fatal_poison_4_u's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
belleoftheb00ks's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.5
milkteajeon's review
3.0
3.5; the mystery was quite intriguing and i fairly enjoyed the supporting characters and unusual premise. the main thing that reduced my enjoyment was juliette herself. her train of thought was so repetitive but hopefully she'll show some growth in the next books
esthery_rn's review
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
It started slow, but by the end, I couldn’t put it down and am now anxious to start the next book. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and I picked the wrong guy as villain—I appreciate when an author can do that!
betherin02's review
5.0
I'm not a fan of mysteries so imagine my delight when I discovered this story contains beloved fictional friends from Vetsch's Serendipity and Secrets series! This ardent romance fan is even willing to tolerate what looks to be a long wait for happily ever after in the company of such wonderful characters and banter. I'm eager to continue reading this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. As an owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, I received compensation from the publisher and/or author to coordinate a promotional tour for this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. As an owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, I received compensation from the publisher and/or author to coordinate a promotional tour for this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
texanoffer's review
4.0
It took me about one-third of the way into the book to really get interested in it, but once I did it was a jolly ride! I loved it! I can't wait to dive into the second book in the series!!
*Adding that the narrator of this book was one of the best I have heard!
*Adding that the narrator of this book was one of the best I have heard!
travelerswife4life's review
5.0
The old saying that Authors get better with time is certainly true of Erica Vetsch! Every new book I read by her seems to be better than the last
melmo2610's review
5.0
Oh mylanta-this book was so so good! I loved the mystery and there are some awesome surprises along the way. I also loved seeing familiar faces again. I read a library copy but I will be getting my own copy super soon. Can not wait for the rest of this series!!
shammons's review
4.0
This is a new to me author, as well as the first in a new series. I tend to love most Regency books, so I was so pleased to see that this one is set in the early 1800’s. As the book opens, Lady Juliette Thorndike is returning on a ship from Italy, after having spent 7 years at school in Switzerland. Her friend Agatha Montgomery is accompanying her home, and she is anxious to see her parents for the first time in many years, as well as anxious about being presented at court, to the Queen, and her debut into society. Little does she know that something or someone else came aboard their ship, and she will become embroiled in the plot and mystery of it all. A very promising start to the series, definitely looking forward to the next one.
melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this new creative Regency mystery by Erica Vetsch! It has all the elements of a great mystery; a compelling suspenseful story, beautiful artifacts and treasures, spies and intrigue, fabulous characters, several suspects, secret codes, and hidden rooms all with a hint of romance. This fast-paced story begins when Lady Juliette returns to England from Europe and is immediately thrust into a Season without the parents whom she expected to be with after being away for so many years.
Still reeling from her parents’ absence, Juliette’s unusual somewhat rushed Season culminates at her debut ball where the excitement begins with a stolen painting and a murder. From this point on, the book goes from one suspenseful moment to the next as Juliette discovers there’s more to her parents and her Uncle Bertie than she supposed. Needing to unravel a code hidden on several artifacts and treasures before they fall into the wrong hands, Juliette and her uncle must use stealth and careful planning to retrieve and decode them. However, it’s not as easy as it seems, when up and coming Bow Street runner Daniel Swann is investigating the thefts and murder. It’s also a race against time as someone else wants the artifacts and is willing to kill for them.
Daniel has an inherent need to prove himself as his mysterious patron will withdraw support when he reaches the age of 25. He works tirelessly with his mentor to solve the crimes and make a name for himself as a Bow Street Runner. When he first spies Lady Juliette, he’s taken with her beauty and manner. Soon though he notices that she begins turning up in the same places as the missing artifacts. Could she have something to do with the crimes?
I loved Juliette and Daniel! Juliette is a smart heroine who struggles with the deception involved in being a spy. She’s conflicted about her parents’ profession and what it would mean if she joined them. Her struggles with faith and her parents were relatable and added extra depth to the story. I enjoyed Daniel’s personality and his tenaciousness. It was fun watching his thought process as he’s always right on the cusp of discovering the truth. Loved his interactions with Juliette as they were fraught with delicious tension. I can’t wait for the next books to see how their slow burn romance progresses.
I thoroughly enjoyed this inspirational mystery. It grabbed me from the start and kept me guessing until the end who the murderer was. The religious aspects of the story were perfectly woven in and were subtle and natural to the characters’ personalities. I loved the fast paced action and suspense and found myself on tenterhooks several times as Juliette and her uncle try to “borrow” and then decode the artifacts. The side characters were delightful as well. With many twists and turns, this mystery definitely kept me turning the pages and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I received a copy of this book from Just Reads through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
Still reeling from her parents’ absence, Juliette’s unusual somewhat rushed Season culminates at her debut ball where the excitement begins with a stolen painting and a murder. From this point on, the book goes from one suspenseful moment to the next as Juliette discovers there’s more to her parents and her Uncle Bertie than she supposed. Needing to unravel a code hidden on several artifacts and treasures before they fall into the wrong hands, Juliette and her uncle must use stealth and careful planning to retrieve and decode them. However, it’s not as easy as it seems, when up and coming Bow Street runner Daniel Swann is investigating the thefts and murder. It’s also a race against time as someone else wants the artifacts and is willing to kill for them.
Daniel has an inherent need to prove himself as his mysterious patron will withdraw support when he reaches the age of 25. He works tirelessly with his mentor to solve the crimes and make a name for himself as a Bow Street Runner. When he first spies Lady Juliette, he’s taken with her beauty and manner. Soon though he notices that she begins turning up in the same places as the missing artifacts. Could she have something to do with the crimes?
I loved Juliette and Daniel! Juliette is a smart heroine who struggles with the deception involved in being a spy. She’s conflicted about her parents’ profession and what it would mean if she joined them. Her struggles with faith and her parents were relatable and added extra depth to the story. I enjoyed Daniel’s personality and his tenaciousness. It was fun watching his thought process as he’s always right on the cusp of discovering the truth. Loved his interactions with Juliette as they were fraught with delicious tension. I can’t wait for the next books to see how their slow burn romance progresses.
I thoroughly enjoyed this inspirational mystery. It grabbed me from the start and kept me guessing until the end who the murderer was. The religious aspects of the story were perfectly woven in and were subtle and natural to the characters’ personalities. I loved the fast paced action and suspense and found myself on tenterhooks several times as Juliette and her uncle try to “borrow” and then decode the artifacts. The side characters were delightful as well. With many twists and turns, this mystery definitely kept me turning the pages and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I received a copy of this book from Just Reads through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.