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Much belated book reviews
Sep. 25th, 2011 11:44 amI've been very bad about posting reviews of the books I've been reading. The Kindle has allowed me to try a number of mysteries for significantly less investment than if I'd bought the books themselves. Given the fairly limited selection of mystery novels available on the shelves at the local B&N, I have to say "go Kindle!"
I've read the following series by Ashley Gardner (in order)
The Hanover Square Affair
A Regimental Murder
The Glass House
The Sudbury School Murders
The Necklace Affair, A Novella
A Body in Berkeley Square
A Covent Garden Mystery
This mystery series is set in Regency England (c. 1817). The hero is a retired cavalry officer, wounded in the wars against Napoleon. Captain Lacey has entry into the aristocracy and fashionable set by virtue of his friendship with Mr. Grenville, an influential man of fashion. The mysteries are solidly constructed. The supporting cast is richly-textured and well-drawn. Lacey himself is a thoroughly real character, with flaws, stubborness and a streak of do-gooding. Gardner has done her research homework and provides a good feel for the time and place. One warning: these aren't 19th century procedurals. Gardner spends at least as much time on the characters and sub-plots as she does on the mystery Lacey is investigating. If, like me, you're drawn in by the complex characters, you won't mind the diversions. I recommend these highly, particularly since many of them are available on the Kindle for under $5.
Another mystery series that also spends far more time on the character relationships than the actual mystery (but not in a bad way) is the Gilded Age Mystery series by Patricia Ryan. In order:
Still Life with Murder
Murder in a Mill Town
Death on Beacon Hill
Murder on Black Friday
Murder in the North End
A Bucket of Ashes
These books are set in post Civil War Boston. The main characters are Irish governess Nell Sweeney and Will Hewitt, the black sheep son of a wealthy Boston Brahmin family. The relationship between Nell and Will is really the driving force of these books. Ryan manages to make Nell a believable woman for her time and place (something she does somewhat less well with some of the supporting cast). The growth of Nell and Will's romance is believable, although the ultimate happy ending may seem a little too pat. The mysteries are not mere afterthoughts, but are competent and compelling puzzles. Again, I recommend these as comfortable, entertaining reads.
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
After writing a procedural's procedural in Treachery in Death, the previous book, Robb switches gears completely and hammers us with emotion. The escape from prison of a kidnapper/rapist who happened to be Dallas' first major collar drags Dallas and Roarke down to Dallas to chase him down. There, she confronts her past and her demons more completely than ever before. Separated from her supporting cast, with only Roarke to rely on, Dallas takes some very hard emotional hits. This book likely would be incomprehensible to someone who hasn't read at least some of the In Death series before. But for long-time readers, it's compelling.
I've read the following series by Ashley Gardner (in order)
The Hanover Square Affair
A Regimental Murder
The Glass House
The Sudbury School Murders
The Necklace Affair, A Novella
A Body in Berkeley Square
A Covent Garden Mystery
This mystery series is set in Regency England (c. 1817). The hero is a retired cavalry officer, wounded in the wars against Napoleon. Captain Lacey has entry into the aristocracy and fashionable set by virtue of his friendship with Mr. Grenville, an influential man of fashion. The mysteries are solidly constructed. The supporting cast is richly-textured and well-drawn. Lacey himself is a thoroughly real character, with flaws, stubborness and a streak of do-gooding. Gardner has done her research homework and provides a good feel for the time and place. One warning: these aren't 19th century procedurals. Gardner spends at least as much time on the characters and sub-plots as she does on the mystery Lacey is investigating. If, like me, you're drawn in by the complex characters, you won't mind the diversions. I recommend these highly, particularly since many of them are available on the Kindle for under $5.
Another mystery series that also spends far more time on the character relationships than the actual mystery (but not in a bad way) is the Gilded Age Mystery series by Patricia Ryan. In order:
Still Life with Murder
Murder in a Mill Town
Death on Beacon Hill
Murder on Black Friday
Murder in the North End
A Bucket of Ashes
These books are set in post Civil War Boston. The main characters are Irish governess Nell Sweeney and Will Hewitt, the black sheep son of a wealthy Boston Brahmin family. The relationship between Nell and Will is really the driving force of these books. Ryan manages to make Nell a believable woman for her time and place (something she does somewhat less well with some of the supporting cast). The growth of Nell and Will's romance is believable, although the ultimate happy ending may seem a little too pat. The mysteries are not mere afterthoughts, but are competent and compelling puzzles. Again, I recommend these as comfortable, entertaining reads.
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
After writing a procedural's procedural in Treachery in Death, the previous book, Robb switches gears completely and hammers us with emotion. The escape from prison of a kidnapper/rapist who happened to be Dallas' first major collar drags Dallas and Roarke down to Dallas to chase him down. There, she confronts her past and her demons more completely than ever before. Separated from her supporting cast, with only Roarke to rely on, Dallas takes some very hard emotional hits. This book likely would be incomprehensible to someone who hasn't read at least some of the In Death series before. But for long-time readers, it's compelling.
