eserafina42's review against another edition
3.0
Light and enjoyable. I would definitely consider reading more in the series. A young woman in difficult financial straits after the death of her father hires herself out as a maid to a wealthy family and finds a body upon her arrival, after which she joins with one of the sons of the house in solving the mystery. An unusual situation (the usual go-to for impoverished vicars' daughters was governessing) but the author informs us in an afterword that a similar situation - sans murder, I would assume - happened in her own family.
For a future (or revised) edition, however, it does appear that this book was spellchecked but not proofread (carefully, at least) by a human being - and this type of thing does affect my opinion. While I saw no actual misspelled words, I did see "corpses" used instead of "copses" (groups of trees), "properties" for "proprieties," and "style" for "[turn]stile."
For a future (or revised) edition, however, it does appear that this book was spellchecked but not proofread (carefully, at least) by a human being - and this type of thing does affect my opinion. While I saw no actual misspelled words, I did see "corpses" used instead of "copses" (groups of trees), "properties" for "proprieties," and "style" for "[turn]stile."
cinta's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Secret Readers and Accent Press for granting me access to this book.
I chose to read this book because I like the Victorian period and I thought the premise was interesting. However, I got disappointed quite soon. The writing was choppy and repetitive. The characters were quite lackluster. It wasn't the typical mystery and I didn't enjoy the format.
I was bored most of the time and thought of not finishing reading the book. I was very close to do just that, but then I decided to finish it so I could give a more informed opinion.
The ending was as disappointing and predictable as I was expecting it to be.
Overall, a book that just wasted my time.
I chose to read this book because I like the Victorian period and I thought the premise was interesting. However, I got disappointed quite soon. The writing was choppy and repetitive. The characters were quite lackluster. It wasn't the typical mystery and I didn't enjoy the format.
I was bored most of the time and thought of not finishing reading the book. I was very close to do just that, but then I decided to finish it so I could give a more informed opinion.
The ending was as disappointing and predictable as I was expecting it to be.
Overall, a book that just wasted my time.
shallowgal00's review against another edition
4.0
1st in the series ~ a pretty good read. Euphemia's father, a vicar dies and she has to go into service to support her mother & younger brother.
magpie_books's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
1910 The death of her father, Rev Martins, results in the daughter Euphemia looking for a position in service to help her now poor mother and brother. She finds herself at Stapleford Hall to be employed as a maid. Unfortunately on her first day she discovers a body and becomes one of the suspects. Can she find the guilty party and clear her name, and before anorther body is discovered.
This is a re-read for me, as I start to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and liked the characters.
This is a re-read for me, as I start to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and liked the characters.
highlander2006's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
farahmendlesohn's review against another edition
5.0
Exactly the kind of cosy mystery I need right now.