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wendycherie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gawronma's review against another edition
5.0
One of the very best of this very fine series. The characters and the historical detail was great. All the characters are well drawn and interesting. I so look forward to my visits with Roland and friends.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first book in this series and fell in love with the story and the characters.
This one is also very interesting with the usual mix of history and mystery.
I really appreciated the background and the plot as well as the development in the characters history.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen
This one is also very interesting with the usual mix of history and mystery.
I really appreciated the background and the plot as well as the development in the characters history.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen
vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
Rowland Sinclair and his friends have managed to escape from Germany. But they are still not safe. Because of their experiences they feel a need to inform the authorities, so an initial meeting is arranged. Life becomes more complicated when they discover a body.
Sometimes I think Rowland is just a bit naive, but it was an enjoyable read. A mystery mixed in with the history of 1933.
A NetGalley Book
Sometimes I think Rowland is just a bit naive, but it was an enjoyable read. A mystery mixed in with the history of 1933.
A NetGalley Book
anjana's review against another edition
4.0
https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/gentlemen-formerly-dressed-rowland-sinclair-5
andyreadsthebook's review against another edition
5.0
Standard Rowly Sinclair...shenanigans afoot, entertaining as always!!
thebookmuse's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful sojourn with Rowland and his friends. Following on directly from Paving the New Road, Rowland is again caught up in a scandalous murder, and is given custody of a wax head from a sculptor at Madame Tussaud's. Here again, he is met with resistance from all sides to uncover the real murderer instead of the innocent girl awaiting trial and possible hanging for a crime she did not commit, and Rowly delivers. A fantastic addition to the Rowland Sinclair series.
A longer version can be found on my blog.
A longer version can be found on my blog.
archytas's review against another edition
4.25
This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite series - I make myself read other things on my TBR before reading the next one, which is becoming quite the wait. For the first couple, I think the books wavered a little between historical immersion and a nod-wink tone. This entry firmly settles into the nod-wink territory (the last scene is hilariously perfect, and relies entirely on the reader being aware that they are the reader) and amps up the absurdist fun. This allows Gentill to explore relevant themes around fascism - and the inherent darkness of that topic - while keeping the books thoroughly escapist. As we see a resurgence of fascism, her clear-eyed view of fascist sympathisers, and how influential they were in the 1930s, is timely but she is careful never to draw that to the reader's attention.*
Gentlemen Formerly Dressed also succeeds because the plot at the centre is as interesting as the context, which is not always the case in previous entries, and the historical cameos are relatively tangential to it. There is still a lot going on, but it all feels much more seamless than some previous. I remain unconvinced that the unrequited passion at the centre of the only regular female character's arc is a good idea, but I will wait to see where she takes it.
*Although I do note that this was published in 2013, when fascism seemed less of a current issue.
Gentlemen Formerly Dressed also succeeds because the plot at the centre is as interesting as the context, which is not always the case in previous entries, and the historical cameos are relatively tangential to it. There is still a lot going on, but it all feels much more seamless than some previous. I remain unconvinced that the unrequited passion at the centre of the only regular female character's arc is a good idea, but I will wait to see where she takes it.
*Although I do note that this was published in 2013, when fascism seemed less of a current issue.