A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Title: A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Author: Susanna Calkins

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Series: Lucy Campion, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781250007902

Pages: 338 + Historic Note

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I can't remember when I first saw this and decided to request it.  But I decided to read it now because it fit the Historical Mystery Reading Challenge 2013.

Comments:

I enjoyed this book.  Lucy is a very likeable character.  She's a servant, but intelligent and part of a very good household so she has more opportunity than many other servants might have.  The book is very clear that servants and the lower classes can live very grim lives.

In fact, that's one of the things I appreciated about this book - the historical detail.  The author takes a couple privileges, which she addresses in her historical note at the end, but overall you can tell a lot of attention was paid to the detail and accuracy of the history and time being portrayed - without being preachy or stilted.  Perhaps that is in large part due to the author's doctorate in British History?

Speaking of which, this book is set in Restoration London (1665 or thereabouts).  This is a period I know VERY little about.  But issues addressed include:

Plague
London Fire
Treatment of lower classes and women
Quakers
Prisoner/Criminal treatment
England's legal and court system
Public Society's interest in murder and gruesome tales (there's a word for these and I'm blanking)
Etc.

Now, I would say this is very clearly a historical mystery.  Except I do need to point out that at one point the book seemed to forget it was supposed to be a mystery and turned into a (sweet) romance ... but it recalled itself by the end.  Seriously, though, there was some genre confusion.  As I happen to like romances as well as mysteries I was fine with that, but it was a little strange.  Especially considering the hints at the end (which I will not further address so as not to give things away).

For the mystery part of things.  I wondered about the bad dude off and on.  Then about 3/5 of the way through, I thought the whole situation was hinky and settled on him... hesitantly.  It wasn't smack my head obvious (or at least no to me), more of a gut thing.

I hope to read the next book, expected out in April 2014 with a working title of From the Charred Remains.

The Diviners

Title: The Diviners

Author: Libba Bray; Read by January LaVoy [Website]

Publisher: Listening Library

Series: Diviners, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780449808757

Length: 15 discs ; 18 hours, 15 minutes

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

An associate from work recommended this to me.  She had seen the trailer and read the story, knew I listened to audiobooks from a previous conversation, and thought I might especially enjoy it in audio format.  (She mentioned how creepy the song in the trailer was and thought it might be in the book.)  So why don't you view the trailer first...



Well?

Personally, I did enjoy the book.  It took awhile to get each of the characters parts... I liked some better than others.  But I was pretty into it.  There were some scenes where you were taken away from the characters to set the overall tone of what was going on everywhere.  Like a widescreen shot, but the visual is in your mind.  That worked for most of the book, but it happened on the last disc, after much of the immediate story had been settled (presumably to set up for the next book), and I strongly disliked it.  The last disc irritated me beyond belief.

But wait!  I can't believe I'm only now getting to the setting.  This is set in the 20s (primarily in New York).  Before the Great Depression, during the days of flappers, and speakeasies, and all that.  I think the only book I've read set in this period before this was The Great Gatsby.  So it was really different (for me, at least).  And the setting was almost like a character of it's own.  Mostly fun (at least outwardly), but with a dark side.

Anyway.  If you like creepy (cuz this was) and YA horror, with a dose of mystery and history, definitely give this a shot.  There is a strong paranormal aspect.  Some sensitive issues are mentioned... bigotry and abuse, for example.  Things to keep in mind.

Oh, and lest I forget.  The narrator did a nice job (from my Midwestern perspective).  People from the different areas of New York all got different tones and accents that added character.

As for the next book, Lair of Dreams is due out April 2015...  I kind of wish this was a stand-a-lone, but the ending definitely indicates otherwise.  And I'll probably read/listen to it.

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged)

Title: Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged)

Author: Carrie Bebris

Publisher: Forge

Series: Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780765318435

Pages: 287

Obtained: Personal copy via PaperBackSwap.com

Comments:

I've had this book waiting for some time.  But then along came the Historical Mystery Reading Challenge 2013 (for which this is set in the early 19th century), not to mention my need to do another Cozy Cull (I'll be giving this away in another post).  The timing seemed perfect.  I had wanted to reread Pride and Prejudice first... I haven't read it in YEARS.  But I managed to get through the story without.  The book makes references to things and people from Pride and Prejudice since the story begins on Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy's wedding day.  But I don't feel having read Pride and Prejudice is necessary to the story, just preferable.

It was fascinating exploring how someone imagines Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage to start.  The mystery was something of an added bonus.  I do have to say, however, that I did guess the bad guy, though not the means.  There were certain signs that felt ... oh, how to say this without giving the end away... off.  I kind of felt like some of the characters didn't take note of the indications well enough.  However, the times then were different enough that I don't know that people would have taken note.  Or if they did how they would have acted on it.  So I suppose that was realistic enough.

I was not expecting the paranormal slant, but that also seemed to work with the story and even, I suppose, with the trends of the time.

I will continue with the next book in this series, Suspense and Sensibility (Or, First Impressions Revisited), if I have time and opportunity.  Since I haven't read Sense and Sensibility before, so it'd be nice if I managed that first.  Even though the characters will still be from Pride and Prejudice, it only seems right.

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You

Title: You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You

Author: Robert J. Randisi aka Lew Baines aka Tom Cutter aka Spenser Fortune aka Robert Lake aka Paul Ledd aka W. B. Longley aka Joseph Meek aka Joshua Randall aka  Cole Weston aka J.R. Roberts aka Jon Sharpe

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Series: Rat Pack Mystery, Bk 4

ISBN: 9780312376437

Pages: 274 + Author's Note

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

It's been awhile since I've read this series.  I read the first three books, Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime, Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die, and Hey There (You With the Gun in Your Hand) back in 2010.  I'm not sure why I stopped, but when I decided to participate in the Historical Mystery Challenge 2013, and learned that books through the 60s counted, I knew I needed to start back up again.

Some books just have a certain feel that just draws me.  I mentioned this when I posted on the first three books in this series, but it holds true for this one as well.  I think it might be the narrator that is cool/smooth and yet earnest all at once.  Eddie G. wants to help his friends and he doesn't take well to them being in hurt.  But he can fit right in with celebrities that make other people stumble and stutter with hero worship, and after a brief adjustment he's all chill.

Anyway, this time around Eddie G. is asked by the Rat Pack to help with their fragile friend, Marilyn Monroe.  Now I'm going to say something that makes me sound utterly ignorant, but I know practically nothing about Marilyn.  But now that I've read this I'm tempted to watch a movie and learn more.  Now whether that be a movie she's been in (cuz they are listed left and right throughout the book) or something about her I'm not sure.  We'll see.

Book 5 in this series is I'm a Fool to Kill You.  Hopefully I get to reading it sooner than the years it took me to get to this one.

Speaking From Among the Bones

Title: Speaking From Among the Bones

Author: Alan Bradley; Read by Jayne Entwistle

Publisher: Books on Tape

Series: Flavia de Luce, Bk 5

ISBN: 9780307879837

Length: 8 discs; 10 hours, 2 minutes

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

What to say?  This was another fun mystery featuring Flavia's escapades.  I can't help truly enjoying each addition to this series.  So I had a shock with the ending, but we'll get to that later. 

I actually managed to read a book in the proper season!  The story is set around Easter.  Right.  Moving on.

For the mystery itself.  They are opening up the burial place of St. Tancred, but first they stumble across the body of the organist they thought had just up and left.  As luck has it, Flavia is the one to have actually made the discovery.  And she wouldn't be the Flavia we've grown to know and love if she didn't investigate.  I, not being adept with chemicals, or available to observe, etc. did not guess the murderer(s).

But for the personal aspect (which really caught me in this book), Flavia's bond with her sisters seems to be growing through the changes in life - the risk to their home, Ophelia's growing and possible marriage...  While Flavia loves her father, I still find it difficult to get her understanding of his distant nature.  I wouldn't be able to stand that.  But she does have other father-figures.  Dogger, the Inspector Hewitt, and the vicar all seem to pick up the slack where her father is concerned.

Which brings me to the shock ending.  And by ending I mean the last line or so.  My goodness, I can't wait for the next book, The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches.  What a cliffhanger!

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

Title: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

Author: Alan Bradley; Read by Jayne Entwistle

Publisher: Books on Tape

Series: Flavia de Luce Mystery, Bk 4

ISBN: 9780307879479

Length: 6 discs ; 7 hours, 24 minutes

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I wanted to listen to this before Christmas, but it didn't happen. (I was even tempted to read the print!)  Nevertheless, listen to it I did.  Her family's financial straits have worsened and her father has rented out Buckshaw for a film - complete with famous actors/actresses and director!  Despite the instruction for the family to stay to their quarters, Flavia inserts herself into the mix - mostly acting as doorman (by coincidence), but also peering out of windows and such.

And we mustn't forget Christmas is around the corner!  Flavia is determined to catch Father Christmas and prove to her sisters that he is quite real.  Then everyone crowds Buckshaw for a charity performance of Romeo and Juliet, find themselves snowed in, and voilà! It is the perfect situation for committing - and getting away with - murder.

As always, Flavia was a fun imp to spend time around.  From the beginning of the story with her fascinating dream, to her mix of intellect and a child's innocence/spirit, to her lively interactions with everyone around her, she brings intrigue and amusement.  Beyond Flavia (and the assortment of other familiar and interesting characters), I enjoyed the mystery itself.  For this time, all possible suspects are/were stuck at Buckshaw (admittedly no small place, it still isn't the entire local neighborhood like in past books).

I look forward to listening to book 5, Speaking From Among the Bones.