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Heloise Chancey Mysteries #2
A Necessary Murder
Stoke Newington, 1863: Little Margaret Lovejoy is found brutally murdered in the outhouse at her family's estate. A few days later, a man is cut down in a similar manner on the doorstep of courtesan and professional detective Heloise Chancey's prestigious address. Meanwhile, her maid, Amah Li Leen, must confront events from her past that appear to have erupted into the present day. Once again, Heloise is caught up in a maelstrom of murder and deceit that threatens to reach into the very heart of her existence.
330 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2018
8 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Tjia
4 books27 followersTjia has a PhD in Creative Writing and Literary Studies. Her novella The Fish Girl won Seizure’s Viva la Novella, 2017.
She has been shortlisted for the Josephine Ulrick Short Story Prize, Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, Fish Short Story Prize, and the Luke Bitmead Bursary and longlisted for CWA dagger awards. Her work has appeared in Review of Australian Fiction, Rex, Peril and Shibboleth and Other Stories.
She Be Damned is M.J. Tjia’s debut novel, and is the first instalment in her Heloise Chancey historical crime series.
M.J. lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her family, and as of January 2018 is now the Prose Editor of Peril Magazine.
She has been shortlisted for the Josephine Ulrick Short Story Prize, Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, Fish Short Story Prize, and the Luke Bitmead Bursary and longlisted for CWA dagger awards. Her work has appeared in Review of Australian Fiction, Rex, Peril and Shibboleth and Other Stories.
She Be Damned is M.J. Tjia’s debut novel, and is the first instalment in her Heloise Chancey historical crime series.
M.J. lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her family, and as of January 2018 is now the Prose Editor of Peril Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 23, 2018
The author has this read set in England however it has also been given an exotic past connection involving areas of Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma that form part of the plot. Early in the book Heloise a high class courtesan (and detective) is holding a soirée when a young child’s murder of a mutual friend is discussed and where during the discourse comes to light that threatening notes have been received by those mutually acquainted during their time in the east. Heloise is of mixed race which she hides successfully from her English acquaintances given the times of probable discrimination she would never be accepted into the circles she mixes in. Her maid Amah Li Leen a Malay is her mother but the link is kept secret. The story revolves around both of these women, Amah’s past is revealed that helps to form a subplot whereby she becomes obsessed with the thought that a family member is involved with the spate of murders. She sets out to search for Jakub who has recently returned to England from China and who disillusioned about his birth family has been on his own quest to discover the truth which also involves the same group of men. The group of men have received the threatening notes with signatures from a Chinese underworld gang and the connection is made to the Chinese uprising and deaths that occurred with regard to the Antimony mines. The Police making little headway organise Heloise to go under cover. However she is caught up in the trap and finds herself in real danger. Finally, the truth is revealed, Heloise is able to make valuable connections that ensures the real culprit is finally caught. The author has cleverly drawn out the book in such a manner that the reader is kept in suspense until the last chapter.
July 4, 2018
Heloise Chancey is just as fabulous in A Necessary Murder as she was in She Be Damned; full of twists, secrets, wit & debauchery the second book in this glorious series was even more thrilling than the first. I loved learning more about Amah & throughly enjoyed more time with Heloise. I love these characters & M. J. Tjia’s writing so much & I cannot wait for the next book.
⚠️ This book contains scenes of a sexual nature, discussions of murder & extreme violence, as well as characters prejudice against those of Asian descent ⚠️
I received this book from Legend Press in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2Ah
⚠️ This book contains scenes of a sexual nature, discussions of murder & extreme violence, as well as characters prejudice against those of Asian descent ⚠️
I received this book from Legend Press in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2Ah
dnf
March 1, 2021DNF @15%
2018; Pantera Press/Legend Press
I finished the first book, and it wasn't my cup of tea, but wanted to give the second book a try. It was very much like the first - slow and not exciting, so I gave up on the book. I will not be continuing the series.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2018; Pantera Press/Legend Press
I finished the first book, and it wasn't my cup of tea, but wanted to give the second book a try. It was very much like the first - slow and not exciting, so I gave up on the book. I will not be continuing the series.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
August 30, 2018
What do you get if you cross a female Sherlock Holmes with Hercule Poirot, and add a dash of Erast Fandorin?
Intrepid sleuth and high-class courtesan Heloise Chancey returns to her adventures in A Necessary Murder (Pantera Press 2018), the second novel in this mystery series by MJ Tjia. In the first book, She Be Damned, we were introduced to Heloise and her circle of friends, acquaintances, associates and clients as she became embroiled in some particularly vicious crimes. A Necessary Murder takes up where the first book finished, and opens with a similarly violent death: a local servant finds young Margaret Lovejoy brutally murdered in the outhouse. The child’s death causes an outcry, but it is only the beginning. A few days later, a man is killed in the same way – his throat sliced open – on Heloise Chancey’s doorstep as she entertains her guests. As the days pass, the body count gets higher, and Heloise is drawn once again into the world of dark appetites and criminal minds as she undertakes her duties as an unofficial but professional detective and police consultant. And once again, her primary career – as an expensive and sought-after courtesan – threatens to be sullied by her involvement in the murky malevolence of murder.
But Heloise cannot help her nature and cannot seem to avoid being drawn into the evil goings-on happening literally right on her own doorstep. I previously described Heloise as a capable, determined, thoroughly likeable and delightfully naughty character, and this continues to be an apt description. She is cheeky, playful and imaginative, with a quick wit and heightened sensibilities. She is also clever and cunning, daring and forthright. She can be petulant and coy, but she can also be generous, loving and sincere. As she assists Inspector Hatch in dealing with the terrible crimes, while trying to maintain the safety and security of her friends, she uses her bright intellect and her sharp mind to piece together the clues that present themselves. With a surfeit both of victims and of suspects, and with the reader never knowing who will be next on either list, Heloise races headfirst into trouble, using her womanly wiles and her persistent and perceptive personality to unearth the killer. There is a large cast of characters – almost too many sometimes, to keep track of – but each of them is drawn with care, even the most minor players.
In this second novel, we are given further insight not only into Heloise’s life, but also the life of her maid, Amah Li Leen. In fact, Amah’s voice plays a distinct and major role in this book, and we are treated to much more of her backstory. MJ Tjia has a masterful ability to sketch out the lives of these characters. She reveals only as much of their history as is necessary for the story in hand, and yet as readers we infer that there is so much more yet to be discovered. Every so often she will mention a small detail, or make reference to some historical incident, cementing the feeling that the lives of Heloise and Amah and their household of servants are a complex matrix, and that we are only just beginning to skim the surface. This is a writer who knows how to hold back, how to suggest the edges of a mystery without succumbing to the temptation to tell everything at once. She shows great restraint, allowing the narrative to unfold at its own pace. By the end of the book, we feel we have read a complete story (like any good crime novel, the crime has been solved and there is a satisfying resolution), and yet we also feel immersed in some greater journey, as we wonder about the threads of Heloise’s life which are not tied neatly but are still loose; we imagine where those threads might lead if we were only to tease them out a little more.
I have no doubt that there will be a third book in this series, and there are enough clues and sinister secrets in the first two books to imagine that the next will be just as engrossing. MJ Tjia was recently shortlisted (under her real name Mirandi Stanton) for the Stella Prize for her literary novella The Fish Girl, and although these Heloise Chancey novels are very different in tone, genre and style, what they have in common is great writing anchored in time and place by an abundance of particular details and sensations that construct authenticity and believability.
Heloise Chancey may be a fictional character living her life in London in the mid 1800’s, but she is very much a woman for our times. As a courtesan she is accomplished, admired, professional, discrete and charming; as a sleuth she is strong-willed, resolute, proficient, inventive and decisive. She carries out her duties with a spirited sense of fun and a sassy and mischievous impudence. She may be trapped in the voluminous skirts and the misogynist attitudes of 200 years ago, but she somehow manages to transcend those limitations and to confront scandal and misdeeds in a thoroughly dogged manner whilst managing to remain ladylike and demure. Her costumes are fabulous, her presentation is neatly coiffured, and her frills and flounces remain unruffled through the most dire of circumstances. MJ Tjia combines this endearing character with the page-turning thrills of a good whodunnit, and surprises us every so often with a visceral, cocky or risqué detail. This rollicking read is wrapped up in the smells and sounds of urban Victorian English life, intricately woven with all the colour and flavour of the East, the added complexity of Asian influence fuelled by MJ Tjia’s own heritage.
Intrepid sleuth and high-class courtesan Heloise Chancey returns to her adventures in A Necessary Murder (Pantera Press 2018), the second novel in this mystery series by MJ Tjia. In the first book, She Be Damned, we were introduced to Heloise and her circle of friends, acquaintances, associates and clients as she became embroiled in some particularly vicious crimes. A Necessary Murder takes up where the first book finished, and opens with a similarly violent death: a local servant finds young Margaret Lovejoy brutally murdered in the outhouse. The child’s death causes an outcry, but it is only the beginning. A few days later, a man is killed in the same way – his throat sliced open – on Heloise Chancey’s doorstep as she entertains her guests. As the days pass, the body count gets higher, and Heloise is drawn once again into the world of dark appetites and criminal minds as she undertakes her duties as an unofficial but professional detective and police consultant. And once again, her primary career – as an expensive and sought-after courtesan – threatens to be sullied by her involvement in the murky malevolence of murder.
But Heloise cannot help her nature and cannot seem to avoid being drawn into the evil goings-on happening literally right on her own doorstep. I previously described Heloise as a capable, determined, thoroughly likeable and delightfully naughty character, and this continues to be an apt description. She is cheeky, playful and imaginative, with a quick wit and heightened sensibilities. She is also clever and cunning, daring and forthright. She can be petulant and coy, but she can also be generous, loving and sincere. As she assists Inspector Hatch in dealing with the terrible crimes, while trying to maintain the safety and security of her friends, she uses her bright intellect and her sharp mind to piece together the clues that present themselves. With a surfeit both of victims and of suspects, and with the reader never knowing who will be next on either list, Heloise races headfirst into trouble, using her womanly wiles and her persistent and perceptive personality to unearth the killer. There is a large cast of characters – almost too many sometimes, to keep track of – but each of them is drawn with care, even the most minor players.
In this second novel, we are given further insight not only into Heloise’s life, but also the life of her maid, Amah Li Leen. In fact, Amah’s voice plays a distinct and major role in this book, and we are treated to much more of her backstory. MJ Tjia has a masterful ability to sketch out the lives of these characters. She reveals only as much of their history as is necessary for the story in hand, and yet as readers we infer that there is so much more yet to be discovered. Every so often she will mention a small detail, or make reference to some historical incident, cementing the feeling that the lives of Heloise and Amah and their household of servants are a complex matrix, and that we are only just beginning to skim the surface. This is a writer who knows how to hold back, how to suggest the edges of a mystery without succumbing to the temptation to tell everything at once. She shows great restraint, allowing the narrative to unfold at its own pace. By the end of the book, we feel we have read a complete story (like any good crime novel, the crime has been solved and there is a satisfying resolution), and yet we also feel immersed in some greater journey, as we wonder about the threads of Heloise’s life which are not tied neatly but are still loose; we imagine where those threads might lead if we were only to tease them out a little more.
I have no doubt that there will be a third book in this series, and there are enough clues and sinister secrets in the first two books to imagine that the next will be just as engrossing. MJ Tjia was recently shortlisted (under her real name Mirandi Stanton) for the Stella Prize for her literary novella The Fish Girl, and although these Heloise Chancey novels are very different in tone, genre and style, what they have in common is great writing anchored in time and place by an abundance of particular details and sensations that construct authenticity and believability.
Heloise Chancey may be a fictional character living her life in London in the mid 1800’s, but she is very much a woman for our times. As a courtesan she is accomplished, admired, professional, discrete and charming; as a sleuth she is strong-willed, resolute, proficient, inventive and decisive. She carries out her duties with a spirited sense of fun and a sassy and mischievous impudence. She may be trapped in the voluminous skirts and the misogynist attitudes of 200 years ago, but she somehow manages to transcend those limitations and to confront scandal and misdeeds in a thoroughly dogged manner whilst managing to remain ladylike and demure. Her costumes are fabulous, her presentation is neatly coiffured, and her frills and flounces remain unruffled through the most dire of circumstances. MJ Tjia combines this endearing character with the page-turning thrills of a good whodunnit, and surprises us every so often with a visceral, cocky or risqué detail. This rollicking read is wrapped up in the smells and sounds of urban Victorian English life, intricately woven with all the colour and flavour of the East, the added complexity of Asian influence fuelled by MJ Tjia’s own heritage.
January 9, 2019
The first installment of this series introduced readers to sassy, whip-smart, courtesan-slash-unwitting sleuth Heloise Chancey and this second installment shows just how brilliant Lady Heloise truly is. She and Amah Li-Leen make for an exceptional team that carry an echo of Holmes and Watson with their uncanny ability to work better together as opposed to singular entities.
When I finished She Be Damned, one of my main hopes was to get more background from Amah Li-Leen’s past and her current relationship with Heloise and I can happily say that I was granted my wish. Amah’s past plays a heavy role in this current installment, with the past and present colliding and threatening both Amah’s and Heloise’s lives. Weaving in historical Asian culture with Victorian England, Amah’s past gave an eye-opening view of the prejudices and the oppression that many people of Asian descent face in Western culture, and that aspect is something that plays a role in the current mystery that Amah and Heloise are facing.
The series is a definitely darker series with the grisly murders and accompanying violence, but I absolutely adore how that’s balanced nicely with the charm and wit of the characters, particularly Heloise. And with her job as a courtesan, there’s plenty of brightness to even out the dark. But don’t get me wrong — I love the dark and grisly, but it’s always nice to have bright spots so things don’t get too, too heavy.
All told, A Necessary Murder was a fantastic second installment in this delightful and dark mystery series that’s slowly but surely becoming a favorite of mine. Witty characters, sexy-times, solid mysteries with murder and mayhem, each book is such a delight to read and I can’t wait to see what Mija brings readers in the third installment.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
When I finished She Be Damned, one of my main hopes was to get more background from Amah Li-Leen’s past and her current relationship with Heloise and I can happily say that I was granted my wish. Amah’s past plays a heavy role in this current installment, with the past and present colliding and threatening both Amah’s and Heloise’s lives. Weaving in historical Asian culture with Victorian England, Amah’s past gave an eye-opening view of the prejudices and the oppression that many people of Asian descent face in Western culture, and that aspect is something that plays a role in the current mystery that Amah and Heloise are facing.
The series is a definitely darker series with the grisly murders and accompanying violence, but I absolutely adore how that’s balanced nicely with the charm and wit of the characters, particularly Heloise. And with her job as a courtesan, there’s plenty of brightness to even out the dark. But don’t get me wrong — I love the dark and grisly, but it’s always nice to have bright spots so things don’t get too, too heavy.
All told, A Necessary Murder was a fantastic second installment in this delightful and dark mystery series that’s slowly but surely becoming a favorite of mine. Witty characters, sexy-times, solid mysteries with murder and mayhem, each book is such a delight to read and I can’t wait to see what Mija brings readers in the third installment.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
September 3, 2018
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, because the heroine is that rare creature in a historical fiction book; a person of colour. Heloise Chancey is a half-Chinese, high-class courtesan in Victorian London, living with her maid/mother Amah Li Leen and occasionally solving crimes. This is the second book in a series about Heloise, and I’m not sure how much backstory we missed in the first, but despite much of the book being told in the first person from Heloise’s point of view, I didn’t feel like I really got to know her at all.
The parts of the book told in third person with Amah as the protagonist were the parts I really enjoyed. Most people don’t think about the fact that Victorian London was a melting pot of different cultures, with sailors coming in daily on ships from all over the world. The dock areas were populated with Chinese, Indian, Malay, Jamaican, Zanzibaran and many more non-European folk, and it’s really a refreshing change to have them not just featured but actually star in a historical novel. Reading about Amah’s life experiences and her current way of life as a Malayan Chinese woman in London was enlightening and intriguing, as were the references to an early Chinese triad gang who came under suspicion for the murders in the book.
This isn’t a read for the faint-hearted; it’s billed as Agatha Christie meets Sherlock Holmes and there’s more than enough blood and gore in it to suit fans of either, including the gruesome murder of a young girl, and an attempted sexual assault which could prove triggering for some. The mystery was intriguing and I really didn’t figure out whodunnit until the reveals.
I did enjoy this, but Heloise was just too enigmatic a character for me to really get to know her, particularly with most of the book told in her first-person PoV. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
The parts of the book told in third person with Amah as the protagonist were the parts I really enjoyed. Most people don’t think about the fact that Victorian London was a melting pot of different cultures, with sailors coming in daily on ships from all over the world. The dock areas were populated with Chinese, Indian, Malay, Jamaican, Zanzibaran and many more non-European folk, and it’s really a refreshing change to have them not just featured but actually star in a historical novel. Reading about Amah’s life experiences and her current way of life as a Malayan Chinese woman in London was enlightening and intriguing, as were the references to an early Chinese triad gang who came under suspicion for the murders in the book.
This isn’t a read for the faint-hearted; it’s billed as Agatha Christie meets Sherlock Holmes and there’s more than enough blood and gore in it to suit fans of either, including the gruesome murder of a young girl, and an attempted sexual assault which could prove triggering for some. The mystery was intriguing and I really didn’t figure out whodunnit until the reveals.
I did enjoy this, but Heloise was just too enigmatic a character for me to really get to know her, particularly with most of the book told in her first-person PoV. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
November 13, 2018
This is the second book in this Victorian mystery series following under cover Detective Heloise Chancey. I wasn’t sure, after reading the first book in this series, how a second story would form. Well I will say now I am delighted with it. Heloise is far from the red light district in this story but facing just as great and more personal danger. The year is still 1863.
When a 3-year-old little girl is found brutally murdered, there is an outcry but when her father meets the same fate soon after and on Heloise’s own door step, not only was it a gruesome discovery but could also mean that the rest of this unfortunate man’s family could also be in danger from the killer. In this story Heloise finds herself taking on the role of Nanny to little Cyril in order to snoop round the family home both in the servant quarters and within the family itself. Her maid Amah Li Leen, who has a much closer personal link to Heloise than is publicly known, finds her own agenda in this story.
This story once again hi-lights the terrible way in which women and anyone of a different race were treated in the community and unfortunately, children were even further down the pecking list. These are real sort of Miss Marple type mysteries but with so much more gore and grit. Heloise has little maternal instinct for the boy in her charge and I am sure she will be the cause of many dentist visits for him. I do though love her determination in finding the killer, she is a woman born far before her time.
M.J. Tjai drip feeds more knowledge of Heloise in this story, which is heart wrenching in so many ways. It is shocking and really quite disturbing as the whole truth of it all comes out. I love how it is written, a real feel authentic adventure that isn’t so many jumps back from today. What a tremendous hard life it was. What I really am intrigued with is finding out about the different aspects of life in Victorian London. From the wealthy aristocrats to the poorest on the street, I am transfixed with it all. Loved this second book and hope number three follows shortly too.
When a 3-year-old little girl is found brutally murdered, there is an outcry but when her father meets the same fate soon after and on Heloise’s own door step, not only was it a gruesome discovery but could also mean that the rest of this unfortunate man’s family could also be in danger from the killer. In this story Heloise finds herself taking on the role of Nanny to little Cyril in order to snoop round the family home both in the servant quarters and within the family itself. Her maid Amah Li Leen, who has a much closer personal link to Heloise than is publicly known, finds her own agenda in this story.
This story once again hi-lights the terrible way in which women and anyone of a different race were treated in the community and unfortunately, children were even further down the pecking list. These are real sort of Miss Marple type mysteries but with so much more gore and grit. Heloise has little maternal instinct for the boy in her charge and I am sure she will be the cause of many dentist visits for him. I do though love her determination in finding the killer, she is a woman born far before her time.
M.J. Tjai drip feeds more knowledge of Heloise in this story, which is heart wrenching in so many ways. It is shocking and really quite disturbing as the whole truth of it all comes out. I love how it is written, a real feel authentic adventure that isn’t so many jumps back from today. What a tremendous hard life it was. What I really am intrigued with is finding out about the different aspects of life in Victorian London. From the wealthy aristocrats to the poorest on the street, I am transfixed with it all. Loved this second book and hope number three follows shortly too.
August 11, 2018
Loved the first in the series - She Be Damned - and this second outing is a continuation of the story of Victorian England courtesan, Heloise Chancery.
Victorian England was a hotbed of crime and unsolved murders, with the influx of peoples from exotic locations as the Empire spread its grubby hands in the name of commerce and trade. A perfect backdrop for a thrilling story.
In this story, a link to the past rears its ugly head, resulting in a series of gruesome murders - all of which has the seemingly unflappable Amah Li Leen in a proverbial flap! What in Amah's past has come back to haunt her?
Yet, what I was immediately struck by when embarking on this story, was the similarity with the The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective .
I will let the reader decide.
Victorian England was a hotbed of crime and unsolved murders, with the influx of peoples from exotic locations as the Empire spread its grubby hands in the name of commerce and trade. A perfect backdrop for a thrilling story.
In this story, a link to the past rears its ugly head, resulting in a series of gruesome murders - all of which has the seemingly unflappable Amah Li Leen in a proverbial flap! What in Amah's past has come back to haunt her?
Yet, what I was immediately struck by when embarking on this story, was the similarity with the The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective .
I will let the reader decide.
September 26, 2018
The second outing for Heloise Chancey, A NECESSARY MURDER follows on from the promising debut SHE BE DAMNED. In that novel we were introduced to Heloise Chancey, courtesan, independent woman and occasional detective. A combination Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poroit in an 1800's V.I. Warshawski depiction, Chancey is considered, cautious, fearless and disdainful of societal rules and expectations. She's a highly sought after courtesan with lovers and champions in all sorts of places, and a fondness for detecting that makes enormous sense. So far the crimes she's involved in have had a certain female or domestic leaning about them, making her insertion into the story, in the timeframe, conceivable and, one supposes, achievable.
In A NECESSARY MURDER more is drawn out about Chancey's mixed race background - her Malay "maid" is actually her mother, and her involvement in Chancey's investigation in this outing is more overt - with Amah Li Leen's suspicions about a series of violent deaths, including that of a very young child, falling very close to home indeed. Chancey is called upon to take a position as governess in the home of the first victim - looking after a younger brother - in an attempt to work out if these murders are connected to events years ago in Malaysia, or if there's something closer to home at their heart.
SHE BE DAMNED delivered much potential in the character of Heloise Chancey, an unapologetic, strong woman surviving in a world that's not well disposed towards independent women. Her bravery tempered by intelligence, and a burning desire to see wrongs righted, the basic plot of the first novel had Chancey involved for reasons that made enormous sense. In A NECESSARY MURDER there's slightly less personal motivation for her (as opposed to her mother, but that's not known to Chancey until much later on), so she's taking more of a role as an independent private detective. Because of that there's something slightly less convincing about the underlying plot elements here which struggle a bit for clarity of purpose. Instead, this time, Amah is taking the more personal involvement and that thread has considerable credence as a result. It's when writing about the personal circumstances of these women that Tjia really hits her high notes.
That's not to say that the mystery elements aren't interesting, especially the interspersion of history and societal norms from the time, although it may be that you will have had to read the first book as much of the setup from there is required reading. For this reader at least, it's the personal stories of Heloise Chancey and her mother Amah Li Leen that leave me wanting this series to continue.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
In A NECESSARY MURDER more is drawn out about Chancey's mixed race background - her Malay "maid" is actually her mother, and her involvement in Chancey's investigation in this outing is more overt - with Amah Li Leen's suspicions about a series of violent deaths, including that of a very young child, falling very close to home indeed. Chancey is called upon to take a position as governess in the home of the first victim - looking after a younger brother - in an attempt to work out if these murders are connected to events years ago in Malaysia, or if there's something closer to home at their heart.
SHE BE DAMNED delivered much potential in the character of Heloise Chancey, an unapologetic, strong woman surviving in a world that's not well disposed towards independent women. Her bravery tempered by intelligence, and a burning desire to see wrongs righted, the basic plot of the first novel had Chancey involved for reasons that made enormous sense. In A NECESSARY MURDER there's slightly less personal motivation for her (as opposed to her mother, but that's not known to Chancey until much later on), so she's taking more of a role as an independent private detective. Because of that there's something slightly less convincing about the underlying plot elements here which struggle a bit for clarity of purpose. Instead, this time, Amah is taking the more personal involvement and that thread has considerable credence as a result. It's when writing about the personal circumstances of these women that Tjia really hits her high notes.
That's not to say that the mystery elements aren't interesting, especially the interspersion of history and societal norms from the time, although it may be that you will have had to read the first book as much of the setup from there is required reading. For this reader at least, it's the personal stories of Heloise Chancey and her mother Amah Li Leen that leave me wanting this series to continue.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
June 28, 2018
A new favorite series. Beautifully evocative settings; Interesting, complex characters and exciting mystery. The only bad thing about getting to read this book early (thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC ebook in exchange for this review) is that I’ll have even a longer wait for the next one! Terrific book, highly recommended!
August 8, 2018
I read the first book in this series, She Be Damned, a few weeks ago, having bought it because I got this from NetGalley and didn't want to read them out of order. Overall I liked that one more than this, which rather dragged until the end when all the action happens. It would be okay to read this as a standalone, in fact, as you are given enough backstory and they are separate mysteries.
Heloise Chancey, courtesan, sometime actress, and occasional detective, is hosting a soirée at her elegant Mayfair home, with her lover, Hatterleigh, and various society friends, when a man is found on her doorstep with his throat slashed. This murder is very similar to that of a young girl in Stoke Newington, so Heloise is persuaded to go undercover as a nursemaid for the remaining children. Meanwhile Amah Li Leen is trying to find her nephew, back in London after a long journey, and wondering why he has been spotted near the crime scene...
I like the premise of these books, a feisty independent female solving mysteries in Victorian London. There were evocative descriptions of the foul smelling streets, and horrendous poverty.
In the first book, Heloise's vanity and obsession with her clothes amusing, but here it crosses over into arrogance and became rather tedious. On the other hand, she did a lot more actual detecting in this one, and generally got herself out of trouble, rather than having to be rescued. She seemed more selfish here, though, and treats her mother appallingly. The mystery took a bit of unravelling and relied on some hefty coincidences, but I didn't guess the killer's identity.
I probably won't read any more of these, because they are written in the first person present, which I loathe. This is a shame, as otherwise the writing was pretty good, and it feels like there is more to find out about Heloise and Li Leen. Thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NB this is the third book I have read from this Australian publisher, and the ARCs were all were only available via Adobe Digital Editions, rather than Kindle. This may limit availability for some, especially as it disappeared from the app on my main iPad, although fortunately remained on the old one, as I was midway through. This doesn't matter now, as it's past the archive date, but is a warning to me and others to be careful with any future requests. They have generally been good books, different to the ordinary, so I do recommend checking them out, especially as from memory they were all "Read Now."
Heloise Chancey, courtesan, sometime actress, and occasional detective, is hosting a soirée at her elegant Mayfair home, with her lover, Hatterleigh, and various society friends, when a man is found on her doorstep with his throat slashed. This murder is very similar to that of a young girl in Stoke Newington, so Heloise is persuaded to go undercover as a nursemaid for the remaining children. Meanwhile Amah Li Leen is trying to find her nephew, back in London after a long journey, and wondering why he has been spotted near the crime scene...
I like the premise of these books, a feisty independent female solving mysteries in Victorian London. There were evocative descriptions of the foul smelling streets, and horrendous poverty.
In the first book, Heloise's vanity and obsession with her clothes amusing, but here it crosses over into arrogance and became rather tedious. On the other hand, she did a lot more actual detecting in this one, and generally got herself out of trouble, rather than having to be rescued. She seemed more selfish here, though, and treats her mother appallingly. The mystery took a bit of unravelling and relied on some hefty coincidences, but I didn't guess the killer's identity.
I probably won't read any more of these, because they are written in the first person present, which I loathe. This is a shame, as otherwise the writing was pretty good, and it feels like there is more to find out about Heloise and Li Leen. Thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NB this is the third book I have read from this Australian publisher, and the ARCs were all were only available via Adobe Digital Editions, rather than Kindle. This may limit availability for some, especially as it disappeared from the app on my main iPad, although fortunately remained on the old one, as I was midway through. This doesn't matter now, as it's past the archive date, but is a warning to me and others to be careful with any future requests. They have generally been good books, different to the ordinary, so I do recommend checking them out, especially as from memory they were all "Read Now."
August 18, 2018
I first came into contact with M. J Tjia’s work almost exactly a year ago, with the great book She Be Damned, and here, we’re diving right back into the thick of things, into the lives of Heloise Chancey, Victorian courtesan and part-time mystery solver, and her mother, Amah, or Li Lee.
This book continues to build on the rich storylines it set in motion during She Be Damned: we meet some old faces, some new people and, of course, a murder that may or may not be tied to Amah’s personal history. It’s really refreshing to see how the Malay and Chinese communities lived in Victorian England- I don’t think it’s something we do see enough of. It also adds a new angle to the story, as Tjia dives into the revenge and anger that many justifiably held against the colonialists.
But this is only one subplot. A prominent family’s daughter has been murdered, and she’s only the first to go in a grisly spate of killings that sees Heloise enter the fray once more. She’s just as fabulous the first time around: gloriously unapologetic about who she is, resourceful, quick-witted and always ready with a witty riposte or two. One scene, where she takes over the role of children’s nanny for a week, had me in stitches, just because the fish-out-of-water angle is played so well. Her relationship with Amah comes under a lot more scrutiny here, which is fascinating (especially as we didn’t know they were related in the first book!) and watching the strained, loving and complex relationship between the two of them is really rewarding, especially by the end.
There are so many strands to this book that sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but it’s always interesting. We find out more about the past of Li Leen, her investigations in the present, and how it ties into Heloise’s investigation. There are swashbuckling soldiers, dark deeds in dark alleyways, and taking us from gin palaces to genteel country houses: as far as an introduction to Victorian society goes, this was remarkably effective, and really fascinating!
Enjoyable as it was, I do think that, at times, the book struggled to connect the two strands of story, and the subplot did feel irrelevant for large parts of the book. Tjia also has the tendency to keep us guessing on plot twists for far longer than is necessary- or believable, where the characters’ actions are concerned, which can be frustrating when they’re finally revealed.
Despite that, this was a tightly-plotted story, with a satisfying (if a tad bloody) ending that left me looking forward to the next instalment. More please!
This book continues to build on the rich storylines it set in motion during She Be Damned: we meet some old faces, some new people and, of course, a murder that may or may not be tied to Amah’s personal history. It’s really refreshing to see how the Malay and Chinese communities lived in Victorian England- I don’t think it’s something we do see enough of. It also adds a new angle to the story, as Tjia dives into the revenge and anger that many justifiably held against the colonialists.
But this is only one subplot. A prominent family’s daughter has been murdered, and she’s only the first to go in a grisly spate of killings that sees Heloise enter the fray once more. She’s just as fabulous the first time around: gloriously unapologetic about who she is, resourceful, quick-witted and always ready with a witty riposte or two. One scene, where she takes over the role of children’s nanny for a week, had me in stitches, just because the fish-out-of-water angle is played so well. Her relationship with Amah comes under a lot more scrutiny here, which is fascinating (especially as we didn’t know they were related in the first book!) and watching the strained, loving and complex relationship between the two of them is really rewarding, especially by the end.
There are so many strands to this book that sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but it’s always interesting. We find out more about the past of Li Leen, her investigations in the present, and how it ties into Heloise’s investigation. There are swashbuckling soldiers, dark deeds in dark alleyways, and taking us from gin palaces to genteel country houses: as far as an introduction to Victorian society goes, this was remarkably effective, and really fascinating!
Enjoyable as it was, I do think that, at times, the book struggled to connect the two strands of story, and the subplot did feel irrelevant for large parts of the book. Tjia also has the tendency to keep us guessing on plot twists for far longer than is necessary- or believable, where the characters’ actions are concerned, which can be frustrating when they’re finally revealed.
Despite that, this was a tightly-plotted story, with a satisfying (if a tad bloody) ending that left me looking forward to the next instalment. More please!
September 9, 2018
‘The heavy slop-pail bumps against Ruth’s leg as she walks down the path to the privy.’
One morning in 1863, Margaret Lovejoy is found murdered in the outhouse at her home. She is only a child. Just days later, a man is murdered in a similar way on Heloise Chancey’s doorstep. Heloise Chancey, courtesan and occasional detective, is asked to assist the police.
‘In what capacity would I assist?’
And, at the same time as Heloise is considering accommodating the police request for her assistance into her busy life, her Amah Li Leen is preoccupied with the past. The police suspect that the murders may be connected and that a Chinese gang might be involved. Heloise is asked to go to the Lovejoy home, to work undercover as a nursemaid to the Lovejoy’s son Cyril.
This is the second of a series of novels by Ms Tjia to feature Heloise Chancey. While I find Heloise a most unlikely character, I find these murder mysteries interesting. There are two strands to this story: first, Heloise’s exploits as she tries to work out who is responsible for the murders, and Li Leen’s exploration of the past. Both Li Leen and Heloise are in danger while they undertake their investigations, and I kept turning the pages as their stories alternated.
Did I work out who was responsible? No. Ms Tjia’s cleverly plotted story kept me guessing. While I find Heloise a disconcerting character, I admire her style. I find Li Leen an interesting character, and enjoyed learning more about her. Overall, I enjoyed this novel marginally more than the first. While the novel can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the novels in order.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
One morning in 1863, Margaret Lovejoy is found murdered in the outhouse at her home. She is only a child. Just days later, a man is murdered in a similar way on Heloise Chancey’s doorstep. Heloise Chancey, courtesan and occasional detective, is asked to assist the police.
‘In what capacity would I assist?’
And, at the same time as Heloise is considering accommodating the police request for her assistance into her busy life, her Amah Li Leen is preoccupied with the past. The police suspect that the murders may be connected and that a Chinese gang might be involved. Heloise is asked to go to the Lovejoy home, to work undercover as a nursemaid to the Lovejoy’s son Cyril.
This is the second of a series of novels by Ms Tjia to feature Heloise Chancey. While I find Heloise a most unlikely character, I find these murder mysteries interesting. There are two strands to this story: first, Heloise’s exploits as she tries to work out who is responsible for the murders, and Li Leen’s exploration of the past. Both Li Leen and Heloise are in danger while they undertake their investigations, and I kept turning the pages as their stories alternated.
Did I work out who was responsible? No. Ms Tjia’s cleverly plotted story kept me guessing. While I find Heloise a disconcerting character, I admire her style. I find Li Leen an interesting character, and enjoyed learning more about her. Overall, I enjoyed this novel marginally more than the first. While the novel can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the novels in order.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 22, 2018
2.5 stars - This wasn't really up my alley and I should of known since the description mentioned that is was based in 1863. I usually hate books that are set in historical times. However, it had a Agatha Christie vibe to it so it got me intrigued.
First problem, for me, was the writing. The writing was great, except, I'm Canadian so the old British writing style is really hard for me to understand. I had to use my Kindle dictionary a lot, so I felt like I could understand 3/4 of the book and what was going on at a given time. That's on me though, that's why I must say the writing was great.
The other issues I had with this novel is that it took forever before the real investigating the murder started, around 40% of the book, by then I was already bored.
Finally, there was a lot of plot wholes for me and things I didn't understand. I still have so many questions. Also, the story itself, I didn't get the motive behind the murders. Even after finishing the book, so I wasn't really captivated as I kept reading. Also, I felt like there was two stories going parallel but not tied in together. Even though at the end they tried, I kind of think Amah's story was pointless. I'm sorry for all you historical fiction fans out there, but this wasn't for me.
However, I did like the part where the main character is undercover, and the sex scenes. That kept me interested.
Thank you to Legends Press for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
First problem, for me, was the writing. The writing was great, except, I'm Canadian so the old British writing style is really hard for me to understand. I had to use my Kindle dictionary a lot, so I felt like I could understand 3/4 of the book and what was going on at a given time. That's on me though, that's why I must say the writing was great.
The other issues I had with this novel is that it took forever before the real investigating the murder started, around 40% of the book, by then I was already bored.
Finally, there was a lot of plot wholes for me and things I didn't understand. I still have so many questions. Also, the story itself, I didn't get the motive behind the murders. Even after finishing the book, so I wasn't really captivated as I kept reading. Also, I felt like there was two stories going parallel but not tied in together. Even though at the end they tried, I kind of think Amah's story was pointless. I'm sorry for all you historical fiction fans out there, but this wasn't for me.
However, I did like the part where the main character is undercover, and the sex scenes. That kept me interested.
Thank you to Legends Press for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
May 5, 2021
I am very much enjoying this series, set in Victorian England, with a courtesan protagonist of closeted Chinese-Indonesian descent. In the second entry, it feels as if Tija delivers more depth to both her protagonist, Heloise, and the central character of Li Leen. Tija resists the temptation to have perfect protagonists, or even those with just one or two tiny flaws. Both characters are lovable and admirable, but Heloise is vain and careless, Li is tightly wound, tough and secretive. The narrative plays effectively on their tension here. In the mystery genre, believeable tension between protagonists is an easy way not only to provide a richer story, but to allow for plot to be furthered through poor communication. You find yourself desperately wishing they would just talk to each other, but understanding why they do not. Tija also plays closely with the humour of Heloise as nanny, without turning her into a caricature.
The mystery is well drawn, and ties nicely into a backstory set in Indonesia and Myanmar, drawing out the dynamics of British impacts on the region, and the complexity of human experiences: Dutch, Malay and Chinese, involved. I would have liked more of this, but I can't say I want to give up much of what is here. Fans of cloth will love the lavish descriptions of Heloise's fabulous outfits.
The mystery is well drawn, and ties nicely into a backstory set in Indonesia and Myanmar, drawing out the dynamics of British impacts on the region, and the complexity of human experiences: Dutch, Malay and Chinese, involved. I would have liked more of this, but I can't say I want to give up much of what is here. Fans of cloth will love the lavish descriptions of Heloise's fabulous outfits.
July 9, 2018
England, 1863.
Young Margaret Lovejoy is found brutally murdered inside her house. Days later, a man is found murdered in the same manner. As the police start to suspect a Chinese gang hiding behind a series of murders, they will need the keen eye and precious help of Heloise Chancey in order to come to the bottom of this.
Heloise will have to go undercover in Lovejoys' estate, where things will start getting more and more disturbing. While Heloise is constantly putting her life at risk in order to unravel the culprit, Amah Li Leen, her maid, will have to confront her own past and come to the end of some very disturbing circumstances. Neither is safe during this ordeal. Are they ready to uncover some painful truths?
A necessary Murder is a very interesting and amusing mystery book. It is a quick read that manages to hold the reader's attention without getting boring. The ending is unpredictable, in both Heloise and Amah's part of the story, which makes the plot all the better. Both women are very amusing characters: daring, cunning and full of intelligence. I absolutely loved the fact that neither of them is a typical Victorian type of woman; it is very refreshing to meet some unique book characters.
Strongly recommended for fans of mysteries.
Young Margaret Lovejoy is found brutally murdered inside her house. Days later, a man is found murdered in the same manner. As the police start to suspect a Chinese gang hiding behind a series of murders, they will need the keen eye and precious help of Heloise Chancey in order to come to the bottom of this.
Heloise will have to go undercover in Lovejoys' estate, where things will start getting more and more disturbing. While Heloise is constantly putting her life at risk in order to unravel the culprit, Amah Li Leen, her maid, will have to confront her own past and come to the end of some very disturbing circumstances. Neither is safe during this ordeal. Are they ready to uncover some painful truths?
A necessary Murder is a very interesting and amusing mystery book. It is a quick read that manages to hold the reader's attention without getting boring. The ending is unpredictable, in both Heloise and Amah's part of the story, which makes the plot all the better. Both women are very amusing characters: daring, cunning and full of intelligence. I absolutely loved the fact that neither of them is a typical Victorian type of woman; it is very refreshing to meet some unique book characters.
Strongly recommended for fans of mysteries.
December 29, 2022
As a well-connected companion to well-heeled gentlemen, Heloise Chancey is fond of throwing a memorable soirée, but a dead body being discovered outside her house is not quite the right kind of memorable. When this murder may be linked to that of the child of an acquaintance, it is time for her to again be using her skills as a detective.
These books should be more widely known as they provide a great twist on the detective genre. It is better if the books are read in order, as this would contain a key plot spoiler to book one.
These books should be more widely known as they provide a great twist on the detective genre. It is better if the books are read in order, as this would contain a key plot spoiler to book one.
June 24, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel to review.
Heloise Chancey is a most unlikely Victorian heroine - a fashionable courtesan, who is drawn into solving the mystery behind some brutal murders in London. In the meantime, some old family secrets brim to the surface. Are all these events connected, or are they coincidental?
The positive first. MJ Tjia’s second novel is well paced, and the story unfolds in a fairly satisfying way. It has a couple of clever twists, though it also leaves one glaring gap unresolved for the characters (though the reader is likely to make the connection, I wasn’t sure why the characters were left in the dark). It’s also well written enough to keep you reading.
But it just didn’t click for me for several reasons.
My main problem was that I didn’t care enough about the people. Most are transitory or unappealing. Heloise comes across as shallow and uninteresting for the most part. Amah is sympathetic and has the most depth (and Miriam and Uncle Chee are promising) but that’s not saying a lot.
The way the narrative switches from first person (Heloise) to third person (Amah and everyone else) created a very disjointed effect. I wasn’t sure why the author had chosen this device - it would have been better to stick to one POV. For instance, if it was meant to help the reader get inside Heloise’s head and experience the action from closer quarters, I don’t think it was successful. She seems more concerned about her dresses than about what’s happening to people around her.
Then there’s the graphic violence. If it was meant to instil a sense of fear for the characters, it didn’t work. You don’t know the survivors well enough to fear for them - they are just people who occupy the pages of the story for a while. Given that, I found the level of violence was gratuitous. There were also some very implausible plot reveals.
Similarly, the sexual content didn’t advance the story or shed any light on the characters. So again it was gratuitous - we know Heloise is a courtesan but if there’s no particular purpose to seeing her in action, it would have been better understated. It doesn’t occupy a lot of space in the book, fortunately but it’s spelt out enough that you probably wouldn’t recommend the book to a conservative maiden aunt ...
All in all, it was ok, and it was good to see how the story resolved but it would have been a DNF if I hadn’t felt an obligation to do the review. As it is, I’m really sorry that I didn’t like it better. This might just be a question of taste and it will be interesting to see what other reviewers think
Heloise Chancey is a most unlikely Victorian heroine - a fashionable courtesan, who is drawn into solving the mystery behind some brutal murders in London. In the meantime, some old family secrets brim to the surface. Are all these events connected, or are they coincidental?
The positive first. MJ Tjia’s second novel is well paced, and the story unfolds in a fairly satisfying way. It has a couple of clever twists, though it also leaves one glaring gap unresolved for the characters (though the reader is likely to make the connection, I wasn’t sure why the characters were left in the dark). It’s also well written enough to keep you reading.
But it just didn’t click for me for several reasons.
My main problem was that I didn’t care enough about the people. Most are transitory or unappealing. Heloise comes across as shallow and uninteresting for the most part. Amah is sympathetic and has the most depth (and Miriam and Uncle Chee are promising) but that’s not saying a lot.
The way the narrative switches from first person (Heloise) to third person (Amah and everyone else) created a very disjointed effect. I wasn’t sure why the author had chosen this device - it would have been better to stick to one POV. For instance, if it was meant to help the reader get inside Heloise’s head and experience the action from closer quarters, I don’t think it was successful. She seems more concerned about her dresses than about what’s happening to people around her.
Then there’s the graphic violence. If it was meant to instil a sense of fear for the characters, it didn’t work. You don’t know the survivors well enough to fear for them - they are just people who occupy the pages of the story for a while. Given that, I found the level of violence was gratuitous. There were also some very implausible plot reveals.
Similarly, the sexual content didn’t advance the story or shed any light on the characters. So again it was gratuitous - we know Heloise is a courtesan but if there’s no particular purpose to seeing her in action, it would have been better understated. It doesn’t occupy a lot of space in the book, fortunately but it’s spelt out enough that you probably wouldn’t recommend the book to a conservative maiden aunt ...
All in all, it was ok, and it was good to see how the story resolved but it would have been a DNF if I hadn’t felt an obligation to do the review. As it is, I’m really sorry that I didn’t like it better. This might just be a question of taste and it will be interesting to see what other reviewers think
August 7, 2018
Heloise is not your average Victorian leading lady. That's why I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read this book. I usually love historical mysteries with unconventional characters. I like the air of mystery, the setting and the language used. But this one fell flat for me. Heloise, well, I didn’t like her. She’s very off putting. I was much more interested in Amah’s story line then anything to do with Heloise’s story line.
There were a few scenes that I felt were just thrown in to create a higher word count. Yes, Heloise is a woman who has sex but what did it do for the plot? Not much. Then the shifting POVs bothered me.
It felt historically accurate in the society aspect and how families would treat hired helped. But I feel like there were more scenes focused on the type of dress Heloise was wearing rather than the murders than happen.
There were a few scenes that I felt were just thrown in to create a higher word count. Yes, Heloise is a woman who has sex but what did it do for the plot? Not much. Then the shifting POVs bothered me.
It felt historically accurate in the society aspect and how families would treat hired helped. But I feel like there were more scenes focused on the type of dress Heloise was wearing rather than the murders than happen.
August 16, 2018
The murder spree starts in Stoke Newington, 1863 where three year old Margaret Lovejoy is found murdered. A few days later a man is murdered in a similar way and found outside the house of courtesan Heloise Chancey. What could possible connect them
I found that I really didn't care for any of the characters especially Heloise. Or the change in the pov telling, or the use of present tense in the story. There seemed to be too much historical fiction and not enough mystery for me.
A NetGalley Book
I found that I really didn't care for any of the characters especially Heloise. Or the change in the pov telling, or the use of present tense in the story. There seemed to be too much historical fiction and not enough mystery for me.
A NetGalley Book
December 26, 2018
I wish I had read the first title in this series, She Be Damned, before this one. Not because
A Necessary Murder
cannot be enjoyed as a standalone (it can), but because the references made to the previous case Heloise was involved in were so intriguing!
Series lead Heloise Chancey, and her mother Amah Li Leen (posing as her maid) are appealingly strong-willed and strikingly independent women for their time. They are by necessity enigmatic characters (given Heloise’s profession and their ethnicity) currently leading a life of affluence on the fringe of Victorian London society. But this was not always the case. Their situation is precarious and ripe for suspense.
Heloise courts men of power and influence. These men have colourful pasts and associates and, we soon learn, skeletons in their closet. Skeletons worth murdering for. Read full review >>
Series lead Heloise Chancey, and her mother Amah Li Leen (posing as her maid) are appealingly strong-willed and strikingly independent women for their time. They are by necessity enigmatic characters (given Heloise’s profession and their ethnicity) currently leading a life of affluence on the fringe of Victorian London society. But this was not always the case. Their situation is precarious and ripe for suspense.
Heloise courts men of power and influence. These men have colourful pasts and associates and, we soon learn, skeletons in their closet. Skeletons worth murdering for. Read full review >>
July 30, 2018
This is the first I have read of this author, but is the second in the series, and I found myself at a bit of a loss several times because it. Rather than giving a brief understanding of events from the previous book, when the author makes references to it the reader isn’t given enough information to fill in the gaps properly. The heroine is a kept woman in London who helps with mysteries at the request of a private inquiry agent. She is asked to jump into a case of murder and she does, but at the same time there is a back story involving her mother and cousin and friends that isn’t quite explained. Since she herself thinks about what had come before I felt it should have been explained a bit more. She is evidently meant to be a colorful character and does seem as such but again, something seemed to be missing. It also reminded me of a true crime mystery I had previously read which was incorporated into part of the back story. All said it was still a good story and I will be picking up the first in the series to fill in those pesky gaps.
July 6, 2018
I love the evocative descriptions of the scenery, giving a real sense of what London was like at the time, particularly its seedy underbelly, filled with giant rats and stinking cesspools. Heloise is a great character, completely irreverent and refusing to be constrained by the shackles of sexism, even if she does enjoy wearing corsets and being wooed by her many rich suitors. Her Chinese maid, who we learnt in the last book is also her mother, is another complex and interesting character, especially as she suffers the double discrimination of both her sex and race. I would like to see Amah, as well as the new characters brought in from her past, being further developed in the remainder of the series, as they have great potential.
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
July 10, 2018
I picked this up off Netgalley as I had read She Be Damned last year and more or less enjoyed it.
This is another Victorian romp of murder & mystery involving courtesan & lady detective "Mrs" Eloise Chancy. Along for the ride is her Chinese Malay mother & ladies' maid Amah Li Leen
I found it very difficult to get invested & only really started to enjoy at the 80% Mark which is why I went with 2 stars. Coincidentally this marks the plot twist & big reveal. There was really not much detecting happening and a fair few red herrings. I somehow got lost in there.
Read if you enjoyed She Be Damned and absolutely couldn't wait to find out what happened next. There wasn't really an underlying series arc so you could read this as a standalone.
This is another Victorian romp of murder & mystery involving courtesan & lady detective "Mrs" Eloise Chancy. Along for the ride is her Chinese Malay mother & ladies' maid Amah Li Leen
I found it very difficult to get invested & only really started to enjoy at the 80% Mark which is why I went with 2 stars. Coincidentally this marks the plot twist & big reveal. There was really not much detecting happening and a fair few red herrings. I somehow got lost in there.
Read if you enjoyed She Be Damned and absolutely couldn't wait to find out what happened next. There wasn't really an underlying series arc so you could read this as a standalone.
August 2, 2018
Firstly thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
This book has quite the slight of hand. It begins as a standard Victorian era swashbuckling lady detective story and then shifts with the flighty heroine almost becoming the b plot while the far more interesting character of her enigmatic mother quietly unravels a past tied to a series of extremely grisly murders that will leave her at the centre of it all.
Well written, leaves the reader to draw subtleties but does at points tie itself in knots to get every character to every other character in the plot.
This book has quite the slight of hand. It begins as a standard Victorian era swashbuckling lady detective story and then shifts with the flighty heroine almost becoming the b plot while the far more interesting character of her enigmatic mother quietly unravels a past tied to a series of extremely grisly murders that will leave her at the centre of it all.
Well written, leaves the reader to draw subtleties but does at points tie itself in knots to get every character to every other character in the plot.
July 24, 2018
I liked our heroine, I liked the plot that twisted and turned and brought the characters further into the story in ways you wouldn't think of.
I liked the murders,which were slightly grusome,but not too much detail.
My main downfall with this book was it suffered from should-have-read-the-first book.
I was lost a couple of times.
But I'm up to speed for book 3 now, and liked what I read enough to be looking forward to it.
I liked the murders,which were slightly grusome,but not too much detail.
My main downfall with this book was it suffered from should-have-read-the-first book.
I was lost a couple of times.
But I'm up to speed for book 3 now, and liked what I read enough to be looking forward to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2018
This was a second in series featuring a courtesan/former actress who occasionally helps a detective agency solve crimes. I read the first one not long ago and rated it a 3.5/5...between a so-so and a pick. I enjoyed this one more. Good mystery (actually there are TWO) with twists (most of which I saw coming). Be warned: some gruesome spots. Plan to continue with the series.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #PanteraPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #PanteraPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
June 24, 2018
This book was a little slow to start but once Heloise gets involved in the investigation it picked right up. I love Heloise. She is selfish in a way that doesn’t hurt others and can be funny despite the very dark subject matter of these books. I thank netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I am looking forward to more in this series.
September 6, 2019
Intriguing mystery featuring a courtesan/ detective, and her friends and family. Plot & characters were well-drawn, though slightly confusing until the end when all was nicely pulled together. Perhaps a bit melodramatic & too many coincidences, and the changes from first person to third person narration were slightly off-putting.
September 15, 2019
A book set in Victorian England. A woman becomes involved in investigating the death of a little girl and her father. Her different circles of life overlap through this novel, and some back history is revealed that sets up a suspenseful ending. I enjoyed the story and found myself bouncing backwards and forwards in my thoughts as to who the culprit was.
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