laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Silent on the Moor
4 Stars
Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia Grey accompanies her sister to Nicholas Brisbane’s recently acquired estate on the remote Yorkshire Moors. The former owners, the Allenbys, were once a great and powerful family, but centuries of keeping their bloodlines close and their secrets even closer have found them in reduced circumstances. Ensconced in the house with its unusual tenants, Lady Julia soon uncovers a heinous crime and finds herself struggling not only with Brisbane’s mysterious behavior, but with a gypsy witch and a malevolent murderer who will stop at nothing to attain their vengeance.
This installment in Lady Julia’s misadventures with its eerie overtones and gritty themes is my favorite in the series so far.
As with the previous books, the pacing is slow as Raybourn introduces the setting, the characters and the mystery. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are quite exciting albeit rather obvious, and the egyptology elements are an added bonus.
Although it takes them some time to get there, Nicholas and Julia take that last inevitable step in their relationship as they are finally honest with one another. Nicholas can be an obtuse idiot, but Julia’s stubbornness is more than a match for his and her calling him out on his condescension is exceedingly overdue.
Ellen Archer’s narration is wonderful and she does a fantastic job of conveying the gothic nature of ramshackle house and the cold, desolate and creepy moors. It will be interesting to see how she handles the next book, which takes place in India.
In sum, the gothic setting and the troubling mystery alongside the developments in Julia and Brisbane’s romance make Silent on the Moor an entertaining addition to the series.
4 Stars
Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia Grey accompanies her sister to Nicholas Brisbane’s recently acquired estate on the remote Yorkshire Moors. The former owners, the Allenbys, were once a great and powerful family, but centuries of keeping their bloodlines close and their secrets even closer have found them in reduced circumstances. Ensconced in the house with its unusual tenants, Lady Julia soon uncovers a heinous crime and finds herself struggling not only with Brisbane’s mysterious behavior, but with a gypsy witch and a malevolent murderer who will stop at nothing to attain their vengeance.
This installment in Lady Julia’s misadventures with its eerie overtones and gritty themes is my favorite in the series so far.
As with the previous books, the pacing is slow as Raybourn introduces the setting, the characters and the mystery. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are quite exciting albeit rather obvious, and the egyptology elements are an added bonus.
Although it takes them some time to get there, Nicholas and Julia take that last inevitable step in their relationship as they are finally honest with one another. Nicholas can be an obtuse idiot, but Julia’s stubbornness is more than a match for his and her calling him out on his condescension is exceedingly overdue.
Ellen Archer’s narration is wonderful and she does a fantastic job of conveying the gothic nature of ramshackle house and the cold, desolate and creepy moors. It will be interesting to see how she handles the next book, which takes place in India.
In sum, the gothic setting and the troubling mystery alongside the developments in Julia and Brisbane’s romance make Silent on the Moor an entertaining addition to the series.
orinoco450's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
melodymarrshmallow's review against another edition
2.0
The slow burn was resolved but they drew it out too long
nakedsushi's review against another edition
4.0
This one definitely had a Bronte vibe to it. A little bit of Wuthering Heights, and a little bit of Jane Eyre. Very gothic and moorish. Unlike the other two books, I think the relationship between Julia and Brisbane is the main story here and the mystery is only secondary. At least, that's what it felt like while I was reading it.
I'm glad some of the tension that was established in the first book finally got resolved here. Even though the ending was predictable, it was still satisfying. I'm confused that there's a fourth book in the series, because if the series ended here, I think it would be a very neatly-tied-together trilogy. I did see some hints leading into the next book though, so I'm most likely going to read it anyway.
I'm glad some of the tension that was established in the first book finally got resolved here. Even though the ending was predictable, it was still satisfying. I'm confused that there's a fourth book in the series, because if the series ended here, I think it would be a very neatly-tied-together trilogy. I did see some hints leading into the next book though, so I'm most likely going to read it anyway.
foxon's review against another edition
1.0
Why do I keep reading this series? Is it because my library branch has a nice lady who said they get better? Is it because I am not very nice to myself? Spoilers: its both. Why does Julia have to take the 2 steps forward 3 steps back approach to being a likable character? Every time she starts to be actually clever and independent, she turns around to runs after Brisbane in the most annoying way possible. Eye rolls.
It's just so bad. My cat is sitting here, judging me for wasting my time. I've never wanted to slap a fictional character with quite as much veracity as I do Julia. I love how at the end Brisbane still wouldn't have married her because she has money. He literally wont answer the question. Like, What? Why are we suppose to like him? He is no Darcy just because he broods, Darcy learned and grew as a character, Brisbane provides no context for his nonsense. And good lord I have 3 more books to read. Will I make it through them? Will Julia stop being the most annoying narrator in the history of historical mysteries? Find out next week on Hannah Has Nothing Else Better To Do... Apparently.
It's just so bad. My cat is sitting here, judging me for wasting my time. I've never wanted to slap a fictional character with quite as much veracity as I do Julia. I love how at the end Brisbane still wouldn't have married her because she has money. He literally wont answer the question. Like, What? Why are we suppose to like him? He is no Darcy just because he broods, Darcy learned and grew as a character, Brisbane provides no context for his nonsense. And good lord I have 3 more books to read. Will I make it through them? Will Julia stop being the most annoying narrator in the history of historical mysteries? Find out next week on Hannah Has Nothing Else Better To Do... Apparently.
earowdy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
eb2114's review
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
vireogirl's review against another edition
4.0
Complicated mystery. Some sex, mostly left to the imagination.
akiyajames's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0