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vesper1931's review
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Adelaide 1931. Twenty-two year old Frances Palmer overhears a disturbing conversation while working as a teleophone operator. Is new acquaintance, Jack Sullivan (35) a night club owner, the person to confide in and solve the mystery.
An entertaining historical mystery though it too a long time for the mystery to start to be dealt with.
An entertaining historical mystery though it too a long time for the mystery to start to be dealt with.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I'm more than happy I got this ARC because I discovered and excellent new to me author and what I hope is a historical cozy series.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
ljwrites85's review
4.0
Frances works in a telephone exchange and is sole provider for her mum and her Uncle Sal but she is tested when she overhears a plan for the stick up. Should she break confidentiality to tell the police and risk losing her job or keep quiet?
So this is the second book in this week set in the 1930’s, which if you read the review for A Pearl For Her Mistress you will know is one of my favourite eras. It’s set in Adelaide in Australia in 1931 when the depression was in full swing with lots of unemployment and poverty.
Now this is the second book I’ve read by this author. The first was written under the name Carmen Radtke, The Case of The Missing Bride was one of my favourite books this year, so I was excited to read this one.
I loved all of the characters, from good girl Frances to her Uncle Sal (otherwise Salvatore the magnificent, a former magician) but Jack had to be my favourite. Scarred by the first world war with some serious trust issues, to me he had a very Humphrey Bogart vibe about him.
There was also a lot about the fashions of the era and the heady club scene (Jack owns a club called Top Note) which really drew me into this story.
I also like the bit of Aussie slang, although there wasn’t too much but just enough to make the dialogue interesting.
Unfortunately I didn’t feel the story line was very strong, I thought there either should have been more mystery or a little more romance and the ending also felt a little rushed.
So this is the second book in this week set in the 1930’s, which if you read the review for A Pearl For Her Mistress you will know is one of my favourite eras. It’s set in Adelaide in Australia in 1931 when the depression was in full swing with lots of unemployment and poverty.
Now this is the second book I’ve read by this author. The first was written under the name Carmen Radtke, The Case of The Missing Bride was one of my favourite books this year, so I was excited to read this one.
I loved all of the characters, from good girl Frances to her Uncle Sal (otherwise Salvatore the magnificent, a former magician) but Jack had to be my favourite. Scarred by the first world war with some serious trust issues, to me he had a very Humphrey Bogart vibe about him.
There was also a lot about the fashions of the era and the heady club scene (Jack owns a club called Top Note) which really drew me into this story.
I also like the bit of Aussie slang, although there wasn’t too much but just enough to make the dialogue interesting.
Unfortunately I didn’t feel the story line was very strong, I thought there either should have been more mystery or a little more romance and the ending also felt a little rushed.
cooeeaus's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this very much, too. We have Francis who is the sole provider for her mum and Uncle Sal, their lodger Phil and the local, slightly dangerous club owner Jack. Francis works on a switchboard and one night overhears a frightening conversation between two callers, who appear to be planning a murder. She's not sure if it's real or not and decides to approach Jack and confides her fears to him. This begins a mystery and lots of action as Jack and Francis, with the help of their friends investigate themselves.
I recommend you read this one, it is good entertainment.
I recommend you read this one, it is good entertainment.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
4.0
This is very much what I would class as a cosy mystery.
I really enjoyed the era that the story is set in. It very much brought to life what living in that time would be like. The way people dress, how they lived and how the cinema and dances were all the rage.
There are quite a few likeable characters in the story. The main ones for me though were Frances and her Uncle Sal. The relationship between both made this novel even more worth while reading as it was really sweet to read. Jack is also great and was quite envious of Frances as he oozes sex appeal as well as being strong and manly.
For people who like a good mystery without the dark elements of a crime book, this is the perfect read. There was a nice balance of normal life as well as the build up of the crime. It is very much a tale of mystery and suspense with a great cast of characters.
A Matter Of Love And Death is a story that will transport you to the other side of the world as well as taking you into the heart of life in the 1930’s. A great read for people who like a combination of romance and a good old mystery to solve.
I really enjoyed the era that the story is set in. It very much brought to life what living in that time would be like. The way people dress, how they lived and how the cinema and dances were all the rage.
There are quite a few likeable characters in the story. The main ones for me though were Frances and her Uncle Sal. The relationship between both made this novel even more worth while reading as it was really sweet to read. Jack is also great and was quite envious of Frances as he oozes sex appeal as well as being strong and manly.
For people who like a good mystery without the dark elements of a crime book, this is the perfect read. There was a nice balance of normal life as well as the build up of the crime. It is very much a tale of mystery and suspense with a great cast of characters.
A Matter Of Love And Death is a story that will transport you to the other side of the world as well as taking you into the heart of life in the 1930’s. A great read for people who like a combination of romance and a good old mystery to solve.
meyana's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this book was intriguing, but after the inciting event occurs, the story grinds to a really surprising halt for some time, only to pick up again near the end.
I spent much of the book wondering when something was going to happen. The main character is sympathetic but manifests frustratingly little agency, with much of the interesting and plot-related action happening off-screen, while we hear about it second-hand along with the protagonist. It seemed like an odd choice to feature a main character who could be so little involved in the action of the story due to social norms. A few of the main story threads felt unresolved at the end, as well.
Despite all this, I still gave this a three-star rating, as the characters were likeable and exhibited a real sense of community that it was lovely to see illustrated so lovingly. The book was obviously also very well-researched, with the details of the setting adding interesting colour. It's a real shame the plot wasn't better paced!
I spent much of the book wondering when something was going to happen. The main character is sympathetic but manifests frustratingly little agency, with much of the interesting and plot-related action happening off-screen, while we hear about it second-hand along with the protagonist. It seemed like an odd choice to feature a main character who could be so little involved in the action of the story due to social norms. A few of the main story threads felt unresolved at the end, as well.
Despite all this, I still gave this a three-star rating, as the characters were likeable and exhibited a real sense of community that it was lovely to see illustrated so lovingly. The book was obviously also very well-researched, with the details of the setting adding interesting colour. It's a real shame the plot wasn't better paced!
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I'm more than happy I got this ARC because I discovered and excellent new to me author and what I hope is a historical cozy series.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
annarella's review
5.0
I'm more than happy I got this ARC because I discovered and excellent new to me author and what I hope is a historical cozy series.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, the cast of characters is well written and likeable.
It was an entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
louiseog's review
3.0
This is a lovely story about Adelaide in the 1930s.
The characters are beautifully drawn.
Bit more romance than mystery.
The characters are beautifully drawn.
Bit more romance than mystery.
helenh's review
3.0
Keeps you turning the pages, that's for sure. Well researched, in a HM location we don't see much about (post-WWI Adelaide). The characters are especially detailed -- loved Uncle Sal! Hope to see more in this series.
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