an appointment. Margaret is quite intrigued by this woman who isn’t cowered by her demeanor but there’s still no way she’s letting her antiquity be used in a freak show. Then things in the small town take a turn for the worse when they’re both implicated in murder.
Margaret is a fantastic character with her unrelenting austerity. Even Bess’ perpetually positive nature barely makes a dent. Their interaction is witty and the story has a lovely dark humour and quirkiness that runs through it. The unravelling of the mystery is very clever and wonderfully complex with a number of secondary characters who all add to the richness of the plot. It’s lovely to have main characters with diversity of body type and looks and even better that there isn’t an overt focus on it. I liked the characters so much that the only thing that disappointed me was that the focus was weighted much more in favour of the mystery than the romance.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
May 6, 2020
I went into this book blind and was surprised to discover this is not just an f/f romance but a cozy mystery*. For some head scratching reason I don't find those too often in lesfic.
I really enjoyed the lead, Bess, because she's an all around good and sympathetic character. She's also an unusual protagonist being a freckled red-head with a plump figure. Despite the crime aspect, the tone of the story is pretty light and there's some decent humor. The cast is over the top yet somehow grounded enough to be real. The romance is on the shallower side when it comes to the depth of a relationship yet was still believable. But, I never really warmed up to Margaret and took her with a shrug. I think Bess could do better. It does have the ice-queen, age-gap, hate to love, opposites attract romance vibe going on.
Overall, a good and entertaining read for those looking for something well written but not too serious.
*What's a cozy mystery? A tidy answer from wiki: "Cozy mysteries, also referred to as 'cozies', are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community."
I really enjoyed the lead, Bess, because she's an all around good and sympathetic character. She's also an unusual protagonist being a freckled red-head with a plump figure. Despite the crime aspect, the tone of the story is pretty light and there's some decent humor. The cast is over the top yet somehow grounded enough to be real. The romance is on the shallower side when it comes to the depth of a relationship yet was still believable. But, I never really warmed up to Margaret and took her with a shrug. I think Bess could do better. It does have the ice-queen, age-gap, hate to love, opposites attract romance vibe going on.
Overall, a good and entertaining read for those looking for something well written but not too serious.
*What's a cozy mystery? A tidy answer from wiki: "Cozy mysteries, also referred to as 'cozies', are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community."
June 14, 2019
So this is quite an intense, not easy but interesting read. For this review I will write how I felt along with some facts as bullet points:
1) Jess lea writes very well
2) there is no/very light romance
3) characters are not very likable
4) only one light sex scene
5) the mystery was so confusing and that’s probably why I never gave up on this book
6) I hope I never get to visit any town that is somehow even related to this town in the book :)
7) if you’re on the beach or on vacation, I would NOT recommend this one
8) if you’re in the mood to work ur brain, try sthg different then I totally recommend it.
Thank you YLVA for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.
1) Jess lea writes very well
2) there is no/very light romance
3) characters are not very likable
4) only one light sex scene
5) the mystery was so confusing and that’s probably why I never gave up on this book
6) I hope I never get to visit any town that is somehow even related to this town in the book :)
7) if you’re on the beach or on vacation, I would NOT recommend this one
8) if you’re in the mood to work ur brain, try sthg different then I totally recommend it.
Thank you YLVA for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.
April 13, 2019
A murder mystery that keeps you guessing. I truly did not guess the culprit
Bess lives in a tiny home with her chickens. She works at an odd ball museum until something terrible happens resulting in her and a rival museum operator become suspects.
This story carefully unfolds little by little. What I really liked was the quirkiness of all characters in this small town. Usually I get confused when there are so many players. But that never happened. Every single person was unique and purposeful to keep the reader trying to solve the case.
I'm not a fan of time gaps. The epilogue takes place 3 months later. While it wraps everything up nicely, I was a little disappointed with how the main romance was handled. It didn't seem consistent with how the main book ended.
I recommend to those who like murder mystery, quirky characters, tiny houses, and chickens.
I received an ARC from YLVA Publishing for an honest review
Bess lives in a tiny home with her chickens. She works at an odd ball museum until something terrible happens resulting in her and a rival museum operator become suspects.
This story carefully unfolds little by little. What I really liked was the quirkiness of all characters in this small town. Usually I get confused when there are so many players. But that never happened. Every single person was unique and purposeful to keep the reader trying to solve the case.
I'm not a fan of time gaps. The epilogue takes place 3 months later. While it wraps everything up nicely, I was a little disappointed with how the main romance was handled. It didn't seem consistent with how the main book ended.
I recommend to those who like murder mystery, quirky characters, tiny houses, and chickens.
I received an ARC from YLVA Publishing for an honest review
April 3, 2019
I was really looking forward to Jess Lea's debut full-length novel, "A Curious Woman," ever since Lee Winter mentioned it and having recently read its excerpt on Ylva. To say that I was excited and thrilled about exploring the tale after reading the excerpt would be an understatement! I must say, when I finally received my ARC copy and read the entire story, Ms. Lea didn't disappoint. Not at all! Not with her writing style nor her storytelling method and certainly not with all that eccentricity oozing out of literally every page, all those oddball characters, and quirky surroundings, that kept me entertained until the every end! So, well done, Ms. Lea!
This story, right off the bat, was one eccentrically original and creatively intriguing tale weaved in the world of mystery. I mean, I can safely tout that I'd never come across a book in lesfic that was written THIS atypically before and Ms. Lea sure had some fascinatingly creative juice flowing in her story-weaving of this particular story of mystery and intrigue, nevermind that little hint of romance, too! I certainly never came across anything quite this original in lesbian fiction, which is reason enough to pick this one up to read and explore its thrilling oddities yourself, not to say there aren't other reasons to do so, mind! Once you read it, you'll know!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
*An ARC copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This story, right off the bat, was one eccentrically original and creatively intriguing tale weaved in the world of mystery. I mean, I can safely tout that I'd never come across a book in lesfic that was written THIS atypically before and Ms. Lea sure had some fascinatingly creative juice flowing in her story-weaving of this particular story of mystery and intrigue, nevermind that little hint of romance, too! I certainly never came across anything quite this original in lesbian fiction, which is reason enough to pick this one up to read and explore its thrilling oddities yourself, not to say there aren't other reasons to do so, mind! Once you read it, you'll know!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
*An ARC copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
April 11, 2019
Arc from Ylva for honest review
Admittedly, I wasn’t certain if I would want to read this one until I spotted whatever I spotted. Had something to do with chickens, and I was intrigued enough to look closer.
I’ve probably mentioned in reviews about romances how tired I am of miscommunication/disinformation/etc. being overused to cause issues with the people attempting to couple up. Well, good thing here – this one here doesn’t use that particular trope. But, then again, this is also more of a mystery than a romance so…
This is a mix of two types of mysteries I’ve read before: the cozy amateur ‘sticking-nose-in-where-might-not-belong’ type (like with most of Dick Francis books, the ones not involve Private Investigators, at least), mixed in with ‘must solve the mystery or face risk of jail’ type of mystery (a favorite of Lawrence Block; I’ve no idea why I’m fixating on Francis and Block. When done right, that second type of mystery can be interesting – and it appeared to have been done . . . mostly right here. Too often, though, it seemed to be used to ‘force’ an ultra-skilled investigator (albeit amateur and or ‘different kind of investigator’) to use their skills to solve the crime.
Right, so, this is a mix of a romance and a mystery, set in a small town in Australia.
Two POV’s. Both have similarities and differences. One worked ultra-hard to ‘escape’ the small town she currently lives in – but was pulled back to town to help with family medical reasons. One of the reasons she wanted to flee involved her standing in the community – everyone sees her as basically evil, and more than likely a murderer. The other escaped to the small town after a particular event that has turned her family and friends against her. Bess is the one who owns the chickens and fled to the small town. Margaret is the one who tried to flee, but was pulled back by the failing health of her father.
Which reminds me: you know those many books that show a character who have returned ‘home’ (or wherever the family member happens to be living)? This book is set a certain distance after that occurred, after the family member has died. I do not recall if any number was given for the number of years that have passed, but I believe at least a few have. Neat little twist, eh?
Right, so: Bess works in a museum/Margaret runs a museum (this is part of my ‘similarities and differences’ that I forgot to include above). Bess works as an acquirer/buyer/whatever-this-is-called-in-museum world. Margaret, well, runs a museum. Both museums, the more classic Maritime Museum (Margaret’s) and the more ‘modern’ ‘odd random crap like dildos’ Cabinet of Curiosities (or whatever that was called; Bess’s place) are in the same small town. In Australia. Roughly nearish (by several hours on train) to Melbourne.
Bess and Margaret interact near the beginning of the book because Leon, Bess’s boss, wants Bess to buy a dildo from Margaret (which Margaret insists on calling a Roman fertility . . . thingie, and Bess keeps calling a dildo). They interact later because both are intrigued by the other. Then Leon is murdered, and Margaret is a prime suspect.
Things continue from there – including several occasions in which Bess keeps finding herself as a suspect for this or that, and being aggressively interviewed by the coppers, and Margaret finding herself in confinement and/or being a prime suspect.
Naturally, then, with the coppers fixated on Margaret (and Bess for certain lessor things), the two need to investigate the crime (though Bess had already started doing so before ‘needing to’ because it’s her boss that got murdered and she didn’t particularly like that). And do, for a good portion of the book.
I knew who the ‘big evil’ was fairly early on, but I’m not certain I would have but for an accident. For whatever reason, as sometimes happens with my Kindle, the book leapt forward hundreds of pages, and before I noticed what had occurred, I started reading certain things that confused me. It wasn’t actually the big reveal, nor was the ‘big evil’ spot-lighted there, but the character on those pages was acting weirdly, in the way I normally pinpoint as a ‘ah-ha! Suspect!’ way. Otherwise, I thought the mystery part was handled well.
I liked how the common lesbian romance tropes didn’t end up clogging up the book. And I liked how the two main characters were okay with the concept of being lesbians, and the concept of lesbians hooking up, without any of that ‘oh my god no! someone might find out! It’s a small town you know!’ type stuff also common in lesbian romances.
I can easily see how some people might not react the same way to the book as I did. I liked what I saw, but what I saw isn’t universally liked. Heh. I’m being purposefully vague.
Rating: 4.25
April 11 2019
Admittedly, I wasn’t certain if I would want to read this one until I spotted whatever I spotted. Had something to do with chickens, and I was intrigued enough to look closer.
I’ve probably mentioned in reviews about romances how tired I am of miscommunication/disinformation/etc. being overused to cause issues with the people attempting to couple up. Well, good thing here – this one here doesn’t use that particular trope. But, then again, this is also more of a mystery than a romance so…
This is a mix of two types of mysteries I’ve read before: the cozy amateur ‘sticking-nose-in-where-might-not-belong’ type (like with most of Dick Francis books, the ones not involve Private Investigators, at least), mixed in with ‘must solve the mystery or face risk of jail’ type of mystery (a favorite of Lawrence Block; I’ve no idea why I’m fixating on Francis and Block. When done right, that second type of mystery can be interesting – and it appeared to have been done . . . mostly right here. Too often, though, it seemed to be used to ‘force’ an ultra-skilled investigator (albeit amateur and or ‘different kind of investigator’) to use their skills to solve the crime.
Right, so, this is a mix of a romance and a mystery, set in a small town in Australia.
Two POV’s. Both have similarities and differences. One worked ultra-hard to ‘escape’ the small town she currently lives in – but was pulled back to town to help with family medical reasons. One of the reasons she wanted to flee involved her standing in the community – everyone sees her as basically evil, and more than likely a murderer. The other escaped to the small town after a particular event that has turned her family and friends against her. Bess is the one who owns the chickens and fled to the small town. Margaret is the one who tried to flee, but was pulled back by the failing health of her father.
Which reminds me: you know those many books that show a character who have returned ‘home’ (or wherever the family member happens to be living)? This book is set a certain distance after that occurred, after the family member has died. I do not recall if any number was given for the number of years that have passed, but I believe at least a few have. Neat little twist, eh?
Right, so: Bess works in a museum/Margaret runs a museum (this is part of my ‘similarities and differences’ that I forgot to include above). Bess works as an acquirer/buyer/whatever-this-is-called-in-museum world. Margaret, well, runs a museum. Both museums, the more classic Maritime Museum (Margaret’s) and the more ‘modern’ ‘odd random crap like dildos’ Cabinet of Curiosities (or whatever that was called; Bess’s place) are in the same small town. In Australia. Roughly nearish (by several hours on train) to Melbourne.
Bess and Margaret interact near the beginning of the book because Leon, Bess’s boss, wants Bess to buy a dildo from Margaret (which Margaret insists on calling a Roman fertility . . . thingie, and Bess keeps calling a dildo). They interact later because both are intrigued by the other. Then Leon is murdered, and Margaret is a prime suspect.
Things continue from there – including several occasions in which Bess keeps finding herself as a suspect for this or that, and being aggressively interviewed by the coppers, and Margaret finding herself in confinement and/or being a prime suspect.
Naturally, then, with the coppers fixated on Margaret (and Bess for certain lessor things), the two need to investigate the crime (though Bess had already started doing so before ‘needing to’ because it’s her boss that got murdered and she didn’t particularly like that). And do, for a good portion of the book.
I knew who the ‘big evil’ was fairly early on, but I’m not certain I would have but for an accident. For whatever reason, as sometimes happens with my Kindle, the book leapt forward hundreds of pages, and before I noticed what had occurred, I started reading certain things that confused me. It wasn’t actually the big reveal, nor was the ‘big evil’ spot-lighted there, but the character on those pages was acting weirdly, in the way I normally pinpoint as a ‘ah-ha! Suspect!’ way. Otherwise, I thought the mystery part was handled well.
I liked how the common lesbian romance tropes didn’t end up clogging up the book. And I liked how the two main characters were okay with the concept of being lesbians, and the concept of lesbians hooking up, without any of that ‘oh my god no! someone might find out! It’s a small town you know!’ type stuff also common in lesbian romances.
I can easily see how some people might not react the same way to the book as I did. I liked what I saw, but what I saw isn’t universally liked. Heh. I’m being purposefully vague.
Rating: 4.25
April 11 2019
December 21, 2021
I started this book several times and put it down again. I wanted to like it better than I did. I found the mystery enjoyable, it doesn’t start out as a mystery but slowly progresses into a mystery, but I couldn’t connect to the characters, they were not very likeable and just could really care about them. Also the romance (which is very light) didn’t work for me, I was missing chemistry. I have to mention that I listened to the audiobook and that might have affected my enjoyment as well as the narration felt a bit distant. Lots of people liked this better than I did, so I suggest to also look at some other reviews.
April 23, 2021
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢ 🚴♀️🐓👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « A Curious Woman ». So, here it is !!
1st of all : Thank you so much Ylva Publishing for providing me this book, I really appreciated my trip in Australia …
&
❤️ Wow! ❤️ Attagirl Jess Lea !! That’s a great debut novel you offered us… It’s original, unique and both intriguing & eccentric !! 👍👍
My rating : 4 ⭐️
The story is located in the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir and focuses on :
° Bess Campbell an openminded young woman who came here to begin a new life after a traumatic event & works in a gallery owned by a hipster known for his controversial exhibitions. &
° Margaret Gale an Ice queen who acts like a Disney villain while running an austere maritime museum. After more than two decades away, she came back in town ten years ago to take care of her ailing father and stayed after his death to be closer to her baby sister who suffers from psychatric problems. Seems everyone in town is afraid of her .. Oh, sorry, not everyone since Bess doesn’t seem to be impressed by this « witch with a capital B » …
The brutal & senseless murder of Bess’s boss and the events which follow it implicate them … So they decide to work together to expose the dangerous truth.
The pros :
° the title … « A Curious Woman » is just perfect to describe the main character’s behaviour. Bess Campbell’s curiosity is huge and it’ll lead her to a hell of an adventure …
° the not fantasised perfect toned bodied characters … Finally !!! So glad to find an author who lives in a more realistic world when it comes to her characters (this kind of author exist, of course, I know some of them but they are too rare …) => That’s really great to have, for once, not one but the 2 MCs who are like everyday women so … physically believable : a « voluptuous » woman (like millions of women in the world) and an over 45 (almost 50) year old woman, aging but who’s well « preserved » who doesn’t try to undo the time « damages » and is able to stay natural …
° a great intrigue (clever and complex in the same time) and some very good suspence… IDK why since the topics are totally different, but sometimes, it made me thought a lil bit to the movie « Usual Suspects ».
° a romance which doesn’t look (at all) like a romance but which brings the idea of an HEA in the end ....
° the good wording & style + some good (but not always likeable) secondary characters, (including Genghis the rooster)
° a great humor . Gosh !!!! There are some really funny stuff & I giggled & laughed out loud … a lot !! (OK .. I think that my cats and dogs are now convinced that I’m crazy, LOL)
° some really interesting vocabulary (including some slang aussie terms … I had a blast working on it !!)
The cons :
° the quite unhygienic side of B & M’s 1st « intimate encounter » … => Bet almost everyone won’t care about this « detail » but I do …
° the non realistic side of the Hags .
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Yes !!! A lot… it’s really fun & captivating (Seriously, I wasn’t able to put it down …)
Did I find the characters believable? => Definitely …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes, absolutely …
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes …
Would I read another book by this author? => Yes ! I’ll definitely check out her next novels …
Would I recommend this book => Yes, mainly to all fans of mystery but, of course, everyone can give it a try …
Hey guys and gals, you know that now it’s your turn … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢ 🚴♀️🐓👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
Additional remark : If you don’t mind, I’d like to add a lil remark ‘cause something about the cover bothers me, a lot :
What ??? => its illogicality when it comes to the chinese shadow of the woman on a bicycle
Why ?? => ‘cause, all the novel long, Bess, the one who rides her bike all the time, is clearly described as a very curvy /plump / voluptuous / rounded bodied woman with heavy breasts & hips but on the cover, it’s not that kind of woman we find. So since the character on the cover is supposed to be her, it doesn’t make sense (to me) to have a skinny lady on the bike instead of a plumper woman …
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « A Curious Woman ». So, here it is !!
1st of all : Thank you so much Ylva Publishing for providing me this book, I really appreciated my trip in Australia …
&
❤️ Wow! ❤️ Attagirl Jess Lea !! That’s a great debut novel you offered us… It’s original, unique and both intriguing & eccentric !! 👍👍
My rating : 4 ⭐️
The story is located in the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir and focuses on :
° Bess Campbell an openminded young woman who came here to begin a new life after a traumatic event & works in a gallery owned by a hipster known for his controversial exhibitions. &
° Margaret Gale an Ice queen who acts like a Disney villain while running an austere maritime museum. After more than two decades away, she came back in town ten years ago to take care of her ailing father and stayed after his death to be closer to her baby sister who suffers from psychatric problems. Seems everyone in town is afraid of her .. Oh, sorry, not everyone since Bess doesn’t seem to be impressed by this « witch with a capital B » …
The brutal & senseless murder of Bess’s boss and the events which follow it implicate them … So they decide to work together to expose the dangerous truth.
The pros :
° the title … « A Curious Woman » is just perfect to describe the main character’s behaviour. Bess Campbell’s curiosity is huge and it’ll lead her to a hell of an adventure …
° the not fantasised perfect toned bodied characters … Finally !!! So glad to find an author who lives in a more realistic world when it comes to her characters (this kind of author exist, of course, I know some of them but they are too rare …) => That’s really great to have, for once, not one but the 2 MCs who are like everyday women so … physically believable : a « voluptuous » woman (like millions of women in the world) and an over 45 (almost 50) year old woman, aging but who’s well « preserved » who doesn’t try to undo the time « damages » and is able to stay natural …
° a great intrigue (clever and complex in the same time) and some very good suspence… IDK why since the topics are totally different, but sometimes, it made me thought a lil bit to the movie « Usual Suspects ».
° a romance which doesn’t look (at all) like a romance but which brings the idea of an HEA in the end ....
° the good wording & style + some good (but not always likeable) secondary characters, (including Genghis the rooster)
° a great humor . Gosh !!!! There are some really funny stuff & I giggled & laughed out loud … a lot !! (OK .. I think that my cats and dogs are now convinced that I’m crazy, LOL)
° some really interesting vocabulary (including some slang aussie terms … I had a blast working on it !!)
The cons :
° the quite unhygienic side of B & M’s 1st « intimate encounter » … => Bet almost everyone won’t care about this « detail » but I do …
° the non realistic side of the Hags .
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Yes !!! A lot… it’s really fun & captivating (Seriously, I wasn’t able to put it down …)
Did I find the characters believable? => Definitely …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes, absolutely …
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes …
Would I read another book by this author? => Yes ! I’ll definitely check out her next novels …
Would I recommend this book => Yes, mainly to all fans of mystery but, of course, everyone can give it a try …
Hey guys and gals, you know that now it’s your turn … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢ 🚴♀️🐓👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
Additional remark : If you don’t mind, I’d like to add a lil remark ‘cause something about the cover bothers me, a lot :
What ??? => its illogicality when it comes to the chinese shadow of the woman on a bicycle
Why ?? => ‘cause, all the novel long, Bess, the one who rides her bike all the time, is clearly described as a very curvy /plump / voluptuous / rounded bodied woman with heavy breasts & hips but on the cover, it’s not that kind of woman we find. So since the character on the cover is supposed to be her, it doesn’t make sense (to me) to have a skinny lady on the bike instead of a plumper woman …
April 16, 2019
I love mystery books so i was really looking forward to reading it and It turn out to be an okay read for me. This is my first book by this author and I liked her writing.
Margaret Gale runs her museum in Port Bannir and is an ice queen kind of person, Bess Campbell works at nearby gallery. They have a rocky start because of their argument about faux-Roman fertility symbol/Antique dildo. But they get close after a murder occur in their town and together they try to solve it.
There was very little amount of romance. I love romance in my reads, so I was disappointed about romance part. It felt like something started and didn't finish.
As for mystery, It was pretty good. I kept guessing who the killer is. Overall it was okay and but I really hoped it was better.
Margaret Gale runs her museum in Port Bannir and is an ice queen kind of person, Bess Campbell works at nearby gallery. They have a rocky start because of their argument about faux-Roman fertility symbol/Antique dildo. But they get close after a murder occur in their town and together they try to solve it.
There was very little amount of romance. I love romance in my reads, so I was disappointed about romance part. It felt like something started and didn't finish.
As for mystery, It was pretty good. I kept guessing who the killer is. Overall it was okay and but I really hoped it was better.
November 12, 2021
A small town murder-mystery with quirky characters and a long history of drama to unfold.
I can see how this might not be for everyone. It's slow yet endearing to me, allowing you to spend time with the characters and get to know all the idiosyncrasies as well as those side characters and their secrets, too.
The tone and humour is rather dry perhaps, the jokes just left there, almost hanging, without much reaction, enabling you to react however you want - if at all - which I actually prefer. But I can see how it's an acquired taste. Perhaps it's an Australian thing? I always did struggle with the more Americanized humour with deliberately canned laughter and an inflection that says "insert reaction here". But I digress.
I loved the character of our MC, Bess. A plus size rockabilly styled lady who sews and crafts, fairly new to town, and lives in a tiny house out on a farmers property, being self sufficient and sustainable with her 3 chickens and a Rooster. She rides a bike around town, and works at the local curio and oddities museum, for her eccentric boss. She is a full engaging character with a past, and her own wants and a lovely soul about her. My one complaint was not knowing her actual age, (I'm thinking 30s?) and perhaps a bit more past info about her, but it was still detailed and lovely.
Then we have her love interest, Margaret, the more stoic and refined yet butch and intimidating older manager of the local 'proper' museum, which is dedicated to the sea-faring towns history. All facts and figures, no fun! Again we don't get an actual age, I suspect mid to late 40's?. She was born and raised in the small town, with all the gossip-mongering that goes with it. But she is closed off and loves to be a force of nature to be reckoned with, seemingly keeping everyone at arms lengths, while the locals gossip hurtfully about things they don't really understand.
The two are quite opposite, and yet them coming together somehow works. Think of the grumpy one soft for the sunshiney one trope! If you enjoy that, you may well enjoy this!
The main story is the murder of an eccentric local, and other small town dramas with a history of infamy around it being exposed. A property developer and her ilk sneaking around, lots of targets on backs and many people who could be suspects and perpetrators alike. If you like small town, cozy mysteries, you may like this!
I enjoyed it's unique charm and getting to know the characters and them getting to know each other as more than friends, and seeing those walls slowly crumble. Just everything you want from a romance, in my mind.
A recommend read, with a unique slant and tone, that ultimately worked for me!
I can see how this might not be for everyone. It's slow yet endearing to me, allowing you to spend time with the characters and get to know all the idiosyncrasies as well as those side characters and their secrets, too.
The tone and humour is rather dry perhaps, the jokes just left there, almost hanging, without much reaction, enabling you to react however you want - if at all - which I actually prefer. But I can see how it's an acquired taste. Perhaps it's an Australian thing? I always did struggle with the more Americanized humour with deliberately canned laughter and an inflection that says "insert reaction here". But I digress.
I loved the character of our MC, Bess. A plus size rockabilly styled lady who sews and crafts, fairly new to town, and lives in a tiny house out on a farmers property, being self sufficient and sustainable with her 3 chickens and a Rooster. She rides a bike around town, and works at the local curio and oddities museum, for her eccentric boss. She is a full engaging character with a past, and her own wants and a lovely soul about her. My one complaint was not knowing her actual age, (I'm thinking 30s?) and perhaps a bit more past info about her, but it was still detailed and lovely.
Then we have her love interest, Margaret, the more stoic and refined yet butch and intimidating older manager of the local 'proper' museum, which is dedicated to the sea-faring towns history. All facts and figures, no fun! Again we don't get an actual age, I suspect mid to late 40's?. She was born and raised in the small town, with all the gossip-mongering that goes with it. But she is closed off and loves to be a force of nature to be reckoned with, seemingly keeping everyone at arms lengths, while the locals gossip hurtfully about things they don't really understand.
The two are quite opposite, and yet them coming together somehow works. Think of the grumpy one soft for the sunshiney one trope! If you enjoy that, you may well enjoy this!
The main story is the murder of an eccentric local, and other small town dramas with a history of infamy around it being exposed. A property developer and her ilk sneaking around, lots of targets on backs and many people who could be suspects and perpetrators alike. If you like small town, cozy mysteries, you may like this!
I enjoyed it's unique charm and getting to know the characters and them getting to know each other as more than friends, and seeing those walls slowly crumble. Just everything you want from a romance, in my mind.
A recommend read, with a unique slant and tone, that ultimately worked for me!
April 24, 2019
I picked up A Curious Woman by Jess Lea on an impulse. I was looking for something different and was struck by the book's description of quirkiness and fun. I'm down for a good rom-com and I am always curious about a new author from Ylva Publishing.
Bess Campbell is learning to live a grounded grateful life. She has an off the grid tiny house, a handful of chickens and a job she absolutely loves at a hip and zany museum of oddities. Bess is a total hipster who lives her life quoting self-help mantras. She is a ray of positivity and light, with a heart of pure gold.
Margaret Gale is Bess's direct opposite. Margaret is stern, rigid and has guarded herself against everyone in her small seaside town. She is an outcast whose past is shrouded in gossip and rumors. Margaret comes across very cold and unforgiving but really has built a fortress around herself not to let anyone hurt her again.
These two are thrown together when Bess's boss and Margaret's rival, Leon is murdered. Everyone in Port Bannir immediately thinks Ms. Gale is the killer and is ready to pin it on her. Bess comes to Margaret's defense and they begin a journey of uncovering who done it in this sleepy small town.
What I liked about this book is 100% about Bess and Margaret. They were fascinating characters and their interactions together were delightful. The murder mystery was interesting but nowhere near as gripping as the romance. I wish there had been more of it. I'm hoping that this is a series where we get to see Bess and Margaret take on the bad guys again. For Jess Lea's first book I thought she produced an amazing debut. She is definitely an author whose works I will be reading again.
3.75 stars
Bess Campbell is learning to live a grounded grateful life. She has an off the grid tiny house, a handful of chickens and a job she absolutely loves at a hip and zany museum of oddities. Bess is a total hipster who lives her life quoting self-help mantras. She is a ray of positivity and light, with a heart of pure gold.
Margaret Gale is Bess's direct opposite. Margaret is stern, rigid and has guarded herself against everyone in her small seaside town. She is an outcast whose past is shrouded in gossip and rumors. Margaret comes across very cold and unforgiving but really has built a fortress around herself not to let anyone hurt her again.
These two are thrown together when Bess's boss and Margaret's rival, Leon is murdered. Everyone in Port Bannir immediately thinks Ms. Gale is the killer and is ready to pin it on her. Bess comes to Margaret's defense and they begin a journey of uncovering who done it in this sleepy small town.
What I liked about this book is 100% about Bess and Margaret. They were fascinating characters and their interactions together were delightful. The murder mystery was interesting but nowhere near as gripping as the romance. I wish there had been more of it. I'm hoping that this is a series where we get to see Bess and Margaret take on the bad guys again. For Jess Lea's first book I thought she produced an amazing debut. She is definitely an author whose works I will be reading again.
3.75 stars
March 29, 2019
I'm in love! With this book, with Jess Lea's writing and with a woman who has such a chilling reputation that "...perhaps the ghosts were afraid to disturb her." Margaret Gale also has the ability to scare her assistant half to death, merely because she can navigate her museum in the dark and aforementioned assistant can't remember where the light switch is. This first glimpse of Margaret is wonderful; she's elegant, reserved, sexy and the scene is very funny. ““This is a small coastal maritime museum. What is there to alarm you here? We only deal with shipwrecks, scurvy, snow-blindness, mutiny , rum, sodomy, and the lash.” She drew the last word out with a long, sibilant hiss.” I probably would have been terrified of Ms. Gale if I was working for her as a teenager, but combined with her heels and a suit, yeah I would also have been utterly besotted!
Bess is a wonderful character and I did really engage with her to the extent that at one point, I shouted at my kindle when I thought she was about to do something risky (thankfully I was alone in the room.) However, for me the story belonged to Margaret, it is an awesome story too by the way but more of that later. Ms Gale is typified by the wildness of the fearsome Southern Ocean contained in her maritime museum. She doesn't sugarcoat the ugly side of what early explorers and settlers had to do to survive, or gloss over it with fancy interactive displays. The region's accurate seafaring history is there for those who wish to learn more (don't ask about polar bears). Similarly, Margaret's own history is slowly revealed to Bess once she is able to excavate a few outer layers. One particularly beautiful passage takes place on the beach at night, with Bess and Margaret looking out to sea while being whipped by the wind. In her natural element Margaret begins to really open up about her past and how the coast brought her solace "It was peaceful. No one saw me." Such heartbreak from seven words.
Aside from these two, 'A Curious Woman' features a seriously intriguing murder mystery that had me baffled right until the climax. (I did have a very fleeting suspicion about this individual but then rejected them. I also love that I was not able to predict whodunnit). There's so much going on, it's believable, at no time did I want to shout at my kindle that things were happening that weren't scientifically possible (this is something that happens a lot when I'm reading/watching tv etc.) In short, it's awesome.
Finally the writing, from Margaret dryly describing a corporate nasty as "a refrigerator in a suit" & Bess having a rooster called Genghis, to some of the most vivid (I almost want to say fertile) descriptive writing: "...a flutter of colour against the concrete. A green dress in a shade that was both delicate and vivid, like a fern, its fronds unfurling."
I got an advance reader copy of this book but I have already pre-ordered and paid for my own copy. That's how good it is and how much I want Jess Lea to write another novel as soon as humanly possibly. You should do the same, reading this book will make you happy.
Bess is a wonderful character and I did really engage with her to the extent that at one point, I shouted at my kindle when I thought she was about to do something risky (thankfully I was alone in the room.) However, for me the story belonged to Margaret, it is an awesome story too by the way but more of that later. Ms Gale is typified by the wildness of the fearsome Southern Ocean contained in her maritime museum. She doesn't sugarcoat the ugly side of what early explorers and settlers had to do to survive, or gloss over it with fancy interactive displays. The region's accurate seafaring history is there for those who wish to learn more (don't ask about polar bears). Similarly, Margaret's own history is slowly revealed to Bess once she is able to excavate a few outer layers. One particularly beautiful passage takes place on the beach at night, with Bess and Margaret looking out to sea while being whipped by the wind. In her natural element Margaret begins to really open up about her past and how the coast brought her solace "It was peaceful. No one saw me." Such heartbreak from seven words.
Aside from these two, 'A Curious Woman' features a seriously intriguing murder mystery that had me baffled right until the climax. (I did have a very fleeting suspicion about this individual but then rejected them. I also love that I was not able to predict whodunnit). There's so much going on, it's believable, at no time did I want to shout at my kindle that things were happening that weren't scientifically possible (this is something that happens a lot when I'm reading/watching tv etc.) In short, it's awesome.
Finally the writing, from Margaret dryly describing a corporate nasty as "a refrigerator in a suit" & Bess having a rooster called Genghis, to some of the most vivid (I almost want to say fertile) descriptive writing: "...a flutter of colour against the concrete. A green dress in a shade that was both delicate and vivid, like a fern, its fronds unfurling."
I got an advance reader copy of this book but I have already pre-ordered and paid for my own copy. That's how good it is and how much I want Jess Lea to write another novel as soon as humanly possibly. You should do the same, reading this book will make you happy.
April 9, 2019
This story was very a funny and quirky story that was quite different from any Lesbian fiction novel I’ve read before.
Bess Campbell has escaped city life for the small village of Port Banir. She works at the Cabinet of Curiosities, a museum of the weird and wonderful, where no day is like the last. Ice Queen, Margaret Gale owns the Port Banir Maritime Museum where the locals don’t frequent often as her strict rules and the artifacts can make it quite boring. When a murder ties these two women together they begin to see that not only is this a setup but maybe opposites do attract!
Jess Lea set up a very exciting and unique story. I actually have a bit of a thing for the ‘Ice Queen’ trope so I was really excited about Margaret’s character from the beginning. It was nice to watch as Margret’s stone walls came down the more time she spent with Bess.
I just couldn’t personally connect with the intrigue side of the story and kept wishing there would be more build up to Margaret and Bess’s love story. I guess I am just a romantic at heart.
Despite this, I will give Jess Lea credit for constructing a story that doled out plot twist after plot twist. I wasn’t really sure where the book was headed at all until the very last few pages where I was shocked by the reveal. She built up a strong cast of secondary characters who are all well-fleshed out and have their own back stories of intrigue.
I’ll definitely check out what comes next from Jess Lea.
3.5 stars
Bess Campbell has escaped city life for the small village of Port Banir. She works at the Cabinet of Curiosities, a museum of the weird and wonderful, where no day is like the last. Ice Queen, Margaret Gale owns the Port Banir Maritime Museum where the locals don’t frequent often as her strict rules and the artifacts can make it quite boring. When a murder ties these two women together they begin to see that not only is this a setup but maybe opposites do attract!
Jess Lea set up a very exciting and unique story. I actually have a bit of a thing for the ‘Ice Queen’ trope so I was really excited about Margaret’s character from the beginning. It was nice to watch as Margret’s stone walls came down the more time she spent with Bess.
I just couldn’t personally connect with the intrigue side of the story and kept wishing there would be more build up to Margaret and Bess’s love story. I guess I am just a romantic at heart.
Despite this, I will give Jess Lea credit for constructing a story that doled out plot twist after plot twist. I wasn’t really sure where the book was headed at all until the very last few pages where I was shocked by the reveal. She built up a strong cast of secondary characters who are all well-fleshed out and have their own back stories of intrigue.
I’ll definitely check out what comes next from Jess Lea.
3.5 stars
February 24, 2021
I enjoyed this ice queen/small town/enemies to lovers romance very much. It combines an engaging crime story with a slow burn romance between two very interesting women.
Bess has just moved to the small town of Port Bannir, determined to embrace positive living after a difficult event in her recent past. Margaret is the frosty, older owner of the local Maritime museum, in direct competition with the business where Bess works. When developers move in, and a close contact is murdered, their worlds are turned upside down in more than one way. They are soon amongst the murder suspects, thus being drawn into solving the mystery whether they like it or not.
This was amusing, gripping, touching and romantic. The cast of supporting characters is great, including my new favourite lesfic pet Genghis the Rooster.
If you like lots of love scenes, this may not be for you, but it ticks many other boxes. Cat Gould does a great job with the narration. Recommended!
Bess has just moved to the small town of Port Bannir, determined to embrace positive living after a difficult event in her recent past. Margaret is the frosty, older owner of the local Maritime museum, in direct competition with the business where Bess works. When developers move in, and a close contact is murdered, their worlds are turned upside down in more than one way. They are soon amongst the murder suspects, thus being drawn into solving the mystery whether they like it or not.
This was amusing, gripping, touching and romantic. The cast of supporting characters is great, including my new favourite lesfic pet Genghis the Rooster.
If you like lots of love scenes, this may not be for you, but it ticks many other boxes. Cat Gould does a great job with the narration. Recommended!
April 3, 2023
This was a very quirky book read for me. Parts I liked and others were a struggle to get through. I enjoyed the mystery and the location descriptions.
I read it since I choose the sequel as an arc.
I read it since I choose the sequel as an arc.
May 3, 2019
“Margaret looked around the darkened museum, and weighed the harpoon between her hands”. Excerpt from A Curious Woman by Jess Lea
I dare you to walk away from a novel which starts like this! For the life of me I could not put this novel down after reading this first sentence. It pulled me into its depths hook, line and sinker.
Margaret Gale, owner and curator of the Maritime Museum has a dark past filled with a few dead bodies if all the rumours are true. She is a stern woman who is unliked and feared by her employees and fellow villagers.
Bess Campbell wants a fresh start in her life which involved moving to the village of Port Bannir and working at the artistically trendy Cabinet of Curiosities museum. Bess has simplified her life to allow joy and happiness to enter it. All goes according to plan until Leon Powell, the owner and curator of the Cabinet of Curiosities is found murdered.
I really enjoyed this mystery/romance with its outlandish characters and twisting plot. The dialogue is witty and engaging. Bess is someone you want to cheer on to succeed in her life and goals. She is a good woman caught up in the intrigue of defending Margaret and finding out who the real murderer is. She is a real Curious Woman.
4.5 stars
April 23, 2019
Very Enjoyable.
I liked A Curious Woman. It’s an intriguing mystery with the romance bubbling underneath. It can be a little confusing at times, but persevere. It will all be made clear.
I liked A Curious Woman. It’s an intriguing mystery with the romance bubbling underneath. It can be a little confusing at times, but persevere. It will all be made clear.
July 27, 2019
Now this is the kind of comical, cozy mystery that I have always wanted to read. I laughed so many times while I was reading this story and I'm having a hearty chuckle right now! Bess and Margaret couldn't be more different than oil and water yet they've somehow managed to bring out the best in each other even when their personalities clashed. I could easily empathize with Bess because she is always willing to help others even if it puts her in more trouble than she first bargained for and Margaret won me over with her gruff way of loving because she has the softest heart even though she'll never admit it! This author has made me fall in love with Port Bannir and the Australian landscape so I really hope that I'll have the pleasure of tagging along with Bess and Margaret in a lovely sequel to this story.
August 20, 2019
3.5.
Well writen.... good solid story.. like able characters... I didnt guess who did it 🤷♀️ ..
Well writen.... good solid story.. like able characters... I didnt guess who did it 🤷♀️ ..
May 11, 2019
I’ve waited a while to write a review for A Curious Woman by Jess Lea. I’m really conflicted about this book because while there were several things I like about the story, in the end I really struggled to read it. I actually stopped about a third of the way through and went to something else for a while. I did come back and finish though, and I’m glad I did.
The quirky characters are well defined and do add to the story. The setting is also well developed and seems to add to that quirkiness. It makes the story different and refreshing. The murder mystery is a good one and the author keeps you guessing until the very end. There is a small, slow-burn romance between the two main characters, but it is a minor part of the plot. This is mostly a mystery.
I think the biggest problem I had with the novel was the pacing of the story. The more I read, the more I struggled with the tale. I also didn’t quite connect with the main characters in spite of their well-developed personas. I also wished there had been more romance. I’m a sucker for romance even if it is a fade to black kind.
I will mention again that the mystery in this book is well done. Those of you who like a good murder mystery that keeps you guessing will probably like this book. Even though I struggled with this book, I think the author shows promise, and I will look for future books from her.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
The quirky characters are well defined and do add to the story. The setting is also well developed and seems to add to that quirkiness. It makes the story different and refreshing. The murder mystery is a good one and the author keeps you guessing until the very end. There is a small, slow-burn romance between the two main characters, but it is a minor part of the plot. This is mostly a mystery.
I think the biggest problem I had with the novel was the pacing of the story. The more I read, the more I struggled with the tale. I also didn’t quite connect with the main characters in spite of their well-developed personas. I also wished there had been more romance. I’m a sucker for romance even if it is a fade to black kind.
I will mention again that the mystery in this book is well done. Those of you who like a good murder mystery that keeps you guessing will probably like this book. Even though I struggled with this book, I think the author shows promise, and I will look for future books from her.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
An ARC copy was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
This ist a very good crime story. I was slightly skeptical, but the story proved me wrong. I really enjoyed reading. It is a crime story with realistic plot and strong characters. The relatioship is slowly building but interesting for anyone from small town. I kept reading because the crime story solution is mystery until very and.
Bess and Margaret are strong person and I really enjoyed their interactions.
This ist a very good crime story. I was slightly skeptical, but the story proved me wrong. I really enjoyed reading. It is a crime story with realistic plot and strong characters. The relatioship is slowly building but interesting for anyone from small town. I kept reading because the crime story solution is mystery until very and.
Bess and Margaret are strong person and I really enjoyed their interactions.
September 16, 2019
Personally, I think autumn is the best season to read cozy mysteries and with the abnormally cool days we've been getting lately, I picked A Curious Woman by Jess Lea right at the perfect moment.
I've had A Curious Woman on my radar since I came across the goodreads summary and saw that the themes contained antique collectible dildos and territorial chickens. I've had a thing for crazy chickens since I read Cari Hunter's Dark Peak series, and so I knew I just had to read this one eventually and I'm glad I finally did!
This book was a good mix of everything I enjoy: cozy mystery, small town, quirky characters, an ice queen and an age-gap romance.
Looking for a fresh start, Bess Campbell moved to Port Bannir where she runs the controversial Cabinet of Curiosities. After her boss is found dead in his office, Bess teams up with Margaret Gale, the owner of the maritime museum. Together, they try to figure out who the murderer is and what is really happening in Port Bannir.
I can't say that I liked Bess very much as a character. I have nothing in common with her and couldn't relate to her at all. She reminded me of Jessica Day from New Girl which isn't a bad thing. Just not my thing :p As for Margaret though... She was reminiscent of first season Regina Mills and of course I couldn't resist falling a little for her. She's mysterious and icy and oh so delicious.
Overall, I really enjoy this read, even though I figured out who the killer was pretty quickly (but not their motive). It was well-paced and it kept me engaged. I think Jess Lea is a good writer and I would definitely read more by her.
This is mainly a cozy mystery, so if you go into this expecting sizzling romance you'll be disappointed. It's very light on the romance, but I thought it was still pretty satisfying. I'd definitely give this one a try if cozy mystery is your thing :)
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I've had A Curious Woman on my radar since I came across the goodreads summary and saw that the themes contained antique collectible dildos and territorial chickens. I've had a thing for crazy chickens since I read Cari Hunter's Dark Peak series, and so I knew I just had to read this one eventually and I'm glad I finally did!
This book was a good mix of everything I enjoy: cozy mystery, small town, quirky characters, an ice queen and an age-gap romance.
Looking for a fresh start, Bess Campbell moved to Port Bannir where she runs the controversial Cabinet of Curiosities. After her boss is found dead in his office, Bess teams up with Margaret Gale, the owner of the maritime museum. Together, they try to figure out who the murderer is and what is really happening in Port Bannir.
I can't say that I liked Bess very much as a character. I have nothing in common with her and couldn't relate to her at all. She reminded me of Jessica Day from New Girl which isn't a bad thing. Just not my thing :p As for Margaret though... She was reminiscent of first season Regina Mills and of course I couldn't resist falling a little for her. She's mysterious and icy and oh so delicious.
Overall, I really enjoy this read, even though I figured out who the killer was pretty quickly (but not their motive). It was well-paced and it kept me engaged. I think Jess Lea is a good writer and I would definitely read more by her.
This is mainly a cozy mystery, so if you go into this expecting sizzling romance you'll be disappointed. It's very light on the romance, but I thought it was still pretty satisfying. I'd definitely give this one a try if cozy mystery is your thing :)
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
April 25, 2019
Curious!
Yep, this title definitely fits the description! I loved this novel, but I'm not sure I would read it again for at least a very long time, the reason behind that being its intriguing nature and unpredictable plot which made this 'who done it' an excellent read.
Yep, this title definitely fits the description! I loved this novel, but I'm not sure I would read it again for at least a very long time, the reason behind that being its intriguing nature and unpredictable plot which made this 'who done it' an excellent read.
April 9, 2019
A Curious Woman reminds me of an Agatha Christie-esque whodunit murder mystery. The protagonists could not be more polar opposites at first glance, Bess the minimalist self-improvement quoting (thankfully that lightened up quickly) hippie and Margaret the stern, rule-making (think Hecate Hardbroom) outcast of the quaint little seaside Port Bannir town who both slowly realize there is more than meets the eye than their first impressions of one another once both become implicated in a murder (or two). There are a lot of eccentric residents with skeleton in the closet secrets that slowly emerge throughout the story. Jess Lea crafts the interactions Bess has around town that with each one you could see them being the murderer and it leaves your mind going back to what you've learned before to question what you think you know and guessing until the very end. Jess Lea's debut novel was very well written though I had a few stops and starts reading this as I didn't feel rapt by the murder and didn't connect with many of the townsfolk other than Bess & Margaret, which made it a bit more difficult to get into and kept me from reading non-stop. I think this may be more due to the genre of cozy mystery (which I have admittedly not read since middle school). All and all this was a good book with a number of twists and turns due to the past and present secrets revealed throughout. I will definitely check out Jess Lea's future works.
November 1, 2022
First I read the book and now I listened to the audiobook. The narrator is as outstanding as the story and it was such a joy listening together with my wife. When we reached the end we decided to wait for a few months and then listen to the audiobook again.
November 6, 2024
That sultry, deep tone of Cat Gould’s voice is simply the perfect match for the enigmatic charm of my favorite reserved, formidable Aussie ice queens!
December 28, 2019
Just didn't get it. From the first sentence "Margaret looked around the darkened museum and weighed the harpoon between her hands" I knew it wasn't going to work. And it didn't- Sorry.
January 15, 2023
What a mystery. A mysterie with a lot of twist, but refressing. A very good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews