Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Monopoly Board
Dice Roller

Properties Collected

1. Income Tax
2. Pentonville Road / Connecticut Avenue
3. Whitehall / States Avenue
4. Bow Street / St. James Place
5. Marlborough Street / Tennessee Avenue

Move #1

Roll: 4
Square: INCOME TAX
Task: From Popular Historical Mystery Books (Rating 3.25)
Book: The Amersham Rubies by Rhys Bowen

That's what I'm reading! Have you ever read any of her books?

Patricia wrote: "That's what I'm reading! Have you ever read any of her books?"

Nope. This is my first one. Hopefully it will be good :0)

I've given up on The Anatomist's Apprentice - it isn't well written and reads more like a medical text book than a historical mystery.

Decided to read The Amersham Rubies instead.

Re: The Amersham Rubies - its free, short and the series is on my TBR. I picked it up in case I land on Income tax again.

Lauren wrote: "I've given up on The Anatomist's Apprentice - it isn't well written and reads more like a medical text book than a historical mystery."

Gave up on that one myself when I tried to read it a year or two ago.

Sandy wrote: "Re: The Amersham Rubies - its free, short and the series is on my TBR. I picked it up in case I land on Income tax again."

Thanks Sandy. I picked it up.

Veronica wrote: "Gave up on that one myself when I tried to read it a year or two ago.."

Not surprising. I'm just glad I didn't invest too much time on it.

Move #1

Roll: 4
Square: INCOME TAX
Task: From Popular Historical Mystery Books (Rating 3.25)
Book: The Amersham Rubies by Rhys Bowen
Finished: January 20
Rating: 3 Stars

A very short prequel to the Molly Murphy series. While the premise is good, the way in which the mystery plays out is unrealistic.

Move #2

Roll: 5
Square: PENTONVILLE ROAD / CONNECTICUT AVENUE
Task: Set in a city with a famous prison (Tower of London)
Book: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
Finished: February 27
Rating: 4 Stars

A really fun read. This is a period that is very familiar to me and the portrayals of the English aristocracy and upper classes is very entertaining. The mystery is rather obvious but following along as Georgie solves it is enjoyable.
Will definitely read more in the series.

Move #3

Roll: 1
Square: Visiting Jail
Roll: 3
Square: WHITEHALL / STATES AVENUE
TASK: Set in WWI
Book: An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd

I'm enjoying the Bess Crawford mysteries even if I do have to suspend my disbelief that she can go traipsing all over France during wartime.

The mystery in this installment has two possible explanations. In truth, I preferred the one that the author did not go with as the one that they did is rather convoluted and obscure.

Move #4

Roll: 3
Square: BOW STREET / ST. JAMES PLACE
TASK: Private Investigator
Book: As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber

Excellent addition to the series. The setting in Ireland is very interesting with the historical background on the early days of what later becomes the infamous Troubles. 

I also appreciated the fact that even though they are now married, Sebastian and Kiera are still growing as a couple. 

Move #5

Roll: 2
Square: MARLBOROUGH STREET / TENNESSEE AVENUE
TASK: Set in the Southern Hemisphere (India)
Book: A Question of Honor by Charles Todd

A better mystery than the last book with a good motive and an appropriate perpetrator. The descriptions of the conditions in the trenches and the injuries sustained add an excellent sense of realism to the narrative and immerse the reader into the wartime situation.
My one caveat is that I wish the romance between Bess and Simon would get a move on already!

Move #6

Roll: 1
Square: VINE STREET / NEW YORK AVENUE
TASK: Protagonist is a police detective
Book: Murder on Mulberry Bend by Victoria Thompson