fa1th_'s review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.0
I have been in a mood for historical mystery stories with a dash of romance for a while, and I have came across the original Kat Holloway series first; but the reviews have informed me of this prequel novella, so I finished this one before officially starting the full-length series.
The prequel certainly helped! It set up the story and its characters nicely, and I got a taste of the author's writing style before diving deep; so if you're hesitant, I recommend starting with this novella first. The story's heroine Kat Holloway was a feisty, observant woman who was brave and willing to stand her ground. I liked her very much, as she was a single mother working to earn a living as a good cook and support her child (t'was not a spoiler). I have read some historical fictions before, but a working-class servant in a 'upstairs/downstairs' situation was intriguing and rare. Usually they're the background characters going about unnoticed when the higher-class gentlemen and ladies were the main focus, but they saw everything that going on in the house, which made for good mysteries.
Of course, this story itself was not some once-in-a-life-time peculiar 'Agatha Christie' level mystery, hence the rating. It was a lighthearted (if you could called it that, a man did die) and simply fun journey to go along, a set up for more mysteries and romance to come. As a prequel novella, I think it has done its job - left me to wanting more. But the plot itself was kind of weak, so if you want a more solid murder mystery, you might be disappointed.
Though the mystery part was not the best, the two characters, Kat and Daniel, are both loveable and their chemistry was everything. Daniel was such a smooth flirt full with mystery stories of his own too. He is capable, gentle, protective of Kat and James, perhaps has a dark past but he refused to share his secrets as of now. He was so mysterious near the end of the story I started to wonder is he even real (ofc not because he's a fictional character). A man seemed so near yet so far, I think Kat Holloway and I shared the same thought.
I cannot wait to dig open the first book of the series to learn more.
The prequel certainly helped! It set up the story and its characters nicely, and I got a taste of the author's writing style before diving deep; so if you're hesitant, I recommend starting with this novella first. The story's heroine Kat Holloway was a feisty, observant woman who was brave and willing to stand her ground. I liked her very much, as she was a single mother working to earn a living as a good cook and support her child (t'was not a spoiler). I have read some historical fictions before, but a working-class servant in a 'upstairs/downstairs' situation was intriguing and rare. Usually they're the background characters going about unnoticed when the higher-class gentlemen and ladies were the main focus, but they saw everything that going on in the house, which made for good mysteries.
Of course, this story itself was not some once-in-a-life-time peculiar 'Agatha Christie' level mystery, hence the rating. It was a lighthearted (if you could called it that, a man did die) and simply fun journey to go along, a set up for more mysteries and romance to come. As a prequel novella, I think it has done its job - left me to wanting more. But the plot itself was kind of weak, so if you want a more solid murder mystery, you might be disappointed.
Though the mystery part was not the best, the two characters, Kat and Daniel, are both loveable and their chemistry was everything. Daniel was such a smooth flirt full with mystery stories of his own too. He is capable, gentle, protective of Kat and James, perhaps has a dark past but he refused to share his secrets as of now. He was so mysterious near the end of the story I started to wonder is he even real (ofc not because he's a fictional character). A man seemed so near yet so far, I think Kat Holloway and I shared the same thought.
I cannot wait to dig open the first book of the series to learn more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Sexual harassment
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