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Hannah Wolfe #3
Under My Skin
A decade before her dazzling breakthrough novel, The Birth of Venus, Silver Dagger Award-winning author Sarah Dunant won critical acclaim for her Hannah Wolfe crime novels.
In Under My Skin, private investigator Hannah Wolfe's cushy new assignment takes her to the sumptuous Castle Dean health spa. While being plucked, crimped, steamed, and oiled, Hannah is ideally placed to probe some reported cases of sabotage -- fish in the Jacuzzi and steel nails in the massage heads. But spa owner Olivia Marchant has other problems besides sabotage. Someone is threatening her husband, Maurice, one of London's leading cosmetic surgeons and the man responsible for reconstructing many of the world's rich and famous. In a culture where no one wants to grow old and everyone seems to believe in the power of the knife, Hannah feels like an alien visitor. People will do anything in the name of beauty -- perhaps even commit murder.
In Under My Skin, private investigator Hannah Wolfe's cushy new assignment takes her to the sumptuous Castle Dean health spa. While being plucked, crimped, steamed, and oiled, Hannah is ideally placed to probe some reported cases of sabotage -- fish in the Jacuzzi and steel nails in the massage heads. But spa owner Olivia Marchant has other problems besides sabotage. Someone is threatening her husband, Maurice, one of London's leading cosmetic surgeons and the man responsible for reconstructing many of the world's rich and famous. In a culture where no one wants to grow old and everyone seems to believe in the power of the knife, Hannah feels like an alien visitor. People will do anything in the name of beauty -- perhaps even commit murder.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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411 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Dunant
33 books1,625 followersSarah Dunant is a cultural commentator, award-winning thriller writer and author of five novels set in Renaissance Italy exploring women’s lives through art, sex and religion. She has two daughters, and lives in London and Florence.
Sarah’s monthly history program and podcast on history can be found via the BBC website.
Sarah’s monthly history program and podcast on history can be found via the BBC website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 30, 2016
Whilst highly rating Dunant's historical works (The Birth of Venus is a perennial favourite), these, her bubble-gum private eye series featuring the allegedly feisty Hannah Wolfe are less impressive. I'm not quite sure if she's trying to be to appeal primarily to a female audience given that the topic of the two Wolfe adventures I've read deal with surrogacy and now plastic (or, as she has it, aesthetic,) surgery and of course all women are obsessed with babies and appearance, aren't they? Well, no, actually they are not.
I think I might have a better opinion of these if Wolfe were given (by her creator) less obviously female areas of investigation and I don't care if anyone cries that she would be given precisely this type of case to investigate as 'she's a woman in a man's world'. ZZZ Perhaps it is because this series was written in the 90s that the attitudes appear somewhat dated, but from what I recall of the days of Brit Pop and New Labour, women were able to do so much more than Wolfe's adventures.
And of course, this is yet another London-based Private Eye, as was Anna Lee (a close relative of Hannah Wolfe) and it would make a change to set such a tale outside of the great metropolis. Raymond Chandler this most certainly isn't, in spite of the pretentious allusions Dunant slips into her narrative.
Overall, this wasn't particularly bad, neither was it particularly good. Only read if a suitable alternative cannot be located.
I think I might have a better opinion of these if Wolfe were given (by her creator) less obviously female areas of investigation and I don't care if anyone cries that she would be given precisely this type of case to investigate as 'she's a woman in a man's world'. ZZZ Perhaps it is because this series was written in the 90s that the attitudes appear somewhat dated, but from what I recall of the days of Brit Pop and New Labour, women were able to do so much more than Wolfe's adventures.
And of course, this is yet another London-based Private Eye, as was Anna Lee (a close relative of Hannah Wolfe) and it would make a change to set such a tale outside of the great metropolis. Raymond Chandler this most certainly isn't, in spite of the pretentious allusions Dunant slips into her narrative.
Overall, this wasn't particularly bad, neither was it particularly good. Only read if a suitable alternative cannot be located.
June 27, 2018
Only read 1/3.
December 5, 2010
#3 in the Hannah Wolfe mystery series set in London. Hannah is a private investigator working for a former police officer. She's assigned to look into acts of vandalism at a new health spa outside of London which she manages to solve though she's a little uncomfortable with some loose ends. Her involvement continues when the spa owner's husband is murdered and she works to solve that. The story line involves both the spa, plastic surgery and Hannah's relationship with her oldest sister.
It is a good mystery which slowly unwinds. Hannah is good, but has psychological problems from an attack during a previous case - I suppose the previous novel in the series. She is a little throw back to American PI's from the 30's and 40's in that she is very flippant in her comments, drinks, uses pot and throws out an occasional allusion. She can be a bit hard to take at times. Not really sure about her relationshion with the boss as an employee as much of the novel she appears to be free lancing without really working closely with her boss.
It is a good mystery which slowly unwinds. Hannah is good, but has psychological problems from an attack during a previous case - I suppose the previous novel in the series. She is a little throw back to American PI's from the 30's and 40's in that she is very flippant in her comments, drinks, uses pot and throws out an occasional allusion. She can be a bit hard to take at times. Not really sure about her relationshion with the boss as an employee as much of the novel she appears to be free lancing without really working closely with her boss.
September 19, 2017
This is about cosmetic surgery - why, how and what happens when it doesn't work. Not Dunan's normal skill in writing. here she tries to be witty and humorous and doesn't quite succeed in my book. She is much better at historical fiction.
March 5, 2019
I thought this was an interesting read. I didn’t know it was part of a series, and I liked that about this book. At times Hannah was a bit too Dick-y for me, especially when speaking to police officers, but I thoroughly enjoyed her wit, snark, and dark humor. I might give the other 2 books a go.
October 30, 2025
3.5* rounded down.
This is the third and final instalment in the Hannah Wolfe series and had Hannah attending an upmarket spa undercover, employed to find out who has been trying to sabotage it. Her investigations widen out to the spa owner's husband, a plastic surgeon (although when this novel was written apparently the term 'aesthetic surgeon' was being used).
This was very readable and moved at a fast pace, and there was an interesting sub-plot concerning sister Kate's marriage. However, I am rounding down my stars because I found the book/narrator's attitude to women's bodies and weight and appearance and to plastic surgery confusing and off-putting. Poor Lola was never mentioned without being described as 'short and dumpy', but on the other hand one of the characters who had had extensive facial remodelling seemed to be being punished for this by the author at the end.
This is the third and final instalment in the Hannah Wolfe series and had Hannah attending an upmarket spa undercover, employed to find out who has been trying to sabotage it. Her investigations widen out to the spa owner's husband, a plastic surgeon (although when this novel was written apparently the term 'aesthetic surgeon' was being used).
This was very readable and moved at a fast pace, and there was an interesting sub-plot concerning sister Kate's marriage. However, I am rounding down my stars because I found the book/narrator's attitude to women's bodies and weight and appearance and to plastic surgery confusing and off-putting. Poor Lola was never mentioned without being described as 'short and dumpy', but on the other hand one of the characters who had had extensive facial remodelling seemed to be being punished for this by the author at the end.
April 3, 2019
A slow beginning and Hannah Wolfe, British PI, solves a somewhat intricate but not over
complicated case. Then she is asked to get involved in some related intrigue that evolves
into further complexity and murder. The seemingly obvious not longer is in the end.
Interesting is the main character Hannah W. tells in the first person, her many reflections
and thoughts in a very engaging and credible way.
complicated case. Then she is asked to get involved in some related intrigue that evolves
into further complexity and murder. The seemingly obvious not longer is in the end.
Interesting is the main character Hannah W. tells in the first person, her many reflections
and thoughts in a very engaging and credible way.
July 1, 2018
This is my first Hannah Wolf PI book....I didn't think I would finish it because the beginning was so slow and I couldn't figure out what was goin on...it did pick up toward the end, Hannah did a good job figuring out what was going on...think I'll try another one.
February 10, 2019
Beach read quality. 'Nuff said.
December 10, 2021
Transgressions is still my favorite book. This one was an easy reading, great reading during a holiday.
February 3, 2023
Love it. Tight witty fast moving abd extremely well written. Pity there is just 3 Hannah Wolfe novels. This is perhaps the best.
October 9, 2024
Quite fun, like art references.
January 12, 2025
3.5 ☆
Главная героиня интересная личность, с ярким характером. Читатель остаётся заинтересованным, несмотря на слабость расследования, благодаря прекрасному языку и увлекательной подаче.
Главная героиня интересная личность, с ярким характером. Читатель остаётся заинтересованным, несмотря на слабость расследования, благодаря прекрасному языку и увлекательной подаче.
July 6, 2011
I'm a fan of Dunant, and this is a definite departure from her historical novels. Hannah Wolfe has a fantastic voice- part cynic, part perfectionist, and not fully in control all the time. She's the kind of flawed character that you love and admire, even when the things she says or does make you cringe. In short, she's very noir-detective.
The plot is fun, with plenty of snark and asides about modern cultural concepts of beauty. The strength here is less the twists and turns, and more the diversity of characters within it, all of whom are real and intriguing.
The only flaw is that sometimes Hannah's statements come out of nowhere, and I have to struggle to catch up (and break out of the plot to figure out what she is referencing). That could be a flaw in the writing, OR (most likely) it's indicative of a lack of sharp wit on my end. Either way, this is a fun read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery, character-driven stories, strong female main characters, noir-style stories, and British culture.
The plot is fun, with plenty of snark and asides about modern cultural concepts of beauty. The strength here is less the twists and turns, and more the diversity of characters within it, all of whom are real and intriguing.
The only flaw is that sometimes Hannah's statements come out of nowhere, and I have to struggle to catch up (and break out of the plot to figure out what she is referencing). That could be a flaw in the writing, OR (most likely) it's indicative of a lack of sharp wit on my end. Either way, this is a fun read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery, character-driven stories, strong female main characters, noir-style stories, and British culture.
January 11, 2016
(3.5 stars) This is the third book in the Hannah Wolfe series. Hannah has taken a case involving sabotage at a women only health spa. She arrives as a guest, enjoying some of the perks of the spa while she investigates to find out who is trying to ruin the spa. She finds out that it may not be a disgruntled guest or employee, but instead may involve the husband of the spa owner, a cosmetic surgeon who has had threats against him. In her personal life, Hannah’s sister is having issues with her husband, a man that Hannah has never liked. She cannot resist doing a little personal investigation to find out if he has been cheating on his wife or is involved in some other ugliness. Hannah finds twists in perspective in both of her investigations, revealing that her suppositions/biases may have led her astray. The mystery was good, but not as intriguing as the one in the second book.
June 21, 2010
This was a most interesting mystery beginning with sabotage at a health spa designed to frighten clients away from the spa. To some extent it works and Hannah Wolfe is hired to find the person responsible. She does and this job leads to two murders, one of which Hannah is to solve. The second is made to look like a suicide and is at first accepted as such. In the meantime Hannah's sister and her husband are having marital problems. Hannah has never liked her sister's husband, Colin, and doesn't really know what to do to help or even if she should. I can often solve the murders in the mysteries I read but Dunant led me on a detour so skillfully that I discarded my solution. Only at the end does she lead the reader back to who really did the murders. This is quite a good read.
November 6, 2011
Finally I start to warm up to the main character, she becomes a bit more real and comprehensible, and I am at the end of the series, since it was written in 1995. Again, well-written with some interesting twists and turns. The sub-plot with Hannah's sister worked for me, it seemed to ground Hannah and make her more more believable, not just a random mix of reactions and illogical prejudices, which is what I felt in the 2 prior books.
February 16, 2016
This is the 3rd book of the Hannah Wolfe series. It came to me before the second, so I read it out of order. It didn't make any difference. This one was just as much fun as the first. This time, Hannah is sent to a health spa to uncover why the spa is being sabotaged. After reading this fun, short, well-written book, I cancelled my face lift. (I'm only kidding).
November 1, 2016
Hannah Wolfe has a new assignment as an undercover investigator at a deluxe health spa where crazy things are happening like nails in the massage heads. As Hannah starts her investigation the spa owner reports to her that her husband who is a cosmetic surgeon has been receiving threatening letters. Hannah finds a list of unhappy patients of the Dr's and before long he is murdered.
December 16, 2016
I found this to be quite the original mystery. Some takes place in a chi chi health spa and then in a pin and tuck shop. A murder unfolds and the clues lead you all over the place. I wasn't surprised by whodunnit, but I didn't guess the right person either. It's third in a series but reads fine on its own.
August 28, 2007
A kind of gruesome mystery novel involving fidelity and plastic surgery. Griping, in which the narrator has a confabulation with the reader. Double plots, likeable heroine, slightly confusing ending.
February 14, 2008
I read this because I liked her historical fiction novels so much and love crime novels. It wasn't as good as her historical novels are now, of course this book was written 20 years ago. It was fun to see her evolution as an author though. Not recommended unless you are curious...
February 21, 2011
An enjoyable mystery featuring a slightly hardboiled chick detective. Quick read and enough plot twists to keep me turning pages. Will definitely read another Hannah Wolfe mystery when I'm searching for a quick who-dunnit!
August 29, 2013
A bit better than the first two in this series, Under My Skin has more character development, a more complicated plot, and more relevant subject matter. Gruesome at times, with two many dangling threads and annoying "gotcha" dialogue, I wouldn't recommend it as much more than a beach read.
August 6, 2007
easy read. Murder mystery.
February 24, 2008
I love Sarah Dunant's Hannah Wolfe Mysteries -- the tragedy is that there are only three of them! Finally a female detective I can relate to!
August 16, 2009
Fun and interesting. Also: surprise lesbianism sub-theme thrown in!
October 12, 2009
A pretty good mystery.
July 9, 2010
A very predictable and not very exciting detective.
June 15, 2016
Very good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews