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Constantine Capers #1
The Pennington Perplexity
You wouldn't expect a detective with Sherlockian deductive skills to have amnesia, but Byron Constantine is hardly the detective you'd expect. London 1888
Aspiring artist Mira Blayse isn't concerned with upper-tier society or conforming to Victorian expectations-she has a murder to solve. At least, she thinks it was murder. Her parents' deaths in 1870 couldn't have been by accident, but the more she investigates, the less she seems to find. Sitting at a café, she sketches a mysterious stranger, not realizing that she's penciling in the features of the man who will help her solve the case once and for all.
Byron Constantine lives day-to-day, desperately trying to hold onto his memories, only for them to slip through his fingers. Some days, he doesn't even know that he's lost four years of his life. As he manages to continue his work as a private detective, he realizes that maybe he doesn't need his memory after all. That is until he wants to remember Mira Blayse. With her keen eye for detail and his remarkable deductive skills, the two become entangled in a criminal investigation. As they uncover the secrets of the past, they must work together to stop history from repeating itself again.
Aspiring artist Mira Blayse isn't concerned with upper-tier society or conforming to Victorian expectations-she has a murder to solve. At least, she thinks it was murder. Her parents' deaths in 1870 couldn't have been by accident, but the more she investigates, the less she seems to find. Sitting at a café, she sketches a mysterious stranger, not realizing that she's penciling in the features of the man who will help her solve the case once and for all.
Byron Constantine lives day-to-day, desperately trying to hold onto his memories, only for them to slip through his fingers. Some days, he doesn't even know that he's lost four years of his life. As he manages to continue his work as a private detective, he realizes that maybe he doesn't need his memory after all. That is until he wants to remember Mira Blayse. With her keen eye for detail and his remarkable deductive skills, the two become entangled in a criminal investigation. As they uncover the secrets of the past, they must work together to stop history from repeating itself again.
322 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2021
352 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Brianne
10 books39 followersNatalie Brianne's love of writing might be traced back to an old Rainbow Macintosh Laptop she received for her 8th birthday. Perhaps it came from years of storytelling and the discipline of wonder. Or maybe, she was born to write and didn’t realize it until a book sprung out of her fingertips somewhere between a house in Pleasant Grove, Utah and a bus on its way to Edinburgh, Scotland.
She received her degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from BYU. While she could have studied English or Creative Writing, she opted to learn more about culture, distant lands, and people in hopes of writing better stories. Much of her first book, Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity was written when she lived at 27 Palace Court, London, walking the streets as if she were her characters.
While her interests in writing spread across genres, you can always expect her work to be imaginative, clean, and clever.
She received her degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from BYU. While she could have studied English or Creative Writing, she opted to learn more about culture, distant lands, and people in hopes of writing better stories. Much of her first book, Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity was written when she lived at 27 Palace Court, London, walking the streets as if she were her characters.
While her interests in writing spread across genres, you can always expect her work to be imaginative, clean, and clever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
August 21, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed the storyline from the start. Byron, a detective that has an injury that damaged his memory and each day he must read notes or his journal to read about his life. So, every day is a new day. His powers of observation are an equal of Sherlock Holmes. Mira is looking into the killing of her parents many years ago and decided to work for Byron. I liked the writing and the characters, so this is a 4*. My quibbles…..it didn't "feel" Victorian. It was a bit modern in how Mira behaved so this is a 3*. There were a few slow spots midway through and the ending had a lot of action and hints of the next book to come. Rating 3.5* for an unusual and fun detective series. Yes I accidentally hit the stars button and it erased my review....sigh so here it is again.
March 3, 2021
'You wouldn’t expect a detective with Sherlockian deductive skills to have amnesia, but Byron Constantine is hardly the detective you’d expect.
London 1888
Aspiring artist Mira Blayse isn’t concerned with upper-tier society or conforming to Victorian expectations—she has a murder to solve. At least, she thinks it was murder. Her parents’ deaths in 1870 couldn’t have been by accident, but the more she investigates, the less she seems to find. Sitting at a café, she sketches a mysterious stranger, not realizing that she’s penciling in the features of the man who will help her solve the case once and for all.
Byron Constantine lives day-to-day, desperately trying to hold onto his memories, only for them to slip through his fingers. Some days, he doesn’t even know that he’s lost four years of his life. As he manages to continue his work as a private detective, he realizes that maybe he doesn’t need his memory after all. That is until he wants to remember Mira Blayse.
With her keen eye for detail and his remarkable deductive skills, the two become entangled in a criminal investigation. As they uncover the secrets of the past, they must work together to stop history from repeating itself again.'
_____________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity is Natalie Brianne's debut novel and is a historical mystery with Sherlockian roots.
I really loved the storyline idea of a Sherlock-type character that had a caveat to their incredible deducting abilities like Byron does. The caveat for Byron is that he has short-term memory loss that causes his mental slate to be wiped clean every night as he sleeps. It's essentially Arthur Conan Doyle's Shelock Holmes meets Adam Sandler's 50 First Dates. To enable Byron to continue on as a private detective assisting Scotland Yard, he keeps a journal to keep breif and important notes about his day as well as surrounding himself with notes to wake up to. To aid him further in keeping events straight he hires a secretary and hence he and Mira are brought together. The memory loss made for a very different and unique style to the murder mystery angle that read differently from others I have read. And so for someone who reads a whole lot of murder mysteries in different variations, it's lovely to stumble onto one with an element I haven't read before and on that fact alone I would recommend it to fans of historical mysteries.
It's a unique idea and I really enjoyed it. The book does have a tendency to slow down in its pacing in several spots over the course of the book which made it feel long and at times a bit drawn out, but it all comes together. Plus there are enough points in the book where out characters face down danger and I feel that these slower spots of the plot are really needed to provide some balance. If the whole book was rapid-pace and loaded with danger it would have detracted from any sense of reality in the book, so as strange as it sounds to say, the book benefited from pumping the breaks in some spots.
I'll be looking forwrd to reading more from the series in the future.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and Natalie Brianne for sharing an eARC of Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity with me. This is my honest review.
London 1888
Aspiring artist Mira Blayse isn’t concerned with upper-tier society or conforming to Victorian expectations—she has a murder to solve. At least, she thinks it was murder. Her parents’ deaths in 1870 couldn’t have been by accident, but the more she investigates, the less she seems to find. Sitting at a café, she sketches a mysterious stranger, not realizing that she’s penciling in the features of the man who will help her solve the case once and for all.
Byron Constantine lives day-to-day, desperately trying to hold onto his memories, only for them to slip through his fingers. Some days, he doesn’t even know that he’s lost four years of his life. As he manages to continue his work as a private detective, he realizes that maybe he doesn’t need his memory after all. That is until he wants to remember Mira Blayse.
With her keen eye for detail and his remarkable deductive skills, the two become entangled in a criminal investigation. As they uncover the secrets of the past, they must work together to stop history from repeating itself again.'
_____________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity is Natalie Brianne's debut novel and is a historical mystery with Sherlockian roots.
I really loved the storyline idea of a Sherlock-type character that had a caveat to their incredible deducting abilities like Byron does. The caveat for Byron is that he has short-term memory loss that causes his mental slate to be wiped clean every night as he sleeps. It's essentially Arthur Conan Doyle's Shelock Holmes meets Adam Sandler's 50 First Dates. To enable Byron to continue on as a private detective assisting Scotland Yard, he keeps a journal to keep breif and important notes about his day as well as surrounding himself with notes to wake up to. To aid him further in keeping events straight he hires a secretary and hence he and Mira are brought together. The memory loss made for a very different and unique style to the murder mystery angle that read differently from others I have read. And so for someone who reads a whole lot of murder mysteries in different variations, it's lovely to stumble onto one with an element I haven't read before and on that fact alone I would recommend it to fans of historical mysteries.
It's a unique idea and I really enjoyed it. The book does have a tendency to slow down in its pacing in several spots over the course of the book which made it feel long and at times a bit drawn out, but it all comes together. Plus there are enough points in the book where out characters face down danger and I feel that these slower spots of the plot are really needed to provide some balance. If the whole book was rapid-pace and loaded with danger it would have detracted from any sense of reality in the book, so as strange as it sounds to say, the book benefited from pumping the breaks in some spots.
I'll be looking forwrd to reading more from the series in the future.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and Natalie Brianne for sharing an eARC of Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity with me. This is my honest review.
August 17, 2024
2.6 stars
The list of books I have read in 2022-2024 makes it no secret that I have forayed a lot into Regency/ Victorian sleuth series and I have loved so many of them. So, with this book being Book 1 of a new series in that genre, it unfortunately suffers from the comparison to some of these other series. The book and its universe had many issues. But also some fine contours that might possibly make for better books as the learning curve gets less steeper? I have hope on this.
To be honest, by the end, this book had more flaws than merits. But yet, as a first book, I am willing to give it some leeway and I see the potential of the series. And I have seen worse series. I think that if this is a short series (where Byron's recovery is the end point), it might withstand the unpolished style better imho. I will read the next book. I don't expect much improvement in reality but there is a certain odd charm to the series that might still make me stick to the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2021
I absolutely adored this book! I usually like historical crime fiction, so I was expecting to like it, but in the end I was totally in love with the characters, in particular with Byron Constantine, the male MC.
Even if I'm not good at drawing, I instantly feel a connection with Mira too, the female MC, with her personality, maybe because I have a black cat too!
The mystery is well developed, captivating and intense, but the strong part of this book, for me, is the characters.
All of them are well described, with a unique voice. The historical part, and even the fantasy/steampunk one is well researched.
I totally recommend this book to all the historical fiction lovers! And I can't wait for a new installment!
Thanks a lot to Natalie for writing such an amazing book, definitely will be one of my fave reads of 2021! And thanks to Booksirens for another amazing ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Even if I'm not good at drawing, I instantly feel a connection with Mira too, the female MC, with her personality, maybe because I have a black cat too!
The mystery is well developed, captivating and intense, but the strong part of this book, for me, is the characters.
All of them are well described, with a unique voice. The historical part, and even the fantasy/steampunk one is well researched.
I totally recommend this book to all the historical fiction lovers! And I can't wait for a new installment!
Thanks a lot to Natalie for writing such an amazing book, definitely will be one of my fave reads of 2021! And thanks to Booksirens for another amazing ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 11, 2021
The first book in the Constantine Capers trilogy is a joy to read. With a Fifty First Dates meets Sherlock Holmes twists, this charming novel captured my attention from the first scene and held me captivated until the very last. Natalie Brianne has written charming, believable characters you can’t help but cheer on as they solve the mystery of Clement Pennington’s murder. The pages are filled with intrigue, clever deductions, and a pure Victorian charm worthy of a reread time and time again.
August 30, 2024
Conceptually, a fun book, Byron Constantine, is a Sherlock like character who has lost his ability to retain memories after he sleeps, but his deductive reasoning is intact and solves crimes as a detective using his journal.
Byron hires a young artist, Mira, as his secretary and soon their own personal mysteries intertwin.
While the concept was great, the execution needed help. The uncle and the head of police really needed help fleshing out. Also, the editing was horrible. Someone please spell check before publishing.
All in all, it's a fun caper. I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
Byron hires a young artist, Mira, as his secretary and soon their own personal mysteries intertwin.
While the concept was great, the execution needed help. The uncle and the head of police really needed help fleshing out. Also, the editing was horrible. Someone please spell check before publishing.
All in all, it's a fun caper. I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
August 7, 2024
Wow, for someone who reads a ton of historical fiction books, this one came across as refreshing and intriguing. The protagonists, Byron and Mira, are amazing together. The premise of an amnesiac detective was novel. The flow of the book was fast-paced.
Just overall a fab book to read and reread.
Just overall a fab book to read and reread.
November 27, 2022
The concept is interesting (detective with amnesia has to reset each morning with the help of his “secretary”), but the execution was a bit clunky. I am not the kind of person who clutches her pearls over little bits of historical inaccuracy, but there were some major issues with timing that were hard to overlook.
I actually might read the second book just to see if things get better.
I actually might read the second book just to see if things get better.
February 28, 2021
I was provided an ARC by the Author in return for my honest opinion about the book.
For me, the book did start out a bit slower than I had anticipated it. However, as I got further along in the story, I kept wondering how things were interconnected and Natalie provided a well thought out approach to it. At first, I questioned the use of the chapters being a day by day, but quickly realized that was a brilliant approach.
Overall, this was an excellent book to read. I felt the characters were relatable and loved seeing how Constantine would react everyday to Mira. Though I know little about that time period in England, it was enough to allow me to visually see the surroundings and be invested in the storyline and the characters. I did enjoy Fred quite a bit, what little we had of him.
I would recommend this book to any person that enjoys a sherlock type of mystery, as I often questioned, "would I have drawn the same conclusions?" that the characters did. Overall a great book to read!
For me, the book did start out a bit slower than I had anticipated it. However, as I got further along in the story, I kept wondering how things were interconnected and Natalie provided a well thought out approach to it. At first, I questioned the use of the chapters being a day by day, but quickly realized that was a brilliant approach.
Overall, this was an excellent book to read. I felt the characters were relatable and loved seeing how Constantine would react everyday to Mira. Though I know little about that time period in England, it was enough to allow me to visually see the surroundings and be invested in the storyline and the characters. I did enjoy Fred quite a bit, what little we had of him.
I would recommend this book to any person that enjoys a sherlock type of mystery, as I often questioned, "would I have drawn the same conclusions?" that the characters did. Overall a great book to read!
September 27, 2025
I honestly had a very hard time deciding what number of stars to rate this book... (hopefully my notes later on will explain these ratings)
Characters: 4.5/5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Setting: 3.5 stars
BOOKISH YAYS:
*As usual - let's start with the cover. I am in love with that cover, it's gorgeous. The color scheme, the character silhouettes, the little leafy border...everything! (and of course, each of the following covers are just as lovely!)
*Our main hero and heroine - Constantine & Mira - were perfect for each other. I honestly loved their interactions.
*The amnesia trope - I'm not entirely sure how medically accurate it is for someone's memory to "reset" each day, but I thought it was interesting. It was so sad the way Constantine never recognized Mira apart from his journal, and I honestly felt so bad for him! (But I do love the trope)
*The lovely prose. I was definitely transported into the vivid settings and fell in love with many of the descriptions.
*I loved the friends-to-lovers. It was supposed to be a slow-burn, and I did feel that it went a bit quickly (perhaps I am used to the slower pace of Jane Austen) However, I thought it was quite sweet and well-done. This book does also have a faster plot, and the characters are thrown to rely on each other quickly.
*Sherlock Holmes vibes. I loved Byron as a detective. *perfect* 😍😍 He wasn't the "lone genius" which detectives often are (though certainly a genius) and which often annoys me. His short-term memory leads him to rely on Mira which was so sweet and sad and perfect. Byron writes every day down in a journal so next morning when his memory is gone, he will "remember" the past. When is journal is stolen. Wow. Wow wow wow. My. Heart. Broke. He honestly deserves the world <3
*The ending. If you know you know - this book ramps up in the last section, and my goodness, does it keep you on the edge of your seat! I felt as though I was being whirled along with our main characters, not even trying to catch my breath until I got to the end. And, no, I certainly did not expect "whodunnit"
BOOKISH OKAYS:
*The setting - I was quite confused about when/where this story was supposed to take place. Since an "airship" plays a large role in this story, I thought it was a steampunk English setting. But at times, it seemed to be actually set in historical London.
*I believe there was one "swear word" used. I can't remember what it was as I listened to it on Audible and forgot to make a note when it was.
*The end revelation of Mira's parents felt a bit rushed and left me with questions which were not answered. However, this IS a series, so perhaps those will be answered in the next book (or books)
BOOKISH NAYS:
*There is one mention of an animal carcass which I felt could have been omitted.
*Mention of a place where women are scantily dressed
*Mention of Mira's dress being "too tight" when she must go in disguise as "lower-class" on a case with Byron.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the rest of the series in the foreseeable future!!
Characters: 4.5/5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Setting: 3.5 stars
BOOKISH YAYS:
*As usual - let's start with the cover. I am in love with that cover, it's gorgeous. The color scheme, the character silhouettes, the little leafy border...everything! (and of course, each of the following covers are just as lovely!)
*Our main hero and heroine - Constantine & Mira - were perfect for each other. I honestly loved their interactions.
*The amnesia trope - I'm not entirely sure how medically accurate it is for someone's memory to "reset" each day, but I thought it was interesting. It was so sad the way Constantine never recognized Mira apart from his journal, and I honestly felt so bad for him! (But I do love the trope)
*The lovely prose. I was definitely transported into the vivid settings and fell in love with many of the descriptions.
*I loved the friends-to-lovers. It was supposed to be a slow-burn, and I did feel that it went a bit quickly (perhaps I am used to the slower pace of Jane Austen) However, I thought it was quite sweet and well-done. This book does also have a faster plot, and the characters are thrown to rely on each other quickly.
*Sherlock Holmes vibes. I loved Byron as a detective. *perfect* 😍😍 He wasn't the "lone genius" which detectives often are (though certainly a genius) and which often annoys me. His short-term memory leads him to rely on Mira which was so sweet and sad and perfect. Byron writes every day down in a journal so next morning when his memory is gone, he will "remember" the past. When is journal is stolen. Wow. Wow wow wow. My. Heart. Broke. He honestly deserves the world <3
*The ending. If you know you know - this book ramps up in the last section, and my goodness, does it keep you on the edge of your seat! I felt as though I was being whirled along with our main characters, not even trying to catch my breath until I got to the end. And, no, I certainly did not expect "whodunnit"
BOOKISH OKAYS:
*The setting - I was quite confused about when/where this story was supposed to take place. Since an "airship" plays a large role in this story, I thought it was a steampunk English setting. But at times, it seemed to be actually set in historical London.
*I believe there was one "swear word" used. I can't remember what it was as I listened to it on Audible and forgot to make a note when it was.
*The end revelation of Mira's parents felt a bit rushed and left me with questions which were not answered. However, this IS a series, so perhaps those will be answered in the next book (or books)
BOOKISH NAYS:
*There is one mention of an animal carcass which I felt could have been omitted.
*Mention of a place where women are scantily dressed
*Mention of Mira's dress being "too tight" when she must go in disguise as "lower-class" on a case with Byron.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the rest of the series in the foreseeable future!!
August 22, 2024
3.75/5 rounded up to 4 stars
I greatly enjoyed reading the first book in the series. The amnesia subplot entwined with mystery and an insta love (but slow burn) romance was quite intriguing to me.
The writing of the book is good, but the pacing is lacking a bit, where it's slow in the beginning and picks up rather fast at the end.
I loved both the characters, Byron and Mira. A strong female FMC always gets an extra point for me, but when she actually uses her skills, and prepares and executes the plan, it is worth clapping. Byron, on the other hand, has my deepest sympathies, I felt such a twinge of sadness whenever his amnesia was brought up. But the fact that he always trusts Mira, is adorable.
That being said, there are a few things lacking in the book, like the complete explanation of Mira's parents death, it was just explained in passing. Why was Mira protected and why did Angelica want her dead so bad. Why did Byron not plan the meeting properly, especially when he is considered a master detective. Who informed the police to reach the meeting place? Since Mira's letter reached them the next day.
I am hoping that Book 2 has less plot holes and that the characters actually spend time with each other to understand and develop a relationship.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I greatly enjoyed reading the first book in the series. The amnesia subplot entwined with mystery and an insta love (but slow burn) romance was quite intriguing to me.
The writing of the book is good, but the pacing is lacking a bit, where it's slow in the beginning and picks up rather fast at the end.
I loved both the characters, Byron and Mira. A strong female FMC always gets an extra point for me, but when she actually uses her skills, and prepares and executes the plan, it is worth clapping. Byron, on the other hand, has my deepest sympathies, I felt such a twinge of sadness whenever his amnesia was brought up. But the fact that he always trusts Mira, is adorable.
That being said, there are a few things lacking in the book, like the complete explanation of Mira's parents death, it was just explained in passing. Why was Mira protected and why did Angelica want her dead so bad. Why did Byron not plan the meeting properly, especially when he is considered a master detective. Who informed the police to reach the meeting place? Since Mira's letter reached them the next day.
I am hoping that Book 2 has less plot holes and that the characters actually spend time with each other to understand and develop a relationship.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2021
This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
London 1888. Mira Blayse, an aspiring artist, wants to solve a murder. She doesn’t believe her parents’ deaths was an accident, and sets out to prove it. She meets Byron Constantine, a detective who has amnesia and together they try to solve the mystery.
This started out so slow, I almost gave up at page 50. I’m glad I didn’t though. I liked both Mira and Byron and once the story really picked up, I liked that as well. It’s not every day we meet a detective with amnesia, and I really liked that part.
The book was well written and the only reason I’m only giving it 3 stars is the slow start.
London 1888. Mira Blayse, an aspiring artist, wants to solve a murder. She doesn’t believe her parents’ deaths was an accident, and sets out to prove it. She meets Byron Constantine, a detective who has amnesia and together they try to solve the mystery.
This started out so slow, I almost gave up at page 50. I’m glad I didn’t though. I liked both Mira and Byron and once the story really picked up, I liked that as well. It’s not every day we meet a detective with amnesia, and I really liked that part.
The book was well written and the only reason I’m only giving it 3 stars is the slow start.
July 1, 2024
Overall Rating:
⭐️: 4.5/5 🌶️🔥: 0/5
♡◜✧˖°*:･ﾟ✧
What a freaking lovely-fun book! I absolutely loved it and hope it’s just the first of a very long “crime-fiction / mystery” series. Seriously, I need this duo to go on to solve many many mysteries for years to come!
Byron and Mira are so likable in their own way. Every time Mira encountered Byron, I didn’t know what to expect, and it kept me on my toes. Loved it!
It’s cheesy and predictable, but not in a bad way. Pieces just fall neatly into place.
**I received a free ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest and unbiased review**
⭐️: 4.5/5 🌶️🔥: 0/5
♡◜✧˖°*:･ﾟ✧
What a freaking lovely-fun book! I absolutely loved it and hope it’s just the first of a very long “crime-fiction / mystery” series. Seriously, I need this duo to go on to solve many many mysteries for years to come!
Byron and Mira are so likable in their own way. Every time Mira encountered Byron, I didn’t know what to expect, and it kept me on my toes. Loved it!
It’s cheesy and predictable, but not in a bad way. Pieces just fall neatly into place.
**I received a free ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest and unbiased review**
March 4, 2022
This was a fun mystery with a detective, Byron Constantine, that had amnesia and could remember nothing the next day unless he'd written it in his journal. The other main character is an aspiring artist, the free-spirited Mira Blayse. She doesn't follow societal norms for young ladies of her time and her place in society. One day they meet and form an interesting partnership and friendship. There was more than one mystery these two were following and it was fun putting all of the pieces together. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching a relationship develop between them in "Fifty First Dates" style. To enjoy the story the most, you need to look past Mira's free spirit and Byron's perchance to lash out each morning not remembering who Mira is. I liked this novel and do plan on reading more in the series.
January 9, 2023
Wow!! I can't stop thinking about this book. It had everything for me, mystery, action, romance. Didn't expect to love it that much!
April 5, 2025
I enjoyed this so much. The anticipation of each “new meeting” between Mira and Byron made the book hard to put down.
May 15, 2021
Sherlock Holmes meets Fifty First Dates!
This book felt similar in tone to the Paper Magician Series by Charlie Holmberg, and had the sweetest, light romance ever! The mystery was well contrived, and the hints and suspects were placed well. Every page of this story kept me wanting more. I absolutely loved the twist of an old-timey detective with short term memory loss. In fact, there were a few fabulous twists involving Byron's memory that gave this story some big payoffs. I really can't recommend it enough.
This book felt similar in tone to the Paper Magician Series by Charlie Holmberg, and had the sweetest, light romance ever! The mystery was well contrived, and the hints and suspects were placed well. Every page of this story kept me wanting more. I absolutely loved the twist of an old-timey detective with short term memory loss. In fact, there were a few fabulous twists involving Byron's memory that gave this story some big payoffs. I really can't recommend it enough.
May 1, 2025
Love love love
It's like the beat combo of Sherlock Holmes and 50 first dates melded together. And I am absolutely here for it .
It's like the beat combo of Sherlock Holmes and 50 first dates melded together. And I am absolutely here for it .
August 31, 2025
4.5/5
This was a super fun read! It was easy to read and once I started it I hardly wanted to put it down.
Mira is a headstrong girl living on her own in London, wanting to look into her parents 'accidental' death when she meets Byron, a private detective (with short term memory loss), while sketching at a cafe. I love Mira as a FMC - she's funny, strong-willed, and isn't afraid to be different that what society is expecting. The chemistry between her and Byron is so well written, I was rooting for them from their first meeting. When Mira started crying in the guest room, I was also in tears; please just give my girl a BREAK.
There were a few times in the read where the mystery element felt a little too obvious, or the connections seem to come out of nowhere, especially with a couple members of the Order. The letters with Mira's brother also seemed a little out of place, since nothing plot-wise stemmed from information in them. Since it is only the first book in the series though, I'm not surprised that I have a few more questions that answers.
The story itself is captivating and quick-paced, which I enjoyed. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the order of Circe as well as Byron's past. I can't wait to pick up the next book!
Thank you BookSirens for the e-copy :)
This was a super fun read! It was easy to read and once I started it I hardly wanted to put it down.
Mira is a headstrong girl living on her own in London, wanting to look into her parents 'accidental' death when she meets Byron, a private detective (with short term memory loss), while sketching at a cafe. I love Mira as a FMC - she's funny, strong-willed, and isn't afraid to be different that what society is expecting. The chemistry between her and Byron is so well written, I was rooting for them from their first meeting. When Mira started crying in the guest room, I was also in tears; please just give my girl a BREAK.
There were a few times in the read where the mystery element felt a little too obvious, or the connections seem to come out of nowhere, especially with a couple members of the Order. The letters with Mira's brother also seemed a little out of place, since nothing plot-wise stemmed from information in them. Since it is only the first book in the series though, I'm not surprised that I have a few more questions that answers.
The story itself is captivating and quick-paced, which I enjoyed. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the order of Circe as well as Byron's past. I can't wait to pick up the next book!
Thank you BookSirens for the e-copy :)
February 21, 2024
I can't get enough of Constantine and Mira! So, I actually read the second book in this series first (it's fantastic), and enjoyed it immensely, which is why I went back to read the first book. It did not disappoint!
The author, Natalie Brianne, is definitely in the ranks with fellow mystery writers, such as Agatha Christie. Her writing style is riveting, believable, completely enjoyable, and most of all, entertaining. As with any good mystery, she does a great job of keeping the reader engaged, following along with the characters as they work through their case.
The brilliance of this story, is the memory issues with Constantine. To avoid any spoilers, I will say no more. As one would imagine, this creates additional nuances that the story explores throughout the book.
As a reader, I look forward to additional books in this series, as well as more books from this author.
Give it a read, it is now one of my favorite series, and one that I could easily re-read from time to time!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author, Natalie Brianne, is definitely in the ranks with fellow mystery writers, such as Agatha Christie. Her writing style is riveting, believable, completely enjoyable, and most of all, entertaining. As with any good mystery, she does a great job of keeping the reader engaged, following along with the characters as they work through their case.
The brilliance of this story, is the memory issues with Constantine. To avoid any spoilers, I will say no more. As one would imagine, this creates additional nuances that the story explores throughout the book.
As a reader, I look forward to additional books in this series, as well as more books from this author.
Give it a read, it is now one of my favorite series, and one that I could easily re-read from time to time!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2021
This is a very sweet detective story with romantic undertones and a wonderful double mystery.
I have to admit that the first few chapters were slow for me, but they did feel true to the Victorian vibe of the book. But it quickly became exciting as the mystery began and murder was afoot.
Mira is a fun and adorable protagonist. I love that she hangs her hat on cultural norms, that she is bright and insightful, that she watches carefully and observes all that is around her. And I admire her art skills.
I LOVE how the detective in this tale is a man who has to wake up each morning and read all his notes so he can remember everything. It is such a fun and fresh obstacle for a detective, and I don't think I've seen that sort of problem before.
The tone is charming, the story sweet, and the characters enchanting.
I have to admit that the first few chapters were slow for me, but they did feel true to the Victorian vibe of the book. But it quickly became exciting as the mystery began and murder was afoot.
Mira is a fun and adorable protagonist. I love that she hangs her hat on cultural norms, that she is bright and insightful, that she watches carefully and observes all that is around her. And I admire her art skills.
I LOVE how the detective in this tale is a man who has to wake up each morning and read all his notes so he can remember everything. It is such a fun and fresh obstacle for a detective, and I don't think I've seen that sort of problem before.
The tone is charming, the story sweet, and the characters enchanting.
August 24, 2025
A murder mystery set in Victorian England.
Our main characters are:
Byron, a private detective with amnesia/memory issues, who gets through life and solves cases with his deductive reasoning and copious notes/journal entries.
Mira, a lonely artist, who is trying to find more information on her parent’s deaths and is hired by Byron to help keep him organized and on track.
This story immediately felt like a cross of Sherlock Holmes and the movie MOMENTO to me. Although set in Victorian London, the feel was much more modern - a single woman living, traveling alone and working for a single man…
The concept of the book was intriguing and the characters were likable - although definitely fictional-but the pace was uneven (so slow in spots) and the romance was slow burn and minimal (0 chile peppers 🌶️ ). I really wanted more romance and Byron to get his memory back but this is the first book in the series so maybe 🤞🏼 ….
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Our main characters are:
Byron, a private detective with amnesia/memory issues, who gets through life and solves cases with his deductive reasoning and copious notes/journal entries.
Mira, a lonely artist, who is trying to find more information on her parent’s deaths and is hired by Byron to help keep him organized and on track.
This story immediately felt like a cross of Sherlock Holmes and the movie MOMENTO to me. Although set in Victorian London, the feel was much more modern - a single woman living, traveling alone and working for a single man…
The concept of the book was intriguing and the characters were likable - although definitely fictional-but the pace was uneven (so slow in spots) and the romance was slow burn and minimal (0 chile peppers 🌶️ ). I really wanted more romance and Byron to get his memory back but this is the first book in the series so maybe 🤞🏼 ….
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 9, 2021
I was so looking forward to reading a Victorian mystery. I got a predictable mystery and with unrealistic behavior by female characters. At start of book author made a point of Miss Blayse sitting at a cafe without a chaperone not being socially acceptable. She is not allowed to to go to France because her uncle believes it isn't safe , however, he gives her an allowance and lets her live alone in an apartment in London. Later we have a single woman having frequent dinner dates at a man's apartment. In 1888 women were still riding side saddle Miss Bayse's riding habit would have included a long jacket with riding skirt or safty skirt not trousers, jodpurs or pants.
It was very disappointing to read the author's discription of an airship. She obviously didn't do basic research for realistic dimensions or appearance of an airship or the requirements for docking and loading and unloading of passengers and cargo. Since this book was labeled as historical the gas used would have been hydrogen which is highly flammable. One reviewer mentioned that story had steampunk elements. Unfortunately there were no steampunk elements the first propeller-driven airship, built by Henri Giffard, flew in 1852 in France. The commercial use of airships continued until several explosions including the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, and airplane developments made them obselete.
The mystery is much like a Sherlock Holmes story with the detective having short term memory problems. After a few chapters the main characters, the police and villians always referring to or looking for Constantine's journal got tedious. Constantine hiding case notes outdoors in shurbs was just weird. He had been doing this for years and only stopped after Miss Blayse removed the notes and later asked him why he wasn't concerned that they would be lost or ruined by the weather.
Overall the story is OK if you are able to overlook the lack of proper research for the historical aspects of the book. The use of the Whitechapel murders by multilple killers for Jack the Ripper victims as a distraction for the police was just another disappointment for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was very disappointing to read the author's discription of an airship. She obviously didn't do basic research for realistic dimensions or appearance of an airship or the requirements for docking and loading and unloading of passengers and cargo. Since this book was labeled as historical the gas used would have been hydrogen which is highly flammable. One reviewer mentioned that story had steampunk elements. Unfortunately there were no steampunk elements the first propeller-driven airship, built by Henri Giffard, flew in 1852 in France. The commercial use of airships continued until several explosions including the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, and airplane developments made them obselete.
The mystery is much like a Sherlock Holmes story with the detective having short term memory problems. After a few chapters the main characters, the police and villians always referring to or looking for Constantine's journal got tedious. Constantine hiding case notes outdoors in shurbs was just weird. He had been doing this for years and only stopped after Miss Blayse removed the notes and later asked him why he wasn't concerned that they would be lost or ruined by the weather.
Overall the story is OK if you are able to overlook the lack of proper research for the historical aspects of the book. The use of the Whitechapel murders by multilple killers for Jack the Ripper victims as a distraction for the police was just another disappointment for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2025
This is a fun premise. I found the FMC to be a bit whiney…and then suddenly she was like a superhero. Fighting and jumping from trains and whatnot. The MMC is a bit uneven. His chronic amnesia sort of gives him different personalities. He is sometime abrupt and logical and then tender and romantic by turns. Hard to pin down. There is also some overblown language form time to time that feels stilted. Again…a fun and unique premise. I’m into the second book but feeling a little more of the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
An ARC of this novel was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
I read this fun mystery novel off and on over the course of a few days. I wasn’t too invested at first, but when the action picked up near the end, I stayed awake until almost 2:00 am one night because I needed to know what happened. The plot is very clever, following multiple storylines as they intersect with each other and with real historical events. And although everything wraps up nicely in the end, there is also a hint at future adventures. I loved the inclusion of airships, but I wish the world had been fleshed out with more steampunk elements (which is just personal preference, because gadgets would have been fun to see). The real intrigue of the story lies in Byron’s character as amnesiac detective—I loved seeing his reactions each morning and how they affected the overall plot. I did feel that the dialogue was a touch too modern at times, and that the characters’ emotions were often hidden under exposition, but Mira and Byron were an amusing pair to follow around as they solved mysteries together. If you like unique historical adventures with a bit of romance, then give this novel a try!
I read this fun mystery novel off and on over the course of a few days. I wasn’t too invested at first, but when the action picked up near the end, I stayed awake until almost 2:00 am one night because I needed to know what happened. The plot is very clever, following multiple storylines as they intersect with each other and with real historical events. And although everything wraps up nicely in the end, there is also a hint at future adventures. I loved the inclusion of airships, but I wish the world had been fleshed out with more steampunk elements (which is just personal preference, because gadgets would have been fun to see). The real intrigue of the story lies in Byron’s character as amnesiac detective—I loved seeing his reactions each morning and how they affected the overall plot. I did feel that the dialogue was a touch too modern at times, and that the characters’ emotions were often hidden under exposition, but Mira and Byron were an amusing pair to follow around as they solved mysteries together. If you like unique historical adventures with a bit of romance, then give this novel a try!
February 26, 2021
An ARC of this novel was provided by author in exchange for my honest review. The last couple of weeks I have been totally obsessed with historical adventure, Victorian Era thriller/mystery books with just a bit of a romance. So, this book seemed very promising. But, at the end I am just partially satisfied.
First things first; story line was clear and easy to follow up.The characters were relatable and I liked the idea of a main character who suffered amnesia and reset his daily memory during his sleep.
But; it was very slow paced and it seemed the main characters solved the mysteries by random coincidences/chance (overhearing conversations etc.), not with brains or observation skills. Due to lack of this element, there was no enjoyment of a solving puzzle. Author showed us that Byron was capable of making clever deductions. But, they were at random places and times and were not related to the mystery that they work on, at all.
The romance part was alright. They were an entertaining pair and I really liked their banters.
All and all, I do not regret reading this book. If you have some time in your hands ( who does not in these days!), just give it a try.
First things first; story line was clear and easy to follow up.The characters were relatable and I liked the idea of a main character who suffered amnesia and reset his daily memory during his sleep.
But; it was very slow paced and it seemed the main characters solved the mysteries by random coincidences/chance (overhearing conversations etc.), not with brains or observation skills. Due to lack of this element, there was no enjoyment of a solving puzzle. Author showed us that Byron was capable of making clever deductions. But, they were at random places and times and were not related to the mystery that they work on, at all.
The romance part was alright. They were an entertaining pair and I really liked their banters.
All and all, I do not regret reading this book. If you have some time in your hands ( who does not in these days!), just give it a try.
September 5, 2022
This book delivers.
When looking over BookSprouts new arcs I saw this one a Victorian mystery and I just knew I had to read it. This was an excellent story the characters Mira Blayse and Byron Constantine were so unique and different. Byron has lost years of memory never read a character with that problem. Mira is an artist with a quick and detailed mind. Doyle would be proud of this author the twists and turns were so well done. If you like mysteries with a historical flavor than this is the one for you. I cannot wait to see what other adventures Mira and Byron have. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
When looking over BookSprouts new arcs I saw this one a Victorian mystery and I just knew I had to read it. This was an excellent story the characters Mira Blayse and Byron Constantine were so unique and different. Byron has lost years of memory never read a character with that problem. Mira is an artist with a quick and detailed mind. Doyle would be proud of this author the twists and turns were so well done. If you like mysteries with a historical flavor than this is the one for you. I cannot wait to see what other adventures Mira and Byron have. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
March 10, 2021
I found this book a delightful read and plan to recommend it to certain friends and family members. Once I really started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down. I was interested to see what each new morning would bring for Mira and Byron Constantine. Both because of their investigation as it builds up tension and intrigue, and because I frankly enjoyed the main characters and watching them interact at the beginning of each new day. The concept fascinated me, and the mystery and romance serve the story well. I can't wait for more Constantine Capers!
February 28, 2021
Loved this book! Great mystery with some romance thrown in. Set in the late 1800's, Byron Constantine is a master detective who can solve complicated crimes. Only problem, he can't remember anything from one day to the next. Enter Mira Blaise. She helps him remember. Together they work to solve a complicated mystery in a time when airships rule the skies. I would love to see this book made into a series. An awesome historical mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2024
.I absolutely loved this story. A mystery with lots of twists and turns wrapped around historical romance is right up my alley. Mira is an artist who has lost her parents under dubious circumstances. Byron is a private detective with a memory issue. Extremely well written, fully engaging and filled with page turning creativity. Don't miss this one.
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