sacrowauthor's review against another edition
4.0
if you have ever read The Parasol Protectorate series starting with Soulless you’ll love this book. I laughed so hard at some lines I never imagined reading. A great escape.
bunnerz's review against another edition
3.0
Ghosts of Tsavo is a quirky steampunk mystery set in rural Africa that definitely gave me significant flashbacks to Gail Carriger's writing as the dialogue consists of heavy sarcasm and dry humor and the FMC is a no-nonsense confident woman.
Beatrice (Bee) didn't seem to have many prolonged scenes with the other characters before walking off to do something else, and as a first person narrative, it made it difficult to really understand them and their motivations. There were also a lot of subplots going on between Bee's ghost husband, Liam the automaton, Mr. Timmons, and Mr. Steward's financial situation that I don't feel a lot of the story was actually spent on hunting down the ghost lions.
It was quick and light read, but I don't think I will continue with the series.
Beatrice (Bee) didn't seem to have many prolonged scenes with the other characters before walking off to do something else, and as a first person narrative, it made it difficult to really understand them and their motivations. There were also a lot of subplots going on between Bee's ghost husband, Liam the automaton, Mr. Timmons, and Mr. Steward's financial situation that I don't feel a lot of the story was actually spent on hunting down the ghost lions.
It was quick and light read, but I don't think I will continue with the series.
brisk28's review
3.0
I really didn’t know what to expect with this but it took me longer than I would have liked.
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
I found this an entertaining read, very much in the style of [a:Gail Carriger|2891665|Gail Carriger|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257289860p2/2891665.jpg]'s Parasol Protectorate. In fact, if I had a major complaint, it would be that, despite a different setting and carrying a walking stick instead of a parasol, the character is just a little too like Alexia Tarabotti. Be that as it may, I did really quite like this. It's not an elaborate plot or an overly-detailed world and it takes a little while to settle down, in the beginning. But I enjoyed the African setting, Bee's voice as a narrator, the mystery, etc.
I did think the shrill of a wife was a bit cliched, as was the character's sense that all other females and all their silly femaleness were utterly ridiculous and dismissible. I thought the conclusion seemed a bit abrupt and I would have liked a little more of a wrap up of what happened to Kam and the twins. I was also disappointed to find it a bit of a cliffhanger, but all in all, I ended this happy enough to search out sequels.
I did think the shrill of a wife was a bit cliched, as was the character's sense that all other females and all their silly femaleness were utterly ridiculous and dismissible. I thought the conclusion seemed a bit abrupt and I would have liked a little more of a wrap up of what happened to Kam and the twins. I was also disappointed to find it a bit of a cliffhanger, but all in all, I ended this happy enough to search out sequels.
camrobbins's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carolsnotebook's review
3.0
Ghosts of Tsavo is not my typical read, but it is. It’s kind of like a cozy mystery set in Victorian-era Kenya, except instead of a traditional mystery, our heroine, Beatrice Knight, “Bee” to her friends, needs to solve a paranormal problem. There are ghost lions killing goats and the railroad workers worry that soon the lions’ appetites will turn toward people.
Bee, of course, is not alone. She has a family who are totally over-whelmed by moving to Africa, their servant, the local man she semi-partners with who is as mysterious as the lions, and a new friend who seems a bit ditzy. Oh, and her dead husband who is haunting her. And a local man that is interested in the lions for another reason altogether.
It’s a fun story and I enjoyed the historical Kenya setting. I like Bee. She’s intelligent, but also likes people to observe the customs of the era when possible. Politeness and tea are important. She’s brave and perhaps a bit fool-hardy. I do wonder if she gets paid for her work with the Society. I wish she wasn’t at the mercy of her relatives. She’s a widow, I wish she could be more self-sufficient. Although, the family does add to the amusement value.
Bee, of course, is not alone. She has a family who are totally over-whelmed by moving to Africa, their servant, the local man she semi-partners with who is as mysterious as the lions, and a new friend who seems a bit ditzy. Oh, and her dead husband who is haunting her. And a local man that is interested in the lions for another reason altogether.
It’s a fun story and I enjoyed the historical Kenya setting. I like Bee. She’s intelligent, but also likes people to observe the customs of the era when possible. Politeness and tea are important. She’s brave and perhaps a bit fool-hardy. I do wonder if she gets paid for her work with the Society. I wish she wasn’t at the mercy of her relatives. She’s a widow, I wish she could be more self-sufficient. Although, the family does add to the amusement value.
pert's review against another edition
3.0
A fun story - a bit disjointed at times, but interesting characters. Mysteries were a bit confusing, but I like the concept enough to stick with the story.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
I found this an entertaining read, very much in the style of [a:Gail Carriger|2891665|Gail Carriger|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257289860p2/2891665.jpg]'s Parasol Protectorate. In fact, if I had a major complaint, it would be that, despite a different setting and carrying a walking stick instead of a parasol, the character is just a little too like Alexia Tarabotti. Be that as it may, I did really quite like this. It's not an elaborate plot or an overly-detailed world and it takes a little while to settle down, in the beginning. But I enjoyed the African setting, Bee's voice as a narrator, the mystery, etc.
I did think the shrill of a wife was a bit cliched, as was the character's sense that all other females and all their silly femaleness were utterly ridiculous and dismissible. I thought the conclusion seemed a bit abrupt and I would have liked a little more of a wrap up of what happened to Kam and the twins. I was also disappointed to find it a bit of a cliffhanger, but all in all, I ended this happy enough to search out sequels.
I did think the shrill of a wife was a bit cliched, as was the character's sense that all other females and all their silly femaleness were utterly ridiculous and dismissible. I thought the conclusion seemed a bit abrupt and I would have liked a little more of a wrap up of what happened to Kam and the twins. I was also disappointed to find it a bit of a cliffhanger, but all in all, I ended this happy enough to search out sequels.